By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve the clue presented by the previous poster and then set your own clue.

Anything from the (worldwide) crossword arena is acceptable by way of clue style, but if you stray from the pure path beware the scourge of... ...Pandora's WET NOODLE!

The puzzle could be an old favourite or something of your own making. Don't be shy: this is for everyone, not just the old hands!

There is nothing to prevent (say) a couple of related clues if offering a single clue cramps your style.

If there are multiple answers involved, there is no restriction against one person solving all and the solver of the final clue/part is the one who goes next.

Obviously you need to await confirmation of a correct answer before posting your own puzzle, but please then do so reasonably promptly: if having answered correctly you are not going to be able to set a follow-up clue within about the next 24 hours, please pass your turn to someone else so that the game does not stall.

To save the poor demented solvers from excessive brain damage , you should consider giving a hint as to letters when the question is set, unless the answer is relatively short/easy so that provision of a letter hint at the outset would spoil the sport!

If no-one is biting within about 24 hours you are encouraged to start dropping additional hints.

To try to give everyone a fair crack of the whip, the immediately previous setter is asked not to post a solution to the current clue within the first 24 hours.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever successfully solves each clue is the jewel-encrusted World Clue Federation Championship Belt ===[**WCF**]===

Constructive criticism and cheerful badinage are to be expected,
not to mention a certain amount of national rivalry, but above all, have a bit of Christmas fun!

The Antipodean Marsupial will shortly be placing his offering under the tree...

Thanks Denis/Lex...

Uninhibited star drank shaken container of beer (7)

Tankard

ta = star with ends removed (uninhibited) + anag "drank".

You're a star Rog...Over to you...

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Koala

Handout posted in advance (7)

present

direct is handout=present
advance=pre
posted=sent

Indeedy, manxman! (I'd intended "posted in advance" = "pre-sent" )

Wrapped in tinsel for your enjoyment: §§§===[**WCF**]===§§§

Thank you UW

F Field and B Silver in run-down hotel (7)

fleabag

field - lea
silver - Ag
F+ lea + B + Ag
run-down hotel - direct

Here you are...===[**WCF**]===
Hope you don't mind the fleas on it

Thanks manxman!

Inmate pursuit leads to capture (8)

con quest

I can't con you, Denis. Seems you've captured the belt so here you go. ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks Monsieur LeStick!

Well, seems Lex not around, so I'll use the one
I had for him:
Sterilized decoration: Jingle Bells edition (6,6)

boiled tinsel (anag. of bells edition)

So here's our tinseled belt edition: ===[&&WCF&&]===

Thank you, sir!

Fold note inside container (6)

Crease - "re" in "case"

Here you go, Rog. I left the tinsel on just for you! ===[&&WCF&&]===

It looks terrific, Cheryl!

Wayward he-man in Toronto is bad news for seasonal pair (2,4,2,3,3)

No room at the inn (Anagram of He-man in Toronto) - The seasonal couple no doubt being Mary and Joseph.

Fitting you should get that one, shroeder!

Winging its way to the North Island... ===[&&WCF&&]===

Thanks Mr Worrier.

It arrived with some tinsel damage so I've replaced that with flowers from the New Zealand Christmas Tree (The Pohutakawa)

===[@@WCF@@]===

Keeping with the Christmas theme...

Counter of heads exalted us (8)

OK.... Clue time.

The direct is at the start and it relates directly to the Christmas story

I seem to remember that Herod used a census as a way of checking male children in his hunt for Jesus, but that is as far as I can get...

Hi Lex. You're definitely looking in the right direction but maybe you should look at...

Clue 2:

Luke 2!

I think it was Caesar Augustus who ordered the census and that's what brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. Since Augustus has 8 letters, I'm going with that.

Augustus. And that's my final answer!

Well done Sherlock

Exalted = august + us

Direct = Counter of heads

Here's the prize ===[@@WCF@@]===

Thank you, shroeder!

Light part of music and learning (6)

Strange that a google search on "names of biblical census takers"
reveals only Quirinius.

