Last week I ran an introduction to cryptic crosswords through a Sydney and Melbourne based group called Laneway Learning. Their aim is to get (mostly) innercity folk to try new things and they make use of cafes that would normally be closed during the evening. I’ll talk to anyone or group about cryptic crosswords as I believe spreading the word is the only way they will survive. Laneway Learning’s clientele, being innercity based, are generally on the younger side so it’s a great opportunity to get people involved early.
I do have reservations about squeezing anything about cryptic crosswords into just 75 minutes, especially an introductory presentation, as this first impression could start or end a solving career. I believe I could convey all the head knowledge needed to solve cryptic crosswords in about half an hour, but it would probably take a year of practice, patience and persistence for someone to become a proficient solver. There’s always a danger then, with a short time available, that budding solvers walk away confused, their heads crammed with new knowledge but very little practical experience to match. Very few people come cold to cryptics and “get it” straight away and it’s not for everyone no matter how good they are at solving “straight” crosswords.
Last week’s session had an added obstacle: a fully functioning pub all around us, meaning I had to shout and move through the lesson quickly. I think all participants got something out of the time and two of them made the effort to email and thank me. Maybe given time they’ll be weekly visitors here.
| Across | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | RESCUERS | |
| Deliverers rest briefly and curse wildly (8) | (RES)T + anagram of CURSE | |
| 5 | BUBBLE | |
| Blister bled extensively on youngster’s backside (6) | (BLE)D after BUB | |
| 9 | BRANDY ALEXANDER | |
| Relax and be spoilt drinking hot cocktail (6,9) | Anagram of RELAX AND BE outside RANDY | |
| 11 | RESTRAINED | |
| Calm reserve prepared for action (10) | RES + TRAINED | |
| 12 | LEVY | |
| Tax money in Bulgaria and Japan? (4) | LEV + Y | |
| 14 | HANGAR | |
| Bomber’s home, perhaps, to execute a leader of rebels (6) | HANG + A + (R)EBELS | |
| 16 | STALLION | |
| Deliberately delay one running stud (8) | STALL + I + ON | |
| 18 | DEVOTEES | |
| Fans loved going around unfinished sections of golf course (8) | (LOVED reversed) with no end + TEES | |
| 19 | LIEGES | |
| Subjects, say, featured in stories (6) | EG inside LIES | |
| 22 | LILT | |
| Listener primarily into bright, happy music (4) | (L)ISTENER inside LIT | |
| 23 | NOTICEABLE | |
| Illicit drug in possession of celebrity is easily seen (10) | ICE inside NOTABLE | |
| 26 | INSTRUMENTALIST | |
| Musician’s mate turns in broken record (15) | Anagram of MATE TURNS IN + LIST | |
| 27 | DISMAY | |
| Consternation is beginning to mount in set time (6) | [IS + (M)OUNT] inside DAY | |
| 28 | PLAYED ON | |
| Place rebuilt one day may be exploited (6,2) | PL + anagram of ONE DAY | |
| Down | Answers and Clues | Explanations |
| 1 | REBIRTH | |
| Upstanding members of Jewish tribe reached spiritual enlightenment (7) | jewisH TRIBE Reached | |
| 2 | SCANS | |
| Head of surgery does away with medical examinations (5) | (S)URGERY + CANS | |
| 3 | UNDERPANTS | |
| Close-fitting garment doesn’t breathe enough? (10) | Double Definition | |
| 4 | ROADIE | |
| Member of support crew had pulled out of Radiohead’s organisation (6) | Anagram of RADIOHEAD minus HAD | |
| 6 | UTAH | |
| Part of Connecticut, a historic US state (4) | connecticUT A Historic | |
| 7 | BUDGETING | |
| Change can start to generate planning for the future (9) | BUDGE + TIN + (G)ENERATE | |
| 8 | EARLY ON | |
| Sensor only worked in the beginning (5,2) | EAR + anagram of ONLY | |
| 10 | EVENTS | |
| Level street set up for contests (6) | EVEN + (ST reversed) | |
| 13 | ILLITERACY | |
| Sick item detailed crude ignorance? (10) | ILL + (ITE)M + RACY | |
| 15 | NOVELISTS | |
| Love isn’t poorly portrayed by serial’s lead writers (9) | Anagram of LOVE ISNT + (S)ERIAL | |
| 17 | DEFORM | |
| Dream of eliminating a twisted pervert (6) | Anagram of DREAM OF minus A | |
| 18 | DALLIED | |
| Boy stood up, said the wrong thing, and wasted time (7) | LAD reversed + LIED | |
| 20 | SWEET ON | |
| Mad about people in general captured in attack (5,2) | WE inside SET ON | |
| 21 | SIGNAL | |
| Message log’s last section in computer system is backed up (6) | LO(G) inside (LAN IS reversed) | |
| 24 | BUILD | |
| Institute should be charged according to auditor (5) | Sounds like BILLED | |
| 25 | PROA | |
| Old hand seen on a Malay sailing boat (4) | PRO + A |
