Clues

[pensnest]

I was making tentative inroads into The Times mega-crossword (actually from Whitsun 1991, I have a book), and found the *best* clue:

Novel device for making moccasins? (3,4,2,3,8)

There's also:
Total satisfaction by close of play (4,4,4,4,4)
and
Unsuitable playmate for Ernest? (1,5,2,2,10)

Brilliant stuff!

Anyone want to help me out with:
Succeeding in winning the Dunmow flitch? (8,4,3,5)



The Last of the Mohicans (ahaha!)

All's Well That Ends Well

A Woman of no Importance

Comments

[trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com]

Hey, I got all three! Yay!

[pensnest]

Go you! I think they're lovely clues!

[carta.livejournal.com]

Man, I have never been able to do the English crossword. I didn't even understand the questions. :(

[pensnest]

They're definitely (a) and acquired taste, and (b) something you have to learn. There's a lot of punning involved, and there are keys that you can spot, after a while... I just - the *last* of the Mohicans, 's great!

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

the *last* of the Mohicans

Now I get it!! I didn't know the English word was that close to the Swedish ("läst").

[pensnest]

You're really good at a language when you understand puns in it!

[abishag.livejournal.com]

OO, someone else who does cryptic Times-ttype crosswords. OO and I do them in bed together every night. I learned to do them, under his tuition, when I was bed-bound and had all day to puzzle away, but originally couldn't do them at all. You have to know the conventions and how to avoid being misdirected by clever setters.

My supervisor at Uni, who was French, used to do them as an exercise in practicing her English language and cultural reference knowledge!

[pensnest]

I always think that two minds working on a crossword together are more effective than the same two minds would be working on it separately. Not sure quite why that happens!

My dad and I used to do the Daily Telegraph one when we commuted together.

[abishag.livejournal.com]

Bringing home the bacon.

[pensnest]

A-HA! Thank you.