The Enid Blyton Society

That's a well drawn illustration but what on earth is he meant to be peering at? It can't be Gorge's boat as it's too dilapidated and it cannot possibly be the wreck as it's little more than a rowing boat!!

Do we see the solution if we open the book and see the entire image?

Lucky Star wrote:It can't be George's boat as it's too dilapidated and it cannot possibly be the wreck as it's little more than a rowing boat!!

Good point. Perhaps it's a lifeboat that was once attached to the wreck!

Edit: I've had a look at all the Five On a Treasure Island covers and was interested to see that a photo of the children from the 1957 Children's Film Foundation serial was used twice (Klett 1986 and Lektorklett 2009). My personal favourites are Eileen Soper's original cover (Hodder & Stoughton 1942) and the earliest incarnation of Betty Maxey's cover (Knight 1967). Soper's illustration is so vividly blue and "outdoorsy", while Betty Maxey's has a dreamy feel to it and is painted in beautiful colours.

I've been reading the 'Seasonal Notes for June', Teachers World 1929, and it's lovely to see Enid Blyton waxing lyrical about the June countryside. Yesterday on a train journey I passed long stretches of embankment which were purple, yellow and cream from lilac, laburnum and hawthorn, with swathes of fading bluebells beneath. Absolutely beautiful against an azure sky.

Yes, this months update was a treat to read. It was especially nice, as we've been getting a bit of sunshine lately! A really nice read.

It was nice reading this months - Time of the Month for 1929. June 3rd was the birthday of our King, Enid wrote, as well as a few dates such as Stephen's rocket, the boat race, amongst others.

I wonder what the weather was like when Enid wrote that piece, reading how she describes June. I bet the weather wasn't as unpredictable as it is today!

Just been giving July a read. Had quite forgotten that July was the month of Julius Caesar!

The 'Seasonal Notes' are always a good read, combining facts, folklore, literature and real-life stories. Interesting in the July notes about Elias Howe being inspired to invent the sewing machine after watching his wife sewing laboriously by hand evening after evening.

Just read the August seasonal note. I must admit that I've never heard of Lammas Day! Has anyone else heard of this day?

I'd heard of Lammas Day (Loaf-Mass Day) but I hadn't heard that a day was taken away from September and added to August to prevent Augustus Caesar being offended that his month (August) wasn't quite as long as Julius Caesar's month (July)!

I too had heard of Lammas Day but never knew what it was.

I found this Month's seasonal notes quite fascinating - plenty to remember! I didn't realise there was a reason behind the amount of days in the months. I wonder if Enid herself recorded the times that the sun rises??

I've enjoyed reading September's 'Seasonal Notes'. Enid's description of the weather forecast as "the prophecy of the weather-clerk" sounds delightfully quaint now.

I like readin the seasonal notes, I too like September, as Enid mentions. The sun is still lovely and warm, yet the mornings are fresher and the evenings cooler.

Anita, thanks for commenting on the seasonal notes update. Otherwise I'd have forgotten to read them. When I do, I really enjoy them. Although some of the wording is a little quaint to that used today, much of the information is unchanged all these years later. I find it reassuring in this fast paced technological age to read about the days getting shorter, blackberries on bushes, birds flying South for the winter. It happened all those years ago, and it's still happening today.

I wonder what Michael Faraday would make of the changes that have happening since his inventions?