Scotland

[Wulfruna]

Far be it from me to comment on the referendum - even though it affects us all in the UK and not just the Scots.......

But - from a recent Guardian crossword, I have discovered that "Heartless Alex Salmond - NO" makes a nice anagram of a relevant term (5-8).
Answer to follow for those still puzzled.......

[Bunnylump]

I'd have trouble making an anagram which was (5.8) with something which has 22 letters in it!

[giraffe]

Presumably heartless is the clue and the rest has the right number of letters? Not that I have solved it.

[Bunnylump]

Well, "heartlessly" is usually a sign to take out some letters from the middle of a word. But I don't understand it.

[LAT]

Well yes, I had guessed that it could be an anagram of Alex Salmond No but I can't think what it could be that is 5-8.

[Bunnylump]

No, nor me.But I also can't understand what the heartless bit is all about either. Unlessit's the definition? But then there is no anagram indicator:?

[LAT]

Yes I agree, it doesn't seem as though it is a complete clue. And I'm even sitting here fiddling with Scrabble letters trying to work out what it might be without success.

[Scurra]

After some playing around, I think that two letters were missed from the clue I can get something that works if I add this...

Heartless Alex Salmond - "No Go!" (5-8)

(I spotted something plausible in the letters that works if you add those two.)

I am assuming that there was more to the original clue than this, since we don't have an anagram indicator or a definition though.

[LAT]

Not much of a clue if there is no definition or anagram indicator is it?
Or is that typical of Guardian crosswords?

[Scurra]

I don't think that was the actual clue. I think Wulfruna was just commenting on the nice anagram.

[Bunnylump]

Well, I still can't get it. So maybe I won't bother with Guardian crosswords!

[LAT]

I'm glad it's not just me.

[Scurra]

That's a bit of a sweeping statement, don't you think? (Although coming from you, I imagine that means that you'll be taking up the Guardian crossword tomorrow. ) As I said, I'm not sure that was the actual clue, anyway.

On the other hand, the crossword world does appear to be split between those who consider the Times to be the pinnacle of the craft, and those who prefer the Guardian's slightly more, um, quirky approach. (I should note that it's just as rigorous in the application of the rules, but it will allow some things that might be frowned upon elsewhere. As you might guess, I prefer their style. )

[Bunnylump]

Well I prefer the Daily Telegraph, so there. And I seem to recall that Kathlyn likes them too.

And re

Well, I still can't get it. So maybe I won't bother with Guardian crosswords!

and

That's a bit of a sweeping statement, don't you think?

Well, it WAS meant to be a joke...

I do think that once you get used to a particular style, whatever it is, then that's what you tend to prefer quite simply because you are more likely to be able to do the puzzle.

Anyway, I would be interested to hear what the anagram was supposed to be, Wulfruna.

[clvrlad]

i think the actual clue might have been
Go Salmond in tatters! Alex gutted — no backing to enter race (5-8)
http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords/cryptic/26363

[Scurra]

That's a much more complicated clue - but, of course, it includes the various things that people were asking about.

(For reference, I realised that you could almost get ANGLO SAXON out of ALEX SALMOND NO, which led me to my conclusion.)

[giraffe]

Or alternatively ALMOND SEX LOAN

[LAT]

i think the actual clue might have been
Go Salmond in tatters! Alex gutted — no backing to enter race (5-8)

That's much better. At least it has all the letters we need for the anagram. It was a bit difficult without the G

[Bunnylump]

Well, I still have no idea what it was supposed to be. Hey ho.

[chazzie]

Taken me a while - but think I have the answer the 5 letter word i originally thought of - forming part of the 8 letter word