Cryptic crossword No 377

Hey guys- I'm posting this from the other side of the world as I'm currently in Samoa! We are in lock down here so I've had plenty of time to work on my first 15x15 that I think is good enough to post (I hope...) I have already shared this one with friends and family and this is about a 5th draft! Please let me know how I can improve- as a fledgling setter I need all the help I can get!

Hey suka, welcome to MyCrossword :) There's some really nice stuff in this. 1d is brilliant; other favourites were 5d, 16d, and 17a. I've put a few suggestions in my reply - but well done!

Welcome suka! A really nice puzzle and I like the theme (I think it's a theme and not a coincidence!) I was also impressed with your clueing for 3 letter words, which I find to be the hardest thing to do :) I had the same comments as Amoeba about avoiding 3 unchecked letters, and loose or grammatically inaccurate definitions. But great debut!

Welcome to MyCrossword and congratulations on your first 15x15. Brilliant to have someone here from Samoa - just please don't start clueing too much of the local vernacular: my Samoan is VERY rusty! I agree with Amoeba that 1d is superb suka. I also liked 4a, 17a, 24a, 25a, 26a, 7d and 16d definitely brought a smile. A couple of observations in reply. SPOILERS IN REPLY.

Hi Suka...I solved this puzzle on twitch earlier today. If you like, you can listen/watch (most of!) the solve at twitch.tv/contocrosswords. My rubbish laptop ground to a halt so the recording stops before I'd finished - sorry about that! You get most of it though. What you don't hear, alas, are all the nice things I was saying about you at the end! For a first puzzle you've put 'out there' this is very impressive - well done!

Hi Suka, thanks for the puzzle, which was lovely and has some super clues in it. Nice one. Great debut, as others have said. I really liked 22d 7d 26a and like everyone else love 1d. A few spoilers in what follows…

Nice one, Suka - a promising debut with much to enjoy. I even spotted the theme! Particular favourites were 22a, 25a, 1d, 3d, 22d. I won’t repeat what others have said but do take on board their useful advice.