Puzzling

Today is the 15th birthday of my business, Sutherland Studios . And it's Chrissie time. So to celebrate, I'm giving you pressies — no other course of action else makes sense! Here's the challenge, should you choose to accept it! Write a cryptic clue of your very own, using an anagram, for the answer word CHRISTMAS.  Write your clue, and an explanation of how it works, in a comment, below this post. Don't be scared, you can do it. It's even fun (honest)! Your clue can be quirky, surreal, funny, serious, whatever you like. It needs to read well, like a mini phrase or sentence (not just a random assortment of words stuck together). Creativity and clue accuracy are what I'll be looking for. Here are some tips to help you get started. Your cryptic clue will need: 1) A definition for CHRISTMAS — this can be as simple, as oblique, or as silly as you like. The definition needs to be at the start or end of the clue (not stuck in the middle). 2) An anag...

My analysis of the clues from the Gemini Cryptic Crossword from The Canberra Times , Friday 14 December 2012. As usual, the definitions are underlined (except in double definition and cryptic definition clues). Across 1. Son of Susie? (5) = ISSUE An anagram that doesn't really have an anagram indicator, although it could be argued that the question mark serves that purpose. I don't think it's fair, though. The anagram fodder is Susie. ISSUE is defined here as progeny/children (hence son ) . 4. Constitutional nature's changed (7) = SAUNTER Changed  is the anagram indicator, and nature's  is the fodder. A constitutional  is a rather old-fashioned term for a regular walk (good for the constitution, don'tcha know). 8. Dad's silent partner (3) = MUM Cute double definition clue. Mum is Dad's partner, but it's also a word that means to be quiet. 9. An order without speech (9) = TRAPPISTS Cryptic definition. The Trappist monks are an ...