Antonia Forest fans: your favourite parts or lines?

No such thing as an unnecessary horse!

I think actually that what Lawrie really needs is to be away from Nick. And possibly the rest of her family too (except Peter who bizarrely she seems OK with).

I was always a bit about the whole Nick needing to leave the school scenario. Okay, fair enough, they could no longer afford the school fees. But would any parent have been so blatantly unfair as to suggest that one twin should leave the school? And nobody, even Nick, seemed to think this - she was upset about having to leave the school, distraught even, but she wasn't angry. It struck me as so unrealistic that I didn't actually enjoy The Cricket Term.

I loved the nativity in the cathedral, though.

I think Patrick with Gin was more Gin's doing. She was very much out to get her sticky paws on him.

Not quite sure why, she wanted him. I'd have thought someone more adventurous than him would have suited her, or someone much older (although that avenue had been used with Karen). I could see her more chasing desperately fluttering her eyelashes after someone coming back with Giles. Say trying to persuade him to take her to a ball on board ship, and climbing out of the bedroom window because she knew her mum and Giles wouldn't approve type of thing.

Russians, thank you, I did obsess about tracking all the Marlow books down last year, but am currently job hunting, so no spare cash for lots of expensive books right now! I wish I had them all from childhood, but although an avid reader as a child, we moved countries twice, and all books were ruthlessly culled by my parents!

I have become an avid hoarder of children's books now, and constantly scour secondhand bookshops for them, building up a collection for my DD meWould love them to be made available as e books!

But that's not Patrick's fault. 5 years is a long time when you're that age. And nick was just being his falconry slave at that point. Peter should have gone round the first night if he wanted to be friends again - but he didn't. I really like peter - prob my favourite of all of them - but he's a bit rubbish at the whole social thing isn't he? (Until Selby anyway).

I would have liked to have had a dd called Phoebe and call her Fob, but dh was not so keen.

No, Peter expected to hang out with Patrick at the beginning of falconers lure. He was the one who had been friends with patrick before. He was surprised and hurt when he wasn't invited along.

I don't think Patrick dumped Peter. Not for Nick, not for Gin. Things were a bit dodgy for a little while but they resolved them at the diving competition. Patrick had his head turned by Evil!Gin but it was turned back again by RUn Away Home. Which was nice.

Esther - to build confidence. Rowan said they liked to do things like that.

The way time moves in the books it might have been acceptable to have a Jewish head girl by the end...

Or Lawrie, shed be even worse.

Seeker - as things stand, no. There's clearly more than a little anti semitism going on. But It seems to stem mainly from Keith. If she popped off the twig.....also, let's face it, it might make financial sense to make Miranda head given the whole thing about the pool. And the fact that she has no sibs so Keith would need to maximize returns before she left....

Who would be a terrible terrible choice? Meg.

I love Janice Scott, and the way she holds herself aloof and wouldn't volunteer to weed the drive. I don't like Patrick though - think he is a bit of a dumper. First he dumps Peter for Nicola and then Nicola for Ginty.

Keith doesn't like Nick but the other staff do. And Keith might not be around by the time Nick gets to 6th form (although Keith not being around would mean that Miranda would qualify which would be Better. In every way. Because I think she'd like to be head girl. And she deserves to be. And it would really piss off the nasty girls).

I have a horrible feeling that Kingscote would never have a Jewish Head-girl. I think Miss Keith would have made a spectacularly badly judged choice- can't think who for the moment.....

Ah. That's better.

Wombling - there is a section on their website for dealers who hold old stock. peacock books, from memory, is one such. Try them. In the past I have bought GGB type books (not Marlow ones, I had all of them from my youth, but several Lorna Hills) from the various dealers they list. They tend to be run by enthusiasts, like us, rather than, you now, profiteers. But there is a market and there is a fairly inelastic supply so that does influence the price.

When I was a kid and a young adult some of my happiest times were ranging round the countryside scouring 2nd hand bookshops for this sort of thing. It's a shame that the Internet has transformed 'booking', really. But on the other hand it does often make it a lot easier. If less entertaining.

My big hope is that GGB will release e copies of their back catalogue, especially the ones they have no intention of ever reprinting.

Nick would never be head girl. The head very clearly didn't like her at all. She probably would be sports' captain though.

I think Miranda would be head girl and make a very good one.

I'd have liked to see Ann as head girl, would have been nice to see her being really good at it too.

I liked the meal Nick has with Miranda's dad when Miranda is performing in the Tempest. It's just a glimpse of Miranda's home life which is great to see.

Tim and Lawrie are both irritating in different ways. I think Tim is deliberately irritating, whereas Lawrie is just spoilt. Very telling in Ready Made Family when she expects that going to bed in tears will mean that what she wants will happen (over the horse). They both think they're a bit above the rest for various reasons, and expect everyone to do what they want.

Oh, just checked them out - they are all out of print again, such a shame. Will have to save up for the expensive ones. Just tried the library too, no luck there either!

I need to rethink this new name! I didn't consider the obvious short form.

Back in a mo.