Daniel Peake

Thank you Amoeba! A lovely crossword - and argh for the setter watching me. Always makes me feel nervous, like I'm grading your work and/or taking an exam!

Thank you for the lovely crossword Amoeba! There was one clue that was *quite obviously* my favourite this week.

Sorry that I find the first crossword quite hard work this week. New brain is on order and should be shipped to me within thirty to forty working years.

Sorry you'll have to speak louder as I can't hear you over the rotors of my private helicopter

A scratchcard with “2x” as one of the symbols. This means I win 2 time the £1 prize = £2 win.

It’s Day 4 of #Scratchvent and will we win two days in a row..?

YES! We will - today is a £2 win.

This means I have won £8 in 4 days.

Don’t worry, I’m sure we are getting all the good cards out of the way early…

I only won £10 last year in total, we’ve nearly hit that already!

“Can you rinse the glasses out so I can return them to the pub? Thanks”

All fine - just a wet counter and a grumpy Dan.

It’s cleaner than it was, definitely. Can’t say it is *really* clean though.

Irritatingly it should have six sides but I forgot that when making it. What kind of former meteorologist can I call myself?!

A poorly made paper snowflake made by folding up a piece of paper and using EXACTLY six scissor cuts (and a few hand tears)

Little taskmaster envelope saying DAY 3 BONUS TASK

Make the best snowflake using a piece of paper. You must make exactly six cuts. If you want to make more than six cuts, you must perform the entire exercise with your non-dominant hand.

For those doing the Taskmaster advent calendar, here is the result of today’s bonus task!

Lovely :)

I hope things pick up for you, Kip! I'm getting all this needless joy and merriment out of the way quickly. Bring on Scrooge! Bah humbug.

A winning scratchcard with a mini confetti cannon indicating a win, and £4 written underneath.

Let’s take a look at Day 3 of #Scratchvent … it’s a win of four pounds!!

£6 won in 3 days. Well ahead of the curve. Extremely disconcerting.

I will check the stats but I believe I this is the most I’ve won after Day 3 since records began (in 2017).

A tin of baked beans where the ring pull has snapped off.

Darn it.

At least your secrets are safe with me.

just poured boiling water on my pot noodle without opening the lid first

happy wednesday

sigh

Please continue with this!

Yay - that was nice! I like puzzles I can actually solve.

Are you available for any A Christmas Carol missing a Scrooge?! (I completely agree btw)

Despair *more* for humanity, I assume

I see what you did there :)

A losing scratchcard on Dans desk.

It’s Day 2 of #Scratchvent and today’s result is… a loss! That’s better, that’s the comforting arms of disappointment I have longed to know.

£2 won in 2 days.

I’m so sorry about that 🤣

I have a question about scratchcards on Lateral! In related news: Today’s #Scratchvent news coming up soon.

That is indeed my question!

I thought it was funny when booking the table… then wanted to die inside when I actually went.

I once booked a table at a Toby Carvery under Mister Roastbeef.

At arrival I got what can only be described as A Look.

A very cool visualisation that shows that the sunrises and sunsets change at different points around the winter solstice.

It varies by latitude, but for London sunsets reach their earliest first a week ish before solstice, then solstice, then latest sunrise happens a week ish later.

Dont worry, normal service will resume shortly…

Today is the first day of #Scratchvent 2025! It’s a 25-day advent calendar made up of scratchcards.

I’ll provide more stats and graphs as we get further into it but for now let’s just enjoy today’s card…

… a win!!
£2 won in 1 day.

I AM AHEAD OF THE CURVE!
(this will not last)

It is the fabled Horse With No Name.

I passed that horse before and after filming each day for four days! I may have said “horsey” under my breath each time.