Barbara Stoney and her Biography of Enid Blyton

[MsPinkwhistle]

Thank you very much for that

[carpediem]

My only disappointment with the book is the relatively short section of Enid's life that was spent in Suffolk, particularly Ipswich. As I'm Ipswich born and bred I would have loved to have an idea of what she thought of the place ...

Like everyone else, she probably thought it was a right dump.

[pete9012S]

My only disappointment with the book is the relatively short section of Enid's life that was spent in Suffolk, particularly Ipswich. As I'm Ipswich born and bred I would have loved to have an idea of what she thought of the place ...

Like everyone else, she probably thought it was a right dump.

Surely there must be someone with a positive view of Ipswich!!

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 815AAmBQhQ" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Come on Delia LETS BE 'AVIN YER!!

[Katharine]

That was an interesting link pete9012S. I think the description is pretty accurate. Having said that I've never lived anywhere else, so maybe it could be worse.

On the postive side we do have some very good schools. Also Christchurch Park and the Mansion House in the centre of town are lovely. The Mansion runs free activities during the holidays which make history fun for children. I also think we have quite a low violent crime rate compared to a lot of places.

I guess it depends on what people want from their home town. I've never wanted to live in a 'vibrant cosmopolitan city', so get really cheesed off with people trying to change it from the 'sleepy market town' it used to be.

As for our football team, well maybe Norwich are doing better at the moment, but they've never won the FA cup as far as I know!!!!

[Moonraker]

On the postive side we do have some very good schools....

And by all accounts, a very good brewery

[Katharine]

On the postive side we do have some very good schools....

And by all accounts, a very good brewery

Do we, what's it called?

[carpediem]

link to Delia Smith - LETS BE 'AVIN YER!!

Still raises a laugh that does.

Nevertheless, I'm sure this was a one off and is in no way indicative of how ladies from that part of the UK behave.

[Lucky Star]

Nevertheless, apologies for posting this link.

There's nothing worse than logging on to this forum and being subjected to the inane ramblings of a woman from East Anglia.

It is quite funny. I doubt however if women from East Anglia ramble on any more inanely than people from other parts of the country. Good job I'm not from there or I'd be around to kick you very hard for that comment.

[carpediem]

I have edited my above post.

It now, of course, states what I really meant to say.

[Katharine]

I have edited my above post.

It now, of course, states what I really meant to say.

Drat, I was in the process of consulting my lawyer. I'm sure there must be a law somewhere that states you mustn't insult women from East Anglia (with the exception of Norwich supporters perhaps)

To drag this back to the original topic, I've recently read a biography by George Greenfield, who was Enid's literary agent. It's quite short book, but I found it very interesting. He knew Enid personally, and sheds some light on the financial side of her books too. I don't know if it's widely available - I got my secondhand, but I'd recommend to alongside the Barbara Stoney book.

[Moonraker]

On the postive side we do have some very good schools....

And by all accounts, a very good brewery

Do we, what's it called?

Click on the link, Katharine!

[Katharine]

Thanks for the link. I thought you meant we'd got a good brewery here in Ipswich UK, not the USA.

[Moonraker]

Oh Katharine, what an imbecile I am. I never even realised that it was an American brewery. At least Suffolk does produce some good beer - Adnams of Southwold brew exceptionally great beers, and Greene King of Bury St Edmunds also have a good range.

[Katharine]

Oh Katharine, what an imbecile I am. I never even realised that it was an American brewery. At least Suffolk does produce some good beer - Adnams of Southwold brew exceptionally great beers, and Greene King of Bury St Edmunds also have a good range.

Never mind, perhaps you'd been sampling a drop or two of Adnams when you posted the link?

I know we used to have Tolly Cobbold years ago, but as far as I know they closed a while back. I must admit I miss the smell of hops that used to linger over the town.

[Moonraker]

I know we used to have Tolly Cobbold years ago, but as far as I know they closed a while back. I must admit I miss the smell of hops that used to linger over the town.

In 2002 Tolly Cobbold became part of Ridley's, and the Cliff Brewery in Ipswich closed ending 256 years of brewing at that site. The company itself claims a history dating back to 1723. If you see a Tolly Cobbold beer today it is either an old bottle or it has been brewed by Greene King at Bury St. Edmunds following their purchase of Essex Brewer Ridley's in July 2005. Nobody is quite sure what will become of the old Tolly Cobbold brands but they seem to be featured on an occassional basis by Greene King.

[http://www.tollycobbold.co.uk/index.htm]