Cryptic Clues

First word needs changing otherwise you are correct so far

 

Hardly, Barely Almost aaaagh nothing fits!

 

Hasn't

 

Pete's

 

Of course they dont fit - they all have 6 letters not 5!

(A clue - apostrophe's don't count in crosswords)

 

I thought that but decided it was strictly two words?

 

Correct Ron

 

Now he tells me!

 

Off you go then, anyone.

 

Try this one. Tropical plants a retired jester has mixed up (7 letters)

 

15D Very sad unfinished story about rising smoke (8)

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Tragical?

 

You have a copy of the The Guardian crossword of Aug 6 2002 Lamby? You know that's correct.

15D indicates the location and direction (down) of the solution in the grid
"Very sad" is the definition
"unfinished story" gives "tal" ("tale" with one letter missing; i.e., unfinished)
"rising smoke" gives "ragic" (a "cigar" is a smoke and this is a down clue so "rising" indicates that "cigar" should be written up the page; i.e., backwards)
"about" means that the letters of "tal" should be put either side of "ragic", giving "tragical"
"(8)" says that the answer is a single word of eight letters.

What sort of mind does one have to have to work that one out?

 

Have to admit I knew that one. Remembered it from an old crossword I'd failed to finish! OK here goes. Tropical plants a retired jester has mixed up (7 letters)

 

Are we looking for a tropical plant that is an anagram of a retired comedian?

 

No. a word for jester mixed up with something else that forms a tropical plant.

 

Luckily, I have to go out to attend to some horses now.

 

Gives you plenty of time to work it out!

 

Back again. Now what was the question?