Eileen

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 25,940 / Rufus

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A pretty typical Rufus puzzle for a sunny [!] Bank Holiday morning – lovely surfaces throughout, a fair sprinkling of anagrams and cryptic [some not so cryptic] definitions, some clever clues, like 24ac … Read more >>

Guardian 25,936 / Paul

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Another very entertaining puzzle [squeaky-clean today!] from Paul, with some clever clues, as usual, providing a number of smiles along the way. Many thanks for the fun, Paul – I really enjoyed it … Read more >>

Guardian 25,931 / Paul

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I think this is one of the easiest Paul puzzles I’ve solved – but no less enjoyable for that –  and, after yesterday, that’s perhaps a bit of a relief. Clues such as … Read more >>

Guardian 25,916 / Rufus

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The familiar Rufus medley of anagrams and double and cryptic definitions.  Some witty misdirection and the usual silky surfaces made this an entertaining puzzle for me – a couple of unusual words, but … Read more >>

Guardian 25,902 / Araucaria

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Typical Araucaria fare today, with familiar ploys which will tickle or exasperate, depending on your predilections. Needless to say, I loved it. Across 1 Call boy’s takeover HIJACK HI [call ] + JACK … Read more >>

Guardian 25,892 / Rufus

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Back to normal Monday with a Rufus puzzle, with perhaps fewer cryptic definitions than we sometimes have. There were some very neat anagrams, I thought, and some nice surfaces, as always. Many thanks, … Read more >>

Guardian 25,883 / Araucaria

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A real tour de force from Araucaria – one of those puzzles that make your heart sink, when you see so many clues depending on others, especially 10 and 14. At first sight, … Read more >>