KeymerKim Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 This is just a bit of trivia for Christian really. I've just read a bit of your blog - which is fab by the way - and noticed that one of your favourite books is the Magic Faraway Tree! I can't believe it. That has always been one of my favourites too and something that I haven't thought about in too many years to mention. It's made me think about buying a copy to read again and bring back lovely childhood memories. Thanks for jogging that lovely memory deep in the recesses of my brain Christian - keep up the blog work too. KeymerKim xx PS - where do you find the time to make all of those lovely jams and jellies etc? Haven't looked too hard on your blog yet, but hope you have recipes somewhere?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Ooooh! - I'll have to go and read it again now ( ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Oooh me too Lesley! I loved the Faraway Tree, with Moonface and Silky, was the stuck up cousin called Connie? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helen&Lee Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 OOOOhh the memories I loved The Enchanted Wood and The Magic Faraway tree when I was little I shall have to go and get them to read again! Gawd we will be setting up a Magic Faraway Tree Appreciation Society courtesy of Christian soon Helen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeymerKim Posted September 4, 2007 Author Share Posted September 4, 2007 Hee Hee - fabulous. I'm glad I'm not alone in the memories. Moonface and Silkie - how wonderful. Now there's some names for Chickens!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redfrock Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 how bizarre - I was only talking about this book a few days ago at work I was saying how it was one of my favourites as a child (and yes I have re-read it as an adult ) There was a second story as well, but we couldn't for the life of us remember what it was called Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Hey KeymerKim! (you live near me! ) I loved the magic faraway tree but it wasn't my favourite Enid Blyton book - my faves were the adventures series (ship of adventure, river of adventure etc) and the secret stories (secret island, secret mountain etc) Am inflicting all my faves from my childhood on the kids i teach at school now - i always leave them hanging on a juicy bit!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 The names of the children used to make me laugh - can't even write them here, as they would get censored! My favourite character was Mr Saucepan man & I also liked Dame Wash a Lot! The squirrel who collected the red cushions from Moonfaces slide inside the tree also sounded fascinating! Some of the lands were brilliant. The land of Spells, the land of take what you want. Pop biscuits sounded very yummy! I have all the books - the Enchanted wood, The Magic Faraway tree & Return to the Enchanted Wood. I have the original copies and also some new version ones. They are priceless and I'm only sorry that I don't have any children to pass on my magical land to. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmandaR Posted September 4, 2007 Share Posted September 4, 2007 Ohhhh, I loved these books too! So much so, that I bought the trilogy and read them to my children every night for ages, using the voices that I had in my head - as I had visualised them as a child. I often dreamt of putting acorns and such like in Mr Whatshisname's mouth when he was snoring in the tree branches, visiting birthday land and having that toffee that expanded and popped in your mouth...the one that makes everyone talk like 'obble obble obble' - usually when they were in grave danger and trying to warn the others (like when the ladder was moving away from the hole)! Oh the days of letting your children out all day with a bottle of lemonade, a couple of sandwiches (and no mobile phone), to scold them when they returned at bedtime with mud stained, torn clothes, rosy cheeks and full of adventure... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 That was a book I couldn't put down- I would say to myself as I read late at night- just one more chapter! oh the memories of being able to lie in & read for ages during school holidays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 The Adventure stories were the best: so exciting. I am surprised that you are allowed to read Enid Blyton books at school now, as they are so politically incorrect: both middle-class and sexist. The Noddy books were also very racist. (We had the Enid Blyton song book for the piano at home, and quite happily used to sing: "I'm Golly, you're Woggy, he's Nigger". Incidentally, my friend (two teachers for parents) had a black cat called Nigger: things were so very different then.) My primary school teachers wouldn't let us read Enid Blyton books on different grounds: they believed that the vocabulary in them was too limited and the literary style weak. I can see it now, but I couldn't see it then. The stories were so good, and they were such an easy read compared with the classics that we were supposed to be reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Just after Brian & I met he told me that The Magic Farawy Tree was his favourite book, so I bought him a copy for Christmas (romantic,!) It has served us well, with the children loving it too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 My childhood copy of The Magic Faraway Tree is on my bedside cupboard along with my Beatrix Potter books and some of my Mum's and Grandma's childhood favourites. Can't let them go as they are all such wonderful books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeymerKim Posted September 5, 2007 Author Share Posted September 5, 2007 Hey Helen (Gooner.Girl). Yay - Lindfield is not far away at all. I have friends in William Allen Lane - what school do you teach at? Perhaps we should try to meet up one sunny day (ha ha - sunny - ha!). S'funny how the mention of a childhood book can suddenly invoke memories in so many people. I know that Enid Blyton is not considered politically correct these days, but I still remember them fondly. OK - does anyone remember Mallory Towers?? i always remember wanting to go to boarding school and have midnight feasts once I'd read those. KeymerKim x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 I loved the Mallory Towers books and was absolutely gutted when I discovered my Mum had put her old copies which I used to love so much as a girl into a charity bag not so long ago! They were wonderful, as were the old School Friend and Girls Crystal annuals that she passed on to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 We started collecting Enid Blyton books from charity shops. We have all the Famous Five, bar one, ditto the Secret Seven. We have all the Adventure Series, the Secret series and the Mystery Series. We also have ST clares and Mallory Towers. I have no problem with Abi reading them at all, they aren't that politically incorrect and they do teach a certain behaviour which a few children nowadays would do well to learn. Of course, i have to read them first, before Abi gets her hands on them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Aw thanks Kim, thats really nice of you! I have lost my original faraway books! Keep looking out for them in 2nd hand shops but no joy yet! As for recipes, here is the standard - boil the fruit, strain through a jelly bag. add 1 lb of sugar to every pint of liquid boil, test and jar! Things like elderberries, blackberries etc with little pectin, add a couple of teaspoons of lemon juice before boiling. let me know if you need more details. Thanks again for the nice comments, made me go all been smiling for hours! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 You can find copies for sale on Bookfinder: some very expensive, but newer editions reasonable. Wikipedia has a whole page on the Faraway Tree books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Thanks Gallina. I found a 1971 HB copy on ebay!!! Just a couple of days to go!! Really excited now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 Gosh this brings back memories! I read most of the Secret Seven books and the Magic Faraway Tree to my oldest when he was liitle. You've reminded me I must get them all out again to read to the littlies! My personal faves were the St Claires and Mallory Towers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gooner.girl Posted September 5, 2007 Share Posted September 5, 2007 I liked both the school series as well. And 'the naughtiest girl in the school' ones. The Famous five were slightly better then the Secret Seven i reckon but my favourite of all was 'Adventures on willow farm' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Yeah I liked Mallory towers - remember the swimming pool that filled with water when the tise was in? What a funny name for a girl....Darryl! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Helly Welly Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Adventures on Willow Farm are wonderful aren't they? If only real life was like these books! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Adventures on Willow Farm are wonderful aren't they? If only real life was like these books! I don't think I ever read that one - and as we now live at Willows Farm, perhaps I ought to see if I've got a copy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted September 6, 2007 Share Posted September 6, 2007 Yeah I liked Mallory towers - remember the swimming pool that filled with water when the tise was in? What a funny name for a girl....Darryl! Emma.x my friend called her new little girl Darryl for a couple of days... then changed it as lots of people thought she was a boy. Darryl Hannah- everyone knows she is a girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
