I remember reading a 1930's menu for a 'meat tea' served in one of the Epping Forest 'retreats' (large cafeteria-type places). As far as I recall, it was a massive spread with some kind of cold roast meat as the main ingredient, accompanied by bread and lots of salad items, hard-boiled eggs, etc. Ve...

A friend of mine has a dog called Barney - that's the only time I've heard it outside the books!

Yes, I did read the Three Jays - borrowing them from the library, but do you know, I can't remember a thing about them now! Isn't it funny, what makes some things stick in some people's minds and in others', not at all? I read Pat Smythe's autobiography a few years ago (I think it was called Jumping...

I remember watching Five Go Mad in Dorset with my in-laws when it first came out. I was rolling around on the floor in mirth, while they were completely stony-faced. It turned out they had never been keen on EB, so were unable to appreciate this brilliant spoof.

I wonder if it was indeed a matter of his "face not fitting" back at regional police HQ? I can't imagine him doing terribly well at his annual performance reviews - and would his one spectacular success be enough to offset all his bumbling inefficiencies?

I grew up in the 1960's in an east London suburb. From the age of about 10 I was allowed to go to the local park with my friends, but we were all under strict instructions never to talk to strangers, and to stick together and not wander off on our own. I think our parents accepted the fact that ther...

Yes - what I love about William is that he has a deep sense of fair play and always has the best of intentions - that's why it's extra funny when everything goes wrong!

I was re-reading 'Five go to Mystery Moor', and found one jarring note with regard to the food. Mrs Johnson has supplied a magnificent packed lunch, with :"egg and sardine sandwiches, tomato and lettuce, ham - there seemed no end to them!" Egg & sardine sandwiches? I'd never heard of t...

What a wonderful find!

[quote="Anonymous"]What about barney as an odd job man doing everyones small repairs and generally a good soul!

No, no, no - Barney is far too charismatic for that!!!

I'd like to stay at the rambling old Rubadub Inn, in the little seaside village of Rubadub, in The Rubadub Mystery. The inn sounds absolutely gorgeous, with leaded, diamond-paned windows, tall chimneys, an enormous front-door knocker in the form of a sailing-ship, twisting staircases, mysterious att...

The woman who looks after Kit is called Miss Taylor, but the children refer to her as The Dragon, becos she's so fierce! However, she turns out to be loyal to Kit, unlike beastly Mr Barton, the tutor.

I think the publishers ought to turn their attention to Pride & Prejudice next. I mean, how can anyone relate to Mr Bingley driving around in a chaise and four and having an income of four or five thousand pounds a year? You'd think he was a penniless lunatic, wouldn't you? No, to make it releva...

Hee, hee, yes, I wouldn't be surprised!

The one that sticks in my mind is Burnt Cottage. As a child, I found the image of the burnt cottage very frightening, and it was the fear factor that determined whether or not a book bacame a favourite of mine!