BARE BONES

Our Bare Bones Crossword is unique because you have to complete the grid – numbers and squares – as well. We have inserted four black squares and four clue numbers to get you going. The crossword has a four-way symmetry: both top and bottom and left and right match, so you can fill in 12 more squares straight away. There is a prize of a Collins Pocket Thesaurus. Send your solution to: Bare Bones Puzzle No.427, The Irish Mail on Sunday, PO Box 5332, Cardiff Lane, Dublin 2. Entries must arrive by Friday (photocopies not accepted). The winner of Bare Bones No.425 is John Morrissey, Limerick. ACROSS

1 Ideal situation being first in University near Iowa 5 Albert next to a tree

in the mountains 10 Shock – Blair got RAF out in part of overseas territory (Three words) 11 Ban performance drug outside indoor game 12 Came in to find teen embarrassed and blushing 13 Go down and sprinkle loam with some qualification 15 First class beer tipped over crown jewels, say 17 In favour of Edinburgh team taking one drunk in to its enclosure for those banning booze 18 Parts of camp set about hospital 19 I must struggle following one showing social condition DOWN

2 Phone, hob etc worrying this sort of person 3 Parting’s too difficult for this hero 4 A new hair product for a heavenly manifestation 5 Risk taken, not good in a gentle stroll 6 Old royal has to establish a man to save energy 7 Animal experts like Alan among those only in hide 8 Support is correct after the Queen’s departure 9 Produced offspring with King in four‑poster 13 Party food declines in quality 14 A regrettable rise of stars 15 Rodent I trapped with a yoghurt dish 16 Touring Laos as an extra