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The Chalet School Problem
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=3889
Author:  Pat [ 18 Jan 2008, 22:00 ]
Post subject:  The Chalet School Problem
I always felt a little left out at school, probably because I went there so late, and too many habits were already formed, but even so, I’m glad I went there. I grew up in a small town called Meadowfield, in a house that was one of a row of cottages dating from the last century, with no bathroom, and only an outside toilet. Now one of the bedrooms would have been converted into a proper bathroom, but no one who lived there thought of that then. We had baths in front of the fire in a tub, and it was lovely and warm in winter. In those days I had a bit of a reputation - well a lot of one to be honest. But most of it was put on, a bit of bravado. I liked to be the leader, it was nice having everyone following me and doing what I said, and being afraid to fall out with me. That sort of sense of power can go to your head, and it went to mine all right; looking back I was a bad influence, and I’m ashamed now, but then I thought it was great. Then I managed to get into the fringes of Vic Coles gang. It was a loose group of boys and girls, and I was one of the youngest - most of them were about 17, like Vic himself, and the whole gang was bad to know. I enjoyed the notoriety of being linked with them all, but if any of the lads, especially Vic, had actually asked me out I’d have run a mile. I knew very well what was expected and I had no intention of getting into that just yet. Mum would have blown a fuse at the thought, and I had a better idea of my own worth too. I can see clearly now why Mrs Lilley didn’t want Ros to be friends with me, but at the time I felt superior because my Mum had worked in a shop, and she’d been in service. A silly, snobby attitude, but there you are. That’s the way I was at 14, when everything changed.
I was very curious when Ros Lilley was kept back after school. She was such a little goody-goody, never in trouble for anything, that I waited behind to see if I could find out why. She was under my thumb a lot in those days, and I was pretty sure she’d tell me. I had to wait for ages though, far longer than for an ordinary telling off, and my curiosity was at boiling point when she finally came out of the school gates. And then all she’d say was that she’d been given a message for her Mum! Well! I knew it couldn’t be just that, it was obvious. Ros was looking upset and angry about something for a start, and I meant to find out why. So I pretended that I didn’t care, and ran off to speak to Kath Stevens, confidently expecting Ros to call me back. You can guess how stunned I was when she didn’t. She just kept on walking home!
I stayed out for a time with Kath before going home, and when I did get home, there was Ros walking down her garden path with Mrs Gay, the Rector’s wife, talking hard. Once Mrs Gay was out of the way, I tackled Ros. Taunted her with ‘sucking up’, and that I’d go round with Kath rather than her from now on. That would usually be enough to bring her running back, but this time she gave me a funny look, and just went into the house. It was very odd. Then I found that Grandad had come to visit for the weekend, and he’d invited me to stay with him till after Easter, and everything else went out of my head. I loved staying with him, and besides, it would give Ros time to come to her senses and tell me what was happening.
Author:  Sugar [ 18 Jan 2008, 22:16 ]
Post subject: 
Ohhh this is good. Any more coming?
Author:  Pat [ 18 Jan 2008, 22:23 ]
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Yes. I've been writing more tonight. You're just not getting it all at once!!!
Author:  Lesley [ 18 Jan 2008, 22:37 ]
Post subject: 
Interesting - poor Joan, never truly allowed to reform.



Thanks Pat.
Author:  Fi [ 18 Jan 2008, 22:55 ]
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It will be great to see this from Joan's perspective. This was the first of the swiss books I read as my mum had the old Armada paperback. Am looking forward to more of this.

Thanks Pat
Author:  Vikki [ 18 Jan 2008, 23:03 ]
Post subject: 
This looks excellent. Thank you Pat.
We never really get to hear Joan's views/opinions.
Author:  Alison H [ 18 Jan 2008, 23:06 ]
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Looking forward to seeing things from Joan's point of view. I felt rather sorry for her in Richenda etc: she'd turned into a nice girl by then but EBD never really let her have any friends :( .
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 18 Jan 2008, 23:09 ]
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Intriguing beginning - I will look forward to seeing how it unfolds.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 18 Jan 2008, 23:25 ]
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Ooh :D
I think I'm going to enjoy this
Author:  Mona [ 19 Jan 2008, 01:18 ]
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Oooh, thanks Pat. This should be interesting!
Author:  Liz K [ 19 Jan 2008, 10:06 ]
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Ooohhh this looks good, can't wait for more please, thanks.
Author:  roversgirl [ 19 Jan 2008, 10:13 ]
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this looks really interesting. am looking forward to more :)
Author:  Carys [ 19 Jan 2008, 11:49 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pat!
I'm another who felt sorry for Joan, the way she was treated after she had reformed showed just how snobbish some of the CS girls were.
Author:  Tan [ 19 Jan 2008, 13:02 ]
Post subject: 
Fi wrote:
It will be great to see this from Joan's perspective. This was the first of the swiss books I read. Am looking forward to more of this. Thanks Pat


Me too - along with Genius.

I always felt a little sorry for Joan - even though she 'reformed' or do I mean 'conformed' she was never really accepted by the other girls.
Author:  Fatima [ 19 Jan 2008, 18:12 ]
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And me! She was always called 'Big Joan Baker', which made me feel for her, too.
Author:  Becky [ 19 Jan 2008, 19:32 ]
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Thanks, Pat. I always felt sorry for Joan too, so it's good to hear her side.
Author:  Pat [ 19 Jan 2008, 20:04 ]
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Of course, when I got back and did find out what had happened I was stunned. People like us didn’t go to posh schools like that, even in this country. And Ros was going to Switzerland! I knew then that I’d lost her; she would have changed so much by the time she got back. Then I comforted myself by thinking that they’d all be raging snobs who’d make her life miserable because she had a scholarship, and it would be worse when they found out about her parents. It never occurred to me that I might go there too. I was watching when her brand new trunk went off on it’s way to the school, and also when Ros herself left to go up to London to meet the rest of the school. I’d tried to make her feel worse about it by jeering at her, and suggesting that she’d be bullied or teased because of her background. I don’t think it worked though, because she looked at me and said “Mrs Gay said it was a lovely school, and that Tom was very happy there. So I don’t think it’ll be like that at all.”
Then the following Saturday the miracle happened. Grandad came up on the pools, scooped the jackpot in fact, and suddenly we were rolling in money, really rolling. He wanted to do things for the whole family, and what he wanted for me was to send me to a decent school, where I could get proper qualifications. You couldn’t do that unless you got into the High, and I hadn’t managed that, not clever enough, or interested. That’s when the great idea came to me - I’d ask to go to Ros’s school. Then she couldn’t be one up on me; the other way round in fact, because I’d be paying. Grandad was pleased that I was so keen, though I don’t think he’d have been so happy if he knew why I wanted that particular school. But he talked to the Lilleys and found out a bit more, and that settled it. He said the languages would be a good thing to have, and wrote to the Head straight away. We all assumed that there’d be no problem - money talks, after all.
It wasn’t quite as simple as that as it turned out. The Head, a Miss Annersley, wrote back to ask for more details, and she wanted to put me off till the next term, but I didn’t want that. Grandad wrote back to tell them what they wanted to know, and to insist that I went that term. As we all expected, there was no trouble after that, and we had a lovely time going up to London for my things. I never realised what reams of extra stuff was needed at boarding school, or that we’d have to change in the evenings into posh dresses. But we got it all, and it was packed up and sent off. Then Grandad took me out to Switzerland and the school.
Author:  PaulineS [ 19 Jan 2008, 20:51 ]
Post subject: 
poor Joan If only they had asked the Gay's as well as the Lilleys she might have saved herself some bad times.
Author:  Lesley [ 19 Jan 2008, 21:23 ]
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Not very worthy reasons - but quite understandable. Poor girl.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Elbee [ 19 Jan 2008, 21:26 ]
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It will be very interesting to see this from Joan's perspective.

Thanks, Pat.
Author:  Alison H [ 19 Jan 2008, 21:27 ]
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I should imagine Joan thought her dresses were the height of fashion and just what'd be needed at a posh school - and then everyone at the school was so nasty about them :( .
Author:  claireM [ 19 Jan 2008, 21:44 ]
Post subject: 
This is interesting, looking foreward to more. I loathed Joan as a child but feel sorry for now.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 19 Jan 2008, 23:10 ]
Post subject: 
Elbee wrote:
It will be very interesting to see this from Joan's perspective.

Thanks, Pat.


It will be especially as Joan was never my favourite character though I don't mind her so much now and a part of me does feel sorry for her
Author:  linda [ 20 Jan 2008, 00:21 ]
Post subject: 
This looks promising. It is interesting to look at the situation from Joan's point of view.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Sugar [ 20 Jan 2008, 00:23 ]
Post subject: 
Poor kid
Author:  Tara [ 20 Jan 2008, 00:32 ]
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I agree. Although Joan never became part of the school, she did at least get a good education, I suppose. It'll be fascinating to see events from her pov.

Thanks, Pat.
Author:  Tan [ 20 Jan 2008, 11:54 ]
Post subject: 
I am enjoying this and looking forward to seeing more Pat.
Author:  Rosalin [ 20 Jan 2008, 12:52 ]
Post subject: 
It is fascinating seeing Joan's side. Makes her much more real and understandable. The school did give her a tough time, and how was she to understand their values as she hadn't been brought up with them?

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Angela [ 20 Jan 2008, 13:58 ]
Post subject: 
I'm enjoying this story too.

I suppose when I read the book at first I felt for Rosamund, although she did seem to fit in a bit too easily, and despised Joan, but now I sympathise with her as she did pull up her socks and was never in trouble again.

Indeed she moved into VA sooner than some of the others she started off with who had had better advantages from the education, and upbringing point of view.

Indeed she kept away from the mischief perpetrated by Margot, Francie, Heather etc but the 'in crowd' never bothered with her too much although Rosamund stayed in touch with her, which was very commendable.

I did chuckle at some of her vulgarity, as most of the Chalet girls were too good to be true & sooner or later a lot of them would have had to move out of their ivory towered school & study & work with people from different backgrounds with different standards of behaviour.

I was annoyed with Con's piece of arrogant snobbery in a later book when Rosamund later announced that Joan was engaged.

I used to speculate how I and my peers would have managed languages at the Chalet School after attending a state grammar school.

