TAKE A BREAK

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Dictator from south in bus

station (6)

5 This might be grave sign of

stress (6)

8 Song Frau von Trapp won't

start (4)

9 Bit too fresh in the strait

(8)

10 Chefs almost rule out

being genial (8)

11 Long account from Tories

again (4)

12 Small firm with use for

northerner (6)

15 Monarch with bomb in fur

(6)

17 Dog-end? (4)

19 Lifeless rugby forward in

stalemate (8)

22 Omen bad with crew's

latest arrival (8)

23 Sailor has time for cake (4) 24 Piano one in riotous club

known to all (6) 25 Monster dog ran amok (6)

DOWN

2 Rat: he gets confused in

fox hole (5)

3 Flat ground serving a

university (7)

4 The force captures one

crook (5) 5 Sailors love tortuous

excuse (7)

6 Old Irish student in strange

sect (5)

7 Figure twelve worn by

horse (7)

13 Cat given water in French

castle (7)

14 One leaving medicine out

in local (7)

16 Fighters dream about

arresting one drunk (7) 18 Anaesthetic given in pub

(5)

20 Parched without cold

bitter (5)

21 Freight from cape on

Jason's boat (5)

COFFEE TIME ACROSS

1 Autocrat (6) 5 Emphasis (6) 8 Operatic piece (4) 9 Disrespectful (8) 10 In good spirits (8) 11 Icelandic tale (4) 12 Liverpudlian (6) 15 Winter stoat (6) 17 Track or follow (4) 19 Impasse (8) 22 Beginner (8) 23 Acidic (4)

24 Not private (6) 25 St George's foe (6)

DOWN

2 Soil (5)

3 Flat highland (7) 4 One who steals (5) 5 Exonerate (7) 6 Ancient Britons (5)

7 Nine-sided shape (7) 13 French country house (7) 14 Restricted to particular

area (7)

16 Civilian force (7)

18 In the vicinity (5) 20 Pungent (5)

21 Payload (5)