No 2562, Sunday 13 Dec 09

Off for a wedding to Palghat, will not be back till evening
ACROSS
1 - A small amount of some poetry penned by mother (7) – M{ODIC}UM
5 - River vessel, and duck, on river heading west (7) – {POT}{O}{MAC<-} )
9 - Wild duet, man out of tune (7) – UNTAMED*
10 - Social worker, single, covering miles on runs (7) – {AL{M}ONE}{R}
11 - Playwright has tipple with performer right away (9) – {DRAM}{A(-r)TIST}
12 - Saw commercial decline (5) – {AD}{AGE}
13 - Blatant overcharging, surprisingly by a third? Glory be! (8,7) – DAYLIGHT ROBBERY* Interesting origin, see the link
15 - Announcement about split in US Foreign Office (5,10) – STATE {DEPART}MENT
19 - Copper, perhaps, and others following Bond's boss (5) – {M}{ETAL}
21 - Won a card game and cashed in one's chips (6,3) – PEGGED OUT [CD]
22 - Way to describe fashionable number (7) – ROUT{IN}E
23 - Acceptable to enter suit in public sale (7) – A{U}CTION
24 - Call home (7) – ADDRESS [DD]
25 - Sadden Delaware journalists (7) – {DE}{PRESS}
DOWN
1 - Determined Rocker's rival accepting foolish duel (7) – MO{ULDE*}D
2 - Simple song about an aromatic plant (7) – DITT{AN}Y

3 - Bell tower in fortified site by a river (9) – {CAMP}{A}{NILE}

4 - Film, -------- Cowboy, say (8,7) – {MIDNIGHT} {EXPRESS}
5 - Emperor's men in ring at our parade ground (10,5) – PRAETORIAN GUARD*
6 - Have corrupt dealings, we hear, in Floridian resort (5) – TAMPA (~tamper)
7 - A charge and chap gets time (7) – {MAN}{DATE}
8 - Restaurant car, jolly (7) – {CAR}VERY ?
14 - Touch of blue, say, on prize flower (9) – {B}{UTTER}{CUP}

15 - A woman supporting son in region of ancient Palestine (7) – {S}{A}{MARIA}
16 - Surprise head of training in a firm (7) – {A}{S{T}OUND}
17 - English grounds arousing intense feeling (7) – {E}{MOTIVE}
18 - Note aunt's chronic disease (7) – {TE}{TANUS*}
20 - Learning about one department (5) – LO{I}RE


GRID