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! :-(

Thank you so much for the transcripts!

Am place marking. Will catch up tonight.

I don't think many characters are totally renamed:
Obviously:
Robin, Tom and Copper come with those nicknames.
Most end up with a short version, which is actually quite realistic, Corney, Joey, Evvy, Vi, Julie, etc.

Some Joey names-the only ones (other than her own) I can think of are: Fauna (Fiona) and Ted (Theodora). Rikki is named by Con I think.

Other than those I can't think of any nicknames that aren't sort of naturally shortening of their own name by their peers.

We had more than that at school: Bidet (don't ask!) Splat, Ceelee, Windy, Gazza, Bendy... all boys at school. For some reason the boys got more nicknames than the girls who tended to be known by a short version of their name.

Thinking further, can anyone think of anyone other than Lavender Leigh, who has long name that doesn't get shortened?

Theres a few Margarets, Rosamund, Jacqueline, Loveday, Elinor. Thats all I can think of off the top of my head that have 3 syllables

whoops Loveday only has 2 syllables

Barbara Chester's name was never shortened.

It was... to Babs. Go and hem sheets as punishment for not knowing that Vintage

It must be Fauna.

Felicity protested when her name was shortened to Flixy... does that count?

Oops. I'll just sit in the corner with Joan Baker eating Mr Kipling fancies.

Rosamund is often Ros.

Can't think of a reasonable shortening of Loveday or Elinor.

Margaret (unshortened) is the one who is against Jack isn't she? That's probably why she doesn't get graced with a shortening and never appears again. Which Jacqeline isn't shortened? I can only think of Jack herself. I suppose that almost counts as a nickname rather than a short.

DeWee do you mean you can't think of a possible shortening for Elinor, or just that you can't think of one used in the books? Cos EBD was apparently Len for short (presumably no coincidence that she gives this to Joey's firstborn).

There's a "Jacqueline le Pelley" mentioned in Exile, she came from Gurnsey, and went to the San. I'm fairly sure she was never actually a Chalet Girl, though.

Surely, Ellie could be short for Elinor? Not that it's at all CS...

Or Elle, Elle could be very CSish ie monosyllabic

My Eleanor is known as Els..
I am reading Gerry goes to school and they call classrooms splasheries there too...was this common at the time or just an EBD invention??

Yes, I meant Elinor and Loveday are fairly major characters but I can't think of a place where they are called by shortenings.
Margaret and the other Jacqueline are both minor characters so maybe didn't merit a shortening.

I've never come across Len as a shortening for Elinor, although maybe it once was used. Ellie I think it a modern short and would have not been used at that point, although i have no proof of that.

I think she has a strong preference for quite masculine shorts, which was probably a combination of both fashion and personal taste (links nicely with anti-sentimental stuff, too).

I'm also curious about 'splasheries', btw - I just had a quick google and mainly got CS returns.

That should say cloakrooms not classrooms by the way.....predictive text really must proofread messages before posting.
I thought it mentioned EBD being known as Len in Behind the Chalet School.

I think Nell can also be a short form of Eleanor?

I thought I was reading the TS in order but EBD has thrown me a bit by going back in time in Oberland. I think this is a first time read for me.

Loveday is a great name. I always feel a bit sorry for Daphne Russell, whose tag is that she is no relation to lady Russell.

I think Jacqueline Le Pelley does attend the school. I think she may have been shortened to Jack (as was Jacynth Lambert).

I've read that too, that Len was EBDs own nickname, but I can't remember where.

I am (in a very vague sense) curious about the numerous adjustments she made to her own name, anyway. If she'd just changed it once, or changed only the surname or the forename, or if there were obvious explanations of how she arrived at her new full name, I'd be less so, but I think there's something potentially really revealing about that level of - image management, perhaps? I'm just not sure what exactly it' potentially revealing.

Lavender is shortened though, to Lav no less :o towards the end of Laughs and in Gay as well.

Just reading Problem for the Chalet School. Cecil is 3 weeks old but already her eyes are 'awfully dark' and everyone says she's going to be just like Joey 'straight hair and all'