H CROSSWORD NO 1,849 H

TO ENTER Complete the crossword and count how many times the letter ‘S’ appears in the grid. Post your entry to YOU Crossword No 1,849, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Closing date is Friday, April 21. One random winner from all correct entries will win a €15 book voucher. The winner will be notified within 14 days (telephone number required). Solution in two weeks.

ACROSS

6 Geographical and historical region in southeast

Europe (6)

8 Austrian composer (surname) famous for his Unfinished Symphony (8)

10 A place where animals are slaughtered (8)

11 Pencil rubber (6)

12 Written compositions (6)

13 Antigone’s cruel uncle (5)

15 Historic market town in Berkshire (7)

17 Bewilder, confuse, baffle (7)

19 Leading British politician (first name) who was head boy at Winchester (5)

20 Good, excellent, deserving (6)

22 Dancer in musicals (6)

23 Vehicle pulled by horses (8)

24 European capital (8)

25 Multitude, host (6)

DOWN

1 (and 4 down and

14 down) Proverb suggesting that insistence on perfection precludes gradual improvement (3,4,2,3,5,2,3,4)

2 Lures, traps, baits (6)

3 Flightless African bird that is the largest living species (7) 4 See 1 down

5 Peer Gynt composer (surname) (5)

7 Decorative handiwork and design (4,3,6)

9 Intensive discussion to solve problems or generate ideas – now considered offensive to people who suffer from seizures (13)

14 See 1 down 16 Onlooker (8)

18 Area over which a bishop has control (7)

20 Sing like a bird (6)

21 Money etc given by a wife (and her family) to her husband on marriage (5)