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 27,612 / Vlad

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It’s Vlad’s turn to wake us up [and how!] this Wednesday morning.     I found this quite a challenge, not least in the parsing department, but all the more satisfying for that. … Read more >>

Guardian 27,605 / Nutmeg

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A welcome appearance from Nutmeg this Tuesday morning.     There’s a distinct parliamentary flavour in the long answers [and perhaps elsewhere] in today’s puzzle. In my 17dn to the last Nutmeg puzzle … Read more >>

Guardian 27,598 / Vulcan

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Vulcan continues to slip comfortably into the Monday slot vacated by Rufus, to provide the traditional  ‘gentle start to the week’. We have the customary medley of anagrams, charades and double and cryptic … Read more >>

Guardian 27,596 / Paul

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I commented only last week on Paul’s fortnightly appearances in the Prize slot – and this week he pops up in the Friday slot instead [?]. [PS: I’d temporarily forgotten that it’s a … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 27,585 /Paul

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I was rather surprised to see Paul’s name on the Prize puzzle, after he’d already filled the Tuesday slot last week. I think we’re used to a weekly appearance from him by now … Read more >>

Guardian 27,568 / Pan

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A pleasant puzzle from Pan to start the week.     There’s sound cluing, some innovative anagram indicators and elegant and often witty surfaces throughout. Thank you, Pan – I enjoyed it. Definitions … Read more >>

Guardian 27,566 / Paul

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An enjoyable puzzle from Paul to end the week. Definitions are underlined in the clues. Across 1 Ugly thing, thorny area with trees (7) ORCHARD ORC [ugly thing] + HARD [thorny] 5 Only … Read more >>

Guardian 27,559 / Paul

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Paul makes his weekly appearance on Thursday this week.     A bit of a mixture of straightforward clues and a few trickier ones, including a couple of amusing ‘homophones’ and one or … Read more >>

Guardian 27,552 / Philistine

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The sun is shining even more brightly this morning, with a Philistine puzzle to solve.   Perhaps not quite so tricky as Philistine can be but most enjoyable, as ever – many thanks, … Read more >>

Guardian 27,537 / Philistine

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I was delighted to find one of my top favourites’ name on this Prize puzzle. As regular readers know, my solving method is, boringly, to go through the clues strictly in order but, when … Read more >>