The CBB :: View topic - Books: The Chalet School and Richenda

What about Joey's medical condition (a 'displaced organ')

What about Joey's medical condition (a 'displaced organ');

I'm sorry that Richenda is one of those girls who disappears later on and we never find out what became of her. And Sue Mason disappears too, doesn't she, after a brief appearance when she first come to the CS.

It been a while since I read a Chalet book, and some of the things that popped into my head (which are not unique to this particular book) were shock over the whole bed making process. Do you think beds really need to be totally stripped, mattresses aired, bedding laundered and remade again EVERY DAY? Madness I suggest.

And doesn't Matey have anything better to do with her time than go through everyone's drawers, every morning, to make sure they are tidy?

I do remember thinking that Prof Fry's strictness reminded me of a poor immitation of Emily and Aunt Elizabeth in Emily of New Moon, especially the scene where Richenda asks about her eyes and going blind and says you won't lie, your hard but you never lie. Emily says the same to Aunt Elizabeth and it kind of makes a bigger and better impact than Richenda and her Father.

Saffronya wrote:

This always amazes me too!

Two, maybe three, times a week but not every day.

You turn in the night an' sweat an' sweat in them blankets an' wonder why they're damp. Hain't you seen your ma air the blankets every day at home? Every Injun squaw knows that much, an' every other day at least she gives the blankets a sun roast for three hours in the middle of the day, or failing that, dries them at the fire. Dry out your blankets and you won't have no more chills.

I really enjoyed this book - really liked Ricki (though Joey's insistence of needing to find a "short" for everything drove me to distraction. If she had suggested shortening my name I would have thrown something at her)...

The suggested short forms also suggest that her name should be pronounced "RiSHenda".

Dreaming Marianne wrote:

To be fair, this wasn't Joey's idea - the girls in Richenda's class were trying to think of a short form, and I think Con came up with "Ricki". Richenda wrote to Sue about it, mentioning that "they'd put such a lot of work into [finding a nickname] that she'd decided to let them use it", or words to that effect. I got the impression from that as though she liked being Richenda, and wasn't that keen on being anything else, but felt she should agree to a short since everyone seemed to expect it.

The suggested short forms also suggest that her name should be pronounced "RiSHenda".

Awfully pretty, though. I must use it some time. You don't mind, do you, Ricki?

I suspect that with windows open at night to let in chilly fresh air, condensation would also have been a problem.

Kathy_S wrote:

I suspect that with windows open at night to let in chilly fresh air, condensation would also have been a problem.

I sleep with my bedroom window open all year round and I don't have a problem with condensation, in fact I don't see any at all! However I do live in a centrally heated house - would that have something to do with it?

I believe that central heating would make a huge difference. Mine, for example, dries the air so badly that it's recommended to add a humidifier.

However, my main point was that daily airing of beds was considered proper housekeeping, and with reason. MaryR did not make up that antique "damp bed tester" given Nell in her drabble, Hilda's Revenge*.

*part 1
part 2

We are told in one of the early Swiss books - I forget which - that Gaudenz resisted the idea of having central heating put in.

Yes, obviously he would have done, because he so enjoyed having to get up at 4 o'clock in the morning or whatever time it was so that he could light all the boilers!

One of my grandmas always insisted on toasting bread under the grill because she couldn't get to grips with the idea of a toaster! And my other grandma always used tea leaves because she didn't like the idea of teabags. I can understand Gaudenz not being keen on the idea of change, but I really do feel sorry for the poor man having to get up in the middle of the night in those cold Swiss winters ... brrrr.... !

Alison H wrote:

I still use tea leaves in preference to bags!

