#Enid Blyton's Adventure Magazine

[heckyeahponyscans]

My Little Pony Spring Special 1986 - advertisement for Enid Blyton’s Adventure Magazine

[downthetubes]

Give Me Five: John Ridgway recalls his time drawing Enid Blyton's famous teen adventurers

Give Me Five: John Ridgway recalls his time drawing Enid Blyton’s famous teen adventurers

Enid Blyton Adventures Issue One features “Five Go Down to the Sea”, adapted by Gail Bernard & Les Lilley; illustrated by John Ridgway Artist John Ridgway is an artist well know for his distinctive work on Doctor Who, Hellblazer and the recently-collected Summer Magic for 2000AD, but one of his earlier jobs in comics was an artist on Enid Blyton’s Adventure Magazine, which we featured here…

[101percentindia]

To Be ‘Amar’ Is To Be Immortal; Will Amar Chitra Katha Stand The Test Of Our Critical Times?

Remembering ACK, Tinkle comics and Chandamama.

Once upon a time, there was magic hidden between the pages of a comic book. They came under the common branding of Amar Chitra Katha and opened a window to a world most of us didn’t know existed – stories drawn from Indian history, mythology, folk lore and legend. Stories we had perhaps heard about but forgotten under the burden of academic pursuits and the struggles of our day-to-day existence. As illustrated books with thought and speech bubbles for the dialogues exchanged between them, all captured within 31 pages. There were tiny footnotes to explain typically Indian words, rituals, Gods, customs and so on. Each comic made a dent in our hard-saved pocket money – a dent of Rs.2.50 to begin, which was later raised by 0.50 paisa.

One man was responsible for this comic book revolution - Anant Pai. Story has it that he was on an official trip from Mumbai to Delhi in 1967, intrigued by the television set that had entered the capital through Doordarshan. Wanting to have a dekko of what lay behind that box, he watched a television programme through the display window of a shop. He was shocked to discover that in the quiz show, children could give correct answers to questions around Socrates and Winston Churchill, but did not know the name of Rama’s mother!

This chemical engineer orphaned as a young boy, realised that children loved comic book heroes like The Phantom. Leisure reading of children studying in English medium schools was also confined to Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Enid Blyton’s and a few comics like Richie Rich and Tintin.

Phantom made ‘politically correct’ for the Indian reader. Image source: thephantomhead.com

He wanted to bring Indian kids back to their roots and joined India Book House, one of the leading publishers in Bombay that was largely into printing, publishing, distribution and selling of books. Pai had already introduced the Phantom series as the first cartoon strip in The Times of India and wanted to use this form of visual reading to entertain and educate through Indian stories. And so the first Indian comic book was born under the brand name of Amar Chitra Katha. It went on to become one of the most popular and high selling series of Indian comics.

Slowly, sales picked up. ACK classics initially used primary colours - blue, green and yellow but graduated to full colours as it’s popularity began to rise. Pai and his team extended the parameters to bring in regional languages - beginning with translations in Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, and Telugu and further into Bengali, Assamese, Malayalam, Punjabi, Tamil, Urdu and even Sanskrit. It reached beyond its initial target of a middle-class readership to transcend class barriers and reach the upper class children. As ACK reached its 20th birthday in 1986, sales reached a peak of 5 crore copies, and then only two years later, a whopping 7 crores.

Related: Walking BookFairs: A Unique Initiative For Bibliophiles

Frequency also went from one classic every month to to one every fortnight around 1980. This was when IBH also launched its comic magazine Tinkle, that caught the reading fancy of all children at the time. The language used was simple, straightforward, and easy to understand by children not studying in English medium schools.

An entire generation isn’t even aware of this. Image source: amarchitrakatha.com

Amar Chitra Katha opened doors to an alternative visual culture that strived to adhere to its Indian roots. Yet, like all mothers everywhere, I would not allow my daughter to devour the comic books she was slowly getting addicted to. “It will take you away from your studies,” was my boring refrain. Scared of being stopped from reading what she had grown to love, she handed me an issue of Tinkle and asked me to read it. Tinkle was a weekly comic magazine brought out by the same publication – India Book House and the same man. I was bowled over. It was informative, funny, entertaining and carried a message and amusing adventures of the characters. It took me to one story from the ACK series, Ganga and I became a child all over again. I bought my daughter an annual subscription for Tinkle and, separated by a generation, we enjoyed the stories that could be read over and over again.

