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 27,027 / Paul

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  I was expecting Paul today, since he seems to appear every week these days – and here he is on top form. There is some very witty and ingenious cluing here and … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 27,010 / Paul

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A fairly mild Prize puzzle from Paul, after some tough challenges during the previous week. Paul has given us some easy charades, at 12,22,24,27ac and 7 and 18dn, to get us started / … Read more >>

Guardian 27,013 / Chifonie

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Here’s the second Chifonie puzzle I have blogged in two weeks – after a rather long absence, Chifonie appears to be back! A straightforward puzzle, with a characteristic medley of anagrams, charades and … Read more >>

Guardian 26,999 / Chifonie

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It’s an unusually long time since we had a Chifonie puzzle and even longer since a Rufusless Monday. Apart from what I think must be a mistake in 20ac, we have a pretty … Read more >>

Guardian 26,990 / Pan

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Grrrh! On a busy morning, my laptop turned itself off without warning just as I was finishing the blog and when I plugged in, it had disappeared! I hope I haven’t made too … Read more >>

Guardian 26,983 / Imogen

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A reasonably straightforward puzzle from Imogen this morning. I found this rather less of a challenge than usual for Imogen. I liked the homophone clues and 5dn made me smile but, otherwise, I … Read more >>

Guardian 26,969 / Rufus

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Here’s Rufus, with an entetaining medley of double and cryptic definitions and some neat anagrams, with lovely surfaces, as ever, to launch us into the week. Thanks, Rufus – I enjoyed it. Across 9 … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,962 / Vlad

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After blogging a difficult Paul puzzle on Thursday and battling with a fiendish one from Enigmatist on Friday, I was wondering what on earth was in store for us on Saturday. It turned … Read more >>

Guardian 26,967 / Tramp

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It’s many months since I blogged a Tramp puzzle and so I was delighted to land this one. I was a bit put out at first by the capital letters in 14,10, 20ac … Read more >>

Guardian 26,960 / Paul

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A rather tough challenge from Paul today, especially in the parsings, one of which I’m still not sure of. Thanks to Paul for the workout. Across 8 Italian broadcast in stereo (8) TORINESE … Read more >>