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duncanshiell's avatarduncanshiell

Born in 1948. I retired from full-time work in May 2007, after 37 years with Ordnance Survey and associated bodies and now have time to devote to crosswords, something not available for many years. Product of 17 years in the Scottish education system, but lived overseas or in southern England for virtually all of the time thereafter. I moved back to Scotland in 2010. Regular road runner and recently returned to orienteering and golf after a 35 year gap. Developed interested in cryptic crosswords in the mid 1960s (Scotsman, Sunday Express skeleton), but working overseas and then raising a family, meant dropping out of crossword solving for about 30 years. Now a regular solver of Times, Guardian, Independent, Inquisitor, Listener and Magpie crosswords. Reasonably regular finisher of the first four. Started blogging in late 2007. Any solving ability far outweighs any clueing ability. Krypton Factor contestant 1983; eliminated in the first round, but the obstacle course finish made good television!

Guardian 28900 / Paul

Fri October 28, 2022 at 7:26 am by duncanshiell

The regular Guardian blogger is travelling today and unavailable to write the blog.  I have ventured out of Independent and Inquisitor territory to stand in for him.       Paul is a … Read more >>

Categories Guardian 50 Comments

Independent 11244 / Eccles

Wed October 26, 2022 at 7:25 am by duncanshiell

Eccles continues to deliver crosswords with excellent surfaces for clever clues.       This week we have a crossword with a strong political theme, but I wonder whether Eccles realised that one … Read more >>

Categories Independent 14 Comments

Inquisitor 1773: Rames by Radler

Tue October 25, 2022 at 10:00 am by duncanshiell

We have an Inquisitor from Radler this week.  We see a Radler puzzle about once a year. the previous one appearing in November 2021. We had a fairly short preamble telling us that … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 16 Comments

Independent 11239 / Tees

Thu October 20, 2022 at 7:25 am by duncanshiell

Tees is probably the most prolific setter in the Independent weekday series at the moment and here he is again today.       I thought there some excellent clues in this puzzle … Read more >>

Categories Independent 13 Comments

Independent 11234 / Phi

Fri October 14, 2022 at 7:25 am by duncanshiell

Phi ends the Independent series working week, as he usually does       There are some unusual entries in this puzzle – EXTRA JAM, HELIUM SPEECH, AMYGDALA, ANTEBELLUM and SCROFULA – to … Read more >>

Categories Independent 17 Comments

Independent 11225 / Rodriguez

Tue October 4, 2022 at 7:25 am by duncanshiell

Rodriguez fills the Tuesday Independent slot this week       Tuesday is usually theme day, but it took me a long time to see what was going on despite the clue to … Read more >>

Categories Independent 15 Comments

Azed 2624 – Right and Left

Tue October 4, 2022 at 12:01 am by duncanshiell

A special from Azed this week where he gives us one of his ‘Right and Left’ puzzles.       The clue at 1 across holds everything together and determines the right and … Read more >>

Categories Azed 8 Comments

Guardian Genius 231 / Picaroon

Sun October 2, 2022 at 8:31 amSun October 2, 2022 at 12:01 am by duncanshiell

The Guardian Genius this month is set by Picaroon       The preamble was fairly lengthy but quite understandable.  We were told that: All 12 across solutions contain within them a word … Read more >>

Categories Guardian Genius 19 Comments

Independent 11220 / Eccles

Wed September 28, 2022 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

It’s an Eccles puzzle today       We know where we stand with Eccles; no themes, no NINAs, just good smooth clues leading to fairly well known entries. TAPIOCA brought back some … Read more >>

Categories Independent 17 Comments

Inquisitor 1769: VI Fun by Wiglaf

Tue September 27, 2022 at 10:00 am by duncanshiell

We have a Wiglaf puzzle today.  Wiglaf is a fairly regular setter of Independent daily puzzles, but it is over three years since we last had a Wiglaf Inquisitor.       The … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 18 Comments

Independent 11215 / Bluth

Thu September 22, 2022 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

Bluth puzzles don’t appear on set days as the puzzles by some other setters often do, so it’s no surprise to see Bluth today.       I always enjoy a Bluth crossword … Read more >>

Categories Independent 15 Comments

Independent 11210 / Phi

Fri September 16, 2022 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

As usual, we have a puzzle from Phi on a Friday.       I can’t see a theme or a message in the grid, so I’ll just concentrate on the clues.  I … Read more >>

Categories Independent 12 Comments

Independent 11201 / Atrica

Tue September 6, 2022 at 8:26 amTue September 6, 2022 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

I think this is my first blog of an Atrica puzzle even though the setter first appeared nearly three years ago.       Recently, I have been blogging puzzles ripe for a … Read more >>

Categories Independent 16 Comments

Independent 11196 / Raider

Wed August 31, 2022 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

Riader is a fairly new setter who has published three Independent puzzles since the first one in November 2021.  This is my first experience blogging a Raider puzzle.       Wednesday is … Read more >>

Categories Independent 10 Comments

Inquisitor 1765: 4x5x6 by Artix

Tue August 30, 2022 at 10:00 am by duncanshiell

Artix is an infrequent setter of Inquisitor puzzles.  This is the fifth in nearly seven years.  Looking back through the puzzles there didn’t seem to be a common theme, so I reckoned it … Read more >>

Categories Inquisitor 23 Comments
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