CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1 Michael reportedly has a party with emperor in Japan (6) 4 Crushed drink Edward finished (8) 9 Spokes diverging from centre of tyre (6) 10 Likely to be on the cards (8) 12 Tiny kindnesses to be thankful for (5,7) 15 Pleased to have time when drinks are served at reduced prices (5,4) 17 Somewhat enamoured by the love affair (5) 18 Endless sonnet composed on the ninth day (5) 19 Meeting place not used in middle of night? (3,6) 20 Achieving firm control or hold (7,1,4) 24 Man preparing salad broadcast (8) 25 Difficult at university not having much money (4-2) 26 Melon’s sweet moisture early in the morning (8) 27 Unusually remote body (6)
DOWN
1 A monarch is mixing drink (10) 2 Abducting child having short sleep (10) 3 Slow speech having left casualty ward first (5) 5 Eccentric publishing that he’s openly expressing membership of a party (4-8) 6 Aware belt had been removed from items at meals (9) 7 Tramp wanting nothing more than warm place by the fire (4) 8 Going down in the main (4) 11 Counter-attack during repeated industrial action (6,6) 13 Superior pedestrian crossing (10) 14 Request set of questions for use in parliament (5,5) 16 Beatles’ hit not long ago (9) 21 Rouse for a festival (5) 22 Clean city (4) 23 Exclude new building (4)
AGONISING OVER ANSWERS?
For today’s solutions call: 0906 601 0421. Calls cost 60p per minute at all times. Service provided by Advanced Telecom Services. Complaints and Service Provider: 0330 333 6946. Please note that Payphones, mobile phones & non BT network provider charges may vary.