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 26,819 / Rufus

by

A traditional Rufus medley, with perhaps more anagrams and fewer cryptic and double definitions than usual. There are a couple of places where the cluing seems rather awry but it’s perhaps me being … Read more >>

Guardian 26,810 / Boatman

by

A clever themed puzzle from Boatman, with some intricate wordplay and some ‘innovative’ anagram indicators, together with some, for me, rather loose definitions. I think there may be some protests about obscurity or … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,794 / Picaroon

by

Another delightful box of tricks from Picaroon, brimming with wittily inventive and misdirecting clues, along with brilliant story-telling surfaces – a joy to solve, from beginning to end. I didn’t have many entries … Read more >>

Guardian26,796 / Nutmeg

by

I’m always pleased to find Nutmeg’s name on a puzzle, especially when I’m blogging because, even when there’s a bit of a challenge, I know I can completely trust the integrity of the … Read more >>

Guardian 26,787 / Imogen

by

A bit of a challenge from Imogen today – another fine puzzle to end another very good week. A couple of unfamiliar words at 11ac and 3dn but, as always with this setter, … Read more >>

Guardian 26,780 / Picaroon

by

I said yesterday that I was rather disappointed not to get Crucible’s puzzle to blog. And now here’s a cracker from another of my top favourite setters, on top form, sparkling with his … Read more >>

Guardian 26,758 / Paul

by

Not too taxing a puzzle from Paul today, with a number of anagrams, insertions, double definitions and charades to help things along. Thanks to him for being fairly gentle at a busy time  … Read more >>