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 Prize 26,651 / Paul

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Paul once again for the Prize puzzle – and a fairly straightforward one, too, I thought. I think the general consensus is that we should no longer expect the Prize crossword to be … Read more >>

Guardian 26,654 / Philistine

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Another box of delights from Philistine, brimming with witty surfaces and ingenious wordplay, and producing a number of ahas and chortles along the way. Many thanks, Philistine, for a lot of fun to … Read more >>

Guardian 26,647 / Arachne

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What a wonderful surprise to wake up and see the much-missed Arachne’s name on this puzzle! The trademark witty, story-telling surfaces and ingenious, intricate wordplay made for lots of smiles/laughs and ahas as … Read more >>

Guardian 26,640 / Rufus

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The usual Monday mélange from Rufus – with surfaces as satiny-smooth as ever and a couple to tickle this former teacher. Thanks to him for a typically genial start to the week Across … Read more >>

Guardian 26,631 / Paul

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It was something of a surprise to see a Paul puzzle with a theme that was so overtly stated and that at first sight seemed rather daunting. Paul had a wealth of outlandish … Read more >>

Guardian 26,617 / Imogen

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I always enjoy Imogen’s puzzles but I was rather alarmed, since I was blogging this one, not to have entered a single across clue on the first pass. However, 1dn got me started … Read more >>

Guardian 26,610 / Chifonie

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Not Rufus today but a similar medley of anagrams, double [but no cryptic] definitions, charades and insertions from Chifonie, to give the customary gentle start to the week. There are one or two … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 26,603 / Shed

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Preambles of blogs on Shed puzzles often include the words ‘welcome return’ or some such expression. It’s six months since we had Shed in the Prize slot. I remember how years [and I … Read more >>

Guardian 26,594 / Picaroon

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Once again I get to blog a Picaroon puzzle and I’m certainly not complaining. We’re still not being allowed to forget the election: there are a number of political references here, with some … Read more >>