The Enid Blyton Society

     I'm sorry if it has already been covered somewhere, but I can't find any obvious location for the latest on my question: but is there going to be an Enid Blyton Day in 2014?
     If so, will it be in May, as in some previous years? Any idea of the date? I haven't heard much mention of it at all more recently.
     Just wondering.... It looks as if Enid Blyton Days will soon be only a thing of the past.

Regards, Michael.

I believe Tony has elsewhere expressed that he has not yet made any plans for next year, MJE. There has been talk of an EB outing for 2014 in Miscellaneous Blyton, but I don't think the discussion lead to any definate plans being made.

Poppy wrote:I believe Tony has elsewhere expressed that he has not yet made any plans for next year.

But we all live in hopes that there will be an Enid Blyton Day in 2014, Poppy!

Of course!

     If, in due course, it were to proceed, would it necessarily be in May? - or could it possibly be almost any time in 2014?
     And what location would it be? - or could that be variable over a wide area, too?

Regards, Michael.

The day has traditionally been on the second Saturday in May and for a good number of years has been held in Twyford. This, I guess, would be the first choice of venue as it suits so many people.

Personally I think that if there was to be an E.B. Day in 2014, Tony would have mentioned it by now, as he knows that people like to know the date in advance so they can take time off work, or use it as part of their holidays.

That's true Julie, but hope springs eternal!

floragord wrote:Ooooh, yes please! Funnily enough I just mentioned the possibility this morning and my husband asked if oodles of lashing beer are served, started our day with a laugh!

     I dare say that there might be oodles and lashings of beer there, at least of the ginger variety - not sure about other kinds, though.
     I had ginger beer very rarely as a child, and it wasn't the big thing it seemed to be in the lives of some Blyton characters - but on occasions more recently, a good ginger beer is very refreshing indeed on a boiling hot summer day. I still like soft drinks, but try not to have too many of them; but they need to be good-quality ones (i.e., probably more expensive), with real flavour beyond mere sweetness. I still have a sweet tooth, but I do suspect that adults are rather less tolerant than children of mere intense sweetness without any flavour of anything beyond that. I suppose some of the sweets I ate as a child would probably just rather repel me now - although some things, like fairy floss or jelly for example, never appealed to me even as a child.

Regards, Michael.

Did Enid Blyton enjoy ginger beer as much as her characters did?

I know it was one of Agatha Christie's favourite drinks.

Actually, I would probably say I would prefer an ice cold lemonade or a soft drink on a boiling hot day. I don't think I could drink a ginger beer because for one thing it tastes so fiery hot and I would be craving something cold and refreshing. If I have a ginger beer I need to have a soft drink beside me, too (would the Famous Five think I was greedy if I ordered a lemonade and a ginger beer? ).

pete9012S wrote:Did Enid Blyton enjoy ginger beer as much as her characters did?

I don't know about Enid Blyton herself, but I remember reading somewhere that it was her daughter Gillian's favourite drink.

Poppy wrote:(would the Famous Five think I was greedy if I ordered a lemonade and a ginger beer? ).

Probably not! As for the Find-Outers, they wouldn't bat an eyelid if you ordered a lemonade, a ginger beer, two or three ices and a plate of macaroons!

Poppy wrote:Actually, I would probably say I would prefer an ice cold lemonade or a soft drink on a boiling hot day. I don't think I could drink a ginger beer because for one thing it tastes so fiery hot and I would be craving something cold and refreshing. If I have a ginger beer I need to have a soft drink beside me, too

     Perhaps ginger beers vary in that regard. It is true that the ginger beer I was referring to is strong-flavoured, but I wouldn't have called it hot, exactly. It is definitely best drunk slowly, and I don't need to alternate it with anything else - and I speak as a person with a low tolerance of hotness in foods, as in chilli-type hotness.

Poppy wrote:(would the Famous Five think I was greedy if I ordered a lemonade and a ginger beer? :D).

     I'm sure they would not even bat an eyelid!

Regards, Michael.

I know this has been discussed off and on over the year, but if there is not an official day, I am sure we can organise something! We could centre a meeting in Bourne End again and include a tour of Peterswood, taking in the parts identified to have been the inspiration for the books. We could startiat the Spade Oak, identify the properties which could have been the Hilton's House in Haycock Lane (Colmoorholme Lane), and then tour along the river towards the station and complete the circle, ending up at The Spade Oak for lunch followed by another visit to Old Thatch. It's not original, I know, but if planned well it could be fun.

Another thoughts is that next year will be the 70th anniversary of the Adventure Series - but much more difficult to arrange as the adventures were so far flung!

Any other thoughts?