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 Prize 26,340 / Picaroon

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Now this, from one of my favourite setters, is what I call a Prize puzzle – and I’m not talking about the much-disputed difficulty level. For me, there’s a ‘special’ feel about this: … Read more >>

Guardian 26,341 / Rufus

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It’s Monday, it’s Rufus, with the usual potpourri of anagrams and double and cryptic definitions – and the characteristic silky-smooth surfaces, with some smiles along the way. Thank you, Rufus, for a pleasant … Read more >>

Guardian 26,332 / Tramp

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I’d almost given up hope of blogging another Tramp puzzle, as it’s over a year since my last one. This one was, as expected, well worth waiting for. Tramp tells us from time … Read more >>

Guardian 26,325 / Paul

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As Conrad helpfully says, at comment 4,  “Anyone wishing to do this online should use the PDF not the print version. Apart from saying 166 where it means 16 it is fine.” A … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,316 / Crucible

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I’m always delighted to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle, especially when I’m down to blog it. I’m always delighted to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle, especially when it’s a Prize.  So … Read more >>

Guardian 26,318 / Shed

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A friendly grid and impeccable cluing, as ever from this setter, are a great help with several less familiar words in this puzzle from Shed, who, for me, doesn’t appear often enough. When … Read more >>

Guardian 26,311 / Rufus

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Another fairly typical Monday 5dn of nifty anagrams and double and cryptic [some more than others] definitions, with, characteristically, some nautical terms for good measure. Thank you, Rufus, for a pleasant start to … Read more >>

Guardian 26,309 / Puck

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I’m used to being delightfully led up the garden path by Puck and this time he did it good and proper – a real double bluff, as far as I ‘m concerned. I … Read more >>

Guardian 26,292 / Paul

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There was a lot of fun to be had in this puzzle – a mixture of pretty straightforward clues  [eg 12ac, 27ac, 1dn, 17dn], together with a number of anagrams to help things … Read more >>

Guardian 26,295 / Pasquale

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A combination of some very straightforward clues [eg 5ac, 16ac, 24ac, 4dn], a number of anagrams, including two excellent ones, and, unusually for Pasquale, only one word, I think, that could be called … Read more >>

Guardian 26,288 / Qaos

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A sunny morning made sunnier on seeing Qaos’ name on the puzzle I was down to blog. Lots of fun to be had here, with several penny-dropping moments and lots of Qaos’ customary … Read more >>

Guardian 26,281 / Rufus

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A fairly typical Rufus puzzle, with a number of neat anagrams and double definitions – though rather fewer cryptic definitions today. A couple of the double definitions are rather close in meaning but … Read more >>

Guardian 26,279 / Paul

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I haven’t been able to detect any encrypted references to the D-day landings  but, as ever, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any. Here is Paul in Mr Clean mode, with a puzzle that … Read more >>