CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

Across 1.

3. Look back at the stronghold

(4)

6. A small boat shortly to be used as a replacement (3)

9. Vegetable found in taxi luggage on the last ride (7)

10. Irrigate without rig. Now that will make you mad! (5)

11. Secret nests used to get parts (6,5)

14. Moderate again? You may get something back (6)

16. Goodbye and good riddance! (6)

18. Bring cod, Kim? No – mama’s going to buy you one (11)

22. Dinner jacket not centred in Japanese writing (5)

23. The manner of the role but not totally (4,3)

24. Be a region almost (3)

25. Direction found in the tea leaves? – No the tea strainer (4)

26. Type of card the French get lazy about (4)

Down 1. part of scene (4)

2. Republican gets no panel on the cube (5)

4. Looking and going dotty over? So to speak (6)

5. down (5,7)

6. Smash into the milliner on Saturday (7)

7. Yet it is not mashed, we hear, before eating (4)

8. Keep if talent displayed with artist’s tool (7,5)

12. Ironically humorous grass by the sound of it (3)

13. Shortly to return the tommyguns to the exercise room (3)

15. Points for the young guide (7)

17. Takes pot shots at the birds (6)

19. Argued about what the stroke did (5)

20. When the northern sea birds return they become another bird (4)

21. Sounds like we have a purchaser for the cow barn (4)