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Perfect, the tick appeared, I can go to bed now!

Nice one, Jono. I was going to ask if you were up early or yet to go to bed - now I know:-)

This was really tough! Fun, but now I have a headache. I think I finished, but don't use the app so not certain of some answers. Will review tomorrow morning. Thanks to Brummie for the unusual format and challenge.

FOI was 1a, started off quickly but soon came down to earth.
LOI 25, I'm not the only one who had trouble with it.
COD has to be 16!

Finally got there with plenty of electronic help. Just unsure of the parsing of 4 down - it must be one of the special clues and the answer seems obvious from the crossers but would be grateful for any enlightenment on the answer to the clue.

Hi Tim,

4 - Yes, this is one of the thematic clue. The first answer is a single letter "grand" then a 4 letter "parrot" (which I'd never heard of). This word and its pair, the actual answer, appear together in The Lord's Prayer.

Wow, I recall the parrot from Alice in Wonderland[/]. Not familiar with that version of the Lord's Prayer (I was raised RC), but Graham Greene comes to mind. :-)
Thanks for the explanation, Brendan. I must admit that I wrote in the answer without parsing.

Finally finished, quite fun once I was on the right track.
Not sure why 'rough' means what it does in 19d., unless they both mean 'nasty'. I'm assuming the last letters are 'the Spanish' reversed.

Hi Mattrom,

The original word is a 4 letter "rough" as in 'ill' followed by "the Spanish" reversed, as you say. I thought it was one of the more obvious pairings.

Oh, I see! It's the last one in Chambers. Had the correct word but not familiar with that particular usage. Thanks, Brendan.