Thank you again, Jolan for these excellent clues. Here is my stab at them
1. He often sees characters without shoes dressed for a holiday in France? (2,4) En Fete? The words “he often sees” without “shoes”, gives “En fete”, “dressed for a holiday”?
2. Twin daughters take note of more than one big girl’s blouse (7)- Sissies? Sis + sis (twin daughters) with E (note) gives sissies – more than one girl’s blouse?
3. Simple compass-bearing craft (7) Spartan? Span- compass “bearing” art- craft, gives Spartan- simple?
4. Used to encourage skill (6-4) Second-hand? Encourage – second, with hand – skill (In Chambers) gives second-hand – used?
5. About to accumulate points and praise (5,2) Build up?
Accumulate points – build up and “build up” (without hyphen) is in Chambers as “praise”.
If my attempt at 2 is correct, can I single it out for special praise? To stand out even in a Jolan collection, a clue has to be something outstanding, and that was, I thought.
Thanks again for brightening my Tuesday.
AB