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Original poster

New Home for the Chalet School

999 replies

Vintagejazz · 15/08/2014 20:15

Welome everyone. Dormy lists on the board as usual and I know you are all hoping like mad that you are all not in the same dormitory as Mary Lou. But only some of you can be the un lucky ones and the rest of us will have to make do with each other.

Oh, and the good news is that Joey has sabotaged discovered something wrong with the roof on her house and believe it or not, the only property available to rent is right next door to the school.

Shit Hurrah, lucky us.

Got to go. Matey wants me for unpacking.

OP posts:
EmilyAlice · 20/08/2014 12:40

Brilliant, VintageJazz
Have just been reading about Joey's earphones and realise I was deeply traumatised by one of the mistresses at my prep school. Every time I got to the front of the queue with my tangled knitting she just sent me to the back again...
Where was kindly Frau Mieders?
How can I knit my lime green twinset?
On the bright side we did wear shantung tunics for free dance lessons (think Isadora Duncan) so I know what it is.....

Original poster
Vintagejazz · 20/08/2014 12:41

Would love to hear spoilers as a bit nervous about actually reading the book.

OP posts:
EmilyAlice · 20/08/2014 12:41

The above only makes sense if I add that the mistress in question wore plaits wound round her ears (I just checked the school photo)....

SignYourName · 20/08/2014 12:58

That's brilliant Vintage Grin

Must dash, I have to bike back to whichever member of the Maynard/Bettany/Lucy/Chester family I've been billeted with at random this week and it's starting to get foggy. I do hope I don't come down with a streaming cold and have to spend a week in the San being dosed with special milk.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 20/08/2014 14:06

Vintage that's wonderful! You have redeemed yourself from the lime-green eyeshadow. As Mollie Maynard would say (?) 'No daughter of mine is going to look a fright in her make up - what would the doctors say?'

DeWee · 20/08/2014 14:37

One thing I do think Joey did well, was she manages to stay in good contact with her own family and almost nothing from Jacks. Good managing of inlaws. or did she irritate them into keeping away

Original poster
Vintagejazz · 20/08/2014 17:04

I'm a true Chaletian as well. I cheated.

OP posts:
TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 20/08/2014 19:04

Joey's in-laws adored her but considerately die not long after the Trips are born, I believe. Much chat of how horrible Lydia Maynard is and how she only had herself to blame for her son dying. Hmm

CGGU: Jack shoots himself! I did not know that.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 20/08/2014 20:28

Oh, dear. Well, that wasn't strictly necessary, was it? I'm always happy enough when he goes off to nearly die in war / be authoritative about TB in some other country / just keep busy (haha) by, you know, going to work and stuff. It keeps him out of the way well enough.

Joel's in-laws adore her so much they promptly pop their clogs and leave her Pretty Maids, don't they? I forget why Jo can't actually live there and has to give it to the NT instead. Is it because it's not next door to the school? Or is the New Forest air bad for her? (I say they leave it to Jo, obv I mean technically to Jack, but see above re his general convenient absence.)
I feel v sorry for Lydia. Regardless of the actual story behind Rolf's death, I think all the repeated ill will towards her about it reflects poorly on everyone who engages in it. (I seem to recall Con Stewart joining in with it, on the basis of her sister having been at school with Lydia - how small is this world??)

Alicebannedit · 20/08/2014 21:00

^"CGGU: Jack shoots himself! I did not know that."

Thought that was cleverly done and we are never sure it was totally intentional, are we? Didn't he have a lot of 'manly' worries on his mind re work and house and financial situation and shut himself in his room to get a bit of peace... then somehow he found himself handling the gun and Joey chose that moment to come and warble something girlishly outside the door...

(I want to make some connection between oblivious and oblivion here but brain doesn't want to co-operate at this time of night!)

Alicebannedit · 20/08/2014 21:02

^CGGU: Jack shoots himself! I did not know that

Thought that was cleverly done and we are never sure it was totally intentional, are we? Didn't he have a lot of 'manly' worries on his mind re work and house and financial situation and shut himself in his room to get a bit of peace... then somehow he found himself handling the gun and Joey chose that moment to come and warble something girlishly outside the door...

(I want to make some connection between oblivious and oblivion here but brain doesn't want to co-operate at this time of night!)

Original poster
Vintagejazz · 20/08/2014 21:09

I have read Exile, Go To It, Lavender etc and haven't encountered any of Joey's in laws including Lydia. Which books did they appear in?

OP posts:
EElisavetaofBelsornia · 20/08/2014 22:22

I thought it was one of those Vintage - did you read the Armada version?

A question - when Marie von Eschenau, Grizel or even my royal self tie back their long mane of curls with a ribbon, what's the difference between that and the evil pony tail?

Lurknomoreladies · 20/08/2014 22:30

I always assumed Grizel et al had their hair pulled back and fastened at the nape of their neck type affair, whearas the scandalous ponytail was high on the head and swinging around, a la every teen girl in every fifties movie ever. But I could be totally off the mark as I've been imbibing the gin special milk this evening.

Ionacat · 20/08/2014 22:40

Mollie Maynard reappears in Chalet School reunion and is described as larger. I think Pretty Maids is mentioned in several I think whenever Joey moves stalks the school. Think the bit about Lydia Maynard is in either goes to it or exile but would have to check.
Better go and brush my curls until they shine so I end up with a fetching 80s style Afro with all of the frizz.

EmpressOfBedlam · 20/08/2014 22:42

I thought of you on this thread yesterday as my local library is selling off some books and there was a handbook to the chalet series there for 50p. I didn't buy it but I can go back and get it if anyone would like it!!!?

SignYourName · 20/08/2014 22:57

Ooooh Empress, yes please!

EElisavetaofBelsornia · 20/08/2014 23:33

Oh I seeeeeeeee. It's about the relative height of the ribbon. As a mother of DDs I have a lot to learn.

I am reading Rivals and have even more of a crush on Gottfried Mensch than Exile gave me. Skating in, picking up girls as lightly as hay bales and prescribing brandy. Gisela was a lucky girl.

NellWilsonsWhiteHair · 21/08/2014 08:44

Gottfried is the best doctor by miles.

EmpressOfBedlam · 21/08/2014 08:47

Cool I will go and get it today! I could feed you all snippets each day! Or I could just post it to you signyourname!! Grin

EmpressOfBedlam · 21/08/2014 10:54

Here you go!

New Home for the Chalet School
New Home for the Chalet School
SignYourName · 21/08/2014 11:25

That's brilliant, thank you - I've PM'd you.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 21/08/2014 11:34

Gottfried rules. He does proper climbing, can run while wearing skates and everything.

I always thought with the hair, it was tied round the head - where an Alice band would go these days?

Original poster
Vintagejazz · 21/08/2014 13:13

Whichever of you ends up hanging onto the book, could you post snippets?

Thanks.

OP posts:
SignYourName · 21/08/2014 13:15

I'm happy to read it and pass it on, if anyone would like it after me (perhaps one of the wonderful transcribers might even take it on after the series is complete?)