A position adopted by politicians today? Image source: wishberry.com

Chandamama, another magazine along the same lines, began to create and publish stories adapted from the Indian mythologies such as Ramayana and Mahabharata in 1947, just before Independence. In publication to this day, the magazine and its illustrations are known for its unique storytelling, reminiscent of grandparents' bedtime stories conveyed in print format. This was backed very innovatively with promotional strategies organized by IBH of fancy dress contests, displays in petrol pumps and book stores across every Indian city, launching new titles with press conferences graced by eminent personalities. By 1992, ACK classics were published and sold in 38 Indian and non-Indian languages by which time, Anant Pai had evolved into the children’s icon “Uncle Pai.”

Related: An Afternoon With An Author: Stephen Alter

Not surprisingly, these books started facing a lot of flak from sociologists, cultural historians, comic specialists and so on. This critique is an on-going process of sometimes making mincemeat of the series or questioning its authenticity or pointing out its pro-Hindu, anti-minority and extremely patriarchal bias as far as the representation of women characters go. There has been a lot of research both by Indian and foreign scholars on ACK’s representation of women.

Moot points were, women are conspicuous by their complete absence from the story and the illustrations such as Chandragupta Maurya or many of the Birbal stories. However, there were women protagonists in classics featuring Ganga, Draupadi, Shakuntala, Savitri, Vasavdatta, Mirabai, Padmini, Tarabai, Rani of Jhansi, Uloopi, Chand Bibi, Urvashi, Sukanya and many others. Another noticeable absence was in the Makers of Modern India series of 13 personalities that does not feature a single woman, though India has had many women leaders who should have found place among these makers. Leaders like Indira Gandhi and Sarojini Naidu are not part of this series and Kalpana Chawla was an afterthought. The same absence is noticed in the visibility of Muslim and Sikh leaders.

Rohan Islam, a Bengali literature scholar, in a detailed analysis raises questions about the ACK series that mark out sharp differences between “they” and “we”, “bad” and “good”, “us” and “them”. Islam also draws our attention to the Brahmin-Hindu-Male that takes precedence over Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and of course, women. He states quite assertively that the equations drawn between the Hindu identity and the National identity are quite sharply underlined.

Making History lessons fun. Image source: Amazon.com

Related: A Hospital For The Ageing Typewriter

This leaves us with questions. Why must we always place an entertaining comic series for children with informative stories on our culture, leadership, freedom struggle by contextualising it against the changing history and politics of changing times? Can one deny the historical significance of a classic series that has stood the test of time and space for four long decades? Can we deny ourselves the joy we got going through those stories and wonderful illustrations that took children away from their exams and more serious books? Take away the political, patriarchal and communal biases, which do not appear pronounced while we are reading purely for entertainment and information, and what we have is a harmonious ride into our cultural past.

Uncle Pai is no more. Long live uncle Pai. And with the magic between the yellowed pages of an antique Amar Chitra Katha, we can all live happily ever after. Or, can we?

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are independent views solely of the author(s) expressed in their private capacity and do not in any way represent or reflect the views of 101India.com

By Shoma A. Chatterji Cover photo credit: Amazon.com

[oldcbd]

Enid Blyton's Adventure Magazine 1 - Cover Date September 1985 Cover art by John Ridgway

Published 32 years ago this month! I had forgotten this comic existed until late last year, I think. Something prompted me and I found issue 1 for sale on eBay. What luck! I collected at least some of the series back in 1985-86 and remembered the art being great - and then I learned it was John Ridgway - an artist I know well from 2000 AD strips like The Dead Man and Luke Kirby.

The comic itself is a fun little mystery with smugglers, mild peril and Julian being an incredible jerk.

In the issue: Enid Blyton's Five Go Down To The Sea Adapted by Gail Renard & Lee Lilley / Illustrated by John Ridgway

[katblogus-blog]

Story Telling

An example of story telling is the forgotten soldiers instillation which was done in new Zealand to create a remembrance of the soldiers by acting instead of in a book or magazine, as it brings the story to life instead of being on a page and left forgotten.

 Stories give us a flight of imagination.

there are many ways you can tell a story which is by colour, type, image.

Some very good illustrators for books are:

Kate Hindley

I am a children's book author and illustrator living and working in Bristol.

