TWO-SPEED CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES 1 Going without food,

rapidly has gin cocktail (7) 8 Release your grip and

depart twice (5,2) 9 Distress or utter agony (7) 10 Big enough to see

specimen beheaded (5) 11 Chart easing of tension as

girl returns (6,3) 14 Lower the dignity of churchman embracing me (6) 15 Dora’s unusual ways (5) 16 Be seen in public taking a

soft fruit (6) 20 Took action – left (4,1,4) 23 Bury in part of

hinterland (5) 24 Old boy’s remedy, not

easily understood (7) 25 Trio rub out dish (7) 26 Possibly any temp will get

wages (7)

1 Tense time ahead (6) 2 Direction of goblin taking

leisurely walk (6) 3 Toughen, that is, having to

sprint backwards inside (5) 4 Sparkle with leg break

before midday (5) 5 Are primates able to serve

nibbles? (7) 6 Beachcomber’s find? That

is a water sprite (6) 7 New demon about to

swallow river (6) 12 Girl with all the plants (5) 13 Confuse with funny walk

when wife’s gone (5) 15 Sheep run needs assistance with smash and grab (3,4) 16 Arms displayed in a hostile

way? (6) 17 Depart – exploding

firework! (6) 18 Large book’s capacity (6) 19 Are the changes to make

something hot again? (6) 21 Reject inner circle and

wilt (5) 22 Make a test when to

speak (5) COFFEE TIME 1 Eating nothing (7) 8 Release your hold (5,2) 9 Agonising pain (7) 10 Abundant (5) 11 Contoured chart (6,3) 14 Abase (6) 15 Avenues (5) 16 Emerge (6) 20 Set off (4,1,4) 23 Bury (5) 24 Abstruse (7) 25 Mexican filled tortilla (7) 26 Cash reward (7)

1 Forthcoming (6) 2 Amble (6) 3 Accustom (to) (5) 4 Glisten (5) 5 Party nibbles (7) 6 Scottish water sprite (6) 7 Contemporary (6) 12 Plant life (5) 13 Become putrid (5) 15 Vehicular smash and

grab (3,4) 16 Hands on hips (6) 17 Moving firework (6) 18 Large book (6) 19 Cook again (6) 21 Hang down (5) 22 Test a metal’s purity (5)