Cryptic Gifts

Ok, I'll get things going - not with Naomi Watts (welcome as sh'd be in my Xmas socking) - but with a book:

Snooze in backup at the head (7)

X,

I was gonna reference the same book. :(

A computer thing:

Scored a perfect 10? (4)

You beat me, dg.

And I haven't solved yours, either...ACED? IMAC? IPAD...?!

Soft toy:

Audible punch in pub (5-1-4)

Surely dg's 10 is an X-Box?

In the category of tech gadgets, 2 competing products (and apologies for one not passing the "breakfast table" test)-

I plead insanity after pap-smear (5,4)

Large, flower-like Frenchman (6,6)

It seems my guess atdg's clue got filtered out. I'll try again: Imax ?

SK: Apple ipad

Nicely "puzzled", Mr X.

which would make the other product an
Amazon Kindle

Sports equipment:

Stick the hunter after the hunted?(7,3)

Cricket bat (assuming bats eat crickets)

X BO X it is! (I just wondered clueing Bo Derek as a perfect 10 (a la the film) was too obscure/obtuse)

Hence the '?'

While stuck on tech gadgets-

Spooner's Chargecard? (3,3)

Fair enough, dg. And nice to have some Spooner, SK, after Mr Naughtie's effort on BBC 4 this morning. If you missed it, try this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS5mVoqJpUk&feature=related

Boring but practical:

Neighbours trust cable tape. (4,2,1,4)

Hmm the cliche is that that was a cunning (Youtube) stunt

Game:

Infirm rude noise (6)

SK: Wii Fit

Food:

Rake then cover up garden (7,5)

dg: Not sure if I'm totally there but it's something like "soap on a rope"

dg: Cadbury Roses

As a rule we ladies don't really like appliances, but I'd be happy with this:

I'd thicken a stew.

Cluedo - nice.

Here's another game:

More obvious - (10)

yes, twice, X

JD - How many letters ?

A bit harder...CD:

They're revealing sample audio frequency?(8,2,5,6)

sorry, 10,

Kitchenware:

Said to laugh last? (4,6)

And another game:

Orgies (13)

Computing:

Thighs? (6)

Scattergories!

Toy:

Another short and curly question?(7)

Book:

Elmer's advice to designated driver? (8)

Boring but practical:

Misplaced grief over baby-sitter? That hurts!(4,7)

DVD:

Keeps after awful reception (6,6)

DVD:

Magazine short list(3,3)
Set up Crop Circle Records?(8)

JD: KitchenAid?

For consumption-

Con-men hated to reform (4,2,7)

game:

Nitwit makes couple of stupid errors. (7)

Moet et Chandon

Game (with "game" as definition, to make the clue work)-

Cut nothing, no returns in my game (8)

Wearable-

Soldier hides casualty in line (8)

Book:

Hosts file (6)
Cephissus and Ilissus almost!(7,2,3,5)
Apparently they're after bag lady (7,2,3,3)

Monopoly

Clothes (NC-17 rating)

Turns into zombie after being eaten without fear? (6,6)

Turns into zombie after being eaten without any concerns? (6,6)

Another tech gadget-

Into early morning-time, inhale powder (7,6)

Sorry, that should be-

Get into early morning-time, inhale powder(7,6)

We may need to create an inventory of the Unsolved - and possibly a numbering system so we can keep track.

(I'm keen to refine this format as a template for future Storms, where we compose and solve in the one ongoing roll - so suggestions welcome.)

dg - RIVERS OF THE WORLD

After that, I need some think music.

SK: digital camera

CD:

Livid was glorious after dark (3,6,5)

DA, it's (7,2,3,5) and more localised

dg: edible undies

book:

Turn up with top sort at metal concert? (7)
This edition avoids including circular duality and riddles?! (3,2,5,4)

yes, mauve

Book:
Actor drops Mr Gawler off outside Hollywood (3,4)

Gadget:
Siphon each tank’s contents (6)

Homewares:
I left kinkiest vase kinkier (5,6)

dg: The Da Vinci Code

CD:

Breakthrough album without the bombast and punk intro? (9)
Allow it? (2,8)
Practical question (3,3,11)

The Slap

DA - Your game from way back was Balderdash.