Author:	Róisín [ Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:28 am ]
Post subject:	Books: The Chalet School and Richenda
Synopsis here. Richenda Fry arrives at the School as punishment for having broken a valuable ceramic vase. She has a great passion for ceramics but her father doesn't realise or appreciate this, and has forbidden her from approaching his collection. She decides to turn the punishment on its head by having the best time that she possibly can at the School. Her name is shortened to Ricki and she teams up with the triplets. Any opinions on this book? Strong dislikes or likes? What do you think about Joey's methods of interfering this time (between Richenda and her father)? This is the term that Mary-Lou is made headgirl - did she deserve this? What about Joey's medical condition (a 'displaced organ'); any nurses or doctors on the board want to comment on that?! And Ricki's accident with the small boy in the waiting room; did EBD really need to almost blind the girl in order to bring her and her father together? Please join in the discussion in any way you like below Next Sunday: Trials for the Chalet School Edit: Is Richenda the only member of the Society of Friends in the CS? Can't remember...

Author:	Tor [ Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:23 am ]
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Quote: What about Joey's medical condition (a 'displaced organ') I'd hazard a prolapsed womb was on the cards, given her fecundity!!! But that is probably not what EBD had in mind.

Author:	Alison H [ Wed Oct 08, 2008 11:59 am ]
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Three cheers for EBD FINALLY acknowledging that not everyone in the UK is either Anglican or Catholic!! I think Richenda is the only Quaker in the school: EJO has several Quaker characters but EBD doesn't. I will change the subject now before I start harping on about Elisaveta should have been Orthodox rather than Catholic, which would be irrelevant ... Various points: 1. This is a rare case in which we get to see problems between teenagers and parents from both points of view. From Ricki's viewpoint, she is only looking at the ceramics because she likes them and is interested in them. From Prof Fry's point of view, Ricki is invading his personal space and repeatedly disobeying instructions, and also he is understandably worried that rare and valuable items might accidentally get broken. Although most parents don't have valuable antiques in the house , I think that the parent-teenager conflict in which both "sides" think they're right and have reasons for doing so is very realistic and comes across very well. 2. Nice to see Joan Baker being a heroine during the flood - but I find the section early on in which Ricki takes an instant dislike to Joan because of her "cheap prettiness", which EBD seems to agree with as she says that it's because Ricki is "fastidious", very irritating indeed. 3. Mary-Lou really was the obvious choice for Head Girl - can't argue with that! 4. I feel so sorry for Odette Mercier - could none of the staff have tried to help her when she was so obviously unhappy? I was surprised that Joey didn't "butt in" here, especially as Odette was at the school on the recommendation of Simone. I know that Len made friends with her but it didn't seem to last long. 5. I like the bit in which the triplets and Ricki and Odette go to buy (I think) milk and we get a description of the farmhouse: it's one of those passages that are common in the Tyrol books but rare in the Swiss books. 6. The accident was a bit OTT - and "Junior" and his mother should have got into serious trouble over it. Will shut up now!

Author:	moiser30 [ Wed Oct 08, 2008 1:23 pm ]
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I think the book so far is great I'm only about 6 chapters in as I only got it a few days ago

Author:	JayB [ Wed Oct 08, 2008 4:15 pm ]
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This is one of my favourites of the Swiss books. The ceramics background is different and interesting. Presumably EBD didn't know much about ceramics, but she does describe Richenda's passion convicingly, I think. I like that it's acknowledged that there are faults on both sides in the quarrel between Richenda and her father, and that Prof Fry must take some responsibility for putting things right. Unlike Jessica Wayne's situation, where Jessica is given all the blame, and must be entirely responsible for putting things right. I think Joey comes across quite well in this book. She does butt in, but with more reason than on other occasions. Ricki is the triplets' friend, and has been a guest in Joey's house. And again, Joey's main reason for wanting to fix things is that it's bad for Richenda to be carrying this great load of resentment around, not that Richenda is in the wrong and must be made to repent. And it's the injury to Richenda that really makes the Professor see the error of his ways, not anything Joey does. (EBD actually makes him say 'damn' to make the point that he's realised his daughter is more important than his ceramics!) And Joey behaves very well when Richenda is left with nowhere to go for half term due to Prof Fry's intransigence, making her feel welcome even when she wasn't well herself and might well have preferred not to have a guest. I'm sorry that Richenda is one of those girls who disappears later on and we never find out what became of her. And Sue Mason disappears too, doesn't she, after a brief appearance when she first come to the CS. One quibble is the fuss made about Joey not being there for the triplets' birthday. All the other girls whose birthdays fell in termtime had to do without seeing their mothers. And an EBDism - at one point Ricki and Sue know that Sue is to go to the CS, then they don't know!

