It's interesting one can see online answers vetuste. How does one tap into those?
I prefer BEARING to my BEADING but like a few of you it's a bit iffy. Maybe something to do with a compass bearing but as it's the nice Mr. Mayer it could be ATURING! (yes, I know it doesn't fit)
You can't see the answers until the next day (or later if it's a prize crossword), Vimto.
I subscribe to the Times Crosssword club and do the main cryptic every day. You can then check the top 100 scorers and how many mistakes (if any) they had made.. So I know my guess at "bearing" was correct.