The Adventurous Four Series

[Chrissie777]

I forgot what kind of fish Andy and his dad were catching, but EB could have "invented" that the fish was not coming any longer, so Andy's family had to move to a different more fish-rich area in Europe?

[Rob Houghton]

I was surprised to see, when I looked at my versions of the Adventurous Four and it's sequel, that Adventurous Four Again was actually published 6 years after the first book - quite an unusually long gap for Enid. I wonder why there was such a gap? Was she badgered to write a sequel? Was the sequel well received? Perhaps if it wasnt (perhaps the first book was more popular as it was set in the war and answered her readers need for patriotism?) then this was why Enid didnt bother to continue the series. After all, a book every six years* could hardly be called a series.

* - apart from the short story in Enid Blyton's Omnibus.

[burlingtonbertram]

I forgot what kind of fish Andy and his dad were catching, but EB could have "invented" that the fish was not coming any longer, so Andy's family had to move to a different more fish-rich area in Europe?

Imagine if the stories had been set later; she could have had Andy involved in the Icelandic cods wars of the late fifties and mid seventies:

"Over fishing had led many locals to pack up entirely, but not Andy. He and his family had moved to the east coast and were fishing out of a little village near Hull.....

...Andy steered his eponymous boat bravely through the icy waters, the northern lights flickering on the horizon, casting an eerie glow that turned the deep waters into a brew from a witch's cauldron. Because they are girls, the twins are busying themselves below deck preparing a hearty tea for Tom and their brave friend....

---Three warning shots whistle overhead. "Golly! That was close!" Tom exclaimed, trying not to look scared. The Icelandic patrol-boat ICGV Ægir surged towards them, cutting the icy waters like a hot knife slicing through butter. "Can we outrun them?"

Andy's face was stern, his mind racing. Like any brave British boy he knew the difference between courage and foolhardiness. Could he get back into British territorial waters before the ICGV Ægir came alongside? HMS Russell would be patrolling and could easily scare off the Icelanders. Should he put his friends and his boat at risk by trying to outpace the enemy?"

[Daisy]

I like it.

[Courtenay]

You should expand that into a continuation novel for the website, BB!

[Moonraker]

And these days they would have EU quotas and limits to deal with.

[Chrissie777]

I like it.

Me, too.

[John Pickup]

What happened then, BB? You can't just leave it there.

[burlingtonbertram]

Oh heck; this is all a bit 'off the top of my head' stuff. Still, here we go:

CONT'D

Jill came up on deck, golden plaits flying in the breeze, her face white. “What was that?”

Andy felt sick; he had put his young friends in danger. “Just a patrol boat; a sort of sea-police. They don't want us in these waters.” He hesitated and looked at old Frank; his only hand and a very experienced one at that. “I think we can out-run them. Don't you?”

Frank nodded and in his bluff, Yorkshire accent replied, “Aye, young Master, we can.”

The prospect of facing a court in Iceland, with “The Andy” impounded was unthinkable. “Jill, stay below with Mary for now. We're going home but it may get choppy! Frank, prepare to tack...”

....The little boat sped through the cold sea, leaving a trail of spume in her wake. The Ægir followed them, it's net cutting equipment behind it, many fathoms down. Andy hoped that would slow the vessel's progress. He simply must get out of Iceland's new exclusion zone and under the aegis of a British warship...

[John Pickup]

This story could do with a couple of puffins.

[Chrissie777]

This story could do with a couple of puffins.

[Daisy]

Any volunteers that you know of John?

[Lucky Star]

Yes the puffins could dive bomb the patrol boat and then fly off to England to summon help.

[burlingtonbertram]

The “Andy” was away, like a greyhound out of it's trap, her sails billowing in the wind; lit by a livid, green sky. The ICGV Ægir was static for a moment, as the crew dealt with the cutters. Then she moved, taking flight across the dappled waters like a skimming stone.

Andy was grim-faced as he determinedly, expertly handled his craft. Frank obeyed every order with unquestioning faith in the young man. The brave little boat sped on but the patrol-vessel was slowly gaining on them. Tom scanned the horizon desperately. Suddenly a shape began to loom in the distance. A ship – and a big one too!

“Andy! Andy” Tom shouted, “I think it's the jolly old Russell!”

Andy felt a huge weight lift from him as the Icelanders began to turn their craft. The cove near the hard, chalk cliffs of Bempton – home to so many Atlantic Puffins – would see the children again soon.

Good bye four. Take care; and tell us if you have any more adventures won't you!

[Spitfire]

Brilliant, BB!