What's the link In The Guardian Genius Jan 2007

[eddiebun]

I've solved the crossword, but have only got a couple of guesses as to the link !

[Murielmci]

What are your guesses, perhaps we could work on it together?

[eddiebun]

My only two thoughts were -

A Rakes Progress, because its a series of eight paintings, and Service with a smile could refer to one of the paintings - Marriage.

My other guess, because that's all it is, is Army ranks, because service could refer to the Armed services, and because there's an anagram of Major in 9 Across.

[Murielmci]

Sorry but try as I might I can't work it out. Other thoughts are that the pretorian guard features in colossian but that is as far as that thought goes.

Good luck with your deliberations.

[El Blobbo]

If I give you a clue, will you give me 21D?

You are looking for homophones.

[El Blobbo]

Dearie me! You can forget that last request duckie!

[eddiebun]

Thanks for the clue, El Blobbo, sorry I was too slow to give you that answer. If you're missing any more I'll gladly give you them.

I don't know if you agree with me that they're not getting the mix of hard and easier Genius puzzles right.

Homophones eh? .... I'll have to think about that.

[eddiebun]

Cheers, El Blobbo

I was nowhere near getting that, and not being a religious man, I probably never would have.

[snoozy]

Can I please intrude and ask for your help with 25 ac. Having sailed through the crossword, I then got stuck with 25 ac Rust could answer this clue: yellow, a bit.

I have ?A?R?T? and wondered about carrots, with rot/rots for the Rust part.

Many thanks
Snoozy

[El Blobbo]

You're so close! rust = CAR ROT + Y

[snoozy]

Many thanks El Blobbo.

It was frustrating having completed all but one clue and having spotted the 7 of the series of eight.

I have not been able to complete the last two Genius crosswords so I am very grateful to you for your help.

Snoozy