The Chalet School and Richenda
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#1: The Chalet School and Richenda Author: Rachael PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:19 am


You know the format: Fave / worst scenes? What do you think of Richenda as a character? How do your opinions of the Triplets evolve in this book? Views on Professor Fry? (aside from being a rumbustious crocodile!) Views on Junior? Anything else?

 


#2:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 10:44 am


Fave scene: the one where Richenda asked if they would have sauerkrout for Abendessen. Worst scene: the one when they decide to call her Rikki - why does she have to shorten her name? Richenda is the typical new girl at the CS - sent there to make good, and of course, the school does influence her, so she is responsive to Jo Maynard's wise words. I felt that that scenario was getting a bit tired by that time. Again, this reinforced the triplets' characters, and made them even more fixed in our minds - Len the responsible, etc. In many ways justified in what he did - Ancient Chinese porcelain is priceless, so Richanda should not have touched it. Poor man, he didn't know how to bring up a girl. he might have tried to understand her a lot more than he did, but he was very much aproduct of his time and background. Junior needed a good smacking. I do agree with EBD about brattish children, not that I ever succeeeded in getting instant cheerful obedience from my own children, but I didn't indulge them and make feeble attempts at discipline.

 


#3:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 11:00 am


I like Richenda and think the Prof is written as a stock EBD male character. His profession to him, is everything and he had no idea about children, especially girls which is quite believeable for the day and age the book was written. He should have had a kick up tthe backside though. Junior should have been given a good slap. Can't help but wonder what could have happened if this scene had been written in today's 'sue them' society? The triplets really seem to be growing up in this book, though they are more restricted than normal teenagers. Pity it takes yet another disaster for a family to be reconciled.

 


#4:  Author: RachelLocation: Plotting in my lair PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 9:58 am


Odette. Yet another French girl suffering overwhelming homesickness to the extent of crying herself sick over it. Was this EBD's opinion on French girls in general or is to show up the Stiff Upper Lip of the British girls who never break down in floods of tears? And oh look - another walk ending in an unexpected thunder storm and having to shelter in a convenient barn. How many barns were littered aroudn both Austria and Switzerland purely for the benefit of school parties who failed to check the weather forecast? I always found the Professor ordering the school to give Richenda extra homework over half term a bit mad. Surely when you pack your kids off to boarding school you have very little say in the plans they make for excursions etc? Could Hilda not have sent a polite letter back saying that the trip to Valais was taking place and Richenda would have to go as all the staff were going also? There was no reason I could see why the school had to bow down to his wishes in this matter - they had charge of the girl for the whole term and should have put their collective feet down and squashed the Prof. And then we get to the fun bit - Joey and her "misplaced organ" - very careless of her! I always found it stragne that this illness she has been suffering from for months suddenly pops up as an established fact and also that despite Jack being a doctor surrpunded by doctor colleagues, and obviously having contacts in other hospitals in Switzerland, the decision is immediate that Joey goes to England to see Sir James Talbot. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't he the big cheese on TB when the school was in England? (Wales really but let's not restart that argument!) Junior is a pain in the butt - but his mother is the bigger fool. She has no control over the child and is portrayed as a completely feeble and ineffective parent. I wonder if Junior would have been let off immediately if he had claimed that his devil made him do it?

 


#5:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 6:00 pm


Rachel wrote:
Joey and her "misplaced organ" - very careless of her!
ROFL At least the incident with Junior is orignal - no falling off cliffs or into lakes, etc, as happens so often elsewhere in the series. I think the thing that I disliked most about this book was Len taking Richenda in hand - and then abandoning her in the following books! By the time of Theodora two terms later Richenda is being described as Con's close friend. I couldn't help wondering if maybe they'd had some kind of disagreement (potential drabble there, if anyone feels inspired...)

 


#6:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Leeds PostPosted: Tue Jun 08, 2004 7:55 pm


What exactly is a misplaced organ? Which organ? Is it a serious complaint?

 


#7:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 3:43 am


I’d rank this one as a rather average Swiss book: typical incidents, good staff scenes. Too bad we never get to see Joey sort the “rambustious crocodile!” I’m amazed that Richenda’s eyes survived. Oil on top of ammonia??? She should have begun flushing with water ASAP! And I’m surprised that Junior’s parents get off with a mere talking to. Junior’s action was more than mere brattiness, and should have been treated as such. In terms of drabble contamination – How many are no longer able to read Joey’s
Quote:
If you don’t begin young, you may get the weirdest ideas about clothes and that’s good for no one.
without thinking of lime-green twinsets & gold lamé miniskirts?

