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Thanks, darla. Having read your post I finally wrote in the second word. I've more than once solved clues with that very answer, but memory failed. Then I wrote in 25 as LOI; had been held up by errant fixation on REF for "judge".

Repeating, I found this an extremely well-clued Everyman but considerably more difficult than usual.

I agree absolutely. I went to sleep trying to parse 12a and woke up understanding it. Beautiful cluing throughout.

All done except for 14d. Hints please.
Merry Christmas all.

Hi Nicola,
14d. 4 letter word for questionable inside 5 letter word for flings (cut short to give 4). Def. is charmer (but there is another interpretation that is thematic)

I can't join in with all the praise here. I thought it was (typically) loose in places. "Greens" in 17a? I don't see how 5 and 6 down parse.
I've never heard 12a said, so I suspect it isn't pronounced the way I think it would be if it is to parse!

Greens as in dollar bills I think…

My thought too, jono - very loose! (If they are dollars, the solution should have the awful spelling!)

chrise 5d is a double def, 6d is an abbreviation for doctor followed by a word that would describe something that has come out of the oven without the first letter if "cake"

Thanks justsolve. 6d is another loose one, then.
I think I must have 5d wrong - I don't see any connection with Old Norse.

I can recommend today's Quiptic by Picaroon.

It refers to Old Norse the language I think.