1) Yes - only on occasion. The Guardian's are online, so the cryptic is fun (I can take days over a cruptic crossword!)

2) Whatever comes to hand. Usually a pen. The London freebie, Metro, has double - easy and cryptic crossword on the same grid, so if I do that I start with pencil (the easy, for a warm-up) and then use ink for the cryptic.

3) Caps

cheer

the sunshine warrior