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 29,643/ Pasquale

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Pasquale pays one of his fairly rare visits to the Prize slot, with a typically well-constructed and meticulously clued puzzle, with a variety of clue types and one or two less familiar (or … Read more >>

Guardian 29,646 / Brummie

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It’s Brummie occupying the midweek slot again, with a reasonably straightforward puzzle. My apologies for a rather rudimentary blog, any errors or omissions and my possible inability to revisit later, owing to family … Read more >>