CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. At pub had a meal and

crudely threw up (6) 5. Slippery when in the

shade (6) 9. A girl from Wales or one

from Japan perhaps (5) 10. Lourdes treatment involves his head or another part of the body (8) 12. On TV Edna always has

to get on (7) 13. Talk rapidly with new

guide (7) 14. Celebrity takes time to

begin (5) 16. Slight increase to score at

pontoon (6-3) 18. Have meal outside a flat from which missile’s set off (6,3) 21. The ones here in Kent? (5) 22. Unrobe a drunken fellow (7) 24. Raise spirits around street

in northern city (7) 26. Milan ace treated with

soothing lotion (8) 27. Speak for rector at

evensong partly (5) 28. Good enterprise lessening devastation of famine, chiefly by him (6) 29. Foil covering? (6)

DOWN

2. Aromatic plant raised in

prairies in America (5) 3. Fiats can’t break down –

that’s brilliant! (9) 4. Polite about son’s

downfall (7) 5. Band’s follower has unusual gripe about Oxford University (7) 6. Story about one coming

up to Israeli city (5) 7. Dock worker finds first

lady dead in shop (9) 8. Challenges Muslim greeting in African city (3,2,6) 11. Without practice a French

vehicle is overdrawn (11) 15. Give outline of a stupid

price (9) 17. Without hesitation threefooter manoeuvred in a prominent position (2,3,4) 19. Unreliable tip-off about

new pope (7) 20. Writer gives detective

three points (7) 23. Awful ordeal, but it’s not

the last of Sophie Dahl? (5) 25. No alternative to motorised vehicle on the land (5)