It is traditional for some publications to feature puzzles or entertainments to amuse their audience over the Christmas holiday. So, here is a crossword, the first gift to you from David Green (Books).And, yes, there will be another along shortly.
I have tried to make the clues more elegant than they were to begin with but apologies if they seem sometimes a bit more contrived than the usual level of contrivance allows.
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Across
1. Len’s suit swapped for tools (8)
6. Fish backed away from the wind (3)
8. Loud music with fast food followed Fools and Horses (4, 3,5)
9. What’s the point in being awestruck (4)
10. Old lady confused about song in the fields (8)
12. For example including badly bred tennis player (6)
14, and 17 down, Carol’s period of abstinence nearby. It’s
different outside. (6, 5)
16. So, grain’s for ladies in Spain
18. Erica kept Christmas treat inside (4)
20. Oregon
22. It’s encountered in some towns (3)
23. He’s got nothing on (8)
Down
2, and 19, They came from the Orient, they said (5,5)
3. Present you have to get knotted (7)
4. Unhappily am nearing where baby was born (2,1,6)
5. He is onside with no one around (3)
6. Composer in trouble, hardly (5)
7. Make clear previous stretch of land (7)
11. Fend off insect that is obdurate (9)
13. I formed into a god-like shape (7)
15. More fortunate to be braver without beginning (7)
17. see 14 Across
19. see 2
21. An age in France