Puzzling

And now for the big reveal — answers, with explanations, for the latest set of clues. The definitions are underlined. 1. Shame about poison for humans (4,7) = HOMO SAPIENS. Anagram (indicated by about) of SHAME + POISON. 2. Row of bushes missing first side (4) = EDGE. This is a deletion clue. Row of bushes = HEDGE. Missing first = remove the first letter (H). Which leaves you EDGE. 3. Citrus Mole misbehaving in post office (6) = POMELO. An anagram, indicated by misbehaving . The fodder is MOLE + PO (for post office ).  4. American city ’s sample of  tomahawks (5) = OMAHA. A hidden word clue, indicated by sample of . It's in clear view, inside t omaha wks. 5. Khan plays test in Uzbek capital (8) = TASHKENT. An anagram (indicated by plays ) of KHAN + TEST . 6. Adhesive from grated tapes (5) = PASTE. An anagram ( grated ) of TAPES . How did you get on?

Image courtesy of dan | FreeDigitalPhotos.net I've finally got a new set of (easy) cryptic clues for you to solve. Just the thing for a chilly winter's day. So get a cup of hot <insert favourite hot beverage name here>, and a pen, and let me know how you get on! Shame about poison for humans (4,7) Row of bushes missing first side (4) Citrus Mole misbehaving in post office (6) American city’s sample of  tomahawks (5) Khan plays test in Uzbek capital (8) Adhesive from grated tapes (5) I will post the answers, with explanations, on Monday morning. Please don't give away the answers in your comments, just say 'I got it!' or similar — thanks :)

I don't know about you — but there's only so many words I can take. I wrote  Word Searches For Dummies on a challenging deadline. (Actually — let's face it, all my Dummies books were written on 'challenging deadlines'. Hmmm.) My brain was getting a bit melty from all the words ... but jigsaws saved me. I kept a jigsaw next to my computer, and took regular short breaks to work on it. It got me out of my chair, away from the screen, and thinking of something other than word searches. A bit of visual fun and thinking, rather than endless wordy stuff. I got through at least three large jigsaws while writing the book, including an almost impossible one of   Escher's Relativity drawing . Nowadays there are squillions (it is so a word) of jigsaws. They may have a few simple pieces or  multi-thousand pieces . 3D shaped puzzles. Jigsaws without straight edge pieces. Jigsaws with 'extra pieces'. Double sided jigsaws. Online jigsaws. All white jigsaws

Here is my analysis of the Gemini Cryptic Crossword from Monday 16 June edition of The Canberra Times . The definition is underlined (except in cryptic definition and double definition clues). ACROSS 1. Philanthropists throwing coins in the water? (4-7) WELL-WISHERS Cryptic definition. 9. A support this returned is appropriate (7) = APROPOS A charade clue with a reversal — A + PROP ( support ) + OS ( this returned  = SO reversed). 10. A moss-strewn island of Greece (5) = SAMOS Anagram ( strewn ) of a moss. 11. Misfortunes we keep well away from (4) = ILLS Cryptic definition. We keep well by staying away from ills! 12. Agreeable countryman about fifty (8) = PLEASANT Container clue — PEASANT ( countryman ) gets put about  (or around) L ( fifty, in Roman numerals). 14. Take some back to quarters (6) = ENTRAP Reversal and charade. Some (PART) goes back to become TRAP. And it also goes on the back of quarters = EN (east and north). 16. Very much the opposit

Well, moving house (no we haven't unpacked all the boxes yet, shut up), followed by two indexing jobs ( Income Contingent Loans , and Born Bad ) in close succession kind of occupied all my attention and energy for a few months there. My apologies! I had a train trip to Sydney in April, and was amused by this crossword in the 'in train' magazine, The Link . 1 Across is supposedly a 4 letter word for 'leap' ... except in the grid it's 1 Down, and there isn't a 1 Across ... and so on. I'm sure the setter was well and truly pissed off to find out the designer put the wrong grid in with the clues (or vice versa)!