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 27,761 / Nutmeg

Wed March 6, 2019 at 10:54 amWed March 6, 2019 at 10:04 am by Eileen

It’s Nutmeg here to brighten our Wednesday. I’ve had to rewrite this preamble, as I solved the puzzle in my newspaper and was disconcerted to find an unfortunate error in the clue for … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 27,752 / Paul

Sat March 2, 2019 at 11:52 amSat March 2, 2019 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Paul has had a bit of a delve into his box of tricks for this week’s Prize puzzle. I found this rather slow going at first, with nothing entered in the bottom half … Read more >>

Guardian 27,754 / Shed

Tue February 26, 2019 at 9:16 am by Eileen

A welcome return for Shed – we haven’t seen him over here since last July but he was in the FT as Dogberry last month, so I hope we’re going to see him … Read more >>

Guardian 27,747 / Vulcan

Mon February 18, 2019 at 9:07 am by Eileen

It’s Vulcan back in the Monday slot. We have the familiar medley of charades, anagrams and double / cryptic definitions, some of which I found rather weak, to ease us into … Read more >>

Sloggers and Betters – Leicester, May 4th

Sun February 24, 2019 at 12:22 pmSun February 17, 2019 at 12:00 pm by Eileen

Just to let you know in good time to put the date in your diary that this year’s ‘Derby Day’, arranged by the East Midlands Consortium [Chris and Lynette {aka Bert and Joyce}, … Read more >>

Guardian 27,745 / Paul

Fri February 15, 2019 at 5:22 pmFri February 15, 2019 at 10:37 am by Eileen

Predictably, Paul makes his weekly appearance today, since tomorrow is not his turn for his fortnightly Prize slot. Paul is craving a fair bit of our indulgence today, I think, with several of … Read more >>

Guardian 27,738 / Imogen

Thu February 7, 2019 at 11:07 amThu February 7, 2019 at 10:24 am by Eileen

An enjoyable puzzle from Imogen for this Thursday morning. The construction of the clues was pretty straightforward – in fact, less of a challenge than Imogen often is – but they were all … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 27,728 / Paul

Sat February 2, 2019 at 8:00 amSat February 2, 2019 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Unsurprisingly, Paul appears in his customary fortnightly Prize slot and thus coincides with my monthly blog. This was a challenge worthy of a Prize puzzle and I enjoyed solving it. I’m not always … Read more >>

Guardian 27,731/ Picaroon

Wed January 30, 2019 at 12:03 pmWed January 30, 2019 at 9:30 am by Eileen

I shall not be surprised if crypticsue includes a reference to ‘lucky Eileen’ in any possible comment. 😉 A challenging and absorbing puzzle from Picaroon. I had very few entries on my first … Read more >>

Guardian 27,724 / Arachne

Tue January 22, 2019 at 5:44 pmTue January 22, 2019 at 9:03 am by Eileen

It’s been a couple of months since the last Arachne puzzle and I count myself lucky to have landed my second blog in a row. Without surprise, I find I can repeat my … Read more >>

Guardian 27,717 / Brendan

Mon January 14, 2019 at 9:59 am by Eileen

Brendan again on a Monday – Hurrah! A very clever puzzle, whose theme [which didn’t become completely apparent until near the end of the solve] is hinted at in 10ac. In … Read more >>

Guardian 27,715 / Boatman

Fri January 11, 2019 at 9:16 am by Eileen

This is my third Boatman blog in a row! I thought this was a clever puzzle, with its unmissable theme of prime numbers, together with ingenious exploitation of other meanings of … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 27,704 / Paul

Sat January 5, 2019 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Owing to the seasonal intervention of Maskarade’s Jumbo puzzle, I find myself back again in sync with Paul’s customary fortnightly appearance in the Saturday Prize slot. After some great puzzles over the Christmas … Read more >>

Guardian 27,708 / Chifonie

Thu January 3, 2019 at 9:41 am by Eileen

We thought for quite a while that Chifonie had settled comfortably into the Monday slot vacated by Rufus but here he is for the second time in a row on a Thursday, the … Read more >>

Guardian 27,701 / Picaroon

Wed December 26, 2018 at 12:29 pmWed December 26, 2018 at 10:34 am by Eileen

I haven’t blogged on Boxing Day before and I was quite surprised to be reminded that there is a paper today. After a most enjoyable day yesterday, I have no social commitments until … Read more >>