the crosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS 1 Leave scribbled note to get lift (7) 4 Vehicle to travel as freight (5) 7 Music and mirth (4)

8 Caution had Simon dithering (8) 10 Project requiring initiative (10) 12 Enlightened one in Asian religion (6) 13 I’d boil uncontrollably with desire (6) 15 It’s built to keep a flower in its bed (10) 18 He has minor responsibilities (8) 19 Left or right in the vessel (4) 20 Audible sign of grief and rows (5) 21 Concentration required when driving in France (7)

DOWN 1 Bird that is below par (5)

2 Slack water at dusk (8)

3 Last, though almost sure to finish on top (6) 4 Get heating operations in hand for a Chinese meal (10)

5 Close in and attack (4) 6 Shakespearean character to rise with a greeting (7)

9 Man of principle who made riches perhaps (10)

11 Keep quiet aboard ship (4,4)

12 Fetched hot grub, perhaps (7)

14 Gave as unusual definition of barbarian (6) 16 It must be up before the tenth (5)

17 Take out a girl - a bit of a shrew? (4)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS 1 General medical examination (5-2) 4 Closing (5)

7 Temporary state of mind (4) 8 Satisfactory (3,5)

10 In a towering rage (10) 12 Unconvincing (6)

13 Uncertain (6)

15 Perspicacity (10)

18 As a rule (8)

19 Elliptical (4)

20 Unimportant mistake (5) 21 Something unusual (7)

DOWN 1 2 3 4 5 6 9 11 12 14 16 17 Punctuation mark (5) Profitable (8) Insurance contract (6) Forward-looking (3-7) Close (4)

Form of public worship (7) Narrow escape (5,5) Gap (8)

A light woollen cloth (7) A gauzy cotton fabric (6) Foolish (5)

Firm hold (4)