Going through the Comments, it'll take a while to sort out the solved from unsolved. Would two seperate posts make it easier ? Not sure.

That was me.

toy:
Greenland jokes(7,5,4)

Good idea, X.....in another thread people can give, and confirm (or not), their answers

Have I missed any?
--------------------------------

DA

Soft toy:

Audible punch in pub (5-1-4)

dg

A bit harder...CD:

They're revealing sample audio frequency?(8,2,5,6)

Kitchenware:

Said to laugh last? (4,6)

Computing:

Thighs? (6)

Toy:

Another short and curly question?(7)

dg — 07 December at 06:10PM

Book:

Elmer's advice to designated driver? (8)
dg — 07 December at 07:02PM

Boring but practical:

Misplaced grief over baby-sitter? That hurts!(4,7)

DVD:

Keeps after awful reception (6,6)
dg — 07 December at 07:47PM

DVD:

Magazine short list(3,3)
Set up Crop Circle Records?(8)

game:

Nitwit makes couple of stupid errors. (7)

Book:

Hosts file (6)
Cephissus and Ilissus almost!(7,2,3,5)
Apparently they're after bag lady (7,2,3,3)

CD:

Breakthrough album without the bombast and punk intro? (9)
Allow it? (2,8)
Practical question (3,3,11)
Livid was glorious after dark (3,6,5)

book:

Turn up with top sort at metal concert? (7)

toy:
Greenland jokes(7,5,4)

SK — 07 December at 08:39PM

Wearable-

Soldier hides casualty in line (8)

Mauve

Gadget:
Siphon each tank’s contents (6)

Homewares:
I left kinkiest vase kinkier (5,6)

Mauve

iphone and Ikea's something?

...steak knives

CD:

Human Nature (9,3,3,6)

Bleh, late to the party. Don't know how you would go about coding such a thing, but perhaps if it is possible to format responses to appear solely under a single post, DA, and a button that hides/reveals these responses so that new posts can go underneath and responses to a post appear when clicked on?

BOOK:
Stout novel from soundly spun vinyls?
(8,4,2,5,7)

GIRLS' TOY:
Child Zorro claims worst, say, from German porker and cannibal Russian?
(5, 4)

BOYS' TOY:
Walking Fern genus diminishes arm.
(4,3)

CHRISTMAS GIFTS:
Supplying stuffing?
(8,6)

If stuck for something for Dad:

Cry for help bags Calvin Klein stockings (5)

Socks - the prezzie we had to have, Sam!

Nib: Guinness Book of World Records [Love spun vinyl but beware Hookworm Syndrome, as per p361 in Puzzled.]

Bratz doll + stocking filler - but not the boy's toy....

And thanks for the how-to ideas for this style of Storm. Will consider two posts next time, or Nib's idea after a chat with Webmistress.

Another idea is the chain-smoke method, where you solve the previous clue to light up the next -

Or a numbering system - such as Sam1, dg8 - to help with the reckoning. (This is turning into a brainstorm within a Storm.)

A few from the Oxfam catalogue:

Nude topless aura (7)

Most quiet on roundabout (8,3)

Up-scale gift for Mum:

Stole messenger's wrapping? (6,5)

Nib - is your boy's toy a nerf gun?

A gift from dg - not me - that was spam-filtered for some reason:

CD:

How girl went into bank telling? (5,4)

Unreal dream (6,7)

(revision)
Human Nature (second first)(9,3,3,6)

Pet store:

Fish in pristine river with Peter Pan (6,9,5)

A national wish?:

Currently lacking ticker & tame? (1,7,4)

Boring but practical:

Begged? (9,2,3)

Book:

Zoo nightclub? (5,3,4,6,3)

DVD:

Ich bing cryptically? (1,2,6)

Superior without ugly boasting (4)

Tech gadget:

Where you can see bird in studio? (7,5)

Cute drunk fashioned chimera (9)

Boring but practical, dg? Never!