At Rosamund's age I had studied for French for 3 years, Latin for 2 and German for 1, which is more than some of the other new girls would have managed.
Author:  BethC [ 20 Jan 2008, 21:54 ]
Post subject: 
Oh, I like this, Pat - a POV that needs telling, I think!
Author:  Pat [ 20 Jan 2008, 22:40 ]
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It was a long journey, including an overnight trip from Paris to Basle, a change of trains to take us to Interlaken, and then a scary mountain train up to the Platz where the school was. I realised then just how big Europe was, not having bothered about geography much up to then. But I was shattered by the time we got there about teatime, and were shown into the Head’s study. I don’t know what I was expecting the Head to be like, but Miss Annersley wasn’t it, that I did know. She was older than Mum and Dad, with light brown wavy hair, done up in a big bun at the back of her neck. It should have looked old-fashioned, since most people I knew had short hair and a perm, like I did, but somehow it didn’t. Her eyes were a bluey-grey colour and seemed to look right through me, so that she could see what I was really like inside, and that was a very odd and disturbing feeling.
“Come in and sit down,” she said. “Welcome to Switzerland and the Chalet School. I’ve called for some tea for you, as I’m sure you must be ready for it. Then we’ll find Rosamund and ask her to show you to your dormitory Joan. Your trunk arrived quite safely, but you can wait until tomorrow to unpack.”
Tea was wonderful, with some fantastic cakes, nothing like anything I’d ever had in England. But then Grandad got up to go, and the Head rang a bell to get Ros to come for me, and all of a sudden I was scared of what was going to happen. This was all outside anything I’d ever known before, outside my comfort zone we’d say today, and I felt lost. But I wasn’t going to let anyone know that! Least of all Ros Lilley, who’d had a chance to get to know people already. No way! So I put a brave face on things, and when she came into the room, I was very satisfied to see the look of shock - and yes, horror - on her face when she saw me. I didn’t say anything till we were out of the room, but then I took the chance to get at her, shake her up a bit. I didn’t like the way I was feeling, and wanted someone else to feel as bad as me.
“Aha, Rosamund Lilley! You didn’t expect this, did you? But when Dad said I was to go to a decent school, I told him I wanted to go to yours. Your old frosty-face of a Head made all sorts of difficulty, but she had to give up in the end. Money always talks, Dad says. So here I am, and you’re to take care of me and mind you do or I’ll have something to say. Where’s this dormitory they talk of? Lead the way.”
Ros simply told me that we couldn’t talk on the stairs, and led the way up to Tulip dormitory where she left me with one of the Prefects, who she called Elinor, and who didn’t look too pleased at being saddled with me. Ros seemed different to what I remembered, and I worried at first that things might not be so easy as I’d thought. I needed Ros to show me what to do and how to go on, and the only way I knew to do that was to boss her. Then I thought of all the things I could say about her, and her family, that would make the other girls despise her, and was happier. She’d soon be back under my thumb, and things would be as they were. I wouldn’t feel so lost and out of my depth either.
Author:  Vikki [ 20 Jan 2008, 22:46 ]
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Yes, so under all her bravado and bluster and bullying, we can see the scared little girl inside.
Thank you Pat.
Author:  Sugar [ 20 Jan 2008, 22:48 ]
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She's very manipulative isn't she. I really feel for Ros
Author:  Alison H [ 20 Jan 2008, 23:19 ]
Post subject: 
It's very interesting seeing this from Joan's viewpoint - but poor Ros, being on the receiving end.
Author:  Lesley [ 20 Jan 2008, 23:57 ]
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Yes, not a very nice girl - feel more for Rosamund at this time.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Pat [ 21 Jan 2008, 00:03 ]
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Yes - its a problem as EBD really doesn't like Joan!!!
Author:  Tara [ 21 Jan 2008, 01:15 ]
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Not very nice - but so understandable. The only way she knows to protect herself is to bully Ros. Horrible for both of them.
Author:  Mona [ 21 Jan 2008, 09:38 ]
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Thanks Pat. It really is interesting to see this from Joan's side.
Author:  PaulineS [ 21 Jan 2008, 14:39 ]
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Thanks Pat, poor Joan she has no insight or resources to help her cope as Ros is.
Author:  leahbelle [ 21 Jan 2008, 18:06 ]
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I always felt a little bit sorry for Joan and its great to read about events from her perspective. Thanks!
Author:  Miss Di [ 22 Jan 2008, 00:13 ]
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Thanks Pat, It is really interesting to see Joan's POV. Still a nasty piece even with more understanding of her!
Author:  Phil [ 22 Jan 2008, 00:18 ]
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Thanks Pat, it's lovely to see a diferent POV and written as if it were a narrative account. I'm looking forward to more.
Author:  Pat [ 22 Jan 2008, 20:58 ]
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I’d brought a couple of my new evening dresses with me in my case, so I could change. Elinor showed me my cubicle, all fenced in with curtains, told me quickly where some of the things had to go, and left me to change. I’d no idea what to expect from a dormitory of course, and at least this looked as though I’d get some privacy. I’d been afraid that there’d be a room full of beds, with everyone on top of each other. I opened the case and got out my night things, dressing gown and sponge bag, and put them where Elinor had said. Then I pulled off my uniform and dumped it onto the bed, and pulled out my dress. I was just about to put it on when Elinor poked her head through the curtains.
“Put your dressing gown on and I’ll show you the bathroom. You’ll want a wash after your journey,” she said.
I hadn’t been going to bother, but as she was willing to take me I did as she said. I did feel better after the wash, and slipped into my favourite dress. It was a lovely bright red, with black beading, and I thought I looked the bees knees in it, but of course I know now that it was far to old for me, and made me stand out amongst the others in a way I’d hate now. On this I pinned my favourite cameo brooch and put on my red beads. I put on some makeup - no one had said that I shouldn’t, and I was used to wearing it at home. Besides, it gave me confidence, and I badly needed that then. Elinor looked a little startled when she came to see if I was ready, but didn’t say anything. She was wearing a rather plain pink dress, and had put her hair up all round her head in a way that made her look properly grown up. She took me downstairs to a large room that she said was the Hall. There were rows of tables set out all round it with girls sitting at them, and I wondered for a moment where Ros was, but then I saw her coming towards me, and smiled to myself. She looked such a kid, far younger than me, and a bit upset and worried. No problems there then. She took me back to her table, and I found that the other girls there were just kids, at least two years younger than us. Ros introduced me to them and we settled down to see what would happen.
It looked like the Prefects were running the affair, as when the bell rang for silence it was one of them that rang it. Betsy Lucy was the Head Girl I found out later. She gave us our instructions and set us off. What a childish thing it was! Our table had to make a list of words beginning with N. Towns, book title, girl’s name, that sort of thing. I couldn’t be bothered with it, and just scribbled a word or two on my paper, but the others all wrote furiously, even Ros. I looked round the room instead. It was as large as the Assembly Hall at my old school, with a stage at one end. Just now it was filled with girls all enjoying themselves, and I thought to myself how childish they all looked. I’d grown out of this sort of thing ages ago, and if this was what the school was like, then maybe I’d made a mistake coming here.
Of course I had the least number of words, so had to move tables when the time came. I offered to look at the new letter for those who stayed, but to my amusement they wouldn’t let me. Ros even called it cheating! Well! I couldn’t have that, could I?
“Oh, I quite forgot. Our little Rosamund is such a good girl. Never peeps or does anything of that kind! You’re too ‘pi’ to live Ros Lilley,” I said. Then I saw the shocked expression on the Len kid’s face, and realised that maybe I’d gone too far, so I made out that I was joking before wandering off to the next table, where I found that I was supposed to thread as many needles as I could in the ten minutes aloowed. We keot moving between tables for a while, and halfway through the evening the seniors brought round trays of sandwiches and things as a sort of supper, and then we carried on. Once I’d got going I enjoyed it more than I’d have expected, silly though all the games were. I suppose that was partly because everyone else obviously was and it rubbed off. I was stunned when the Head appeared at 8.30 to call a halt to it all, it seemed far too early, but everyone packed up like good little girls, and the prizes were given out. Even Ros got one, and seemed delighted though they were all silly little things of no value, the sort of stuff I'd have chucked strasight in the bin back then.
Author:  roversgirl [ 22 Jan 2008, 21:03 ]
Post subject: 
thanks for this. am really enjoying hearing Joan's point of view - i think she really had a tough start and her behaviour was governed by insecurity. thank you! :)
Author:  Vick [ 22 Jan 2008, 21:17 ]
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Interesting to hear Joan's version of events.

Thanks Pat :D
Author:  Alison H [ 22 Jan 2008, 22:17 ]
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Yes, I can imagine that paper games would seem a bit tame when you were 15 and used to going out dancing or hanging around with Vic Coles & co.

& it never seemed to occur to anyone that Joan might've been used to wearing make-up in the evenings at home and wasn't to know that it was against school rules at the CS.

Thanks Pat - really enjoying this.
Author:  Pat [ 22 Jan 2008, 22:19 ]
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The book says that the make up question was left to the mistresses to deal with.
Author:  PaulineS [ 22 Jan 2008, 22:29 ]
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Thanks for the insight into Joan. She is more believable when the situation is seen from her point of view.
Author:  Lesley [ 22 Jan 2008, 22:37 ]
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She made a poor start, true, but was never allowed to move on from it - Cornelia, on the other hand, was far nastier in her first term yet ended up Head Girl.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Miss Di [ 23 Jan 2008, 03:16 ]
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Good point Lesley. At least Joan never pinched anyone!
Author:  Jennie [ 23 Jan 2008, 16:14 ]
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I wish EBd had allowed Joan to make good, she did it with far nastier characters than Joan. I felt sorry for Joan, even though I didn't like her much.

And Joan never did anything as nasty and widespread as deliberately pouring water onto people's beds.
Author:  Pat [ 23 Jan 2008, 16:27 ]
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No she didn't. I did though!! I had a row with my best friend at boarding school, and did it to her. And guess what? I had to see to her bed - get the horse hair mattress set to dry, and remake the bed properly!!!
Author:  PaulineS [ 23 Jan 2008, 16:59 ]
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I wonder what EBD view of working class folks really was. She says we are all equal and then describes situations where some are more equal then others as it was described to me as a child.
Corney came from a wealthy home, Joan did not, therefore EBD saw the home influeances as unescapable.
Rosamund's parents were seen as different and less "common" than Joan's so she had different problems.
EBD was a product of her times and seeing her throught twenty-first century eyes highlights how the world has changed.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 23 Jan 2008, 21:29 ]
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Jennie wrote:
I wish EBd had allowed Joan to make good, she did it with far nastier characters than Joan.


She did the same with margot and Grizel, too. Sybil was allowed to reform but Margot and Grizel weren't. Thanks
Author:  Pat [ 24 Jan 2008, 21:45 ]
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Prayers followed, and the silence that fell was stunning. Some of the girls let the room, and I found out later that they were Catholics, and had Prayers somewhere else. The atmosphere was just like Church - very hushed and ‘pi’ - and I didn’t join in the singing at all. When everyone knelt to pray I knelt too, but didn’t listen to what was being said. As a result I was caught still on my knees when everyone else had sat down, which wasn’t what I wanted at all. By the time I’d got seated I was red from embarrassment, and furious with myself. The Catholic girls joined us then, and everyone repeated a prayer together. It was really the first time I’d come across people who seemed to believe what they were saying, and despite everything I was impressed. I could hear Ros beside me and Verity Behind me repeating the words with what was obviously a good deal of reverence, and up on the stage the staff were saying it too.
Upstairs I got another shock. Everyone was getting ready for bed, chattering and laughing together, but then it suddenly went quiet. I said something to Carol Younger in the next cubey, and when she didn’t reply I poked my head through the curtains. She was on her knees by her bed, and looking the other way, so was Gwen Parry! I’d never bothered with prayers at home, just got undressed and into bed, so this was another thing that was totally outside anything I’d come into contact with before. More than ever I wondered if I’d ever fit in here, everything felt so alien. Ros seemed to have no bother, but all the things that I’d laughed at her about, and scorned too, seemed to be the things that were helping her to adjust to a new life.
While I was thinking all this, and was already in bed, Elinor suddenly checked up to see who hadn't washed yet. So I reluctantly got out of bed again, pulled on the dressing gown, and followed two other girls to the bathroom. It all seemed a stupid fuss to me then, but I washed the makeup off my face and brushed my teeth, as there wasn’t anything else to do. I had no intention of showeing myself up again that night.
“You use this bathroom always,” said Elinor as we went back to the dormy. “And I nearly forgot to tell you, but you must take your morning bath either cold or chill-off. Hot baths are never taken in the morning. You’re second on the list after Elsie Morris. But I’ll come along and tell you everything then.”
I climbed back into bed with my mind in a whirl. It was the first I knew that I had to take a bath every morning, and a cold one at that! Not a nice thought, and I wondered how Ros had coped with all this. But then I remembered that she’d told me that they all had to wash every night, so perhaps it hadn’t been such a shock for her. I thought of that saying about cleanliness being next to Godliness, and I could see that both were going to be thrust down my throat here. It all seemed such a silly fuss about nothing, but I was determined to stick it out. Ros Lilley wasn’t going to have a single thing that I didn’t have, if I died trying. That night I dreamt that I had to take three baths a day, and curtsey to every mistress so that in the end I lost my balance and fell over. That’s when I woke up, to find I’d fallen out of bed! Elinor was beside me, and helped me to remake it, then I dropped off to sleep again, and only woke when the rising bell went in the morning. There was no chance of sleeping through that, nor the noise that the others made getting out of bed.
Author:  roversgirl [ 24 Jan 2008, 21:52 ]
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thanks pat :)
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 24 Jan 2008, 22:00 ]
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Thanks Pat
Author:  PaulineS [ 24 Jan 2008, 22:14 ]
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Thank you, Pat.
Joan must have wondered where she had come to. It must have been outside any thing she had previously known,
Author:  abbeybufo [ 24 Jan 2008, 22:19 ]
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Thanks Pat - nice to see another slant on a character that one feels EBD set up only to knock down at every conceivable opportunity
Author:  Lesley [ 24 Jan 2008, 22:26 ]
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It must have been a big shock - and she may well have been in a household that still didn't have a bathroom - just a copper bath that was filled from the kitchen sink - this was the early 1950's wasn't it?

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Pat [ 24 Jan 2008, 22:27 ]
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It say in the book that Ros Lilley didn't have a bathroom, so I assumed that the Bakers didn't either.
Author:  MaryR [ 24 Jan 2008, 22:38 ]
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Lesley wrote:
It must have been a big shock - and she may well have been in a household that still didn't have a bathroom - just a copper bath that was filled from the kitchen sink - this was the early 1950's wasn't it?

We have photos of me in a tin bath - we didn't have anything else till we moved to a council house in 1950 when I was four. So yes, there would still have been many who had no bathrooms.
Author:  Alison H [ 24 Jan 2008, 22:49 ]
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This is really interesting. And I'd also assumed that the Bakers didn't have a bathroom. My grandparents still had an outside loo in the '80s when I was a kid - although they had an inside one as well by then!
Author:  Elbee [ 24 Jan 2008, 23:41 ]
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Poor Joan, she must have felt very out of her depth.

Thanks, Pat.
Author:  Lyanne [ 25 Jan 2008, 00:54 ]
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Alison H wrote:
This is really interesting. And I'd also assumed that the Bakers didn't have a bathroom. My grandparents still had an outside loo in the '80s when I was a kid - although they had an inside one as well by then!


My mum was born in 1951, and her childhood home was a council house built in the early 50's. In the 60's she would have school friends round & still remembers telling them 'Oh we've only got an outside toilet' & being surprised that they believed her. The house was built with a bathroom upstairs but not toilet there, the toilet was downstairs & had no sink in it even when I was a girl (toilet in bathroom by then). I'd guess it was in the 90's when the sink was put in the downstairs loo.
Author:  Dawn [ 25 Jan 2008, 02:07 ]
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Just caught up on all of this Pat and it's great - thankyou
Author:  Sugar [ 25 Jan 2008, 03:39 ]
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We had an outside loo when I was little, til i was about 6 I think. We had an upstairs bathroom too though.

Thanks for the updates!
Author:  claire [ 25 Jan 2008, 11:17 ]
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My parents have still got an outside loo (although one inside as well), handy if gardening or if kids are playing in the garden
Author:  PaulineS [ 25 Jan 2008, 15:12 ]
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Our toilet was outside the cellar, so we had to go downstairs from the kitchen and out of the cellar door and in to the toilet which had no sink. The bath was in the kitchen and covered by work surface which was covered in fablon and used as a kitchen table most of the week, and lifted off when we had a weekly bath.