These are the books she has done:

BibliographyPicture BooksTreacle Street Series, Kate Hindley, Simon & Schuster 2019You Must Have A Dream Simon Philip, Simon & Schuster 2019 The Same But Different Too Karl Newson, Nosy Crow 2019 The Knight Who Said No! Lucy Rowland, Nosy Crow 2018Oliver & Patch: The Lost Penguin Claire Freedman, Simon & Schuster 2018They Came From Planet Zabalooloo! Sean Taylor, Walker Books 2017You Must Bring a Hat Simon Philip, Simon & Schuster 2016Don't Call Me Choochie Pooh! Sean Taylor, Walker Books 2016Oliver and Patch Claire Freedman, Simon & Schuster 2015Worst In Show William Bee, Walker Books, 2014The Big Book of English Words Mairi Mackinnon, Usborne 2013How To Wash A Woolly Mammoth Michelle Robinson, Simon & Schuster 2013The Great Snortle Hunt, Claire Freedman Simon & Schuster 2012FictionThe Royal Rabbits of London Series, Montefiore & Montefiore, Simon & Schuster 2016-2018Max Champion and the Great Racecar Robbery Alexander McCall Smith, Bloomsbury 2017The Girl With The Lost Smile Miranda Hart, Hodder 2017Pollyanna Eleanor H. Porter​​​​​​​, Alma Books 2017Alexander McCall Smith's Marvellous Mixups Alexander McCall Smith, Bloomsbury 2016Freddie Mole: Lion Tamer Alexander McCall Smith, Bloomsbury 2016Alexander McCall Smith's Explosive Adventures Alexander McCall Smith, Bloomsbury 2015The Porridge of Knowledge Archie Kimpton, Hot Key Books 2015Smashie McPerter Investigates Series, N. Griffin, Candlewick 2015-16Best Friends Bakery Series, Linda Chapman, Orion 2014-2015Jumblecat Archie Kimpton, Hot Key Books 2014The Naughtiest Girl, Series Enid Blyton and Anne Digby, Hodder 2014

Tomer Hanuka // Illustrator

He was born in 1974. He is an award-winning, New York Times best-selling illustrator and cartoonist.

At age twenty-two, Hanuka moved to New York City. Following his graduation from the School of Visual Arts, he quickly became a contributor to many national magazines. His clients included Time Magazine, The New Yorker, Spin, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, MTV, and Saatchi & Saatchi. He is the winner of multiple medals from the Society of Illustrators and the Society of Publication Designers as well as American Illustration and Print magazine Maker.

Tomer co-creates Bipolar with his identical twin brother Asaf for Alternative Comics. Bipolar is an experimental comic book series for which Tomer was nominated for the Eisner, Harvey and Ignatz awards. In 2006, Tomer published The Placebo Man (Alternative Comics), which compiles much of his work from Bipolar. He still currently lives in New York City.

Annie Atkins

Annie specialises in graphics for film making, which means that she can make any graphic pieces outlined by a period film script—like postage stamps and banknotes to help create Wes Anderson’s fictional State of Zubrowka; or shopfront signs and fake passports for Steven Spielberg’s New York.

[nowinthe3071]

Some of my favourite childhood memories are reading books - the shelves of Enid Blyton stories, hunting down every Sweet Valley High I could get my hands on, afternoons spent curled up with a Choose Your Own Adventure. I've always loved books and loved to read. Over the past few years that hasn't changed, however I read a lot more blogs and magazines rather than novels. This year I'm trying to change that by setting a 50 book challenge. I'm pretty diverse in what I like, anything from humour and personal essays to young adult to chick lit to mysteries. The only thing I can't wear is horror or true crime, and I'm not huge on most crime stories either. I never watched Gilmore Girls or Parenthood but I've always liked Lauren Graham. When I saw this book of essays I immediately knew I'd enjoy it and I wasn't wrong. Her writing is fun and easy to read, like you're sitting down with a friend you've known for years. The stories are funny and heartfelt and give a nice insight into Hollywood. I'd recommend it to anyone enjoying a light hearted read. And it's book four for me, so that's a win.

[sahibookworm]

Hello my dear friends.. !!! You are probably surprised to see this post today because I never blog over the weekend. But today is my birthday, so I just wanted to say hi to everyone and thank you all for being such an amazing and important part of my life, particularly for the past couple of years. I saw this post first on Steff’s blog @ Little Book Nook and thought it would be a good one to do on this special day of my life. Don’t forget to checkout their blog for more fun bookish content. And now let’s get started with this post.

