Giant Crossword

Across

8 The bit left, I take over (7) 9 Should have got them off first, I

reckoned (9) 13 As before, it’s no loss! (5) 14 Model or green fur (5) 15 Second delivery (7) 16 A leak, you understand, to the paper (7) 17 A short time before Gaelic came to be (5) 18 He’s OK! (5) 20 Still obtain when you pay for (5) 22 Scold for putting a sign outside (6) 23 Meeting to which some people may come

late? (6) 25 Think it will give you a mirror image (7) 27 Looks at the ring again. It is ugly (7) 30 In a fury, I show spirit (6) 31 She had an eagle, almost, going out (6) 32 The silly old boy did the meting out (5) 35 Wants to be seen turning the key in it (5) 36 Play baseball with frequency (5) 37 Comes to again and feels pain (7) 39 Keep your distance (7) 41 Point to the strange palm tree (5) 42 Stop to get wood (5) 43 Was he sad he couldn’t give the news to

the country? (4,5) 44 Criticised for not having rung? (7)

Down

1 Only, you must admit, a cold comfort (6) 2 A column in the paper (8) 3 Waiting for you in your bedroom (4,7) 4 Young and green, date anyhow (6,3) 5 Lady Bert is pouring a drink for (7) 6 Very many without an anaesthetic (10) 7 Refreshment daily (4) 10 Can be mistaken for tickets (6) 11 Is it keen to help you enjoy your ham? (7) 12 A minor accusation (6) 19 No specific rank (7) 21 Say the time is no better than usual (7) 24 How the cattle were sold

honestly? (2,4,5) 26 May, perhaps, jump at the last

minute (4,6) 28 Furious, by ten a.m. I contrived

to get though (2,1,6) 29 Could be soft on her, silly, silly

sap! (7) 30 Cold when you gain victory with

a final score (6) 32 Will get out a gun in retaliation that’s the snag (8) 33 When in the collapsing shed,

makes a run for it (6) 34 Seems a paper’s gone astray (7) 38 What keeps the cockney diner

warm? (6) 40 Photograph of a tot (4)