At one of my genadparents the they had too zinc baths hung in the yard and filled with water from the copper as there was only a cold water tap at the single sink in the house The tiolet again was an outside one,attached to the kitchen fortunately not at the bottom of the long garden.

When I visited grand in my twenties I had to go to a cousin's house for a bath. This was in the seventies
Author:  Tara [ 26 Jan 2008, 00:53 ]
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Oh, I do feel for Joan. She couldn't be more of a fish out of water, could she, everyone else plays by the same rules.

To join in the bath memories, we had an outside loo and no bathroom (baths in a zinc tub in front of the fire) until I was about three (1950). We had a bathroom put in (downstairs, off the kitchen) while we were on holiday, but there was no electricity in there, and we bathed by candlelight until I was well into my teens. Unbelievable now ... it was quite nice, actually!
Author:  Pat [ 26 Jan 2008, 23:45 ]
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It was Sunday, and it seemed we could wear our own clothes, so I got out another of my new dresses. This one was a lovely rich green, and as I looked round the dining room I thought it much smarter and more fashionable than any of the others there. They were all very simple and childish, even the big girls. I’d found time to put a coat of nail varnish on, which was a miracle in itself, seeing all the things we had to do when we got up. Like stripping the bed and humping the mattress! What was the point of that? It just made it harder to make again. Nut it was drummed into me that there’d be trouble with the Matron
if I didn’t, so I shrugged to myself and pulled the covers off like everyone else. Luckily that was before I’d put the varnish on. Just before going downstairs I put on a couple of bangles, and was ready to face the world, knowing that I was as smart as anyone there. Ros muttered something about makeup not being allowed here, but I ignored her. I’s worn it for years, and nothing Ros could say would make me stop now. It was later, when we were back in Tulip, that Matron came barging in. She was small and grey haired, and she looked very determined.
“Is Joan Baker here?” she asked. “Come with me to Matron’s room. I want a little talk with you about makeup.”
She dragged me off to the House Matron’s office, which was empty at the time.
“Now,” she said firmly. “Has no one told you that girls your age aren’t allowed to wear makeup?”
“Ros Lilley said something this morning, but I didn’t take any notice,” I said. “I’ve worn makeup for years now, and my parents don’t mind. Why should you?”
I soon found out! That woman to reduce anyone to a shrivelled heap without really trying, and before I knew it I was in the bathroom washing every trace of makeup off, and vowing that I wouldn’t get on the wrong side of Matron again if I could help it. I had to get rid of the nail varnish too, and then she took me to the trunk room (there had been no time yet to unpack) to inspect the rest of my dresses. She confiscated all but the one Grandpa had made me buy. The rest I had to send back home, much to my disgust. And she said she was going to ask Mum for leave to buy two more that were more fitting to replace them. Cheek! I was raging when I was at last allowed to rejoin the rest, and I really let rip about it. Ros said something about the postcard I’d had to send home, and I nearly snarled at her.
“I’ve sent it, and if I’d known what this pace was like I wouldn’t be here to send it, I can tell you. I’m going to tell Pa and Ma all about it when I do write, I can tell you! Interfering with the way I’m dressed! I bet my frocks cost far more than anything that old Frozen Limit ever spent on her clothes! They came from one of the biggest shops in Brighton, but because they don’t happen to suit her taste they’re all to be packed up except this thing and sent back , and Ma’s to be asked for leave to buy me two here that are ‘more fitting’. What’s wrong with them I’d like to know? And who’s she to say what I can and can’t wear?”
Trust Ros to try to smooth things over! She pointed out that everyone wore simple dresses here, and suggested that I wouldn’t want to be different. She didn’t succeed, as I was far too angry to listen, and just stormed on.
“I’d never have come to a hole like this if I’d known they were so fussy.”
Emerence leapt on me for that remark. “The Chalet School is not a hole. It’s a jolly fine school, and you’re jolly lucky to be here, let me tell you.”

Edited to correct a typo. Thanks Fatima.
Author:  Tara [ 27 Jan 2008, 00:01 ]
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Rejecting her 'home' dresses is also casting aspersions on the whole way she's been brought up and the whole of her culture, of course, so it's hardly surprising Joan is so furious. But her sophisticated clothes aren't at all suitable for this culture - it's complex, isn't it. Are the CS values 'better'????? Obviously we're meant to think they are (and actually, I do). Hmmm.
Author:  Alison H [ 27 Jan 2008, 08:36 ]
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The assumption in the books always seems to be that "their" culture is better - Rykie in Strangers at the Abbey gets similar treatment over clothes and make-up even though again she was only doing what she'd always done at home.

Presumably there was no guidance in the prospectus about evening clothes, as no-one suggests that Joan's actually broken a rule regarding her choice of dresses. If I were Mrs Baker I'd've gone mad at being told by a bossy matron that I had to spend good money on new clothes for Joan when she'd only just had new clothes, pools win or no!!

Thanks Pat :D .
Author:  Lesley [ 27 Jan 2008, 10:07 ]
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Yes, I think if the school are going to be that strict then they should give guidance about what is and is not acceptable.

Feeling sorry for Joan


Thanks Pat.
Author:  JB [ 27 Jan 2008, 13:03 ]
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Also feeling sorry for Joan.

No-one at the school is making allowances for coming from a very different background to the other girls, which must have been obvious to Miss Annersley before she agreed to admit Joan to the school.

This is so unlike the allowances made for delicate girls like Barbara Chester or Theodora, who'd been expelled from three schools.
Author:  Fatima [ 27 Jan 2008, 17:01 ]
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Poor Joan, how horrible to feel that everything you do and everything that you are is wrong.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Pat [ 28 Jan 2008, 22:49 ]
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What I find interesting is that this is the only book, as far as I know, where they wear their own clothes in the evening rather than the blue velveteen, and also on Sundays. I know Lavendar brought her own clothes, but they still wore the velveteens in the evening.


I saw Len Maynard give her a quiet kick and she shut up. Of course I got the wrong end of the stick, as I so often did that first term, and jumped in with both feet.
“Yes; you’d better hold your tongue! And don’t speak to your elders and better so rudely, neither.”
Margot smiled at me in a way calculated to keep my rage boiling. “Oh, but if you come to that, Emerence is your elder.”
Did she think that I’d believe that? She looked such a kid, about the same age as the Maynards, but Ros put me straight.
“Emerence is a year older than you Joan,” she said. “She had her fifteenth birthday last week.”
Well! That floored me if you like. I felt so out of my depth with these girls, who were like no one I’d come into contact with before. They thought differently to the girls I was used to, seemed so much younger than their years, with no interests outside school and work. It didn’t help that Ros Lilley fitted in to the manor born, and I’d looked down on her for so many years because of her Mum being in service. I let the subject drop, took the chair they’d kept for me, and sat staring across the lawn, still simmering. None of them seemed to be able to understand that everything I was used to was being thrown up in the air, or criticised. It was clear to me that I was considered to be a problem for the school, and I felt like a duck out of water. I could see that my values were different to theirs, but did that mean that they were worse? I didn’t think so, but it seemed that they did. Matron certainly did, because why else would she take away the clothes my Mum and I had chosen, and want to replace them. They’d cost a lot of money, and were the height of fashion, but that wasn’t good enough. Of course the others thought that I was sulking, and buried themselves in their letter home, ignoring me.
I continued to be quiet while we were getting ready for church. I knew that church was part of life in a boarding school, and accepted that I would have to go too, so I put up with it. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be to be honest, being fairly short, with some good hymns, and a short sermon.
When we were walking back, Ros pulled me to one side and dropped another bombshell. She was going to tea with the Maynards who lived next door. OK, so it’d been arranged before I got to the school, but even so, she shouldn’t be leaving me alone on my first day there, or so I thought.
“I’m sorry about that,” Ros acknowledged. “I did wonder if I ought to ask Mrs Maynard to excuse me; but the Head sent for me before we went to church and said it would be all right for me to go. Alicia Leonard and Betty Landon are going to look after you and you have a ramble this afternoon and then church again after Kaffee und Kuchen, so you’ll be all right.”
“Why can’t I come with you?”
Ros immediately cried that it wasn’t possible, and then went rambling on about Mrs Maynard being Josephine Bettany the author, which seemed to me to be a load of rubbish. Famous authors didn’t invite kids to tea like that. But Ros said that it was true, and that she’d been to the school herself.
“Well why don’t you ask those three kids if I can come? they ought to be jolly glad to have me - just come from England. You’re jolly pally with them I notice. Ask them!”
It didn’t occur to me that that sort of thing wasn’t done. It was easy enough to do, it happened all the time at home. But no, it wasn’t possible!
“Then if you won’t I will!”
“Joan! You can’t! You hardly know them! You can’t go asking for invites!”
“Can’t I just! I tell you what it is Ros Lilley, you’re getting a bit above yourself and you’d better mind yourself or I’ll see that the rest know all about you.”
I was still unsettled by the events of the morning, church having done nothing to help as I hadn’t taken a lot of notice of the service, or thought about being prayerful. All I wanted to some normality back in my life, something I was used to, and I was used to bossing Ros. And there was also that feeling that if I was hurt and upset, so should she be. Not very praiseworthy, but natural enough the way I was feeling then. I can still feel something of that turmoil now, remembering those first days at school, though I’ve changed a lot since then.
Ros stared at me. “What are you getting at? There’s nothing to tell.”
“Oh isn’t there? Think your precious Mrs Maynard would be so keen to have you and her triplets so pally if she knew your mother was just someone’s servant before her marriage and your Pa was just a common market gardener? Or that you’re here through Mrs Gay’s charity? For that’s all you are - a charity schoolgirl!”
Author:  Sugar [ 28 Jan 2008, 22:58 ]
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What a little B*tch!

Thanks Auntie Pat!

Is there anymore? I have to ask ... it produced a result last time I did, all of 10 mins ago :lol:
Author:  Pat [ 28 Jan 2008, 23:01 ]
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You got all I've written you greedy thing! :roll:
Author:  PaulineS [ 28 Jan 2008, 23:04 ]
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Poor Joan every thing she knows is being questioned and no one to help as Ros has not the experience to realise Joan's problems. A pity in some ways she did not go to the Maynards soon after she went to the Chalet School, through even Joey may not have picked up the Joan's feelings of insecurity she was having.
Author:  Alison H [ 28 Jan 2008, 23:16 ]
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She was horrible to Ros, but she sounds so insecure. Really it would've been better to've appointed someone else as her "sheepdog", rather than Ros who, although they already knew each other, was still very new herself.

Thanks Pat :D .
Author:  Lesley [ 28 Jan 2008, 23:58 ]
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Pat wrote:
You got all I've written you greedy thing! :roll:


Biter bitten, Pat? :wink:



Thanks for the post.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 29 Jan 2008, 04:14 ]
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Thanks.
Author:  Mona [ 29 Jan 2008, 08:50 ]
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Thanks Pat!
Author:  Pat [ 30 Jan 2008, 20:52 ]
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Lesley wrote:
Pat wrote:
You got all I've written you greedy thing! :roll:


Biter bitten, Pat? :wink:



Thanks for the post.


Not really. Sugar had asked if there was any more already via msn! She got that post as a response.
Author:  Pat [ 30 Jan 2008, 20:53 ]
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Lesley wrote:
Pat wrote:
You got all I've written you greedy thing! :roll:


Biter bitten, Pat? :wink:



Thanks for the post.


Not really. Sugar already had asked if there was any more via msn! I posted that update in response to that. So she was asking for 2 posts on one night.
Author:  Sugar [ 30 Jan 2008, 21:02 ]
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I can't help it if you write bloody good drabbles that i want to read! :roll:
is there anymore yet?
Author:  Pat [ 30 Jan 2008, 22:36 ]
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Ros flushed at that, and I smiled to myself. That had hit home, and I was sure that I’d now be able to boss Ros just as I used to. Before anything else could be said Vi Lucy came running up to say that we had permission to walk on a bit as the service had finished early, but we had to line up as we were now on the road. She also told us off for getting so far ahead. Ros gave some sort of apology, and Vi went off after some other kids. There was no more chance to talk after that until just before Mittagessen, when I caught Ros alone in the common room. She was putting a book away in a cupboard, and I managed to trap her between the door and the room.
“You mind what I said to you, Ros Lilley,” I said. “You get me an invite from Mrs Maynard for some day soon or I shan’t half have something to tell the rest! I’ve warned you.”

