Eileen

I’ve been doing cryptic crosswords since university days, learning how with a group of friends in coffee breaks. The Guardian crossword has been part of my life for most of the time since. Since retiring from teaching (originally Classics and, subsequently, when that was dropped from the curriculum, mostly English and History), having serendipitously stumbled on 15², I discovered that I could get the Indy and FT puzzles online and so I now add those, when they are set by my favourite compilers. Occasionally, I try the Genius and have even submitted a few. (Some years ago, I won a Collins dictionary in the Guardian Prize lottery, which established it as my referred reference.) I don’t take note of solving times: I enjoy taking time savouring the construction and particularly the surface of clues and always feel slightly disappointed when I finish too quickly. My one regret is my complete failure to enthuse any member of my family with cryptic crosswords.

Guardian 28,622 / Qaos

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Qaos puzzles seem to appear quite often on a Tuesday and I’m not complaining today… …except that the one thing we know about Qaos’ puzzles is that they always have a theme, which … Read more >>

Guardian 28,615 / Pan

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Pan starts the week for us with a generally straightforward and enjoyable puzzle. As usual with this setter, there are smooth and witty surfaces throughout and some neat constructions. I particularly liked 10ac … Read more >>

Guardian 28,613 / Brendan

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It’s Brendan rounding off the week in characteristic style. I’m always delighted to see Brendan’s name on a puzzle, especially when I’m blogging it, but it also gives me a 1dn feeling, knowing … Read more >>

Guardian 28,606 / Crucible

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It’s always a pleasure to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle and this one didn’t disappoint. There seems to be a mini-theme of numbers running through the clues, with the central 16ac giving … Read more >>

Guardian 28,599 / Nutmeg

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Another enjoyable and meticulously clued puzzle from Nutmeg, with some interesting definitions. I liked all the long perimeter clues and also had ticks for 16 and 20ac and 4, 11, 17, 19 and … Read more >>

Guardian 28,592 / Tramp

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It’s Tramp providing our entertainment today, with a puzzle that I found a delight from beginning to end. I haven’t detected a theme, apart from a couple of references to dentistry – but … Read more >>

Guardian 28,585 / Vulcan

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Vulcan starts the week with a reasonably straightforward puzzle. A typical Monday medley, with several double / cryptic definitions and some neat anagrams. I liked the surfaces of 16ac and 3dn. Thanks to … Read more >>

Guardian 28,583 / Picaroon

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There’s no better way to round off a fine week of puzzles than one from Picaroon, on top of his form. Some excellent clues here – the outstanding one, for me, at 24ac … Read more >>

Guardian 28,576 / Vlad

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Vlad sets a fairly tough challenge today, especially in the parsing department… … where, to my chagrin, after much staring and head-scratching, I need help in a couple of places (17 and 27 … Read more >>

Guardian 28,569 / Crucible

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A welcome return for Crucible to fill the mid-week slot. We have a practically unmissable, I think, impressively wide-ranging theme of sports and games, in both clues and answers, with characteristically sound cluing … Read more >>

Guardian 28,562 / Philistine

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It’s six months since I blogged a Philistine puzzle – but this one was well worth the wait. I found this completely absorbing and enjoyable from beginning to end. As usual with this … Read more >>

Guardian 28,558 / Paul

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I’m standing in for Andrew, who’s holidaying in the Highlands, lucky chap. My heart sank a bit when, on a quick run-through, I saw all the references to ‘6’ but I’d solved 22ac … Read more >>