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 25,385 / Araucaria

Wed July 27, 2011 at 11:18 amWed July 27, 2011 at 10:27 am by Eileen

My second Araucaria blog in less than a week. I’ve learned a couple of new words, where the cluing fortunately made them gettable, and wrestled with several of Araucaria’s characteristic long clues, which … Read more >>

Guardian 25,380 / Araucaria

Thu July 21, 2011 at 9:48 am by Eileen

Certainly the toughest challenge of the week so far, with some typically Araucarian liberties which will be a step too far for some. I’ll say no more at this stage! Across 1 DECLARE: … Read more >>

Guardian 25,375 / Paul

Fri July 15, 2011 at 9:51 am by Eileen

This is vintage Paul – some very clever cluing and lots to entertain and raise a smile. Enough said! Many thanks, Paul. Across 1 FEWEST: F[our] + E[ast] + WEST 9 DAMNATION: DAM … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,364 / Enigmatist

Sat July 9, 2011 at 12:02 am by Eileen

I had advance warning at the Birmingham Bash from the man himself that I had an Enigmatist to blog this week, so I was looking forward to it – with just a little … Read more >>

Guardian 25,365 / Rufus

Mon July 4, 2011 at 9:00 am by Eileen

I think this was perhaps just a little trickier than your average Rufus but there’s the usual mix of witty cryptic definitions and clever anagrams – and I wish I could think of … Read more >>

Guardian 25,361 / Brendan

Wed June 29, 2011 at 9:38 pmWed June 29, 2011 at 8:23 am by Eileen

I was thinking it was a while since we had a Brendan puzzle, so I was very pleased to see his name on this one. Unusually, his last offering told us, ‘There is … Read more >>

Guardian 25,356 / Gordius

Thu June 23, 2011 at 9:14 am by Eileen

I seem to have spent almost as much time trying – unsuccessfully – to come up with a preamble for this puzzle as I did in solving it. I’ll just say that I … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,346 / Pasquale

Sat June 18, 2011 at 8:20 amSat June 18, 2011 at 12:02 am by Eileen

An entertaining puzzle from Pasquale, in which we were told that six solutions were undefined in their clues, with five lying within the bounds of the sixth. I think non-UK residents might have … Read more >>

Guardian 25,351 / Tramp

Fri June 17, 2011 at 10:31 amFri June 17, 2011 at 9:39 am by Eileen

I’ve been looking forward to Tramp’s second Guardian cryptic, having blogged his début Fawlty Towers-themed puzzle, so I was very pleased to land this one, too. I didn’t detect a theme this time … Read more >>

Guardian 25,344 / Gordius

Thu June 9, 2011 at 9:43 am by Eileen

Rather surprisingly, it’s me for the second time this week. I was asked to stand in – it’s not that I put in a special request for a Gordius! 😉 Across 8 BEDSTRAW: … Read more >>

Guardian 25,341 / Rufus

Mon June 6, 2011 at 12:53 pmMon June 6, 2011 at 9:03 am by Eileen

Monday morning and a fairly typical Rufus, I think, although the cryptic definitions are perhaps slightly less cryptic than usual and some double definitions are rather similar in meaning – but the surfaces … Read more >>

Guardian 25,337 / Crucible

Wed June 1, 2011 at 11:39 amWed June 1, 2011 at 9:29 am by Eileen

I was delighted to see Crucible’s name on this puzzle and I was not disappointed. His crosswords often have a theme and here we have a nice cheerful one, with no obscurities, I … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,328 / Enigmatist

Sat May 28, 2011 at 8:27 amSat May 28, 2011 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Enigmatist kindly dropped in to give us a start the day before this puzzle came out, by telling us that it was solvable but we might need a diary. This, together with the … Read more >>

Guardian 25,332 / Philistine

Thu May 26, 2011 at 9:26 am by Eileen

Philistine hasn’t yet got a profile on the Guardian website, let alone made it to Michael Curl’s ‘Who’s Who’, so I think we can take it that s/he is a new setter. This … Read more >>

Guardian 25,327 / Pasquale

Fri May 20, 2011 at 10:56 pmFri May 20, 2011 at 9:57 am by Eileen

A fairly gentle puzzle from Pasquale to round off a week of good puzzles: nothing too controversial or obscure, I think, with a nice mix of clue types and a few smiles along … Read more >>