Author Archives: Fiona

Monday #530

We have just slipped into June and Stef has headed home now, but we had a great week together. The sun shone (mostly) and we made it to five different beaches and almost as many cafes. We also made a … Continue reading

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Monday #529

Nothing coming up this week as Stef is visiting for the first time in three years! Hopefully we will do some things that will spark some new blog ideas. We will be visiting St Andrews – we always do – … Continue reading

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Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories then and now, part 8

This series was seeming to drag for a bit, but suddenly I’ve only got ten stories left to do! Previous parts look at story 1, stories 2 and 3, stories 4 and 5, stories 6 and 7, stories 8 to … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 28: From volume 2 issue 16

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 2, issue 16. August 4th – 17th, 1954. OUR LETTER PAGE  1. A letter from Elspeth Adcock, Berkshire Dear Enid Blyton, The Rooks are a small club of about … Continue reading

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Monday #528

The pile of books on my side table is slowly getting smaller as I work through the Holiday Stories each week. As I’m back to working on transcribing the letters pages, though, I expect I’ll end up with magazines added … Continue reading

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Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories then and now, part 7

I am at the half-way point! Previous parts look at story 1, stories 2 and 3, stories 4 and 5, stories 6 and 7, stories 8 to 10 and stories 11 to 13. The Smugglers’ Caves Originally published in Sunny … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 27: From volume 2 issue 15

I thought I was going to have to put this series back on pause until I could find the next issue (doing them out of order just seemed wrong!) but a friend has very kindly sent me photos of the … Continue reading

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Monday #527

Halfway through May now and there still hasn’t been much of an improvement in the weather. Came out of a solid week of mist to have one mild and sunny day before the rain returned. At least you don’t need … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 26: From volume 2 issue 14

Previous letters pages can be found here. I have been hunting for this issue for ages so I could continue this series. I still need volume 2, issue 15 though, so this series will need to go back on pause … Continue reading

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April 2023 round up

May is upon us, but spring seems to be dragging its heels. It feels like it’s getting colder instead of warmer…  What I have read I mostly stuck to the theme of bookshops and libraries with my reading in April, … Continue reading

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Monday #526

Last week I was called for jury duty, though I didn’t end up serving thankfully. That’s why I didn’t commit to writing anything – I didn’t know how much time or energy I would have. It’s over now, though – … Continue reading

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Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories then and now, part 6

Nearly half-way through, now. Previous parts look at story 1, stories 2 and 3, stories 4 and 5, stories 6 and 7, and stories 8 to 10. The Donkey on the Sands Originally published in Sunny Stories #192 in 1940. … Continue reading

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If you like Blyton: The Secret of Flittermouse Cliffs by Zöe Billings

Two years ago I reviewed The Mystery of Tully Hall by Zöe Billings. This was followed up by the second book last year – The Secret of Flittermouse Cliffs. My first and only reading of this one (so far) was … Continue reading

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Monday #524

Last week I did sit down, more than once, to write about Blyton’s best holiday locations. But somehow I just couldn’t get it written. I got myself a bit tied up trying to work out how much the locations could … Continue reading

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Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories then and now, part 5

Here we are, already at story 8 of 26! Previous parts look at story 1, stories 2 and 3, stories 4 and 5, and stories 6 and 7. John’s Hanky It looks like this was originally published under a different … Continue reading

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Monday #523

That’s the Easter holidays over now, and Brodie is back to school today for his last term of primary one! Surely it’s not too soon to be looking forward to our week away in July? Maybe it’ll even be warm … Continue reading

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Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories then and now, part 4

I would like to say that I am whizzing through these short stories but in reality it’s more of a steady plod. Which is fine! Reading each sentence of every story twice does take up quite a lot of time, … Continue reading

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My favourite of Enid Blyton’s stand-alone books

The big series always get the most attention, even here at the WOB. But what about all the one-off books? Well, here are my favourites. Those Dreadful Children I grew up with the Armada paperback of Those Dreadful Children and … Continue reading

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Monday #522

Happy Easter Monday, everyone. I hope you all had a good Easter weekend. Ours was fun, if rather cold! My favourite stand alone titles and Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories part 4 20 short stories from the 1930s, and around 96 … Continue reading

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Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories then and now, part 3

I have looked at the first three stories so far, and there were quite a lot of changes in the two I was able to compare. Let’s see what the next few stories bring. A Surprise for Jimmy This is … Continue reading

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