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Books: The Chalet School and Richenda http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5088

Author:	Dawn [ Wed Oct 08, 2008 5:18 pm ]
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I know I've ranted about the Quaker aspect before - so if you've already read it and can quote it, please just skip this I was so excited that there was a book featuring a Quaker and very disappointed when I read it. I bought it while on a Quaker weekend as an adult and it was amazing how many other people there had also bought/read it in the hopes of it talking about Quakers - including someone called Richenda (pronounced rich-end-a btw). Professor Fry obviously hasn't taken on board the Quaker testimony of non-violence or on forgiveness come to that. And why did Richenda go to church with Nanny rather than to Meeting - there were plenty of Meetings which catered for young children even in those days. It always feels to me like EBD had heard of Quakers, decided that it would be useful to have a Quaker heroine, but didn't actually know the first thing about them other than they have silent Meetings, and even then the implicatoin is that there is music playing during it or for part of it. Apart from the non existent Quaker aspect (she could at least have Richenda talking about Quakers and their history) I really enjoy the book and it does rank as one of my favourites.

Author:	claire [ Wed Oct 08, 2008 6:18 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Books: The Chalet School and Richenda
Róisín wrote: What about Joey's medical condition (a 'displaced organ'); Ovarian torsion (a twisted ovary) would fit with the abdo pain (didn't she have several bouts of it), they could have removed it which may have reduced fertility but she did conceive soon after

Author:	jennifer [ Thu Oct 09, 2008 3:56 am ]
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JayB wrote: I'm sorry that Richenda is one of those girls who disappears later on and we never find out what became of her. And Sue Mason disappears too, doesn't she, after a brief appearance when she first come to the CS. They do stick around, if not at the centre of things - at the beginning of "Challenge" Miss Annersley comments about them leaving. Ricki is pursuing her ceramics gallery plan, and Sue is going into nursing. Professor Fry strikes me as a very inexperience parent. He loves his daughter, but has very little idea of how to deal with someone her age, having mainly left her to the Nanny, who has spoiled her a bit. He was justified in being angry over the ceramics room - Richenda has been specifically forbidden to go there, and has broken a valuable item in the past. However, exiling her to school in another country and interfering with school scheduling to try to punisher her harder is way over the top. A more appropriate response would have been locking the door of the room, combined with something like grounding, docking her allowance, or punishment chores. Then, later, tell her she's being sent to a better school, if he feels like he can't handle her. The Odette case is interesting. Joey actively interferes in Richenda's case, but ignores Odette complete, and the latter is, if anything, having a harder time fitting into the school. I also find it interesting that the staff praise Len for stepping in to help her, when it's actually Richenda who is the main motivator.

Author:	Saffronya [ Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:37 pm ]
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Just read Richenda and really enjoyed it. I was suitably upset over the situation with her father, and worried about her eyes, and very happy when it all got sorted out. And the Nativity play! Do you think EBD could have made it any more mushy or tried to pull any more heartstrings? It been a while since I read a Chalet book, and some of the things that popped into my head (which are not unique to this particular book) were shock over the whole bed making process. Do you think beds really need to be totally stripped, mattresses aired, bedding laundered and remade again EVERY DAY? Madness I suggest. I also thought the baths sounded horrendous. Cold or luke warm water and in and out as quickly as possible. Can you imagine girls these days doing that? My hot water was broken this morning and I had to wash my hair under a cold water tap, so I speak from recent experience when I say it is not a pleasant experience! Certainly not one that I would want teenage girls, some of them of dodgy health, going through every morning in poorly heated and badly insulated rooms in the dead of a Swiss Winter! I think sponge baths during the week if the water had to be luke warm would have been a little more realistic. Also, does anyone know what is meant by a 'featherbed'? It is mentioned when in the Swiss house that there was one to sleep on, and one to sleep under. Do you think it could just be what we know today as a quilt? If so, I love the line about getting smothered under it!!!! Regarding what others have said, I did indeed find it a bit odd that poor old Odette was never mentioned again after the storm. It had been left to Len to sort her out, and I suppose it must just be presumede she did? is she mentioned again later in the series? I agree it would have added to the story if EBD had expanded the Quaker aspect of things - it is irrelevant and makes other things seem inaccurate the way it has been included. I also agree that I foung Joey's fuss about not being there for the Trip's birthday a little silly. As JayB said, the other girls can't be with there parents - they are at boarding school! Also Joey's boys are away in England - she isn't with them for birthdays more likely than not.

