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 28,636 / Brendan

by

It’s good to be seeing Brendan’s name on the puzzle rather more often these days. I, for one, am not complaining. Brendan has, thoughtfully, indicated the theme of the puzzle in the clue … Read more >>

Guardian 28,629 / Imogen

by

Imogen fills the mid-week slot, with a generally straightforward puzzle … … apart from a couple of (for me) unknown words at 15 and 17dn, gettable from the clues. The perimeter clues were … Read more >>

Guardian 28,622 / Qaos

by

Qaos puzzles seem to appear quite often on a Tuesday and I’m not complaining today… …except that the one thing we know about Qaos’ puzzles is that they always have a theme, which … Read more >>

Guardian 28,615 / Pan

by

Pan starts the week for us with a generally straightforward and enjoyable puzzle. As usual with this setter, there are smooth and witty surfaces throughout and some neat constructions. I particularly liked 10ac … Read more >>

Guardian 28,613 / Brendan

by

It’s Brendan rounding off the week in characteristic style. I’m always delighted to see Brendan’s name on a puzzle, especially when I’m blogging it, but it also gives me a 1dn feeling, knowing … Read more >>

Guardian 28,606 / Crucible

by

It’s always a pleasure to see Crucible’s name on a puzzle and this one didn’t disappoint. There seems to be a mini-theme of numbers running through the clues, with the central 16ac giving … Read more >>

Guardian 28,592 / Tramp

by

It’s Tramp providing our entertainment today, with a puzzle that I found a delight from beginning to end. I haven’t detected a theme, apart from a couple of references to dentistry – but … Read more >>

Guardian 28,585 / Vulcan

by

Vulcan starts the week with a reasonably straightforward puzzle. A typical Monday medley, with several double / cryptic definitions and some neat anagrams. I liked the surfaces of 16ac and 3dn. Thanks to … Read more >>

Guardian 28,576 / Vlad

by

Vlad sets a fairly tough challenge today, especially in the parsing department… … where, to my chagrin, after much staring and head-scratching, I need help in a couple of places (17 and 27 … Read more >>

Guardian 28,569 / Crucible

by

A welcome return for Crucible to fill the mid-week slot. We have a practically unmissable, I think, impressively wide-ranging theme of sports and games, in both clues and answers, with characteristically sound cluing … Read more >>