Teachers World Letters, Jan 1930 - July 1934

Discuss Blyton's magazines, short stories and poetry here.
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Lenoir
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Lenoir »

Very nice. (A strong wind is blowing outside!)
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Courtenay »

Wonderful, Anita — I was just thinking you'd be the perfect one to take up Enid's suggestion! :D :D Beautifully done.
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Thanks for the comments on my "pome"!

Here's a link to this week's page:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... perid=1143" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Like Enid, I'm enjoying having a bit more daylight in the afternoon as January goes on.

I don't know whether Bobs is exaggerating Gillian's encounter with the cows, but it sounds dangerous and it's lucky there were only two cows in the field that day. Herds of cows spooked by dogs have been known to stampede and seriously injure dog-walkers or even trample them to death. It's surprising that Enid Blyton wasn't aware of that and didn't keep Bobs and Sandy under control.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Kate Mary »

A lovely poem this week which I haven't come across before, I don't have a copy of the Boys' and Girls' Story Book No.3. The incident with the cows does sound dangerous, walking dogs in a field with cattle isn't a good idea, happily no harm done that time.
"I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines." Oliver Goldsmith

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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... perid=1172" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A very windy day at Old Thatch.

Enid's description of the black poplar is amusing. She remarks that unlike the lovely, graceful Lombardy poplar it has "an untidy, uncared for look about it as if it didn't wash itself or brush its hair!"

I like Sandy's riddle!

If I've worked out the right answer to John Curnock's puzzle, it's a poorly-worded riddle and I'm surprised Enid Blyton printed it. The "February" riddle is fun though.

Thanks as always for putting up these fascinating letters etc., Tony!
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... perid=1173" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Chatty letters from Enid and Bobs as usual. 'The Silly Little Conker' is a lovely story. There's a more involved tale with a similar ending in Storytime Book (Dean & Son) - 'The Very Fat Conker'.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Kate Mary »

I like the idea that the latest fashion for Blackbirds is orange-yellow beaks, Bobs' letters always make me smile. The Silly Little Conker is a delightful story too, I don't have any of the books it appears in so it's great to be able to read it here. The letters are my weekly treat, thank you Tony.
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Courtenay »

Lovely letters, but what's puzzling me is Bobs' comments about the blackbirds. Juvenile male blackbirds start out brown all over (similar to the females) and turn black with an orange-yellow beak as they reach maturity, but then they stay that way for the rest of their lives. And yet Bobs seems to be writing as if all blackbirds suddenly put on "new" orange-yellow beaks as the "latest fashion" as spring approaches. Please don't tell me Enid didn't realise that adult male blackbirds have orange-yellow beaks all year round... :shock:
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Daisy »

Of course not... but she forgot to tell Bobs!
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by sixret »

:lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Moonraker »

Come on Courtenay, you can't expect Bobs to know everything. He's only a dog. :roll:
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Courtenay »

Yes, but he could have run that letter past "Mistress" before it got printed. :wink:
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Daisy »

Probably had to meet a strct deadline!
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... perid=1174" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Interesting letters and a charming snowdrop poem, though the Brer Rabbit story is rather tame and predictable.

As a child I was fascinated by Enid Blyton's explanations (in various books) of the way mistletoe grows, and I still love to see it growing on trees. I also enjoyed her descriptions of the formation of "fairy rings" (i.e. rings of toadstools or mushrooms) and her discussions of why holly leaves at the top of the tree don't have sharp prickles like the ones further down.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.


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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Courtenay »

Lovely letters from Enid and Bobs, although I hope Sandy didn't really eat his collar! :lol: Bobs wanting to grow a bone tree reminds me of Noddy planting sweets in his garden in the hope that they would grow into trees — or a short story by Enid, The Biscuit Tree (I know it from the Purnell Happy Time Stories collection), in which some biscuit crumbs, dropped by a kind-hearted pixie's gate, magically grow into a biscuit tree. I've always wanted one of those myself. :D

The Brer Rabbit story wasn't as good as some, although I thought it was an interesting illustration of psychology and indeed the nocebo (negative placebo) effect — Brer Bear believing he was going to be ill actually made him feel ill, to Brer Rabbit's advantage! :wink: Enid slips a bit at the end with her ornithology, though. Brer Rabbit is described as "laughing as loudly as a green woodpecker" — but Brer Rabbit and his friends (and enemies) are decidedly American, and green woodpeckers aren't found in America!! :P
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
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