Teachers World Letters, Jan 1930 - July 1934

[Julie2owlsdene]

What are you suggesting, Pete, that the fisherman gets hit on the head or the pike. A bit late for the pike he got away!

[Carlotta King]

What are you suggesting, Pete, that the fisherman gets hit on the head or the pike.

Or Nigel gets a smack for taking the mickey out of me..... again!!!

[Kate Mary]

Bobs is in big trouble this week with a charge of sheep worrying against him, he ends up confined to the tennis court but we'll forgive him as it is such a good pose in the photograph. The poem by Patabang is an adaptation of something unmentionable; decades before the term was invented or the concept thought of Enid managed to produce a politically correct version. I love it!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Did you take up Enid's - or Patabang's - suggestion (which contains a rare typing error) and draw dozens of kittens, Kate?!

This week's letters are rather sombre and must have made some young readers feel anxious, with Bobs being in danger of getting shot. Enid Blyton brought sheep-worrying into some of her books, most memorably The Mystery of Holly Lane.

Here's a link:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... &perid=783" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Moonraker]

I have read the poem twice, and cannot find the error! Another good week's letters. Poor Bobs, let's hope he doesn't get shot.

[Poppy]

Poor old Bobs! - his situation is very similar to the scene in The Mystery of Holly Lane (as you mentioned, Anita) when Buster was almost shot for worrying the sheep. It was a good idea to make an enclosed area for the dogs to play in, though, and I hope that after that Bobs was obedient, and didn't go getting himself into trouble. I had to smile at this line, though, in his letter: I am so frightened that my paw is shaking too much to write a long letter...

The poem before this week's letter was an amusing and enjoyable read, but I can't spot any mistake, either...

[Anita Bensoussane]

The error comes in the suggestion at the end - "Can your draw this poem?"

[Poppy]

Ah - thanks for that, Anita! I can't believe I didn't notice that, now.

[Kate Mary]

I missed the typo as well despite reading though the poem several times, nor did I draw any kittens!

[Julie2owlsdene]

I missed that too. It just shows how your brain knows what the right word is to use, and so you read as you think it is!

Poor Bobs. I can't help thinking that Enid should have been more alert with her pets, and kept them a bit safer than they were. Didn't she have another dog who disappeared from Green Hedges!

[John Pickup]

I didn't notice the error in the poem either. Poor old Bobs. He really must learn to control himself.

[Courtenay]

Yes, poor old Bobs! I'm sure he didn't get shot, as we know he lived until (I think) 1935 - and even afterwards, kept on sending his letters from beyond the grave, unbeknown to his audience! - but it must have been upsetting for Enid. I hope she found a way of keeping him off the farmer's land without having to keep him confined all the time.

The poem by Patabang is an adaptation of something unmentionable; decades before the term was invented or the concept thought of Enid managed to produce a politically correct version. I love it!

True! Mind you, I remember a number of counting rhymes with this same pattern from when I was little, none of which featured racially offensive terms - they were always ten (or sometimes five) little monkeys, kittens, ducklings etc., with one disappearing (or reappearing) in each verse. This may be the original version of it, but whether or not Enid was the first to adapt it using animals, I don't know!

[Moonraker]

Thanks, Anita!

[Anita Bensoussane]

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... &perid=784" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

We get to see Bobs wearing sunglasses this week!

Enid Blyton's letter conveys a feeling of joy and anticipation as we go into spring and I like her descriptions of the songs of the birds. What a brilliant way of encouraging children to listen to the birds - by asking them to put words to the tune of the thrush, which she will then weave into a poem!

Thanks as always for putting up the letters, Tony!

[Julie2owlsdene]

Funnily enough I spotted some daffodils whilst out today, which I noticed probably for the first time as the sun was shining. Spring is just round the corner! Lovely pic of Bobs with his sun specs on.