The famous Twelfth had arrived. Hurrah!
With the car pointing towards Reading, Jane and I set off, picnic bag packed and SatNav programmed to Loddon Hall Road, Twyford (after getting lost last year, trying to follow Tony's
short cut)!
We got to The Hall at about 11, (Okay, we did have to make a few U-turns, so SatNav isn't perfect, and who can remember all those country lanes anyway - apart from Tony?). Through the doors, getting our badges, and then into the hall proper. Hurrah, again!
There is certainly a feeling of
deja-vu. The inside hasn't changed at all! A browse along the bookshelves was delayed as so many familiar faces (and unfamiliar ones) were greeted. This year, there seemed many more members from the Forums. The highlight of the day, for me, was meeting so many of you.
However, on to the serious stuff - the talks!
Nicolette Jones was on first. She is, amongst other things, the children's book reviewer for the Sunday Times. She gave a very interesting talk on children's writing, making comparisons, sadly inevitable, with authors such as J K Rowling. (I still don't see how JKR (as much as I love her books) can be compared with Blyton - JKR will have soon written
seven books - wow!) Nevertheless, a really fascinating talk.
Much munching and chatting followed as it was the break for lunch. Another chance to take part in browsing the array of splendid titles and other items.
The afternoon session opened with a talk by author Duncan McLaren on his forthcoming book,
This is His Enid. He described in some detail the purpose and content of his book which I won't re-iterate here. Interestingly, the cover illustration was the cover of
Five on Kirrin Island Again. The telescope was the correct way round, and the back cover was meant to show it the wrong way round. However, the publishers took this to mean the
complete illustration, so it was a mirror image of the front cover!
An additional
act was then squeezed in (squeezed too much for most of us). Marcus and Gary had arrived. Hurrah yet again! My word, I - and I suspect many of us - could have listened to
Ju and Dick for hours. Two greater speakers could not have been found! They reminisced on the 70's TV series, adding their unique blend of sparkle, wit and knowledge; making for a truly interesting twenty minutes or so. May I plead that next year, they be given at least an hours slot - surely they deserve to be Top of the Bill?
We were promised to be shown two
Adventure clips. Sadly, the first,
The Island of Adventure was in the wrong format, and couldn't be shown. The silver lining in that cloud was that we were spared the awful Norman Bowler's portrayal of the wonderful
Bill Smugs!
Happily, we
were able to see one (of the promised two) clip from the excellent TVS adaptation of
Castle of Adventure. Here I must fully endorse Zoe's opinion. It is the best adaptation of any Blyton book. The character of Sam (Brian Blessed) was, IMO, a great "addition".
The marvellous Brian Blessed was spot on cue: "A picnic? Not a good day for a picnic!" Why were we robbed of the final clip, though?
Talking of cues, it
was a good day for a picnic. 13 of us set of, as Zoe previously posted, to Middleton Woods. We finally decided to lay our spread by Gloomy Water ( just this side of a sign proclaiming
Animals Grazing! Yet another highlight! Great craic, great food and great company - what more could you ask for! The rain kept away, although the wind blew! Wisha-wisha-wisha went the trees....
Back to the car park, and sad goodbyes.
(Well, a little light relief
was provided by Jools' car and Zoe's "
We Are The Famous Five blaring out from her car stereo!) It was with a certain sadness that Jane and I drove back towards Salisbury.
Nevertheless, who could be sad for long. We had just experienced a day of highlights! It was really, really great to meet you all! Matt, at last! Frank (he stayed in Salisbury, next door to Tony's, Friday night, and neither of us knew!!!), Prabhu (yes, Zoe, what a gentleman), Paola - thanks to whom a Forum Photograph was taken), Anita - the mother of our society
, Jools, Beli, Viv, Rosie, Zoe, Georgina, Daisy, Lucky Star, Viking Star, Laurence, Ming and anyone that I have inadvertently missed out.
Ming. Well, to me, she was the star of the show. How we all took her to our hearts. Here is a twelve-year old, who travelled 5,500 miles on her own, to be here with us. I am sure I speak for all when I say that since we have welcomed her to our family, she has delighted us with her intelligent and witty posts. Ming, you are a credit to your family and a great little ambassador to Bangladesh. Enid would certainly have welcomed you to her family.
Thanks must go to the organisers of the day. Tony must be singled out. I know that he has spent days and days in organising speakers and all the hundred and one things that go into make this such a phenomenal success that it was. Where would we be without you Tony? Also, thanks must go to Viv and Rosie for the picnic in the woods. Dorset Apple Cake, ginger beer, blancmange, jelly, sandwiches, the mini-bus, the map.......we wouldn't have done it without you (I did think you went a bit far, posting Ginger pop posters on the trees though!)
And, most of all, let's give ourselves a pat on the back. What a privilege it is to belong to the Enid Blyton Society. Without this great organisation, we would never have met!
When Enid Blyton sat typing away, all those years ago, she couldn't have known what she would be responsible for!
Roll on next year!
Hurrah!