Comments on The Irish Times Crosaire Blog ... unofficially!: About Derek Crozier

Hi there, Jim. Thanks for stopping by. In 1966 t...

2011-06-20T09:36:15.361-07:00

Hi there, Jim.

Thanks for stopping by.

In 1966 the crossword editor of "The Observer" published a book of "rules" for crossword setters defining what made up a "fair" clue, one that the gave the solver a fair chance. Most puzzles follow those rules today. Crosaire puzzles do not, so I call them "old style".

Crosaire clues are sometimes "unfair" I think. But most of us don't mind, as we sacrifice "fairness" for the pleasure of being associated with a tradition that stretches back almost 70 years.

Hope that helps, Jim!

Dear Bill I'm fairly new to Crosaire, and to c...

2011-06-20T04:01:08.419-07:00

Dear Bill
I'm fairly new to Crosaire, and to cryptic crosswords generally, and I wonder whether you could explain why the Crosaire puzzle is “old-style”. I don't want to bother you for a long explanation, but, as a novice, I'd like to know what that means.
Thanks,
Jim

My English Language teacher at St. George's, 1...

2010-04-12T05:19:06.290-07:00

My English Language teacher at St. George's, 1987-1988. I was not aware that he was a "cryptic puzzler". Well that explains why he knew all words and their origins, with vignettes to salivate.

Especially the story of the "comet".

Rest in Peace.

And so all things come to pass. A true legendary t...

2010-04-07T08:05:30.668-07:00

And so all things come to pass. A true legendary talent in his field who set the bar and did so much more; it was a defining point of my life when I could beat my Dad doing the IT crossword. My respects to Crozier, as Crosaire he was the Cryptic King.

As he may have said himself, May he "pear est...

2010-04-07T03:50:05.283-07:00

As he may have said himself, May he "pear est ce" (4,2,5)

Derek Crozier RIP - April 7 2010. What will we do ...

2010-04-07T03:07:23.341-07:00

Derek Crozier RIP - April 7 2010. What will we do now?
Louise, distraught

Hi P, I grew up calling it Cross Air as well, and...

2010-02-04T14:39:12.185-08:00

Hi P,

I grew up calling it Cross Air as well, and it wasn't until I started blogging that I found someone to set me straight.

If you Google Crosaire you'll come across another house somewhere in Ireland called An Crosaire. I think it was up for sale not so long ago.

Don't forget to invite us all around for the housewarming :)

Very interesting. I have been calling it Cross Ai...

2010-02-04T11:56:13.055-08:00

Very interesting. I have been calling it Cross Air for simply ages.
For years we have been wondering what to call our house, I live on a crossroads so we have agreed, at last, on Corssaire (Cruss Ara).
Thanks
P

Hi pedant, Derek Crozier is indeed a very interes...

2009-06-10T05:38:24.873-07:00

Hi pedant,

Derek Crozier is indeed a very interesting character. I have discovered some more snippets of info that I need to add ... but getting the time ...

I never thought about the correctness of "very unique" before. I guess one should consider "unique" as an absolute term. But, I'll have to think about it a little ... the concept of degrees on "uniqueness" seems to ring true as well, in practical terms anyway.

Interesting point ... thank you !

Very interesting bio, but for someone interested i...

2009-06-10T02:01:20.700-07:00

Very interesting bio, but for someone interested in English you should know there is no such thing as "very unique".