Teachers World Letters, Jan 1930 - July 1934

Discuss Blyton's magazines, short stories and poetry here.
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Moonraker »

Pretty dull, I thought. I don't think children of today would be that enthralled! Still, Enid can't be on form every week.
Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Rob Houghton »

Moonraker wrote:Pretty dull, I thought. I don't think children of today would be that enthralled! Still, Enid can't be on form every week.
I didn't think it was particularly dull...get out of bed the wrong side did we? :lol: :twisted:
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Moonraker »

I usually get out of the bed by the nearest side, that is to say, the side to which I am nearest. However, I often get out of the other side of the bed (if it is unoccupied) as this side is by the window. I can then draw back the curtains and survey the grounds of my house without having to walk around the bed to get to the window. I have often wondered if this would have any bearing on my mood for the day. I even tried getting out at the end of the bed, but that was quite difficult, so I only did it the once. I have in fact, given considerable research to this matter - even keeping a journal which records my mood on a daily basis. My research has shown that the side of the bed from which I exit has no bearing on my mood for the day. This draws me to conclude that this expression is founded on a myth - unless of course, the other side of the bed was against a wall. Ouch!
Society Member
User avatar
Daisy
Posts: 16632
Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Daisy »

Thanks for your in-depth research Nigel. That phrase has often puzzled me and I do wonder how it originated. I seem to remember when I first came across it, my bed was against a wall, so the action would have been impossible for me anyway! :lol:
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Rob Houghton »

Thank you for your in-depth research, Nigel. Have you ever thought of publishing it? I'm sure many people would find it extremely useful! Such a journal would be invaluable to people who wake up feeling moody and presume it might be because they exited their bed from the wrong direction.

Meanwhile, I tried getting out of bed the wrong side, but as my bed is against a wall, I keep banging my head.

:lol:
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Eddie Muir
Posts: 14566
Joined: 13 Oct 2007, 22:28
Favourite book/series: Five Find-Outers and Dog
Favourite character: Fatty
Location: Brighton

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Eddie Muir »

A most interesting post, Nigel :lol:

I found the following on the internet about the origin of the phrase "getting out of the bed on the wrong side":

To be in a bad mood – to be grumpy or unpleasant from the moment you wake up for no obvious reason. In Roman times it was considered bad luck to get out of bed on the left side. Therefore, if you got out of bed on the 'wrong' side (the left side), it was thought that you would have a very bad day.
'Go down to the side-shows by the river this afternoon. I'll meet you somewhere in disguise. Bet you won't know me!' wrote Fatty.

Society Member
User avatar
Daisy
Posts: 16632
Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Daisy »

Thanks Eddie. So that means you have to be careful which wall your bed is against! :)
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

Society Member
User avatar
Julie2owlsdene
Posts: 15244
Joined: 24 Jul 2007, 20:15
Favourite book/series: F.F. and Mystery Series - Five get into Trouble
Favourite character: Dick
Location: Cornwall

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Gosh, I sleep on the left side of the bed and get out that way, so there's no hope for me at all!! :lol: :lol:

8)
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"

Society Member
User avatar
Courtenay
Posts: 19274
Joined: 07 Feb 2014, 01:22
Favourite book/series: The Adventure Series, Galliano's Circus
Favourite character: Lotta
Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Courtenay »

Enid had a short story (I forget what it's called or which book I read it in — does anyone recognise it?) in which there was a nasty little imp who was invisible and would hide by the bed and bite the foot of anyone who got out on the wrong side, and his bite had a bad-temper poison that would make that person grumpy all day. So you see, there's the real explanation. 8) :wink:
Society Member

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)
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Rob Houghton »

I suppose it depends what side is 'the left side'!! Is it when you're lying on your back, or laying on your stomach?! ;-) I always have to get out the left side (if we're going by lying on your back) because the right side is by the wall.

No wonder I'm becoming a grumpy old man.

8)
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Daisy
Posts: 16632
Joined: 28 Oct 2006, 22:49
Favourite book/series: Find-Outers, Adventure series.
Location: Stoke-On-Trent, England

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Daisy »

I guess you could be excused then Rob. :lol:
'Tis loving and giving that makes life worth living.

Society Member
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Moonraker »

As with our bodies, the head is at the top and the left is left of our spine, like our left arm.

Seriously, I do believe in feng shui (that'll make me a friend for life of Courtenay!). When we moved in there were wall lights which determined where our headboard should be. It was awful, and it seemed to me as though the bed was in the wrong place. A bit like pushing a supermarket trolley around sideways. I took out the wall lights, and replaced the bed. It has been wonderful ever since, and feels just right.

I have just Googled feng shui (to make sure I had spelled it correctly!) and found this:

Applying Feng Shui to Your Bed
1. Have a solid headboard. ...
2. Get a supportive mattress. ...
3. Make sure the bed is a good height. ...
4. Make sure the bed is positioned as far from the door as possible. ...
5. Have a good supporting wall behind your bed. ...
6. Place grounding and balanced energy on both sides of the bed.

Maybe I used the wrong term! We have no headboard and the bed is alongside the door. Not sure what a "good supporting wall" has to do with it, surely it is the floorboards that support the bed. However, there is a wall. As for 6, I haven't a clue what that means!

I had to smile at this:

Start with a raised bed, to allow energy to flow. Place the headboard against the wall, far from windows and doors. Keep plants, clutter, and water features out of your room to maintain balance. Lastly, incorporate balancing colors, soft lighting, and inspiring artwork. With these, and a few other changes, you can Feng Shui your bedroom.

I wondered what energy would flow when we were in bed. I have little energy during daytime hours, so have no idea what energy I would produce overnight!

http://www.wikihow.com/Feng-Shui-Your-Bedroom" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Apologies for continuing with off topic chat. Maybe I could bring it back to Blyton by saying that as a child of about 4 I had a bed with plenty of energy. It went off out of our bungalow one night, and I clung on as it whizzed me around the local streets. It is a memory that has stayed with me all of my life. It wasn't until a year or so back that I discovered Enid's short story, The Bed That Ran Away. I wonder if I had had that read to me at bedtime?
Society Member
User avatar
John Pickup
Posts: 4876
Joined: 30 Oct 2013, 21:29
Favourite book/series: Barney mysteries
Favourite character: Snubby
Location: Notts

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by John Pickup »

Nicely manoeuvred back on track, Nigel, before admin slapped your wrists.
Society Member
User avatar
Rob Houghton
Posts: 16029
Joined: 26 Feb 2005, 22:38
Favourite book/series: Rubadub Mystery, Famous Five and The Find-Outers
Favourite character: Snubby, Uncle Robert, George, Fatty
Location: Kings Norton, Birmingham

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Rob Houghton »

Lol - all of this came out of Nigel saying this weeks letter was a bit uninteresting! :lol:

Well done for (sort of!) getting this thread back on track. ;-)
'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)



Society Member
User avatar
Moonraker
Posts: 22387
Joined: 31 Jan 2005, 19:15
Location: Wiltshire, England
Contact:

Re: Enid Blyton's Weekly Letters in Teachers World

Post by Moonraker »

Haha! I would never had thought that posting an opinion would result in so many posts!
Society Member
Post Reply