Lorraine: Took me a while to get going this week probably due to a hangover, but once I got started there was no stopping me. Thank you once again Mr. Everyman for an enjoyable crossword and the seasonal message at 13 & 16 across.
The Trafites: Hope you all had a good weekend and a merry Christmas to one and all 🙂
Legend to solution comments:
* = anagram.
< = word reversed.
| Across | |||
| 1. | SCONCE | C in SCONE | |
| 4. | AGENDA | GEN in ADA | |
| 8. | RISER | hidden: boileR I SERviced | |
| 9. | SWINBURNE | BURNs in SWINE | |
| 11. | BIBLE BELT | (BILE around B) + BELT | |
| 12. | NEEDS | homophone of kneads | |
| 13, 16. | COMPLIMENTS OF THE SEASON | (SHAMES INCOMPETENT FOOLS)* | |
| 19. | PETRI | (TRIPE)* | |
| 21. | DEADBEATS | DEAD BEAT + S | |
| 23. | COLERIDGE | COL + E + RIDGE | |
| 24. | CLIMB | C + LIMB | |
| 25. | EARTHY | EARTH + Y | |
| 26. | UNROLL | UN + ROLL | |
| Down | |||
| 1. | SCRIBE | (a)SCRIBE | |
| 2. | OSSO BUCCO | (OCCU(r) + BOSS + O)< | |
| 3. | CURSE | S in CURE | |
| 5. | GO BANANAS | GO + BANANAS | |
| 6. | NURSE | dd | |
| 7. | AVERSE | A + VERSE | |
| 9. | SWELL HEADED | SWELL + HEADED | |
| 10. | INTEMPERATE | dd | |
| 14. | MATRIARCH | A TRI(p) in MARCH | |
| 15. | SAN MARINO | (OARSMAN IN)* | |
| 17. | APACHE | H in APACE | |
| 18. | ISABEL | IS + ABEL | |
| 20. | TILER | L in TIER | |
| 22. | BACON | CO in BAN | |
Thanks Lorraine. I got Osson Bucco without understanding the wordplay.