Alone around home, ending in black and hard depression (8)

'hard depression' is the definition.
'sinkhole' can be an answer for 'depression' (sinkhole is a kind of depression). I am not sure about the 'hard' bit.

'alone around home ending in black' is the wordplay.
'alone' becomes 'sole' (synonyms).
'around' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'home' becomes 'H' (abbreviation as used in sports fixtures).
'ending' says to put letters next to each other.
'in black' becomes 'ink' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'h' put after 'ink' is 'inkh'.
'sole' going around 'inkh' is 'SINKHOLE'.

'and' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?