PeterO

Born 1944. I was introduced to cryptics, mainly the Telegraph, in the sixth form, as a group effort. This continued through college (physics), and after, but more sporadically after I moved to the US forty years ago. Now I am semi-retired from programming - I drive school buses - I have time to troll the internet for crosswords to my heart's content. I regularly do the Guardian, Independent FT and Private Eye. Despite rather regular entries to Private Eye and the Guardian Genius, the nearest I have come to winning anything was on a book publishers' website, a crossword compiled by Eddie James, I think. As the prizes included a bottle of Champagne, to avoid customs problems, I entered in my brother-in-law's name. He was somewhat surprised to win.

Guardian Nº 25,387 by Paul

Fri July 29, 2011 at 10:35 amFri July 29, 2011 at 3:35 am by PeterO

The first time I have had a Paul to blog, and it did not disappoint, unless perhaps by being over too quickly – good for the blog if not for savouring the challenge.

Quiptic Nº 609 by Hectence

Mon July 18, 2011 at 3:02 am by PeterO

Some convoluted wordplays, and numerous liberties make this quite different from most other Quiptics, although I found that the answers came readily. Perhaps it should be regarded as an introduction to Araucarian style.

Everyman N° 3,380 (July 10)

Sun July 17, 2011 at 12:01 am by PeterO

A fine offering from Everyman, abounding in smooth surfaces, a good variety of clue types and no outlandishly convoluted wordplays.

Guardian Cryptic N° 25,368 by Gordius

Thu July 7, 2011 at 10:37 amThu July 7, 2011 at 2:51 am by PeterO

A straightforward but pleasing offering from Gordius.

Guardian Quiptic Nº 605 by Arachne

Mon June 20, 2011 at 12:47 pmMon June 20, 2011 at 4:00 am by PeterO

Another Arachne quiptic for me to blog, which suits me very well; her clues are elegant and smoothly surfaced. There are a few general knowledge references which may not be so general, but … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic Nº 25,349 by Orlando: A tall story

Wed June 15, 2011 at 12:30 pmWed June 15, 2011 at 4:35 am by PeterO

This time a title is in order, since tales are plastered all over the clues. Enjoyable, with some fine surfaces and a few convoluted wordplays. Across 1. Far from gayest sort of sodomite? … Read more >>

Everyman Nº 3,374 (29 May)

Sun June 5, 2011 at 12:01 am by PeterO

I found this distinctly easier than last week’s Everyman, with mostly simple wordplays, which should help if the range of your general knowledge does not coincide with the compiler’s. Across 1. Win and … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic No 601 by Moley

Mon May 23, 2011 at 10:43 amMon May 23, 2011 at 4:18 am by PeterO

A Quiptic setter new to me, she hits the entry level spot on, with varied clue types, and nothing too convoluted. Across 4. Large flag for an Egyptian god (6) OSIRIS Charade of … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic No 25,329 by Rufus

Mon May 23, 2011 at 3:07 am by PeterO

I found this easier than some recent Rufuses; not too heavy on the cryptic definitions (which I regard as a plus), but making up for it in the envelope department – if not … Read more >>

Guardian No 25,320 by Brendan

Fri May 13, 2011 at 1:35 amThu May 12, 2011 at 4:43 pm by PeterO

An entertaining offering from Brendan. … … … … The appearance of envelopes in almost every clue must be a theme of sorts; then there is the device indicated in 13A, for which … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic No. 25,315 by Chifonie

Fri May 6, 2011 at 3:40 am by PeterO

Very definitely plain sailing, and none the worse for that. Across 1. French town’s brochure revised? Good! (9) CHERBOURG Charade of CHERBOUR, an anagram (‘revised’) of ‘brochure’ + G (‘good’). 6. Make sense … Read more >>

Everyman crossword No 3,368

Sun April 24, 2011 at 10:03 pmSun April 24, 2011 at 12:01 am by PeterO

This did not strike me as a top-notch Everyman. There are several simple charades where the answer is two words (or one word articulating naturally into two parts), and the wordplay just defines … Read more >>

Guardian 25,296 by Araucaria

Thu April 14, 2011 at 5:10 am by PeterO

I note the number of times in this post that I have added a note on the definition, more often because of obliqueness than obscurity. … I am fortunate to draw another very … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic N° 593 by Arachne

Mon March 28, 2011 at 12:08 pmMon March 28, 2011 at 3:50 am by PeterO

An amusing offering from the Spider Woman, notable for some fine surfaces. Across 1. Exclusive property, often used in films (7,7) SPECIAL EFFECTS Charade of SPECIAL (‘exclusive’) + EFFECTS (‘property’). 8. A month … Read more >>

Guardian 25,277 by Bonxie

Wed March 23, 2011 at 3:28 am by PeterO

A brief offering, mainly because I started out with yesterday’s crossword by mistake! Across 1,23. Pick off reptile hiding in French 9 (6,5) CULLEN SKINK Charade of CULL (‘pick off’) + EN (‘in … Read more >>