Many thanks to cartz and Dav_25.
Just installed Aurora Store from F-Droid and was able to get my Japanese dictionary app up and running. A free app, not a paid version, but one which claimed to need Google Play services to run and which is now working on my A5. Yay!!
Haven't set up a dummy Google account yet, nor have I bought a Google gift card. When I eventually do, I will test out getting the few paid apps I would like to have.
I am even happier with the A5 now... and I had been plenty happy with it already. Am looking forward to the colour version which will apparently be coming out sometime later this year.