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 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 >>

Everyman No 3,362

Sun March 13, 2011 at 11:00 pmSun March 13, 2011 at 12:01 am by PeterO

And the envelope contains… Across 1. I’m so sexy in new lace undergarment (8) CAMISOLE Envelope (‘in’) of MISO, an anagram (‘sexy’) of ‘Im so’ in CALE, an anagram (‘new’) of ‘lace’. 5. … Read more >>

Guardian Quiptic No 589 by Orlando

Mon February 28, 2011 at 2:44 pmMon February 28, 2011 at 3:30 am by PeterO

Together with the Rufus, we have a veritable blizzard of double definitions today. Across 1. Where Marco Polo went in a yacht, wandering (6) CATHAY Anagram (‘wandering’) of ‘a yacht’. Cathay is an … Read more >>

Guardian 25,257 by Rufus

Mon February 28, 2011 at 2:17 pmMon February 28, 2011 at 2:35 am by PeterO

Nothing very demanding – notably heavy on double definitions, and only a hint of a cryptic definition. Across 1. Influences or distorts the standard (7) COLOURS Triple definition. 5. Makes an entry, a … Read more >>

Guardian No 25,243 by Arachne

Fri February 11, 2011 at 10:37 amFri February 11, 2011 at 3:37 am by PeterO

There are some clever clues here, and a few too clever by far for me. Across 1. Bird’s noise when pushing out many eggs (6) CUCKOO KOO is ‘many eggs’, which is the … Read more >>

Quiptic crossword No 585

Mon January 31, 2011 at 1:50 am by PeterO

I was feeling particularly leaden, and made heavy weather of solving this, but in writing it up there does not seem to be anything to struggle over: mostly straightforward charades and envelopes. Across … Read more >>

Everyman No 3,356

Sun January 30, 2011 at 12:01 am by PeterO

A few mild obscurities, perhaps, but plenty of smooth surfaces. Thanks to The Trafites and to PeeDee for the tools to help create this blog. Across 1. A master of light farce with … Read more >>

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 >>