Thanks Anita. Yes, I do find some song lyrics to be as beautiful as the best poetry. Those that I associate with my father - like Frank Sinatra’s music - are particularly moving to me. I suppose because they depict to me an ideal perfect time. This one for example reminds me of the best Chinese poet...

The Silkie - Blood Red River https://www.dropshots.com/Domino43/date/2017-06-13/12:00:52" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; I have been trying to get the lyrics of this song. I have a file of song lyrics that I listen to on my Kindle. I collect song lyrics that I find beautifu...

“Which way, which way does that blood red river run
From the back door to the rising sun.”

Beautiful metaphor for where shall we go tonight after we steal out of the back door in the red hot passion of love to cavort till the sunrise.

So innocent compared to today’s lyrics. Sheer poetry really.

Is it Dick talking about George, in Five Have a Mystery to Solve? I remember a conversation about sausages, but it could possibly be Timmy it referred to.

Actually, it just might be, being the house of that greatest of all metaphors which control our fate.

It’s poetry - full of metaphors. :lol: To me he is saying, if they had gotten married (if the bells had rung), they would not have drifted apart, because their future would be together. Yes, in metaphors cathedrals can think and have intentions, like all those castles that frown down on Enid Blyton ...

Probably just an indirect reference to wedding bells.

Good point Liam... I'd forgotten that mention of London. I wonder which 'aerodrome' Bill's plane was at the start of Valley of Adventure too. If that was Croydon, then the Mannerings were also on the London area. Thanks Daisy. It does not say which aerodrome, but assuming Enid was thinking of a rea...

Hometown for Secret Series: Half-term came, and the four of them went to London, where they were to stay for three days at their parents’ flat. Miss Dimmy, an old friend of theirs, was to look after them for that short time. Prince Paul was to join them that evening. He had to go and see his own peo...

The American version of the OED gives both ‘got’ and ‘gotten’ as the past participle. The British version of the OED makes the distinction that one is American and the other British. Interesting that Rob, British, thinks ‘got’ as the past participle feels informal. Maybe that’s an example of what KE...

I agree with Daisy, A is the correct one, but I grew up using “gotten” not “got” as the past participle.

One thing that stood out for me in Cliff Castle was the risks Brock took, for example going up to the tower room even though the men’s footprints were seen to lead there. I know Enid gave the reason, that he is fearless. But it didn’t seem realistic to me. Of course there would be no adventure witho...

I think its a shame they took some of them out, as it takes away the atmosphere. For example, the paperback reads - The train went round a corner, and the two children could no longer see their mother. They sank back in their seats and looked at one another, trying to hide their excitement. It was ...

I'm reading the Bloomsbury Omnibus edition from 1997, and I can't help getting the feeling that this version is abridged when comparing it to the German edition I use. In chapter 6 It reads like this: To their disappointment the children could not go that day to the castle, because Brock’s mother h...

Since we are still on hold for Cliff Castle, a few more thoughts on characters in Smuggler Ben (I can’t seem to get it out of my head!). I’m considering the characters in the major series along with Smuggler Ben : Famous Five, Barney Mysteries, Adventure Series, Secret Series, Smuggler Ben, and Adve...