Author Archives: Fiona

Noddy: Toyland Detective

This is the latest of many Noddy adaptations for the small screen. A joint venture between the American, British and French it has been made by DreamWorks (the people behind Shrek and Kung Fu Panda). It has been showing in … Continue reading

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Monday #194

Here we are properly into the Christmas season now. I spent the weekend helping my other half Christmas shop for his family. Anyway, here’s what we have going on this week:

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November 2016 round up

Welcome to our November round up. Hope you had a busy month like we did. As you can see we have complied our exploits for the month. Fiona has been reading like a madwoman and I have been wandering around … Continue reading

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The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage: How has Blyton’s original text fared in a modern edition? part 7

I thought this would be a fine way to break up the Christmas posts a bit (but don’t worry there will be more of those!) Previous parts can be seen  here, here, here, here, here and here. As always my own copy is a Methuen from 1957 – … Continue reading

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Monday #193

We are near the end of another month now, and creeping even closer to the end of the year. There is another Christmassy post this week along with our usual fare, a trend which should continue (hopefully) for the next … Continue reading

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Blyton at Christmas 1920-1945

I have tried to do this in rough chronological order, but many dates given refer to when a story was published in a book. It will often be the case that it was in Enid Blyton’s Magazine or Sunny Stories … Continue reading

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The Adventure Series on TV: Mountain of Adventure

This series has certainly had ups and downs in its run so far. For me, Island was an acceptable adaptation, Woods was absolutely awful in every way, Valley was an unexpected success and then Sea was another reasonable episode. Shall … Continue reading

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Monday #192

  Apologies for using the C word in November, but I couldn’t resist starting the Christmas posts this week. (I mean, there are only five weeks to go!) Hope you enjoy!  

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Famous Five 70s Style: Five Go Down to the Sea, part 2

If you missed the first part of Five Go Down to the Sea, you can find it here, and catch up with my thoughts on the adaptation before reading this second part. Now let’s take a look at the second … Continue reading

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The Famous Five Party Game as played by Fiona

First up: I didn’t throw a party to play this game. It’s really not that sort of game in fact! I bought it mostly because I just love Eileen Soper’s work, and because it wasn’t too expensive. I don’t know … Continue reading

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Monday #191

I had a really hard time coming up with something to write about this week. It’s strange how there are times that you’ve got more ideas than days to publish them, and then all of a sudden you run out. … Continue reading

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The Mystery of the Burnt Cottage: How has Blyton’s original text fared in a modern edition? part 6

Another month, another instalment! Hopefully I will get this finished within the next three months then. Previous parts can be seen  here, here, here, here and here. As always my own copy is a Methuen from 1957 – a 12th reprint/impression of the original. The new version is … Continue reading

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Monday #190

Once more a Monday upon us! Hope you’re excited for this week’s blogs!

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October 2016 round up

It’s November already! It’s getting colder and darker – but enough of that, let’s look at what we did last month! WHAT I READ IN OCTOBER April Fools – Ritchie Tankersley Cusick Fetch Nurse Connie – Jean Fullerton Dying in … Continue reading

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Blyton’s Bonfires, Guys and Fireworks

It’s bonfire night, or Guy Fawkes’ night this week, so I thought I would put something together covering what Blyton wrote about the subject. SECRET SEVEN FIREWORKS This seems like an obvious first choice, given the title! While the main … Continue reading

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The Adventure Series on TV – The Sea of Adventure

I think that Valley of Adventure has to be the strongest episode of this series so far (and far better than anything from The Secret Series had to offer). I really hope the series can stay on form at this point … Continue reading

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Halloween Tricks in St Andrews, chapter 2

Anatoly and David turned quickly on their heels, though they knew what it would be. “That would the ghost then!” David said, pretending to swallow and take a step forward towards it. “What’s your problem?” he asked it as Anatoly … Continue reading

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Monday #189

We’ve got a longer list than usual for you this week. With Halloween today we have the second half of our new story, plus our usual weekly posts, then we will finish with our roundup for October. (As by then … Continue reading

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Halloween Tricks in St Andrews, chapter 1

Julian ran his hand through his hair and took a step back from the mirror to check that the chalk dust hadn’t fallen too heavily on his shirt, bow tie and tweed jacket. He took the finishing touch, a bushy … Continue reading

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My three top baddies

And so here is my ‘surprise’ for the week. Talking of surprises we will also have one on Sunday for you – a Halloween themed one. Continuing on from three favourite characters, and three favourite adults I have decided to … Continue reading

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