The petticoated.com Cryptic Crossword 

Well, they said it couldn't be done...and that included my most literate staff members, such as Saffy and Angela. But if you read the history of business and creative technology, then as soon as somebody says that it can't be done, invention is just around the corner. Edwin H. Land, the genius who created the Polaroid company, was told by some of the most respected professors of physics in the United States that a system for developing film in seconds within the compartment of the camera was a scientific absurdity, and impossibile.

Land's extraordinary work may have been rendered obsolete by the digital camera, but crosswords never go out of date. And one reader managed to do it - a cryptic crossword on petticoating themes. Solution next month, and, please, your solution to my e-mail address. Do as much as you can, and perhaps concentrate on the greeting and the creator's cognomen. I doubt if anyone will manage the full solution.

I will try to obtain a suitable prize.

 
. . 1. . 2. . . . 3. . 4. . .
. llllllll . llllllll . llllllll llllllll llllllll . llllllll . llllllll 5.
6. . . . . . llllllll 7. . 8. . . .
. llllllll . llllllll . llllllll 9. . . . . llllllll .
10. . . . . . . . llllllll . llllllll llllllll .
. llllllll . llllllll llllllll llllllll . llllllll 11. llllllll 12. llllllll .
13. . . . 14. .
15.
 . . . . . .
. llllllll . llllllll . llllllll . llllllll llllllll llllllll . llllllll .
. llllllll llllllll 16. llllllll 17. . . 18. . . . .
. llllllll 19. . 20. . . llllllll . llllllll . llllllll .
21. . . . . . llllllll 22. . . . . .
. llllllll . llllllll . llllllll llllllll llllllll . llllllll . llllllll .
. . . . . 23. . . . . . . .

Note that the very middle square, 15, is a double square. Imagine that square is crossed by a diagonal line from the bottom left corner to the top right corner. Then it will be clear that the last letters of 13 across and 9 down are the same, and the first letters of 15 across and 15 down are the same.

The crossword's creator writes:

Dear Miss Susan,

I was cut to the quick on reading your recent strictures regarding those who do not contribute, but endlessly complain. I am indeed one who must plead guilty to the former, but in mitigation of my sin of omission, never, ever the latter.

Nevertheless, 'not complaining' in itself, is scarcely a commendation, and so in response to your appeal elsewhere in the October edition, I have compiled a crossword for possible inclusion in the Christmas Annual. I enclose herwith a draft of the proposal, together with a solution including clue explanations.

I take this opportunity to thank you for all the good things in the magazine, which I've enjoyed since the inception of your web site. My favourite pleasure derives from your own responses to readers' letters, especially when they are just a tiny bit waspish! [Waspish? Me? Never :)]

With every good wish for your continuing success, I remain your affectionate reader,

Charles

Where have you been hiding? You should be a member of the staff, working in the creative office with Saffy. Anyway, here are the clues: 

Unmask the Compiler

His initials are M.C.P. His true colours (pastel shades?) can be read from the completed diagram as 20 down, 9 down, in 15 across. 

A Christmas Greeting

A greeting may be read clockwise around the perimeter of the completed grid, starting at the top left-hand corner (eleven words: 7, 4, 2, 5, 5, 3, 3, 2, 11 ,3 ,3). The unchecked letters in the perimeter, that is the letters not already given by the clues (across, down, and clockwise), can be re-arranged to read: MADE A COOL NIGHTY? - HAD TO! 

Clues Across

6.   Love sailors perhaps - consumed my fancy. (6)
7.   Russian girl’s tanga magically raunchy at first (6)
9.   A bit of talc is symbolic for  big baby (5)
10. Melt rash away - with warm dressing? (8)
13. Mixed gin indeed, thus acted graciously to lesser mortals (7)
15. A step in…all aflutter…Naughty boy! – you’ve been in Mummy’s 1 down drawer again! (7)
17. Hmm….sounds like thieves Madame,…ma foi!…les miserables…Mon Dieu! - They could be FRENCH! (8)
19. Oh dear! – started crying again mumpsykins? Is mummy going to have to get teddy then? (5)
21. A quiet vessel. Kitchen maid might empty it – and probably be called Pansy for his trouble! (3-3)
22. Rob bin assortments or look for one in a band-box? (6) 

Clues Down

1.   Take back love for example – end of their frillies perhaps. (8)
2.   Dummy at first, teat at last in, to provide a basis to work from…. (5)
3.   …alternatively burp zaps tree! (4)
4.   Hold it like Nanny Stern – there are various ways. (4)
7.   Nighties not near, note, in some poems it is. (3)
8.   I leave Miss to shortly obtain original documents. (3)
9.   Exotic lad! – dressed at last! (4)
11. See 14 down.
12. War bride uncomfortably aware of  support. (5, 3)
14 and 11. Light none can shatter! (4: 14 down first two letters; 11 down last two letters)
15. Nanny (Susan?) should have some…To pick a winner? – certainty returns… (4)
16  …and baby should have one regularly – it’s a hot tip! (3)
17  Confused start to 17 but relatively connected. (3)
18  Unwell after church? – 10 might have prevented it. (5)
19  Bill is a girl…(4)
20  …but the letters sound masculine enough. (4) 

Clues Clockwise

5.   Goat to discover article exhibits our own Flower of Scotland (dare we say?). (5, 5)
23. (Since meeting Blairs perhaps?) Nanny Susan supports this government, even if it is apt to cite spin! (9)

Well there are no excuses for being bored over the holiday season now! So pop on your long winceyette nighties, and Victorian nightcaps, and see if you can solve it....
Susan

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