To wonder whether you'd prefer to go to Malory Towers or the Chalet School

[Vintagejazz]

I just heard to girls about 11 years of age having an earnest discussion about this on the bus. I didn't think kids even read Chalet School books any more.
I think I'd opt for Malory Towers. They seemed to have more fun. I'd probably be expelled from the Chalet School for cursing, wearing lipstick and forgetting to speak German every Wednesday or whatever it was.

Must have a look. Thanks.

It's a mad mix of the CS and Enid Blyton.

No problems here Empress and my mum is also delighted. Truly grateful to you!

Empress please PLEASE can I have transcripts too? And anyone else who has any, of any of these authors? I am sadly in need of catching up and will be very grateful!

Chick, PM me your address and I'll send them over.

Empress, I've sent you a pm too, I'd love to read them.

Empress, I hope you're not absolutely inundated with would-be Chalet girls now!

Oh this thread has made me laugh. wilson

And Flapping so funny.

Madge could have had an affair with that bird man Kester Bellever although we all know he was lining up Cherry Christie and her lovely face for an early marriage!!

I assume you are headed for the English branch (or the pre-Switzerland years), EEasterChick?

Give me a chance SDTG I've only just had the transcripts!

Sorry. . You will love them!

Right back atcha thebody

I must have another go at filling in the gaps in my collection.

I am pretty sure I had some stirrings over Kester.

Yes agree Kester or,for a bit of rough,Madge could have shagged Gaudenz the huge man of all work!

Think MrDenny far too fragile for rough stuff.

Check your email, Darmok .

EEasterChick yes it's now bright blue with scarlet touches.

Have to say that sounds vile.

Gentian blue sounds much nicer, though!

!!!

My school uniform was quite chaletian, being blue and red, only my school called the colours saxe blue and hunting pink.

I too am in the Chalet over Mallory camp, for the same reasons as others - less insanely enthusiastic about sport, nicer scenery, more varied characters and less bullies.

Incidentally, I did my first degree in English lit, and one module in Children's lit (lots about how detailed and droolworthy descriptions of food are a metaphor for sex, if you're interested) and we had one lecture on school stories and how they developed. Very interesting in regards to Empire, Class, Sex distinctions. My lecturer made the point that girls stories such as these were the only media at the time in which girls had the adventures themselves, rather than being the love interest/boring younger sister/unsexed mother, etc.

When we did it some people in the class had to buy new copies and I noticed some weird differences when they tried to update them - some changes in uniform and names, etc. A weird one was the scene in MT when Darrell slaps Gwen in the pool, except in the modern version she just shouts at her a bit. No idea why they took that out, I don't see how a girl slapping another in anger would be particularly horrifying or confusing to modern readers (unlike references to spanking or something which I could understand) and it made the scene really underwhelming.

Also just remembered the yearly CS tradition whereby Madge was woken up at a horribly early hour each day on her birthday by the girls all singing to her. Can you imagine? 'It's the one day a year I could have a lie in - half of you are singing in bloody German - shut the F up!!!'

anotherone

The books definitely sparked an interest in the locations for me. We got back two weeks ago from my fifth trip to the Achensee. It's become a much loved holiday place for us, for the scenery and activities and complete peace of it all.

I took my husband on a (to be fair, free airmiles flights and cheap trains from place to place) trip to Basel, Zurich and Innsbruck last winter based on wanting to see various places from the books. I also managed to squeeze in the Tirol on a previous driving holiday with some CS related highlights. He has no idea, I was in heaven.

To be fair he did enjoy the scenery too and the hiking

Gentian blue, of course,

anotherone *i sing of Margaret so sweet and fair

Come on sweeting come away* or some such. Yes shut the fuck up would be mild.

Toospotty really would love to go someday.