International Incident at the Chalet School

[RueDeWakening]

Hear ye, hear ye! Gather ye hence, all angels (be-costumed with slightly tacky silver halos and suchlike) with your lark-like notes and prepare to dazzle us all with your charm.

No, not you Joan. Shop bought cake and cheap looks for you, my dear. See Matron for some milk on your way out.

Of course, you're right Nell, it was indeed her that wrote the foreword to Wanted, An English Girl. I thought her name seemed familiar!! Are you writing a filler yourself, if slightly less - um - canonical in nature?

I'd recommend both the Muller Twins and Deira. Both are well and believably characterised, and I think GGBP have really tightened up on their editing in recent years and all the characters speak as EBD would have had them speak (there were a couple of earlier fillers I didn't like because they just didn't sound right, if that makes any sense). If a choice between one or the other it would be the Muller Twins for me because the plot's very clever. All the writers of canonical fill-ins struggle a bit with trying to come up with events that'll keep the story moving but not be so significant that EBD wouldn't have referred back to them endlessly forevermore. In Muller Twins there's a very good twist to the plot which also explains an EBD-ism. I thought it was great. Deira's fun as well, though, and we get to see some of the more minor characters in transition - e.g. Amy Stevens turns from school baby into a real person. Maybe St Nicholas will put copies of both in your shoes if you've been good?

Ha! I'm glad you said that, because I've already, er, ordered both. It wasn't my fault though - Black Friday at Coull Collectibles made me do it. (I was obviously totally pearl-clutching at BF grabbiness until I saw this.) Thanks! I shall look forward to both of them - they will make a wonderful break from turgid late-Switzerland books, by the sounds if it.
I've also ordered the Chalet Christmas book, which if my family were better trained to instant obedience one of them would be buying me, but none of them will, because they find my collection laughable. :(

Out of slightly more idle interest, what are your thoughts on other fill-ins you've read?
I found Gillian kinda problematic, both in terms of key plot issues and also stylistically being Not Very EBD (I have a feeling it was the very first GGB fill-in), and yet I can't quite bring myself to get rid, even though I strongly suspect I'd get more for it on eBay than I paid.
Guides rather bored me, and I will def sell once it goes out of print.
Difficult Term I thought was very well done, but it's not really a point in the series which grabs me.
A CS Headmistress I probably keep saying that I loved, even though I was much more careful to manage my expectations about that one, since there are major roles for a number of my favourite characters (not only Bill but also Sybil and Grizel) which IMO increases the odds of it jarring somehow.
I must have another look at the Helen Barber collection of short stories once I finish my current read-through. I was definitely underwhelmed at first glance, but I think I was nearing the end of my dissertation at the time and probably v distracted and lacking in any kind of sensible judgment. I think, as with Difficult Term, there was a high proportion of eras and characters who don't much engage me.

In theory I'm keen to read both Juliet and Peace, having read v good things about both - but I've also read bits of out-takes from both online and had my own, deeply subjective, reservations about them.

I might be writing a bit of very lightweight slash. I feel oddly v shy at the thought of putting my name to it.

Just surfaced my lambs as was in the basement after hearing the moon was tipping and the hills were cardboard but all seems calm now.

I liked peace, it was fairly gentle and described the end of the war celebrations very well.

The chalet school librarian was okish. Must order headmistress for Christmas for myself.

Nell what's the Christmas book my lamb? Very excited to hear you are writing. Send your manuscript to Mrs Maynard and she will advise you on it.

I really enjoyed The Bettanys of Taverton High, the prequel written by, I think, Helen Barber

Oooh, Nell, can we read it when it's finished?

Well Joey and co is a bit odd isn't it. EBD really didn't seem to know how to write about a 16 year old Male character... flipping randomly between his being a child who needs looking after and his being a man frightening old ladies in his swim trunks and being offered a cigarette by Joey.....

Yes UniS I thought that! She almost couldn't seem to decide whether Roger should count as a friend of the children or a friend of Jo's. Also, this is unim

Oh, fgs: I was saying, this is unimportant, but why is Joey a much faster swimmer than the strapping young six feet of manhood? I mean, really?

whatsthewhat: Chalet Christmas storybook my lamb.

I may post the link when my little lightweight slashy thing is all done. It is niche, though, and definitely not for Mrs Maynard's authorial edification!

I kept looking at the moon on the way home yesterday and wondering whether it was tipping. What has become of me?

