General Natter Room

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Rob Houghton
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Rob Houghton »

Julie2owlsdene wrote:Coming from Cheshire myself, it is a safely guarded secret why our 'cats grin'. One I cannot divulge! :lol:
:lol:

Love it! You keep it to yourself, Julie! :lol:

I always thought all cats grinned to a certain extent. Our cat often looks like she's grinning. I think its the way their mouths are naturally - but maybe 'Cheshire Cats' grin more than most!
'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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Chrissie777
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Chrissie777 »

Courtenay wrote:I haven't found anything better than the very informative Wikipedia page that you've edited to add the Blyton reference, Chrissie. There's another page here that explains that the saying "grinning like a Cheshire cat" is of unknown origin — it definitely didn't originate with Lewis Carroll, as others had used it before him, but nobody knows why Cheshire cats were said to grin in the first place! :mrgreen:
Courtenay, thank you for the link. 8)
I will check it out now.
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Courtenay »

Julie2owlsdene wrote:Coming from Cheshire myself, it is a safely guarded secret why our 'cats grin'. One I cannot divulge! :lol:
:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Chrissie777 »

Wolfgang wrote:Perhaps Cheshire cats have a genetic defect which has the opposite effect compared with "grumpy cat"...
Quite an unusual idea, Wolfgang. 8) I like it.
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Chrissie777 »

Julie2owlsdene wrote:Coming from Cheshire myself, it is a safely guarded secret why our 'cats grin'. One I cannot divulge! :lol:
Spoken like a real Cheshiran, Julie. 8)
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Julie2owlsdene
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

Went into Swanage today, it's their Carnival week, and at three thirty there was a 20minute display by the magnificent Red Arrows.

The commentator described all the display routines they did and it was magnificent. The speed they do and the death defying maneuvers they take is fantastic to watch. I was really surprised and felt quite honoured for Enid Blyton herself, when the nine jets, changed formation into a Five and a Four, and the commentator told us that the Five formation is called ENID after Enid Blyton's Famous Five, and the Four formation was called Jipo.

If only Enid knew that her Famous Five were now a formation of Five jets for the Red Arrows, how proud she would be. :)

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

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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Courtenay »

How cool is that! :D Hope you keep enjoying your time in Dorset, Julie.
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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Enjoy the rest of your holiday in Dorset, Julie. I've also seen the Red Arrows do "an Enid" and felt proud for Enid Blyton.
"Heyho for a starry night and a heathery bed!" - Jack, The Secret Island.

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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

I don't know about you, Anita, but I kept holding my breath when they started to come at each other and intertwine, with just feet to spare! Breath taking to be sure. And such bravery in the air.

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

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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Eddie Muir »

It's good to know that you're enjoying your time in Swanage, Julie. The display sounds great! :D
'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.

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Anita Bensoussane
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Anita Bensoussane »

Julie2owlsdene wrote:I don't know about you, Anita, but I kept holding my breath when they started to come at each other and intertwine, with just feet to spare!
Yes, I've seen the Red Arrows at least a dozen times but I always find myself holding my breath too, Julie. It really is thrilling to watch them!
"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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Rob Houghton
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Rob Houghton »

Julie2owlsdene wrote: felt quite honoured for Enid Blyton herself, when the nine jets, changed formation into a Five and a Four, and the commentator told us that the Five formation is called ENID after Enid Blyton's Famous Five.

8)
You really do learn something every day! I never knew that - fascinating!

Doing a search, I see you can order an 'official' limited edition gold-plated ingot with an illustration of the Red Arrows doing an 'Enid'! :-)

http://www.westminstercollection.com/p- ... Ingot.aspx


Image
'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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Courtenay
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Courtenay »

And how appropriate that it's an ingot — a word I first learned at the age of 6 or 7 from reading Five on a Treasure Island! :D
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by number 6 »

I just missed the Red Arrows display, Julie. I was on my way back from the New Forest! I briefly saw them from the train as we were passing Poole harbour! I did see them in the evening whilst I was up at Durlston Castle in the evening. I was just finishing off the Dolphin watch with one of the Rangers, when they flew over Durlston Bay & the castle, turned & headed towards the Isle of Wight. They were in the 'Five & Four' formation. :D

I hope you've had a great time in Swanage, despite the unseasonal weather at times. I've not seen much of the town this year. I've been doing either daytime Wildlife surveys, visiting the New Forest (F5 locations) or doing Nocturnal Wildlife studies! Extremely tiring to say the least! :D
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Re: General Natter Room

Post by Julie2owlsdene »

At least you saw them flying over, number 6. The Red Arrows commentator told us that they were off to a display in Cowes, after they'd fueled up in Bournemouth. I said to my grandson who was with us - "would you like to be one of those pilots?" He said "Yes."

There was a sales stall for the Red Arrows too, and I'm sorry now I didn't visit the stall! :|

The commentator was speaking all the time, and we could hear the 'leader of the Red Arrows' instructing the others into which line to take etc. when we were informed of their next position. And how the speed of 400 - 800 mph and more was affecting their senses and blood flows. He explained about how they had to have grips on their trouser legs to stop the flood from staying in their legs!

A display I won't forget in a hurry, not having seen them for real before.

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

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