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 25.868 / Rufus

Mon February 11, 2013 at 9:38 am by Eileen

I found this a rather trickier Rufus than usual. There are some really nice clues, with the usual smooth-as-silk surfaces, my favourites being 12, 13 and 14ac and 15 and 18dn, along with … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,861 / Araucaria

Sun February 10, 2013 at 6:39 amSat February 9, 2013 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Another beautifully cut and polished gem from Araucaria. On Monday, Hugh Stephenson’s Crossword Update gave a link to this photograph, taken last week by Steve Caplin, of Araucaria ‘playing’ with his Scrabble tiles. … Read more >>

Araucaria Newsnight crossword

Sat March 7, 2015 at 5:15 pmThu February 7, 2013 at 7:19 pm by Eileen

In response to a request in General Discussion, a blog of the puzzle, available here that Araucaria wrote for Tuesday evening’s ‘Newsnight’, in which he appeared. If you missed the programme, it can … Read more >>

Guardian 25,864 / Paul

Wed February 6, 2013 at 10:20 amWed February 6, 2013 at 9:33 am by Eileen

Not a lot of joy here for me today, with a theme in which I have little interest – but I’m glad to say that I did not resort to Google, except to … Read more >>

Guardian 25,859 / Brummie

Thu January 31, 2013 at 9:49 am by Eileen

An interesting and entertaining puzzle from Brummie, which turned out to be more straightforward than it looked at first sight. There are some clever and amusing surfaces, some of which may be a … Read more >>

Guardian 25,854 / Arachne

Fri January 25, 2013 at 11:45 amFri January 25, 2013 at 8:55 am by Eileen

What a treat, at the end of a week of excellent puzzles, to get a lovely puzzle from Arachne! Not quite such a tussle as it often is but full of the characteristic … Read more >>

Guardian 25,844 / Chifonie

Mon January 14, 2013 at 9:23 am by Eileen

It’s Chifonie, rather than Rufus, who’s providing today’s customary ‘gentle start’ to the week, with plenty of anagrams and charades but no cryptic definitions, as far as I can see – and a … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,837 / Araucaria

Sat January 12, 2013 at 11:51 amSat January 12, 2013 at 12:15 am by Eileen

I have blogged some pretty difficult Araucaria puzzles – and this one, as it happens, was not one of them – but this preamble, I think, must be the most difficult I’ve had … Read more >>

Guardian 25,840 / Audreus

Wed January 9, 2013 at 9:55 am by Eileen

We don’t see Audreus very often, so it’s always good to see her name on a puzzle. There were several smiles here, which made up for a couple of niggles, with some nice … Read more >>

Guardian 25,835 / Paul

Sun January 6, 2013 at 7:48 amThu January 3, 2013 at 8:24 am by Eileen

A classic Paul puzzle, brimming with clever, witty clues and ingenious constructions, providing several ahas and smiles while solving, along with – not surprisingly – a couple of lavatorial references. 16ac … Read more >>

Guardian 25,832 / Crucible

Mon December 31, 2012 at 5:20 pmMon December 31, 2012 at 1:50 pm by Eileen

Manehi has had travel problems today, so I’m a late substitute A most enjoyable topical puzzle on the theme of bells from Crucible, with all his usual wit and ingenuity, with lots of … Read more >>

Guardian 25,830 / Boatman

Fri December 28, 2012 at 8:47 am by Eileen

A Christmas cracker from Boatman – a very clever puzzle, which exploits its theme to the full, with some very witty clues, ingenious constructions and excellent surfaces. I came a bit of a … Read more >>

Guardian 25,821 / Rufus

Mon December 17, 2012 at 10:20 amMon December 17, 2012 at 9:33 am by Eileen

A fairly typical Rufus mix of anagrams and double and cryptic definitions, with the usual silky-smooth surfaces, mostly straightforward, which is no bad thing at this busy time, with a couple of [for … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,814 / Paul

Sat December 15, 2012 at 6:41 pmSat December 15, 2012 at 6:18 am by Eileen

A quick skim through the clues made me think I might not enjoy this theme much, because I didn’t expect to know some of the answers. ‘North American food’ didn’t sound like my … Read more >>

Guardian 25,817 / Araucaria

Wed December 12, 2012 at 9:53 am by Eileen

What looked for a while like a typically Araucarian mixture of obscurity and straightforwardness, with a few liberties thrown in, turned out to have more going on than I realised. Definitions are underlined. … Read more >>