WEB Crossword No: 020 - 6 Sep 09

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Across
8 It sounds like a useful hat, but it can add some weight (8)
9 The palace in France was about, just after Louis the Fifth (6)
10 There's something extra in the paper: it's about two Poles and the Queen (6)
11 He said he was this because his mother had him on a plane (8)
12 Sounds to me like a priest who is full of himself, or someone taking his place (5,3)
13 Open this and go into the cave for the seed (6)
14 This is not cross but it gives sources of delays (15)
18 Mind the confused spy, Mr. Guevara (6)
20 Initially the specialist might have been obtuse, perhaps, to confuse (8)
23 A hurricane perhaps, is usually seen 11-across (3,5)
24 Eat it or put it back in the cart (6)
25 Let in D, and X out (6)
26 He could live off Ireland's wild coast (8)

Down
1 With knowledge, perhaps, of the four missing from the carnival (6)
2 Then, dear, an arrangement must be made to make him a supporter (8)
3 Counsel, you start the cut (6)
4 Say, Lucifer is great ... and here he is! (5,2,3,5)
5 Alfred, hereabouts, takes company outdoors (8)
6 Here's a mixture of nuts for the rest of the Japanese (6)
7 Send a message about the saint in Antrim (8)
15 Fisherman tell me it's their goal for the baby's bed (8)
16 I put you close to Edward, although it's not deserved (8)
17 Oblivious to the US soldier who came back unmarried (8)
19 That commanding officer is very loud ... 'e's hot stuff though! (6)
21 In this tale, see Kay with a block (6)
22 She's very attractive, and okay in the role now it's rewritten (6)


Here is each clue alongside its answer, with an explanation of the link between clue and answer. I hope it all makes sense! As always, I welcome feedback via comment and/or email. I’m particularly interested in hearing about clues that were too obvious or easy, and clues that were annoying or perhaps caused frustration. But, I’ll listen to all suggestions on how to make my puzzles more challenging and more fun!

Across
8 It sounds like a useful hat, but it can add some weight (8)
HANDICAP
A useful hat (HANDY CAP) it sounds like HANDICAP: but it can add some weight.
9 The palace in France was about, just after Louis the Fifth (6)
LOU-V-RE
Just after Louis (LOU) the Fifth (V) was about (RE) = LOUVRE: the palace in France.
10 There's something extra in the paper: it's about two Poles and the Queen (6)
I(NS-ER)T
It's about (I-T) two Poles (NS) and the Queen (ER) = INSERT: there's something extra in the paper.
11 He said he was this because his mother had him on a plane (8)
AIRBORNE
His mother mother had him on a plane, he was 'air born' he said, and I heard AIRBORNE.
12 Sounds to me like a priest who is full of himself, or someone taking his place (5,3)
ALTER EGO
A priest who is full of himself is an 'altar ego', sounds like ALTER EGO: someone taking his place.
13 Open this and go into the cave for the seed (6)
SESAME
Open (OPEN) this seed (SESAME) = OPEN SESAME: and go into the cave.
14 This is not cross but it gives sources of delays (15)
OBSTRUCTIONISTS
This "is not cross but it" gives, when the letters are rearranged, OBSTRUCTIONISTS: sources of delays.
18 Mind the confused spy, Mr. Guevara (6)
PSY-CHE
The confused spy (PSY) Mr. Guevara (CHE) = PSYCHE: mind.
20 Initially the specialist might have been obtuse, perhaps, to confuse (8)
ENTANGLE
The specialist, Ear, Nose & Throat, initially (ENT) might have been obtuse, perhaps (ANGLE) = ENTANGLE: to confuse.
23 A hurricane perhaps, is usually seen 11-across (3,5)
AIR FORCE
A hurricane perhaps, is an AIR FORCE, and the AIR FORCE is usually seen AIRBORNE.
24 Eat it or put it back in the cart (6)
CAR(OR)T
In the cart (CAR-T) "or" put it back (RO) = CARROT: eat it.
25 Let in D, and X out (6)
DE(LET)E
In D (DE-E) let (LET) = DELETE: and ex out (X out).
26 He could live off Ireland's wild coast (8)
ISLANDER
"Ireland's" wild, an anagram = ISLANDER: he could live off (the) coast.

Down
1 With knowledge, perhaps, of the four missing from the carnival (6)
CARNAL
The four (IV) missing from the CARN-iv-AL = CARNAL: with knowledge perhaps, as in CARNAL knowledge.
2 Then, dear, an arrangement must be made to make him a supporter (8)
ADHERENT
An arrangement of "then, dear" must be made = ADHERENT: to make him a supporter.
3 Counsel, you start the cut (6)
SC-Y-THE
Counsel (SC) y-ou start (Y) the (THE) = SCYTHE: cut.
4 Say, perhaps Lucifer is great ... and here he is! (5,2,3,5)
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
If you say, perhaps, "Lucifer is great", then you SPEAK OF THE DEVIL: and here he is!
5 Alfred, hereabouts, takes company outdoors (8)
ALF-RES-CO
Alfred (ALF) here-abouts (RES) takes company (CO) = ALFRESCO: outdoors.
6 Here's a mixture of nuts for the rest of the Japanese (6)
FUTONS
Here's a mixture "of nuts" = FUTONS: for the rest of the Japanese, where they "rest".
7 Send a message about the saint in Antrim (8)
TRANSMIT
The saint, "st." in "Antrim" about, an anagram = TRANSMIT: send a message.
15 Fisherman tell me it's their goal for the baby's bed (8)
BASSINET
Fisherman tell me it's their goal to get 'bass in net', and I hear BASSINET: for the baby's bed.
16 I put you close to Edward, although it's not deserved (8)
U-NEAR-NED
I put you (U) close to (NEAR) Edward (NED) = ENEARNED: although it's not deserved.
17 Oblivious to the US soldier who came back unmarried (8)
IG-NO-RING
The US soldier, 'GI', who came back (IG) unmarried (NO RING) = IGNORING: oblivious to.
19 That commanding officer is very loud ... 'e's hot stuff though! (6)
CO-FF-EE
That commanding office (CO) is very loud (FF) 'e's (EE) = COFFEE: hot stuff though!
21 In this tale, see Kay with a block (6)
TA(CK)LE
In this tale (TA-LE) see Kay (CK) = TACKLE: with a block.
22 She's very attractive, and okay in the role now it's rewritten (6)
LO(OK)ER
In the role, now it's rewritten (LO-ER) okay (OK) = LOOKER: she's very attractive.