Weather wisdom! I am worryingly tempted by this book...
Was learning weather signs a Guides thing, maybe? EBD is super-keen on it. There's a bit of it randomly shoehorned into that prefects' meeting when Julie Lucy nearly dies of appendicitis in Bride. They're quoting odd little sayings about rain in February til Bride gets quite huffy and tells them to shut up.

Was learning weather signs a Guides thing, maybe?

Seems plausible. It's the sort of useful, outdoorsy activity that Guides would have gone for back in the day. I just had a look at what badges today's girlguide wears on her sleeve - how the world changes! There's a chocolate badge and a confectioner's badge. Not shop-bought, I hope. Luckily the past is preserved in the Traditions of Guiding badge which has girls reassuringly laying and tracking signs, using semaphore and hoisting flags amongst other things. I wonder how many girls actually do this badge?

I've enjoyed most of the fillers I've read to be honest. Like Hels I really liked The Bettanys of Taverton High which was full of lovely period detail. Two Chalet Girls in India is another favourite - I think the fact that it's set away from the school made it easier to take more liberties with plot and characters, and it's a gripping read in its own right. The strangest fill-in I've read was Cornelia of the Chalet School. It's not GGBP and not aiming to be canon. The editing is absolutely dire, but if you can get past that, the story itself is rather good and I enjoyed it. Would read again. In fact, I might put it on my upcoming holiday reading list as it's been a while since I last looked at it.

Yes, Joey and her swimming is a very odd thing. Someone who's read them more recently, remind me whether she's an ace swimmer at the Tiernsee, or does that come later? It seems a very random thing for her to be superlative at and I don't remember becoming aware of her aquatic talents until she's a proud-mamma-of-several. In fact, now I think of it, I don't remember her becoming a champion swimmer until after OOAOML has blazed the trail.

I know it's not exactly the weather for it, but we must be due a summerhouse party soon, complete with mulled wine and shop-bought mince pies for the season. I vote we adjourn there and Nell reads us her slashfic story just as soon as it's done.

I'm sorry to say that it does seem to be a Tiernsee thing - Grizel describes her as "originally born a fish" in Camp. They have a bathing house in And Jo (where the Middles stash Biddy) so perhaps they actually did quite a bit of swimming there?

Two votes for the Taverton High fill-in (plus Barber's Headmistress being brilliant) has sent it rocketing to the top of the must-buy list. I just realised I ordered Two Chalet Girls in India this week, too.
I recall reading Bad Things about the Cornelia one but perhaps they were only editing related...

Shop-bought mince pies and copious amounts of mulled wine sounds excellent! See you all there.

I have only managed to read Cornelia twice. And when i do a re-read it is the only fill in that I don't read....

So, currently reading Trials. We have the obligatory breach of confidentiality chat with Joey re Naomi's "warped" mind; Joey suggests turning Mary-Lou onto her, which is clearly bonkers; and although neither Miss Annersley or Miss Wilson like the idea, they do it anyway. But does anyone ever ask Naomi's aunt to explain herself at all? Surely they must, after discussing such possibilities as kleptomania or compulsive lying. But it almost seems as if they just go oh well, let's just wait and see! And if it was one of those options, just what exactly would Mary-Lou have been able to do about it?

The next chapter features the prefects discussing Corney and how she will be able to deal with Yseult, as if they know Corney intimately. However, she left school well before any if them started - the current prees include Mary-Lou and Vi Lucy. Vi says that Corney wrote to Beth Chester in the holidays, even though Beth was a Junior aged 12 in Exile, and Goes To It was Corney's last term at school by which time she must have been 20 so why would she be writing to someone she probably hardly knew? This episode was cut out of the paperback, possibly because it entirely fails to make any sense, although I do like the idea of Yseult in an American high school, deciding she's keen on fashion. I have this image of her as the annoying Patti in Grease, with her hair in a ponytail. Or having a Sandy-style makeover.

Ha ha also EDB as well as that old favourite an accident bring used to make bad girls true chalet girls she also uses hair cutting as being reforming.

Eustacia has both. Cornelia had yseults hair cut and she transforms.

And if course the hair cutting after head injuries and accidents to help the survival of the victims usually then turning into a bubbles crop. OOaoml and Adrienne. She has a thing about hair!

Going to order a few books for Christmas now just for me. So excited

Ooh, what are you buying?

Cheddar are you suggesting that OOAOML would be ill-equipped to fix kleptomania? Really? You think there are limits to her powers? Well that's where your toes turn in.

Don't forget Ted as also being transformed by a hairstyle...