School started the next day, and that’s when my problems really started too. I knew that lessons were given in whatever language was spoken that day, and I’d realised that I’d have trouble with that. But Ros was coping so I was sure that I could too. What really shocked me was that we were expected to talk French - it was French day on Monday - from the moment we got up! Not only that, but everyone really tried to do it too! I didn’t realise at the time, but everyone tried to help me, and were patient with me, but I was too taken up with grumbling about it all. What made it worse that even though I knew for a fact that Ros had come to the school as ignorant as myself, she was managing to speak some French, and understand more. The shocks started when Elinor came to tell me to be ready to follow Gwen Parry to the bathroom, and found me still in bed. She said something incomprehensible to me that I guessed was French. I grumbled a bit as I was so comfy in bed, and she told me to say it in French! I just gaped at her. Then she repeated her first sentence very slowly, and I gathered that she was saying something about Gwen returning from somewhere. Finally she saw that I had no idea what she was on about and said it all in English for me. Not only that, but she wanted me to repeat it in French! No chance!
“Raspberries to that!” I said. “You don’t expect me to talk French all the time do you? If you do you’ve another guess coming!”
I heard a gasp from the others in the room, but I didn’t care. How could they expect me to talk in a language that I’d never been taught? Besides which, the reality of the language business was being thrust into my face, and the shock and the fear of making a fool of myself were taking over.
Elinor hesitated before she replied, but when she did it was mild enough.
“Oh, yes, Joan. Here we speak nothing but French on Mondays and Thursdays. Tuesdays and Fridays it’s German. We have English on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays too for English girls.”
She tried to make me believe that it would be easier than I thought, but I wasn’t convinced. Then she told me again to go and have my bath, and reminded me that someone else was waiting for me to finish. I thought all this washing and bathing a lot of footling rot, and told her so, but she pointed out that it was a rule of the school, so I went off to the bathroom. Gwen had left the tap running for me, so I turned it off. Then, totally ignoring the bath, I gave my hands and face a quick once over and cleaned my teeth before returning to the dormy, feeling that I’d got one over on the school. Remembering the fuss with Matey the day before I left the makeup alone, but as I looked at myself in the mirror I though how dowdy I looked. The uniform was simple, and being uniform I couldn’t make it any more attractive with jewellery or anything like that. Then I pulled the bedding off the bed, pushed my brush and comb into their case and left my cubey.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 30 Jan 2008, 22:51 ]
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I'm really enjoying this! It's amazing how differently Joan comes across when one's looking out of her eyes :lol:
Thanks Pat
Author:  PaulineS [ 30 Jan 2008, 23:01 ]
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I am suprised she only said "Raspberries" I think I would have been struck dumb.

I am left wondering how other new girls reacted to the language rules. EBD glossed over them so often.
Author:  Sugar [ 30 Jan 2008, 23:03 ]
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Thank you!
She must have felt like a fish out of water when you think of the culture shock she has had. The CS must seem an odd place to an outsider!

Glad my requests are being met! :lol:
Author:  Lesley [ 30 Jan 2008, 23:25 ]
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Keep asking Sugar! :wink:


Thanks Pat - you're making a very unsympathetic character more and more real.
Author:  Alison H [ 31 Jan 2008, 00:45 ]
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I don't think I'd've been very impressed by Elinor speaking French to me either! However patient someone might be, if they speak to you in a language you don't understand then how on earth are you supposed to know what they mean :? ?

Thanks Pat :D .
Author:  Pat [ 31 Jan 2008, 15:36 ]
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I've always wondered why EBD thought that repeating the words slowly would help. It's the same as speaking slowly to someone in English because they don't understand. If you don't know the language you need it translated!!!
Author:  JackieP [ 31 Jan 2008, 19:36 ]
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Perhaps EBD was working on the theory that if you heard words in a foreign language that sounded similar you'd be able to pick it up...

Thanks though Pat, interesting to see Joan's thoughts.

JackieP
Author:  Vick [ 02 Feb 2008, 01:49 ]
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Thanks Pat
Author:  Pat [ 03 Feb 2008, 17:04 ]
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I was immediately given yet another shock , for Elinor stopped me to ask if I’d said my prayers! I stared at her for a moment, and then became aware of the silence all around me.
“Do you mean we’re supposed to say our prayers on our own?” I gasped. We’d never bothered at home, of course, as we hadn’t been much for going to church. I didn’t know any prayers except the ‘Our Father’, so I went back into my cubey and said that over a few times, as I had no idea what else to do. Of course, I’ve found out since that this was a time for private prayer, for each girl to bring to God what was on her mind, both for others and herself, but then the whole thing was just one more alien idea that I had to take on board.
When I came out of my cubey most of the others were out and tossing their curtains up over the rails to let the breeze air the room. Gwen Parry came up to be and said something to me before throwing my own curtains up over the rail. When she saw my bed she leapt at it, pulled all the covers off and slung them over the chair, dumped the pillows on top of the bureaux, and humped the mattress in the middle, while I stared at her in amazement, and no little annoyance, for with the covers all pulled off like that, I’d have to make the bed from scratch after breakfast.
Then we had to line up at the door and march down to the common room, as if we couldn’t be trusted to go there quietly on our own. To my surprise, even when we got there, and had no Prefect in charge of us, everyone spoke in French, more or less, not that I could tell the difference of course. Not only that, but whenever I spoke in English I was told the French for what I’d said and made to repeat it till I’d got it right. At first I was annoyed, and a little scornful that they were all such goody-goodies, but then I realised that if I had to speak French - and German - for whole days at a time, then I might as well learn what I could when I could.
After Fruhstuck and Prayers we went back upstairs to tidy the dormitory. It all felt like a lot of nonsense to me, and I slung the bedclothes onto the bed without bothering to tuck anything in. The House Matron arrived just as I thought that I’d finished to show me the correct way to make the bed, and she made sure it was properly done too, and all the dusting that was required. Then I had to go downstairs for the morning walk. I met Ros outside the main building, and she said something that I assumed meant ‘would I walk with her’; at least I assumed that ‘marchez’ meant walk. One of the older girls said something that sounded as if she was correcting the French, and Ros jabbered something back to her, much to my amazement.
“And where did you learn to speak French?” I demanded.
At once a mistress said something , probably asking who spoke in English, an Ros said something back. In fact there was quite a little conversation, before she moved off and the walk started. We couldn’t really talk on the walk, as I knew no French at all, but at one point I did mutter “How d’ye do in lessons?”
“Parlez en Francais. We must. I mean - il faut.” replied Ros, and I gathered that it was a waste of time to ask her anything in English, and I couldn’t in French, obviously. No doubt I’d find out the hard way, just as she had had to.
The first lesson was maths, with a Miss Wilmot, and of course it was in French, so the whole lot went over my head. Then she set the class to working out examples and turned to me. Naturally she stared of in French, and then had to translate everything for me. Everything I said was translated back and I had to repeat it. I was getting extremely irritated by now, for how was I meant to learn anything when I didn’t understand the language, and all this translating back and forth took so long. Besides, Ros was obviously straining every nerve to understand and get on, and that just made it all worse for some reason. If this had been my old school I’d have cheeked Miss Wilmot, but here I didn’t like to. For a start, everyone was working hard, so there was no audience as I’d had at At Matthew’s, and for another, there was something about Miss Wilmot that made me a bit wary; she wasn’t like any of the teachers I’d known before. I did push a little, but she kept the same calm and patient manner, and I began to think that she was weaker than I’d first thought. So when she finally asked if I understood, I replied a bit more cheekily than I’d done up till then.
“Not me!” I said. “But don’t disturb yourself. I couldn’t care less!”
Author:  Alison H [ 03 Feb 2008, 17:38 ]
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She was going quite well there until she was cheeky to Nancy.

Again, no-one made much allowance for the fact that she wasn't used to their ways. Presumably even if she'd read the prospectus it wouldn't have said that you had to make the bed in a particular way! Or, then again, maybe it did :lol: .

Thanks Pat :D .
Author:  Lesley [ 03 Feb 2008, 17:50 ]
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It must have been horrendous, trying to understand a new lesson when it's being spoken in a foreign language. In a way I can understand Joan's frustration - though she did make rather a howler trying to cheek Miss Wilmot.


Thanks Pat
Author:  abbeybufo [ 03 Feb 2008, 18:14 ]
Post subject: 
Alison H wrote:
Presumably even if she'd read the prospectus . . .


But did the CS expect the girls themselves to have read the prospectus? Surely that was intended for the parents - who obviously didn't pass any info on . . . otherwise why so many plots and subplots turning on the shock of 3 languages, bed making, curtseying, etc. :lol:
Author:  PaulineS [ 03 Feb 2008, 19:20 ]
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Thanks Pat. I feel more and more sorry for new girls. Joan's problem of course are complicated by coming after the start of term, when other new girls have started to settle.
Author:  Vick [ 03 Feb 2008, 22:59 ]
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Poor Joan, it must have been a complete culture shock for her.

Thanks Pat
Author:  Sugar [ 03 Feb 2008, 23:28 ]
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Thanks Auntie Pat. Poor JOAN was seeming to settle a bit til she decided to cheek Nancy.

please may we have some more? :wink:

edited: cos I'm a total twit and am not awake!
Author:  JustJen [ 04 Feb 2008, 00:23 ]
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I feel very sorry for Joan right now.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 04 Feb 2008, 07:48 ]
Post subject: 
abbeybufo wrote:
Alison H wrote:
Presumably even if she'd read the prospectus . . .


But did the CS expect the girls themselves to have read the prospectus? Surely that was intended for the parents - who obviously didn't pass any info on . . . otherwise why so many plots and subplots turning on the shock of 3 languages, bed making, curtseying, etc. :lol:


Gillian Moggeridge says she and her mother did when they were choosing schools in Carola as the girls were all surprised when Carola said she hadn't seen the prospectus.

I still think she was rude and regardless of if it was a whole different world to Joan, thats no excuse. I think Mrs Gay and her teacher at St Matthews were right when they said she would struggle to cope with it all, when they were discussing the Gay's scholarships and who would get it. There's a difference between not being used to something and being nasty about it to everyone. If she had of been direct and polite about it, I would feel more sympathy for her and I think people would be more understanding and flexible in how they deal with her as they were with Rosamund. I've a lot more sympathy for Rosamund who was bullied by Joan at different times in the book. It must have been a nightmare for her
Author:  Rosalin [ 04 Feb 2008, 22:05 ]
Post subject: 
Rosamund is definitely more of a victim than Joan, but being given Joan's point of view makes her behaviour understandable, though not excusable.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Miss Di [ 05 Feb 2008, 04:29 ]
Post subject: 
I'm with Joan on the bed making - I think it's an incredible waste of time to strip your bed and turn your matress everyday. Actually I can't say that I make the bed everyday, but leaving it open reduces dust mites (so they say).

Thanks for all the updates Pat. You just ignore those cheeky middles pressing for regular updates and post it as you write it (imediately you write it you understand) :twisted:
Author:  Pat [ 05 Feb 2008, 15:18 ]
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I do post as soon as it's written.
When I was at school we were supposed to strip our beds, every morning to air, but not hump the mattress. We had horsehair mattresses, which I assume the CS did. I carefully folded the bedding back so that that all I had to do after breakfast was fold it back up again! We had to do the 'hospital corners' thing too, both on the sheets and blankets, and on the bedspreads, which had the school crest embroidered on them!!!
Author:  Pat [ 06 Feb 2008, 20:49 ]
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What a shock I got in response! Miss Wilmot was unlike any other teacher I’d ever come across; she didn’t lose her dignity, or shout at me, and she certainly didn’t let me get away with it. She just said something in French - which went over my head of course. Even so her tone of voice and the gesture she made towards the door made it clear that she was telling me to leave the room. I confess that I hesitated, and her voice changed dramatically. It made everyone in the room jump, and was so icily cold that I shivered. I flushed bright red with annoyance, not shame. To be treated like a small child in front of the whole form, and especially in front of Ros Lilley was hardly to be born. Of course, I’d asked for it, but I was in no state to admit that then! Even so I was tempted to stay and brazen it out, but the look Miss Wilmot gave me made me change my mind. I picked up my books and left the room, carefully not giving way to the temptation to slam the door behind me. There was only about ten minutes of the lesson left, and to my dismay Miss O’Ryan came down the corridor before it finished. Just my luck that she’d had a free period, and so was ready and waiting for the maths class to finish. She soon got out of me what had happened, and I was thankful that she didn’t make me put my explanation in French! I don’t think I could have stood that, and she must have seen it. I followed her into the room and took my place again, noticing as I did so that not one of the girls looked at me at all. I learnt nothing in that history lesson, or at least, no history. I did manage to pick up a couple more French phrases though. I also decided that it might be as well to get a little more settled in, and find out what the rest of the mistresses were like before I tried anything like that again. The girls obviously frowned on cheek as much as the mistresses did, which was something new in my experience.
That afternoon we had tennis with Upper IVb. I’d played a bit of tennis, mostly on the public courts, and was quite happy to learn the French terms for the game. The hour passed quickly and I enjoyed every minute, especially when Miss Burnett told me that I could do quite well at the game if I had some coaching. It was the first positive thing that had happened since I came to the school, and I felt a lot happier in consequence. I had a special lesson with Mlle de Lachennais after the tennis, and my good mood took me through that pretty well. I learnt quite a bit of French, though I did find the way we had to pronounce the words amusing - there was such am emphasis put on it too. Still I came out of that lesson determined to make good use of everything I could pick up. After all, if Ros could do it so could I. I wasn’t any less clever than she was, and I’d prove it too. Of course, it was the scholarship that was making me feel like that. I was envious that she’d got it and I hadn’t, even though I wouldn’t have wanted it if it had been offered to me. In those days I couldn’t admit that, even to myself, but that was they way it was. I told myself that it was favouritism on old Mrs Gay’s part, and anyway all it meant was that Ros was a charity schoolgirl. My family were paying for me to be at the school, and I wasn’t going to be beaten by a charity kid. I’d been top of the class enough times at St Matthew’s, so I knew I could do it. Of course I didn’t realise, that messing about in lessons as I’d been in the habit of doing didn’t give me the foundations of the knowledge I needed. And it’s very hard to break a habit of not working.
The next two weeks were dreadfully hard. I had decided that I wanted to be Private Secretary when I left school, and knew that if I had a good knowledge of French and German it would help me get a good job. So I really worked at them. However, I found lessons hard. the language business was a big barrier of course, but the others seemed to know things that I hadn’t ever heard of, and I had no idea how to find out about them. As a result I found it hard to concentrate in lessons, and it was very easy to just stop paying much attention. Prep was a nightmare for me, s I found it virtually impossible to concentrate for all that time. So I fidgeted, scribbled in my rough book, looked around the classroom, and it drove not only the Prefect on duty mad, but the other girls as well. the trouble was the I couldn’t help it, and part of me didn’t want to change. Betsy Lucy sent me out of prep one evening because of it, and then told me I had to come back and make up the time after Abendessen. Well! I told her what she could do with that idea! Who was she to tell me I had to give up my free time, after she’d sent me out of prep too! Betsy told me that I could do as I was told or take a Head’s Report.
I grinned at her. “So you know you can’t make me? OK. Go ahead and tell the Head tales if you feel that way 0 sneak!”
That stopped her dead - I could see she was shocked. But it didn’t last.
“Oh, I shan’t do the reporting. You’ll do it yourself.”
She had another think coming over that! “Garn!” I said. “Think I was born yesterday?”
“Yes,” Betsy retorted. “So far as this school is concerned, I certainly do. You’ll go to the study - now. You can say I’ve sent you to report yourself for impertinence and making a nuisance of yourself to everyone else in prep. And if you don’t go I shall certainly report you myself.”
Of course, I flatly refused to go. I’d no idea, even after two weeks, of the authority that the Prefects had. Unlike my old school, here they were looked on as the Head’s representatives, and were given the respect due to that position. I found that out the hard way.
Author:  Lesley [ 06 Feb 2008, 20:56 ]
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Ouch!!!! She really didn't know what she'd let herself in for, did she?


