Journal 75

[Julie2owlsdene]

Love the cover of the latest Journal. Really cheerful looking, with all the birds.

[pete9012S]

It looks wonderful Julie.
Lot's of very interesting articles I'm really looking forward to reading including:

A Ten-Year-Old Mystery is Solved! (56)

https://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/jou ... isissue=75

[Lucky Star]

Looks absolutely brilliant as always. A worthy three quarter century for The Journal. Can't wait.

[John Pickup]

There's never been a bad cover on a Journal but this one I love. The contents look very interesting.

[Moonraker]

Crikey, we've only just had a new Journal, haven't we? Still, can't complain, you can never have enough of them!

Edit: I’ve just checked and it’s 3 months since I received J74.

[Nick]

Crikey, we've only just had a new Journal, haven't we? Still, can't complain, you can never have enough of them!

Edit: I’ve just checked and it’s 3 months since I received J74.

I thought the exact same!

[John Pickup]

The last journal, 74, was late because Tony's local post office was closed. That's why it doesn't seem long between journals this time.

[Boatbuilder]

Rather unusual for here but my post was delivered just after 10-am and one of the items that arrived was Journal 75. Thanks Tony.

[John Pickup]

Tony's been usurped! Noddy has taken over!

[Kate Mary]

I came back from a trip to town to find the Journal waiting for me on the doormat. I see Noddy is guest editor for this issue, I must say the little guy has made a jolly good job of it.

[Lucky Star]

Journal 75 just landed with a terrific "Whumpf" on my doormat. It looks fantastic and Noddy has done an excellent job of writing the editorial. Looking forward to a weekend of good reading. Thanks Tony.

[Eddie Muir]

My Journal was lying (not laying ) on my doormat when I arrived home an hour ago. It looks great, as always, and I shall enjoy reading it this evening. Many thanks to Tony and all the contributors of this latest issue.

[pete9012S]

THIS JOURNAL'S CONTENTS...
Editorial (3)
Fifth Formers of St. Clare's by Anita Bensoussane (4)
Mary Mouse by John Lester (14)
The Children of Kidillin by Julie Heginbotham (20)
Famous Five TV Series 1978 – Part 10: by Tim Venning (24)
New Book Page (31)
A Naughty Girl – But was she the Naughtiest? – Part 1: by John Henstock (32)
From My Window – No. 33: A Summer Garden by Enid Blyton (40)
Eileen Soper Illustrations from the Pennant Readers – No. 33: Mike's Monkey (41)
Interesting Ephemera – No. 26: Advert from Child Education (42)
Islands on My Mind by Judith Crabb (44)
Five Go Down to the Sea by Angela Canning (51)
A Ten-Year-Old Mystery is Solved! (56)
The Packman in Sicily by Enid Blyton (59)
Talking of Enid Blyton . . . . by Pat Swadling (66)
In Search of Enid Blyton with Ginger Pop by William Ferguson (70)
Enid Blyton Stories from the Roaring 20s – No. 30: Ding Dong's Magic Spade (76)
Bluebell's Birthday by Enid Blyton (83)
Book Page No. 41: The Children's ABC (84)

After quite a busy day, I took the Journal into the sunny garden and made a start on it.

I have now read and enjoyed two or three articles:

The editorial made me howl with laughter - really enjoyed that, thank you.

My Journal included a reminder to renew my subscription, so I have just done that.

A Ten Year Mystery Is Solved was the article I read first. It did not disappoint. How marvellous to solve that mystery and to have it shared with us.

In Search of Enid Blyton with Ginger Pop by William Ferguson (70)

Thank you very much indeed William Ferguson for this article. Viv's knowledge of Enid Blyton and Dorset shone clearly through William's account.
I would have loved to have gone on one of those tours, so reading about it was the next best thing.

Dorset, Corfe and the other locations resonate so much through Williams account. I can see why Enid holidayed there so regularly.
Whether actual locations are the exact ones Enid had in mind or not, the beautiful backdrop she chose to take her annual holiday certainly fired her fertile and super imaginary story-telling mind!

I look forward to reading more tomorrow!

[Anita Bensoussane]

Like others, I'm wowed by the cover of Journal 75 - truly stunning! As for Noddy's editorial, it's more entertaining than his books!

Time only allows me to pick out one article for now - Judith Crabb's detailed and thought-provoking 'Islands on My Mind', which is right up my street. I bought L. T. Meade's Four on an Island some years ago, attracted by the Blyton-like title, but sadly I haven't got round to reading it yet. I was actually looking for Meade's Beyond the Blue Mountains at the time, but couldn't find a reasonably-priced copy. I'd heard that it was inspired by John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress and was wondering whether Beyond the Blue Mountains might have been an influence on Enid Blyton's The Land of Far-Beyond. I eventually found the text of Beyond the Blue Mountains online but, once again, I regret to say that I didn't get round to reading it, which is extremely remiss of me!

Returning to Judith Crabb's analysis, I loved her examination of all the similarities and differences between Meade's Four on an Island and some of Enid Blyton's "island" books and I was delighted to hear of the very capable twelve-year-old Isabel being recognised as "the real leader, the real captain" by her fourteen-year-old brother, Ferdinand. A brilliant article!

[pete9012S]

As for Noddy's editorial, it's more entertaining than his books!

Did you write it?