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 25,238 / Brummie

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I think I’ve said before that I’m always a little apprehensive when I see Brummie’s name on a puzzle that I’m about to solve, let alone blog. However, it fairly quickly all came … Read more >>

Guardian 25,241 / Gordius

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A fairly typical Gordius, I think, comprising mostly anagrams, simple charades and/or insertions and double definitions, with several niggles, as usual for me with this setter. Across 7   DOG-COLLAR: DOG [reversal of GOD … Read more >>

Guardian 25,231 / Quantum

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Pondering what to say in the preamble has taken almost as long as the solve – and I still haven’t come up with anything appropriate. To say that I was surprised to see … Read more >>

Guardian 25,221 / Rufus

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There are some slightly trickier clues here today from Rufus but there are the expected ingenious anagrams and witty surfaces, with rather fewer cryptic definitions, I think, for those who dislike them. Anyway, … Read more >>

Guardian 25,217 / Arachne

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There’s something for everyone here: art, opera, literature, geology and science. I have niggles about one or two definitions but there are some clever clues, with some good anagrams and smooth surfaces, giving … Read more >>

Guardian 25,207 / Orlando

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Orlando’s puzzles are always entertaining and I’m pleased to get one of his for my last blog of the year. There’s a good variety of cluing, with smooth, often witty, surfaces throughout, some … Read more >>

Guardian 25,194 / Paul

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‘The best laid schemes … ‘ My plan was to stay up and solve this puzzle when it was published and provide an early blog, for once. Alas, I fell asleep at about … Read more >>

Guardian 25,184 / Brummie

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I never quite know what to expect from Brummie, so was a bit 9ac when I started this puzzle. I needn’t have worried – it turned out to be quite straightforward and a … Read more >>

Guardian 25,177 / Paul

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I’m a late substitute today, so apologies for any errors or omissions. I had plenty of smiles – and some outright laughs – with this entertaining Paul puzzle. There’s just one query – … Read more >>

Guardian 25,174 / Rufus

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It’s Monday,  it’s Rufus, with the usual elegant mix of story-telling anagrams and cryptic and double definitions. I have one real quibble, which I think is a typographical error and / or editorial … Read more >>