Daily Mail 08.01.09

[zorkinhell]

Stuck on a few, but could any that respond please explain how they arrived at their answers. I usually complete Sir Lancelot on a Sunday which is both straight and cryptic, and am now trying to do this cryptic one each day as a new years resolution. Have to say, some of the answers over the past 2 weeks have been very obscure.

13a = do this to prepare 11? The pear's cooked in it
P _ I _ E _ _
could be an anagram of pears and it, which would have given parties ......... but doesn't fit with 5 down and I am sure that's ITEMIZE (reverse ME + insert into (c) itize (n))

17a = in stage after 15, give him a good part
E _ A __
for some reason, I thought this might be ENACT

8d = bachelor game to get under the table
_ D _ _ _ _
if i use the B for bachelor, it might be EDIBLE

[piggling]

13 preheat - anagram of 'the pear'
17 imago - next insect stage from larva (answer to 15)
8 blotto - b(atchelor) +lotto

5 down Israeli
10 across Caramel

[piggling]

Sorry should have said
5 down ME(Middle East) citizen - Israeli -
realising - take out n(o) g(ood) - fighting (ie anagram)

Good luck with tomorrows!

[zorkinhell]

Cheers Piggling, sort of makes sense. I am sure it will come in time!