Begged? = BREAKFAST IN BED

Ich bing = I AM LEGEND [nice]

yes and yes but breakfast in bed is fairly unimaginative (even with the spam filtered out :)

Ruddy is honest about pollies? (3,8)

That's DVD

Another DVD:

Wring peel (sic) to transcend (7)

Eclipse

Indeed dg - and in trying to solve your ruddy puzzle above (without success) came up with this one (also a DVD):

Blithe since axed Ruddy among these superheroes (3, 11)

Sam - The Incredibles

Yup Mr X - not sure if this one works, but how about this gadget:

Captain Athos met doom oddly (6)

DVD:

Magazine short list(3,3)

MAD MEN

Mauve

Gadget:
Siphon each tank’s contents (6) IPHONE

Homewares:
I left kinkiest vase kinkier (5,6) STEAK KNIVES

Another game:

Short, thick, cut, stretch (8)

book:
Turn up with top sort at metal concert? (7) PUZZLED

DVD:
Superior without ugly boasting (4) GLEE

JD:

Most quiet on roundabout = MOSQUITO NET [classy clue]

dg:

Practical question = ARE YOU EXPERIENCED?

After that a brickwall. We may need to accumulate cookies to buy hints tomorrow. Or vow to crack what's in Santa's heap before we add to the pile!

JD -

Does Oxfam sell PENTONE, a volatile liquid? Or is that my desperation with your clue:

Nude topless [OPEN - O] aura [TONE]

Can't be right.

Two more games...

Game to turn fight, packing mashed spud (7)

Hip tablets altered game (10)

And a gadget...

Burn books? (6)

Sam, you sunk my... Battleship

Sam, Kindle

DA,

Build-a-bear???

Soft toy:

Audible punch in pub (5-1-4)

----

DA, Build-a-bear

Sam, kindle

Upwords?
Game to turn fight, packing mashed spud (7)

yes to all three dg!

another gifted game:

Game second horse in check out (6)

Wearable-
Soldier hides casualty in line (8)

LINGERIE

Lingerie couldve also been 'Row about Old Spice' :)

No, as far as I'm aware they don't sell pentone. Think bovine.

I think I like your lingerie better than my own, dg. Err...you know what I mean.

A category of reading material (think Seinfeld)-

Dual leading footy legends can do job (6,5,4)

Well, SK, if you still have the receipt..

JD is it a buffalo?

SK - coffee table book? Not sure how you get the middle though - co (dual) f (leading footy) .... able (can do) book (job)?

Toiletries-

Tennis champ heads off to Spanish Open on his own (5,5)

Quick work, Sam.

Back to the pet shop:

Audience condemn bad Spanish gag sadly opening (7,8)

Sam- all parts correct + leg-ends=feet

Oh, and that's AFTER SHAVE, SK. Neat clue.(we both went for Espana themes via ESP.)

SK - ah - nice

Ola! So sticking with the Spanish theme-

Article of clothing (very local)-

Madrid Athletico boys lead in zone (9)

Sorry, that last one should have been-

Madrid Athletico boy leads in zone (9)

SK - drizabone

Following your theme:

Alias harbouring pointless rube's drunk cover? (6)

And a popular 80s stocking stuffer:

Confused bi buck rues square-dance? (10)

Audience condemn bad Spanish gag sadly opening (7,8)

Alaskan Malamute

SK,

Rubik's cube?

....Sam, even

....& akubra

If anyone is watching Max on payTV right now you get a tiny hint for some of my clues

Nice akubra, Sam.

Back to a Spooner clue...

Sporting/urban lifestyle weapon-

Reverend's temptation...then had sex (10)

That's probably neater as-

Reverend's seducer had sex (10)

BUFF/ALO looks tailor-made, Sam - well done. The ideal Oxfam gift, and a sweet clue, JD.

As for you, dg, cracking ALAS/KAN MALA/MUTE and setting demonic clues all week - can anyone catch you in the wrap-up?!

Unreal dream = DOUBLE FANTASY [coz sharing a reverie is unrealistic, yes?]

Re the rest, ouch. We may need some cross-letters, since I'm not alone in my befuddlement -

Agree that cracking the MALAMUTE was impressive...I was out in the cold on that one.

