Journal 73

[Daisy]

...for several years I have felt that Christmas comes every six months nowadays!

Thankfully, our birthdays still come annually!

I'm not so sure Nigel!

[timv]

My Journal has now arrived, and as usual it's full of titbits about Enid and her work that I never knew or had long since forgotten, plus reminders of her sheer variety (especially in the 1930s and 1940s). Many thanks to Tony for his hard work and perseverance in trying circumstances (here's to hoping things calm down as we move into 2021) ad to my fellow-contributors.

I was very interested to read in detail about First Term at Malory Towers from Anita, not having a copy of this and having read it many years ago and forgotten some of the details. The fact that the newly-arrived Darrell was initially irritated by Mary-Lou's trailing around after her, but unlike Gwen has the strength of character and decency to imagine things from the other girl's point of view and behave nicer. (I was a bit like Mary-Lou when I first joined a couple of primary schools at 7 and 8 and was stuck as the youngest person in the class, trying to find a friend and being disheartened to be shrugged off!) The background by Angela to the early stories by Enid about Peter and Janet, only one of which I've come across, and from Julie more of the details of Adventure of the Strange Ruby. I wonder if the latter with its statue-filled temple on an island was partly inspired by the stories of the mysterious statues put up in the grounds of Branksea Castle on Brownsea Island (as with Mystery To Solve), and Enid in her imagination gave them an Indian gloss? I suppose the Indian jewel/ kidnappers idea was a mix-up of Wilkie Collins' mystery thriller 'The Moonstone' with assorted films and a dash of Spiggy Holes.

One thought on the way that Enid was muddling things up by the time of her last books; on Fun For the Secret Seven as analysed by John, old man 'Tolly', the injured horse's owner, sounds a lot like the name of the character, 'Old Man Tallery', who was the absent head of the gang of caravan-folk crooks who kidnapped the prince in Mystery of the Vanished Prince ( p 103 of the 1968 Dragon PB reprint of this, where Fatty questions his family and gets the kidnap story out of Rollo). A name popping back into Enid's memory and being reused, as she'd just done to the Find-Outers' village name of Peterswood?

[Chrissie777]

Still waiting for it.

[Courtenay]

Mine still hasn't come yet! Now I'm wondering if I forgot to pay my subscription — I thought I'd done it...

[Chrissie777]

I always pay mine in December for the next year, so this issue is still paid for.

[Tony Summerfield]

Mine still hasn't come yet! Now I'm wondering if I forgot to pay my subscription — I thought I'd done it...

Spot on!

[Lucky Star]

I make a point of paying mine online the moment I rip open the Winter Journal and the notice falls out. That way I know it's done.

[Courtenay]

Oops... sorry, Tony. I've just re-subscribed now (via PayPal).

[Tony Summerfield]

Oops... sorry, Tony. I've just re-subscribed now (via PayPal).

You are already sitting in the postbox opposite my house or at least your Journal is! As we lose long-term subscribers every issue it is very difficult to know if it is deliberate or accidental so I tend to say nothing so as not to embarrass people.

[Julie2owlsdene]

Finished reading the Journal now. Well packed with great articles, enjoyed them all.

I nice reflection on the Malory Towers books, Anita. Some I hadn't given a thought too, when reading this series. Maybe one day I will go through them again.

I loved the poem - Things I like to do. It reflects the era in which this poem was written. I remember Lux well. I too as a child in the 50's used to love the smell of the chemist, with it's coloured large bottles in the windows, and inside, the glass display cabinets, and the wooden floor. The assistant behind the counter used to be dressed in a white uniform.

Lovely memories.

[Fiona1986]

I've only skimmed the journal so have just two comments:

Firstly I think lockdown has caused a huge resurgence in the interest in Blyton as people have been stuck at home looking for things to do. My monthly blog views have been roughly double their usual from April through to October and I've noticed that Georgina Hargreaves Blyton group on Facebook has been far more active too.

Secondly what do you mean that Tiens isn't pronounced Tee-enz, Anita?

[Courtenay]

You are already sitting in the postbox opposite my house or at least your Journal is! As we lose long-term subscribers every issue it is very difficult to know if it is deliberate or accidental so I tend to say nothing so as not to embarrass people.

Thanks, Tony! I'm glad you don't immediately drop people off the list if they don't pay up — in my case, it was definitely accidental and I'm glad to be back on board. Will look forward to the Journal when it arrives!

[Kate Mary]

I've read my way through the Journal and enjoyed it very much. The articles about the various books have inspired me to re-read them, especially Anita's on First Term at Malory Towers, that is long overdue for a re-read. Even John Pickup's article on Fun for the Secret Seven has decided me to look at this book again. And an uncollected Binkle and Flip story as well. Thanks Tony.

[pete9012S]

I've just read the Journal from cover to cover. Tony, you have once again done us proud.
I thoroughly enjoyed every article from everyone who took the time and effort to contribute for our enjoyment.

Missed having an article from our Rob, but hopefully, in the future, we will enjoy articles from him once again.

Regards

Pete

[Nick]

My journal arrived last Saturday and then promptly vanished. I looked everywhere for it and, tonight, it appeared on the sofa! No idea where it’s been