Mel’s Christmas Conundrum
What an awful year we have had since I sent my last Christmas Conundrum out. So much has happened – and so much has not happened too!! It feels like an age ago in a different country. Indeed, it seems ages since I sent my Coronavirus Conundrum out which was well received in the first lockdown to keep the little grey cells active.
One thing that did happen in the latter part of the year was the USA Presidential Election. You could not miss it on the TV for weeks – I felt like the child in the back seat going on holiday – “Are we there yet?!!” Things that struck me – if Sunderland can count our votes in 20 minutes why does one of the most technically advanced countries take over a week? – and they only had two piles to put them on and count!! Also, why after tens of millions of votes does it come down each time to an obscure county in Pennsylvania to decide who the President is!
Anyway, stored in the back of your mind will be that map of the USA (why was Alaska in the Pacific next to Hawaii?) so you will be familiar with the red states, the blue stares, the swing states, the sunshine states and the good old rust belt. That’s good because the answers to my 50 cryptic clues this Christmas are either states of the USA or their biggest cities. I have already given you three potential answers above…. maybe!!!
The clues are attached. There is a prize for the best entry. If winners tie, I will simply just draw a winner out. Of course, my decisions are final and we only have gracious losers here Mr.T.
You can send in your entries by e-mail to babylon5sp@aol.com or by post / hand delivery to 9 Meadow Close, Hethersett, Norwich, NR9 3DZ. Entries close on Monday January 4th. Don’t forget to put your name on the entry!
It is only fun so if you are struggling with cryptic clues or want to get the kids involved then please ask for extra help – I can send you the first letters of the answers, the number of letters in the answers, or both. Obviously if you ask for them you cannot win the prize!!
If you attempt the conundrum and don’t want to send it in but would like the answers, then get in touch after the closing date.
I will circulate this on many of my distribution lists but please feel free to pass on to anyone else, post on websites or any media format.
Whether you try it or not please do your best to make the most of a very different Christmas and sincere wishes for a healthy, safe and prosperous New Year
Regards
Mel Perkins MBE
| NO | CLUE | ANSWER |
| 1 | 1001 and 50 hearing battle to get to locker | |
| 2 | A calf born in the Channel Islands? | |
| 3 | A hotel for eagles | |
| 4 | A noisy sneeze before games of tennis after church service | |
| 5 | A trotter fully switched on | |
| 6 | Almost a full map book takes you to North – thanks! | |
| 7 | Alternative example at work | |
| 8 | Avengers’ actress not right to join legendary female singer | |
| 9 | Biblical boat has refit | |
| 10 | Card game with glass of red | |
| 11 | Caveman Fred’s wife mostly in good town out west | |
| 12 | Cheesy place for a spread | |
| 13 | Cleaner has auction item – a note with jam and bread | |
| 14 | Condiment taken to Geneva | |
| 15 | Country to the left at sea | |
| 16 | Drove stagecoaches beyond Wells | |
| 17 | Elegant in the past musical | |
| 18 | European country musically on my mind | |
| 19 | Find some maid a hoover here | |
| 20 | Five hesitated before going to French mountain | |
| 21 | Glasgow pop band that used to sell paint | |
| 22 | Go to sleep after Asian country then turn over soil | |
| 23 | Groups of ladies cheat and behave badly | |
| 24 | Has five stripes, six legs and loves potatoes singing “She Loves You” | |
| 25 | He discovered it all!!! | |
| 26 | How big Spain must view Gibraltar | |
| 27 | Irish water that surrounds the island that gives its race to the French | |
| 28 | It is fine to initially go to Hollywood to listen to Mr.Simpson | |
| 29 | Karl sang for his country | |
| 30 | Launderette takes a heavy load | |
| 31 | Majority of former Zimbabwe surrounded by water | |
| 32 | Michael was a thriller next to French city | |
| 33 | Mr.Barlow has to eat at end of carvery | |
| 34 | Next King with a heavyweight on Strictly? | |
| 35 | North-east gives support to Madness music | |
| 36 | Not applicable to follow a foreign country | |
| 37 | Revolutionary uses Japanese money to go to Newcastle | |
| 38 | Second helping of curry | |
| 39 | Shirt to wear around North North-east and South South-east | |
| 40 | Sounds like Ms Perkins is in love | |
| 41 | South Africa returns after they went in here two by two and got reply | |
| 42 | special tin soldiers? | |
| 43 | Start of Black Lives Matter movement needed the AA round twice | |
| 44 | Tea party in Lincolnshire | |
| 45 | They fly to New York and return in tip-top condition | |
| 46 | Took headgear back to university | |
| 47 | We hear the reply to “Will you speak to the wife?” | |
| 48 | With 4 for a two-player game and what my role is as a hairdresser | |
| 49 | Woman at first gets in muddle with Tai-Chi | |
| 50 | Young girl is led to drink by 3.14159 |