The Enid Blyton Society

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

Love it! You keep it to yourself, Julie!

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!

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!

Courtenay, thank you for the link.
I will check it out now.

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

Wolfgang wrote:Perhaps Cheshire cats have a genetic defect which has the opposite effect compared with "grumpy cat"...

Quite an unusual idea, Wolfgang. I like it.

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

Spoken like a real Cheshiran, Julie.

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.

How cool is that! Hope you keep enjoying your time in Dorset, Julie.

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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!

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.