2-Speed Crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Shapeless mass of toy before operation (6)

5 Swedish group which may make a comeback? (4)

8 I bet Hazel upset another woman (9)

9 Mother is crazy to come back (3)

11 Gory sort of indulgence (4) 12 Banger bending wire in cutlery item (8)

14 Aim, that is, for a footballer (6)

16 Ornamental drapery from temple? (6)

18 Memory of holiday may make one nervous (8)

19 Girl in hotel, lazing (4) 22 Endless jump to go down piste (3)

23 Size up what shoplifters do (4, 5)

24 Old gang read regularly (4) 25 Abstain from changing sides before time (6)

DOWN

2 In the red, some now in grey (5)

3 Electric cable inserted in a flexible adaptor (4)

4 Summary is almost exact (6) 5 Accomplished advice he dished out (8) 6 Lack of etiquette in rotten class (3, 4)

7 Frees clergyman who plays a prank, it’s reported (10) 10 Produce songs, then leave! (4, 6)

13 Mulled over returning passport and joked, we hear (8) 15 Funny, mother back exercising (7)

17 Took a chance letting communist hide broken ski (6) 20 Steals instruments by the sound of it (5)

21 Invites a king on board ship (4)

COFFEE TIME

ACROSS 1 Large blob (6)

5 “Mamma Mia” group (4)

8 ___ Barrett Browning, poet (9)

9 Beaver’s construction (3) 11 Bacchanalian gathering (4) 12 Bonfire Night explosive (8) 14 Defensive footballer (6) 16 Curtain-rail cover (6) 18 Holiday keepsake (8)

19 ___ Fitzgerald, jazz great (4) 22 Travel across snow (3) 23 Assess, review (4, 5) 24 Advanced in years (4) 25 Break off (6) DOWN 2 (Money) outstanding (5) 3 Metal used in radiation shielding (4)

4 Abridgement (6) 5 Accomplished (an ambition) (8)

6 Breach of social mores (3, 4) 7 Unblocks (10)

10 Leave (for) (4, 6)

13 Absorbed (8)

15 Arousing laughter (7) 17 Chanced (6)

20 Marauds (5)

21 Enquires (4)