New Enid Blyton book a roaring success at The Red Lion

[redlionweb]

Fantastic to see so many of you at The Red Lion Knotty Green over the weekend of the Enid Blyton Day. Thank you too for all your kind comments posted on the forum.
Meanwhile, thought members might be interested to know that we ordered ten copies of 'Enid Blyton at Old Thatch' from Australia to sell from our Enid Blyton room and we sold out in less than a week! Fantastic to have so many Blyton fans visiting the tribute room (our pub is near the former site of Green Hedges in Beaconsfield) and wonderful that there is so much interest in the new book, written by Tess Livingstone. Now we've doubled our order of books so it will be interesting to see if they also go like hotcakes!

[Moonraker]

I know The Red Lion is a traditional pub name, but how nice it would have been if the pub had been called Green Hedges or even The Wishing Chair! It is incredible however, that you have dedicated so much of your pub to the great lady herself.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Well done Red Lion. I bought the book myself from the EB Day, but as yet haven't read it. Something for me to look forward to.
Hope to visit your Blyton Room, this summer, and the area where Enid lived, and where she based her Find-Outer books, at Bourne End.

[redlionweb]

Hi Moonraker,

A local historian recently traced the pub back to at least 1753 and it has always been called The Red Lion. Mind you, who knows, if enough Blyton fans come along, we may yet rename it as you suggest!

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

The Blyton room has a nice fireplace and is just the right size for storytelling. Whillst in The Ladies (where would Ming wish to go? ) I overheard one regular say to another how good the refurbishments have been.

Well done Bob & Tina!

Viv

[redlionweb]

Hi Viv,
It was great to see you at The Red Lion, along with the chaps from Holland, Germany and Australia. Since our visit together to the bluebell woods at Hedgerley, have been back three times - thank you for prompting me to go; it's beautiful.
Following on from your posting, we are thinking of having a regular 'Enid Blyton Story Sunday' in the Blyton Room at The Red Lion, aimed at families and I was wondering if you (or other society members) might be able to suggest the most appropriate stories and/or extracts?
Thanks (in anticipation!) for your help.
Lots of love...

[Moonraker]

I would mix it, say three short stories (and there are hundreds to choose from!) to one extract from a full-length novel.

Wish you were closer, I'd love to come along!

[Viking Star]

The Enid Blyton Adventure Treasury has lots of extracts from books. Whether they are the appropriate length for your readings I'm not sure - but Viv organizes lots of readings at Corfe Castle so could probably advise.

[Moonraker]

I am sure that Viv would be only too happy to advise. Maybe in return, you could provide a beer-tent at one of Viv's Corfe Castle events!



Corfe Castle - You're in the Strong Country

[Viv of Ginger Pop]

I think that Nigel is the best person to advise on a beer tent. Thanks to his tuition, Ming is the best educated young ladette in the finer points of Belgian beer in Bangladesh!

I'd suggest to go seasonal. Use the Nature Lovers book I gave you, and the EB Poetry Book, are a good start. Then fill out with a selection from the best known books.

Best wishes

Viv

[Anita Bensoussane]

Going seasonal sounds a good idea. A lot of Enid Blyton's short stories originally appeared in her weekly/fortnightly magazines, Sunny Stories and Enid Blyton's Magazine, so many of them were written with a particular season in mind. "Father Time and His Pattern Book" from Sunshine Book would be an excellent story to read coming up to the New Year.

Enid Blyton's Book of the Year is a lovely book containing seasonal stories, poems, etc:

http://www.enidblytonsociety.co.uk/auth ... hp?id=1007" target="_blank

Anita

[redlionweb]

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone. I'll get on the case making some selections and we're planning the first of our 'Enid Blyton Sunday Storytimes' next month. So will keep you posted.

[Ming]

I think that Nigel is the best person to advise on a beer tent. Thanks to his tuition, Ming is the best educated young ladette in the finer points of Belgian beer in Bangladesh!

Thanks for the compliment, Viv. I didn't think ladettes knew how to debate, write sensibly online, win tournaments and awards, be in sports teams (and reach octo-finals), or actually live in Bangladesh, without ending up in prison. You'd be surprised to know that my "flight or fight hormone" aka adrenaline, chooses to stay calm, unlike a ladette's!

[Moonraker]

Best educated she may well be, but ladette? Surely not. To me, she is the epitome of a gentle, attractive, intelligent Asian girl, one who I would be proud to call my daughter (might have to explain the obvious colour difference, though!)

Incidentally, Ming introduced me to the delights of lychee juice - I am now a good customer of the Asian mini-market in Salisbury!

I best quit now, before Nanny warns me that I may be going over the top, again....

[Anita Bensoussane]

Ming could never be a ladette! She is mature, bright and focussed - Enid Blyton would have loved to meet her, I'm sure!

Anita