The Enid Blyton Society

Pretty dull, I thought. I don't think children of today would be that enthralled! Still, Enid can't be on form every week.

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?

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!

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!

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.

A most interesting post, Nigel

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.

Thanks Eddie. So that means you have to be careful which wall your bed is against!

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

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.

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.

I guess you could be excused then Rob.

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?

Nicely manoeuvred back on track, Nigel, before admin slapped your wrists.

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

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

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