CHRISTMAS PUZZLE
Here is a tough puzzle for Christmas. It is a cipher, meaning one letter of the code stands for one letter of text. The cipher system used is a traditional one and can be found with a little bit of searching on the internet. The key will require a little bit of creative thinking. The letters are bunched in fives, a traditional method of sending coded messages since the renaissance.
MOIWE DWRLP DQMLX ALEKF VMIKV FYILA APGMT VOVFH TFLCJ EVSIL ZEUKV NFSDS KAYSE JQZLA EPEJP MOIAO TEXWV FFLCM KSMKE DWSGB NPMLW AHPQO RWRFK IZQGW XYMJS JRJMJ HMJSP EZIFA MINWU OIEDP HHXFN YAVEB SFXYO XALJC PVIWU TILCR BAWJR QIJGY LAWCS NYZJN OYIWZ
CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1&6 It’s a local issue to have farm’s produce, I say (9, 3)
6 See 1
9 Caught huss in this way (4)
10 Far reaching point for revolutionaries (8)
11 Model raised a lot of heavenly bodies (10)
13 A place for Christmas party possibly in street (6)
15 Maybe money spent on presents not in tune (6)
16 Injured wolf consumed by reptiles heading for a fall (10)
20 Debt collector somewhat brutally manhandled (8)
21 Man on board is one of three possibly (4)
22 See 23
23 & 22 Christmas visitors brought new items here for exchange (5,4,3)
DOWN
2 & 19 This is used at a sticky time at Christmas? (8,4)
3 Warrant without right result (5)
4 Score in error with own goal? He’s tight (7)
5 At sea without line attached (5)
7 You’ll hear festive time (4)
8 Make a bust with second copper then record the first (6)
12 Call out for workers festivities (8)
14 Settle back in deep-felt sensation (6)
15 It’s a crime to take this? (7)
17 Boardroom philanderer has sex appeal (5)
18 Like gardens that are sloping (5)
19 See 2
For solution (and explanations if necessary) please email fexwords@gmail.com