To wonder why MNHQ still haven't given us our Chalet School topic?

[TheObligatoryNotQuiteSoNewGirl]

Because we probably shouldn't still be hanging out in AIBU, four (or is it five?) threads later.

I've been reading all the lovely transcripts, and although I started Prefects yesterday, I don't want to finish it, because it's the last one! :-(

I don't think we should move to Chat because we are writing things which are insightful and hilarious and must not ever be deleted from the Internet. Should we be in fiction? I don't even know the fiction section - am I right in thinking there are separate adult and children ones? I can't even work out which of those two makes more sense.

Can I join in please. I used to have quite a lot of these (my mum took them to the charity shop), not sure which edition but they had a white cover, I think I started reading them when I bought one for a long journey. My strongest memories are of one of the teacher's hair turning white during the war and Joey going skating and falling through the ice (?) I also remember having some kind of chalet school annual and pouring over the chronology to see which books I needed.

Island is next on my list. I'm still reading Tom Tackles the Chalet School and am finding it a bit disjointed.You'd know it was originally written as a series for an annual and not as a complete book, and then shoehorned into the series.

Nell, yes there is an adult and children's fiction section so not really sure where we'd fit in. If we move to children's fiction it could end up being taken over by discussion on general children's school stories etc.

Any one any ideas?

Apart from asking MN to create a section for crossover fiction (I can think of a fair few book series for children that are also read by adults (Harry Potter being the most obvious) it doesn't really fit properly in either.

Hmm. This is a difficult decision and we're running out of posts in which to decide! Argh. At first I thought the idea of a dedicated Chalet (and/or school stories, I suppose) section of its own was funny but ridiculous, but now I am beginning to see that it is simply practical!

Vintage are you skipping Rosalie on purpose? I'm reading roughly in order for once (though skipped straight from Rosalie to Island) and thought Rosalie followed on pretty seamlessly from Tom. I think that was the first time I'd read it.

yumyum my lamb I will PM you the transcript details.

Maybe someone should pop over to Site Issues and ask very nicely in at least English, French and German, possibly throwing in some Russian, Italian and Belsornian for good measure about getting a Chalet School, or even just School Stories sub-section in Books (there are currently seven sub-topics and a very forlorn looking space ready for the 8th one), and in the meantime, we can keep lurking here, so no one gets lost on their way to the Splasheries...

How about we ask MNHQ if they'll give us a trial topic for say, 3 months, and if they don't feel it's working or is creating too much work for them we will promise to use Chat in future?

I forgot about Rosalie Nell. I thought Island came next. Is Rosalie just a very short book?

"AIBU to keep lurking here in the meantime, so no Chaletians get lost on their way to the splasheries?"

I am too shy to go and ask myself. Plus my Belsornian is a tad rusty.

It's pretty short, though not quite as short as Mystery iirc.

The trial topic is a good idea. I can't really even see what could go wrong - we are nice Chalet girls who don't require any moderation or anything. They can just put us on our honour!

I think Rosalie is quite nice in showing the return of Miss Annersley. And I like the fancy dress party. I think Jo is off-stage in it, too, although I have been dipping in and out of Rosalie, Excitements, Island and Bride so irregularly that I may be confusing it with another of these.

Rosalie's only seven chapters IIRC. I loved it though - if I was at the Chalet School, I would've been Rosalie. She unfortunately mostly disappears in later books, and ceases to be the rhymey-with-everyone Rosalie Way, and becomes the rather unassuming Rosalie Browne, who is eventually left behind by Bride and Co., and (I think) is a lesser prefect under Julie Lucy (who is HG after Bride because she has another year after her appendicitis).

Any volunteers to approach MNHQ? Otherwise I could be persuaded to sacrifice myself for the good of the school, despite the fact that I know next to no Belsornian and I'm not even a Mum so I sometimes feel like a bit of an imposter here

I've just asked on Site Stuff if we can have a new topic.

Fingers crossed.

ps It's not cheek, it's just Vintagejazz

OOAOVJ! Thank you.

Yes Obligatory how did EBD forget her original surname after making such a song and dance about it?! It's a nice gentle book, too, isn't it? I wouldn't want a whole series like it but some days those are most particularly welcome.

Nell wow thanks so much!

I appear to have not been here for a few days! I have no idea how. Going back to page 31 to catch up. Don't go anywhere without me!

We might have to go somewhere without you, Joan ; we're rapidly running out of thread!

I vote for "AIBU to keep lurking here in the meantime, so no Chaletians get lost on their way to the Splasheries?" if we haven't heard from MNHQ by the end of this thread.

Yeah, I agree with that. I can't think of a better stop-gap measure.

Too much time wasted hanging around with that Vic Coles, wasn't it, Joan?

I agree. We'll just hang out here until the issue is sorted, unless a prefect gives us a telling off and a fine.

Joan, if you want to move to our new premises with us you are really going to have to try harder to be a true Chaletian. I got into enormous trouble with Matey for stapling my velveteen frock up to my knickers knees last week and have been told to find myself some nicer friends.

Yes totally Nell EDB must have yearned in a fantasy easy for a strong bloke to shove her problems into, especially financially when her school failed. She probably wouldn't have appreciated the reality though. Like us all.

And YY to the characters. As a child I wanted to be part of the triumvirate with Daisy, Gwensie and
Beth

Yes we need a proper area of mumsnet If possible not chat.

at Vintage. You do get away with things the rest of us would never dare to ask! I was going to suggest a deputation to MNHQ between the hours of 5 and 7pm, if Miss Bubb hasn't abolished the tradition by then.

I like Mystery and Rosalie. The blackout is still up and we're still in Plas Howell getting lifts to Joey's in a hay cart...such gentle Sundays books.

Joan my lamb did your engagement last to that boy at college or did you go back to Vic? I hope you kept flying the chalet school flag back jn your working class area. but I am worried you will return to the haphazard washing and shop brought cake days.

I always Assumed Those Rosalie's were 2 different girls. No wonder I was confused.

And I still think Joey sabotaged her house foundations to get to the island.

The view from posters on site stuff seems to be that we should be in children's books.

My only real concern is that there'll be posters saying 'oh I haven't heard of the chalet school. Would it be suitable for DD aged 8?' and another poster going 'well if your DD enjoys school stories has she read the xxx series.' and first poster replying 'No we haven't read those. But I've just bought a Trebizon book. Would you recommend those for an 8 yr old' and the thread would just change totally.
Not criticising the above as that's really what the Children's fiction is about, but I'd hate the general tone of our threads to be diluted.

Actually, why are us women discussing such an important issue on our own? Surely there's a doctor in the house who could tell us what to do?