Thanks Pat.
Author:  roversgirl [ 06 Feb 2008, 21:22 ]
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thank you. the poor girl didn't find out enough before following rosamund there, did she? i can understand it being overwhelming.
Author:  Alison H [ 06 Feb 2008, 22:43 ]
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Poor Joan - it must have been so hard for someone with a strong personality to get used to everything being so different from what they'd known before.
Author:  Sugar [ 06 Feb 2008, 22:43 ]
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Oops! Wonder what it was that finally made her realise her errors.

Thank you!
Author:  Miss Di [ 07 Feb 2008, 03:10 ]
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Thanks Pat, you're really making me feel sorry for Joan.
Author:  PaulineS [ 07 Feb 2008, 18:01 ]
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I too feel sorry for Joan, unfortunately Rosamund can bot help as she is still finding her own feet, but had some of knowledge Joan needed without the awareness that Joan did not know it.

That sentence is convoluted, but I hope it makes sense.
Author:  Rosalin [ 07 Feb 2008, 21:20 ]
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Sounds like a really confusing day for poor Joan. She isn't really helping herself much though.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  arky72 [ 07 Feb 2008, 23:29 ]
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Just read this all in one go Pat, and really enjoyed it.

Am away for a week now so hoping there will be lots more when I get back!
Author:  Sarah J [ 09 Feb 2008, 15:28 ]
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I am really enjoying this. It is interesting to read about the same events from someone else's point of view.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Vick [ 09 Feb 2008, 23:53 ]
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Thanks Pat :D
Author:  Pat [ 10 Feb 2008, 18:14 ]
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That evening, at the end of Abendessen, the Head stood for Grace as usual; but before saying it she said “I wish to see Joan Baker in the study. Follow me, Joan, after Grace.”
My stomach seemed to drop to the level of my shoes. There had been nothing more than a quiet firmness in her voice, but even that was enough to make me wonder what I was in for. I trailed after her down the corridor to the study, trying to keep my courage up and not succeeding at all. Once there I had to stand in front of her desk while she asked about the whole affair. I tried to say as little as possible, but it took her only about ten minutes before she got the whole thing out of me, and by then I was shaking in my shoes. There was no bluster, no loud voice, but I knew that I was in deep trouble. Just how much I was about to find out. Miss Annersley sat and looked at me when I’d finished talking, then pronounced judgement in a voice that cut like ice.
“I see,” she said. “Well I don’t suppose you need me to tell you that your conduct would be a disgrace to the most untrained urchin. You have disgraced not only yourself, but your parents and your former school. In future, please try to remember that we expect our girls to behave like gentlewomen. You will apologise to Betsy Lucy for your rudeness to her, and for the whole of next week you will forfeit your privileges.”
I managed to mutter something about not understanding what that meant. Not for the world would I let her see how hard it was for me to say anything at all, nor how close the tears were.
“I mean that in your free time, you will not use the tennis courts nor be allowed to go on rambles. Instead you will take walks with one of the mistresses. You may not use the library - your present book must be handed in to the librarian who will retain it until the week is ended. You will be given a stamp for your home letter and collection money for church - by the mistress beside whom you will be sitting for the services. Apart from that you will have no pocket money this week. Finally, instead of enjoying the Saturday evening dancing and games, you will come to me after you have changed and I will give you something to do.”
I nearly gasped out loud at the swingeing nature of all this. It almost overwhelmed me, as I’d been expecting a good telling off and a heap of lines, or something of that sort. This was something else again, and I wished I hadn’t been so rude to Betsy if this was going to be thre result. I was quite unable to say anything now, and after waiting for a moment the Head rang the bell and sent for Betsy. We waited in a silence that could be felt, and I stood there hoping that the shaking wasn’t obvious. When Betsy arrived the Head merely said that I had something to say to her. Now the moment had come, and I had to speak, I took a deep breath, then flushing red and looking at the floor I managed to give the required apology. Betsy was more generous than I deserved and accepted the apology after which the Head sent her away again. I was so thankful that what was almost the worst part of the punishment was over that I was able to relax a little. The I was sent to bed, and told that Matron Henschell would be told why I was upstairs so early. I ran most of the way there, nearly bumping into Len Maynard on the way. She gave me a really nasty look, so it was plain that everyone knew something had happened. Once in bed I gave way, and cried myself to sleep. There was no one to hear me, and no one came near till the rest came up to bed, but by then I was asleep.
The next day I felt tired and heavy after all the crying I’d done, and not rested at all, even though I'd slept all night. That, and the rest of the punishment still hanging over me made me feel angry and sullen. Hilary Bennet demanded my library book straight after breakfast, and I handed it over feeling at odds with the whole world. I knew that I’d been wrong to speak to the Head Girl as I had, but I’d never come across a school where it was expected that a girl would report herself for wrong doing, or where punishments were so heavy and lasted so long. Now I suspect that the idea was to try to shock me into behaving the way that the rest did, and to change my ways and attitudes in one fell swoop, but then I felt very hard done by. No one made any allowance for the fact that I came from a different background to the rest of the girls, and I felt misunderstood and unwanted. Of course, that didn’t help me to change my behaviour at all, and the climax came that afternoon when the form was left alone to write an essay. I found it hard to concentrate on anything, as I had all that day, and spent the time shifting my chair, messing around with my pen, and yawning. Yawning is catching, and before long most of the others were yawning too. As a result very few of them got anything written at all, and when the period ended they rounded on me, telling me what they thought of me in no uncertain terms. It was horrible, and nasty, and feeling as I did I gave as good as I got, and then some! Voices got louder and louder, until first Mary-Lou, and almost immediately after her, Miss O’Ryan came to see what the noise was all about. I was well away by then, and swore at Alicia Leonard just as the mistress came into the room. She cleared the room in short order, keeping me back. Then she put me in silence for the rest of the day, taking it for granted that I would obey her, and threatened me with a Head’s Report if I used that sort of language again. That was one of the things that got me about the place, the calm expectation that we would do as we were told without being supervised, from speaking the right language down to obeying a decree like this one. I went away determined to be more careful in the future - I knew just what that last threat meant now!
Author:  abbeybufo [ 10 Feb 2008, 18:39 ]
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Love the way this is tying in with the text 'wot she wrote' :wink:

Thanks, Pat
Author:  Rosalin [ 10 Feb 2008, 19:33 ]
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Once again this makes Joan so much more understandable. And I like the way the (?)adult Joan is adding in what she has understood since.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Mona [ 10 Feb 2008, 20:08 ]
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Thanks Pat. Seeing Joan's viewpoint is fascinating.
Author:  Alison H [ 10 Feb 2008, 20:31 ]
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Poor Joan - it all went wrong for her, didn't it?

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Elbee [ 10 Feb 2008, 21:57 ]
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Por Joan, she's really struggling with CS life.

Thanks, Pat.
Author:  Lesley [ 10 Feb 2008, 22:29 ]
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Poor kid - she did deserve it but she really wasn't given any warning.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Pat [ 16 Feb 2008, 21:03 ]
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Shortly after all this I began to be aware that Mary-Lou was trying to help me settle in and adapt to the school’s way of doing things. It took me a while to realise it, but she was around more out of school, and being more friendly than was normal for a Senior with a Middle. I was grateful that someone was helping me, but sometimes wondered why. I found out later on, and the shock and hurt were the worst things that had ever happened to me.
Two weeks before half term we were all called into Hall on the Saturday afternoon as the Head wanted to speak to us. Everyone was very curious, as this wasn’t a normal time for this sort of thing. She started by asking who was going home and taking friends with them, and when she’d got that information she finally told us what it was all about. They were bringing half term forward by a week for some reason, and needed to make sure that those going home would still be able to go. Then she sent us all to our form rooms to write postcards home telling our parents about the change.
“What have we to explain to our parents,” asked Rosamund. I’m not going home or staying with people. Won’t we just be at school?”
That’s when I found out about the expeditions the school went on. We could be going anywhere in Switzerland it seemed, and that’s why they needed to know who would be staying - so that they could make arrangements. I wrote my card with the rest, but a question was gnawing at me all the time I was writing. When I took my card up to Katherine Gordon I put it on the table and then plucked up the courage to ask about the thing that had been troubling me.
“Will I - be let - go?” I asked, very red in the face.
“Of course you will,” she replied. “You ought to enjoy it, Joan. This is your first visit abroad isn’t it?”
I nodded and left the room, feeling very relieved. I still hadn’t figured out the way punishments worked at this school, but at least I’d be able to join in the half term trips. I heard the Maynards talking about it, and the fact that they couldn’t go home as their mother was away somewhere, and stopped to ask where we’d be going. No one knew, but the question brought on a whole lot of talk about where it might be. It wasn’t till Wednesday that we had any other news about half term, when the Head made an announcement after Prayers. She told us that we’d be divided into groups and lists of groups and where they were going would be put up on the notice board. Rosamund and the triplets were going to Basle with Miss Wilmot, but I wasn’t going with them. I was going to stay with Mary-Lou to practice my tennis! I had been long enough at the Chalet School to know that this was a great honour, and I was a bit awed by the invitation. I had no idea why she should want me to go with her, as she was older than me. We went up to the Rosleinalp on Friday after everyone else had left school, and Mary-Lou showed me the pretty room I was to have while I was there. Everything was the best quality, with expensive furniture and curtains and things. A different world to the one I’d grown up in. It was Saturday morning when everything blew apart, and I found out why I’d been invited to stay, and I found it out by accident.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 16 Feb 2008, 21:22 ]
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Pat this is tied in soooo well! 8)
It gives a completely new dimension to the book :)
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 16 Feb 2008, 21:57 ]
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I'm another who really appreciates the way this is tying in with the book - it definitely gives another dimension to Joan's experiences.

Thanks, Pat
Author:  PaulineS [ 16 Feb 2008, 21:59 ]
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I always wanted to go to boarding school, but seeing Joan's experiences from her viewpoint, I am glad I did not.
Author:  Alison H [ 16 Feb 2008, 23:08 ]
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Poor Joan - Mary-Lou and Katherine's apparent friendliness must have seemed like a godsend until she overheard them talking :( .

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Lesley [ 16 Feb 2008, 23:56 ]
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Yes, from suddenly starting to have a fragile sense of worthiness to that being shattered by finding out the only reason you've been invited is because you're considered such a failure you need additional coaching to reach CS standards.

