To start a new term at the Chalet School?

[Vintagejazz]

Happy for this to be moved to Chat if posters agree but thought I'd start it here as this is where we've all been loitering without permission when we should be doing our housework homework.

So welcome to a new term everyone. Cases upstairs to the dormitories, form lists on the notice board. And you'll all be pleased to hear that even though we've moved to a different location, Joey has tracked us - -down moved in next door, so we'll still be seeing too much-- plenty of her

Aye but the people at the San (apart from the free beds, of course!) would be all middle/upper classes who lived in leafy suburbs with a serving wench or two... They weren't slum-dwellers with children at council schools.

I got really fed up of practically every pupil being described as 'pretty' 'exceptionally pretty' 'remarkably pretty'.
This annoys and bores me, too, as does the tedious details of hairstyles and eye colour (never mind the bloody pansies). And anyone who isn't "pretty" is instead somehow striking, in a way that makes people want to look at them again (Joey, amongst others). Or is a baddie, or (amongst the staff) is Nell or Hilda, although she's at pains to make it clear they're not unattractive, they're just not pretty either. Also, why is there such an extreme abundance of chestnut hair and/or violet eyes? I had a Sindy doll with violet eyes, and between that and the CS, having violet eyes was my childhood wish. I am now v glad it was not granted!

I do know one person in RL with violet eyes. They are the loveliest eyes I have ever seen... she's not the brightest alpenstock in the box (once told me her friend had had boy/girl twins but they weren't identical) but she's vair pretty.

Yes, but Lonny, are they also like pansies?

Violet + pansy = the holy grail of beautiful eyedom.

No, not like pansies. Or else I would have a crush, and we don't do that sort of thing here fair my lamb.

Also when I read 'pansy eyes' I just imagine two pansies stuck on instead of eyes. That's not pretty. That's weird!

What ho chaps - what's for Mittagessen?

Alpine cheese and bread twists here. Long mountainous trek in the afternoon and am worried we'll end up spending the night in a heardsman's hut and having to make onion stew using snow.

I am tying up my chestnut locks as we speak and slowly blinking my keen dark blue eyes.

I didn't realise you really really could get violet eyes! Really violet? Like Sindy?

What did "eyes like pansies" actually mean? I always have the exact same frightening image as Lonny but I presume EBD meant something different... And clearly it's not a colour either as I'm sure there are blue eyes like pansies as well as obviously Jo's black eyes like pansies.
(I do understand what EBD meant when she talked about Jo's eyes "glowing", but personally my first visual of that is also quite frightening.)

And retrieving extremely old, rock solid black bread from the herdsman's hut to go with the stew, Stokey. You should look at the sky to determine when it is going to start snowing, that will help.

Joey Demon Eyes

I guess EBD means that the pansy-like eyes are somehow rich, deep and velvety... I can't say I've ever encountered this phenomenon myself, though. I couldn't even tell you what colour most of my friends' eyes were.

I usually imagine something along the lines of the button eyes in "Coraline", except with flowers. Slightly sinister.

However, any feeling of fear is neutralised by (a) bronzy curls, (b) a clever, sensitive face, or (c) a creamy complexion.

Well I'm starving and am having sardines for lunch. Forgot to buy bread but there is fruitcake in the kitchen which I can use instead. I'm sure it will be delicious.

There are other pansy-eye fans out there

Francie wilford was in the same class as Ruey, and wasvery jealous of Ruey's friendship with Len (yes that well-used plot) until they are made to go off and chooseclues for Subject and Object and Francie finds out about the Richardsons getting to know the Maynards over the summer and being adopted by them given their dad is bonkers and possibly dead.

Jack Lambert really isn't that bad - she's treated worse by her classmates in Leader, yes she's nasty to Jane but it's not like she's gleeful about it and it doesn't go on that long, and Gillie Garstin etc give as good as they get. Phil Craven or Betty Wynne-Davies are as bad or worse - Jack is definitely "more sinned against than sinning".

Will look lovely under nice lime green cardi

What with this changeable weather, I fear I have developed a habit of peering up at the sky in a wistful yet weather wise fashion before doing anything.

I've a five hour train journey on Saturday. I think I better download a grown up book for a bit of balance

Lonny, I have read nothing but CS for the last month and fear I may have a Chalet-induced brain fever.

Joey's glowing eyes...any one else thinking of the Total Eclipse of the Heart video? "Turn around, bright eyes..."

If I was a CS girl i would be described as 'slim' despite being 8 months pg. I noticed in one book (can't remember which now) Jo being described as " tall and slim" when she meets a new girl, only for her to give birth to (I think) Stephen in the next chapter.

Don't forget the raw bacon, Vintage.

I'm finding that I am reading anything Flora and Fiona say out loud to try and fathom the accent. Currently it's sounding nothing like any Scottish accent I have ever heard.

In CS terms, I would be described as having either "golden brown hair", "mousy brown hair" or possibly " brown hair with sunny glints", depending on whether I was a sympathetic character or not. I do not have a popular eye colour, though - green doesn't happen much in EBD-world. I doubt I'd qualify for a "flower-like face" or "perfect features cut with cameo-like precision", alas.

And I have grey eyes... I am just off to inspect myself in the mirror to see whether they are "keen"... Are you allowed to have unkeen grey eyes?

Bonkers SDL fic - can't decide whether I think this author brilliant or awful. I think on the whole the stories usually feature something unforgivably awful, but they are shot through with numerous brilliant moments. Also, much gin:
“Your blood is almost pure gin,” replied Jack as he starred at Nell in wonder.

Oh, and accents - I've never felt the twins' painfully-transcribed accents to read particularly Scottishly, and they're also seemingly identical to the assorted Welsh accents. I don't much get the toddlerish ones either.

Ps. I don't think my grey eyes are especially keen, but they are often confused with blue and have never yet needed glasses. Two out of three ain't bad.

Hmm, *NellWilson". The Famous Five and syphilis? I'm there.

NotCitrus I'm glad someone else thinks that about Jack Lambert. I actually re-read a couple of books with her in just to check I wasn't imagining it! She is nasty to Jane but regrets it almost straight away. She's human with proper flaws which is one of the reasons I quite like her. She's the anti-Mary-Lou!

I got really fed up of practically every pupil being described as 'pretty' 'exceptionally pretty' 'remarkably pretty'.

I have been revelling in the books (unexpurgated!!) courtesy of the gorgeous Library Pre, and was sunk in Three Go.... one of them, eleven years old if you please, comments on a teacher being plain. Obviously a serious problem.

Also, I noticed for the first time, they run everywhere! No one ever walks anywhere in that place. They hurtle about with registers, they trot, they run, they dash. The corridors must be lethal.

And Verity-Anne who loses the 'e' off her name every few pages. Scatty wench.

Can any swot out there tell me two scenes I can't locate - I'm sure I remember a young Margot having a whopping tantrum outside somewhere and Jack Maynard dealing with it? And Charles having appendicitis. Does anyone remember which book please and thank you ever so?

Margot's tantrum is in Jo to the Rescue, she's about 3 I think? Gets all bossy in a game with her sisters to do with who's den is whose.

Charles gets appendicitis in the first holiday in Tyrol book. Is it Joey & Co or Future? IIRC he wakes Len in the night and she gets him some disprin and some milk. Not Matey's special milk I guess...