===[**WCF**]=== Chain Crypt

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 and 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.

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.

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 solves your 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 fun!

Next clue:

Cool zaps, all bombs (no shells) (6) - nary an e

Direct on left vccvcc

Aplomb? (appears in Bradford's!)

OMB = bOMBs with no shells (b,s)
can't explain how "apl" = "zaps," all

I think no shells applies to zAPs, aLl too.

Good teamwork

Denis gets the Belt and owes Ed a drink!

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

Thanks ya'll!

Gather for a service (5) no e

a/mass

Cheryl, wear this to church ===[**WCF**]=== !!

Thanks muchly!

Disturbs and robs the insane (7)

Definition = Disturbs. Anagram 'robsthe' = bothers.(Indicator = insane)

Hope this doesn't bother you, Curly! ===[**WCF**]===

I don't think it will Cheryl, merci.

Attack from concealment (6)

No e's

Double def.

Okay, times up anyway.

ambush

Wear this with pride Cheryl. ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you, Curly!

Arrange as a loan without interest, around the first of October (5) no e's

fl(O)at

Don't try to float wearing this, CCbomber! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Sherlock!

Chip a piece out of the woodwork (3)

hew

It didn't take long for hew to spot that one, Sue!

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

I axed my brain to work and it did!

Layer of wood for ballpark item (9)

sheathing (layer of wood)
Shea + thing

Wear this thing with pride, manxman. ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you Pandora

A royal competitor is coming (7)

a r(oyal) rival !

CD, this should arrive shortly ===[**WCF**]===

Merci M'sieu.

Elevator ride (4) no e

Lift (double def)

Lift your bulge with this: ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Denis!

Choose undershirt including loud middle section (6,3) - one e

Single out = choose - singlet (undershirt) containing (including) ou (loud middle section)

For that perfect solve Lex, you have been singled out to receive this magnificent belt: ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you: I'll put it round my loud middle section!

Red, perhaps, in this revolutionary Wales sign (9)

Rats! Too late to do a genuine Denis "5-4-3-2-1"

However:
wineglass (anag "Wales sign")

Cheers! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Socialist footballer (4-6) - three vowels

left-winger

Goal!! ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Rog!

"Wheat" written the old way (5) 1 e

Hint time: direct on left, the e is the only vowel

spelt. Def. of wheat in dict.com.

Spelt rhymes with belt and this one's for you, Curly! ===[**WCF**]===

Merci Cheryl.

Nothing to hold a spike (4)

Nail = spike - nil (nothing) containing (to hold) a

Nail this belt to your middle Kev. ===[**WCF**]===

Merci m'sieu!

Pleased to pawn a pen for Spooner (4-1-4) - no e

Love it!

[blip]-a-hoop (hock a coop)

Sorry about the censor mucking it up...

You can now blaim the Celt: ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Lex!

Delve right inside for the youngster (5) - two vowels

Hints:

Direct on the right
Two Es
vccvc

Rog, did you mean vccvc???

Good morning.

I certainly did. A mega-oops !

Take it away, Remi

elver. (inside delve right)

Nice solve, Remi!

Unfortunately can't think of any witty hand-over, so here you go: ===[**WCF**]===

Merci mon ami Rog.

Poor opportunities for snooker players? (3, 6) Un 'e'/ One 'e'

bad breaks

Thanks Cheryl, try not to break this. ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Remi!

Less polluted, north-facing part of crater erupted (5)

Purer?

(crateR ERUPted, "north facing part of" = reverse indicator ????

Why all the question marks, Rog???????? ===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Cheryl! Would you believe the "?" key got stuck? Thought not...

Rely on spring to provide depository (4,5) Es? - nada

3, 2, 1........ bank vault

Nice solve, Cheryl - winging its way back to MN complete with Easter flowers

ɷɷɷ[**WCF**]ɷɷɷ

Thank you, Rog! They're beautiful!

Half a steak's consumed? Don't eat for a while (4) no e's

fast = "don't eat for a while"
halF A STeak
Cute!!

That was a FAST solve, Denis! I'm passing on the flowers cuz they're so purdy. ɷɷɷ[**WCF**]ɷɷɷ

Ahhhh....mille mercis Cheryl...

After the fast greeting breaks thy spare pea. (5, 6)

Happy Easter, Denis!

All yours Rog: ===[**WCF**]===
I'm keeping the flowers!!

Make sure you put them in water, Denis!

Less material gets the girl so upset (9) - one E

OK - hint time

Direct on the left, one indicator
"material" can be an adjective as well as a noun
The "less" should give a clue as to the ending
ccvcccvvc

This was a surprisingly tricky anagram (upset) of "the girl so": I got stuck for quite a while trying to incorporate "short" into the answer before arriving at ghostlier = less material.
Good one!

Nothing ghostly about this, Lex! ===[**WCF**]===

Thank you

Proceed, whilst wearing pyjamas inside out (4) - one vowel and it's not e

Direct on the left cvcc

PasS (proceed)

PS = PyjamaS (inside removed)
as = whilst (I think!); wearing=indicator

PHEWWW!!!!!!

You have passed the test!
===[**WCF**]===

Merci M'sieu!

Band left organs (5) no e

Direct on right, 1 indicator, cvccc

parts? (strap reversed)

Strap this round yer waist Cheryl ===[WCF]===

organs are parts of the body.....wet noodle?

Thank you, sir!

Cuts page out with blade for puzzle (9) not an e in sight

Hint time: direct on the right, 2 vowels - both the same

More hints?

It's a type of puzzle ccocccocc

FINALLY got it: cuts = crops; remove the p (page): cros(sword = blade)
Thassa mean one, Cheryl!

I knew you'd "get it", Denis! ===[WCF]===

Thanks Cheryl!

$1,000 award in French race (5,4) no e

Grand prix

Voici ton grand prix Roger ===[**WCF**]===

Je te remercie, Denis

Note undergarment twice holding a scoundrel in spell (11) - no e

Hint time:

Direct on the right
One indicator
Word play 1+3 (3) 1+3
Five vowels, all the same

Abracadabra! = spell - a (note) + bra (undergarment) twice containing (holding) cad (scoundrel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QyoRzZrF00

I'd forgotten that track, Lex!

Nice solve - hang onto this for a spell: ===[**WCF**]===

Wizard - thank you!

A pair of clues which made us smile:

1. Busy, as ladies often seem to be...(8 - 7 also acceptable)
2. ...blank, as gents often are! (6)

Just a groaner, no intricate wordplay - vccvcvvc (or vccvcvc) and cvcvcc

A bit of a lulu or maybe just a loo

1. occupied
2. vacant

... or the alternative: 1. Engaged (guess that's a bog-standard answer )

Very loocidly answered!
===[**WCF**]===

Thanks, Lex

Serving people with people standing in line at the loo (11)

Joke: CANnibalism !

Good one, Denis

Direct on left. 2 e's cvvccvvcvcc

See that I edited the original

headwaiters

Good one, Cheryl! You don't have to wait for this ===[**WCF**]===

Denis should now be challenged to set a clue for cannibalism, being sure to include a toilet reference...

Cheryl, please put your clue on the new thread I am setting up.

How to serve your fellow human (11)