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[rustler]

Activities of Carol's Jake and Ben exerts devious influence around one bending

(7) ???r???

Many thanks if anyone can see the logic

[cupid04]

INBREED. [anagram of bender[one who bends+i] Not very good at doing explanations.
Hope you understand where I'm coming from!!

[rustler]

Carol refers to The Christmas Carol

Jake and Ben appear to refer to an alternative gay version

Does this help or hinder?

[cupid04]

Did I guess it right then, or was I completely on the wrong track?

[Quizmonkey]

Cupid is way off as usual.

[cupid04]

You answer it then Quizmonkey! Why can't you be nice? I always thank people that
have helped me whether they are right or wrong. I appreciate someone taking time out
of their day and making an effort.It's not the first time you've been on my case.

[grasscarp]

It's not just you being criticized Cupid. One of my suggested answers a few days ago was labelled as being "time wasting" by quizmonkey . The first time that I have ever been accused of that on Answerbank!

[Quizmonkey]

So ask yourself WHY it's not the first time. You have a strange understanding of the word 'help' - posting random convoluted guesses, that bear no relation to either the clue or the answer, helps no-one. You're just wasting your own and everyone else's time. And this is a public forum so get over it.

[rustler]

and the original clue is ..........

I think help is still required unless some one can explain the rest of the clue

[Quizmonkey]

Where is the clue from? Why does it refer to the gay Christmas Carol? Is specialist knowledge of that work required? How about the rest of the clues?

[cupid04]

thank you for your answer grasscarp. The majority of people [including yourself] are very helpful and friendly. But then there are others who are really critical.Perhaps
in future it would be best to ignore the likes of quizmonkey and let it go over my head.
Apologies to rustler who still needs an answer!

[rustler]

The letters are ?s?r?e? The clue could work from left to right or right to left

Gay Christmas may be a red herring except that came up through a google check

Some of the other clues do refer to the Christmas Carol

[grasscarp]

The only word which appears to fit the letter is usurper or usurped. You get a U bend, so perhaps this is on the right lines? Sorry rustler to have other issues aired on your thread, but I dont like to see a fellow ABer attacked uneccesarily. As quiz monkey says this is a public forum, and the more offerings received the more likely that you will find the right answer. Nobody should feel that they dare not say what they want to.

[rustler]

thanks for the ideas and all the distractions

I have a number of words but cannot make the link to the clue

[shaneystar2]

Could it be Useries ?
Jake ( could be Jacob Marley ) Ben E(ben)ezer Scrooge if it's to do with A Christmas Carol
They were money lenders or usurers.
I can't see it really .Devious influence could be Ruses around I (one) U ( bending )
Strange clue :)

[Quizmonkey]

Usuries: definition as Shaney says. But it's USES (exerts devious influence) around URI (as in Geller who bent spoons etc).

[rustler]

thank you very much