the crosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Undoubtedly the trendy thing to do (6) 4 Do they leave their money to work for them? (4,4) 9 She may be relatively disposed to resist (6) 10 Bless me! A strange get-together (8) 12 State of mind caused by a turn of fate (4) 13 Neat but inferior (5) 14 Jack finds the French competent (4) 17 Private fled in action perhaps (12) 20 One would offer a seat to such a friend (4-8) 23 It’s impossible to connect with these services (4) 24 Poems composed about old salts (5) 25 For this cereal use the back gas ring (4) 28 Bearings led Harry astray (8) 29 Hilda is upset about a bloomer (6) 30 He doesn’t play alone (8) 31 A bird cry returns with it (6)

DOWN

1 So not out very often (8) 2 Don’t believe the cut-price offer (8) 3 Continually used in free verse (4) 5 An editor sits out a formal discourse (12) 6 Oriental study of paradise (4) 7 One’s doctor gives one two notes to take in (6) 8 Carried out shoe repairs as listed (6) 11 Swiss cantons for example? (7,5) 15 Turning point upsetting to an eminent person (5) 16 Indistinct sign of illness (5) 18 I’d turn a sickly colour and refuse permission (8) 19 No rating is possible for being illiterate (8) 21 Tied up and whipped (6) 22 Recede in order (6) 26 Note it is fixed (4) 27 Payment we take in silver (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Affection (6) 4 Widely distributed (3-5) 9 Advance warning (6) 10 Showing a profit (2,6) 12 At liberty (4) 13 Stores in hiding (5) 14 As soon as (4) 17 Look forward with relish (4,4,4) 20 A worldwide traveller (12) 23 Uncovered (4) 24 Storehouse (5) 25 Pay attention to (4) 28 Insistent (8) 29 Seriously mismanage (6) 30 Gifted (8) 31 Outcome (6)

DOWN

1 Unexpected bit of good luck (8) 2 Introduce economies (8) 3 Temporary change of course (4) 5 Total destruction (12) 6 A failure (4) 7 Heartless (6) 8 Amass (6) 11 To head directly (4,1,7) 15 Lack of good sense (5) 16 Ghost (5) 18 Toughness (8) 19 Degree of slope (8) 21 Missing (6) 22 Drive forward (6) 26 Negligible amount (4) 27 Dreary place (4)