2 Down: Hot beverage

Is this the perfect teapot for me? Yes, yes it is ...

A Peter Cardew design from 2008. I managed to find the single stockist that still had them (in the States), they shipped it to a friend in the USA, and she shipped it on to me!

I especially love the fountain pen handle on the lid! And it pours very well.

Disappointingly, not all the words are tea-related, they've put a bunch of coffee words in there too! Clearly they didn't get a crossword setter in to help with the design ... but otherwise, it's great. I love that it's on a British grid, too, as most 'crossword-themed' paraphernalia seems to have American grids.

I've been rather silent of late, sorry, but work on the two Cryptic Crosswords For Dummies book is occupying all my time and brains. The first deadline has been met, for all the 'how to' chapters, and I'm now well into writing the puzzles for the books. I also have to stay on top of my syndicated puzzle commitments!

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American vs British crosswords

American and British crosswords. Is there a difference? The short answer is HELL YES! Now for the long answer ... There are major differences between American-style and British-style crosswords (which are seen in Commonwealth countries too). Crosswords were started by Arthur Wynne in 1913, a British man who lived in America, so both countries claim a close connection with the development of this popular puzzle. They developed in slightly different directions in each country, which has led to the varieties we see today. American-style crosswords are almost exclusively published in America, while British-style crosswords have spread through the Commonwealth — Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa, and other English-speaking nations tend to prefer this variety of the puzzle, as well as the United Kingdom, of course. A quick look at these grids will show you the most obvious difference between the two varieties : British-style Not...

Lesson 2: Anagrams

One thing it's important to do with cryptic clues is to ignore the surface reading! The surface is the sense you get when reading a clue for the first time, the mental image it brings up. Apart from some very rare clue types, this is only going to lead you astray. What's vitally important to do is to read each clue, word by word, looking for the hidden meaning. Also, there are a few important things to note with the definition part of clues. Firstly — they will always be at the start or the end of the clue, but never in the middle (ie with bits of wordplay around them). Secondly — pinning down the definition is a major part of getting success in solving cryptic clues. And of course, once you've figured out which part is the definition, the remainder of the clue has to be the wordplay! ANAGRAMS So, on to the first of the cryptic devices that you'll find in every cryptic crossword: Anagrams! Anagrams are a very popular cryptic device, and e...

The Rude Clues

When my Cryptic Crosswords For Dummies book was being checked by the American editors at Wiley, they decided that my handful of risqué clues couldn't stay in. So I edited the offending 11 clues to tame them down. But it's a pity to see such naughtiness go to waste. So I thought you'd like to have a try of them here! I've put the puzzle reference in, too, so you can find the edited versions in the book (which should be available in bookshops in a few weeks now). As ever, my chihuahuas Petal and Griff are the Guardians of the Answers. Have a good try of the clues yourself, and scroll below the pups to see full explanations of the clues, and the answers. The (Slightly) Rude Clues 1. Rampantly sexy, without a kiss? Absolutely! (3) Crossword 5, 21 Down, pg 36 2. Mesmerist has weird phony tits (9) Crossword 15, 1 Across, pg 56 3. Naughty escort's laced undergarment (6) Crossword 24, 24 Across, pg 74 4. 101 in advertisement for tar...

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