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[Good afternoon friends and, in particular, ginge and Ari (no problemo ginge with site). Even though retired, I've had a terrible busy morning with lots of voluntary work to be done and several visitors. I've managed to cobble "5" together. Unfortunately I must go out soon and continue the work, so I'll not be back till later tonight. Hope these will prove challenging. J

I set clues just for pleasure. I wonder if some of you excellent regulars would like to try a few? Since they're new, no letters!

Please withhold solutions till 5 pm (GMT) to allow others to have a go.

1. Monastery needs a confessor or it yearns for keeping female society 8)

2. Sent when ready for battle? (6)

3. Turf cutter bars pet when working by lake (12)

4. Play with oily females following short period on opening observations (5,2,6)

5. May be seen on the reverse of a penny stamp, leaving US mega-expert puzzled (7)

Hi jolan,
Tuesdays 5 are now an "institution" and necessary "fix" in my week. Great that you're still busy and doing good things, long may it contine. If 4 is representative, then you undersell yourself (cobble). Thinking cap on for the others, cheers.

Looks a bit lonely around here today, Jolan!
I've only managed to get the firsr two, & can't post at 5, but will look in later anyway.

Hi Jolan, just got in, another cracking day here so was golfing again. I can't see any straight away, so looking forward to seeing the solutions, but it does seem to have been unusually quiet on this thread today.

Finally got onto the site again, and just saw this. I see only two of them right off..

Since it appeared quiet I was going to post solutions at 5, assuming no one had already done so, but as most regulars have only just had a chance to view jolan's craftsmanship I'll hold off.

Hi jolan
Having broadband probs today, but I've got #5

1- SORORITY (hidden)
2-
3-BREASTPLOUGH (anag bars pet + lough)
4- TIMON OF ATHENS (tim on o fat hens)
5- EXERGUE (subtractive anag)

Thanks for this set of excellent clues, Jolan. Rarely get a chance to see your wizardry “live” on a Tuesday, so today was a treat.

Here is my stab at them:
1. Monastery needs a confessor or it yearns for keeping female society (8)- sorority? (In clue)

2. Sent when ready for battle? (6)- Mailed? (Double definition- posted, sent and “mailed” armoured for battle?)

3. Turf cutter bars pet when working by lake (12)- Breastplough? (Used as a turf cutter. Anagram of “Bars pet” + lough – lake?

4. Play with oily females following short period on opening observations (5,2,6) Timon of Athens? (Short period Tim(e) + on + O (opening of “observations) + “Fat hens” – oily females?)

5. May be seen on the reverse of a penny stamp, leaving US mega-expert puzzled (7) Exergue? (Subtractive anagram – “stamp” from “US mega expert” gives “Exergue” an inscription on the reverse of a coin?)

Thanks again.
AB

So here is #5 which is the only one I hope I've solved.
exergue (inscription on back of coin)
USmegaexpert (minus stamp) anagrammed