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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not be feeling the love for the Chalet School

143 replies

doingthesplitz · 27/06/2013 10:26

Inspired by a few threads on here, I rooted out a couple of old Chalet books the last time I was at my mum's and brought them home, looking forward to a nice few hours wallowing in the past. However, I tried both of them and couldn't get past the first couple of chapters.

They just didn't have the same magic anymore; the girls were either ridiculously prim, or chortling, jolly hockey sticks types. When they weren't all chuckling merrily their eyes were darkening as they remembered Joey/MaryLou whoever's recent brush with death. The teachers were far too wrapped up in the school and needed to get out and go to the pictures occasionally and maybe find themselves a boyfriend. And the 'old girls' needed to "move away from the schoolgates. Nothing to see here anymore".

AIBU to think they are not as good as I remember and to feel a bit sad Sad.

OP posts:
Beeyump · 02/07/2013 14:00

And one where Joey had faked all of her pregnancies.

Arabesque · 02/07/2013 14:00

Beeyump The only ones I read were Susan Pulls the Strings and Susan at School. I must get my hands on some more. Thanks De We I didn't realise she had written other stuff as well.

DeWe · 02/07/2013 14:01

Susan's helping hand is good too.

Beeyump · 02/07/2013 14:04

For some reason, I can never remember the Susan titles very well as they all sound quite similar. I have read them all though! (proud)

Arabesque · 02/07/2013 14:24

I've just bought Susan's Trying Term on Abebooks. DeWe will also check out Helping Hand.

Beeyump · 02/07/2013 14:43

I love the retro book covers too, nice 50's looking dresses Smile

Arabesque · 02/07/2013 14:44

Just ordered that Beeyump. Half the price of the one on AbeBooks.

Arabesque · 02/07/2013 14:45

Yes, the covers are gorgeous. I hope the never reprint these with photographs of modern looking children in track suits on the front Sad

Beeyump · 02/07/2013 15:12

Ugh noo, far be the thought. And do let me know what you think of it!

MissAnnersley · 02/07/2013 16:12

It feels better now it's all out in the open. :)

I was quietly cheering miss ferrers on when she started teaching here but she was turned by Joe.

FlouncyMcFlouncer · 02/07/2013 16:28

Every time I read one of these threads it reminds me that I've four or five CS books waiting to be ebayed {grin]

MaryLouTrelawney · 02/07/2013 16:58

Well, I think you're all jolly mean. I've a good mind to set my gang on you.

And as for you, Hilda Annersley, a few words spring to mind but as I'm too lady like to use slang I'll just say Fcing Bth.

MissAnnersley · 02/07/2013 17:16

Now now Mary Lou. We've spoken about this before. It's miss annersley to you. Take an order mark.

SolidGoldBrass · 02/07/2013 18:05

Tch. Bugger off, you husband-stealing cow. Mind you, you are welcome to Reg....

decaffwithcream · 02/07/2013 20:02

Amazed the Susan books are available on kindle

OodPi · 02/07/2013 20:24

flouncey oh I need to eBay a couple too just waiting for a free listing weekend but keep missing them

WhiteShakette · 03/07/2013 09:22

Mary-Lou, that's not the attitude of a True Chalet Girl. Instead, I suggest you look shy and pious and murmur about lifting your eyes up to the hills.

Jengnr · 03/07/2013 09:31

A very kind Mumsnetter sent me a load if the e-books recently and I'm currently working my way through them. A bit shocked by some of the language (Mary says the n word a LOT!) and I can't believe how up her own arse Madge Bettany is. And the attitudes are hilarious! I love the way if you get a cold you will probably die. :)

I'm enjoying them though. More than willing to forward on to anyone interested.

HumphreyCobbler · 03/07/2013 09:44

I haven't read the last few - tell me about Reg. Who is he? How does Len become engaged so young?

MissAnnersley · 03/07/2013 09:51

Jengnr I would be very interested in the e books if it wouldn't be too much trouble.

Beeyump · 03/07/2013 09:57

Reg Entwistle! Grr.
He first features in Jo to the Rescue as a local lad type, who then trains as a doctor at the San. Near the end of the series he gets injured in a storm I think, as you do, and Len and he get engaged after she visits him. I think he wanted to 'make her his' from a creepily young age... I just find him rather annoying.

WhiteShakette · 03/07/2013 10:07

Humphrey, Reg first makes an appearance in one of the non-school wartime books when the triplets are toddlers. He's a working class local lad who has ambitions to go to the grammar school and be a doctor, but his guardian won't agree, so Jack and Joey swoop in and agree to pay for his entire education through to the end of medical school. As you do.

The bit that weirds people out is that he reappears as a very pushy suitor for Len when she's in her final year at school. We keep being told, rather creepily, that Len has always been his favourite of the triplets, and that 'he knows what he wants', and what he wants is to get her to agree to get engaged before she goes off to Oxford and meets anyone else. She dithers (understandably, being a very young seventeen!), and Joey, who has previously said Len shouldnt get engaged till after Oxford, tells her not to 'play fast and loose with that poor boy', so she's sort of railroaded into engagement in a rather grim way. We're never told she's in love, just that her future s now 'settled'. Horrid.

Beeyump · 03/07/2013 10:08

He first meets her when she's about THREE!

WhiteShakette · 03/07/2013 10:10

Yes, she's three. It does smack slightly of grooming. And of a man on the make, desperate to marry into his benefactor/ boss's family...