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 29,228 / Brockwell

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Having blogged Brockwell’s first weekday cryptic puzzle (and enjoyed his Grecian in the Indy just yesterday) I’ve been looking forward to my next one and so I was pleased to see his name … Read more >>

Guardian 29,221 / Paul

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It’s unusual to see Paul on a Tuesday but I’m not complaining – I thoroughly enjoyed this puzzle, with a favourite earworm to accompany the solve and blog and to set me up … Read more >>

Guardian 29,214 / Brendan

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I blogged a Brendan puzzle only three days ago! (This is by no means a complaint.)   I said on Friday that blogging a Brendan puzzle invariably involves searching for a theme but … Read more >>

Guardian 29,212 / Brendan

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It’s been seven weeks exactly since Brendan’s last appearance, so it’s a treat to see him rounding off the week. I love solving Brendan’s puzzles but, when blogging, there’s always the frisson of … Read more >>

Guardian 29,205 / Pangakupu

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It’s Pangakupu setting the Thursday challenge today. Each time I solve one of this setter’s puzzles, it takes a few minutes to tune in to the wavelength but it’s usually an ultimately satisfying … Read more >>

Guardian 29,191 / Arachne

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It’s so good to see Arachne’s name again – here’s hoping that we’ll be seeing much more of her now. There’s all the usual wit and elegance on show here, with some excellent … Read more >>

Guardian 29,184 / Vulcan

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Vulcan steps predictably into his fortnightly Monday slot. We have the usual Monday medley of charades, anagrams and double and cryptic definitions. I quite liked 1, 10, 11 and 15ac and 8 and … Read more >>

Guardian 29,182 / Paul

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Paul rounds off the week with a puzzle that I found something of a challenge. I’m feeling decidedly 22ac today. I had a look at the Guardian crossword comments – they don’t do … Read more >>

Guardian 29,175 / Fed

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I’m always pleased to see Fed’s name on a puzzle that I’m down to blog, knowing that I’m in for an enjoyable challenge in the parsing department. All the hallmarks are there: ingenious … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 29,165 / Qaos

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It’s always good to see Qaos’ name on a puzzle that I’m blogging and particularly when it’s a Prize – although it has been mentioned several times recently that it is, apparently, the … Read more >>

Guardian 29,168 / Pangakupu

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Pangakupu provides the mid-week challenge this morning. Once again, it took a while to tune in to the wavelength but it was a satisfying puzzle to finish. There are some ingenious and interesting … Read more >>

Guardian 29,161 / Anto

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It’s Anto providing today’s challenge – my second Anto blog in a row. I began my previous blog with ‘I have not been one of the greatest fans of Anto’s puzzles but I … Read more >>