I didn’t even notice the issue at CURBSTONE being pretty thoroughly Americanized by now, and, yes, it is sloppy, not libertarian.

At 2, “being” is wrong and the only “justifications” I can see are 1. it was easy to solve and 2. it prevents “backsolving” 6.

SENT/CENT didn’t bother me, I already had the C. Funny how it’s ok to use a foreign word for money but not for the edge of the pavement.

PUSHBIKE came very slowly due to “taken out of” meaning “around”.

In general I really liked this, though. It went pretty smoothly, on the easy end for the Grauniad, and I think some of the niggles may relate to trying to introduce some difficulty.

Almost at first glance I saw the word “artic” and thought, “oh, no, a tyop!” and marked it for later investigation. But when the answer suddenly occurred to me while staring at all the checked letters I suddenly remembered what it means in British. My COD.

I liked this overall.

Thanks for the puzzle, Audreus, and for an ever-wonderful blog, Eileen and the rest of you lot.

Can you explain at what point I should realise that pavement is the US meaning rather than the UK meaning. Apart from anything else not all US pavements have curbstones. A country road will just have verges, not curbstones.

Of course, it’s a matter of taste but “First, little” for L and “opening sketches” for S are not our cup of tea.

We were also annoyed by some connecting words: ‘to’ in 9ac, ‘for’ in 22d (only my PinC, because I think it works as ‘given to’ (and Araucaria uses it ever so often)) and ‘on’ in 6d. I even questioned ‘have’ in 18d, but it works just about.

As others said, the ambiguity of CENT/SENT should have been avoided. Only recently (in a Quiptic) Arachne pleaded guilty.

In 21ac: “out of” instead of “outside of”?

And Pete Duffin’s comment on 2d makes total sense.
“Being 6″ is wrong.

“Typical” in 19d an anagram indicator? In what sense? Moreover the definition alludes to the rest of the clue, but we couldn’t see how or why? Very loose.

Haven’t even talked about Hawkeshead and Curbstone.

Sorry to all those who enjoyed this crossword (and to Audreus).
Best clues: 11ac, 8d and perhaps 23d too.

ps, Rowland, I fear we are really not on each other’s wavelength. I cannot see why this crossword is ‘very good’ and Picaroon’s is ‘inconsistent’. So be it.

So – you’re asking us to accept an unindicated [and, to me, unknown] North American usage of a word to justify an unindicated North American spelling? That seema a step or two too far for me. If Audreus had used ‘sidewalk’, we’d all have known what she was talking about!

“…Did anyone else fall for the ‘obvious’ IDYLLS at 26 – (SILLY D)…”

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Not on this occasion, Bruce, but it always fascinates me to see just how many such perfect, alternative, and I surmise, unintended solutions arise in crosswords.

Thanks to all.

Like may others didn’t like the CURBSTONE spelling.

Also I’m also not sure about the &lit device to indicate an anagram in 19d.

It would appear that I am n a minority of one in disliking Honeybunch as a CD for SWARM!

It appears one can get away with all this when it’s such an easy and enjoyable solve.

Thanks to Audreus and Eileen.

Which SHED is going to turn up tomorrow?