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 26,056 / Philistine

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I was rather disappointed yesterday to miss blogging Puck’s lovely offering by one day and so was doubly delighted to see Philistine’s name on today’s puzzle. To say that I was not disappointed … Read more >>

Guardian 26,049 / Gordius

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Yet another mixed bag from Gordius, with several examples of what I would call loose or vague cluing / definitions. Regular readers will know that seeing Gordius’ name on a puzzle does not … Read more >>

Guardian 26.042 / Rufus

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I think Rufus provides his own description of this Monday puzzle in the clue for 27ac, so no more comment here! Across 1 Perhaps he’s right to gamble and drink (7) SHERBET Anagram … Read more >>

Guardian 26,040 / Paul

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An entertaining and enjoyable puzzle from Paul today – not too difficult but quite a bit of misdirection, one way or another.   As well as some great misdirecting / story-telling surfaces , … Read more >>

Guardian 26,033 / Puck

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A highly entertaining puzzle from Puck, which turned out to be not so daunting as it looked initially [apart from one piece of parsing which has me completely stumped]. Along with some easy … Read more >>

Guardian 26,019 / Picaroon

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We seem to be  getting to see Picaroon more frequently, which is more than fine by me. Lots of witty, story-telling surfaces and ingenious constructions, as usual, contributing to a thoroughly enjoyable puzzle. … Read more >>

Guardian 26,012 / Rufus

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The usual Rufus potpourri of anagrams, double definitions and ‘cryptic’ definitions – some more so than others [one of which I’m not entirely sure of]. Across 1 Where they wash French articles without … Read more >>

Guardian 26,008 / Brendan

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A pleasant surprise to find Brendan’s name on this puzzle, with another ingenious theme, succinctly indicated at 19 ac. I found the solving of this rather easier than usual for a Brendan but … Read more >>

Guardian 26,003 / Paul

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Lots of fun and games today – not all to do with solving / parsing the puzzle! Technical problems at the Guardian made providing the clues for the blog a little more problematic … Read more >>

Guardian 25,998 / Gordius

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I don’t know how many times I [and others] have described a Gordius puzzle as ‘a mixed bag’. Well, here’s another. Those who found Paul’s puzzle yesterday a bit of a struggle will … Read more >>

Guardian 25,988 / Chifonie

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It’s Chifonie, not Rufus, providing the ‘gentle start to the week’ today, so there’s more in the way of simple charades than double and cryptic definitions, which will please some people. There’s a … Read more >>