Just received my GGBP copies of Princess and Head Girl, neither of which I've read for years. Very excited!

Hopefully without being offensive, please may I ask what the phrase "you must be a gone coon if you're reduced to hunting in there" actually means? A dead c*? What? I mean, I get that Vi means Mary-Lou is desperate/hopeless (this is the Lost Property episode in Trials) but I don't understand the phrase. I really hope it's OK to ask.

I had a little google and multiple sites seem to liken it to "a dead duck", v much steeped in hunting references, so I guess it comes from the original meaning of 'coon' as an abbreviation of raccoon? "A gone coon" = a hunted raccoon with nowhere left to run?

Given that the racial insult far predates the publication of Trials (and even EBD's lifetime), it seems a fairly inadvisable turn of phrase even in spite of its origins... But perhaps it's possible on this occasion she genuinely didn't know the offensive meaning? (I'm trying to remember whether it makes an appearance in any of the 'Little House' books?) It's US English in either usage, isn't it?

I'm reading Wins the Trick... Jack Lambert and co have a run-in with the Everetts et al crossing a bridge. The schoolgirls ask the Bad Wild Children to move, politely, and are rudely refused, so Jack declares she will have to make them and "without more ado, she lowered her head and went full tilt at Val who had last spoken".

She's going to headbutt them out of the way? Like a battering ram? This is as brilliantly farcical as when Jack Maynard bangs two Nazis' heads together so he can run away!

I don't think I've read this one before. It's feeling very much like a rehashing of the Mystic M.

It's the sort of thing I can see Jack doing though!!!
I would imagine EBD really did have no idea of any offensive meaning.

I am ordering headmistress as never read it and fancy two chaiet girls in India. Ooohhh. Excited.

Yes forgot Teds hair. I liked Ted but am a bit confused about this fascination thing she has for other girls? It's mentioned a bit In the early chapters but not later In any of the books.

I am re reading MaryLou and enjoying it but would love to ask EDB where she gets the sisters by marriage thing from? And love the way Joey knows all of the details of Jessica's personal life and calmly tells them all to MaryLou. Bless.

To add I mentioned far far too many times that the moon was tipping walking back from the pub on sat night.

My Sloc thought I had gone hysterical and offered to shave my head and give me special milk but thankfully I pointed out it was just too much light country wine.

But you passed up the opportunity for a bubbles crop right there! (Btw, what even is a bubbles crop? I mean as far as I can tell, it's short curly hair, but what on earth does the phrase mean? Google won't tell me.)

I like Ted, but she becomes kind of shadowy boring 'companion to Len' in later books, as does Ros Lilley - a total waste on both accounts. I think I do know the dynamic EBD was describing - I suppose you'd call it a kind of charisma, really, that without being especially pretty or clever or charming in any obvious way, a number of her peers found her kind of magnetically appealing. I think that must've been something she had observed as a teacher, although I only really spot it in the later books after she'd stopped teaching - I think Margot's friendships, in particular, often play around with this kind of dynamic: the mutual attraction between her and Emerence, the way Francie Wilford yearns to be her special friend after Emerence leaves...

Reading back through that, I want to make it clear that I'm not (for a change!) particularly advocating a queer/slashy reading of it, although I suppose it has similarities. - I do think it's related to this that its only 'bad girls' who have these kinds of overwrought, dramatic and intense friendships - EBD is very, very clear that Good and Healthy friendships always include more than two people at any given moment, which I think is totally a nod to the more adult readings (as much as also good sound advice for overwrought adolescents!) of that besotted intensity.

I meant to add: I think it's a shame that Ted entirely loses that natural leadership quality when she reforms. This may be partly because EBD only believes in that kind of compulsive attraction when it's an attraction to naughtiness, but of course that theory is never tested because none of Len's peers would ever be allowed to be a natural leader. There's a comparison with Vi Lucy in that respect, isn't there?

I also meant to add, re the perils of friendship pairs, that perhaps it is more to do with EBD's teacherly experience of such high passions in friendships being emotionally draining and educationally distracting for schoolgirls, rather than dubious adult interpretations of them.
Much is made of the difference in depictions of GPs in early girls' school stories (Brazil et al) and later, post-Radclyffe Hall stories (EBD, DFB) where the notion is mocked and shunned by the schoolgirls themselves - but that kind of fear of misrepresentation doesn't seem to have stopped EBD from portraying the friendships of adult women in exactly that way: her not-intended-to-marry mistresses almost all get paired off with each other.