Being atheist, I felt guilty searching such a topic

musiC AND LEarning

You got it, Denis! Here's your belt. ===[@@WCF@@]===

Hi Denis

Quirinius was the Governor at the time but Caesar Augustus called for the census.

I'm pretty sure it's a matter of historical record as well as being part of the Christmas story!

Thanks Cheryl and Paul...

Addition: add one and ten (8)

Denis feeling guilty...?

As Emperor, Augustus would have ordered it but not actually carried it out: Quirinius was probably a civil servant involved in the process.

Civil servant...so how many meetings did he set up?

Hmmm... Knowing Denis I suspect this clue relates in some way to the previous one.

The only thing I can come up with is "COUNTING" but I can't see how to get the g at the end.

Add = count
one = i
and = n (as in Fish 'n Chips)

... second thoughts

unless it's a double definition?

Nope

May as well give 1st clue: not double def, one "e"

appendix

append+i+x

Append this to your spare tire: ===[&&WCF&&]=== !

Denis, how do you know that I have a 'spare tire'

Private parking near New Orleans (8)

P(arking) ERSONAL=orleans (new=indicator)

A cutie!

Here you are Denis ===[**WCF**]===

Merci!

What's wrong with a melt? (4)

Melt (dir) = Thaw (anag of 'What')

Nothing wrong with this: ===[@&WCF&@]===

Thanks Denis.

Local people, for example, missing from old photographic images (7)

natives

negatives - eg (example)

Affirmative...

===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Koala!

Fasten securely, keeping tightly stretched (5)

fasTEN SEcurely

Fasten securely around your middle. ===[**WCF**]===

Merci Cheryl.

Slippery woman left card inside (7)

Day#1 hint: 4 vowels, direct = slippery

evasive
card=visa
left=reverse visa=asiv
woman=eve

Here's the evasive belt: ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you.

City girl hanging around star (3,5)

Las Vegas. City girl (lass) around vega (star) lasvegas

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas....

Thanks mxm.

Jump over an obstacle, like a strongroom(5)

vault (double def)

yez dur!

Good one. ===[@@WCF@@]===

Marci.

Fruit cocktail: tropical, no less (7)

apricot
fruit direct
cocktail=anagram
tropical-l(less)

and da belt, she stays in Ontario: ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks CD

Condition of lingerie at the laundry? (9)

brainwash

bra in wash

Love it, manxman!

Thanks UW.

That's a go Sherlock....===[**WCF**]===
The belt needs a good wash

Thanks, mxm!

Garden ornament makes men go mad (5)

Gnome = garden ornament - anagram (mad) of men go

quite the coincidence: GardeN OrnaMEnt

Yes, Lex! Here's an ornament for your midsection. ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you for that embellishment!

Possibly courting New Year pasta, but...

Reflexively they're said to be Santa's Little Helpers (10)

themselves

cute one Lex

Glad you liked it! Here you go, as perhaps the final solver of 2012:
===[**WCF**]===

Thank you Lex

Just about live in elegance (5)

F L(ive) AIR

You have a flair for crypts...===[**WCF**]===

Thanks a million=MxM !

Race for "One Night In Paris" (5)

Inuit

one - i
night in Paris (French) = nuit
race = direct

You get 2013's first delivery: ===[20WCF13]===

Delivery accepted!

Added alcohol to sticker's backing (5)

Well, yer sure not losing your "pretty surface"
ability Sue; that one's a real "winner"!

decal

laced in reverse

You can stick this pretty belt right around your waist, manxman. ===[**WCF**]===

And thank you Denis.

Thank you Pandora. All the best in the New Year. The belt looks great

Bones starts to run as Spock is taken ill (5)

Tarsi = bones - anagram (taken ill) of first letters (starts) of "to run as Spock is," or at least I think so...

That was quick Lex
All yours....===[**WCF**]===

Hmmm....anagram of a buncha first letters...love it!

Hope our noodle wielder likes it too !

I'm sure Pandora will forgive me as it does reference her favourite show

I found it to be amazingly clever.

Thank you, and my apologies for a dilatory follow up.

I agree that it was an unusual and smart clue, which I was quite chuffed to be able to unravel!

About time for a new thread methinks: next clue will appear there.