Not too taxing and therefore perfect for a Sunday morning, especially if Saturday night went on too long and you’re in desperate need of a 23A or similar restorative.
| Across | |
|---|---|
| 8 | AIR<,LAND in TERROR – I liked “eastern state” for RIA (AIR if you read from right to left or east to west). |
| 11 | (STAR DIES)* |
| 12 | TA,HOE – “volunteers” for TA (Territorial Army) is a well-established piece of crossword lingo. |
| 14 | R,UNA,CROSS |
| 16 | TRIA(l) in MARCH – March is the fenland town in Cambridgeshire I think. I stupidly filled in PATRIARCH because I didn’t think too hard about the wordplay. I realised it was wrong when I couldn’t solve 13D. |
| 23 | (AIR YES I REPORT)* – I don’t know where I heard about a PRAIRIE OYSTER but I must have done somewhere. It’s that vile-sounding drink made with a whole egg yolk, Worcestershire sauce and salt and black pepper. I’d rather have two paracetomol and a fry-up, thanks very much. |
| 24 | ELM in PET – “Border collie” disguises the definition very well. |
| 25 | R in STAIN |
| Down | |
| 2 | IT,IT in SPOUT |
| 3 | ALL in MAR(re)D – excellent wordplay in this one (“all aboard spoiled on departing”) |
| 6 | RAT in ERIC |
| 13 | MB in COAT – the last one to go in because of my mistake in 16A. |
| 15 | (CHART ROSE)* – at least the setter avoided (CARTHORSE)*. |
| 17 | (FAIL AT)*,L – more nice wordplay. You need a keen eye to spot the anagrind in “Fail at swimming length”. |
| 18 | AN,A,”liszt” |
| 20 | PO,PUP |
| 22 | NORI (going up) – Nori is a Japanese word for different types of edible seaweed. |