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Clues of Repute 59

20 February, 2018

Next weekend's Wordplay column is how travel and crosswords go hand-in-hand. Late last year in Hungary and the Balkans, I cracked 2 or 3 puzzles per diem, using each grid as a covert journal in buses and coffeehouses. The same habit also lent a random supply of English, more fuel for future clues and column ideas.

A self-sustaining circle really. As for the book to offer nourishment, I found an old 1998 Times collection beside the Houdini museum in Budapest. This week I'm sharing the book's best clues for you to solve. While next week, as the Wordplay column outlines, I aim to showcase the nine clues I'm still struggling to fathom.

Enjoy the column - in Sydney's Spectrum this Saturday. And enjoy these superlative clues, as I did in transit. (Beware - Number 2 is a lulu!)

1. Attempt to reform some liar? (8)

2. Either part of Sinai? (5)

3. Saw result of one footballer being off? (5)

4. One may get loaded, playing poker with cash (9)

5. Ruined volume needs fresh cover (9)

6. Part-time medic? (6)

7. What perhaps to do with poodle (French miniature) (5)

8. Supporters of Napoleon guillotined despicable people (7)

Can you crack all eight, with possible hints to be found among fellow solvers in the Comments? And can you compose your own clues for any of the same solutions?

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Riddledom Rave

If you missed my riddle chat with Richard Fidler, then feel free to slurp the podcast at http://ab.co/1I9t1x5

Text-speak is creeping into Scrabble. Where do you sit?
OBVS I'm fine with it
Entrenched stuff - like LOL and OMG - but no more.
Words With Friends, maybe. Scrabble, no
Let the 'real' dictionaries decide first
Just the handy stuff, like FAQ and EUW
I mean, WTF?! No way
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