Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Tremendous effort by the king of compilers, Araucaria, and have enjoyed it a lot. Just struggling on this one, should anyone be able to help:- 21 Down (first part)"More or less out of practice with port maybe". It's 6 letters, and I have -R-S-Y. There's a temptation to bring "rusty" into it but I cannot see the "port" part of it.

I've gone for crusty. c (= circa or about) + rusty. There is a "crusted" port, so it kind of fits.

crusty - layer of sediment on side of bottle in some wines and ports (Chambers)

Many thanks, Sudokulover and Peterm, and it looks in this case as if there is no alternative to "crusty". I wasn't aware of the drink connection but I can't see anything better, so thanks again to both of you.

I had the same concerns with this clue & solution and posted a query as such on a much longer thread. I knew it must have been something I'd missed because I share the view that Araucaria is the doyen of all compilers. Those criticising him on the Crossword Help Forum really do not have any appreciation at all of his status in the Pantheon of compilers.

Here here Turast ! I think we may have a Victor Meldrew in our midst...best ignored !

Ah,yes. Mikey 4444, the one who thinks anybody who reads the Star or Sun is a gibbering idiot.

Apologies to turast and mikey4444.
I am hopeless with crosswords, and have an inferior complex which sometimes brings out the nastiness in me.

Good on you terry. you've gone up in my estimation.

no prizes for guessing that the terry above is one of those spineless multi-personality morons afraid to use their usual name.