1. What was the last book you read?

It’s just the first week of the New Year and I was already overthinking what to read. So, I decided to pick up my go to escapist read, The Warsaw Protocol by Steve Berry.

2. Was it a good one?

It definitely was a lot of fun and I just love the familiarity of reading about characters whom I’ve known for so long.

3. What made it good?

The same factors that have made me continue with this series for almost a decade – lots of history, descriptions of beautiful places across the globe which I would love to visit, and some thrilling action and adventure.

4. Would you recommend it to other people?

I definitely would, especially when anyone needs a little pick me up or to readers who love books like Da Vinci Code and movies like National Treasure.

5. How often do you read?

I try to read pretty much everyday because it’s such an important part of my life.

6. Do you like to read?

Is this question valid???

7. What was the last bad book you read?

I really wanted to like Blitzed but I just couldn’t.

8. What made you dislike it?

I had too many expectations because the main character Brynne was a favorite from the previous books. The book had a lot going for it but some of the actions of Brynne felt very unlike her and downright awful, and the conflict at the end so unreasonable that it just soured my whole experience.

9. Do you wish to be a writer?

I mean, I think I want to be but I’m not sure I can. I’m not a very creative person, so I don’t think writing my own stories is gonna be my thing. But I love blogging about books.

10. Has any book ever influenced you greatly?

I did a whole post last year about books that have impacted me over the years and the first one that I always talk about is the Mahabharata. I have read many versions of the epic and I can still find something to learn from it.

11. Do you read fan-fiction?

I haven’t read much recently but there was a long period of time in 2018 when I was pretty obsessed with fanfics. And I still like them, I guess I just don’t have the time.

12. Do you write fan-fiction?

Nah.. As I said, I’m not a very creative person.

13. What is your favourite book?

Ain’t that the toughest question you can ask any reader..!!! But one of my last year’s absolute favorites is Red, White and Royal Blue.

14. What is your least favourite book?

This is actually even more tougher to answer, because why would I want to remember books I hated. So, I’ll pass.

15. Do you prefer physical books or reading on a device (like Kindle)?

Kindle, any time. I’ve gotten used to reading ebooks on devices and now I find it actually tough to read physical copies.

16. When did you learn to read?

I don’t know, must have been 3 or 4.

17. What is your favourite book you had to read in school?

I didn’t have a lot of assigned reading in school but one my favorites was a Sherlock Holmes short story, The Speckled Band which started my obsession with him.

18. What is your favourite book series?

Throne of Glass… Always !!!!!

19. Who is your favourite author?

Wow there are so many..!!!! Rin Chupeco, Nisha Sharma, Sandhya Menon, Leigh Bardugo, SJM, Robert Jackson Bennett etc etc.

20. What is your favourite genre?

Fantasy… duh!!!!

21. Who is your favourite character from a series?

Credit: Phantom Rin

Again… it’s obviously Aelin. I don’t know why I love her so much, I just do.

22. Has a book ever transported you somewhere else?

I have really felt transported by the Grisha trilogy, particularly Ravka is written very vividly and makes me wanna go there.

23. Which book do you wish had a sequel?

From my last year’s reads, it has to be Descendant of the Crane. I can’t believe there might not be a sequel.

24. Which book do you wish DIDN’T have a sequel?

I’m not exactly sure because I usually love getting more books with the same characters. But I definitely wish Cursed Child wasn’t canon.

25. How long does it take you to read a book?

If the book is good, just a day. If anything goes beyond 2-3 days, then I’m either gonna hate it or DNF it.

26. Do you like when books become movies?

I’m very bad at visualizing what I read, so I love movie adaptations. They just need to be good.

27. Which book was ruined by its movie adaptation?

Allegiant maybe. I loved that series (till that dreadful ending) but the movie was so dull and boring.

28. Which movie has done the book justice?

Lord of the Rings… !!!! I know hardcore book fans might not think so, but I adore the movies.

29. Do you read newspapers?

In childhood yes. Now I get my news from twitter.

30. Do you read magazines?

I might turn the pages of a magazine if I’m in a bookstore but I’m not that much into them. Sometimes, I might buy an Indian one if it has my favorite celebs on the cover or any special interviews.

31. Do you prefer newspapers or magazines?

None.

32. Do you read while in bed?

I actually put on an audiobook and go to sleep while listening to it. It has become a daily ritual now.

33. Do you read while on the toilet?

Well I usually have my phone or iPad with me, so sometimes yes.

