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 25,224 by Rover

Thu January 20, 2011 at 2:48 pmThu January 20, 2011 at 3:56 am by PeterO

A very mixed bag. Lots of simple anagrams, with various anagrinds, some more satisfactory than others. Most of the rest are equally simple constructions, so that the puzzle starts to shape up as … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic No 581 by Pan

Mon January 3, 2011 at 3:12 am by PeterO

I think this one fills the Quiptic slot very well, with no obscurities of vocabulary, construction or references. ACROSS 1 PANATELLA Anagram (‘change’) of ‘lent a pal’ + ‘a’. 6 COST Envelope of … Read more >>

Guardian 25205 by Araucaria How the Monkey Puzzle….

Wed December 29, 2010 at 12:01 am by PeterO

{This is just to hide the spoiler} … … … ….got his prickles. Vintage Araucaria – highly allusive, a wide range of references, numerous liberties, a delight as well as a struggle to … Read more >>

Everyman No 3,350

Sun December 19, 2010 at 10:50 pmSun December 19, 2010 at 12:01 am by PeterO

Apart from one (or perhaps two) less well-known personages, there seems to be little to complain about. ACROSS 1 CORDON BLEU Anagram (‘somehow’) of ‘old bouncer’. The definition refers to a graduate of … Read more >>

Guardian Cryptic No 25,186 by Rufus

Mon December 6, 2010 at 3:31 am by PeterO

Rufus’ usual gentle start to the week, with a couple of quibbles. ACROSS 1 MISHAPS Anagram (‘anyway’) of ‘pass him’. 5 ACCEDES Charade of AC (‘bill’) + CEDES (gives way’). 10 CHIT Double … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic No 577 by Orlando

Mon December 6, 2010 at 2:51 pmMon December 6, 2010 at 2:29 am by PeterO

A grid with a fair number of unchecked first letters, but straightforward clue construction overcame that potential hazard. ACROSS 8 MEMSAHIB Charade of MEMSA – anagram (‘possibly’) of ‘Emmas’ – + HI (‘greeting’) … Read more >>

Guardian 25,172 by Araucaria – A Labour of Love

Fri November 19, 2010 at 10:04 amFri November 19, 2010 at 4:03 am by PeterO

The luck of the draw gives me an Araucaria for my first Cryptic blog. Not vintage Araucaria, perhaps, and nothing too difficult (thankfully). It is always satisfying when I can look at 1 … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic no. 573 by Nutmeg

Mon November 8, 2010 at 1:22 pmMon November 8, 2010 at 3:53 am by PeterO

I found this one more difficult than many a Guardian Cryptic. Several of the entries seemed at first to have far too much clue for the answer, which is generally a sign that … Read more >>

Everyman 3,344

Sun November 7, 2010 at 12:01 am by PeterO

Mostly straightforward; a couple of plant names which are reasonably common, but which might give trouble to those who are non compost mentis (apologies all round). Notably smooth surfaces. ACROSS 1 STRIFE Charade … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 569, by Arachne

Mon October 11, 2010 at 11:28 amMon October 11, 2010 at 5:53 am by PeterO

I found the bottom half of this puzzle went smoothly, but the top half was more challenging. Most of the clues are of exemplary Ximenean form, with clear dictionary definitions; the relatively few … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic 565 by Nutmeg

Mon September 13, 2010 at 3:19 am by PeterO

Mostly straightforward, with a few less usual definitions, and a couple of more elaborate wordplays Across 1 BEEF UP Reversal (‘setback’) of FEE (“what’s earned’) in PUB (‘bar’). 5 AUBRETIA Charade of AUBRE[y] … Read more >>