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 28,493 / Pasquale

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Pasquale rounds off the week with an interesting and enjoyable puzzle. Apart from the exotic bird in 14dn, there were no words which were new to me or particularly obscure. The cluing is … Read more >>

Guardian 28,479 / Nutmeg

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Nutmeg is always a name to savour and here she is with a typically witty and elegant puzzle. There are some really lovely clues, with super surfaces. My favourites were 1, 10,11, 16, … Read more >>

Guardian 28,475 / Tramp

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Tramp is one of my favourite setters and so, as stand-in blogger today, I feel lucky that this puzzle fell to me to blog. There is a pervasive theme, inspired by the recent … Read more >>

Guardian 28,472 / Qaos

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I’m a fan of Qaos’ puzzles and I was pleased to see his name today. The added challenge is to spot the theme, because there always is one, and that makes me nervous … Read more >>

Guardian 28,465 / Vulcan

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Vulcan starts the week with a fairly typical Monday medley. We have several nifty anagrams and a number of cryptic definitions (some more so than others) and generally smooth surfaces in what I … Read more >>

Guardian 28,463 / Paul

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Since Paul  occupied the Saturday slot last week, I wasn’t surprised to see his name on today’s puzzle. From time to time, Paul produces a puzzle that reminds me of why he was … Read more >>

Guardian 28,456 / Brummie

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An entertaining, enjoyable and fairly straightforward puzzle from Brummie this morning. A good variety of clue types, with some clever anagrams and several double definitions (an observation, not a criticism). I can’t decide … Read more >>

Guardian 28,449 / Pasquale

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Pasquale sets the mid-week challenge, with a good variety of clue types and only one (for me) unfamiliar word at 1dn. I found this rather gentler than Pasquale can be, although I need … Read more >>

Guardian 28,442 / Brummie

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An entertaining puzzle from Brummie today, with some clever and witty clues. I thought the surfaces were generally smoother and more meaningful than is sometimes the case with this setter. More often than … Read more >>

Guardian 28,435 / Vulcan

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Vulcan provides the Bank Holiday entertainment, with a typical Monday medley of anagrams, charades and cryptic definitions and some nice surfaces. Thanks to Vulcan for the puzzle. Definitions are underlined in the clues. … Read more >>

Guardian 28,433 / Paul

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It’s giving nothing away to say that Paul has served up a fishy offering to round off the week. Lots of witty clues, with plenty of misdirection and not a risqué one in … Read more >>