34. Do you read while in the car?

I don’t know how to drive and I have a tendency to panic even when I’m a passenger, so reading while in the car is very good for curbing my anxiety.

35. Do you read while in the bath?

Nah.. not my thing.

36. Are you a fast reader?

Yup.

37. Are you a slow reader?

Nope.

38. Where is your favourite place to read?

My couch.

39. Is it hard for you to concentrate when you read?

I don’t think so. I put on tv or music while reading and I can concentrate just fine.

40. Do you need a room to be silent when you read?

No way. I’m not good with silences.

41. Who gave you your love for reading?

My parents were apparently avid readers before I was born and my name literally means “Literature”, so I always say I was destined to be a reader. And books were always what I got as gifts right from when I was around 6 years old, so I think it would be my parents who gave me my love for reading.

42. What book is next on your list to read?

I have no idea. Maybe Trick Mirror or Of Curses and Kisses.

43. When did you start to read chapter books?

I don’t think chapter books were really a thing in my childhood.

44. Who is your favourite children’s author?

Enid Blyton.

45. Which author would you most want to interview?

I met Nisha Sharma once during the Baltimore Book Festival and had a lovely chat with her, but I would love to do a more indepth interview with her for my blog.

46. Which author do you think you would be friends with?

I would love to be friends with Leigh Bardugo and Sandhya Menon.

47. What book have you reread the most?

Review: QoS

Throne of Glass, Queen of Shadows, Crooked Kingdom and Red, White and Royal Blue.

48. Which books do you consider ‘classics’?

I don’t think I like the label classic. It sounds a bit pretentious.

49. Which books do you think should be taught in every school?

Among the books I read last year, I would choose Kindred, How to Hide and Empire,  Between the World and Me, and Good Talk.

50. Which books should be banned from all schools?

I don’t think banning books serves any purpose, other than driving up the interest for them. But maybe we can tell students about the problematic content in certain books and then let them decide if they still want to read them.

I hope you got to know me a little better today through this post and liked reading my answers…!!! If you wanna know something else about me, feel free to ask me in the comments below 🙂

50 Bookish Questions Hello my dear friends.. !!! You are probably surprised to see this post today because I never blog over the weekend.

[jenmedsbookreviews]

Today it’s my great pleasure to be welcoming author Patricia M Osborne to the blog in order to spread a little more book love. We’ll be taking a look at all Patricia’s book love choices just as soon as we’ve found out a little more about the woman herself.

About Patricia

Patricia M Osborne was born in Liverpool and spent time in Bolton as a child.  She now lives in West Sussex. Apart from novel writing, Patricia writes poetry and short fiction. Her poetry and short stories have been published in various literary magazines and anthologies. She is studying for an MA in Creative Writing with University of Brighton.  House of Grace is her debut novel.

When Patricia isn’t writing she likes to try and play her piano. She’s also interested in photography and art and loves walking, particularly around her local Victorian Park and lake where she is Poet in Residence.

Website | Twitter |  Facebook

…

House of Grace

It’s 1950 and all sixteen-year-old Grace Granville has ever wanted is to become a successful dress designer. She dreams of owning her own fashion house and spends her spare time sketching outfits. Her father, Lord Granville, sees this frivolous activity as nonsense and wants to groom her into a good wife for someone of his choosing… 

Grace is about to leave Greenemere, a boarding school in Brighton. She’s blissfully unaware of her father’s plans when she embarks on a new adventure. The quest includes a trip to Bolton’s Palais where she meets coal miner, Jack Gilmore. Grace’s life is never the same again. 

Travel with Grace through two decades as she struggles with family conflict, poverty and tragedy. Is Grace strong enough to defy Lord Granville’s wishes and find true love? Will she become a successful fashion designer? Where will she turn for help? 

Amazon UK | Amazon US

Childhood Sweetheart Favourite book from childhood

An old 1950’s Rupert Annual. I think my mum brought it home one day from a jumble sale when I was about five. It obviously had quite an impact on me as I regularly feature a Rupert book in my fictional stories.

First love The first book you fell in love with

Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. I was around nine years old when I fell in love with this little red book with its thin pages and tiny print. I remember my teacher was cross with me and said I should be reading an Enid Blyton Famous Five or Secret Seven story instead. To do this day I’ve never read either, probably out of stubbornness. My late sister however, was a great fan.