Suggestion for the remaining unsolved mysteries...compile a list and ask the authors to give more guidance (hints?) in the category definition.

toy:
Greenland jokes(7,5,4)
CABBAGE PATCH KIDS
Book:
Zoo nightclub? (5,3,4,6,3)
WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE

Glad to see some of mine solved. :) DA, 'fantasy' as an adjective would be synonymous with 'pretend' or ... 'unreal'.

I hope someone solves:

CD:

How girl went into bank telling? (5,4)

some hints:

A bit harder...CD:

They're revealing sample audio frequency?(8,2,5,6)

(Jean Shrimpton ....remixed?)

Kitchenware:

Said to laugh last? (4,6)

(Aussie Aussie Aussie!)

Computing:

Thighs? (6)

_ _ _ _ O _

Toy:

Another short and curly question?(7)

(What's the catch?)

Book:

Elmer's advice to designated driver? (8)

(Wabbit season? Two understatements?)

Boring but practical:

Misplaced grief over baby-sitter? That hurts!(4,7)

(It's not priceless)

DVD:

Keeps after awful reception (6,6)

(Pedestrian mindlessness for the man)

DVD:

Set up Crop Circle Records?(8)

(ZYXABC vs ZYXABC)

game:

Nitwit makes couple of stupid errors. (7)

Revised:

Dimwit makes couple of stupid errors. (7)

(Bowled Shane)

Book:

Hosts file (6)

(King-hit bloody ignoramus)

Cephissus and Ilissus almost!(7,2,3,5)

(Top melodrama?)

Apparently they're after bag lady (7,2,3,3)

(FJ Cup?)

CD:

Breakthrough album without the bombast and punk intro? (9)

(Enlightening!)

Allow it? (2,8)

('R')

Livid was glorious after dark (3,6,5)

(Utterly respect carbon (dating)?)

Ruddy is honest about pollies? (3,8)

(A spoilt brat and fat slob ..... )

Human Nature (second) (first)(9,3,3,6)

(Dreamweavers?)

Pet store:

Fish in pristine river with Peter Pan (6,9,5)

(Or she's very fetching and novel)

A national wish?:

Currently lacking ticker & tame? (1,7,4)

(Back page drama)

Tech gadget:

Where you can see bird in studio? (7,5)

(Almost Beavis and Butthead-ish)

Is a national wish a cricket team dg?

yes it is

That was me

CD:

How girl went into bank telling? (5,4)

(4 across)

How girl went into bank telling? (5,4) = ABBEY ROAD [with A BROAD holding BEY??]

Allow it? (2,8)

('R')

Calling all fans! One of the singles was:

Sting associates after kinder concert. (5,6)

Right answer but....

Abby rowed into the riverbank.

Abby rowed, did she? Pert piece of work. Though I'm sorta fond of A BROAD hugging a BEY:

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

and using '4 across' would really throw the hound off the scent

Unimaginative gift which usually amounts to nothing (a down clue):

Topless, drunk on Moet (5,6)

JT: lotto ticket?

and I love "4 across" as a clue for Abbey Road, dg

4-across is fab, once it sinks in. And LOTTO TICKET is fantabulous, JT. Check it out:

(B)LOTTO + TICK + ET (Moet - oh that's insanely good.)

But what's with SK's sporting weapon of choice?!:

Reverend's seducer had sex (10)

BAITERSALD? BETCHALONKED?

I do love my Abby rowed. But certainly something like this'd be good:

Famous 4 across on cover?

PS Skateboard!

CD:

Livid was glorious after dark (3,6,5)
HOT AUGUST NIGHT

You got it, dg!

Oh, and-

OK Computer (Karma Police)

Last one from me. A CD (well...remastered from a sixties album)-

After initial deposit, jew goes heavily into debt (8,5)

As an extra hint, the band can be clued as follows-

Study furiously, taking drug (5)

Mammoth clue, the band name. (Could this be a future Storm - band + hit?):

Cream + Disraeli gears

Damn - OK Computer! And skateboard, aargh.

Is that stocking empty?

Another clue:

Double Fantasy... Abbey Road....John Lennon has a connection to a 3rd clue. (But probably not where you'd expect.)