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 8194 / Phi

by

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 8180 / Dac

by

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 >>

Azed 2115

by

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 >>

Azed 2109

by

This was a standard Azed competition puzzle in that all the clues were normal, except for the one entry that has to be clued by competitiors withm their submissions.       I … Read more >>