Biggest book crush The book character you’re totally in love with

Bernard Cornwell’s, Uhtred of Bebbanburg from The Last Kingdom series. I fell in love with this wonderful character as I turned the pages in the book. I wasn’t disappointed in the recent television screening either, the actor they chose fitted the bill nicely.

Weirdest book crush Well… duh

Stephanie Meyer’s, Twilight Series. A member of my book group chose Twilight for her book choice. I was hooked and read the whole series within a few days, craving for more of this vampire, Edward Cullen. Craving for a vampire, how weird is that? Unfortunately, once I watched the film my dream hero vanished. The actor chosen to play this character was not at all as I’d imagined.

Hardest break up The book you didn’t want to end

All the Light We Cannot See. This was such a brilliant book that I did not want it to end.

The one that got away The book in your TBR or wish list that you regret not having started yet.

Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale. I don’t know how come I’ve never read this and since the series has been on television, friends have told me that the novel is even better. Chilling, frightening and unthinkable, but only what I’d expect from this talented writer.

Secret love Guilty Reading pleasure

I have to admit that I love a bit of Catherine Cookson, Virginia Andrews and Danielle Steel and until I joined my book club thirteen years ago this was all I seemed to read. However, I’m now open to reading all genres as each month a member chooses a book. It’s quite an eye opener as you end up reading all sorts of books that you’d never have chosen yourself.

Love one, love them all Favourite series or genre

I love fantasy, futuristic, sci-fi, romance and family sagas. I particularly loved the Time Traveller’s Wife. I’ve never really been into crime or westerns.

Your latest squeeze Favourite read of the last 12 months

Emma Donohue’s, Room. I read this as research into child narrators for my work in progress. I would definitely recommend it as a great read. The book is much better than the film.

Blind date for a friend If you were to set a friend up with a blind date (book) which one would it be?

Margaret Attwood’s Oryx and Crake. This was our first read when a group of mums got together thirteen years ago to start a book club. It has become a bit of a joke that when a new member joins they have to read Oryx and Crake as a form of an initiation. It seems you either love it or hate it. Personally, I loved it.

Greatest love of all Favourite book of all time.

All The Light We Cannot See, the Pulitzer Prize winner for Fiction 2015. You will note that it’s the same book that I never wanted to end. It was chosen as a group read for my book club and it’s probably the best book I’ve ever read, beautifully written and moving. Although it’s got 531 pages, it’s broken down into small chapters, which I like, making it manageable with a busy lifestyle.

If you haven’t read it, I definitely recommend it. I’m so pleased that I belong to my book group because otherwise I may never have thought of choosing this.

Thanks for taking part Patricia. Some really interesting and diverse choices there. MIght have to go and look a few up myself. I loved Rupert too as a child, and Little Women had more than just a few outings over the years too. I’ve not read All The Light We Cannot See yet but I’ve seen quite a few people recommend it. Might have to take a look.

What do you think guys? Any recommendations for Patricia that you think she’d like?

Make sure to join me this weekend when author Eve Seymour spills the beans on her #booklove.

Have a great week all

JL

#Booklove: Patricia M Osborne @PMOsborneWriter Today it's my great pleasure to be welcoming author Patricia M Osborne to the blog in order to spread a little more book love.

[heckyeahponyscans]

Advertisement in G1 My Little Pony comic #21 for Enid Blyton's Adventure Magazine

[downthetubes]

The Famous Five at 75: The Comic Strip Stories

The Famous Five at 75: The Comic Strip Stories

The Famous Five debuted in Look-In in August 1978, in a strip based on the TV series As the author behind book series such as The Famous Five, The Faraway Tree and The Secret Seven, Enid Blyton’s books still sell in huge numbers and she regularly features in the top ten list of the best-selling authors in the UK. Many of her books have been adapted for comics, but The Famous Five – celebrating…

[mnovenia]

LIVE OUT YOUR CHILDHOOD DREAMS

Recently I’ve been inspired by a friend because he was reading a book called ‘The Last Lecture’ by Randy Pausch. The story is about the dying man who taught America how to live. The title speaks for itself, whereby teachers are asked to imagine they're near death and must therefore sum up the entire collection of wisdom they wish to pass on to their students in a single lecture. Pausch delivered a deeply moving speech on the subject of "really achieving your childhood dreams."

It gave me time to stop and think. Sometimes I found it hurts so bad how one particular song can reminds you of tons of beautiful memories you had in the past, and how you wish you can turn back time and experience that time again.