Author:	Alison H [ Thu Oct 09, 2008 1:56 pm ]
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Re Odette, she is mentioned in Theodora, when we're told that she still hasn't settled in well and hasn't made many friends but that Con Maynard tries to be friendly towards her (and Margot is jealous about it). Unfortunately that friendship is never really developed. Joey and Hilda have a conversation in one of the very late books (could be Althea) in which Joey says that Con's never really had a close friend; and IMHO it's a great shame that EBD didn't "let" Con and Odette become close friends rather than dooming them both to be odd ones out. The same with Joan Baker, for that matter. There aren't a lot of "odd ones out" in the series, but there are three with this particular year group.

Author:	Loryat [ Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:14 pm ]
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I enjoyed Richenda, I quite like all the 'triplet/Inter V' books. Re the Quaker meetings - not that I know anything about it, but I think the fact that Richenda's dad didn't take her to Meetings is meant to suggest that they didn't have a very strong relationship, and possibly also that he isn't all that serious about his religion? Also, when the soft music etc reminds Richenda of Meetings, I always thought that it was the devout atmosphere rather than the music that Richenda was comparing. As regards the confusing friendships, I think partly this is EBD and partly quite a realistic depiction of friendships among girls of that age. One thing that always confuses me is that later on Con and Richenda seem to be friends - I spent the entire book waiting for them to bond and then they don't! Also, later on Len, Ros and Richenda are not especially friendly. Poor Odette. I wonder why she was never 'reformed' like everyone else?

Author:	Saffronya [ Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:26 pm ]
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I remember the line was something like 'Obviously her father was a Quaker', and my feeling is that because their surname is Fry, EMB thought they must be Quakers. I don't get the impression she put much thought into it

Author:	judithR [ Thu Oct 09, 2008 4:44 pm ]
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Re-reading Richenda recently I was struck by the accident record for the Chalet School throughout the series. I wonder what the HSE investigation would conclude? Perhaps it's lucky they were in Switzerland. And just how premature were Jo's second twins? If the Theodora incident took place at half term (sometime in May) & the inference is that they were born before the end of the summer term, when, given that Jo was undergoing surgery late October/early November were they conceived? It must have been an interesting second honeymoon! :oops: :oops: :oops:

Author:	Maeve [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:57 am ]
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This is one of the Swiss books that I think actually works, mainly because Richenda is quite an attractive character (which is what makes her snottiness to poor Joan Baker all the more unfortunate and egregious). Professor Fry's long temper seems a bit OTT, but I really enjoy EBD's sense of humour in the story as she relates how Richenda decides to enjoy school, thus thwarting her father's punishment.

Author:	Jennie [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 10:41 am ]
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And I loved the notion that Jo had woken after the operation, had a glass of milk (what else?) and gone back to sleep. As if! I've always voted for a prolapsed uterus, with visions of Jo striding along with it almost hanging down to her knees. But then I would, wouldn't I?

