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4 under. Nice how compact the clue is, but it does mean there's zero uncertainty about how it works...

Thanks, @Acliff and others.

Having a wife and 2 kids would suggest that you are at least likeable to 3 people some of the time

You mean there are people whose wife and kids like them? This is a bizarre new idea to me, I'll have to look into it.

(Did I mention one of the main reasons people dislike me is my relentless facetiousness, and the fact that I'm convinced I'm funnier than I actually am?)

Joking aside, thanks loads for the replies. Let's see how we go.

Thanks. I've lurked and occasionally posted in all of those, but something about my personality, or at least my communication style, always seems to put me firmly on the outside of things.

While I'm at peace with it being too late in life to suddenly become a likeable or successful person, I do think I could realistically address my weight this year, and was sort of wondering specifically about the interaction of those factors and weight. If there was a 'maintaining a healthy weight despite being a fuck-up in every other aspect of life' thread, I'd be there, trust me :)

Applause

Weight this morning: 92kg

Haven't posted in 2024 version but if it's ok I might Join in here?

Weigh around 90kg, used to be more like 80kg, probably could/should be more like 70kg.

Issues affecting my ability to sensibly reduce/regulate my weight in no particular order:

1. Getting old and niggling injuries
   
2. Two young kids and a wife that works weekends
   
3. Alcoholism
   
4. ADHD (issues with impulse control)
   
5. Depression/self-loathing (ditto self care)
   
   

Anyone dealing with some/all of that combo? Any tips?

Is that even after the video explainers or are you a video refusenik? Happy to discuss/
try to explain clues on here if it helps.

Twunder.

Happy New Year.

3 under after a short detour connecting the second word with the wrong one of its neighbours.

2 under.

I mean, what else could the first bit of the clue refer to? From there it's trivial to get the answer...

Funny how certain sayings do or don't become sufficiently universal to, eg, allow inclusion in a crossword clue or dropping into conversation with the reasonable expectations that their meaning will be discerned. "Going out and skinning your knee(s)" certainly stood as an expression for reaching the age at which one can play out with friends and get into minor scrapes and accidents, at least in my West Midlands 1970s-80s upbringing.

Likewise, hoping the lack of real challenge or stimulation in the clues is just a holiday easing-off.

2 under, bit of a Christmas gift.

2 under

2 under and back to Quiptic/Quick cryptic difficulty levels

I seem to remember that I used to think the Guardian in particular got harder through the week. Or was it the Times?

Since kids I've very rarely sat down with a whole puzzle.

3 under.

Good luck with it. Post any clues here that you get stuck on? Sure we can crowd source it...

2 under

Also rediscovered the guardian crossword blog after years of not browsing it.

Got this one quickly, but almost guessed a near anagram of the correct answer (a different letter doubled) that certainly would have worked as a synonym of the first word in the clue. Checked myself partly because profanity rarely appears in crosswords!

Agree - the best clues are the ones that have an internal logic outside the context of the crossword and that you could imagine being written or uttered, or even sometimes have something of poetry about them. Today's is clearly only a crossword clue.

Jinxed myself for today by having said yesterday that I normally don't find these too challenging. Eventually guessed at the definition, then spotted the word-play. No real issue with that second letter, but agree with @mashton that you don't often see it clued that way.

Ah, think I have it, it was only the synonym of crack that was tenuous enough to have me doubting the answer...

Would I be far off if I thought the Great Dictator would qualify?

Bingo! If memory serves, it was in a puzzle where a few of the answers followed that self-referential theme of crossword-mechanics, so I think with the theme, the 4,6 pattern and the clue, I was happy that it had met the requirements of having both a definition and the mechanics included (it's the 'letter' that can be the translation of 'love' in cryptic crosswords).

More importantly, it made me smile and want to tell someone about it then explain it to them, which is the best test I can think of for a great clue.

Still not quite. Think O as a stand in for a zero

Close but not quite. Part of why I like it is that it's self-referential to crossword clue mechanics (i.e what does 'O' sometimes clue for...)