The Brain Teaser

ACROSS

1. Make mince-meat of, on December the first? (8)

5. Sun, you admit, is essential for this plant (6)

10. A man of cultivation in more ways than one? (9,6)

11. Lay by the river, where there are seats (7)

12. He says he's responsible for the circulation (7)

13. Such performances as are successful always? (8)

15. Love birds (5)

18. She returned number nine unfinished (5)

20. From the base, cycle round the East of France (8)

23. One who, as a retired model, reveals all the facts (7)

25. The light shows, on one side, an aquatic bird (7)

26. Try very hard to get even? (2,4,5,4)

27. Figures the thing will be in the lodgings (6)

28. Expostulates, “Nonsense!” and steps waveringly outside (8)

DOWN

1. Think over, in the abstract (6)

2. Compel cheat to use the filter (9)

3. Upset, enters sex and nationality (7)

4. Some domestic turmoil, on occasions (5)

6. Expected to be frightened going round the island (7)

7. Creature like a mule gone wrong, with an otter's tail? (5)

8. The guard will show you what the female warrior wore (8)

9. Straight from the hairdresser (8)

14. Adroitly, but no longer saucily (8)

16. Going on and on packing jellied eels into cases, wrapped (9)

17. At home and looked after by one's fiancee (8)

19. Beginning as an unusual aroma (7)

21. If “garment” weren't spelled with one, it would be “garmentt”! (7)

22. Joins one, ready to make a come-back (6)

24. Spike is upset when neither doctor comes round (5)

25. Is it not as dead as mutton? (5) 1 Downcast; 5 Swifts; 9 Repoints; 10 Planer; 12 Canape; 13 Mandates; 15 Drinking song; 18 Hooks and eyes; 23 Peasants; 24 Regina; 26 Irises; 27 Sundries; 28 Glands; 29 Seedless.

DOWN: 1 Direct; 2 Wiping; 3 Chipper; 4 Site; 6 Wild-dog; 7 Function; 8 Sure sign; 11 Canines; 14 Inanity; 16 Whipping; 17 Mona Lisa; 19 Seaweed; 20 Emended; 21 Divine; 22 Masses; 25 Tube.