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One of the easiest for a long time --- but I enjoyed it!

I agree that the clued parts were (ridiculously) easy, but I found the unclued perimeter just irritating. Was looking for a more detailed connection between the three words on each edge, but so far as I can see there was nothing other than the very broad connection between all 12. Pretty unsatisfactory and so I didn't enjoy it at all. In fact found myself missing Araucaria even more than usual. Oh for a proper Saturday morning work-out!

Or is there something (re the perimeter) I've missed? That's really why I came here after completing the crossword. I'd love to be proved wrong!

Well I'm struggling with the unclued ones!

Not finished yet, though I've guessed some of the perimeter.
I'm irritated with 16d - I think the clue clearly indicates entering the reverse answer (which I did, at first!)

OK, I've given up on the perimeter, unless anyone could tell me what letters to put in the corners (I think bottom right is N). Major weakness of the format, I think.

B L
B N

Thanks, stumped - I'll have another look.

Finished with that help.

I agree that the connection between the perimeter words is the bare minimum. Rather lazy compiling, I think

Re 16dn, I put it in the wrong way up at first, and realised my mistake when I solved 14a and 19a. I wasn't irritated because the clue does work both ways so I saw it as a bit of clever misdirection, but perhaps I'm being too kind. Certainly if 14 and 19 had been harder I would have been complaining. But my overall complaint is as above: too easy, and perimeter too random.

I don't see what's wrong with the perimeter words having only one thing in common. The Spectator does this often, and the Sat. G. was never up to their standard (if you want to call it that). Certainly not like Arau, but I fear we shall never see his like again in our lifetime.