Crossword Page - clues, help or bored

[mockney piers]

Come here if you're looking for clues, posting up clues, needing help or just plain bored.

I'll start:

Draught beginning to stir hairpiece (4)

monarch aboard metal vessel - it's what you'd expect of monarch (10) L _ _ _ _ _ S _ _ _

[SeanMacGabhann]

first one is "swig" surely?

[mockney piers]

ta daah. can't get the second one mind.

[georgia]

Is the second LEADERSHIP

[mockney piers]

lovely!! thx Georgia

imagines leader bagging a short time in Olympic event (6,7)

_ _ _ _ R _ / _ _ _ _ I _ _

[Nero]

I'm pretty good at the quick crossword, but have never got into the cryptic ones. Is it just a matter of banging your head against a wall for about three years before you get more than one clue correct? Or is there a system? Is there a book, or a website that can prime you like a crammer college? Nero

[mockney piers]

I used the banging head technique. Well actually I just bought the paper every day and worked the clues from the answers. Coupled with three years of college, sitting in pubs and ignoring both episodes of neighbours while nursing hangovers on a filthy couch, I eventually got the hang of it.

Here's a brief rundown

http://www.pennypress.com/solvers/cryptic.shtml

and wikipedia's not bad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryptic_crossword

[mightyroar]

You know that's exactly the method I used to get the hang of cryptic crosswords. Can't do your clue though. But do you have the answer now if it was yesterday's paper?

[mockney piers]

I don't, it's actually been floating around my desk for a couple of weeks, I should give it a go.

Here's a contributory clue

Reduced healthy appearance? Risk going off travelling (5-8)

_ _ _ _ _ / _ _ _ _ _ I _ _

[Rolo Tomasi]

Rough Rambling?

[mockney piers]

reckon you might have that android.

that gives us a g at the end of the previous clue, which isn't much of a surprise unfortunately.

Go round old historic city (4) _ _ U _

oour? perhaps not.

It feels like tour, but can't make to = old

[SeanMacGabhann]

I thought it might be wandering instead of rambling (wan - reduced healthy appearance?)

as for old - O = old sometimes and as it appears inside the word (go round) i think you might have it

[mockney piers]

I think the rough is the unhealthy appearance and rambling is going off, so happier with that.

o in go round would be toour, and what's the literal, historic city?

This will help clarify

Another puppy rejected things linked to end of game (10)

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Ur is historic old city - where Abraham (aka Abram) came from.

To = go + Ur = Tour

[Nero]

Indeed. Ur of the Chaldes. I always remember that from RE at school. Nero

[mockney piers]

Yep got the ur reference, I just couldn't spot the literal. i guess they wrapped the literal and clue words in one:

go - round old city = go round.

[mockney piers]

Arses raised US money for global chain (9)

[SeanMacGabhann]

That, sir Mockney, is a fake clue and will upset Dulwichmum

[mockney piers]

You besmirch me young MacGabhann.

It comes from the same crossword (out today if that helps) as:

With top off, Donald's getting "wood" - rarely done? (4, 5)

[SeanMacGabhann]

is it really a clue? Wow - I apologise and take it back. I assumed the Starbucks reference was... well now that I think about it I'm not sure

[mockney piers]

Aaah, rats backwards, us money.

Excellent!!

ps Private Eye

[SimonM]

>>With top off, Donald's getting "wood" - rarely done? (4, 5):D

[mockney piers]

good effort. I really should devote some effort to doing my own crossword here...but what the hey

Kinky daughters: a capital sight when they get changed (3, 6)

[SeanMacGabhann]

The Guards

next..

[mockney piers]

Ooh, that was easy. If I spent less time on the forum perhaps I could get some meself. okey dokey:

Axe Bush! (5)