Fri D Mail No. 14,627

[bryand]

2d) Skint? Raise shares - Ford's cheap surprisingly (8,3,4)
12a) Smooth round small board fit to appear in public (11)
14a) Syrup, say, seems to possess pleasing features (4,5)
16a) E.g. squash that's pale in parts? (4,5)
19a) Quoin monopolises shade (11)
All help greatly appreciated

[retrocop]

strapped for cash
presentable
good looks
soft drink
cornerstone

[bamberger]

I'd be grateful for an explanation of 12a,14a,16a & 19a -can't see the wordplay at all.

[bryand]

Thank you retrocop for your continued help which really is appreciated. I have no trouble with General Knowledge Xwords but cannot get the hang of
Cryptic.

[kettledrum]

12 a. Preen = smooth
round s = small
+ table

[kettledrum]

19a. Corners = monopolises
Tone = shade

[retrocop]

Same once for me.Always do the Sunday Mail prize crossword(GK) with the memsahib and have done so for years.Never got on with cryptic till stuck in house for two weeks and became bored.Stick with one cryptic and you will find how the compilers mind ticks after a while.Don't ask me for clues for The Times,Telegraph etc.Too cryptic for me.People who finish those are Bletchley Park material methinks

[bamberger]

Ah I've got 14a goo (syrup) d (500) looks (seems)
Still can't see 16a

[bryand]

Retrocop I also do the Mail on Sunday crossword and The Daily Telegraph only on a Saturday, and have been sending them in for years winning
the Telegraph once worth £200 and a fountain pen, some time ago