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<
You probably know this but if not 12/15a is thematic too – CLICKETY-CLICK is “66” in bingo calls.
Yes, a lot harder than the usual Wednesday Dac. Having solved off the online version, all the sixes in the grid went right over my head, I’m afraid. I also had a moment of panic when I thought that the ‘me back’ in 10ac might refer to the setter’s name…
CLICKETY-CLICK I may have heard that a long time back, but had forgotten. However, if it had been LEGS ELEVEN …
A great puzzle. Some very nice clues, particularly KEBABS! Nice working of the theme too.
Ali
Thought 16A was great. Nice wor
With 5A, I too was confused about its supposed crypticality (crypticism?) – but I think the setter simply thought the surface reading would be more misleading than it was (i.e. that it would read as “Do they train catering staff here?”) The layout in the paper, with just the opening “Train catering staff” on their own at the bottom of one column didn’t help Math, I think…
BUFFET CAR Yes, I think that explains it, Kieron – we were meant to read it as a question (Do they) Train catering staff here?