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Thanks to Prize regular and favorite Picaroon for this week's challenge.
No spoiler to mention that there's a clear theme: close to half the entries are thematic in some way.

Tale of two puzzles: about 2/3 went very quickly, practically a write-in, seemingly not up to Picaroon's high standards. But then the pace slowed and a number of excellent clues showed themselves. On balance somewhat easier than Prize norm IMO, but fun with much clever wordplay.

FOI 1, LOI 13a.

Three-way tie for COD between 13a, 14 and 13d. Also liked 26, 22a and 11.

Early to the party for once..... But no party, odd there's only one post..... I cant get the theme so a hint would help geeker if you don't mind, have got some in SW corner but stuck because of 11

Cheers

Oh think I may have got it.....

Here's a hint for 11, which should help a great deal:

Defn. "notes on staff", parses as 1 ("spy" chief per Ian Fleming), 1 ("uni"), 3 ("thus").

Ta Geeker, have got it now so I'm off, enjoy your Saturday

Good fun, if on the easier side. Yesterday’s Vlad was significantly tougher I thought. I must have spent as long on 26 as the entire rest of the puzzle! :-)

Enjoyable puzzle from Picaroon. Slow start, FOI 15 but once penny dropped on 11, rest of grid fell into place fairly quickly. LOI 14.

An hour ahead of the UK so I was on this quite early. Like geeker three quarters in very quickly but the SE is holding me up. Is 19a a kind of 11 from the 40s as it states (ie double definition) as I'm struggling to bring it to mind.

Although Picaroon is in my top 3 setters, I was disappointed with this. I don't like this sort of puzzle anyway, but 11 fell quickly, making the rest far too easy.
Ingenious use of the theme, though.
Favourite 2nd in (after 1d) 9a. I also liked 14a and 23d.

rocky
Yes, but I'm more familiar with 19a having two more letters before the answer.