Journal 53

[Lucky Star]

I just got home from work and was pleasantly cheered to find the Journal lying on the mat. It looks fabulous as always and I have no doubt that it will be. I shall look forward to a relaxing weekend with it.

[Carlotta King]

Got mine today at lunchtime - really looking forward to relaxing and reading it!
Thankyou!!

Just arrived!

Crikey I thought our postman is late at about half 11 ish - yours takes the biscuit!

[John Pickup]

My copy arrived today, too. I have read John Henstock's article on the politics of Enid's stories which is very relevant as we have discussed similar issues on these forums. Julie's piece on the FF short stories is very interesting as I have never read them. I must try and find a copy of that book. Only my second journal but full of great reading. Many thanks to Tony and all the contributors.

[Julie2owlsdene]

There are quite a few for sale on Ebay, John and not expensive.

Pleased I've encouraged some of you to read those F.F. short stories.

Loved the Adventure at Midnight. There are many early Journals I've missed and it was nice to read this little story from the 2003 Journal.

Thanks for putting that one in Tony. It's always nice to see what we've missed in previous Journals.

[Tony Summerfield]

Loved the Adventure at Midnight. There are many early Journals I've missed and it was nice to read this little story from the 2003 Journal.

Thanks for putting that one in Tony. It's always nice to see what we've missed in previous Journals.

I think we are getting a bit muddled here, Julie, I would never repeat something that was in a previous Journal! It was in the Sunday Graphic booklet which has been out of print for about ten years. This version was much better as I redid all the illustrations rather than using the original ones.

[Rob Houghton]

Cant believe it was ten years since the Sunday Graphic booklet...wow! I was imagining it was three or four at the most! Its a wonderful reproduction, as you mention, Tony - and a really good selection of articles once again. Thanks for all your hard work.

[Nick]

Its always a treat to arrive home from work and see the journal, in its familiar packing, on the telephone table waiting to be devoured. As always, i started off with the words of our leader and then onto the piece on Betty Maxey, Anita's wonderful review of the FF Annual and finished with John's article on the politics of Enid's work. All brilliantly written and interesting and i cant wait to get back in tonight to finish it off.

Many thanks to all contributors for another top class edition.

[Kate Mary]

Tony says in his editorial 'this issue contains a wide selection of articles and I hope that all our readers will find some that interest them', well I find all the contents of this Journal interesting. After the Editorial I read Adventure at Midnight, it is good to see this rare example of Blyton ephemera, then Anita's review of the FF Annual and John Lester's and John Henstock's articles, all good stuff and plenty more to read.

Highlights for me (and ones I am saving 'till last) are David Chamber's article on Birns, Tucks etc (David's contributions are always so interesting and well researched) and Enid's story A Pair of Scamps. I love the glorious Kathleen Nixon illustrations for this, and the pictures for the delightful and typically Blyton poem The Clean Bunny.

The last page shows the latest Sunny Stories for Little Folks reprints, I have already ordered those and renewed my subscription too.

Kate

[Eddie Muir]

I spent a most enjoyable evening reading the latest Journal which, as always, is packed with goodies. Thanks to all the contributors and a special thank you to you, Tony.

[Poppy]

Adventure at Midnight was brilliant - very interesting and the pictures added beautifully to the text.

I also read Enid's From My Window and I thoroughly enjoyed it; there are some absolutely gorgeous descriptions in there. Very imaginative and descriptive. Also love how good old Bobs comes in at the end!

Next I read the article about Betty Maxey, and after the conversations in the Illustrators topic comparing her and Eileen Soper, I was interested to learn more. At first I thought it was going to be an article on Maxey's illustrations, but it was actually a partial account of her life, when the writer knew she and her husband. It also described Betty's personality and she sounded a lovely woman.

The Clean Bunny was a lovely poem - just right for the Spring Journal! Beautiful illustrations that go with this, too.

Next I am eager to read about 'The Politics of Enid's Work', which, as someone said earlier, links into several discussions lately.

[floragord]

Journal 53 arrived yesterday, what a pleasure to open the envelope and look at the delightful cover! It looks choc-a-bloc with fascinating reads, and I'm saving it to go with a whole variety of treats over the weekend!

[Katharine]

Post just arrived - no Journal

Off to double check I send Tony my subscription renewal.

[Tony Summerfield]

Apologies, Katharine, my mistake! You paid it in late January when you also bought some booklets and I recorded the booklets in my files but missed the resubscription. It will be in the post today first class!!

I said somewhere yesterday that it was time I was put out to grass as I had failed to notice that Angela Canning had left the last half line off her article. It was actually her mistake, but I take the full blame for failing to notice it!

[Katharine]

Tony, thanks for letting me know. Don't worry about sending it first class, I'm just relieved that it hasn't gone missing in the post.

Maybe I'll remember to renew straight away next time!

[Moonraker]

Julie's piece on the FF short stories is very interesting as I have never read them.

I preferred the Secret Seven short stories. They are both available in the Kindle store, John. I read both books on holiday, last year.

I have only read the first article so far, but it promises to be yet again, a marvellous issue.