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 25,317 / Rufus

Mon May 9, 2011 at 9:45 amMon May 9, 2011 at 9:08 am by Eileen

This is a classic Rufus puzzle, I think. All the hallmarks are there – succinct, witty cluing, clever anagrams [8ac, for instance] superb surfaces … There are rather more anagrams and fewer cryptic … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,310 / Crucible

Sat May 7, 2011 at 12:02 am by Eileen

When I opened my paper and saw the name of one of my favourite setters on the puzzle, my heart leapt – only to plummet a few minutes later, before I had even … Read more >>

Guardian 25,313 / Orlando

Wed May 4, 2011 at 10:43 amWed May 4, 2011 at 9:34 am by Eileen

There’s lots of fun in this characteristically witty, elegant and well-clued puzzle from Orlando – nothing too complicated but highly entertaining and enjoyable. Many thanks, Orlando. Across 1 MAGIC LANTERN: anagram [dicky] of … Read more >>

Guardian 25,308 / Tramp

Thu April 28, 2011 at 11:53 am by Eileen

I am pretty sure this is the first appearance of a Tramp cryptic crossword. I remembered seeing his name on a Genius puzzle earlier in the year and, after some research on this … Read more >>

Guardian 25,303 / Orlando

Fri April 22, 2011 at 10:03 am by Eileen

I didn’t know quite what to expect today, after a roller-coaster of a week. An Orlando puzzle is always welcome and this was no disappointment – nothing too taxing but a good variety … Read more >>

Guardian Prize 25,292 / Bonxie

Sat April 16, 2011 at 8:27 amSat April 16, 2011 at 12:02 am by Eileen

If I wanted to give a title to this puzzle, I think I’d simply borrow one of Shakespeare’s. 🙂 Not so long ago, Bonxie gave us a puzzle where every across clue and … Read more >>

Guardian 25,293 / Rufus

Mon April 11, 2011 at 1:04 pmMon April 11, 2011 at 10:43 am by Eileen

Apologies for the rather late post. I somehow managed, in transferring my blog, to delete it – twice! – so more apologies for any mistakes I may have made in my haste. It’s … Read more >>

Guardian 25,289 / Paul

Wed April 6, 2011 at 2:32 pmWed April 6, 2011 at 8:41 am by Eileen

A fun puzzle from Paul today, with several instances of his trademark humour – all straightforwardly clued, I think. Across 1 BASENJI: BASE [bottom] + J [‘jay, we hear’] in reversal of IN: … Read more >>

Guardian 25,284 / Gordius

Thu March 31, 2011 at 10:01 amThu March 31, 2011 at 9:09 am by Eileen

Well, no one can say we don’t get variety in Guardian puzzles! I find that I can simply repeat the preamble I wrote on the last Gordius crossword that I blogged. ‘A fairly … Read more >>

Guardian Prize Puzzle 25,274 / Araucaria

Sat March 26, 2011 at 12:02 am by Eileen

Something of a treat for me, to blog an Araucaria prize puzzle. It’s one of those with a long answer, this time only a partial anagram, together with some rather nifty wordplay. I … Read more >>

Guardian 25,279 / Araucaria

Fri March 25, 2011 at 9:26 am by Eileen

There’s quite a bit of cross-referencing in this puzzle and there were two or three instances where it took me a while to see the parsing, so several real penny-dropping moments today. There’s … Read more >>

Guardian 25,269 / Rufus

Mon March 14, 2011 at 9:43 am by Eileen

I hope there’s something for everyone in this entertaining Rufus puzzle, which took me a little longer than some of his more recent offerings. It’s still gentle enough for relatively new solvers, with … Read more >>

Guardian 25,265 / Paul

Wed March 9, 2011 at 9:38 am by Eileen

Another excellent puzzle from Paul, which I found great fun to solve. It’s quite straightforward, I think, but there’s lots to admire – and smile at – in the ingenious cluing. Across 1 … Read more >>

Guardian 25,256 / Brendan

Sat March 5, 2011 at 12:02 am by Eileen

A pretty straightforward puzzle, I think, for a Brendan – especially a prize. This was a cleverly-composed and entertaining challenge for the Oscars weekend. I think some might consider it more of a … Read more >>

Guardian 25,260 / Boatman

Thu March 3, 2011 at 1:36 pmThu March 3, 2011 at 9:45 am by Eileen

Boatman is another setter who doesn’t appear often enough for me [it’s almost three months since his last appearance]. We would normally expect a challenge and this puzzle is no exception. Boatman often … Read more >>