Author:	Liz K [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 8:42 am ]
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Saffronya wrote: It been a while since I read a Chalet book, and some of the things that popped into my head (which are not unique to this particular book) were shock over the whole bed making process. Do you think beds really need to be totally stripped, mattresses aired, bedding laundered and remade again EVERY DAY? Madness I suggest. This always amazes me too! Two, maybe three, times a week but not every day.

Author:	JennieP [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:08 pm ]
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And doesn't Matey have anything better to do with her time than go through everyone's drawers, every morning, to make sure they are tidy?

Author:	Alison H [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:22 pm ]
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The whole morning routine with the rushing around, only getting about two seconds in a (cold) bath, stripping the beds and all the rest of it would have done my head in entirely . Not to mention having to remember which language to speak. A Day In The Life Of Matey might make very interesting reading .

Author:	Liz K [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:34 pm ]
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JennieP wrote: And doesn't Matey have anything better to do with her time than go through everyone's drawers, every morning, to make sure they are tidy? Obviously not!

Author:	Jennie [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:44 pm ]
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I felt very sorry for Odette as well. After that Sunday afternoon when Matey put her to bed, no-one seems to have done anything much for her. I think it's EBD's attitude. If you're not happy at the oh-so-perfect CS, it's your own fault.

Author:	Ela [ Fri Oct 10, 2008 2:28 pm ]
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The treatment of Odette is what struck me after reading Richenda and Theodora soon after each other in transcript. In Richenda, Richenda and Len make an effort to include Odette in their friendship, and, as Jennifer mentioned, it's Richenda who is more active in trying to help: she enlists Len's help because of the latter's superior French: up till that point, Len seems not to have noticed Odette's homesickness at all. In Theodora, it's Con who is "by way of being friendly" with Odette, and Len no longer makes any effort. Perhaps Odette seemed to be more friendly with Con in the later book because Richenda may have been in an upper form by then? The comparison between these two books also suggests that Len's capacity for friendship may be less worthwhile than Con's. By the end of the series, both Richenda and Odette have become more friendly with Con than with Len. Perhaps Len felt obliged to help people out, but got bored very quickly if she didn't find them turning into Chalet Girls overnight I do also find unacceptable that Mary-Lou (in Theodora) mentions to Con and a bunch of her friends that Odette's mother is very ill and may die at any moment (heart trouble, stated in Richenda as the reason why Simone pushed Mme Mercier into sending Odette to school), whilst also stating that they shouldn't mention it to Odette! How on earth did Mary-Lou find out that kind of information? And why on earth did she think it would be appropriate to mention it when Odette herself hadn't been told? Anyway, I liked this book, particularly reading it in transcript, since I'd previously read the Armada version. I liked Richenda, apart from her not very pleasant thoughts about Joan - rather snobbish of her - and her relationship with her father was very realistic, too. I thought EBD's portrayal of Nanny was a touch patronising and two-dimensional (Nanny always "stumps" everywhere, rather than walking), but the mutual affection between her and Richenda was very touching. I assumed that Nanny had taken her charge to CofE services because she wasn't a Quaker herself, and probably Prof. Fry wasn't very interested in religion. Richenda clearly hesitates when her sheepdog asks her whether she is Protestant or Catholic, before deciding that "Protestant" is rather closer to what she knows and believes.

Author:	Fiona Mc [ Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:45 am ]
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I must admit, I read this book after Theodora and was looking for the start of Con's and Odette and Richenda's friendship and was surprised to see it with Len instead. After all the comments and thinking about it, I thought maybe it's one of thoses cases where Richenda and Odette both realised how much they liked Con instead of or became closer to her over the next couple of terms than with Len despite the initial friendliness. I do remember thinking that Prof Fry's strictness reminded me of a poor immitation of Emily and Aunt Elizabeth in Emily of New Moon, especially the scene where Richenda asks about her eyes and going blind and says you won't lie, your hard but you never lie. Emily says the same to Aunt Elizabeth and it kind of makes a bigger and better impact than Richenda and her Father. Probably bacause of all the cuts in the Armada version. But it is something that has disappointed me. All in all I do like the book

