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.556, 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.555 is Jim Keating of Walkinstown, Dublin 12.

Across

1 The ideal fellow to have at a wedding (Two words) 5 More than enough to have beer with politician 7 Range thrown out in fury 10 Starts to organise husband, meeting some resistance 11 Old crooner has left some contemporary jewellery 12 Cause some embarrassment at a party 13 European medal improved with right gem 15 Behold a Frenchman getting fertile soil 16 Notion concealed in snide answer 17 Portion is making things easier 21 Uncovered with force of elbow 22 Scrutinises someone’s appearance 23 Draw a little boat 24 Loner managed to sign up 25 Explosive often found on the beach 26 Cruelly subjugate work by reporters

Down

1 Plead to have one with energy and colour 2 Talked of part of a wheel 3 Mother gives doctor a poisonous creature 4 Sodium to aid development of dragonfly larva 5 Name a club differently from emergency vehicle 6 Flirt makes herald nip off 8 Organised excursion is extravagant 9 Listens during genuine practice session 14 Knock a style of music 17 He will get old greeting 18 Allow to stand and subside (Two words) 19 Sound of bells doesn’t start at the fireplace 20 Finish in game’s first defeat