Fifteensquared

A very, satisfying, toughish, puzzle with the puzzle number used thematically. Solving time, 29 mins.

* = anagram < = reversed

ACROSS

4 KEBA BS (bake)* bs = US abbrev for ‘bullshit’

9 FOOTER (to fro e = energy)* Linked with 16 down

11 DEEP-SIXES (Despise ex)* A US expression, new to this blogger, that I worked out from the anagram fodder, when I’d some crossing letters and had twigged the sixes theme.

12/15 CLICK (get on) ETY-CLICK (cycle kit)*

16/1A HALF A DOZEN i.e. another thematic six. H = Henry (abbrev from physics) (Fonda zeal)* Also refers to the film ‘Twelve Angry Men” in which HF starred.

17 AG (RE) EING RE = outskirts of Rochdale (first and last letters)

20 TEST PILOTS The river Test and pilots who guide some boats.

24 (On) LOCATION

25/19 A (LL) T HE R AGE LL = a couple of lines in ‘at her age’ This, with 11, gives ALL THE SIXES in the bottom row.

DOWN

1 DECIMAL Of ten

2 ZO NA L (l an Oz)<

3 corNER VYing i.e. in “central position”

4 KNOB B(Lad’s head)Y Bonk<, meaning, among other things, to hit

5 BUFFET CAR “Train catering staff here?” Worried that I may have missed something, as this, without the ‘?’ would read like a clue in a ‘quick’ definition crossword.

The final five letters are (cater)*

6 B ROADSIDE B = a follower (in the alphabet). Hmm!

7 BEDECK First letters.

13 COL (pass) LEG (member) IA L (L A1)<

14 ENAC T (MEN) T cane< TT = Tourist Trophy (Isle of Man) and, yes, it is a series of races, not just one.

16 HEADER Means a headlong fall and refers back to 9 ac (FOOTER). This refers to typing – items that go on top or bottom of a (or each) page. Wondered if it was connected with the theme with ALL THE SIXES on the bottom and DOZEN KEBABS at the top; A quick Google for the latter yielded nothing, so perhaps not.

17 AB (an abdominal muscle) SOLVE (as we do)

18 (car) NATIONS

21 PAC K’S cap<