 


#8:  Author: HelenLocation: Melbourne, Australia PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 12:26 pm


I found the book just average. I can understand the Professor being angry with his daughter though one think he might had noticed her love of his interest and wanted to share it with her. What was wrong with Jo? First I heard of a misplaced organ in anyone. Yes Juinor was a little horror and his mother inefficient. One thing annoyed me there though was that we later hear that Juinor's father will now take the boy in hand. Where was that man before that, he must had known his boy was a brat.

 


#9:  Author: RuthLocation: Lincolnshire, England PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:18 pm


I like Richenda. I had never heard of the name before and I like the way they shorten it to Rikki. I like Professor Fry. I can understand that he finds it hard to realise that Richenda takes after him and is interested in his hobby. But sending someone to school as a punishment is somewhat over the top. Junior is a horrible little brat who needed a thumping and his soppy, weak mother. Junior needed to made to drink the stuff! My most favourite part of the book would have to be the beginning. And my least favourite would have to be the flood. The Chalet School has too many floods and -unrealisticly- never have anyone drowned.

 


#10:  Author: Rachael PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:49 pm


Quote:
The Chalet School has too many floods and -unrealisticly- never have anyone drowned.
Now that's just asking for a drabble - any volunteers?

 


#11:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 2:53 pm


I really don't like the look of the weather,' said Kathie Ferrars to her close friend Nancy Wilmot. 'Neither do I.' replied nancy. 'Let's get the girls moving as quickly as possible, we'd better get them past the bridge over the stream as soon as we can. Remember the time when it flooded, and we had to wade through the waist-deep water? I don't want to face that again.' The girls soon picked up the urgency in the mistresses' voices and hurried along as fast as they could. By the time they came in sight of the bridge, several of the frailer girls were flagging, so the mistresses, seeing no large expanse of swifltly-moving water, gave them a short break to catch their wind. They were all moving across the bridge, Nancy at the head of the crocodile and Kathie bringing up the rear, when there was an enormous booming sound. A huge wave of water and debris came hurtling down upon them all, sweeping them away to their deaths. The memorial service was one of the most touching ever held on the Gornetz Platz, and the Staff of the School were unable to hide their sobs of grief, though they knew such an uncontrolled display was setting a bad example to the remaining girls. However, it was not for long. The Swiss authorities began to consider the School's safety record and all the mishaps and misadventures which had befallen staff and girls, and forced the school to close. *********************************************************** That do you, Rachael?

 


#12:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:02 pm


*g* thanks Jennie!

 


#13:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 3:10 pm


hehe thank you Jennie!!! People are always so willing to oblige around here!!

 


#14:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:30 pm


Laughing Laughing Laughing Excellent - thanks Jennie

 


#15:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:44 pm


Thank you for the flowers, but I'm getting rather worried that I might get typecast as a Let's All Knock Jo Maynard drabbler, so I have to do something else once in a while.

 


#16:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jun 11, 2004 4:48 pm


As long as you don't stop Jennie cos we love it when you do!

 


#17:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:46 am


Jennie that was superb.

 


#18:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 8:14 am


Wonderful Jennie! Laughing Be prepared for some harsh words from Catherine_B though! Wink

 


#19:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:07 pm


I'll run away and hide from her if I see her approaching me with an axe.

 


#20:  Author: Catherine_BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:21 pm


LOL. Actually, Lesley, I only get really upset when people try to kill off ONE member of my favourite pair - can't bear the thought of how the other would be feeling!

 


#21:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 12:23 pm


Breathes huge sigh of relief!

 


#22:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 2:35 pm


Catherine_B wrote:
LOL. Actually, Lesley, I only get really upset when people try to kill off ONE member of my favourite pair - can't bear the thought of how the other would be feeling!
Oh that's OK then! *Makes note for future scenes. Twisted Evil *

 


#23:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 10:14 pm


Comes out of hiding place, breathing a sigh of relief.

 


#24:  Author: Rachael PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:21 am


Brilliant, thank you, Jennie!! And Catherine_B, you certainly asked for that from Lesley!! Laughing Laughing

 


#25:  Author: NicciLocation: UK PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:10 pm


Lesley! Evil or Very Mad ok, so about Richenda. For starters, had anyone else come across this name before? I hadn't but it looked like a proper name to me but now people laugh at me if I say its a name. I like this book, its not a favourite, but its up there with some good ones (although I do occasioanly confuse the ending with Does it Again) I thought the scene with Junior and the ammonia was pretty original, and it must have been pretty horrifying for Rikki to think that she might go blind. the Professor: was as I think Jennie said, a product of his time, and typical EBD typecasting of male behaviour. I do think he could have been more sympthatic over Richenda's love of antiques, but she really shouldn't have touched it when she was told not to. I thought it was a shame that Elinor didn't make more of the Susan girl.

