Quirister

I learned to do crosswords from my parents, who also introduced me to choral singing and classical languages (they met in a choir while studying Classics / History at university). Perhaps not the most obvious background for an Engineering degree, but the language and problem-solving skills turned out to be useful for working as a technical author in the software industry. Meanwhile all the fun stuff (sewing, cooking and various crafts as well as the singing) gradually took over more of my time . . . so eventually I decided that 30 years’ working life was enough. I now do a range of different volunteer tasks and need a good diary to keep track of it all. As they say: once you retire, you wonder how you ever found time to go to work.

Independent 10,063 by Tees

Mon January 14, 2019 at 12:17 pmMon January 14, 2019 at 9:00 am by Quirister

A fairly straightforward Monday puzzle, except . . . NOTE: In the original published version of this puzzle, there appears to be an error in the clue for 20d – more details below. For technical … Read more >>

Everyman 3,769

Sun January 13, 2019 at 9:00 am by Quirister

Everyman has given us a gentle introduction to the New Year: totally fair clue constructions as always, and nothing too obscure.

Independent 10,046 by Silvanus

Mon December 24, 2018 at 9:00 am by Quirister

Thanks to Silvanus for keeping us entertained right up to Christmas Eve, with a few unusual words and tricky constructions – but some lovely surfaces and ingenious anagrams. A few seasonal references too, … Read more >>

Everyman 3,765

Sun December 16, 2018 at 9:00 am by Quirister

A fairly typical Everyman: nothing too obscure, but enough of a challenge to be enjoyable.

Independent 10,028 by Alchemi

Mon December 3, 2018 at 9:00 am by Quirister

A satisfying Monday challenge from Alchemi. A few obscure words and names, and one slightly loose definition, but the wordplay in all cases is clear enough. Some elegantly concise clues and amusing / imaginative surfaces. … Read more >>

Everyman 3,761

Sun November 18, 2018 at 1:00 am by Quirister

A fitting centenary tribute from Everyman, with four thematic entries around the perimeter.

Independent 10,010 by Eccles

Mon November 12, 2018 at 9:53 amMon November 12, 2018 at 9:00 am by Quirister

Not the easiest of Monday puzzles, but a good challenge for my first 152 blog. Some enjoyable entries here: 8a nicely concise, 16a and 3d amusing surfaces, 5d and 17d ingenious. Definitions are … Read more >>