Eileen's avatarEileen

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 28,852 / Tramp

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I haven’t blogged a Tramp puzzle this year, so I was particularly pleased to find his name on this one this morning – and it was well worth the wait. Tramp gives us … Read more >>

Guardian 28,850 / Boatman

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A classic Boatman puzzle this morning, with several of his trademark features … … a theme exploiting the various meanings and uses of a single word, alternative uses of ‘Boatman’ – and a … Read more >>

Guardian 28,845 / Philistine

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I arrived home last night after a very enjoyable RSC production of ‘All’s well that ends well’ at Stratford close enough to the midnight deadline to stay up to see whose puzzle I … Read more >>

Guardian 28,838 / Vlad

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Vlad sets the midweek challenge, with a fairly tough puzzle, which was very satisfying to finish. There are many fine clues, showing Vlad’s customary wit and ingenuity. My favourites were the two long … Read more >>

Guardian 28,822 / Picaroon

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A delightful romp of a puzzle from Picaroon to end the week.   There were several laugh-out-loud clues, notably 11 and the audacious 26ac. I also particularly liked 14, 15 and 22 ac … Read more >>

Guardian 28,815 / Brummie

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It’s Brummie setting the challenge today, with an interesting and enjoyable puzzle.   Brummie’s puzzles often, but not always, have a theme. It was only as I began to write up the blog … Read more >>

Guardian 28,808 / Brendan

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It’s Brendan setting the mid-week challenge today, with a characteristically intricate grid-fill, making for a delightful penny-dropping solve.   Working through the clues in order, as usual, when I entered the answer for … Read more >>

Guardian 28,804 / Picaroon

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Having swapped this week’s blogging slots with Andrew, I was disappointed to find that I’d missed a Tramp puzzle on Tuesday – but, as it has turned out, we’ve both been lucky. Another … Read more >>

Guardian 28,792 / Nutmeg

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Nutmeg rounds off the weekday puzzles in fine form. An enjoyable solve, with some ingenious constructions, clever anagrams and witty surfaces, producing a few ‘aha’ moments. I decided that I had too many … Read more >>

Guardian 28,778 / Nutmeg

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A typically elegant and witty puzzle from Nutmeg this morning, with some straightforward,  but clever, charades to help the solve along and some chewier clues to keep the interest. I particularly liked the … Read more >>