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 26,520 / Chifonie

March 16, 2015 at 9:31 am by Eileen

A change from Rufus on a Monday but a similar mix of anagrams and charades – no cryptic definitions, though, which will be a relief to some. Nothing too tricky, I think, but … Read more >>

Guardian 26,518 / Qaos

March 13, 2015 at 6:30 pmMarch 13, 2015 at 9:32 am by Eileen

It’s been a most remarkable week for crosswords and we end it with one by another of my favourite setters, sparkling with his customary wit and ingenuity. I seemed to be typing ‘anagram’ … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,507 / Paul

March 7, 2015 at 8:40 pmMarch 7, 2015 at 10:05 am by Eileen

This was one of those puzzles which, at first glance, with all the cross-references, cause the heart to sink a little and, at first glance, the two XXs looked a little daunting, too … Read more >>

Guardian 26,511 / Paul

March 5, 2015 at 9:24 pmMarch 5, 2015 at 10:12 am by Eileen

Lots of chuckles and a touch of déjà vu in a most enjoyable puzzle. Favourite clues: 1, 12, 20,18ac and 16dn. Many thanks, Paul. Across 1 Possibly time to finish messing about with … Read more >>

Guardian 26,504 / Brummie

February 25, 2015 at 9:59 am by Eileen

I enjoyed solving this one. As one who delights in witty, story-telling surfaces, I’ve sometimes despaired of some of Brummie’s but there are some really interesting pictures conjured up by some of these! … Read more >>

Guardian 26,497 / Brendan

February 17, 2015 at 12:44 pmFebruary 17, 2015 at 8:52 am by Eileen

It’s very good to see a Brendan puzzle again, relatively soon after his welcome return. As I solved this, I felt that he was being rather gentle with us: many of the clues … Read more >>

Guardian 26,490 / Rufus

February 9, 2015 at 8:47 am by Eileen

Don’t worry – this is not a complete take-over of the Guardian blogging slot: because of the way the rota works, my monthly Prize blog coincided with the overlap of the weekly ones, … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,483 / Philistine

February 7, 2015 at 12:30 pmFebruary 6, 2015 at 11:23 pm by Eileen

The first Philistine puzzle this year and it’s many months since I got to blog one, so this was a real treat for me. I don’t think it’s Philistine at his toughest but … Read more >>

Guardian 26,488 / Brummie

February 6, 2015 at 3:17 pmFebruary 6, 2015 at 10:07 am by Eileen

I didn’t know what to expect after a quite remarkable week of puzzles, so, before I went to bed, I sneaked a look at the Guardian website to see who awaited me in … Read more >>

Guardian 26,481 / Paul

January 29, 2015 at 5:26 pmJanuary 29, 2015 at 9:09 am by Eileen

A mixture of some very succinct / straightforward clues [the last three, for instance] which wouldn’t be out of place in a Rufus puzzle, and others which were typically Pauline ones, in construction … Read more >>

Guardian 26,474 / Otterden

February 3, 2015 at 8:39 amJanuary 21, 2015 at 10:05 am by Eileen

I’m going to echo Andrew’s preamble to his blog of the most recent Otterden puzzle: ‘I haven’t been particularly impressed by Otterden’s puzzles in the past, and I’m afraid this one has done … Read more >>

Guardian 26,467 / Nutmeg

January 13, 2015 at 12:54 pmJanuary 13, 2015 at 9:15 am by Eileen

I see that in the preamble to my last blog of a Nutmeg puzzle I referred to the elegance of the clues, the silky smoothness of the surfaces and the lightness of touch. … Read more >>

Guardian prize 26,459 / Puck

January 10, 2015 at 12:02 am by Eileen

What a treat to get a Puck puzzle for my first Prize blog of the new year! I solved and blogged this the day after solving and blogging an uncharacteristically squeaky-clean Paul puzzle. … Read more >>

Guardian 26,460 / Rufus

January 5, 2015 at 10:30 am by Eileen

Apologies for the late appearance of the blog – I managed to delete it on the point of posting. The first Monday of the year and it’s reassuringly Rufus to ease many people … Read more >>

Guardian 26,458 / Paul

January 2, 2015 at 4:53 pmJanuary 2, 2015 at 8:57 am by Eileen

A pretty straightforward offering from Paul this morning but several clues raised a wry smile. Thanks, Paul – I enjoyed it. Across 1 Deals on wheels? (7) TRAFFIC Double / cryptic definition … Read more >>