September 2023 Newsletter

Welcome to September's edition of Philosopher's Tone! I'm your host, Professor Rebus, and I'm delighted to have you aboard the Pitcherwits™ Express. What can you expect? A monthly dose of bonus puzzles, wisdom and snippets about the English language! I hope you enjoy this month's publication.

A quick reminder that the puzzle PDF downloads are now fillable, meaning you can fill them out on your computer instead of having to print them. Before you try to fill them in, save the file to your desktop first instead of opening the file in your internet browser, otherwise they won't work properly.

Onwards!

  • A life well-lived: when you get as much joy from good work as you do from good play?

  • They say you can’t make an omelette without cracking eggs, but what good is it making an omelette out of broken people?

  • The only reason you cannot change is if you are dead.

  • You can choose your friends, not your family. But if your sibling is your friend, you are blessed indeed.

  • Goodness: an investment (the only one) that is not at the mercy of the markets.

  1. Cantillate: (a) style of bridge (b) chant (c) lace-edged

  2. Degust: (a) de-magnetisation session (b) snort (c) taste carefully

  3. Gnathic: (a) of the jaw (b) pre-historic (c) primitive language

  4. Screenager: (a) computer whizz-kid (b) adolescent gamer (c) person born at sea

  5. Stylite: (a) calcite formation (b) fashionista (c) Christian mystic

From the initials and the clue, what’s the phrase?

  1. C.I.H.Y? ‘In what way is one able to assist?’

  2. W.A.D.R. ‘I want to be polite, but I am probably going to be rude.’

  3. W.Y.B.I.A.B? ‘For goodness’ sake shut the door!’

  4. I.T.T.T.T. You can’t do this thing on your own.

  5. S.A.M. Classic props for deception.

What are the rhyming phrases suggested by these clues?

  1. S.B. Joshing with Father Christmas

  2. P.C. Adventure in print

  3. D.S. Well-dressed cameraman

  4. L.G. Organ donor

  5. J.B. Runner who writes about his hobby

Chuckle Lines

  • ‘I have often wished I had time to cultivate modesty. But I am too busy thinking about myself.’ - Edith Sitwell

  • ‘Some editors are failed writers, but so are most writers.’ - T S Eliot

  • ‘Whenever I want a good read I get one of Jeffrey’s books, and stand on it so I can reach the good books.’ - Steven Norris on Jeffrey Archer

  • ‘Definition of a classic: a book everyone is assumed to have read and often thinks they have.’ - Alan Bennett

  • ‘Spy in a country village meets Mr Jones with a pre-arranged sentence. Mr Jones chuckles then replies, "Oh no, I am Jones the sweetshop, you want Jones the spy."’ - Felicity Wedgwood

 

Signing off until next time...

Professor Rebus

Solve clues with us on Instagram at @pitcherwits

Answers:

What’s the meaning?
1. b
2. c
3. a
4. a
5. c

What’s that phrase?
1. Can I help you?
2. With all due respect...
3. Were you born in a barn?
4. It takes two to tango
5. Smoke and mirrors

Rhyme time
1. Santa banter
2. Paper caper
3. Dapper snapper
4. Liver giver
5. Jogger blogger

Professor Rebus