Saga Crossword April

[felly]

I've completed top right hand and bottom left hand corners but am having trouble with the rest. Can anyone help me along with a couple of clues for the other two corners? 10a Big cat, say, now drowned (9) 12a Sapotaceous tree that is depending on slug resistance (9) 24a Turning up, still without energy - in consequence, yawns (9) 26a One sentence, and many others, showing the ropes (9) Thanks.

[shaneystar2]

10a Lyonesse
12a Bulletrie
24a Oscitiates
26a Lifelines

[shaneystar2]

sorry ! Oscitates .Typo

[felly]

Thanks shaneystar2 - don't know how you can do them so quickly. However would you explain two of the answers? Why is 12a bulletrie and 24a oscitates. Also I've just looked up Lyonesse and it seems obvious it's the answer but when I started writing it in realised it has only 8 letters and I need nine - any ideas - unfortunately I have no letters at all in it so far.

[felly]

Sorry I do have an E as the 6th letter

[felly]

Have looked it up again and it looks like you can spell Lyonesse with another n so that's solved

[shaneystar2]

Bullet = slug + R ( resistance )+ IE that is
Static ( reversed ) turning up .In consequence (so ) + E energy

[shaneystar2]

Big cat = Lion (say) Lyon .Sunken kingdom .

[felly]

Thanks - didn't connect the slug with a bullet nor the static with still - easy when you explain it. Do you get all this information out of your head or have you already done the crossword?

[shaneystar2]

Yes felly .I've already done it and sent it in . But still had to rack my brain a bit . Harder this month than usual. Sorry about the spelling with Lyonnesse .Good luck :)

[felly]

Thanks though I don't know if I'll finish it as I sometimes give up. I think you should apply for the next "Are You an Egghead" (you're not Kevin are you?:)

[shaneystar2]

Haha ..No. I'm not Kevin .Just a an old gal who like cryptic crosswords .Don't give up on cryptics .There are lots of people on here to help you .

[felly]

Yes I love cryptic crosswords too - used to do the Daily Telegraph one with a friend at work when we weren't busy but the Saga is much harder and taxes my brain which is no bad thing. I think it's really nice that people who have completed the crossword and sent it off will help others as they could be reducing their chance of winning the prize but I suppose the satisfaction is really in completing it. I did win a runner-up prize once. Any way thanks again - will get back to it now.

[shaneystar2]

You can usually crack it with the help of a couple of good dictionaries .
I rely heavily on Bradfords and my trusty Chambers .
And of course nowadays a good wordfinder from the internet where you can get a word that looks to be a possible and then cross reference it .
I've done the Telegraph for donkeys years and have won a book token and a crossword notebook but that damn pen still eludes me :)

[felly]

Hurray - finished it thanks to you shaneystar2 - keep trying for that pen :)