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Yes - very good, jolan (and AB and rosalind, to her surprise!)

Congratulations to everyone who got any of them, & even more to jolan in the end --could so easily have got at least 2 & 5 ha ha ha...................

Congratulations to everyone who got any of them, & even more to jolan in the end --could so easily have got at least 2 & 5 ha ha ha...................

ab solved it, not me. I only suggested it because the letter count fits and it means "old fashioned"

In addition, hi Ros, ab and Jazzy (thank you). Well guessed Ros and well linked ab. Below find my workings.

Hope they're not getting too complicated.

1. bed = bunk (bunkum); old = o; pilot = steerer; BUNKO-STEERER (N. Am) = a con man (Chambers D) = a shark

2. (crypt) net = BACK NUMBER = old-fashioned person (Chambers D)

3. close (v) = seal; a salesperson = a vender (vendor or vender; Chambers Dict); yielding “seal a vender” = SEA LAVENDER = (a salt-marsh) plant

4. subtractive anag (not & flying) of “airspace raider” – “a prairie”) = SCARED = chicken.

5. a return = a gain; sadly (anag) “puts” it = upst it; & “a return to the interior” yields:- up(a gain)st it = UP AGAINST IT = in almost desperate straits (Chambers D).

You have a seriously devious mind sir and I for one take my hat off to you. I always look in and rarely get more than one answer correct - as always, I will endeavour to do better.

Many thanks RE. Methinks I overdid it this week, eh?

Wonder where my old friend Tony is? Haven't heard from him for some time. Hope he's OK