BLANKOUT

A crossword you construct yourself, adding the answers and the blanks as you go. The clues are in sets of one, two, three or four guiding you to one, two, three or four words in each line (across) or column (down) indicated at the beginning of each set of clues. Each complete word has a blank at its beginning and end (unless it’s at the edge of the grid). Blanks are arranged symmetrically. To help you, we’ve given you a start with the answer to the clue on Line 9 – ‘Baby’s tummy-ache’ – which yields the word ‘Colic’. This must sit in the centre of the line to preserve the symmetry. ACROSS 1 Threat, danger; Countries, nations

3 Winter month; Gun 5 Leased vegetable patch 6 School of religious opinion; Hindu mystic 7 Gowned

8 Cook too much; Sensual 9 Baby’s tummy-ache 10 Finland’s currency unit; High point

11 Half a fortnight; Stumble 12 Inform of risk; Besides 13 Ham-fisted

14 Cotton gauze;

Extract, draw out 15 Protector

16 After deductions;

Image of a god 17 Pertaining to childbirth 19 Cattle raiser; Short, brief 21 Extremely small;

Affirm, bear witness DOWN A Female who speaks on behalf of others

B Scant; Preserve (a corpse) C Shout of approval;

Make ready again

D Chewy confection;

Have possession of; Big-billed bird

F Christmas song;

Heading skyward; Drained H Cut corn stalks; Putrid J On a couple of occasions; Adorned; Hen-house

L Top dartboard number; Chimpanzee, eg;

Frozen spike of water M Of the eye;

Readily understood N Thin rope; Counteract O Involving a regular addition