1-across – Brief sent message : POSTCARD

5-across – Masticate : CHEW

9-across – Farewell : ADIEU

10-across – Surgeon’s blade : SCALPEL

11-across – Author’s creative hiatus : WRITERSBLOCK

13-across – Parent-less child : ORPHAN

14-across – Tittle-tattle : GOSSIP

17-across – Be in charge : CALLTHESHOTS

20-across – Sending-off : REDCARD

21-across – Small, immature ovum : OVULE

22-across – Position in the hierarchy : RANK

23-across – Ambassador, legate : EMISSARY

1-down – Ring of bells : PEAL

2-down – Equestrian foot rest : STIRRUP

3-down – Military tribunal : COURTMARTIAL

4-down – Catholic prayer beads : ROSARY

6-down – Large thick-skinned mammal : HIPPO

7-down – In good condition : WELLKEPT

8-down – Panda’s diet : BAMBOOSHOOTS

12-down – Magician, wizard : SORCERER

15-down – Citrus fruit : SATSUMA

16-down – Rarely : SELDOM

18-down – Burdened : LADEN

19-down – Toll, tax : LEVY

1-across – Drunk : INEBRIATED

7-across – Agree : CONSENT

8-across – Damp : MOIST

10-across – Extremely small amount : IOTA

11-across – Occurring every other year : BIENNIAL

13-across – Covering of a tooth : ENAMEL

15-across – Exhausted : USEDUP

17-across – Toll road : TURNPIKE

18-across – Receptacle for holy water in a church : FONT

21-across – Rigid bar for moving heavy objects : LEVER

22-across – Italian vermouth : MARTINI

23-across – Feign sleep or unconsciousness : PLAYPOSSUM

1-down – Unless : IFNOT

2-down – Fencing sword : EPEE

3-down – Keep : RETAIN

4-down – Reprove, reprimand : ADMONISH

5-down – Morally uplifted : EDIFIED

6-down – Happening by chance : ACCIDENTAL

9-down – Psychic, clairvoyant : TELEPATHIC

12-down – Danger of loss or harm : JEOPARDY

14-down – Advent, coming : ARRIVAL

16-down – With limbs flung out haphazardly : AKIMBO

19-down – Hatred : ODIUM

20-down – Indonesian dagger : KRIS

1-across – Uninvited guest : GATECRASHER

9-across – Bringing to mind a feeling etc. : EVOCATION

10-across – Swindle : CON

11-across – Correct : RIGHT

13-across – Place in position : INSTALL

14-across – One who dies for their beliefs : MARTYR

15-across – Dump rubbish illegally : FLYTIP

18-across – Lack of experience : NAIVETY

20-across – Exhibition of cowboy skills : RODEO

21-across – Epoch : ERA

22-across – Peppered sausage : PEPPERONI

24-across – Reproducing, copying : REPLICATING

2-down – Fuss : ADO

3-down – Precisely, accurately : EXACTLY

4-down – Dried fruit : RAISIN

5-down – Cavity, hollow : SINUS

6-down – Bewitched, charmed : ENCHANTED

7-down – Wizard, magician : NECROMANCER

8-down – Prejudice against England : ANGLOPHOBIA

12-down – Grow and develop : GERMINATE

16-down – Of greatest size : LARGEST

17-down – Short-sighted : MYOPIC

19-down – Banish, exile : EXPEL

23-down – Possess : OWN

1-across – Balustrade : PARAPET

8-across – State capital of North Carolina : RALEIGH

9-across – Day dream : REVERIE

10-across – Communication : MESSAGE

11-across – Anxious, excited : HETUP

13-across – St Petersburg’s art museum : HERMITAGE

15-across – Disincentive : DETERRENT

18-across – Unusually energetic : HYPER

21-across – Dried fruit : CURRANT

22-across – Full : REPLETE

23-across – Atlantic island off NW Africa : MADEIRA

24-across – Word of the same meaning : SYNONYM

1-down – Covered vestibule : PORCH

2-down – Mechanical fastener : RIVET

3-down – Miscellaneous articles : PARAPHERNALIA

4-down – Small earthquake : TREMOR

5-down – Sudden, brief success : FLASHINTHEPAN

6-down – Decorated, sweet-filled container attacked by blindfolded children : PINATA

7-down – Rasp, breathe noisily : WHEEZE

12-down – Border, boundary : EDGE

14-down – Adhesive : GLUE

15-down – Leave suddenly, secretly : DECAMP

16-down – Diatribe : TIRADE

17-down – Cricket runs not scored with the bat : EXTRAS

19-down – Song of praise : PAEAN

20-down – Discharge from a cold : RHEUM

1-across – Swamp, submerge : OVERWHELM

8-across – Operatic song : ARIA

9-across – Child’s money box : PIGGYBANK

10-across – Employs : USES

13-across – Secured : FIXED

15-across – Countless number : MYRIAD

16-across – Rush-hour short cut : RATRUN

17-across – Light-heartedness : LEVITY

19-across – Vehicle safety device : AIRBAG

20-across – Place often frequented : HAUNT

21-across – Opening bet : ANTE

24-across – Prosecuting litigant : PLAINTIFF

25-across – Eager : AGOG

26-across – Usual : CUSTOMARY

2-down – Conceited : VAIN

3-down – Violent anger : RAGE

4-down – Cross-breed : HYBRID

5-down – Hang around : LINGER

6-down – Recommend : PRESCRIBE

7-down – Clegyman’s residence : PARSONAGE

11-down – Be suspicious : SMELLARAT

12-down – State of hardship : PRIVATION

13-down – Belief : FAITH

14-down – Shipboard crane : DAVIT

18-down – Two-masted sailing boat : YAWL

19-down – Consecrate by smearing with oil : ANOINT

22-down – Hold back : STEM

23-down – In the distance : AFAR