To ask what happened to Ramona and Beezus, Elizabeth Allen, Jill from the gymkhana et al?

[HomeSliceKnowsBest]

Been really wondering how these and various other characters fared in later life,having reread various box sets to soothe my nerves over the lockdown...

The book is the 3rd one, The Summer Riders,

Bill had "lung trouble" and he sat about reading his comics all the time. Jinny found out he stole the watch and put it in the shopkeepers bag of apples, so they would think it has just fallen in amongst them.

Bill was off the hook but wanted to go home, until Jinny spoke with her family about how to contact the police, should she need to.

I could make Jinny my Mastermind subject

I could make Jinny my Mastermind subject
You should!
Still can't recall it. I do remember in another book they had friends to stay at Christmas and Belinda, the daughter around Jinny's age, cried because her dad gave her the wrong watch.

I always think of Ramona when opening a new tube of toothpaste, as there was a story where she squeezed the whole thing out into the sink and her parents made her scoop it up into a bag and reuse it as she had wasted it 😳 As a child I was disgusted by that idea!

Yes, Belinda and her sister, Susan I think was her name.

They came to visit in the first book For Love of A Horse. I remember Belinda crying because of the watch.

Mr Manders was offered his old job back, but the family said No to returning to Stopton

I remember Marlene. She wanted to ride “fast as flames”, and Jinny, who was still feeling possessive over anyone else riding Shantih, made her try to learn to ride to the trot first which she struggled to do with her bad leg.

My favourite covers were the originals too, with the chestnut Arab with the wide white face. I wish I knew his/her name. I know the horse on the later covers, the darker chestnut with a piece “cut out” of his blaze, was the stallion The Prince of Orange. And I think I’m right in saying that the most recent reprints have one of the horses from the FB groups a PP mentioned on their covers.

rise to the trot

@FruityPolos

I always think of Ramona when opening a new tube of toothpaste, as there was a story where she squeezed the whole thing out into the sink and her parents made her scoop it up into a bag and reuse it as she had wasted it 😳 As a child I was disgusted by that idea!

Did they do that in the end? I thought that was Ramona's suggestion when Beezus saw what she'd done and asked how they were supposed to brush their teeth now. Beezus said that would get everyone's germs all mixed up and Ramona said she was being picky.

I know the Quimbys were of modest means but I don't think a new tube of toothpaste would break them.

And then crowning herself with burs...

The main thing I remember about the toothpaste episode is that Ramona is told never to do it again, and this is easy for her to promise, because she has already fulfilled her dream of squeezing out an entire tube of toothpaste, and there is no need for her to do it more than once!

In the recent Ramona film (made about 10 years ago) when Ramona decides to run away from home her mum hands her the plastic bag of toothpaste and says "don't forget your toothpaste".

Did they do that in the end? I thought that was Ramona's suggestion when Beezus saw what she'd done and asked how they were supposed to brush their teeth now. Beezus said that would get everyone's germs all mixed up and Ramona said she was being picky.

Yes - Ramona (trying to defend herself) suggested putting it in a plastic bag they could all use. Her mother eventually told Ramona to put it in a jar to use herself, and opened a fresh tube for the rest of the family. Ramona felt sad at being excluded from the family tube of toothpaste, but as PP said, strangely calm and satisfied at having fulfilled her ambition.

K is love the Ramona toothpaste story. I still think of it every time I get out a new tube of toothpaste....

@OnlyTheLangoftheTitBerg

Hi, I must write down the name of the horse on the original covers, I can't remember where I saw the pics of him, I've a feeling it was a Jinny forum, and people who knew him were on it. I'm sure it began with a K and was a short name, not much help I know!

Prince of Orange was beautiful too, there was another pony used too for the covers.

@IntermittentParps
@OnlyTheLangoftheTitBerg

I've found the name of the horse from the original cover!

Sharukh! He was a gelding who behaved like a stallion, beautiful horse

The name of the forum is Arabianlines Forum

You could easily spend an hour or two in there

I think Jill took over the riding school and also bred strapping great show hunters or something.

She's now in her 80s but sharp as a tack and won't stand for the yard not being run in the "proper" way.

Ann carried on the secretarial course but married a local boy and had a few kids. They're still best friends but Ann has moved on from horses.

Elizabeth Allen went on to be a top class barrister in human rights or something similar.

I'm torn between her remaining unmarried and her marrying a film star but continuing to work and campaign for justice and humanitarian issues.

[quote zukiecat]@IntermittentParps
@OnlyTheLangoftheTitBerg

I've found the name of the horse from the original cover!

Sharukh! He was a gelding who behaved like a stallion, beautiful horse [/quote]
Wonderful, thank you! I’ve always wondered.

This thread inspired me to reread the Naughtiest Girl in the School books. As an adult, you realise that Blyton really wasn't the greatest craftswoman in terms of writing and she did the same characters and plots over and over, but oh my, they go down easily. They're almost medicinal.

@GeordieGreigsButtButtZoom I think I've read the Naughtiest Girl series every year since I was about 9! My set is very dog eared now but much loved.

As you say, not technically the best writer, and a bit of a odd fish from what I've read and heard, but they're very easy reading.

Just wanted to thank the OP for starting this thread.

I bought 2 of the 'Jill' books mentioned because of it and have just read (and thoroughly enjoyed) Jill and the Lost Ponies, which arrived this afternoon. Jane Badger definitely chanelled Ruby Ferguson!

Can anyone explain Beezus's name? The books passed me by completely but you lot have got me curious.

Beezus is Beatrice. When Ramona was a baby she couldn't pronounce it so it became Beezus.
Although apparently author Beverly Cleary got the name from a neighbours child. It was a nickname but the neighbour wasn't actually a Beatrice. I believe she never found out why the girl was called that.

I feel like the Wakefield twins would have been in some of Real Housewives reality show

I have fond memories of "Jill's Gymkhana" and "Jill has Two Ponies" which I loved to pieces in the 60s. Are these the same books? Or am I simply a mad auld bint who has lost her marbles.?

I loved the Famous Five books; disliked The Secret Seven but my favourite of all were the Swallows and Amazons series.

jo - they were different ones. I can’t swear to it but I think Jill’s Gymkhana might have been the one when two sisters come to stay and buy a horse called Blue Shadow. Jill has Two Ponies is definitely the one where she buys Rapide.

I think Jill's Gymkhana is the first book in the series. The one where her mother and Jill move to Chatton because they're "poor" now.

Jill buys Black Boy for pennies, and is taught to ride by Martin, the ace fighter pilot who is now in a wheelchair.

Jill and Black Boy win a red rosette at their first gymkhana.