CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across

1. Fellow is having hot and cold fruits, after this food? (4,3,5) 8. Maria’s letters mislaid by the Italian postal system (7) 9. Ray’s old car (7) 11. Cultivated bed in Kenya to produce vegetable (6,4) 12. Ski events held some where in Ukraine (4) 14. Paddle into Genoa, sprawling restricted zone (2-2,4) 16. A word that modifies accurately, for instance (6) 17. Occasionally doing excavation (3) 19. Information about European sides (6) 21. Positive sort of article (8) 24. Rupees are like gold dust (4) 25. Let’s assume foreign exchange’s more than enough (3,7) 27. Books fill gaps in hampers (7) 28. Forbidding ring in sumo wrestling (7) 29. Clean silver buckles surrounding posh watch (12)

Down

1. I forged ornate piece of iron in hearth (7) 2. Slim roles for replacements to keep things running (5,5) 3. Improvised a plot to ensnare Dutch Liberal (2-6) 4. Depressing call about odd characters in semi (6) 5. Crew member deceived about navy (4) 6. Exact prices fluctuated before end of sale (7) 7. Bet on 5, heading off on river to show how tides move (4,3,5) 10. I missed a Belfast movie edited for Easter, say (7,5) 13. Respect top naval officer briefly on it at sea (10) 15. Support American papers (3) 18. Overall record covers available English stock of DNA (4,4) 20. Canadian meat company, top-class, retains a bone (7) 22. Cave in one representative vein of ore (7) 23. Botanist sadly has no time at all for stunted tree (6) 26. Eastern European likes lavish houses (4)