Where do you start?

Lounging and listening to the Proms, Mahler's 'Das Lied von der Erde' in case you were wondering, whilst pondering The Times crossword made me think that E. Morse would have it dispatched in five minutes flat. I, on the other hand, wouldn't know where to start. My mum would though, she's a crossword fiend and loves the cryptic type the best.