Crossword challenge

A PLACE FOR PUZZLERS.

ACROSS

1 See 1 Down

4 Forming a mental image of something that isn't the case (" It's easy if you try!" -- John Lennon) (9)

9 Singing by rapidly alternating between the chest and falsetto voices – the earliest reference is from 1545, describing it as

"the call of a cowherd from Appenzell" (9) 10 Gather (a large amount, perhaps?) (5) 11 Conceiving an idea – a more intellectual version of 4 across, perhaps (15)

13 A Hindu sage (and UK PM) (5)

14 Spectacles clipped to the nose (5-3)

17 Plucking a stringed instrument or talking with a nasal sound (8)

19 Pontifical (sounds like an online payment system!) (5)

22 Someone who helps a business owner with capital investment – to realise their 1 across, perhaps! (8,7)

24 British composer of the choral work "The 1 across of Gerontius" (5)

25 Very high-pitched (9)

27 People involved in planting, cultivating, weeding, etc (but not generally agriculture) (9)

28/26 An evening away from home – going to a bar, restaurant, show, etc (5,3)

DOWN

1/1A Absentminded 4 across while awake – also a 1995 album by Mariah Carey (8) 2 Conclusions ( 7)

3 Becoming mouldy (a possible description of Bobby in "Dallas" ?!) (9)

4 "The ____" was Joseph Conrad's first published short story (6)

5 Covered with breadcrumbs and cheese, and browned under a grill (2,6) 6 A Baghdadi, for example (5)

7 "...the pride taken by the _____ s in their gifted women is among the most important facts in the history of their Renaissance" -- Walter Shaw Sparrow ( 7) 8/12 A car using fossil fuel (usually ine iciently) (3-7)

11/24 Something bad described out of politeness as "good in parts" ( 7,3)

12 See 8

15 A decorated covering for a horse (9) 16 Deluge, flood, submerge... (8)

18 John Steed or Emma Peel, for example, or one of various American superheroes ( 7)

20 Unfinished, awaiting a decision ( 7)

21 Sudden forceful flows (6)

23 Pucker one's lips (5)

24 See 11

26 See 28 Across