Private Eye/Cyclops

This surely rates as the gentlest start to a year yet, and the weather’s very mild for the time of year too. I had all but 4 answers filled in after the “first … Read more >>

Here’s hoping you all had a splendid time over the holidays, and wishing you a very happy and (cruciverbally, at the very least) successful 2012. This blog is due to appear for tomorrow … Read more >>

The festive season seems to have started early in the Eye with a couple of pantomimes opening. Solving-wise, I didn’t have any hold-up clues, and only needed one session to finish this.   As … Read more >>

I tackled this one on the train home from the Derby Sloggers and Betters. For some reason I fell asleep.  I was roused by a hearty chant from the carriage-load of football fans … Read more >>

I’m not sure why, but I found this a rather more challenging Cyclops than many recent ones, and all the better for it. There certainly seems to be a plethora of male genitalia … Read more >>

50th Anniversary of the Eye and I was half-hoping for a special Cyclops. What did I get? A relatively easy crossie made hard by being printed in the fuzziest print I’ve seen since … Read more >>

Even for a Cyclops, this one abounded in anatomical references. A fairly quick solve for me — nothing in the clues really held me up. Across 8 PSALTERY Players pissed round toilet’s entrance … Read more >>

This was one of the fastest solves of an Eye crossword for some time. Everything slotted in steadily from start to finish with none of the clues holding me up for any appreciable … Read more >>

Apologies for the late and rather hurried posting — I had this scheduled for yesterday, but got somewhat sidetracked. Across 1 SWISS ROLL National spin — a piece of cake! SWISS = National; … Read more >>

I expect newcomers to the Eye Crossword would find this tricky but to us long time Eye solvers this was a classic of its type. Cracking surfaces as usual, with the typical sexual … Read more >>

As usual when I blog a Cyclops, I was held up by the wordplay of just one clue — in this case, 2/11d. Otherwise, all pretty straightforward. And I am on time this … Read more >>

Who would have thought in 1986 that the pudgy little chap with the fearsome wit could take on the responsibilities of the sarcastic classes and make it his own.  In a way it … Read more >>

Oh dear, two whole weeks late! Circumstances (like having to go abroad for an emergency business meeting, being ill when I got back, etc.) conspired, but that’s not a good enough excuse. Just … Read more >>

Nothing here to stop an Eye solver polishing this off with several chuckles and no doubtful edges, i.e. no need to reach for Chambers this time. Which is just as well, because I … Read more >>

Back from watching England decisively beaten by Sri Lanka in the ODI at Lord’s, to finish and complete this blog. What held me up as a blogger was working out the wordplay of … Read more >>