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 Prize 29,643/ Pasquale

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Pasquale pays one of his fairly rare visits to the Prize slot, with a typically well-constructed and meticulously clued puzzle, with a variety of clue types and one or two less familiar (or … Read more >>

Guardian 29,646 / Brummie

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It’s Brummie occupying the midweek slot again, with a reasonably straightforward puzzle. My apologies for a rather rudimentary blog, any errors or omissions and my possible inability to revisit later, owing to family … Read more >>

Guardian 29,639 / Tramp

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I’m always pleased to see a Tramp puzzle, especially when it’s my turn to blog. A somewhat racy offering from Tramp this morning, with a number of references to amorous goings-on, accompanied by … Read more >>

Guardian 29,630 / Brockwell

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It’s over a year since I last blogged a puzzle by Brockwell, so I was very pleased to see his name this morning. There’s a nicely varied set of clues, with neat constructions … Read more >>

Guardian 29,623 / Pangakupu

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Pangakupu returns with another enjoyable challenge.   There’s a good selection of clue types, with some nice surfaces, along with one or two less familiar words, gettable from the wordplay. I’m afraid my … Read more >>

Guardian 29,616 / Paul

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Paul provides our midweek entertainment today, with a puzzle with an unmissable theme, spelled out in the very last clue. Lots of links to look up today but it was an enjoyable task. … Read more >>

Guardian 29,609 / Imogen

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It’s only ten days since my blog of Imogen’s latest Prize crossword and here he is again… … and again we have a nice combination of clue types, generally meticulous cluing, ingenious constructions, … Read more >>

Guardian 29,600 / Pangakupu

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Pangakupu rounds off the week with an enjoyable challenge. A nice variety of clue types, with some ingenious constructions and witty surfaces and definitions. I had ticks for 11ac HIP REPLACMENT, 21ac SPRING … Read more >>