Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Hi folks!
I am trying to locate this story:
It is about a boy who is asked to wash flower pots - and I THINK he is tempted (heavens forfend) to do the job poorly.
The motto for the story is of course: "A job worth doing, is worth doing well".
I think it is from one of the Holiday Books - but ... which one?
Can anyone help, please?
Thankyou
I am trying to locate this story:
It is about a boy who is asked to wash flower pots - and I THINK he is tempted (heavens forfend) to do the job poorly.
The motto for the story is of course: "A job worth doing, is worth doing well".
I think it is from one of the Holiday Books - but ... which one?
Can anyone help, please?
Thankyou
- Fiona1986
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Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
You can read all the story titles from the Holiday Books here.
There's a story called 'Lazy Leonard' in book 5, and ones called 'He Couldn't be Trusted' and "It Really Served Him Right" in book 6. I haven't seen any other titles that sound like they'd be about the story you described, but if you read through them yourself one might jog your memory
There's a story called 'Lazy Leonard' in book 5, and ones called 'He Couldn't be Trusted' and "It Really Served Him Right" in book 6. I haven't seen any other titles that sound like they'd be about the story you described, but if you read through them yourself one might jog your memory
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
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"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Many thanks Fiona
Unfortunately, I am unable to actually read the stories from the links, so am none the wiser!
I wondered if it may be "Peter's Good Turn" from book 2 - but I have that - and it isn't!
Thank you for replying.
Graham
Unfortunately, I am unable to actually read the stories from the links, so am none the wiser!
I wondered if it may be "Peter's Good Turn" from book 2 - but I have that - and it isn't!
Thank you for replying.
Graham
- Fiona1986
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Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
The stories themselves aren't available online, due to copyright issues and also the time and effort it would take! Maybe one of the other forumites will recognise the story and be able to tell you what it is. It might even be worth browsing some of the other short story collections for it?
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Thanks Fiona
Fingers crossed someone might remember!
Thank you so much again for your help!
Graham
Fingers crossed someone might remember!
Thank you so much again for your help!
Graham
Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Ah - I have just found this reference on the forum:
"4. There's another story where a boy is doing errands to make money. A man asks him to clean a number of empty flower pots stacked on top of each other. The boy doesn't do the job properly, only cleaning the top few. Then he goes to the man to tell him he's done the job, and wants to be paid. The man then shows the boy that the money was in the bottom pot - where the boy would have found it if he had done the job properly. (I don't know the name of this story or which book it's in.)"
This is definitely the story I remember - now can someone tell me where it is from, please? Hopefully this will jog a memory or two - I feel sure it's from a Holiday Book - as I have a recollection of the illustrations.
Cheers
Graham
"4. There's another story where a boy is doing errands to make money. A man asks him to clean a number of empty flower pots stacked on top of each other. The boy doesn't do the job properly, only cleaning the top few. Then he goes to the man to tell him he's done the job, and wants to be paid. The man then shows the boy that the money was in the bottom pot - where the boy would have found it if he had done the job properly. (I don't know the name of this story or which book it's in.)"
This is definitely the story I remember - now can someone tell me where it is from, please? Hopefully this will jog a memory or two - I feel sure it's from a Holiday Book - as I have a recollection of the illustrations.
Cheers
Graham
- Daisy
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Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
I've looked at the titles Fiona has suggested and none seems to fit the bill. I've had a quick scan through the other Holiday books I possess but can't see anything like the story line you mention fivnten, but I haven't got the complete set. Perhaps someone else will recognise the story and will be able to point you in the right direction.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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- Fiona1986
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Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Which ones did you look in Daisy? I could look in 2, 4, 5, 7 and 9.Daisy wrote: I've had a quick scan through the other Holiday books I possess but can't see anything like the story line you mention fivnten, but I haven't got the complete set. Perhaps someone else will recognise the story and will be able to point you in the right direction.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Thank you Ladies for looking this up!
I have Holiday Book 2 & 12 - it isn't in either of those.
I feel sure it is from a Holiday Book as I can recall the illustrations - the two colour type ones - probably green - and I am sure orange (for the flower pots!)
I have Holiday Book 2 & 12 - it isn't in either of those.
I feel sure it is from a Holiday Book as I can recall the illustrations - the two colour type ones - probably green - and I am sure orange (for the flower pots!)
- Daisy
- Posts: 16632
- Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
- Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
- Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England
Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
The ones I am missing Fiona, are 1,4 & 11, so looking in 4 could help perhaps. We'll track it down somewhere I expect.
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Thanks Daisy!
If it's not in 4 - perhaps it's in 1 or 11 - and there again, in my old age, i might be completely mis-remembering and it mightn't be in a Holiday Book at all ... I do appreciate you looking for me.
Thanks
Graham
If it's not in 4 - perhaps it's in 1 or 11 - and there again, in my old age, i might be completely mis-remembering and it mightn't be in a Holiday Book at all ... I do appreciate you looking for me.
Thanks
Graham
- Fiona1986
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Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
I bet next time Anita's on she can name it and date it right away!
I got my copy of #4 down with only one mishap (I stood in my waste paper basket!), but there's nothing in there about lazy boys or flower pots.
I got my copy of #4 down with only one mishap (I stood in my waste paper basket!), but there's nothing in there about lazy boys or flower pots.
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
Thanks Fiona
I too had to totter on a swivelly chair to reach down my 12th Holiday Book!
Well - I'm brand new to this site and forum - and am very grateful to y'all for your help - I shall have to hope that the lady you mention or someone else will be able to answer the query!
It's got to be a bit of an obsession now!
Cheers
G
I too had to totter on a swivelly chair to reach down my 12th Holiday Book!
Well - I'm brand new to this site and forum - and am very grateful to y'all for your help - I shall have to hope that the lady you mention or someone else will be able to answer the query!
It's got to be a bit of an obsession now!
Cheers
G
- Fiona1986
- Posts: 10546
- Joined: 01 Dec 2007, 15:35
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Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
We do like a bit of a mystery here, makes us feel like the five-find-outers (in that analogy Anita would be Fatty - in brains and knowledge but not figure I might add!).
We usually do get to the bottom of these things!
We usually do get to the bottom of these things!
"It's the ash! It's falling!" yelled Julian, almost startling Dick out of his wits...
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
"Listen to its terrible groans and creaks!" yelled Julian, almost beside himself with impatience.
World of Blyton Blog
Society Member
- Daisy
- Posts: 16632
- Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
- Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
- Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England
Re: Short story: Boy washing flower pots: "A job worth doing"
My thought as well Fiona. Is she away or just sitting back watching us detecting with a grin on her face!?Fiona1986 wrote:I bet next time Anita's on she can name it and date it right away!
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.
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