I am quite amused to see that, currently, my top 3 labels are "achievement", "balance" and "positivity". Those 3 things are certainly on my mind a lot at the moment. However I'd like to throw another one into the mix, one that hasn't yet made an overt appearance, and it can be loosely described as "order" (think Betty Boothroyd) though in fact it covers myriad similitudes, from plain tidiness to good manners.
Perhaps it is because I am so naturally laissez-faire, not to mention a little lazy and a lot free spirited, that I find myself instinctively drawn to the sense of "order" when I am feeling overwhelmed. To get back on top of things I feel I need to pull my socks up and organise everything; it reflects my state of mind, and if things are cluttered and untidy then I am too. A healthy environment makes for a healthy mind.
This is the doctrine behind much of Enid Blyton's work, and it's obvious that this was a reflection, not just of the times, but also her own psychological troubles. However it is the Brent-Dyer Chalet School books that sum it up for me at the moment, where every girl is expected to have impeccable manners, always look tidy and respectable (and keep her possessions and cubicle the same), to uphold strong morals and generally be an all-round upstanding, friendly and charitable person:
"the character trait held up by the books as being the one most desirable is 'to think of others', although this trait does not necessarily include self-sacrifice. Brent-Dyer introduces this theme in the series in relation to pupils behaving charitably towards those less fortunate than themselves..." - Ju Gosling's The World of the Chalet School
This resonates so strongly with me, not least because I strive to be more community-minded myself (though it's hard to remember sometimes - especially when the 55th boat of the day has passed us at great speed, music blaring and folk peering in our windows!
Like so much in my life it all comes back to a finely tuned sense of balance. Whilst we should do our utmost to think of others, we must not forget ourselves; whilst it's good to be tidy and ordered, this shouldn't be at the expense of creativity and freedom of thought.
One thing is for certain. Our kids may be growing up as free-spirited tearaways, living as water gypsies in hand-me-down and makeshift clothes. But they will also be brought up to be kind, thoughtful, loving and well-mannered. Tidy would be a bonus but if it's a toss up between that and having happy-go-lucky creative kids, I can settle for tidy at times, much like myself...
And just so you know, I started writing this before I lost the boat keys...
It's about this time of year that the Famous Five set off on another fun-packed adventure, inevitably in an attempt to recover from a bad cold or to make room for Uncle Quentin's mad scientific friends. Dire warnings administered (no bathing in April or you'll get pneumonia George!) and promises to write/phone everyday sought, the Five mount their heavily-laden bicycles and ride off happily into the gorgeously warm April sunshine.
Of course, no great adventure can start without first enjoying the obligatory picnic, in a convenient wayside copse filled with waiter-like rabbits and chorister blackbirds. And after a good feed of smashing sandwiches, fruit cake and lashings of ginger beer plus an ice or two, they all nod off, full and contented with only Timmy keeping an ear out for intruders.
In our hectic lives I often wonder why we find it so difficult to achieve such a perfect, simple, state of contentment. And then I realise with a bang - it's all about perspective. The Five don't moan or make excuses - it's just not the done thing. When something goes wrong they give a cry of horror and then immediately devise a plan to fix things. It's something I strive to do more and more in my everyday life and it really works, when I remember. Yes, some days all I feel like doing is moaning and lamenting this, that or another problem, issue or situation. And when I find myself in that mood I know it's just a downwards spiral. Knowing what lies at the bottom of that spiral doesn't make it any easier to get out, but more often these days I manage to catch myself just in time, and hoick my person up onto a convenient ledge or ladder (for there always is one in an adventure) and design a way out from there.
It is said that we choose our own reality. Perhaps more than any other impetus this is what drives me to see the positives. I often see individuals (one family member springs to mind in particular) go about their every day lives in a continual state of negativity. And from the outside I can see that they are creating their own downfall - both real and perceived. Moreover, though, they just make everyone around them miserable as well! Nay-sayers do not listen to reasoning and resolve, because they are harder done to and suffer more than anyone else. I speak from experience!
This weekend I urge you to go out and enjoy a picnic with your friends and family. What's that, it's raining? So gather under a park bandstand or drive somewhere pretty and do the good old-fashioned British in-car-picnic thang. Be adventurous, be brave and be resolute! Go on, treat yourself - and all of those around you too :)
The Mystery of the Disappearing Chalet School
Many of you may have never heard of it. I certainly don't recall reading or seeing these as a kid, and was introduced to The Chalet School series by my mother-in-law. Now I can't get enough of them; particularly as they are exactly the kind of easy, fun-filled, positively-slanted books that fit the bill for my poor tired head at the moment!
