Cryptic crossword No 3,814

This grid has no theme, but I constructed it around the idea of 23A; it's not the best executed, but I thought I'd make my first published crossword on this site a bit distinctive.

Wow Lastre, welcome to MyCrossword with a humdinger of a debut! At first I thought it was going to be Quiptic, then I hit some sandbanks. I got through them by carefully following your indications, then began wondering if perhaps you were using too many of a particular device. Then I solved 23a and understood *something* of what you were up to. But not everything, sadly- so my quibble about ‘Europeanly’ wasn’t resolved until I read your notes. Loved it when I saw it! Also particularly

Thanks Lastre. Thanks to your intentional copious 23a, this was over quite quickly but enjoyable nonetheless. I thought it was well executed with polished surfaces, my favourites being 9a, 26a, 2d, 5d, 25d.

Thanks for a fun puzzle, Lastre, and welcome to MyCrossword! I particularly enjoyed 28a and 23a I thought 27d was very clever. A few quibbles in replies...

Welcome to MyCrossword! This was an excellent grid for a debut. So many favourites among the lot: 13a, 20a, 22a, 26a, 28a, 31a, 3d, 4d, 5d, 19d (great use of "maintain") and 29d. Double thumbs up for 31a - having Googled the unfamiliar name, it's safe to say this clue is brilliantly clever. Looking forward to the next one!

Thanks Lastre look forward to the next one

Thanks Lastre for an excellent debut. I enjoyed your clear clueing and smooth surfaces; you do not seem like a newbie at all. My top picks were 10a, 28a, 31a, 5d, 6d, and 24d. More in reply