The Enid Blyton Society

I think Enid is rather optimistic in thinking she could tame a pike, much better to put it in the river. I had to smile at Bobs' letter, I'm sure that's another incident that really happened, Dilly sounds a handful. An interesting story and a fine uncollected poem as well. Thanks, as always to Tony for letting us read them. The winners of the Pig Sty Puzzle was the Open-Air School in Widnes, such schools were something to do with TB perhaps?

I love the Robber poem - that's exactly how I feel about wasps! They are the one insect I really can't stand, having been stung several times by wasps in the past.

I was also interested to read about the pike, and like many others, wondered why Enid didn't just take it back to the river, poor thing! It would have been very lacking in food swimming around in the water butt!

The story about the kittens shocked me a bit too, if I'm honest. Why didn't Enid leave them where the mother had taken them, and why on earth did she shut the lid of the box and prevent the mother from getting out? that sounds unbelievably cruel to me. I bet the cats were distressed with being shut inside a box.

The poem, 'The Robber' is great and I feel the same as you where wasps are concerned, Rob.

Anita Bensoussane wrote:
I feel sorry for the pike as it obviously struggles to survive in Enid's long pond when the water level is low. I'd have put it in a tank of water, taken it to the nearby river and released it there rather than trying to keep it and "tame it"!

I'm not sure that this would have worked. As far as I know (I'm no expert) fish has to get used to their new environment slowly. Water quality, salts within the water, temperature etc. can be so different that a fish might collapse with shock facing it unprepared.

It has to be better than being tossed into a rain-tank though!

I didn't like the idea of the cat and kittens being shut in a box either, Rob.

I imagine the box would have been a queening (or kittening) box with a wire mesh front. Even in the 30s these would have been in use for nursing pedigree cats, although they were usually home made then. Dick Hughes probably made it.

Hmmm, I would hope so, Kate Mary — I was a bit shocked at Pat and the kittens being shut in a box too — but it would have been nice if Enid had explained that, if so! I'm also a little perturbed at her wanting to keep the pike and tame it, but oh well... I did enjoy Bobs' letter, the poem and the story. I'm looking forward to reading how it ends too!

Must admit, Enid's pike story reminds me of a witty tea towel design I saw a while ago at the farm shop near me — I've just managed to find it online... (The artist is Simon Drew.)

Simon Drew does a lot of corny artwork! I have a postcard book of them somewhere.

We've just had a good chuckle at "Despite the cost of living, it's still popular". "Drew" is a great name for an artist!

Thanks for explaining about the box, Kate. I'd been imagining a wooden crate with only a little light and air coming through chinks between the slats!

Interesting artwork by Simon Drew, although I think I must be missing something where the "Despite the cost of living, it's still popular" one is concerned. Why did this one make you chuckle, Anita?

It's just funny to see the expression "the cost of living" being used in that way, with "living" being described as still popular despite the cost, as if it were "chocolate" or something.

Thanks for the explanation, Anita. I must admit I hadn't read it like that. Put it down to my age and being half asleep. Now I see why it made you chuckle.

As a regular viewer of Dad's Army I must admit I laughed out loud at the pike one!

I found that one very funny too.

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It seems that Old Thatch is a hive of activity with apples, pears and nuts being picked - and kittens making "a tremendous noise". Good job I'm not there as I'm allergic to all of those!

Enid Blyton's readers have now raised a total of £52 6s 6d by collecting silver paper, as well as donating money totalling £7 14s 6d. A colossal sum when we consider that Enid and Hugh paid £300 for Old Thatch in 1929!

I love the idea of Bobs being so excited about his new book that Mistress can hardly keep the pen in his paw, and I chuckled at his insistence that readers write to him for a copy - not to Enid Blyton!

It's good to be able to read the rest of 'The Fool and the Magician', though I had thought of alternative answers to a couple of the questions.

Thanks as always to Tony for putting up these fascinating letters.