Puzzles and horoscopes

Cryptic crossword

ACROSS

1. It's an agreement one has to grow smaller (8)

4. Non-metallic mineral piece of wood on board (4)

8. Aries would spoil it being put back (3)

9. Around 3rd November make it better not to go straight (5)

10. At first light, topless, show a beard (3)

11. Sign over one's red discomfiture (7)

12. Is taken behind mechanically now, to put it differently (2,3)

13. Nose around the top of the garden, if one is so watchful (2,4,5)

17. Heavenly body company came across (5)

18. Forbidding a card to pull a face (7)

20. A melody one may make public (3)

21. A carafe-top one swirls with a lot of water (5)

22. It's published, but it's not fashionable now (3)

23. Water given to girl in Lotus (4)

24. Tie confused the entry, but it's all there (8)

DOWN

1. Transport operative for a former President (6)

2. Is cited as having a calling (5)

3. Bad language, use of which may be compounded with credit (5)

5. Spread it all over with mixture of pastel, right? (7)

6. Competition won, erroneously returning a bit of fame (6)

7. Complete turn-around the Americans had in 1700s (10)

9. Cairo not on 7 for this year of 1953 England (10)

14. Number, or half of it suffering real change (7)

15. Hasty note from last of swimmers on his stroke (6)

16. No Mayfair wives attempt to find room in church (6)

18. Olive doesn't have the experience (5)

19. One is after a novice behind the wheel who's unaccompanied (5)

Quick crossword

WordWheel

WordBuilder

WordBuilder

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No words beginning with a capital are allowed. There’s at least one five-letter word.

ARIES (Mar 21-Apr 19): There's more to be interested in than is readily apparent in these early stages of learning a place. An environment will reveal itself to you over time. Metaphorically press on walls to find the secret doors.

TAURUS (Apr 20-May 20): Anything fresh out of the fire is too hot to touch. You'll pay attention to the cycle things are in and approach accordingly. To catch a person or project at the perfect time takes more than luck; it takes careful observation.

GEMINI (May 21-Jun 21): Thoughts are magnets that bring realities into being. Your focus is powerful. You may need to articulate your troubles for a limited time to mentally put them behind you and apply your mind to only what you want.

CANCER (Jun 22-Jul 22): Some people have a personality and some people are a personality. Today, you're in the latter category, free to be uniquely yourself. You'll enjoy complete acceptance, possibly because you give it so generously.

LEO (Jul 23-Aug 22): Incurious people are tiresome, though they can also help you figure out the triggers and enhancements that will make your work appeal to a wider audience. If you can win the incurious, you can win anyone.

VIRGO (Aug 23-Sep 22): Do you have a strategy for grocery shopping? How about for getting along with a difficult family member? You'll be lucky today as you apply, hone and share your strategies with the world.

LIBRA (Sep 23-Oct 23): The passive approach would work if you were on a raft floating down a river, but instead you are standing on the path that splits into different directions. Don't stress the decision. Follow your instinct and walk.

SCORPIO (Oct 24-Nov 21): Some beliefs are more helpful than true. Is there harm in adopting an improbably optimistic way of thinking that keeps you on track? You will find that what soothes your mind is also good for productivity.

SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22-Dec 21): You want to get to the good part, but this real-life story you're living today is filled with exposition and logistics. Luckily, the value of the entire adventure is not diminished by what you have to do to pull it off.

CAPRICORN (Dec 22-Jan 19): You'll rearrange your domestic scene to make it more comfortable and liveable. This could have to do with better lighting, different furniture placement or a plan to invite your favourite people around more often.

AQUARIUS (Jan 20-Feb 18): Your awareness of energy and how it flows through people and environments will be helpful today. You'll be attuned to subtle cues and body language. You'll correctly assess what others are thinking.

ACROSS

1. Considered (11)

8. In the middle (7)

9. Seize (5)

10. Speech defect (4)

11. Moneyboxes (7) 12. Bind (3)

13. Insult (4)

15. Assistant (4)

17. Exclude (3) 19. Nonetheless (7) 20. Tumble (4)

Guide (5)

Gruelling (7)

Gain full understanding (3,3,5)

DOWN 1. Gentle, easily managed (6) 2. Joins (5) 3. Incinerate (4) 4. Lessen (6) 5. To and fro struggle (3-2-3)

6. Blind alley (4,3)

7. Remove from office (6)

How many words of three or more letters, including plurals, can you make from the five letters, using each letter only once? No words beginning with a capital are allowed. There’s at least one five-letter word.

Previous solution: ewe, ewes, pee, pees, pew, pews, see, seep, sew, spew, sweep, wee, wees, weep, weeps

Previous solution: ewe, ewes, pee, pees, pew, pews, see, seep, sew, spew, sweep, wee, wees,

Bulge 14. Dabbled 16. Dessert 17. Oyster 18. Copra 20. Argue 21. Firm

PISCES (Feb 19-Mar 20): You're all heart. Feeling so acutely is a gift that sometimes feels like a curse. Emotions will richly inform your moments. It's a blessing to be so vividly alive. Sudoku

Assistant or Trainee Cemetery Caretaker (Sexton)

Performing a range of tasks to keep our cemeteries beautiful, you will also operate various machinery from small handheld equipment to our excavator.

You will also be involved in a number of operational cemetery tasks such as burial preparation and care and adornment tasks.

Our standard working week is Monday to Friday, eight hours each day starting at 7:30am. This position will provide a challenge, satisfaction and you will ensure that our customers’ needs are met during a difficult time.

Applications close on Sunday, 29 January 2023.

To find out more about this vacancy and what the Ashburton District Council has to offer yougo to our website.

www.ashburtondc.govt.nz/careers

SITUATIONS VACANT

BAKERY ASSISTANT/FINISHER

Ashburton New World

Like early starts?

Enjoy your afternoons off?

Then this position is a fantastic opportunity for you, as we require a motivated, positive and self-starting team player who would enjoy the challenges of supermarket retailing. As an integral member of the team, reporting to the Bakery Manager, you will play a significant part in the values and culture of this business.

Key responsibilities of this position include:

• Ensuring the Bakery department provides a superior level of customer service.

• Presenting product to a high standard.

• The ability to adhere to Food Safety and Health & Safety policies

Key competencies required for this position are:

• Delivering a superior customer experience.

• Being an excellent communicator who develops relationships and fosters teamwork.

• Having an engaging and positive manner. We offer great working conditions, a supportive management structure, and personal and professional development opportunities, Funeral Cover (after 12 months employment) and an attractive hourly rate.

Days and hours of work will be Sunday to Thursday 5.00am - 1.30pm. Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand. Please apply now by submitting your CV and cover letter to: vacancies.ashburton@newworld-si.co.nz

Applications close on 12th February 2023.

SITUATIONS VACANT