Author:	JS [ Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:06 am ]
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I like this book too and certainly as a child went along with the various oddities (would Prof Fry really have been so strict and un-understanding??) I also had no problem with Richenda's (as I realise now from adult perspective) hideous snobbery about Joan Baker. But that latter point got me thinking; we know Joan was hugely influential among her peers at her old school and that implies that she had some sort of charm. Isn't it odd that she seemed to lose it entirely at the CS. It's not as if there weren't other girls who didn't have the right (CS) values - people like Jennifer Penrose and Betty Wynne-Davies and even Diane Skelton (the other 'common' girl) all had their followers. It just seems odd that going to the CS gave her a total charm bypass and made her forget all her leadership skills.

Author:	Loryat [ Sat Oct 11, 2008 2:54 pm ]
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Fiona Mc wrote: I do remember thinking that Prof Fry's strictness reminded me of a poor immitation of Emily and Aunt Elizabeth in Emily of New Moon, especially the scene where Richenda asks about her eyes and going blind and says you won't lie, your hard but you never lie. Emily says the same to Aunt Elizabeth and it kind of makes a bigger and better impact than Richenda and her Father. I noticed that too! There are a lot of similarities between CS and EBD's works, I think EBD was very influenced by LMM. Especially Anne having a big family, including twins lol. Was Gilbert the original Doctor?

Author:	moiser30 [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 2:53 pm ]
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I realy like the book i'm near the end now and it's a great book there's lot's of adventure in this book.

Author:	Lisa_T [ Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:39 pm ]
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This book is notable for me in that it was the first time I'd ever come across the word 'cistern'. It took me a long time to work out precisely why Miss Annersley may have objected to Len saying she wasn't a 'leaky cistern' and it finally dawned when I had a real life 'leaky cistern' issue myself at home! I love both the staff and student interactions in this book. In fact, I think I'll dig out the hardback tomorrow. I've always been sorry that we didn't see the study scene where Hilda and Rosalie tell Joey about Prof. Fry's refusal to let Richenda go on any of the trips and she goes into a rant. Also, I'm glad that I wasn't the only person to remember the New Moon paralell, although I think Professor Fry actually comes across as a less sympathetic character than Aunt Elizabeth. Aunt Elizabeth is a bit of Professor McGonagallish character - stern and strict and inflexible, but a bit of a softy underneath even if she'll never admit it and most people will never work it out. Fry really does seem to go all out to annoy Richenda. Which reminds me: is this how EBD saw academics? Think about it: Eustacia's parents, and then Eustacia herself to some degree. Professor Fry. The Richardsons' father ... they're all presented as intellectuals who are disassociated from the world around them, including their children. Are there any examples which don't follow this trend?

Author:	jennifer [ Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:01 am ]
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Liz K wrote: Saffronya wrote: It been a while since I read a Chalet book, and some of the things that popped into my head (which are not unique to this particular book) were shock over the whole bed making process. Do you think beds really need to be totally stripped, mattresses aired, bedding laundered and remade again EVERY DAY? Madness I suggest. This always amazes me too! Two, maybe three, times a week but not every day. My impression was that the bedding wasn't washed daily (I don't think they could given the lack of modern appliances). I seem to remember, in previous discussions, that the mattresses were probably horsehair or feathers, or something that gets damp quickly. For that, flipping and airing the mattresses regularly was probably good sense, particularly as the bedding was probably washed every couple of weeks, at most. I live in a damp climate where indoor heating isn't standard, and even with synthetic pillows and duvet and modern mattress I find things tend to become damp and get mildewy easily.

