Same here!Courtenay wrote:So did I!Kate Mary wrote:...what a lovely gift the chincherinchee flowers were. (I keep wanting to break into that song from Mary Poppins!).
Website Additions
- Anita Bensoussane
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- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
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Re: Website Additions
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26890
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Website Additions
Another chatty, entertaining page with a riddle, a code puzzle, a Brer Rabbit story and a photo of some of Enid's pigeons. I had fun deciphering the code message, though it took a while!
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=625" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=625" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Kate Mary
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
- Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
- Favourite character: Barney
- Location: Kent
Re: Website Additions
I solved the riddle-me-ree with no trouble but the Christmas at Old Thatch puzzle is worthy of a Bletchley Park code breaker, (what is a double code?) Well done for managing to do it Anita.
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith
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- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26890
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Website Additions
Cheers, Kate. It's a double code because two different rules have been applied, rather than just one.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19319
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: Website Additions
I cracked it as well, but I agree it isn't easy!!
Really enjoyed the letters as always. I had to laugh at Bobs' account of pulling Dion around by his collar and them falling in the pond — I wonder if that really happened?!
Really enjoyed the letters as always. I had to laugh at Bobs' account of pulling Dion around by his collar and them falling in the pond — I wonder if that really happened?!
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26890
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Website Additions
We've seen the Christmas card drawn by Enid before, showing all the animals, but it's lovely and the rhyme is good too.
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=626" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=626" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Kate Mary
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
- Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
- Favourite character: Barney
- Location: Kent
Re: Website Additions
That is a lovely Christmas story this week and I would have loved to read the poem The Shepherd King, it is uncollected but hasn't made it into the Cave. Perhaps it can be published in the Winter 2021 Journal? Or added to the Cave? Please Tony?...
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith
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- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26890
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Website Additions
A newsy page once again. Does anyone know if Enid Blyton herself drew the picture of Old Thatch at the top? The photo of the baby wart-hog is cute - another London Zoo photo, I expect.
It's interesting to hear of the floods and of Enid's neighbours setting off in a boat to do the shopping. Enid Blyton doubts Old Thatch will be flooded because it's "on higher ground", but we know that it was at times.
I like the rhythmic poem 'The Rain is Raining', which is very apt as we've had a lot of rain here lately, and the myth about Proserpina has been a favourite of mine ever since I read another Blytonian re-telling of it in Tales of Long Ago as a small child.
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... perid=4556" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It's interesting to hear of the floods and of Enid's neighbours setting off in a boat to do the shopping. Enid Blyton doubts Old Thatch will be flooded because it's "on higher ground", but we know that it was at times.
I like the rhythmic poem 'The Rain is Raining', which is very apt as we've had a lot of rain here lately, and the myth about Proserpina has been a favourite of mine ever since I read another Blytonian re-telling of it in Tales of Long Ago as a small child.
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... perid=4556" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26890
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Website Additions
Enid Blyton makes light of her dining-room and garage being flooded but it must have been very unpleasant. Apparently she had planks put in the dining-room, with ten-inch blocks of wood nailed beneath them to raise them above the level of the water. I expect Dick Hughes had to prepare the planks! It sounds quite bizarre, with Bobs and Patabang falling into the water repeatedly and even Enid taking an impromptu dip while carrying the breakfast tray (according to Bobs, anyway!)
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=628" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=628" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Courtenay
- Posts: 19319
- Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
- Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
- Favourite character: Lotta
- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: Website Additions
Bobs does make it sound like fun! As for "Ash School, near Sevenoaks", I live about 8 miles north of Sevenoaks myself and there is indeed a village called Ash a few miles from here. It doesn't have a school now, but I assume it did in Enid's day and that's the one she's referring to. (There is a school in neighbouring New Ash Green, which was built in the 1960s, so perhaps that replaced the school that Enid was talking about.)
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Kate Mary
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
- Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
- Favourite character: Barney
- Location: Kent
Re: Website Additions
Back in 2014 we went through the letters for 1930 although we started on 5th February and caught up with the earlier ones a bit later. It's good to read them again but it would he nice to have another year, 1936 or 1941 perhaps, which match up with 2021. Please??
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith
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- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26890
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Website Additions
I'm going to carry on following the 1930 letters into February anyway as I probably swallowed the January ones all at a gulp last time - which makes me sound like Bobs!
This time, Enid talks about the Christmas presents she and her pets received and we have a photo of the rather pretty pigeon-cote thatched with heather:
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=652" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
This time, Enid talks about the Christmas presents she and her pets received and we have a photo of the rather pretty pigeon-cote thatched with heather:
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=652" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Kate Mary
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
- Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
- Favourite character: Barney
- Location: Kent
Re: Website Additions
It's always a pleasure to re-read these letters, nice poem too.
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith
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- Anita Bensoussane
- Forum Administrator
- Posts: 26890
- Joined: 30 Jan 2005, 23:25
- Favourite book/series: Adventure series, Six Cousins books, Six Bad Boys
- Favourite character: Jack Trent, Fatty and Elizabeth Allen
- Location: UK
Re: Website Additions
The poem 'A Tail-Wagger Talks to his Mistress' is delightful. Bobs tells us in his letter that he's proud of his silver medal from the Tail-Waggers' Club, which he was awarded for his "splendid recruiting effort"!
It's also very interesting to learn about Steptoe (Enid mischievously calls him "Tiptoe"!), who comes to clear out the pond and stream and knows all about birds and fish, even having a tame kingfisher. He obviously impressed Enid as she comments that, although he has only one eye following an injury in the war, "with that one he sees more than most people see with two".
Enid includes a photo of the pond with Dick Hughes' cottage in the background, though I believe that that part of the Old Thatch garden has since been sold and the cottage no longer exists.
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
It's also very interesting to learn about Steptoe (Enid mischievously calls him "Tiptoe"!), who comes to clear out the pond and stream and knows all about birds and fish, even having a tame kingfisher. He obviously impressed Enid as she comments that, although he has only one eye following an injury in the war, "with that one he sees more than most people see with two".
Enid includes a photo of the pond with Dick Hughes' cottage in the background, though I believe that that part of the Old Thatch garden has since been sold and the cottage no longer exists.
https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/bly ... &perid=653" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
Society Member
- Kate Mary
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: 20 Apr 2007, 06:25
- Favourite book/series: The Treasure Hunters/ Five Find Outers
- Favourite character: Barney
- Location: Kent
Re: Website Additions
I love those grainy old photos that accompany Enid's letters through 1930. At first I misread hookey stick for hockey stick, that conjured up a wonderful image of Mr Tiptoe!
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith
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