duncanshiell

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!

Inquisitor 1269: Work in Progress by Gila

Wed February 27, 2013 at 2:00 am by duncanshiell

This is Gila’s second appearance as an Inquisitor setter. His first puzzle was number 1240 ‘Solve for X and Y’ which I was also lucky enough to blog. There was … Read more >>

Independent 8223 / Scorpion

Thu February 21, 2013 at 10:22 amThu February 21, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

This puzzle from Scorpion made me think quite a bit before I solved it all. I normally write the blog for these puzzles a day or two in advance by accessing … Read more >>

Independent 8218 / Phi

Fri July 7, 2017 at 5:03 pmFri February 15, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

This didn’t strike me as a standard Phi puzzle today. There seemed to me to be more obscure words today than one would normally find in a Phi puzzle. My … Read more >>

Independent 8209 / Radian

Tue February 5, 2013 at 9:10 amTue February 5, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

Radian is a regular setter in the Independent (and also the Guardian and Financial Times under different pseudonyms. I note he is in the Guardian today as Crucible). Radian is keen on themes … Read more >>

Azed 2121

Sun February 3, 2013 at 11:45 amSun February 3, 2013 at 2:00 am by duncanshiell

This was a a fairly standard plain Azed puzzle with his usual high quality cluing. I was pleasantly surprised by how many clues I solved on the first run through … Read more >>

Independent 8204 / Crosophile

Wed January 30, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

This is Crosophile’s first weekday outing of the year in the Independent series. We got our money’s-worth today with 32 clues. My experience of blogging the Independent is that 32 clues is the … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1265: A-trocity by Shark

Wed January 30, 2013 at 2:00 am by duncanshiell

Shark has set a number of Inquisitor puzzles and each has been very satisfying. I blogged one focused on Socrates and his comment that he didn’t know there were so many things he … Read more >>

Independent 8199 / Klingsor

Thu January 24, 2013 at 11:22 amThu January 24, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

Thursdays usually bring a challenging crossword. I think today’s offering from Klingsor certainly falls into the challenging category. For those who don’t know the names behind setters pseudonyms, Klingsor is … Read more >>

Independent 8194 / Phi

Fri January 18, 2013 at 6:31 pmFri January 18, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

This was an entertaining puzzle from Phi including some of his regular geographic allusions. Phi is a compiler based in Wellington, New Zealand and often includes flora and fauna native … Read more >>

Independent 8185 / Radian

Tue January 8, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

The first Radian puzzle of 2013 was an entertaining challenge. There were two themes woven into the clues and the entries. Events of 30,50, 60 and 113 years ago mingled … Read more >>

Independent 8180 / Dac

Wed January 2, 2013 at 10:25 amWed January 2, 2013 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

Dac continues in 2013, as he has done throughout 2012, with a well constructed challenge for the commuter on the Clapham omnibus. Dac doesn’t do themes or tricks or pangrams; … Read more >>

Inquisitor 1261: DIY Card by Rasputin

Wed January 2, 2013 at 2:00 am by duncanshiell

Rasputin is the pseudonym of a group of three crossword setters (Artix, Chalicea and Ilver). I only know that because Chalicea admitted to their composition by commenting on a previous Inquisitor crossword by … Read more >>

Independent 8175 / Klingsor

Thu December 27, 2012 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

There were some clever clues in this puzzle, including at least three &Lit ones. Also , a good bit of lateral thinking was required in places. The puzzle, to my mind, was an … Read more >>

Azed 2115

Sun December 23, 2012 at 2:00 am by duncanshiell

Another very sound set of clues from Azed, making full use of the more obscure meanings of words. You always know where you stand with Azed. If you feel unhappy with the parsing … Read more >>

Independent 8171 / Phi

Fri June 9, 2017 at 6:55 pmFri December 21, 2012 at 7:30 am by duncanshiell

It’s Friday, so it’s Phi with one of those grids that makes you look closely at the result. Earlier this year – around 7th February – the 200th anniversary of … Read more >>