Cryptic crosswords

Ignore that - got my proverbials in a twist there!

I do the quick crosswords to limber up for the cryptic ones. Has anyone else noticed that today the on-line quickies in the Guardian and the Independent are the same?

I used to do them with my father - we thought much the same way. When I visit my NZ sister, we do the local crossword together, but that is much easier.

Cryptics are our daily brain gym. My Dad taught me how to do them from an early age & this was one of the few ways we connected.
I have a bias towards lateral thinking (all over the place); husband is very logical (too logical for crosswords at times) so we are a good complement as they need both styles. I use them to judge my mental state - after death & major stress I'm useless but keep at it until brain functions again. I used to wonder what I'd do if husband left or died but then I discovered Big Dave's website with clues - & answers if you're really stuck.

Can't do them. Brain [what brain?]not wired right.

arty you are not alone, Mr P doesn't like them either!

However we always do the General Knowledge one in the Weekend section of the Saturday DT. Start "cold" over a drink in the pub, resort to reference books when we get home, no googling allowed until Sunday afternoon!

I must say that sometimes their idea of "general knowledge" isn't quite like mine!

It looks like I'm the only one here who hates cryptic crosswords - can't do them, never could. My son can bash through the hardest of them in no time and he tried to teach me to do them. No joy; thick as pudding with a short attention span .

I don't have any trouble, just clicking 'save' at the bottom of the puzzle. It has never failed. Are you doing it on an i-Pad?

Thanks - I have found the Guardian crosswords online but the darn things won't save, so I managed to lose some of my efforts! I am sure I will find a way of doing it somehow. I actually managed some of the clues!

used to be addicted to cryptic crosswords.Now am addicted to Gransnet.
I did have a Daily Telegraph 'solving cryptic crosswords' book but lost it in my last move.
Have you tried the 'Oldie' genius crossword .It's fiendish!

Oops! Didn't notice that bit, anno! Sorry, you're right phoenix.

Just had a look. The page I reached said £2.99 per month or a week's free trial.

You can get the Telegraph crosswords online - just google it.

Not for the Guardian and the Independent (yet), but I think they are the exceptions.

I am pretty sure that you do have to with the DT, not sure about others.

Do you have to subscribe to a newspaper to access their crosswords online?

There's a smashing book about all the most well-known crosswords amd their compilers and their 'style' of cryptic compilation, I had to hunt a bit as I read it a few years ago but then remembered the title "Pretty Girl in Crimson Rose" (8) (answer is rebelled ) - here's an article that mentions the book:
www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/7652591/Meet-the-Telegraphs-cryptic-crossword-maestro.html

I once "taught" a previous boss how to do them, learning some basic crossword type things ("perhaps" will often indicate an anagram etc) and then looking at the answers the next day to try to find the link between clue and answer.

Some are very perverse, but can lead to extending the mind, for example I now know that Veronica is not only a womans name, and the name of a plant, but also a move in bull fighting!

And before anyone posts, yes, I do know that that bit of info is hardly likely to enrich my life or be much use in day to day events, but so what?!

POGS - there are books that tell you how to do them; and books with the answers in the back help too. I had no clue (no pun intended!) how to do them but set about teaching myself to - it can be done! But beware you could get hooked!

I really wish I could do them. Sadly I rarely even understand the answer having read the clue.

Buying the I for a lengthy train journey is the best 20p I ever spend. The two crosswords, codeword and sudokus keep me going for the better part of three hours. And then there's my Kindle.

I'm addicted to The Lady Ladygram. If my copy doesn't arrive on Friday, I'm spitting tacks. I love the word puzzles that give you a target time, it's so lovely when you beat it by a mile!

The Guardian cryptic setters are sadists! I try hard, but did I say I completed them? On line, you can cheat (shhhh)

My DH does the DT cryptic every day, often at our local with a group of other Gdads. I can't get my head round cryptic crosswords at all. Even when I see the answers, I can't work out how they arrived at them. Now Sudokus are another matter. I really enjoy tussling with those.

I have found the Guardial crossword really hard - I just don't seem to be on the right wavelength - or just not bright enough!