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I think I can only agree with Brendan's opening line! Thanks, Vlad, for a real head-scratcher.
FOI 3d, LOI 8a ( after much too long trying to squeeze a U in somehow!), several COD contenders but probably 25a on top, some lovely words well clued (such as 10d, 14a and of course 15d).
Sent on a wild goose chase by Geeker@17, the reference to 5d as a city had me thinking I'd gone very wrong somewhere! Jono@22, I don't remember 1d recently but four times as much turned up in Puck's puzzle on Wednesday (spelt the ‘'proper' way)

Cheers all, enjoy the weekend

Thanks Luko, I’m sure that (and the discussion of it) was what I was thinking of re 1d. My memory of 15d was probably from a Matilda Quiptic in March, though it appeared there in a different form and as part of the fodder. Funny what sticks in your mind sometimes.

Chrise - to the rescue please with 25a! I know giyf but I have no idea what I am looking for!

Google your answer with one of the capitalised words in the clue.

Thank you chrise. What a disappointment!

luko, apologies for misdirect on 5. As earlier stated, I'm from "across the pond" and only indirectly knew of the solutioin.

Am I right in thinking 15d is the opposite of hibernate? If not, that partly explains why I cannot solve 25a.

Docrum, yes, not sure it’s the opposite but it does take place at a different time of year

Really struggling with this one.
Tips please for the two big 'uns that I have yet to complete:
1a: Middle word suggests maybe a foreign/latin phrase?
7d: Name of an obscure play?

1a yes, foreign. i've seen it translated as"war horse"!
7d dated rather than obscure