The Enid Blyton Society

A baddie you love to hate, making him a popular addition to the book.

An encounter with gypsy or circus or fair folk, or perhaps royalty.

A cave with a sandy floor, a rocky ledge running along the side to for putting the tins of food on and preferably a 'curtain' of fronds over-hanging the entrance...


What about a friendly farmer's wife too, generously willing to keep the protagonists provided with perishables such as bread, milk, butter, cakes, eggs and raspberries or plums...

An elderly character who tells a story from years ago.

Strange noises in the night.

A big storm! (there usually is!)

Rubber-soled shoes!

Has anyone mentioned the obligatory grumpy uncle?

pete9012S wrote:Has anyone mentioned the obligatory grumpy uncle?

Sometimes called 'Robert'?

A sliding panel, and a big old book containing a history of the house or local area...

Tons of home/farm made food at dirt cheap prices - with extra foodie goodies thrown in at no extra cost - along with threat of physical violence/retribution if not accepted without a fuss..

A mad or absent-minded scientist (or historian/professor/learned chap).

A boat of some description.

A bunch of clues such as a set of footprints, tyre tracks, a cigarette end, a button, a strand of wool and a note with a cryptic message on it.

Sea or lake water is allowed for bathing - but it must be warm and inviting to swim in from April to November..

Anita Bensoussane wrote:An encounter with gypsy or circus or fair folk, or perhaps royalty.

The book should have Romany people who work in a circus, because Enid seems to have believed that all Romany work in circuses, and that everyone who works in a circus is Romany. (But of course she calls Romany people "gypsies")

KEVP wrote:The book should have Romany people who work in a circus, because Enid seems to have believed that all Romany work in circuses, and that everyone who works in a circus is Romany. (But of course she calls Romany people "gypsies")

Not quite. None of the characters in Mr Galliano's Circus are ever described as 'gypsies'.

One very important ingredient - Potted Meat.

Also a ball of string, so you can tie a heavy rope to it and get a monkey/parrot to take it up to a high window...

And maybe a good sharp penknife.