Poor girl.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Sugar [ 17 Feb 2008, 01:10 ]
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Poor Joan! Her self esteem must have hit rock bottom!
Author:  Rosalin [ 17 Feb 2008, 10:32 ]
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I always felt sorry for Joan over that incident. Such a shattering thing to overhear, I wasn't surprised she ran away. I probably would have. Mary-Lou and Katharine shouldn't have talked about her like that when they knew she was in the house. I'm eagerly awaiting the description of the incident from this more understandable Joan.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Vick [ 19 Feb 2008, 23:20 ]
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Thanks Pat :D
Author:  roversgirl [ 19 Feb 2008, 23:22 ]
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Thank you :)
Author:  JustJen [ 20 Feb 2008, 18:51 ]
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I feel very sorry for Joan now and I think the school made a mistake by letting Joan go off with Mary Lou and Katherine.
Author:  Elle [ 22 Feb 2008, 00:31 ]
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Just found this, and I think it is great. Thanks Pat!
Author:  Pat [ 23 Feb 2008, 16:14 ]
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I was on my way to the bathroom that morning, and as I passed the room that Mary-Lou and Katherine were sharing I caught my name, so I stopped to listen to what they said. Well, what would you have done? I know that what is called eavesdropping is frowned upon in the school, but I wanted to find out why I’d been given the invitation. It had been Katherine’s voice that I heard first, and then I caught the whole of Mary-Lou’s reply.
“I’m going to go on being decent to her till she was as decent as any other Chalet School girl.”
I didn’t listen to any more; I didn’t need to! I knew now why I’d been invited, and I wished I didn’t. The shock was dreadful, and I felt hurt and betrayed. I was angry too, because this was criticism of my home and parents. Of course, I didn’t analyse it like that then, I just ran back to my room as quietly as I could and got dressed. I had to get away from there immediately. How could I face them all knowing what I knew now? There was no way that I could pretend I didn’t know what they thought of me. All I wanted was to get home, away from this place that didn’t want me, the place that I didn’t understand, and get back to somewhere familiar, where I knew how to behave, and where there were girls who looked up to me instead of despising me. I had enough money I thought, as I’d taken plenty out of Bank so that I could buy presents for my family. By the time I got to my room the tears were running down my face, and I was hard put to stay silent, I was sobbing so much. I dressed quickly in the first thing I found - my uniform - and packed my case. Then I picked up my hat and the case and crept out of my room, down the stairs, and let myself quietly out of the house. I had the sense to move at a normal pace, so as not to draw attention to myself, and had stopped crying by the time I got to the station. Luckily one of the little trains was due, so I bought a ticket to Interlaken, and stood waiting in the shelter, hoping that I wouldn’t be missed too soon. The train came and I got on, with no sign of an alarm having been raised. As the train slipped away I breathed a sigh of relief, and relaxed for the first time since the bombshell had burst.
At Interlaken I bought a ticket to Calais, though it took most of my money to do it. If there wasn’t enough for the ferry I thought I could ring Dad and he’d come for me. I had to change trains in Basle, and forgetting that there were girls from the school there, I went for a walk while I waited. The hurt had faded into a dull ache, but the anger was still burning brightly, and I stalked along the street without taking in very much at all. So it was a distinct shock when I felt my arm grabbed, and Ros Lilley saying my name.
“Joan! What are you doing here? Have you come for the day? I’ve had to have a tooth out, and Hilary stayed with me. she’s over there on the other side - “
“Hilary is not!” said a very grim voice from behind us. “Hilary is here!”
Ros swung round, still keeping hold of my arm or I’d have bolted for it. Being caught like this was the last thing I wanted, but it was already too late. Hilary took us each by the shoulder as glared at us.
“And now I should like to know the reason for this. Rosamund, why did you rush across the road in that insane way? And you Joan, what are you doing here when you’re supposed to be on the Rosleinalp with Mary-Lou and Verity? What is the meaning of it all?”
Author:  leahbelle [ 23 Feb 2008, 16:29 ]
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Poor Joan. Mary Lou and Katherine should never have spoken like that about her. I can quite understand why Joan felt she had to leave. I'd have wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible myself.

Thanks, Pat.
Author:  Lesley [ 23 Feb 2008, 16:37 ]
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Another who can understand why she bolted - to suddenly hear that the only reason you've been asked somewhere is so that the person concerned can change you to their idea of 'normal' - poor kid. Wonder if Mary Lou or anyone else ever apologised for the slur on Joan's family and upbringing?

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Mona [ 23 Feb 2008, 17:01 ]
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Thanks Pat!
Author:  PaulineS [ 23 Feb 2008, 19:49 ]
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Thanks Pat. I can empathise with Joan wanting to be back in a situtaion she understands and knows.
Author:  BethC [ 23 Feb 2008, 20:47 ]
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Thanks, Pat - am really enjoying seeing it from Joan's side.
Author:  Sugar [ 23 Feb 2008, 22:56 ]
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Poor Joan - I really feel for her
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 24 Feb 2008, 10:48 ]
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Thanks Pat
Author:  Sandra [ 24 Feb 2008, 17:22 ]
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Quote:
Wonder if Mary Lou or anyone else ever apologised for the slur on Joan's family and upbringing?


:shock: :shock: OOAO apologise? :shock: :shock: Surely not, I thought that she was always right and could solve any problem!
Author:  Pat [ 24 Feb 2008, 21:06 ]
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I have never come across an apology of any sort to Joan.
Author:  Alison H [ 24 Feb 2008, 22:11 ]
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Poor Joan.

I think Jack Maynard had a lot to answer for here - he should have told Mary-Lou to mind her own business, or at least not told her to interfere; and he shouldn't have made all those remarks about Joan whom IIRC he'd never even met.
Author:  Pat [ 24 Feb 2008, 22:14 ]
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I'm pretty sure he hadn't met her. Just heard about her.
Author:  Vick [ 24 Feb 2008, 22:27 ]
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Poor Joan. It can't be pleasant to be talked about behind your back.
Thanks Pat.
Author:  Elle [ 25 Feb 2008, 01:32 ]
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Thanks for the update Pat.
Author:  Pat [ 10 Mar 2008, 17:05 ]
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Sorry for the delay. RL caught up with me!!!!


Hilary lashed into Ros for running across the road as she had done, and then turned to me.
“And why are you here Joan? I know you’re alone for Mary-Lou told me they were spending the time on tennis. Do the Careys know you are here?”
“No - and let me alone!” I said. I felt trapped with Hilary blocking the doorway as she was, and angry at being caught. Hilary was silent for a minute, but then came back at me.
“My dear girl, you can’t just go haring off as you like when you’re staying with people. What do you think the Careys are feeling? They’re responsible for you and they don’t know where you are. Mrs Carey must be crazy with worry about you.”
That brought me up short. I’d never given a thought to the Careys when I’d packed and gone. The only thing in my mind was getting out and going home. Now I realised suddenly that they must be nearly frantic, knowing I had little knowledge of the language, and wondering what had happened to me. I felt bad about them, for they’d been kind and welcoming, and I had no reason to suppose that they’d been involved in Mary-Lou’s plans. Hilary came to a decision, and directing Ros to go to one side of me, she took my arm with one hand and my case with the other, and marched us off down the street.
“The first thing to do is to wire the Careys that you’re safe,” she said as we went. “Then - yes; I think we’d better go back to Frau Piguet’s and go into all this thoroughly. Post Office first Rosamund.”
This was the last thing I wanted! It was OK to let the Careys know I was safe, but I knew that if I once got back to the place Hilary and co were staying at I was done for. I’d have to go back to school, and face the knowledge of what everyone thought about me.
“I’m not going with you! I’m going home on the next train!” I said, hoping to get away. But Hilary wasn’t having that.
“Have you had bad news?” she demanded. There was no use in lying to her, because I’d already said the Careys didn’t know I was here, and they would have done if I’d had bad news from home, so I just said that I was going home and not coming back again, and tried to pull free.
“You’re coming with us,” said Hilary calmly. “Please don’t start making a scene as if you were a naughty baby expecting to be spanked! Have a little self respect!”
That touched my pride and I stopped struggling and went with them. There was no way out now, I could see that, and all I could do was to steel myself to meet the consequences. Hilary sent Ros into the Post Office to send the wire and then turned to me.
“I don’t know what’s behind all this Joan,” she said gravely. “But you can’t possibly go off on a journey like that all alone. You don’t speak either French or German and goodness knows what sort of a mess you might get into!”
“I’ll manage all right,” I said furiously. “Let me go! It’s no business of yours, so why do you go poking your nose into it? Mind your own affairs and I’ll mind mine!” Angry as I was, I kept my voice down. People were staring as it was, and I didn’t want to attract attention any more than Hilary did.
“It is my business,” Hilary said calmly. “It’s the business of any Prefect if she sees a younger girl do a mad thing to stop her.”
That was the last straw, and I snapped the first words that came into my head.
“Oh go to Hell!”
Author:  Sugar [ 10 Mar 2008, 17:27 ]
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Probably not the best thing to say but I can see why she did. Hilary was really rather patronising! Poor Joan though her reaction just gets her into more trouble.
Author:  Mona [ 10 Mar 2008, 17:48 ]
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Lovely to see more of this - thanks Pat!
Author:  PaulineS [ 10 Mar 2008, 18:01 ]
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Joan reverted to her roots here, which in view of the stress was under is not unxpected. I think we forget that she must be upset and worried about the journey even if we disagree with what she was doing.

Thanks Pat
Author:  Alison H [ 10 Mar 2008, 18:29 ]
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Poor Joan - I think I'd've said exactly what she did!
Author:  Lesley [ 10 Mar 2008, 19:19 ]
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I think I'd have said something similar too - and I'm not sure I'd have been bothered about making a scene! :lol: Poor Joan, as far as she's concerned Hilary is only about 3 years older than her - and she wouldn't have the worship and respect for Prefects all good CS girls have.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Jennie [ 10 Mar 2008, 21:19 ]
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Poor Joan, OOAO was truly condescending about her and to her, wasn't she?
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 11 Mar 2008, 00:15 ]
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I didn't find Hilary patronising in that scene. I thought she handled a difficult situation reasonably well. She tried to find out what happened and I could just seen her being held responsible for Joan's disappearance by the Head and Mistresses if she didn't stop her. At least it saved the Carey's any further worry.

Any in regards to Mary Lou, I think trying to stop someone from being expelled was a kind thing to do. It certainly wasn't tactful to say what she did to Katherine but even Hilda Annersley said to Joan it was a kind thing to do. And she did it in a friendly way. I also agree with Jack in that Joan was the kind of girl to leave school early. (He certainly never said it was wrong, only different and to make allowances for that difference). She wasn't taking any interest in school and had more adult interests. In some ways she was more grown up than the CS girls and in in other ways she wasn't; the CS girls were a lot more innocent. A lot of her wanting to go to the CS was to do with pride and jealousy that Rosamund won the scholarship and she didn't. If Rosamund hadn't would she have even wanted to go? And I think its those very differences that Joan has a hard time making close friends.

That said , you've certainly caught my interest Pat and made someone who isn't my favourite character a lot more sympathetic. My sympathies was always with Rosamund and I never liked how Joan bullied her the way she did.
Author:  Pat [ 11 Mar 2008, 00:19 ]
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I don't like the bullying either, but EBD branded Joan as bad from the beginning and never allowed her to really reform.
Author:  Lesley [ 11 Mar 2008, 06:36 ]
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I think that's the problem really (no pun intended! :lol: ) years later, when Joan has settled down, is really working hard and has the laudable aim of paying for her younger sister to go to school we're never allowed to forget that she is 'different' that she is 'cheaply pretty' that she doesn't appeal to other CS girls. She was a heroine in one of the books (can't remember the title) when she waded back and forth across a flooded bridge helping slighter girls (and mistresses) across - yet nothing is said about her receiving a medal - far braver than ML or Hilary pulling Miss Ferrars back from the glacier. And other bullies were allowed to completely reform - Cornelia was nasty in her first term.
Author:  Vick [ 11 Mar 2008, 22:37 ]
Post subject: 
It was Richenda Lesley.

