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 28,711 / Brummie

by

It’s Brummie setting today’s challenge, so is there a theme today? You never know what to expect with him. I thought at first that 10ac and 4dn might be leading us somewhere but … Read more >>

Guardian 28,702 / Picaroon

by

Picaroon rounds off a good week of puzzles with an entertaining medley of ingenious constructions, witty definitions and amusing surfaces – a typical Picaroon puzzle, then. I learned new expressions at 12ac and … Read more >>

Guardian 28,695 / Paul

by

It’s Paul back today, less than a week after his Saturday Prize puzzle. I must admit to feeling not only exasperated at having to dot all over the grid, chasing Paul’s characteristic linked … Read more >>

Guardian 28,681 / Crucible

by

I’m always pleased to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle I’m down to blog and this one was as enjoyable as ever, with a nice range of clue types, clever constructions and smooth, … Read more >>

Guardian 28,672 / Enigmatist

by

My apologies for the late (and woefully inadequate) blog – nothing really to do with the fact that it’s an Enigmatist puzzle, when I was quite confidently expecting a Paul, since we haven’t … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 28,661 / Vlad

by

This, for me, was a real Saturday Prize puzzle – challenging to solve and parse and very satisfying to complete, with some smiles along the way. There’s the usual good variety of clue … Read more >>

Guardian 28,665 / Pasquale

by

It’s six months since I blogged a Pasquale puzzle and I enjoyed this tussle. Pasquale is noted for introducing us to less familiar / obscure words, almost invariably meticulously, so fairly, clued. This … Read more >>

Guardian 28,658 / Paul

by

Every so often, Paul produces a puzzle that reminds me of why he used to be one of my favourite setters. Today is one of those days. There is an overt, but not … Read more >>

Guardian 28,651 / Imogen

by

I blogged last month’s Imogen puzzle, where I said, ‘Imogen sets the challenge today, with his customary medley of straightforward and some more tricky clues.’ I think that holds good today, too. I … Read more >>

Guardian 28,642 / Harpo

by

We appear to have a new setter to end the year – Harpo has set us an interesting challenge. I really enjoyed this puzzle but I’m afraid I didn’t manage to get entirely … Read more >>