Never A Crossword

From Facebook archives

19 April 2010 at 21:40 ·

I’ve found something new and involving to do with Fester in bed - the Guardian crossword.

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Dad did the Daily Express or the Western Mail crossword every day he was able and when I was a child he explained anagrams and cryptic clues to me. 

Back in 1993 I used to go down to the Cumberland Arms on a Wednesday evening to rapper practices with the Kingsmen.  Until there were enough people there to start there would be a communal attempt at the Guardian crossword.  It didn’t take some of the Kingsmen long to notice that I’m quite good at them, and can’t resist taking part if there’s a crossword being done.

When Fester and I got together we started on the crossword over lunch, or tea, whichever was sooner. When the children were little we would usually start it at teatime as or after eating, and if necessary Fester would finish it off in the bath, or at bedtime.

Then, in August 2009, came Pointless.

Before long tea was at 5pm, we were in front of the telly at 5.15 and the crossword lost its place in our schedule.  Fester would do bits in the bath (one of the things that impresses me about him is his ability to remember and work out connecting clues without writing them in) then bring the slightly damp newspaper to bed for us to finish off.

This has been our bedtime routine for some twelve years…