to be annoyed that I struggle with cryptic crosswords...

[NessCathy]

I've been trying to get into cryptic crosswords, and I'm really annoyed that I struggle with them, and some find them so easy. I can usually get a few and when I cheat, find myself thinking either
a) Oh, that's so bloody obvious, or
b) How could anyone have put all that together?

Anyone else like them? Maybe we could have a MN group to improve? Or a grandmaster to help us?

Yes, that's the one, with the > signs. There's usually a few in those mixed logic puzzle books. The ones with some sudoku, some killer, and others such as the ones where you join nodes/dots with lines.(I'm rubbish at those)

I do kenken online now and then. I like the nytimes puzzle page.

I can think of a solution for 'Took the part of another ' if it was 6 letters ...

'Took the part of another' did turn out to be SIDED.

I only have 4 left to do!!! Much thanks to you lot!

There's one I got that I don't fully understand why:

Soldiers without officers run into action, as commanded (7)

The answer is COMMANDED

Sorry, doh, the answer is ORDERED.

Haven't got the 'or' bit yet but action = deed, r= run, so run into action = dered. The 'or' bit will be a word for soldiers but with a word for officers taken off - can't think of it at the moment!

Ok got it.

OR is "other ranks" i.e. soldiers without officers (needed google to work this out)

DEED is action

then you take the R from run and put it "into" DEED

put it all together and you get ORDERED

Brilliant! I haven't heard of the other ranks.

Ohhhhhhhhh. Thank you. That was hard.

Only 2 to get now!

oh go on, share!

Second largest European currency (6)

D N

Don't tell me the answer, but feel free to hint at the right direction if it's a tricky one:)

It's not money...

Think of a natural feature...

hmm. is that maybe another non-cryptic clue? i can get an answer that is possibly true and fits the letters but is a straight answer.

Ok, I think I have the answer, but why "currency"? Is it a synonym for that kind of natural feature...?

ah got it. Thanks hocus.

think current

Ahh, I see. Wasn't thinking far enough outside the box.

I don't think I've come across 'currency' used like that before but I did get it. OK, so one more to go?

Gahhhh. Last one.

Get wise to doctor breaking law (6)

U B _ E

Rumble means get wise, I suppose. But the rest... pffff...

MB breaks into RULE

MB often used to denote doctor, as is MD confusingly

Current and currency used like that loads in the Guardian

Doctor can also be DOC, DR, MO (medical officer apparently).

I wonder how well the setters get paid...

And of course 'doctor' can be used as an acronym signifier.

I mean anagram not acronym ... sorry, brain fart.

Anyone out there doing today's Guardian Cryptic?

Done it all but one (27 ac)

Was stuck in a&e thisi morning waiting for DH and his rugby injuries, so had time on my hands