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!

Independent 8343 / Anax

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Thursday is traditionally the day for the more difficult Independent daily crossword.       Some solvers may feel that today’s crossword touches or crosses the bounds of acceptability for a daily crossword.  Clearly … Read more >>

Independent 8338 / Phi

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Phi continues to  produce good crosswords that take just the right time to solve.       Phi produces puzzles that have something for all solving abilities.   In my view, this puzzle was … Read more >>

Azed 2139 / 2nd June

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This was a standard plain crossword from Azed with the usual mix of precise cluing and unfamiliar words.       Often when I blog an Azed puzzle there are a few clues … Read more >>

Independent 8290 / Phi

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Phi has a theme running through today’s puzzle.       Literature is not my strong point, but I managed to dredge up all the relevant Shakespeare CHARACTERs [9 across] from The TEMPEST … Read more >>