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 26,803 / Picaroon

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It’s hard to believe my luck – a second Picaroon puzzle to blog in less than two weeks! The only trouble is I’m running out of things to say. 😉 It’s all here … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,794 / Picaroon

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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

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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 26,789 / Rufus

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Once again, Rufus fulfils his brief to ease us into the crossword week. As always with Rufus, there are some clever anagrams, with lovely surfaces [1, 15, 22 and 26ac]. There are fewer … Read more >>

Guardian 26,787 / Imogen

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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

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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 26,773 / Chifonie

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I’m in rather grumpy mode this morning: I’m in the minority here, I think, in that I actually pay for the paper – and hence the crossword – and so it was annoying, … Read more >>

Guardian 26,758 / Paul

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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 >>

Guardian Prize 26,747 / Paul

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Hurrah! – another prize puzzle like what they used to be: not too difficult but needing –  for me, at least –  a bit of teasing out and a bit longer time than a … Read more >>

Guardian 26,751 / Paul

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A lovely puzzle from Paul, ingenious and witty, with a most congenial, for me,  mini-theme. It caused a fair bit of head-scratching: several answers were inspired guesses, leading to relieved ‘ahas’ when the parsing … Read more >>

Guardian 26,737 / Nutmeg

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Another fine puzzle from Nutmeg, with characteristically elegant cluing and some ingenious / well-hidden definitions and great surfaces throughout. Many thanks, Nutmeg – I enjoyed it a lot. Across 1 Pays attention to compliments … Read more >>

Guardian 26,730 /Rufus

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Here’s Rufus with a fairly typical Monday medley of anagrams and double or cryptic definitions and a generous sprinkling of his trademark nautical references [plus five educational ones]. Thanks to him for the … Read more >>