Blytonesque Places
- Wolfgang
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
There is a German audiobook about the Famous Five in Sherwood Forest, and as far as I remember Robin Hood gets an honourable mention. They also meet Jo again. It's ages since I've listened to it, so details escape me unfortunately.
Success is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.
- John Pickup
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
I could be Little John.Moonraker wrote:I'd rather play Robin!
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- Courtenay
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
I'll be Maid Marian... but only if I can play her like she is in the utterly legendary send-up.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- number 6
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
Oh yes! Good call, Courtenay! Think Tony Robinson is brill as the Sheriff as well.
- Courtenay
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
You're a fan too, Number 6? All together now - Maaa - ri -aaan...
In an attempt to drag this back on topic, Enid's Tales of Brave Adventure was my first-ever introduction to Robin Hood. So Sherwood Forest - which is not near me, but never mind - is legitimately a Blyton place too.
In an attempt to drag this back on topic, Enid's Tales of Brave Adventure was my first-ever introduction to Robin Hood. So Sherwood Forest - which is not near me, but never mind - is legitimately a Blyton place too.
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- number 6
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
Yes, i was a closet fan. I used to watch it when looking after my Nieces. Think I loved it more than they did! Great fun, but don't tell anyone I said so!
Yep! You're right, Sherwood has a legitimate connection with Blyton.
Yep! You're right, Sherwood has a legitimate connection with Blyton.
- Courtenay
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
Aha, I just thought of a 100% genuine Blyton place near me! I live not much more than 12 miles east of Beckenham in Kent, where Enid spent much of her childhood. Never been there myself, though, and don't know if anything there was much of an inspiration for her later career...
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- number 6
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
I'm not sure whether or not Beckenham did inspire Enid, but I wouldn't bet against it having some kind of influence on her at some stage whilst She lived there. I think Anita or Tony would probably know.
- Anita Bensoussane
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
I'm sure the people and places Enid Blyton knew in Beckenham must have fed into her work in some way, even if it's not possible to pin down specific locations. Enid said that Claudine in the St. Clare's series was based on a Belgian girl she knew at school, and Mam'zelle was modelled on one of her own French mistresses. Books like Rambles with Uncle Nat and similar were no doubt influenced by the many nature walks she went on with her father.
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"There is no bond like the bond of having read and liked the same books."
- E. Nesbit, The Wonderful Garden.
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- Julie2owlsdene
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
Wasn't it Beckenham that we did the tour of Enid's homes?
Julian gave an exclamation and nudged George.
"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"
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"See that? It's the black Bentley again. KMF 102!"
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- Courtenay
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- Location: Both Aussie and British; living in Cheshire
Re: Blyton Places Near You
Nature walks in Beckenham. Oh, I wish... it's all drab fringe-of-London suburbia out there now. Fortunately, there's still lots of beautiful countryside to the south of where I live, with woods and fields and hills and charming villages and some beautiful historic houses and other properties - like Ightham Mote, which I mentioned before. And even a few castles! Bodiam Castle (in East Sussex) is another possible "Blyton place near me":
Not much like Kirrin Castle, perhaps, or even the Castle of Adventure, but I'm sure it would make a good setting for a Blytonesque adventure of some sort - whether set in the 1940s/'50s, in medieval times like some of her retellings of traditional tales, or even in one of her magical lands!
Not much like Kirrin Castle, perhaps, or even the Castle of Adventure, but I'm sure it would make a good setting for a Blytonesque adventure of some sort - whether set in the 1940s/'50s, in medieval times like some of her retellings of traditional tales, or even in one of her magical lands!
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- Eddie Muir
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
Bodiam Castle is wonderful, Courtenay. My first visit was a school trip in July 1957 and since then I have visited the castle on numerous occasions.
'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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- number 6
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
Stunning photo, Courtenay. Always been fascinated with Castles ever since my first to Caernarfon Castle when I was a kid!
- Courtenay
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Re: Blyton Places Near You
I didn't take that one, I hasten to add - it's from Wikipedia.
I remember mentioning in another thread that the National Trust, which owns Bodiam Castle, provides an audio game you can play as you tour around the castle, listening to the voices of different characters from the past and trying to figure out who is plotting to murder the owner of the castle. Lots of fun and quite suspenseful - it struck me as something that could be done in a Blyton location somewhere with characters such as the Famous Five or Five Find-Outers. (Except, of course, there wouldn't be a murder attempt in a Blyton story. )
I remember mentioning in another thread that the National Trust, which owns Bodiam Castle, provides an audio game you can play as you tour around the castle, listening to the voices of different characters from the past and trying to figure out who is plotting to murder the owner of the castle. Lots of fun and quite suspenseful - it struck me as something that could be done in a Blyton location somewhere with characters such as the Famous Five or Five Find-Outers. (Except, of course, there wouldn't be a murder attempt in a Blyton story. )
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It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
It was a nuisance. An adventure was one thing - but an adventure without anything to eat was quite another thing. That wouldn't do at all. (The Valley of Adventure)
- number 6
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- Location: Robin Hood Country
Re: Blyton Places Near You
Sounds very interesting, Courtenay. I love the History of Castles, especially when it comes alive through visual & audio interpretations! I've never visited Bodiam Castle, but I'll put it on my 'must-do' list for the Summer!