No 10051, Friday 14 Jan 11, Sankalak

BSNL has been kind enough to restore my net connection!!
ACROSS
1   - But he won't build your house for nothing! (9) - {FREE}{MASON} &lit
5   - Daughter, with countenance turned back, gets a drink (5) - {D}{ECAF<-}
8   - Strange stance by railway shows lineage (8) - {ANCEST*}{RY}
9   - Notes a set of eight (6) - OCTAVE [E]
11 - Passe engineers are unconventional (5) - {OUT}{RE}
12 - Distance travelled by kite? 50? More, perhaps (9) - KI(L)OMETRE*
13 - Socialist, easily excited, is strongly tipped to win (3,3) - {RED} {HOT}
14 - Where craft may pass in the main (3,5) - SEA LANES [CD]
16 - A person beginning to suffer in a Togo location is feeling the lack of company (8) - {L{ONE'S}OME}(Correction - {L{ONE}{S}OME} - See comments}

SEE THIS CARTOON

18 - Marine creature with strength, they say (6) - MUSSEL (~muscle)

22 - Where in France to set off a boat (9) - {OU}{TRIGGER} 

23 - In the course of a trip engineers develop fully (5) - RIPEN [T]
24 - Large body of water without a trace of algae found within the borders of Europe in this geologic era (6) - {Eur{OCEaN}opE}
25 - How time sped, a month, in a church building (8) - {T}{RAN}{SEPT}
26 - Creep laterally, right or left, around lake (5) - {SID{L}E}
27 - Joyful outing following union (9) - HONEYMOON [E]

DOWN
1   - Food additive — a drop of vanilla in ground grain (7) - {FL{A}{V}OUR}
2   - Old mate, summoned to court, was thrilled (7) - {EX}{CITED}
3   - Qualification for a school teacher (6,2,7) - MASTER OF SCIENCE [DD]
4   - King hires exotic flier (6) - SHRI(K)E*

5   - System of money used in cruel crime Candy busted (7,8) - DECIMAL CURRENCY*
6   - Restrain careless speed within the outskirts of Charlestown (7) - {C{HASTE}N}
7   - They may be put out to test the waters (7) - FEELERS [CD]
10 - A narrow passage everybody eyed (bar the editor) (5) - {ALL}{EYed}
15 - Greek character, old, excellent (5) - {O}{MEGA}
16 - A creature of pride (7) - LIONESS [CD]
17 - Observed to be on diet, caught slipping (7) - NOTI(C)ED*
19 - A rum pose struck by one in overall charge (7) - SUPREMO*
20 - Weight extended by love in Tamil Nadu (4,3) - {LONG} {T{O}N}
21 - Rehearsal for a boring series (3,3) - {DRY} {RUN}

GRID