Author:	moiser30 [ Mon Oct 13, 2008 1:08 pm ]
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This is one of the best book of the Swizz set I just love all of it

Author:	Kathy_S [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:28 am ]
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I agree that the bedding wasn't changed daily, just aired, and think that would have been considered basic hygiene. To quote Ernest Thomas Seton, famed for his influence in the Woodcraft and Scouting movements, with apologies for the language: Two Little Savages, 1903 wrote: You turn in the night an' sweat an' sweat in them blankets an' wonder why they're damp. Hain't you seen your ma air the blankets every day at home? Every Injun squaw knows that much, an' every other day at least she gives the blankets a sun roast for three hours in the middle of the day, or failing that, dries them at the fire. Dry out your blankets and you won't have no more chills. I suspect that with windows open at night to let in chilly fresh air, condensation would also have been a problem. I also seem to recall descriptions by European travelers of bedding hanging off the balconies to dry as one of the usual sights. Can't remember the source though!

Author:	Dreaming Marianne [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 3:54 am ]
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I really enjoyed this book - really liked Ricki (though Joey's insistence of needing to find a "short" for everything drove me to distraction. If she had suggested shortening my name I would have thrown something at her) I quite like Len in it as well. The things I wasn't so keen on was that EBD quite obviously knows nothing about ceramics - and, for that matter, nor does Ricki, really. OK, she's interested and sees them around a lot, but her father doesn't teach or even talk to her about the. So how can she make the decision to "go in for" ( my, how I hate that expression. They're always "going in" for stuff) ceramics, or even make the decision specifically about Chinese ceramics? Have never read a full-length and would love to. Edited to say, I'm sure I once read a whole thread about the "displaced organ" plot line....and remember laughing hysterically. My own personal vote is for a wandering liver found lodged under her patella or something.

Author:	Emma A [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:41 am ]
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Dreaming Marianne wrote: I really enjoyed this book - really liked Ricki (though Joey's insistence of needing to find a "short" for everything drove me to distraction. If she had suggested shortening my name I would have thrown something at her)... To be fair, this wasn't Joey's idea - the girls in Richenda's class were trying to think of a short form, and I think Con came up with "Ricki". Richenda wrote to Sue about it, mentioning that "they'd put such a lot of work into [finding a nickname] that she'd decided to let them use it", or words to that effect. I got the impression from that as though she liked being Richenda, and wasn't that keen on being anything else, but felt she should agree to a short since everyone seemed to expect it. The suggested short forms also suggest that her name should be pronounced "RiSHenda".

Author:	Mona [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 11:49 am ]
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Quote: The suggested short forms also suggest that her name should be pronounced "RiSHenda". I've always pronounced it that way in my head. How else would it be pronounced? This is one of my favourites of the Swiss books. Richenda is a really likable character, and her relationships with Sue, Nanny and her father are all well developed and believable. I particularly like her determination to enjoy school to undermine her fathers punishment. Nearly blinding her in order to reconcile her with him seems a bit harsh though!

Author:	JS [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 12:49 pm ]
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I'd instintively put a T in it - Rit-chenda, like Rit-chard.

Author:	Kathy_S [ Tue Oct 14, 2008 2:52 pm ]
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Emma A wrote: Dreaming Marianne wrote: I really enjoyed this book - really liked Ricki (though Joey's insistence of needing to find a "short" for everything drove me to distraction. If she had suggested shortening my name I would have thrown something at her)... To be fair, this wasn't Joey's idea - the girls in Richenda's class were trying to think of a short form, and I think Con came up with "Ricki". Richenda wrote to Sue about it, mentioning that "they'd put such a lot of work into [finding a nickname] that she'd decided to let them use it", or words to that effect. I got the impression from that as though she liked being Richenda, and wasn't that keen on being anything else, but felt she should agree to a short since everyone seemed to expect it. The suggested short forms also suggest that her name should be pronounced "RiSHenda". Yes, Jo's only comment about the name Richenda is Quote: Awfully pretty, though. I must use it some time. You don't mind, do you, Ricki? The rejected suggestions were "Richie" and "Shendy."

Author:	Lulie [ Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:27 pm ]
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Kathy_S wrote: I suspect that with windows open at night to let in chilly fresh air, condensation would also have been a problem. I sleep with my bedroom window open all year round and I don't have a problem with condensation, in fact I don't see any at all! However I do live in a centrally heated house - would that have something to do with it?