Although I prefer text to be left as it is, I can see the reasoning behind some of the changes, such as not describing Boysie's face as ugly, however I simply can't understand the logic for most of them.
Why stop Goon hitting Buster - surely that could stay to illustrate what a nasty person he was> It's not glorifying hitting an animal or suggesting in any way that it is acceptable.
Why can't Fatty's cheeks be described as fat when he puts in the cheek pads - surely that was the whole point of him wearing them? If the censors are that worried about offending people, then surely his name should be changed?
Finally, what on earth is wrong with having the dinner gong being sounded? I've never lived in a house where a gong has sounded for a meal, and I don't know any friends or family who do/have either, but that doesn't mean to say I don't want to read about such a lifestyle. My neighbour has a little hand bell they ring to call people in from the garden, so some people nowadays still prefer not to yell out that it's meal time.
If they really want to update the books, then maybe the children would simply wait for a text from their mother to tell them lunch is ready. Oh no, that's not PC - it should either be their 'stay at home parent', or their house-husband father, because their mother is breaking glass ceilings somewhere. Or maybe even more realistic would be for the children to either be in a holiday club because their parent(s) are at work, or they are old enough to fend for themselves, in which case they would just be popping home to heat something up in the microwave?
