Mature Times March 2012

[Polly37]

8 across It might lead to gold (7) A?????Y 10 across With two of these it could be a piece of cake (5) R???S 12 down Mix up makes nurse keen to exercise(7) E?C???? 5 down Brown bird has ascent (5) ??S?A

[bulliver]

8a alchemy

[shooty]

12d encrypt ?

[quinie]

10a a bit iffy perhaps . Heads if the r is wrong? Two heads are better than one.

[Polly37]

Many thanks to you all. It is a beast of a crossword this month

[shooty]

keen to exercise = EXCLAIM ?
mix up = XIM + LACE (unsure how lace would fit with nurse)
just something for you to ponder on. : )

[shooty]

ps. explanation for encrypt.
Mix up = ENCRYPT (distort)
RN for registered nurse
PT for physical training
again i am at a loss as to where ECY would come in.
just throwing some ideas around. : )

[shoota]

Avocet for the bird.......;-)

[shooty]

I already ave a set ; )

[shoota]

Entrain - Enrolled Nurse, train - exercise poss?

[quinie]

Hi,shooty, you were correct with encrypt for 12d. Encrypt means to put into code or "mix up".en-enrolled nurse (don't think they have these now) +cry which can mean to keen +pt physical training. Well done you!

[Polly37]

Many thanks to you all for trying to help me. Avocet cannot be right because it has 6 letters and I only need 5. I will put one or two more clues up and hope to get there eventually.

[shooty]

cheers quinie : )

[shooty]

sorry polly. avocet is a private joke. : )