 


#26:  Author: Catherine_BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:26 am


Lesley wrote:
Catherine_B wrote:
LOL. Actually, Lesley, I only get really upset when people try to kill off ONE member of my favourite pair - can't bear the thought of how the other would be feeling!
Oh that's OK then! *Makes note for future scenes. Twisted Evil *
Oh, sorry - forgot to add - "If people try to kill off both Nancy and Kathie, I don't get upset, I get murderous!" That clear, Lesley? Twisted Evil

 


#27:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 6:14 am


Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil

 


#28:  Author: BelLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:09 pm


Nicci wrote:
For starters, had anyone else come across this name before? I hadn't but it looked like a proper name to me but now people laugh at me if I say its a name.
There's a girl at my sister's school called Richenda. She could always have been named for the CS books, I suppose!

 


#29:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 12:16 pm


Richenda is the feminine form of Richard meaning hard ruler, and here's a song about her! Richenda song

 


#30:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:18 pm


Elizabeth Fry - the Quaker prison reformer (1780-1817) had a sister called Richenda, so EBD may have done some research and got her name from that This book really really bugs me Wink She is meant to be a Quaker - but at least in PB we see no real evidence of that. Her father is the Quaker of the family but believes in corporal punishment (and by the 1950s that would be very unlilkely). She rarely goes to Meeting, but instead is packed off to the parish church, when there would be childrens classes at Quaker Meetings (unless EBD was just trying to get the point accross that he wanted nothing to do with Richenda at any point). Also real nit picking but in the PB it refers to Quakers' Meetings rather than Quaker Meeting Evil or Very Mad Apart from that I quite enjoyed the book, but to me it comes accross that EBD is just looking for a different angle and has possibly read something about Quakers and decided to use it without finding out the facts first Wink Sorry about the rant

 


#31:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 4:14 pm


Has read Catherine's post about feeling murderous. Wibbles, eeebles and runs off again to look for a better hiding place.

 


#32:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:03 pm


That's really interesting Dawn, have been reading a lot about Quakers recently and it fitted in with what I had wondered about Richenda!

 


#33:  Author: LulieLocation: Middlesbrough PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 7:54 pm


Incidentally how do you pronounce Richenda? Is it 'rich-enda' or 'rish-enda' or '????????'

 


#34:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 9:32 pm


I've always said Rich-enda, but not sure whether thats the correct pronounciaton!

 


#35:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 2:26 am


I alwasy say Rich-enda too though I hadn't heard it said by anyone when I first read the book I thought this would be right as it is the feminine of Rich-ard.

 


#36:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 1:53 pm


The girl I knew who was also Richenda (and a Quaker Wink ) pronounced it Rich-enda

 


#37:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 4:13 pm


I think maybe it's 'Rishenda' because when Len and co are looking for a short for her, doesn't someone suggest 'Shendy'?

 


#38:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 5:56 pm


I always say Rich - enda. BTW: how do you pronounce Davida as in the mistress, Davida Armitage? Now that one I can't do unless you just put the d in instead of an n as in Davina.

 


#39:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:29 pm


I say this one, Da-VEED-uh, with the "a" a schwa sound (the thing that looks like an upside down & backwards e in dictionaries) -- sort of like the "u" in "cup," only shorter. By coincidence, the heroine of the novel I'm currently reading -- Davita -- gets virtually the same pronunciation. *remembers being lectured for not properly enunciating t vs. d*

 


#40:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 6:41 pm


I say Da -ve- da with each part given short emphasis Also may I join in? How do you pronounce Deira? Does it rhyme with Keira or not?

 


#41:  Author: claireLocation: South Wales PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:19 pm


I've always made it rhyme with Ciera (Kiera)

 


#42:  Author: RosieLocation: Huntingdonshire/Bangor PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 7:26 pm


I pronounce Richenda 'Rishenda', for no particularly reason, though I do believe that that was how the guys at work pronounced it when they were trying to guess what Rosie is short for (Some of their guesses were a little odd...)!

 


#43:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 8:01 pm


So, Rosie, what were their weirder guesses then?

 


#44:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 2:35 pm


claire wrote:
I've always made it rhyme with Ciera (Kiera)
I have always pronounced it like this too.

 


#45:  Author: James PostPosted: Mon Jun 21, 2004 3:23 pm


Nell wrote:
Richenda is the feminine form of Richard meaning hard ruler, and here's a song about her! Richenda song
I looooooooooove the last lines of that song! New sig here we come Smile

 




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