I haven’t delighted you enough recently on this subject,
have I? Tick the appropriate box:
□ NO!!
□
Yes
I’d design my own grids (it took me a while to accept
that they had to be symmetrical), fill them in somehow (which got easier when I
was given a dictionary for my birthday), and then, the really fun bit, make up
the clues. My masterpiece, I vaguely
remember, was defined as ‘Workers’ playtime?’, and involved Volkswagens, South
African currency and comedy take-offs. (‘BEER
AND SKITTLES’, since you ask.)
Nobody ever actually solved these things, of course –
that wasn’t the point. (I offered one to
a fellow-enthusiast at work once; he didn’t get a single answer.) Nor, I accepted last night, would anyone have
a punt at my new ones: apart from anything else, I don’t think I know anybody
else who does cryptic crosswords on any regular basis. (Correct me if I’m wrong.)
So, I spent the next two hours researching crossword
compilation applications. There are a
few out there, but they don’t meet my exacting needs. Actually, all I want is a set of ready-made
grids which I can fill in on the computer.
If these happen to be standard Guardian grids, so much the better. Ziltch.
So I emailed the Guardian’s crossword editor. (Regular readers may have noticed that I can
be a bit obsessive once I’ve snatched at a hook.) To his eternal credit, Hugh replied by return
– but the news wasn’t good. Digital
versions of their grids aren’t available to the general public. My best plan, he suggested, was to photocopy or
download the day’s puzzle from the paper and then use a pencil and a
rubber. Fair enough. But I reckon I can do better than that. I feel a highly customised Excel spreadsheet
coming on.
Don’t watch this space (or 'light', as we setters call it) though.
Oh, all right – here’s another clue for you all: ‘Harry
Potter? (7)’ (Need help? The 5th letter is K.)
Is it "Snooker"?
ReplyDeleteOh bugger, I'm not gonna be so helpful next time, Roger! Though I do recall you helping me out with one a while ago, so we're quits.
ReplyDeleteBut the thing about cryptics is that you have to be able to explain your reasoning. Hmm?
Beetles Rand Skits? I thought it was to "Harry" your potting opponent by setting up snookers but you could be more devious with JKRowling characters which in my case are unknowns!
ReplyDeleteI used to devise a few crossword puzzles in my teens. I was a cryptic crossword enthusiast in those days, now so out of practice that it takes a week of staring at The Times and filling in a few clues before I get the hang of it again, by which time I'm too busy and don't look at it again for weeks.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have to be symmetrical, though. You're the compiler, you make the rules - though the clues have to be fair. I used to enjoy skeleton crosswords, but the non-symmetrical ones were fiendish.
I didn't understand the answer or the explanation to the answer ...
ReplyDeleteI do understand a well made G&T tho.
(I have a 90 year old Aunt that does the Telegraph cryptic everyday, she'd be pleased for some more exacting fodder)
ps I bet you can play bridge too can't you?
I'm with you on G&T, Zig, because I understood nothing at all.
DeleteRog got the one about harrying your opponent, who wants to be a potter of the ball, by snookering them. Geddit now?
ReplyDeleteThe other one is far too obscure, not to say contrived, to explain (besides, I didn't actually give you the clue!). Again, Rog is on the right track.
And yes, Zig, I can (or could once) play bridge, but haven't for about 40 years.
"... that does ..." ? Why do I only notice these things days later. Remarkably I have 2 O levels in English.
ReplyDelete