WEB Crossword No: 033 - 6 Dec 09

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As it's the first WEB Crossword of December, today's puzzle has a gentle 1/5 rating. It shouldn't be a walkover, but at the same time it should be very solvable.

And a reminder ... the Sunday slot is still open for anyone who wants to post his or her own, original crossword. Just contact me and I will help you with the mechanics of compiling and posting.


Across
8 'Arry got caught up in the covers for the extensions (5-5)
9 His actions speak louder than words (4)
10 To write, at last, about nothing, is to start over (6)
11 That's one grip I contrived to cover the woman (8)
12 The musicians get together for the heavy commute? (3,7)
16 So, about this hurt you're feeling ... (4)
17 This might be the Spanish learner giving us a ring (4)
18 It might shoot the flier at sea (5)
19 Locate it in the southeast (4)
20 A life partner can be a member here (4)
22 Adapting an odd, endangered species (5,5)
23 They'll never meet the average of course, with all the Spanish finishing (8)
25 You mean "in 10D" (6)
27 The dance I have is after the 1st of January (4)
28 Reward the development of the tree with manure (10)

Down
1 Judge, if at first I made it mad ... (4)
2 The suggestion is for the Post Office to take on Sally (8)
3 It isn't up around Holywood? (4)
4 The pro found the letters D & P (4)
5 Told that a sign meant "Home Work" (10)
6 Alters men in commercials (6)
7 I am a Russian fighter rated at the bottom, so I came here (10)
13 What the chemist puts on her fish and chips? (6,4)
14 Aww, they try so hard ... the GG has been taken by those crazy rustlers! (10)
15 Red leader (5)
19 For openers, it's the shortest route into the stars (8)
21 The woman's support of the Buddhist sect is quite shameless (6)
24 Her alimony includes a little car? No, a big one! (4)
25 It just ain't right (3'1)
26 Take heed of the difference between my mates and Ma's (4)


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 'Arry got caught up in the covers for the extensions (5-5)
C('ARRY)-OVERS
In the covers (C-OVERS) 'Arry got caught up ('ARRY) = CARRY-OVERS: extensions.
9 His actions speak louder than words (4)
MIME
10 To write, at last, about nothing, is to start over (6)
RE-O-PEN
About (RE) nothing (O) to write, at last (PEN) is = REOPEN: to start over.
11 That's one grip I contrived to cover the woman (8)
PEIGNOIR
That's "one grip I" contrived = PEIGNOIR: to cover the woman.
12 The musicians get together for the heavy commute? (3,7)
JAM SESSION
The heavy commute, a (traffic) JAM SESSION = JAM SESSION: the musician's get-together.
16 So, about this hurt you're feeling ... (4)
SO-RE
So (SO) about (RE) = SORE: this hurt you're feeling.
17 This might be the Spanish learner giving us a ring (4)
B-EL-L
This might be (B) the Spanish (EL) learner (L) = BELL: giving us a ring.
18 It might shoot the flier at sea (5)

RIFLE
The "flier" at sea = RIFLE: it might shoot.
19 Locate it in the southeast (4)
S(IT)E
In the southeast (S-E) it (IT) = SITE: locate.
20 A life partner can be a member here (4)
LIMB
A life partner (as in "life and limb") = LIMB: can be a member here.
22 Adapting an odd, endangered species (5,5)
GIANT PANDA
"Adapting an" odd = GIANT PANDA: endangered species.
23 They'll never meet the average of course, with all the Spanish finishing (8)
PAR-ALL-EL
The average of (golf) course (PAR) with all (ALL) the Spanish finishing (EL) = PARALLEL: they'll never meet.
25 You mean "in 10D" (6)
IN-TEN-D
In (IN) 10D (TEN-D) = INTEND: you mean.
27 The dance I have is after the 1st of January (4)
J-I'VE
After the 1st of J-anuary (J) I have (I'VE) = JIVE: the dance.
28 Reward the development of the tree with manure (10)
REMUNERATE
The development of the "tree" with "manure" = REMUNERATE: reward.

Down
1 Judge, if at first I made it mad ... (4)
RATE
If at first I (I) judge (RATE) made it = IRATE: mad
2 The suggestion is for the Post Office to take on Sally (8)
PRO-PO-SAL
Is for (PRO) the Post Office (PO) to take on Sally (SAL) = PROPOSAL: the suggestion.
3 It isn't up around Holywood? (4)
DOWN
It isn't up = DOWN: around Holywood (Co. Down).
4 The pro found the letters D & P (4)
DEE-P
The letters D (DEE) & P (P) = DEEP: the pro-found.
5 Told that a sign meant "Home Work" (10)
ASSIGNMENT
Told that "a sign meant", which I hear as = ASSIGNMENT: home work.
6 Alters men in commercials (6)
A(MEN)DS
In commercials (A-DS) men (MEN) = AMENDS: alters.
7 I am a Russian fighter rated at the bottom, so I came here (10)
I'M-MIG-RATED
I am (I'M) a Russian fighter (MIG) rated at the bottom (RATED) = IMMIGRATED: so I came here.
13 What the chemist puts on her fish and chips? (6,4)
ACETIC ACID
Vinegar is essentially ACETIC ACID.
14 Aww, they try so hard ... the GG has been taken by those crazy rustlers! (10)
STRU(GG)LERS
Those crazy "rustlers" (STRU-LERS) have taken the GG (GG) = STRUGGLERS: they try so hard.
15 Red leader (5)
INFRA
INFRA is the leader to red in INFRA-red.
19 For openers, it's the shortest route into the stars (8)
STA(RTE)RS
Into the stars (STA-RS) it's the shortest "route" (RTE) for = STARTERS: openers.
21 The woman's support of the Buddhist sect is quite shameless (6)
BRA-ZEN
The woman's support (BRA) of the Buddhist sect (ZEN) is = BRAZEN: quite shameless.
24 Her alimony includes a little car? No, a big one! (4)
LIMO
Her a-LIMO-ny includes a little car, limousine = LIMO: no, a big one!
25 It just ain't right (3'1)
ISN'T
26 Take heed of the difference between my mates and Ma's (4)
NO-TE
The difference between my ma-TE-s and mas (Ma's) is there is NO-TE in Ma's.