Did you miss David for a puzzling afternoon!

The hall was filled to capacity (or overfilled for those who had to stand) by 2:30 on the 7th April for David Astle to give us insights into the world of cryptic crosswords. After exclaiming his affection for the word serendipity because it allowed him to ‘dip’ inside ‘serenity’, David used a mini crossword to challenge a very responsive and crossword savvy audience.

Using the clues provided in conjunction with his explanation of the various types of clues(see below), he showed how they enabled the solution of the puzzle.

A charade type clue was demonstrated with music goes with wine. An extra pointer given was means understanding. The answer is ‘rap-port’.

An example of a letter deletion-type clue (where letters are to be deleted), was illustrated by “Our country loses a Labour leader”. The extra pointer to give meaning was country. So to solve take the a and L away from the word Australia (our country) giving Austria, the answer.

David said that the easiest clue to make is an anagram. An anagram clue is where the letters need to be rearranged to create a word. At this session he gave the signpost or pointer word “muscle”. So massaged “dent on”, really means change the letters in “dent on” to make a word to do with “muscle” which is “tendon”.

At one stage during the lively session David asked his audience to use only the scrabble letters worth one point (E, A, I, O, U, S, T, R, N, L) to make up as many country names as possible. There are fifteen.

He also showed how A$$-ASS represented a fool and money parted.

The entertaining David peppered his presentation with humorous stories one of which revealed the process by which he obtained the gig on the popular SBS TV show “Letters and Numbers”. When he arrived at the audition he was presented with nine random letters and asked to make as many words as he could. David, the brilliant word smith, in an instant made up a whole story using the many words he found. And he told us what everyone wanted to know – What is Lily doing now? and when is the next Letters and Numbers show?

Margaret Gentile thanked David for his entertaining afternoon which everyone enjoyed.

David also enjoyed the afternoon; writing to Margaret…

Dear Margaret

Thanks again to you and your committee for organising such a spectacular event yesterday, with great numbers, a smooth set-up, and boundless exuberance. It was a pleasure to be part of the afternoon…

All the best,

David

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Thank you Margaret Gentile and Co. for organising this wonderful event. Here’s a “DA” puzzle to use with the following clues…

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CRYPTIC CLUE TYPES by DA

ANAGRAM Easiest to make, easiest to solve. Need a signpost to suggest mixing. Japanese ruler converts Mao kid = MIKADO Engineer kept coils in reserve = STOCKPILE

CHARADES Breaking words into smaller units, where LAID ON is L -AI-DON. Navel ring selection = ORANGE Trouble at spy base = MOLESTATION

CONTAINERS Words in words. AS in TOT makes TOAST. Look for words of holding, or entering. Worry about horse slaughter-= CARNAGE Platoon leader disrupts attack on fleet = RAPID

DOUBLE MEANINGS Twin definitions. Two-word clues are often this category. Lean over = SPARE Hastier breakfast option = RASHER

HIDDENS Look inside the clue to find the answer. Signposts suggest a fragment. Cheese chunk in apricot tart = RICOTTA Dislike assembling parts? Don’t go there! = IKEA

HOMOPHONES Naked koala, say = BARE. Needs an audio signpost, such as’we hear’ or `on radio. Twist a piece of jewellery, we hear = RING Vocal frontier resident = BOARDER

REVERSALS Turn DEVIL to make LIVED, or NO GROG rejected gives GORGON. Note: Across clues should indicate `back’ white Down clues suggest upward motion. Average music written up = PAR Form of ID sentry returned = NAME TAG

PUNS A skewed way of viewing the answer. Apple for teacher? = IMAC Makes headlines? = FROWNS This jumper tends to ride up?= PARACHUTIST

MANIPULATIONS & DELETIONS Clues that deduct or add single letters, or small clusters. Where Agatha’s detective Chopping out right tree = MAPLE (MARPLE – R) or Catch headless chicken = HOOK. Vile Sinatra lost face = RANK External route, first to last = OUTER

CODES & REBUSES & SPOONERISMS! Purchased Game of Thrones for starters = GOT COM__NCE = START WITHOUT ME Releases Spooner’s ducks? = LETS GO (gets low)

&LIT The perfect clue melds a cryptic clue’s two parts, making wordplay serve literally as the definition. Insane Roman’ is NERD, for example. They disrupt sea-trip! = PIRATES 37-17! = SCORE [37 minus 17 = 20, a score]

PLUS VARIATIONS OF ALL TWELVE – the HYBRID!

Still only a quick crossword person? Here’s a DA quick crossword…

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