Will RootsChat be of help to you?

[Gadget]

I was lucky that I'd gone very far back on most of my lines before I joined and it was then just tidying up the edges. Now I just go back every so often and find more. I must admit that I've had lots more info from my Welsh lines from people like Paul    and I have had masses of help on website design from a lot of lovely people here 

I love to help people with their research problems. It's like doing cryptic crosswords (which I love) - only the clues keep changing 


Gadget 

[Rabbit B]

Hi Gadget,

I love the research, but have no idea how to do cryptic clue crosswords!  Is there a knack in it?

Rabbit B 

[perilsofpauline1]

Rootschatters are the most generous people in the world with their time and patience. A big thankyou to them all, and the great people who put this site together!!

[rbangorreg]

  YES-Brilliant site!
        Reg

[claireandsi]

YES - Rootschat is a brilliant site and in the short time I've been a member I've had lots of help.  Everyone is extremely friendly and very generous with their time.  I wish I'd found it sooner

claire

[willow154]

Hi Rabbit B + all,
I believe there is a system with cryptic crosswords, but I don't know it! I have a friend who does the cryptic crossword in the Telegraph, who told me this.
Perhaps someone on rootschat knows the secret - if not, I'll ask her next time I see her.
Glad everyone agrees - Rootschat is great!
Kind regards,
Paulene
P.S. Sorry I haven't been intouch - been involved in helping on a really interesting thread, and got a bit engrossed

[LizzieW]

have no idea how to do cryptic clue crosswords!  Is there a knack in it?

There is a knack to it and often they're much easier to do than the simpler xwords.   There was a prog on BBC4 last week explaining how to do The Times crossword, which I recorded for my OH to view and me to view again.  Interestingly, they showed why their crosswords are the hardest because as well as the usual "cryptic" clue, they have other keywords which mean something different to Times xword addicts.  So "CIA" in a clue usually means the letters S P Y are in the answer, which is fairly normal, but then they said "Tackling" in a clue meant going all around - after that I was lost.

Lizzie

[willow154]

Thanks, Lizzie - no wonder I can't do them!

[JenB]

but have no idea how to do cryptic clue crosswords!  Is there a knack in it?

I too love cryptic crosswords, and do the Daily Telegraph cryptic every day.

However until a few years ago I was completely unable to do them. My late father was an expert, and simply couldn't understand what I found so difficult. After he died I decided that I really must get to grips with them, and after a long struggle actually managed to do so. I like to think of him 'up there' watching me doing them  

There are a few useful paperback books which you could try - they explain what hints and keywords to look for in the clues.

As LizzieW says - quite often now the cryptic is easier to do than the quick! And sometimes the Telegraph 'toughie' is easier then the ordinary cryptic. The Sunday Telegraph cryptic is the most difficult, I find, and I don't very often finish it......