Thanks Pat :D
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 11 Mar 2008, 23:11 ]
Post subject: 
I agree with that and she and Betty Landon were both brave in that scene but whereas even as a child although Grizel wasn't my favourite character, there was something about her that inspired pity whereas Joan never did and in some ways Grizel was worse but I think now I look at it and can see Grizel was far more damaged by others than Joan ever was, however, after reading about others views she has become so much more sympathetic and I can see there's so much more to her
Author:  Alison H [ 12 Mar 2008, 00:36 ]
Post subject: 
That whole group seems to be a bit messed up ... the prefects comment on it in Excitements and so do the staff on occasion, and they never seem to sort themselves out. Joan never really makes any close friends unless you count Ros, nor do Yseult Pertwee (not that she's there long) or Odette Mercier, and Con is never allowed to have a "best friend". Ricki Fry is sometimes described as Len's "great friend" and sometimes as Con's, but once her old friend Sue Mason arrives the two of them don't seem to have much to do with anyone else; and Jo Scott starts off as Josette's best friend but that doesn't seem to last. Sorry, this possibly belongs in Anything Else :oops: !
Author:  Pat [ 17 Mar 2008, 17:55 ]
Post subject: 
Hilary gave me a funny look. “I don’t know if you want us to think that your people have dragged you up, but you’re going the right way about it. Stop using such disgusting language and try to think of your mother a little! You’re giving me a very nice idea of her!” she said.
That shocked me into thinking properly again. It never occurred to me that my parents would be blamed for the things I said, and I knew that if mum had heard me she’d have given me a good hiding. She hated swearing and had never allowed any of us to use that sort of language at home. We waited quietly for Ros to come back, and I began to think things through a bit. It was hard, as I was still angry about the things I’d overheard, but Hilary had got me thinking about the way other people saw my behaviour in a way that Mary-Lou’s comments had not, and there was a part of me that didn’t like what I saw. Ros came back looking a bit flushed after sending the telegram, but even in my present mood I could see that her success had boosted her confidence quite a bit. Then Hilary directed her to go to one side of me, and she took the other and we set off for the tram. We sat upstairs, and though the journey wasn’t actually very long, it seemed to take ages to me. I knew that there was going to be a lot of trouble over this, and like anyone else facing a nasty situation, I was scared. At the hotel Hilary asked for coffee and cakes, and then took Ros and me up to the dormitory. She went away with my case, and I knew that this was to stop me running away again. It was horrible to find that she didn’t trust me, but I didn’t really blame her; I’d run away once, and might do so again if I had the opportunity. Ros got on with washing and was brushing her hair when Hilary returned. I just stood staring into space, glowering more than a little. Hilary waited until Ros had finished and sent her down to the dining room, then she turned to me.
“I want your solemn word of honour that you won’t try to get away until Miss Wilmot comes,” she said.
“And suppose I won’t give it!” I shot back quickly. The hurt and anger were winning the battle for the moment, and I didn’t really care what I said, though I did try to watch my language.
“Then I’ll lock you in here till she comes,” said Hilary.
That touched me on the raw. “What’s it to do with you?” I asked furiously.
“Everything. I’m a prefect and you’re a Middle. It’s a prefect’s job to keep an eye on middles when there’s no mistress to do it. No prefect would allow you to go ramping over Europe alone. I tell you, it isn’t safe.”
She was perfectly calm about it, and I was too angry to see that she was quaking inside. But at that moment all I wanted to do was to be as rude as possible, to hit back at anyone within reach for everything I’d suffered at the school.
“Oh raspberries to that! And don’t preach to me for I won’t listen.”
“I’m not preaching. I’m just telling you what I’m going to do and why. The choice is yours.”
The calm, reasonable voice was getting through to me despite myself, and I began to calm down. I knew full well that if I didn’t promise Hilary would lock me in, and I really didn’t want that to happen, so I gave my promise. I also promised that I’d get back at Hilary if at all possible. I just couldn’t give in too easily, my pride wouldn’t let me.
We went down to the dining room, and found Ros sitting at a table by the window. There was coffee and plates of bread twists and cakes set out there, though Ros was waiting for us to arrive before she started eating. I was starving hungry, for I had had nothing to eat since breakfast, so I was soon tucking into a good meal. I took little notice of the quiet conversation between the other two, though my ears did prick up when Ros suggested going for a walk. However, Hilary was taking no risks, and she suggested going out into the garden to wait till the rest got back. We sat down on a wooden bench in the shade, and the others began to talk about swimming and boating. I felt a lot better after the food, but was nowhere near ready to join in general chatting. Hilary asked if I did either of them.
“Not me! Lot of bosh,” I said.
“Oh it isn’t” cried Ros. “Swimming is good fun anyhow. I’m looking forward to it.”
“You can have it! It won’t affect me! I shan’t be here!”Hilary leaned forward, her face full of sympathy. “What’s happened Joan? Can’t you tell us? We might be able to put things right.”
I wasn’t ready for kindness and sympathy so soon after Hilary had been so bossy, and snapped back at her.
“Not your business! It’s my affair. Don’t be so nosey!”Hilary flushed and sat back, but Ros leapt to her defence, saying that she just wanted to help. I knew that, but didn’t want help from anyone then, least of all another girl.
“Then she can keep her help to herself! Anyhow I’m not staying here with a lot of beastly snobs! Don’t you go trying to come the good little girl over me, Ros Lilley! You’re nobody! Your ma was only someone’s servant -“
I got no further than that, because Hilary immediately told me not to be vulgar, and then took Ros off to talk about the flowers growing in the garden. Almost straight away there was the sound of talking and laughter, and I knew that the others were back. I was shaking inside as Hilary sent Ros for Miss Wilmot, but I wasn’t going to let anyone see it. Hilary came back to the seat where I was sitting hunched up, and looking more miserable than I would have wanted anyone to see.
“Miss Wilmot has come back Joan,” said Hilary gently. “I’ve sent to ask her to come here. But I’ll give you one piece of advice. Don’t be rude to her. She may be able to straighten things out for you.”
I just grunted, not wanting to trust my voice. Then Miss Wilmot was coming across the garden, asking why Hilary wanted her, before she saw me sitting on the bench.
“Joan Baker! What on earth are you doing here?”
Author:  Alison H [ 17 Mar 2008, 18:06 ]
Post subject: 
Poor Joan - she's got herself in a right state.
Author:  leahbelle [ 17 Mar 2008, 18:10 ]
Post subject: 
Interesting to read Joan's thoughts as we work through these scenes. EBD painted her so bleakly and it's nice to read that she has a very human element to her.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 17 Mar 2008, 18:21 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Pat. Glad to see more of this. You've really got under her skin.
Author:  roversgirl [ 17 Mar 2008, 18:25 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks :)
Author:  Jennie [ 17 Mar 2008, 18:47 ]
Post subject: 
Joan's still hurting inside, isn't she? And no wonder. I don't think OOAO comes out of this very well at all.
Author:  Liz K [ 17 Mar 2008, 19:24 ]
Post subject: 
Excellent, was looking forward to an update, thanks.
Author:  Lesley [ 17 Mar 2008, 21:57 ]
Post subject: 
You can understand why Joan acted as she did - even while seeing it was wrong.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Sugar [ 17 Mar 2008, 22:48 ]
Post subject: 
I really feel for Joan in this.
Author:  PaulineS [ 17 Mar 2008, 22:52 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pat.
Author:  Liz K [ 24 Mar 2008, 16:11 ]
Post subject: 
When will you be able to post an update please Pat?

Thanks.
Author:  Pat [ 24 Mar 2008, 17:18 ]
Post subject: 
When I've written it!!! :twisted:
Author:  Sugar [ 24 Mar 2008, 17:22 ]
Post subject: 
Auntie Pat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: I thought you had updated!!!

Are you naturally like this or did you take lessons??
Author:  Pat [ 24 Mar 2008, 17:22 ]
Post subject: 
Don't need lessons Sugar! I thought you knew me?!! :twisted: :twisted:
Author:  Miss Di [ 25 Mar 2008, 03:39 ]
Post subject: 
Just caught up on Joans misadventures. It's hard to remember exactly how rude Go To Hell would have been - how DID EBD get it past her editor?
Author:  Pat [ 29 Mar 2008, 22:28 ]
Post subject: 
I didn’t answer - I couldn’t! I was so scared at what might happen now that I couldn’t utter a word. Miss Wilmot took me off to the hotel office, and tried to find out why I was there instead of with the Careys, but I muttered something about Mary-lou and Katherine Gordon, and then fell silent again. I didn’t mean to be rude, and I think she realised that. Anyway, she left me there in the end while she got the rest off to bed, and once they were all out of the way, she took me off in a car to an Old Girl’s house. It was a silent journey; she’d told me briefly that she was going to ask Miss O’Ryan to see to the rest of the girls and take me to Montreaux, where the Head was staying, the next day. I didn’t sleep much that night, tossing and turning and wondering what wo9uld happen to me. Daylight came at last, and we set off by train for Montreaux. The Head was staying with a Mrs Embury, and I couldn’t make up my mind whether she was another Old Girl or not. When we arrived, Miss Wilmot left me in the sitting room and went to find the Head.
I don’t know how she did it, but Miss Annersley got through my fear, and anger, and the dreadful hurt I still felt. She was so very gentle, but absolutely certain that she was going to get to the bottom of the whole affair. In the end it all became too much for me and I burst into a storm of tears. She let me cry for a bit, and then helped to calm down. Finally I was able to tell her what I’d heard. The Head’s voice was far less chilly when she spoke again.
“But what was there about that to send you off like that? Surely it was very kind of Mary-Lou to want to help you to become more like the girls of your school. You must know by this time, Joan, that a lot of the things you say and do are neither said nor done by us. When you are one of a community, life can be very hard if you know that your ideas and standards are lower than those of the rest. For they are, Joan. Make no mistake about that. You think things and say things and do things that none of the others would ever do. Just at first, the girls will make allowances for you, but it won’t go on.”
It was kindly said, but it hurt. No one likes to hear that they are worse than others in the way they behave.
“I’m no worse than the others,” I muttered, though I knew that I was different. I’d tried to kid myself that they were snobs, and out of touch with the way that most people lived, but I knew that it wasn’t really that - or only a little bit.
“Is that really true, my dear?”
I felt myself flush. Part of the problem was that I knew that the way the others behaved wasn’t fussy and silly. It hadn’t helped that Ros hadn’t had to learn this, but had known it already. All the things I’d felt so good about at home seemed to be despised by the girls, and there was nothing except my tennis to take their place.
“I - I suppose - but it’s all so different here. I - before the girls thought I was someone and - but -“ I ran down at this point, knowing what I felt but not knowing how to put it into words.
Miss Annersley nodded.
“In fact pride was at the bottom of it all. At your other school a lot of silly girls laughed when you were rude to people and so you began to think you were clever and witty instead of being plain rude! You did things that seemed to them to be daring an d so you thought you were daring. You jeered at things you thought were silly and fussy, and they applauded you and so you thought that you were right. Then you came here and found that no one was going to think you either witty or clever or daring and you didn’t like it. When one or two girls decided to help you pull up to what you ought to be, it hurt your pride. that was it wasn’t it Joan?”
I just nodded. It wasn’t nice to hear, but Miss Annersley had sounded so kind and understanding. She was right, it was pride. It was also the fact that as I’d said, everything was so different here. Not just in the way that other girls responded to me either. The whole place was so far out of my experience that I didn’t know how to behave. But I couldn’t say that, couldn’t put it into words then.
Author:  Alison H [ 29 Mar 2008, 22:42 ]
Post subject: 
I've never really thought about it before, but Hilda's "your ideas and standards are lower than ... " comment was really quite harsh, even though Joan seems to have accepted it.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Pat [ 29 Mar 2008, 22:51 ]
Post subject: 
It was harsh - but it was also true. That was how Joan had behaved there.
Author:  Lesley [ 29 Mar 2008, 23:04 ]
Post subject: 
Very harsh - but a measure of how far Joan had already changed that she could accept it - she wouldn't have when she first arrived.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 29 Mar 2008, 23:05 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pat - good to get an update
Author:  roversgirl [ 29 Mar 2008, 23:30 ]
Post subject: 
Just caught up, thanks :)
Author:  Celia [ 30 Mar 2008, 14:03 ]
Post subject:  A Problem at the Chalet School
I am enjoying reading this Pat. I never felt much sympathy for Joan
as I felt she asked for trouble going to the CS just to "show that Ros",
but class attitudes were only just beginning to change in the late 50s
(Joan would have been 2 yrs younger than I ! ) --- I can remember my
Gran being very cross to find me (aged about 9) playing two ball in the
street with my best friend, not because it was dangerous to be out on
the road, but because it wasn't 'done'! (Sorry can't get the smiley
to work)

Thanks for the update .
Author:  Rosalin [ 30 Mar 2008, 19:27 ]
Post subject: 
Can't have been nice to hear that, but Joan is doing a lot better to be able to take it on board. Once again great to see it through her eyes.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Jennie [ 30 Mar 2008, 20:36 ]
Post subject: 
Pat, this is wonderful, thanks.
Author:  Pat [ 09 May 2008, 22:20 ]
Post subject: 
Don't die of shock!


Then to my surprise Miss Annersley suddenly stood up and came to sit beside me, putting her arm round my shoulders.
“Oh, my poor little girl! What a lot of misery you have made for yourself! And what a lot of worry you have given other people. But it’s going to be different now, isn’t it?”
The kindness and understanding in her voice had me in tears again. I realised just how foolish I’d been - stupid to think that running away would help anything, and that I could get across Europe by myself, knowing nothing of the language. And so afraid that I would be sent home for what I had done. I vowed to myself that if I was given another chance I would do my best to show everyone that I could be different, learn to behave as the others did, learn why they felt about things the way they, and try my best to be like them. I had been like a square peg in a round hole, and I knew it would be hard. But I surprised myself when I accepted how much I wanted the chance to try. I’ve wondered since if Miss Annersley could read my thoughts, as she went on speaking.
“Yes, Joan; it’s going to be different now. You’re going to put all this wrong-doing and silliness behind you and show us what a really nice girl Joan Baker is when she tries.”
I didn’t really know whether to believe what I was hearing.
“Do you mean that you’ll forgive me?” I asked, hardly able to get the words out.
“Of course I do. You need have no fear of that.” She hugged me a little tighter and gave me a kiss. “Now, you have a long, hard way to tread I’m afraid, and if it ever seems too hard for you, remember that you’ve brought most of it on yourself and it is only you who can climb it and only you who can make it easier by not rebelling.”
“I’ll remember,” I whispered. I was still shaking, but already feeling so much happier. Then Miss Annersley brought home to me just how hard it was going to be at times.
“You have certain things that you must do first,” she said. “You won’t like them, but they must be done. We have to clear all the stumbling blocks out of your way so that you can go ahead without any pauses. First you must write a letter of apology to Commander and Mrs Carey. Oh yes you must. You have been very rude and ill-bred. I’m sure you’re sorry for all the worry you caused Mrs Carey, especially when she has been so ill? Well the, of course you will tell her so. I shall leave what you do about Katherine and Mary-Lou to yourself. They have no idea that you listened to their private conversation. So far as I’m concerned, they never will hear of it.”
I knew that she thought I should confess to them, and I knew that it was the right thing to do, but I couldn’t face that. It was too much just then, even though I was sure that Mary-Lou at least would forgive me.
“Finally you must apologise to Miss Wilmot and Miss O’Ryan for all the trouble you have given them. Miss O’Ryan has had to give up her own holiday and take charge of the others while Miss Wilmot brought you here. All this is your fault Joan, and you owe both mistresses and apology.”
I always hated having to say I was sorry, right from being a child. Lately I had never bothered to do it, even when I knew I should. But I’d meant it when I said I’d try, so I gulped and managed to promise to do it, and I apologised for spoiling Miss Annersley’s holiday too. She was pleased with that, and gave me some more support, reminding me that there was always help waiting if I prayed for it. Then she sent me upstairs to lie down. I meant to think about what she’d said, especially the praying bit, as I’d never been bothered about that sort of thing before, but I was so worn out with everything that had happened that day that I fell asleep.
Author:  JB [ 09 May 2008, 22:30 ]
Post subject: 
Great to see this back.
Author:  abbeybufo [ 09 May 2008, 22:37 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pat - very pleased to see this back :D
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 09 May 2008, 22:53 ]
Post subject: 
Really glad to see this back, Pat - and I do like the skill with which you have melded your own words with the quotations from 'Problem' here.
Author:  Lesley [ 09 May 2008, 22:53 ]
Post subject: 
Lovely to see more of this. The Head was really very good to Joan there, wasn't she? But poor girl - especially as she never really did fit in.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Alison H [ 09 May 2008, 22:58 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pat :D .
Author:  Sugar [ 09 May 2008, 23:04 ]
Post subject: 
Ohhh thanks for updating this. I really feel for Joan - you are potraying her deeper side so well.
Author:  JustJen [ 09 May 2008, 23:56 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the update Pat.
Author:  Rosalin [ 10 May 2008, 00:40 ]
Post subject: 
Joan's making a big effort now, isn't she? She is lucky to have a headmistress like Miss Annersley who will be so sympathetic.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  linda [ 10 May 2008, 01:36 ]
Post subject: 
Great to seee this back.

