DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES

Across

1. Some fresh avocados causing chaos (5) 4. Hopes to get a ship around new pier (7) 8. Questioning a professional singer of ‘White Christmas’ (7) 9. A measure of restraint? (5) 10. Some pay earned for a long time (4) 11. Boring task for the affluent? (4-2-2) 13. A board transaction? (4) 14. Responsibility we can’t avoid? (4) 16. Give porridge to (8) 17. Just a loud tune (4) 20. Offspring produced periodically (5) 21. Support for the reader (7) 22. Stays if out to please (7) 23. Rita’s out of step (5)

Down

1. Relatively content with a card game? (5,8) 2. Pansy’s other name (5) 3. Copy a nativity scene (4) 4. He drops a line hoping for some response (6) 5. Preserving choice fish (8) 6. Concerning a boy’s motives (7) 7. The elder dancer in practice? (6,7) 12. Sailors employed by Mr. Raines (8) 13. Down payment is put back in the warehouse (7) 15. Lovely sort of tennis shot (6) 18. Possibly earn a place in the sporting world (5) 19. Bills passed for religious work? (4)

QUICK CLUES Across

1. Hut (5) 4. Swagger (7) 8. Rainy season (7) 9. Rascal (5) 10. Friend (4) 11. Numerous (8) 13. Require (4) 14. Hint (4) 16. Tenant (8) 17. Girl (4) 20. Representative (5) 21. Yield (7) 22. Clay (7) 23. Subject (5)

Down

1. Merciful (13) 2. Trite (5) 3. Cranny (4) 4. Nonsense (6) 5. Disrupt (8) 6. Crush underfoot (7) 7. Blameworthy (13) 12. Send (8) 13. Atomic (7) 15. Harmony (6) 18. Revile (5) 19. Short tail (4)