Teachers World Letters, Jan 1930 - July 1934

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

Post by Moonraker »

Poor Enid's got earache! Can't imagine a doctor calling to treat that, let alone a surgeon!!! Another lovely letter from Enid and Bobs, and a crossword puzzle to boot!

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... perid=1042" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Fancy having to stay in bed for so long with an ear infection. It must have been painful but if Enid Blyton hadn't had a nanny, cook and gardener she'd have had to be up and about, managing as best she could.

I wish we could see the carpet of autumnal colours for the new bedroom!

Quite an enjoyable crossword puzzle.
"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 »

Poor Enid is confined to her sick bed but is still writing her column and nature study course. The woman is unstoppable. I like Bobs' assertion that mistress belongs to him and he just lends her to the others sometimes. Enid was at her wittiest in these letters from Bobs.
"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 Courtenay »

I'm guessing that Enid must have had something like a ruptured eardrum, beyond merely "earache", for the doctor and even the surgeon to get involved (not sure what the surgeon would have done, though!). Had to laugh at dear old rather possessive Bobs. I agree, his letters are the highlights of these columns and often contain some of Enid's wittiest and most perceptive comments.
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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 Moonraker »

I would guess that Enid simply wanted a week or so in bed! :roll:
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Barbara Stoney has this to say in Enid Blyton - the Biography:
But life for the occupants of Old Thatch was not always as idyllic as Enid's writings would sometimes have her readers believe. The house's proximity to the river often meant heavy flooding during the winter months and the consequent dampness taxed even Enid's normally robust constitution, resulting in her being confined to bed on several occasions with severe colds and throat infections. This did not prevent her from seeing to it that her page went in on time, for she told her readers how, during one such illness, she had been writing her column sitting up in bed with her head swathed in bandages. Although she passed off what she termed her "booming ear" very lightly, she had really been seriously ill with a painful ear infection, which necessitated the calling in of a London specialist. But nothing, it seemed, could stop her from honouring her writing commitments.
"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 Moonraker »

I must read this excellent biography again. Thanks, Anita. I'm still not convinced days in bed was necessary, though!
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Moonraker »

Another fab article! It is good to see Enid has left her bed and is downstairs again. I was intrigued with this:

23. How Our Bulbs Are Made (ill Enid Blyton)

Excuse my ignorance, but did Enid illustrate much of her work?

Thanks Tony for continuing to add these weekly delights.
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Great letters as always. I can just imagine Gillian "smelling" the pictures of flowers in her books! Poor Bobs, feeling the cold and wishing his legs were shorter so his paws wouldn't touch the ground! Enid's poem 'East Wind' is very apt for today - "Benumbed and chill are man and beast" indeed!

Enid Blyton did a few simple nature drawings for some of her work, such as sketches of buds and leaves, but I think that was all.
"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 Katharine »

I wonder if Enid had Mastoiditis? Nowadays it's treated with antibiotics, but I don't think they'd have been around then. Other treatment listed is surgery to drain the middle ear.

Good thing she didn't have it the week before when the buildings were hammering away in the new extension!
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Kate Mary »

Bobs' letter is hilarious this week, there must have been a lot of laughter in classrooms across the country when it was read out all those years ago.

I'm still following the Round the Year course every week, the illustration Moonraker refers to is just a diagram of bulbs in cross section, corms and roots (assuming the picture is the same as in the book). It is signed with Enid's initials. I don't think Enid illustrated much of her work but we had a diagram of her garden in the TW a few weeks back.

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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Courtenay »

Yes, lovely letters again. I did enjoy Bobs' logic — forgetting how he grew his ears and wishing his legs were shorter so his paws wouldn't reach the ground!! :lol: :lol:
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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 Rob Houghton »

I've said this before, but if anyone doesn't own the books 'Letters From Bobs' etc, then try and find yourself a copy! They are brilliant! :-)
'Oh voice of Spring of Youth
hearts mad delight,
Sing on, sing on, and when the sun is gone
I'll warm me with your echoes
through the night.'

(E. Blyton, Sunday Times, 1951)



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Kate Mary
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Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Kate Mary »

Enid is up and about again and a hint of Spring is in the air at Old Thatch this week.


http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/blyt ... perid=1044" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;


These excellent letters show just how popular a writer Enid was years before she started writing any of her famous series, mostly due to these letters being read out in classrooms and Sunny Stories for Little Folk of course.
"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 sixret »

Thank you. Like Nigel, I feel like to read Enid Blyton's excellent biography again. I have bought the new edition in paperback. I love Blyton's books and writings. And I want to read more about her.
I stand with justice and the truth. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea.

Learn the history. Do research.

The hypocrisy, double standard, prejudice and bigotry own by some people is so obvious.Shame on them!
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