Thank you Pat.
Author:  roversgirl [ 10 May 2008, 06:35 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for updating this :)
Author:  PaulineS [ 10 May 2008, 11:49 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you for the update. I like the intergration of Problems.
Author:  Celia [ 10 May 2008, 18:48 ]
Post subject: 
Good to read more of this.

Thank you Pat
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 12 May 2008, 01:33 ]
Post subject: 
Its really lovely to see more of this. thanks
Author:  Tara [ 12 May 2008, 23:30 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks for the update, Pat. I don't think I'd ever realised just how little Miss Annersley pulled her punches there! Half of me really wants Joan to be a better person, the other half is sad that she has to conform (even though I'm basically in sympathy with what she needs to conform to, but it's really hard to have to feel that everything you are is wrong). Miss A did it with as much love and support as one would expect from her, of course.
Author:  Pat [ 10 Jun 2008, 21:49 ]
Post subject: 
I was determined to make good during the second half of term, but time and again I nearly gave up. It was so hard to change the way I thought and behaved, and many times I only just stopped myself from being rude. I was rude to Carola once, when she told me to put my things away tidily at the end of prep, and she lashed into me. By the time she was finished I felt like something that had just crawled out from under a stone, but once I’d apologised it was all over. I begged Mrs Carey’s pardon for going off as I did at Half Term, and Mary-Lou’s too, but I still hadn’t managed to own up to the eavesdropping. That was going to be hard, I knew, and I kept putting it off. The trouble was that it was hanging over me like a black cloud, and I knew that I had to get it over with before the end of term. Luckily I got some help from an unexpected direction. Mrs Maynard arrived home on the last day of term, and took me back to Freudesheim with her. I’d never been there before, and I found that I was quite shy of Mrs Maynard, much to my own surprise. She sat me down in her Saal after asking for cakes and lemonade to be brought, and then turned to me.

“Well, and how do you like the school now that you’ve had a real chance to sample it?”

“I -I like it,” I said. It was true too. I did like the school, ever though I found life there so hard. I also knew that I was learning a lot more than I’d ever done at my old place, and I’d changed enough to appreciate that. The maid came in then with the cakes and lemonade and we were both soon tucking in. Mrs Maynard told me about the way the school had started, and I began to relax a little. She was easy to talk to, and sounded more like a schoolgirl than an adult. I suspected that she knew that there was something the matter, but I really didn’t want to say anything to her. Then she asked me directly.

“Joan, what’s wrong with you? Now don’t start in saying there’s nothing wrong. You don’t suppose that after all my experience with girls I don’t know when one is feeling miserable deep down under everything, do you? What is it? Tell me and perhaps I can help you out. I will if I can.”

I looked at her and suddenly something inside cracked, and I flung myself to my knees beside her and buried my face in her lap, nearly in tears - something I hadn’t done for a long time.

Mrs Maynard stroked my hair gently, as if I was a little child, but I found it rather soothing.

“Tell me,” she said. “If there’s anything badly wrong, you can’t be really happy, no matter what happens. I’ll help you put it right. What have you done - cheated at lessons? Helped yourself to someone else’s sweets or pencils? What is it Joan?”

The dam burst and it all came tumbling out.

“Oh it’s worse than that! You’ll never want anything more to do with me when you hear.” I gasped.

“Rubbish! What do you think I am - an angel? Not very likely! My dear girl, we all have things in our lives that make us feel bitterly ashamed. We can’t undo them more’s the pity, but we can own up and ask for forgiveness and make up our minds to try not to do them again. . then we have to keep on trying. And that is all the very greatest saint that ever lived can do. Tell me what it is and we’ll work it out together.”
Author:  abbeybufo [ 10 Jun 2008, 21:51 ]
Post subject: 
Yay! It's back :D :D

Thanks Pat
Author:  Lesley [ 10 Jun 2008, 23:00 ]
Post subject: 
Joey was lovely there.


Thanks Pat.
Author:  Alison H [ 11 Jun 2008, 07:12 ]
Post subject: 
Yes, I have to admit that Joey did well there!

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Cumbrian Rachel [ 11 Jun 2008, 09:20 ]
Post subject: 
Glad to see this back again :D
Author:  Liz K [ 11 Jun 2008, 09:41 ]
Post subject: 
Great to see this back.
Author:  Sugar [ 11 Jun 2008, 10:08 ]
Post subject: 
Glad Jo is being so understanding.

Great to have this back Auntie Pat
Author:  Pat [ 11 Jun 2008, 19:08 ]
Post subject: 
That was quoted from the book.
Author:  JustJen [ 12 Jun 2008, 03:19 ]
Post subject: 
Glad to see this story is back Pat.
Author:  Kathy_S [ 12 Jun 2008, 05:02 ]
Post subject: 
Thank you, Pat. :D
Author:  leahbelle [ 13 Jun 2008, 18:59 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Pat. I'm enjoying learning about Joan.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 18 Jun 2008, 15:50 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pat. It's lovely to see more of this
Author:  jilianb [ 18 Jun 2008, 19:00 ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Pat. Just read ths from the start. Excellent.
Author:  Pat [ 20 Jul 2008, 20:42 ]
Post subject: 
“Oh, but I think you can. In fact, you’re going to do it now - or as soon as I can get those two over here. Have some more lemonade and take another cake while I go and ring up, and while we wait for them I’ll take you up to the night nursery, and let you have a dekko at my babies. Do you like babies Joan?”

At her calm assumption that I could actually tell Mary-Lou and Katharine my stomach flipped. But I managed to answer the last question. “I don’t know. I never had much to do with them, only Pam my kid sister. Mrs Maynard, don’t you loathe and despise me, now you know?” I had to know the answer to that, and because of that need I finally looked at her face. What I saw made me feel so much better, for she was smiling at me.

“Not in the least. I loathe and despise what you did. It was dishonest and dishonourable. But your sin isn’t you. Who am I to loathe and despise anyone who does a thing like that? If I’d ever been tempted that way, I might have done the same myself. And you’ll find that both Mary-Lou and Katharine will feel the same way - especially Mary-Lou.”

She refilled my glass and went off to ring. I tried to drink, and did manage a few sips, but I was still too wrung out emotionally to drink more that that. Then everything swept over me again, and I started crying. In fact I put my head down on the arm of my chair and sobbed. The worst was over by the time Mrs Maynard came back, and she kindly said nothing, though it was obvious that she knew I’d been crying. she just took me off upstairs to see the twins. It was the break I needed to get some sort of control over myself again, and when we went back downstairs Mary-Lou and Katharine were sitting waiting for us. Mrs Maynard gently pushed me towards them.

“Joan has something to own up to you tow. I’ll leave you to it while I hunt up some more cakes and glasses. Get on with it Joan.” And then she left the room, and I stood for a moment, trying to pluck up courage.

“I-I listened at the door to you two talking - when I ran away. I heard what you said. I stood there and listened on purpose. C-can you forgive me?” It came out in a sort of rush, and immediately I felt better, as if a weight had been lifted from my mind.

The other two looked at each other, and I held my breath. Naturally it was Mary-Lou who spoke first.

“Forgive you? Of course we can! Is this why you’ve been going round looking such a Peter Grievous all this half term? Oh, Joan, what an ass you’ve been! Why on earth didn’t you tell us straight away? Now that’s that and we’ll never even think of it again, so buck up and let’s see a grin on your face for a change.!

Katharine came towards me holding out her hand, but looking pretty serious.

“We’ll forgive you of course, just as Mary-Lou says. I won’t say don’t think of it again, Joan. I think you’ll want to think of it when you’re tempted again and let it help you to stand back. But don’t be unhappy about it any more. And I think you’ve been awfully plucky to own up after all this time. That took some doing I know.”

That was all either of them said about it ever again, but I went home the next day feeling far happier, and also determined to do my best to be a real Chalet school girl. I did try, although at times it was very hard. I don’t think I ever fully succeeded, mainly because of my age when I went to the school. It’s so much harder to change your habits as you get older. I also never got really friendly with any of the other girls, We had too little in common I suppose, and I had so much to do to catch up with them all, in school work as well as everything else. But I did enjoy the rest of my time at the Chalet School even so. I began to find that the lessons stretched my mind, and that in itself was stimulating. I worked hard at my languages, and even took up Spanish later on so that I could get a good secretarial job when I left.

I had a year at the local Technical College, learning shorthand and typing, as well as office management. Although this meant that I was back with the sort of girls I’d grown up with, I found that I wasn’t really at ease with them either. I had picked up too much of the Chalet School values for that. Of course I had boyfriends, after all, who didn’t? But I was careful, and kept my ambitions as a guiding light in front of me. And my languages did come in useful, for I was able to get a really good job in London because of them. So for all the problems I had when I went to the Chalet School, and even though I went for all the wrong reasons, things have turned out very weel for me in the end.

THE END
Author:  abbeybufo [ 20 Jul 2008, 20:48 ]
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Thanks very much for all of this Pat - it was good to get the story from the perspective of an older, wiser, Joan.
Author:  Lesley [ 20 Jul 2008, 21:11 ]
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That was nice - pleased she wasn't so bitter about what happened afterwards, she could, so easily have been - especially as I don't think the CS treated her well.

Thanks Pat.
Author:  Sarah_G-G [ 20 Jul 2008, 21:44 ]
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Thanks for taking the time to finish a very thought-provoking story. Joan seems much more well-rounded here. I'm glad she could look back and be happy about her school life, although it is a shame that she couldn't really be at home in either world at the end- it was something I hadn't considered before.
Author:  Elder in Ontario [ 20 Jul 2008, 22:00 ]
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Thanks, Pat - it's been really interesting to see Joan's story from her own point of view.
Author:  Alison H [ 20 Jul 2008, 22:16 ]
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Thanks Pat - I've always felt that Joan got a raw deal and it's been good reading things from her own point of view.
Author:  Tara [ 21 Jul 2008, 00:10 ]
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So glad you were able to finish this, and you've done it so realistically. I feel for Joan, not belonging in either world, but she is very aware of what she's gained, and her experiences have obviously changed her life for the better, despite the downsides.

Than you, Pat, I've really appreciated this.
Author:  Miss Di [ 21 Jul 2008, 04:07 ]
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Thanks Pat, it was interesting to see Joan's POV - and sad to see she feels like a fish out of water in both worlds.
Author:  Fiona Mc [ 21 Jul 2008, 04:52 ]
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Thanks Pat for making someone who isn'y my favourite character a lot more sympathetic. I think it's very realistic that she didn't fully fit in and for all the reasons she said
Author:  Karoline [ 21 Jul 2008, 08:30 ]
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Thanks Pat
Author:  Mona [ 21 Jul 2008, 08:33 ]
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Thanks Pat!
Author:  Elbee [ 21 Jul 2008, 08:50 ]
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Thanks Pat, this has been an interesting point of view, making Joan more realistic.
Author:  Jennie [ 21 Jul 2008, 13:55 ]
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Thanks, Pat. It was good to see it from Joan's POV.
Author:  Vick [ 21 Jul 2008, 15:39 ]
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Thanks Pat. :D
Author:  Celia [ 22 Jul 2008, 10:47 ]
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I'm glad she got a good job , it made her struggles worthwhile in the
end.

Thank you Pat, I enjoyed her looking back and re-assessing her time at the Chalet.
Author:  Clare [ 22 Jul 2008, 11:42 ]
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Thanks Pat, just read this through from the start. It is nice to see a different side to Joan, and I feel so sorry for her. Amazing how no one picked up on her insecurities.
Author:  Carolyn P [ 27 Jul 2008, 21:41 ]
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Thanks Pat, good to read this from Joan's pov and esp the last post with what happened to her after, somehow it is a little sad in the end she fitted in nowhere.
Author:  leahbelle [ 28 Jul 2008, 14:35 ]
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Thanks, Pat. I've really enjoyed this. I understand Joan a lot more now.
Author:  Abi [ 28 Jul 2008, 16:59 ]
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I've just read this through from beginning to end and it's so interesting to see the story from Joan's POV. In a way it's sad that she had to conform, but then it was her own choice and I guess if she'd asked to leave her parents would probably have let her. And it probably would have helped her get a better job in the future.

Thanks Pat - have really anjoyed this!
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