Trailing Your Hand in the Water

What did you think of the latest Journal?
Post Reply
Miranda
Posts: 41
Joined: 27 Jul 2005, 13:36

Trailing Your Hand in the Water

Post by Miranda »

Reading Terry Gustofson's article 'The Blyton Influence', I loved the idea of hiring a boat with the main intention of lying in the stern and trailing your hand in the water - just like Lucy-Ann!
I think this is an image that must have strongly appealed to EB, as it also appears in Chapter 8 of The Boy Next Door. Betty, Lucy, Robin and Kit are rowing their little boat along the river to an island they know (for a pic-nic, what else?).
'"It's lovely here," said Lucy, lying back and letting one hand drag in the water as they went along. "I could go on like this for miles."'
Sadly, she doesn't get her wish, as her comment provokes her brother to insist that it's time the girls took a turn at rowing!
tik

Trailing hands

Post by tik »

Miranda's observation seems quite valid. I can visualise Enid Blyton underneath her sun-hat and relaxing at the rear of a gondolier with hand in water. The theme song would be - "Cruising down the river on a Sunday afternoon"¦"

Lucy Anne was at it again in The Sea of Adventure: "I've still got that lovely feeling," she remarked as she "˜dangled her hand over the side of the boat and felt the cool, silky water catch hold of her fingers and trail them back.' (The Island of Birds).
Tony Summerfield
Posts: 6386
Joined: 26 Dec 2004, 12:20

Slight Slip!

Post by Tony Summerfield »

The mind boggles with Enid relaxing at the rear of a gondolier - I think you mean gondola Terry!!

Best wishes
Tony
Raci
Posts: 814
Joined: 01 Apr 2005, 01:26
Location: UK

Post by Raci »

:lol:
The worst part is I read Tik's post before Tony's and didn't even notice!
:lol:
tik

trailing

Post by tik »

That's a good and educative point, Tony. I've always called a gondola a gondolier for some reason or another. It's probably my Pacific schooling!
tik

trailing

Post by tik »

The more I think about it, the more I laugh!
User avatar
Carlotta King
Posts: 2828
Joined: 15 Mar 2013, 19:01
Favourite book/series: Adventure, Barney, Secret Series, Famous Five
Favourite character: Bill Smugs,Lucy-Ann,Snubby,Mr King,Diana,Kiki,Paul
Location: England

Re: Trailing Your Hand in the Water

Post by Carlotta King »

I've quite often wondered about the trailing of hands over the side of boats - it's lovely and sounds so relaxing when the children are off on an adventure or a boat trip - and most of the children seem to have trailed their hands at some point in the books but I always wonder just how feasible it would be - most of the boats are of a decent size and have a cabin etc, so they're not a tiny little dinghy-style boat, but surely to be able to hang your arm over the side and put your hand in the water, you would need to be in a tiny dinghy that was very close to the water?
"Fussy Gussy! Polly, Polly, Polly-gize!"

Society Member
User avatar
pete9012S
Posts: 17572
Joined: 24 Jan 2010, 15:32
Favourite book/series: Five On A Treasure Island
Favourite character: Frederick Algernon Trotteville
Location: UK

Re: Slight Slip!

Post by pete9012S »

Tony Summerfield wrote:The mind boggles with Enid relaxing at the rear of a gondolier - I think you mean gondola Terry!!

Best wishes
Tony

And I think that is just about one of the funniest things I have ever read on these forums - I am laughing out loud so much it hurts...

:D :D :D :D :D
" A kind heart always brings its own reward," said Mrs. Lee.
- The Christmas Tree Aeroplane -

Society Member
Post Reply