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.... also puzzled by wordplay in 2d.

2d is a single letter ("nothing") inside ("So" with the final letter dropped).

Okay, just seen how 2d is parsed.

16 is a good one. Parses as 4 ("to be") surrounding [2 (abbrev for "capitals"), 1, 1, 1 where the 1s are first letters of 3 words in the clue]

Thanks Geeker, I saw it as soon as I posted - hadn't paid enought attention to "so briefly".

I've also sussed 25a - can't believe I didn't see it!

That just leaves 16d unparsed.

Thanks again Geeker, I don't think I'd had have worked out the wordplay for 16d in a month of Sundays:-)

The 2 to which geeker refers in 16 is so niche. There can’t be many people who could do anything other than reverse-google it. Even more so than the solution to 22, I’d say.

Roger, I agonised over the "capitals" in 16 and felt for a long time that a letter had to be missing. The PDM was a big relief.

Fortunately 22 is a word I'm very familiar with. But it didn't keep the solution from being LOI.

Geeker, I suspect there is a much more to you than might meets the eye.

You're only the second adult I've ever known (in modern times) who doesn't own a mobile (or cellphone to you guys) and 22d is a word you're very familiar with!?

Are you a Buddhist? No need to answer, I'm not prying - just gentle humour.

Brendan, I live in a rural area where cell phone coverage is extremely spotty.

I've often read about riddles of the 22 nature. They are occasionally presented as paradoxes in writings that have nothing to do with Buddhism.

But there are many Buddhist monasteries within an hour's drive of my home, several of the relevant (to 22) lineage. The rural environment must be conducive to their retreats and practice.