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 24,896 / Rover

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Happy New Year, everyone! If I were one for New Year resolutions, one of them might have been ‘I will try to like Rover crosswords more’.  I know I’ve used the term ‘mixed … Read more >>

Guardian 24,888 / Rufus

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A delightful festive offering from Rufus – something of a tour de force – which is not too taxing but provides a few smiles, or even chuckles, along the way. Across 1   RECIPES: … Read more >>

Guardian 24,884 / Paul

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A fun puzzle from Paul – not one of his more difficult ones [more than the usual quota of straight charades, I think] – with an entertaining theme. Some nice clues, as usual … Read more >>

Guardian 24,867 / Chifonie

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This is perhaps [in some ways] a puzzle for those who dislike cryptic definitions – not one in sight, but lots of simple charades, including a couple of rather hackneyed ones and some … Read more >>

Guardian 24,850 / Rover

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A rather mixed bag today, with one or two nice clues but also several doubtful double / cryptic definitions and a couple of unusual anagram indicators. Across !   SANDWICH COURSE: double / cryptic … Read more >>

Guardian 24,814 / Enigmatist

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I found this quite tough going,  both solving and parsing, and was pleased to have finished without recourse to the ‘cheat’  button – but irritated to have been completely beaten by the explanation … Read more >>

Guardian 24,802 / Puck

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Well, I’m not complaining about lack of humour today – nor that the puzzle was too easy! I found this quite a challenge, not least in the parsing, but very rewarding, thanks to … Read more >>

Guardian 24,795 / Orlando

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Nothing too taxing or controversial here, I think, but the usual good value from Orlando, with some clever surfaces and a few smiles along the way. Across 1   ITHACA: C[irca] [about] in TABITHA … Read more >>

Guardian 24,780 / Rufus

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Back to Rufus for Monday morning and a good example of how a puzzle can be perfectly straightforward and still enjoyable and satisfying. We have Rufus’ characteristic wit and elegance in the surfaces, … Read more >>

Guardian 24,778 / Brummie

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There’s a mini-theme of improbability going on here, in 14, 18ac, 4dn and 24dn etc. There are one or two rather lame charades, I think, but an entertaining puzzle on the whole, as … Read more >>

Guardian 24,771 / Orlando

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My heart sank somewhat, initially, when I saw a preamble to an Orlando, who can usually be relied on to be straightforward, but soon all became clear as the names of the 60’s … Read more >>

Guardian 24,752 / Orlando

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A welcome return for Orlando, with a generally straightforward puzzle, and at least one laugh out loud clue! Across 9   AGAIN: A + GAIN 10  GLADSTONE: GLAD [pleased] + STONE [14lbs]: William Gladstone: … Read more >>

Guardian 24,737 / Araucaria

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Something of a treat for me today, to blog an Araucaria prize puzzle [entertaining, as ever] in Rightback’s absence. I can’t even dream of approaching his prodigious solving time – but then I … Read more >>