By way of reminder, the object of this game is to solve (and briefly explain) 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 too far 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!

For those unfamiliar with crossword clues who want to give it a try, there is plenty of guidance online, for instance http://www.gameboomers.com/Garden/CrypticCrosswordTypes.htm and https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/premium/xword/cryptics.html as well as a quite entertaining and instructive book (not just for beginners) available from amazon http://www.amazon.com/The-Times-Crack-Cryptic-Crosswords/dp/0007546521/ref=dp_ob_image_bk and no doubt elsewhere, and for those who like British Crosswords you may like to try these (which are free): http://www.theguardian.com/crosswords and https://www.ft.com/crossword. English setter John Halpern's website may also be of interest www.johnhalpern.co.uk.

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 18 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 revealing one letter of the answer when the question is set, unless the answer is very 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 should start dropping additional hints, and 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.

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 fun.

The weighty trophy to be passed to whoever solves your clue is the jewel-encrusted CanukDenis Memorial Championship Belt
===[**CDM**]===

This thread is so named in honour of our late dear friend Denis Borris (aka CanukDenis) who was an ever cheerful and quick-witted presence on this forum, posting many an iffy crypt just to stir the pot, and intrigued by all things linguistic, mathematical and beyond.
RIP CD - we hold you in our hearts as we play on!

Next clue:

Hound intrinsically adorable (9)

Persecute (per se+cute)

Smart work (it occurred to me that one might appeal to you)! ===[**CDM**[===

Thanks, Lex! I guess I'll continue the theme, but completely by accident:

Fruit peels cute caraway seeds (4)

Direct on the right, one vowel.

cvcc

Two deletions: for this particular clue, I believe it is much easier to find the direct and work your way backwards from there.

Sounds like this must be a fruit without its outer letters (peels), also losing the letters c a r (caraway), or perhaps fruit peels without e (cut e) and c a r (caraway), leaving 4 letters to mean seeds, but I am stuck for ideas for the direct apart from ears or corn which I cannot yet justify...

... and Many Happy Commiserations!

Happy birthday Demosthenes!

I've been trying to use nuts or buds but can't explain either. Peeling "cute" does give us "ut".

Happy birthday, Mr D - still working on it...

Yes, that one.

"Fruit peels" is a slightly loose definition, but it reads better than "outer layer of a fruit"...

Thanks to all for the birthday wishes!!!

Pips = seeds - epicarps (peels, and a new word for me) less ecar

A well-deserved win!

===[**CDM**]===

Thank you: I got there in the end!

Scene of disturbance in bar with enraged drunk (4,6)

Definition on the left

Two es and two other vowels which are both the same, and six consonants (surprise!) of which two are the same.

Bear Garden (anag.) Hi Lex

Good morning Ed: the Belt is yours (for now)
===[**CDM**]===

(Thought of you when listening to this recently on Best of Kokua album, remembering that you are/were a Willie Nelson Fan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YLlJby4cyo)

Classic Willie. Thanks for the clip Lex.
Wondered why he was wearing different style of outfit then realized he was in Hawaii. I still listen to Willie's music a lot and especially on his record albums.

thank you for the belt

Yours truly has alien encounter (4)

me-ET

Well met UW ===[**CDM**]===

Thanks, manxman!

Sort out a French composer (7)

un(a French)ravel(composer)