enid blyton

Enid Blyton was my favourite author growing up. I believe i started reading her books at about 6 years old. she wrote many genres - mystery and adventure stories, school stories and fantastical stories for children 12 and under. Enid Blyton's books have sold more than 600 million copies, and still today continue to sell more than 8 - 10 million copies. Her books have been translated into more than 90 languages. One of my favourite stories, 'The Magic Faraway Tree' was voted no. 66 in the BBC's Big Read. In 2008 Costa Book Awards , even though Enid Blyton passed on in 1968, she was voted the best-loved author ahead of JK Rowling and Shakespeare!

i remember the mystery stories - Famous Five series, Secret Seven series, the Adventures series and the Circus series. There were more I'm sure. The Secret Seven was my favourite series among these. I remember spending countless times reenacting the adventures with my cousins and friends and begging our parents for mystery type 'toys' and games to use for our 'play dates'. I remember being thrilled when I found a 'detective' type book, which showed me how to make 'invisible' ink, secret code 'languages', and varies simplistic type tools that were similar to the stories in the books. We spend many happy days engrossed in imagination and excitement.

The school series - Malory Towers, St. Clare's and The Naughtiest Girl were very charming as well. My sister, friends and I used to go to bed and make ourselves stay awake until as close to midnight as our sleepy selves would let us. We would dress up my room like a boarding school dorm (as far as our imagination took us). Pushed away my huge free standing closet from the wall to make a 'passage way' for holding the 'midnight' feasts' described in the books. We would raid the pantry secretly in the day for cookies, sweets, biscuits and purchase sodas that resemble the description of the books, and hide them in my room for the 'feast'. Sometimes it would take a week to plan and coerce our parents to allow the sleepover. We would spend days planning and giggling. i'm smiling reminiscing again. Delightful!

The fantastical genre kept me occupied for hours and hours by myself. The faraway tree series was my absolute favourite. I would spend hours reenacting and creating the characters, scenes and descriptions in the books. The series was about three children who discovered a magical tree, where all sorts of fairy folk lived. Each character was enchanting and funny in their own way. Madam Washalot, Mr Saucepan, Moonface... On the very top of the tree were magical moving 'Lands' that arrive and leave the treetop. We had a mango tree that I transformed into my faraway tree. I managed to bring up a table, chair, pots and pans and numerous props.

The imprint that this story had on me was reflected in my daughter Ashti's 1st birthday 15 years later:) I threw her an 'Enchanted Forest' Theme party. Looking back, I was definitely a little excessive and obsessive! I rental a hall, and turned a section into a mini forest where her guests would have to pass through and were met with characters from the book. ( I made my friends and family dress up as these characters.)The children would receive treats and solve mini puzzles dependent on their age. There was a dry ice machine to keep the 'forest' looking mythical and magical. When the children got to the end of the forest, there was the 'Land of Magic' where a magician would do tricks and entertain the kids with balloons, and treats. He also did a show with life mini animals, like rabbits and birds etc. After the show was done. This land would leave and the 'Land of Birthdays' arrived. The 'Land of Birthdays' was decorated with an archway of balloons and a feast laid out for the birthday guests with the magical treats described in the stories. One was the 'Hot & Cold' treat which was actually fried ice-cream, and i bought the fizzle pop candy for the older children where the candy crackle and pops in your mouth. Ashti had a stand up 'pixie fairy' doll cake. Ashti was dressed up like a pixie fairy.

I had so much fun creating this fantasy for her. We have looked back at the pictures laughing at this over the top birthday. We have Enid Blyton and her wonderful imagination to thank for this crazy joy bursting goodness.