If it's a genuine Welsh name, I'm not quite sure of the pronunciation, but it wouldn't be "Fainy". Probably much closer to "Fanny" or "Fahny". However, as Enid wasn't known for having an encyclopaedic understanding of all things Welsh, I'm really not sure how she might ...

Thanks, Barnard. Happy for anyone else to set another clue.

That'll be Abencha — "bench" (seat) after "a" with another "a" by it, to make the name of the river in EB's The River of Adventure!

I'm guessing it's BAMBOOZLED — made out of the letters of "blamed" plus "booz" ("endless booze") to give a word meaning "deceived".

I had that happen to me yesterday or the day before as well. Fortunately when I tried to post again after the error message, I got the message that at least one more post had been added to the thread since I started writing, and I could see it was mine that had been posted already, so I didn't dupli...

"Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right,
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you..."

I wasn't expecting that — but then nobody expects...

There's another thing they need — at least one of the group goes around with a rope wound around his waist, just in case... Also, all local police officers must either remain ignorant of the mystery / criminals / Strange Goings-On, or else be totally incompetent if they do come onto the case — right...

Many thanks, everyone! I've just had a quiet day today (it was a work day for me) — I'm looking forward to going to Australia again in just under two months' time, which is when I'll be able to spend time with my family.

I started reading Mary Barton some time ago and was enjoying it, but put it aside to read other things and didn't get back to it, so now I'll have to start it again some time. It was deeply interesting, reading about that time period and the often terrible conditions working class people were dealin...

...I must say I much prefer reading Blyton-related posts than threads and photos of Dad's Army, pets and Abba! I guess the trouble with the former is trying to get any debate going about the books that hasn't already been covered so many times before. Since joining here, I've posted on quite a few ...

Sorry to hear this news, Bertie — hope your brother's surgery goes well and you get to see him soon.

Pip played a trick on all of the rest,
To put all their brains to the test.

Thanks, Barnard. Happy for anyone else to set another clue.

Plus at least one character with a "furrin" accent or a suitably unusual dialect, look you, whateffer, to gootness!