Cryptic crosswords

I find the Telegraph quite doable.The trick is appreciating that there are two clues within each clue. The whole answer, and the cryptic one.

Try to decide which part of the clue is the overall answer and which part is the cryptic part. I always start with the anagrams which have some reference to "mixed up", "twisted" "confused" etc. There are certain abbreviations that come up again and again ed "degree" might refer to the letters BA, or quiet might be "pp" ie pianissimo.

Sometimes "he" or "she" is a name. A reference to "Queen" or "sovereign" might give you the letters ER.

You can do them online, which helps with practice.

My favourite cryptic clue is "gegs" (9,4)*

* scrambled eggs

I'll do the Times or Guardian, - once you get into their mindset it's easier. once you have done a few it gets better as you get to regonise the compiler and they all have their different ways of wording clues. Decent general knowledge helps but to actually grasp the concept takes a little while. I love them

My mother is great at Cryptic Crosswords, but unfortunately I have not inherited the knack. I think she got into them when she had more time on her hands.

It's probably really geeky - but I want to go back and watch the programme again on i-player and take notes, and then see what I can find with Google. Thanks !

What is the program called? If I watch it perhaps something will finally 'click' ?

I love cryptic crosswords.

I learnt by doing them with my dad when I was little, but I'd really recommend a book called Ximines on the Art of the Crossword- it's actually a guide to setting crosswords and writing clues and therefore completely explains how a clue is put together.

Although different papers use different conventions, some are definietly harder than others. In my experience the easiest (but also the least satisfying and least rigorous) are the Telegraph and FT. A good beginner's crossword is the Sunday Times- it's not too hard but it's still reasonable enjoyable; the Observer is also good. My favourites are the Saturday Times and Saturday Guardian- both are often too hard for me to finish but they tend to be extremely witty, with links between different clues and often a theme which gets worked out in different ways. I find the Independent very hard.

I get the Times on Saturday just so I can plod my way through the Jumbo all week. Sometimes the clues are so witty, they actually make me laugh out loud when I solve them, which I realise makes me a supergeek. DH likes to do them with me - he's not as good as solving them as I am, but sometimes comes up with one when I'm stumped, and he enjoys seeing the process of how they're solved.

How to solve a cryptic crossword: http://tinyurl.com/5d4whc

I'm pants at crosswords. even the crappy ones in the sun or similar. i'm just not very good a knowing words or other 'stuff'

however i'm pretty good at suduko and logic type problems

which i will be doing tonight at work, probably between about 4 and 6am ☹️

does it reassure you all to know that your safety in your bed at nights depends on whether or not someone is distracted by whatever else they may be doing at the time? ?