Cryptic crossword - The Scotsman 31/08/2013

Cryptic crossword

Across

1 Having a homely connection? (4-8)

8 Half one’s personal carrying capacity (7)

9 Strange coming back before I hurried round with infectious disease (7)

11 Covering letters (4)

12 High-spirited temperament, considerable amount (10)

14 Morsel Dominic included rarely found (6)

15 Diner, sip concoction that provoked a feeling (8)

17 He’s heard wrongly that it’s been used again (8)

19 We are all at one in it (6)

22 Almost easy, one’s contract that’s unrealistically straightforward (10)

23 Some adorable villagers in the tribe (4)

25 Time spent in this chamber is painful (7)

26 Penny has bluish hotchpotch put into circulation (7)

27 University making delayed recovery on its own (12)

Down

1 Star laid up with timekeeper (7)

2 Two fellows on motorway take offence (4)

3 Old men round stone table (6)

4 Persuading casual worker before sound of bell (8)

5 Write letters to match (10)

6 Charm Una more troubled (7)

7 Experimental toy? (9,3)

10 One cannot say why it is interminable (2,3,2,5)

13 Coal remains substance to be burnt (6,4)

16 Again affirm crazy arrests going round the point (8)

18 Baseball player gets round in it (4,3)

20 Particularly mention agent going round London district with independent female (7)

21 Captain cut head off fish (6)

24 Starting with a beleaguered Biblical character (4)

Friday’s solutions

Across: 1 Suggest, 5 Grasped, 9 Valance, 10 Vatican, 11 Overshirt, 12 Climb, 13 Ratio, 15 Viewpoint, 16 Cafeteria, 18 Revue, 21 Pared, 22 Chevalier, 24 The vine, 26 Workout, 27 Lettern, 28 Yolk sac.

Down: 1 Saviour, 2 Gilbert, 3 Ernes, 4 The silver screen, 5 Give the game away, 6 Ait, 7 Puccini, 8 Dingbat, 12 Caper, 14 Opted, 16 Capital, 17 Fervent, 19 Veinous, 20 Erratic, 23 Avril, 25 I’ve.

Last week’s solutions

Across: 1 Cross-country run, 9 Against, 10 Modicum, 11 Petrol tank, 12 Bess, 14 Decennia, 15 Crises, 17 Geyser, 18 Fiendish, 21 Loin, 22 Forerunner, 24 Take out, 25 Ice hill, 26 Autograph-hunter.

Down: 1 Clamped, 2 On a sticky wicket, 3 Sunlounger, 4 Outstrip, 5 Naming, 6 Rude, 7 rocket scientist, 8 Nemesis, 13 Art Nouveau, 16 Live with, 17 Galatia, 19 Hurdler, 20 Contra, 23 Pong.