AZED again

[rabet]

Further to yesterday's discussion, I too have often wondered how many solvers there are. I've been entering on and off for over thirty years (but not often recently) and had a few wins.
Would the statistics that I believe are regularly available give the number of solvers? I've never applied for them.

Hi Quizmonster, I too am a retired English teacher. I don't know if you would agree, but I find the "retired" bit preferable to the "English teacher"!

[Honeydumplin]

Hi quizmonster and rabet!

I'm a former English teacher too ( 20 years of it) but rather than retired (whisful sigh) am embarked on new career. Consequently, less time to do crosswords, though I manage a couple a week. What is/where do I find the AZED?

Have just finished DT GK if anyone requires answers!

[Honeydumplin]

That of course should be wistful! (Typing error, not useless English teacher!)

[rabet]

Hello Honeydumplin, Azed is in the Observer every Sunday. What's the new career, if I may ask?

[Honeydumplin]

Publishing - editor.

It's a lot less stressful and equally poorly paid! I'm enjoying it and it's rewarding in a different way than teaching, though I do miss the 'buzz' of the school envorinment.

Will take a look at the Observer this weekend or next, thanks

[Quizmonster]

Oh, yes, Rabet...'retired' is definitely the best! I spent the first half of my working life as a military officer and only the second as an English teacher. Facing naughty people with weaponry was infinitely preferable to facing naughty people with word-problems!
To make your search for the Azed easier, Honey - if I may be so bold! - it's on the penultimate page of the Escape (ie Travel) supplement. The Azed is definitely the best 'standard' crossword in the UK in my view. No doubt the Listener one is harder but that is largely because of inbuilt non-crosswordish complications, such as superfluous words in the clues and so on. The Azed sometimes does these things, too, as it happens.
Good luck with it...and the new job.