My point as I am writitng here is to list down my very my childhood dreams that I’m trying to live out again:

1. Being a part of a professional Diving Team

I watch a movie called ‘Billboard Dad’ by Mary Kate and Ashley. And swimming? Is something that I’ve learned since young age. So being part of a Diving Team, why not?

2. Living nearby a lake or shore or quiet beach

As I watch AirBud, I always wanted to find that solitary place where Josh met Buddy while playing basketball. Turned out that there is a big quiet pond behind their basecamp. All my life, I’m looking for that kind of place in this country.

3. Having a twin and being a part of a big family (literally the one with big numbers of children)

Mary Kate & Ashley, Cheaper by the Dozen, Parenthood the series, all the family movies I watched growing up, has taught me about one thing, the more the merrier. I always wanted to be a part of big, fun and adventurous family. And especially during the Christmas time, isn’t it the most precious thing?

4. Appear ‘smart’ on the cover of a  famous magazine

During high school time, I was influence by a TV Series called “THE APPRENTICE” where Donald Trump gives chances for potential employees to be part of his enterprise by winning every challenges given. Amy Henry, a smiley smart woman, who is driven but without showing off, she nailed every tasks, as well as Bill Rancic. Growing up, seeing my late-mom being one of the strongest employee everywhere she works has inspired me to do the same. I believe she put value in me with or without I realize. Not only to follow her path, but to dream high to be appeared in front of a magazine because I do something valuable that’s inspiring my community and the world.

5. Study abroad

Fiuh, sigh, inhaling a deep breathe. This is something that I wanted the most. Inspired by my professor, John JOI Ihallaw. Last few days before for a revision for my thesis. He told me how he managed to earn a Master Degree from a prestigious University in the US. He got a scholarship during President Soeharto era. Deep in my heart, I promise myself, no matter how rocky the road is, I will find a way somehow, sometime to earn a higher education, because I know God has put this desire since retreat 2016, and He is not giving it just to take it away :) In my life, God’s will be done..

6. Living in Europe for short period of time

In order to encrich my life and fulfil the longlife dream, living a quiet and peaceful suburb in the Europe would be awesome..

7. Taking my whole family going abroad

with situation right know, my dream is also to take my brother and my dad to see the world out there, because they’ve never been going to other country (i’m so sad)

8. Live in a girls dormitory 

because I love St. Claire & Malory Towers the series by Enid Blyton, so I also want to experience what Darrel Rivers (my favorite girl) experienced. Even though it’s not in England, but I did live in a girl’s dormitory (MYC) during university.

9. Walk in an old rainy town under the rain

Mariah Carey video clip - through the rain, different cartoon that I watched gave this weird extra feeling for rain, yellow boots, red umbrella, coat and all the ‘fun’ that I thought it offers. Never really doing that in my whole life, hehehe..

10. To be a disney channel’s star

HAHAHA, i remember how I love: Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, Unfabulous, Zoey 101, iCarly, High School Musical, and all I want to be a part of is: Disney Channel <3 thanks Ashley Tisday & Hilary Duff for the inspiration.

11. To build a small city where people live side by side, peaceful and everybody knows everybody, live side by side in community who will then inspire other areas to have transformation (like in Noody book series by Enid Blyton)

12. Being a (short) movie producer or director. HAHA, I’ve been so obsessed with tons of movies since young age. I’ve been living my life according to what I watched in the movie. For that, I’m looking forward to produce my own one day, a movie that can move people’s heart, keep them stay inpired, with a vision for humanity and love. Someday Marsh, someday..

13. Get married, have a family and live happily ever after

just like the closing part of many fairy tales,.. and they live happily ever after. Yeah that’s one of my childhood dream as well..

How many have I achieved? Only 1, I managed to lived in a girls dormitory. HAHAHA.. Now that the field that I’m working on might not support me to work for Disney Channel, or live in a shore, but who knows.. at the age of 28, there are still a lot to learn and a long way to go. 

So, what are you childhood dreams?

[heckyeahponyscans]

G1 My Little Pony #15 - advertisement for Enid Blyton’s Adventure Magazine

[heckyeahponyscans]

G1 My Little Pony comic #9, 1986

[heckyeahponyscans]

UK G1 My Little Pony comic #12, 1986 - advertisement for Enid Blyton’s Adventure Magazine

[heckyeahponyscans]

Advertisement in G1 My Little Pony comic #6

[heckyeahponyscans]

I don’t know what this magazine was, but they advertised it in the G1 comic a lot.