I'm lucky that mum-in-law has managed to secure copies of most of the series (which number more than 60!), through 2nd hand sellers and the wonderful Girls Gone By publishers. There are still huge gaps in her collection sadly, and these books are not easy to find, not to mention being pricey when you do happen across them.
What puzzles me is why on earth they were never reprinted by one of the original publishers. Elinor Brent-Dyer was obviously an extremely popular author in her day, and even now has somewhat of a cult following, being a sort of hybrid of Enid Blyton and Louisa May Alcott in both style and content. You couldn't imagine an Enid Blyton series like Famous Five or Mallory Towers going out of print. Nor could you imagine Little Women disappearing from our canon.
Perhaps it's a question of rights: if Girls Gone By have bought up most of the rights to republish the unabridged editions then maybe Chambers (and Armada, who published the paperbacks, though mostly heavily edited) just aren't bothered and see any lost revenue as minimal. To me, it just seems such a shame. Whilst GGB are obviously attempting to keep the series alive and obtainable, as a small independent publisher they cannot ensure supply with demand and inevitably titles are passing out of print again. Moreover, being only able to buy through GGB themselves or one of their select dealers means that fewer people are going to find out about them, and so the readership will also pass into legend.
Although you can seem to get a few titles through Amazon, they are as rare as hen's teeth and don't come in any cheaper than getting them straight from the publisher. If only GGB would (could?) change to on-demand printing for every title, including digital versions for the Kindle etc, then we could secure a positive future for this wonderful part of our literary heritage.
Image courtesy of http://antoniahart.posterous.com/return-to-the-chalet-school where you can also read a lovely overview of the books themselves.
It's been a tough week at Earthly HQ. Father Earthly has been down with man flu, and Mother Earthly has been somewhat burnt out. Meanwhile Baby Earthly no. 1 has been his usual charming but slightly silly sensitive self, and baby Earthly no. 2 has been drinking all the milk.
It's times like this one wishes we had doctors like we used to. You know the sort - "oh a week in the Alps is what you need. Plenty of bed rest, good hearty food and envigorating mountain air. And someone to look after you." If only such a thing were available on the NHS!
Perhaps rather tellingly Father Earthly has been reduced to re-reading Five Get into a Fix (the one where they're all ill and must repair to a nice Welsh Farmhouse to recuperate) whilst I have just finished Chalet School instalment number 25 or so (The Chalet School and the Island) in which Jo tells of a marvellous little place for burnt-out mothers called Penny Rest. In fact, I was so enraptured by the idea I almost tried looking it up on Google. If only!
Nevermind. We can always use literature to escape. And special mention must also go this week to Camberwick Green which has been keeping baby no. 1 quiet whilst none of us have had the energy to play with him! Beautiful. They just don't make entertainment like they used to!
Now I'm off to curl up with a nice cup of tea and Peggy of the Chalet School...
Happy Friday everyone!
...Because sometimes, you just need to unearth the fine, upstanding, adventurous and forever hungry little Blyton in you.
I won't deny it, I am a true fan of Kid's Lit, especially that kind of innocent, fun-loving, picnic-and-midnight-feast-filled stuff one gets from the post-WW2 period. Halcyon days concerned solely with adventures, wholesome food and good manners. In short, feel-good books to cuddle up to.
Admittedly I haven't had quite as much enthusiasm or energy for such adventurous tales since having babies. But I know I will do again soon, once they are of an age to join in the fantasy and I can pack them off on picnics and treasure hunts. They will know that the world is there to explore and how to interact respectfully with old and young people alike, and those from all walks of life. And they will have healthy appetites.
I recently discovered the wondrous Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer which relates a stunning array of recipes (and delicious background titbits) from all those splendid feasts we find in our favourite children's books. What more could you ask for?
I have this dream of baking and creating lots of treats and wholesome goodies for my kids to fuel their explorations. And my own of course. So I'll be keeping a copy of Cherry Cake and Ginger Beer close at hand!
Roll on oven day...!
Hope you all have treats and a good adventure (or book substitute) to keep you entertained today.
