Author Archives: Fiona

Letters to Enid part 45: From volume 3 issue 7

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 3, issue 7. March 30th – April 12th, 1955. OUR LETTER PAGE   A letter from Sibylla Edmonstone, Blanefield. Dear Enid Blyton, I am delighted to hear that I … Continue reading

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Monday #553

I’ve decided just to give in and embrace Christmas, not that I took much persuading. Obviously I’ve started my posts about Christmas Stories, but on Sunday we also visited a Christmas shop (and Brodie persuaded us we needed a new … Continue reading

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Enid Blyton’s Christmas Stories, then and now

A while back I went through the entirety of Enid Blyton’s Holiday Stories – a 2015 Hodder collection, and both reviewed the story choices and checked them for updates to the text. My initial idea had actually been to do … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 44: From volume 3 issue 6

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 3, issue 6. March 16th – 19th, 1955. OUR LETTER PAGE (This week I have chosen letters that tell something interesting about Nature or your pets. The first one … Continue reading

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Monday #552

My big Christmas blogging project gets underway this week. It’s a little early (though perfectly allowable seeing as it’s November), but I anticipate it will take at least the 7 weeks (!!) we have left until Christmas. My similar series … Continue reading

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Secret Island part 7 – The End and the Nitpicks

Having written some 10,000 words about The Secret Island already I’m back for what I hope will be the last post in this series. There’s not much left to look at, but I’d like to write about the final chapter(s) … Continue reading

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October 2023 round up

We are creeping closer to the end of the year, by the time this post goes up it will be the first of November. Halloween will be over and it’ll be time to start thinking about Christmas! What I have … Continue reading

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Monday #551

We are enjoying a break in the rain today, though it is really rather cold, and also dark as the clocks went back at the weekend. Wednesday is the start of November, and the return of the rain. October round … Continue reading

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The Secret Island part 6: Hiding from visitors

So far I have written about the ways in which the children have arranged accommodation, food supplies and other essentials for living on the island. The intended permanence of their stay on the island has made their efforts different to … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 43: From volume 3 issue 5

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 3, issue 5. March 2nd – 15th, 1955 OUR LETTER PAGE A letter from Yolande Bristow, B.A.O.R. 15. Dear Enid Blyton, I am sending you two postal orders for … Continue reading

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Monday #550

We had a few days away last week – returning just before the weather turned truly nasty – which is why there were no posts. But it’s back to the regularly scheduled content this week. I’m starting to think about … Continue reading

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The Secret Island part 5: Collecting, buying and selling

The children really have been industrious up until now; turning various parts of the island into comfortable accommodation and tending to their livestock and crops. Yet the island can’t provide everything they need and so it’s time to start looking … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 42: From volume 3 issue 4

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 3, issue 4. February 16th – March 1st, 1955. OUR LETTER PAGE   A letter from Sheila Johnson, Alexandra, Singapore 5. Dear Enid Blyton, Today is my birthday. I’ve … Continue reading

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Monday #548

It has been a very soggy weekend for most of us in Scotland. Lots of disruption due to flooded roads and railway lines. Luckily I was able to stay home mostly, and read while listening to the rain battering off … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 41: From volume 3 issue 3

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 3, issue 3. February 2nd – 15th, 1955. OUR LETTER PAGE   A letter from Margaret Lloyd, Barry. Dear Miss Blyton, I am writing to tell you of an … Continue reading

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September 2023 round up

We are into October, so it’s time for September’s round up. What I have read I hit my goal of 100 books in September – though book 100 was a somewhat fluffy/cosy magical mystery rather than something to show off … Continue reading

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Monday #547

We are on the first post of October now. September’s mini heat-wave is a thing of the past, and the heating is on now! Brodie and I are on to Five Go to Smuggler’s Top now, my favourite book ever, … Continue reading

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The Secret Island part 4: Feeding the runaways

Until now I have only briefly mentioned one of the most important elements of the book (and indeed most of Blyton’s books) – the food! It is first on an characters’ mind when planning a day away from home, let … Continue reading

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Letters to Enid part 40: From volume 3 issue 2

Previous letters pages can be found here. Letters page from Volume 3, issue 2. January 19th – February 1st, 1955. OUR LETTER PAGE A letter from Pararajasingham, Colombo, Ceylon. Dear Enid Blyton, At our school we have a Club, which … Continue reading

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Monday #546

Monday posts feel a bit repetitive at the moment. I did think about taking a break from the Secret Island and doing something else, but I think I should try and keep up the momentum and get on with it. … Continue reading

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