CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Oddie’s last part after Goodies I included in paper (8)

5. Reject a mushroom in Jersey etc — it’ll make you retch (6)

9. Spooner’s wet bread — firm and sticky dish (4,4)

10. Copper, like gold, is toxic stuff (6)

12. Parasite left flower in Yorkshire (5)

13. American soldier wraps a kind of snack (9)

14. Green politicians stifle expression of joy and take on state (3,9) 18. Now’s the time for presents on tree for staff tips (9,3)

21. Plays international without racket and it’s an unfair match! (2,7) 23. Manage to go round small European harbour (5)

24. Pub invested in strong port (6)

25. Set on eating this? (2,6)

26. BBQ accessory cook finally found in drain (6)

27. Small change found in extremely pretty old instrument (8) DOWN 1. Grapple with gear (6) 2. Journalist wraps up neat American book

(6)

3. Touring Seattle by ship is cheap (9)

4. Heavy tool required to break emerald and hard gems (12)

6. Dead plant gone missing (5)

7. Have tea with modest man of the cloth … (8) 8. … and another almost cut bit of witty verse

(8)

11. Sip rum nervously then start to sample slithy things heated on these? (6,6)

15. Wood flyer? No, a wader (9)

16. Chant USA when rallying for Bush (8) 17. Venue for those that cue Miller’s play (8) 19. Grovel with item of jewellery in church (6) 20. Almost sending aristo into a state (6)

22. New First Lady possesses rare selfconfidence (5)