THIS WEEK’S BIG CROSSWORD
ACROSS
1. Pretty as a postcard 9. Red alert situations 15. Blind alley (4,3) 16. Big 17. Futuristic (novel) (3-2) 19. Clutches 21. Relating to speech 22. Indian guitar 23. Flat bun 24. Drink of coffee 25. Farewell 27. Performs slalom 29. Arranges (hair) 31. Challenged (to) 33. Separately 35. Angry 38. Person, ... being 40. Goes out (of tide) 42. Run for parliament 43. Baby’s disposable 44. Absent 46. Apple MP3 device 48. News stories 49. Fingertip covering 50. Manufacture 51. Wet (of soil) 53. Hillbilly 55. 12-month period 56. Books of maps 58. Reinforce 61. Scientist’s workplace 63. ... & lass 65. Absorbs 69. Chooses 71. Youthful (male) 72. Blinked (headlights) 74. Sorrow 75. Plume 76. Special anniversary 77. ... And The Forty Thieves (3,4) 78. Frozen drips 79. Charitable funding 80. German measles 81. South African author, ... Smith 84. Shelters from sun 87. Sweetened 91. Repetitive strain injury (1,1,1) 93. Illegal hallucinogenic drug (1,1,1) 94. Exempt from levy (3-4) 97. Rifle bore diameter 100. Cain’s victim 101. Forewarnings 103. Start (of illness) 105. Arrests 106. Coal pit 107. Dignified 108. US rocket agency 109. Leg joint 110. Rio Carnival music 111. Wanderlust, ... feet 113. Rock vein 115. Of the nose 117. Lariat 120. Do well (at) 122. Twig homes 124. Little devils 127. ... & crafts 129. Wrote with keyboard 131. Gap 133. Probabilities 134. Sandy shore 136. Shake off (pursuers) 137. Dish up 138. Splashing sound 139. Tyre part, ... tube 140. Appointee 141. Clear 142. Temperature switches
DOWN
1. Ransack 2. Welsh dog breed 3. Depletes (4,2) 4. Opposite of west 5. Idiosyncrasy 6. Rewords (text) 7. Oriental market 8. Pour (wine) into jug 9. Rims 10. Execute (law) 11. Pant 12. Utah’s neighbour 13. Attract (penalty) 14. Substantially 18. Throws (net) 20. Shaggy 26. Simplest 28. Florence is there 30. Hollow 32. Break down (data) 34. Physics particle 35. Ninny 36. Stadiums 37. Follow on 39. Breakfast or dinner 41. Congratulatory cry 45. Modify 47. Fittingly 49. Socially inept teenager 52. Dress-up toy 54. Bits & pieces, ... & ends 56. Alphabet (1,1,1) 57. Cunning 58. Forties, ..., sixties 59. Raising (children) 60. Asthma puffer 62. TV reception poles 64. Inflatable mattresses (3,4) 66. Car’s transmission 67. Student 68. Family title 70. Take oath 71. Necklace components 73. Disc jockeys (1,2) 75. Distant 82. Laundry appliance 83. Famous ballpoint 85. Beer 86. Bible’s Garden of ... 88. Metropolitan 89. Medical disorder 90. Cheap, a ... a dozen 92. Racists 94. At that moment 95. In conclusion 96. Lodge firmly 98. Deeply shock 99. Talkback medium 101. Individuals 102. Summarise (3,2) 103. Hollywood prize 104. Perfumed powder 109. Most generous 110. Carve 112. Affirmative responses 114. Tolerates 116. Evaluate 118. Burglar deterrents 119. 60th of minute 121. Principles 123. Marine sport, ...diving 125. Unite 126. Whiff 127. Valuable quality 128. Beef cut (1-4) 130. Endangered bamboo-eater 132. Cambodia’s continent 135. Interrupting cough