| June 18, 2007 – Nigel Rowe says: Regarding the comments on the strength of Ginger Beer/Ale, as far as alcholic content is concerned, it has none. It is, however, possible to buy alcoholic Ginger Beer, but this is not the norm. It doesn't take long for the Gay Bandwagon to roll in, and sweep up anyone who may fit their ideals. The idea of George (FF) having lesbian tendencies, just because she likes doing things that only boys could do in the 40s/50s, is absurd. My wife was a tomboy, I can assure you she is not a lesbian. I had a black doll when I was 5. I am not homosexual. Do we have to bring sexual orientation into the innocence of Enid's wonderful writing? I rather hoped not. Oh to have a queer adventure in a gay caravan. ;-) |
| June 20, 2007 – Keith Robinson says: I think the comments about the "strength" of Ginger Beer was meant more in terms of taste, although I was surprised to find that Ming rated Ginger Ale as stronger. I think Ginger Ale is pretty mild, whereas Ginger Beer is heavy and, well, pretty ghastly! But then, maybe Julian and Co were made of sterner stuff than we all imagined. And yes, I'm all for a gay adventure in a queer caravan. Or is it the other way around? Oh goodness.... |
| June 21, 2007 – Ming says: Ooooh, Keith, Ginger Beer "ghastly"?! Gosh, you shouldn't say that - Nigel won't like it! ;-) Yes, I do rate Ginger Ale as stronger than Ginger Beer. I found it pretty strong, while Ginger Beer was, very good! Some of us had gone for a "Blyton picnic" after the Blyton Day, where we all sat on groundsheets in the woods. I tasted Ginger Beer for the first time then. Viv said that one was pretty strong, so she mixed it with something, and gave that to me. I did love it, and I once bought a bottle - that didn't need any "diluting". That wasn't strong either, pretty mild. I visited Nigel's place one day, and of course, the first thing he offered me and my uncle was Ginger Beer. ;-) Pretty mild again. On my flight back home, I asked for Ginger Beer, but they didn't have any. They had Ginger Ale. I thought I might as well try it (with Keith in my mind!) - and I found it very strong. The hostess had given me two small cans, and after one, I felt heavy! I drank the other one at least two hours later. Perhaps Keith, you are talking about a different "brand" of Ginger Ale? I remember the one I tried was Schweppes (spelling?) Ginger Ale. Don't remember the Ginger Beer! Oh dear, rambling again. And yeah, I know both Nigel and his wife very well, and yes, they are not lesbian or homosexual (don't like those words!). And yes, I'm all for a queer adventure in a gay caravan or a gay adventure in a queer caravan too. ;-) |
| June 23, 2007 – rogoz says: In one Five novel, I'm sure Georgina says she will 'never marry a scientist' implying she was thinking of marriage to somebody. For Ming: Ginger Beer should be mixed with Ice Cream and Dry Ginger Ale goes best with Whisky. And don't take your Laptop on that Caravan trip - save it for Ming's Merciless Memoirs [ 8 vols. ] |
| June 24, 2007 – Ming says: I'd rather not end up in hospital, rogoz, I'm sure Ginger Beer with Ice-Cream and Dry Ginger Ale with Whisky won't go very well together for me! ;-) I still do rate Ginger Beer mild - perhaps I'm made of sterner stuff than you and Keith might imagine! (or not!) And I don't have a laptop (thank goodness) so I won't be taking that. Yes, that's right George does say it in one of the stories. "Scientists" proves to me that George was NOT gay, scientists are usually male, aren't they? I may be wrong - I'm not interested in Science - but I seem to recall reading somewhere that scientists are usually male. |
| July 1, 2007 – rogoz says: Right, you are stern Ming; only a hardened drinker would roll up to the bar and order Ginger Beer AND Ice-Cream. Tip - stand back as the beer explodes, then it's safe to drink. Amaze your friends at parties! Georgina was referring to her Dad of course as the Scientist-type she wouldn't marry. |
| July 1, 2007 – jeni says: Oh Gosh, Ming, gimme the dry ginger ale with the whiskey, in fact just forget the ginger ale and just gimme the whiskey, my stomach will thank me for it! My body is not made of that sterner stuff, it used to be, not anymore! Not at my age anyway, 45! Not to worry Ming, when you come to visit me at my house, I'll have our fridge filled with your favorite EB's treats like the ones you mentioned as well as tons of ginger ale, but NO whiskey for YOU! Besides, you're too young for that stuff and yes, it could make you very very sick! Good girl, Ming!! |
| July 16, 2007 – Vinayak says: While returning from India to Lagos (where I live), I asked for Ginger Ale. I got a Schweppes one and down, right there in front of my eyes I read two words - Soft Drink. And I have to say it was perfectly perfect for me to drink, it was mild. Today I went to a supermarket where I was looking for cans of aerated drinks for a picnic. There were millions of them there. As I was having a bad time thinking of which one to choose, my eyes went on a yellow can saying "Ginger Beer" proudly in big, fat letters. As I stood there scanning the can with Keith, Ming and rogoz in my mind, this time I read THREE letters - Flavoured Soft Drink. It was a brand named "Jamaica" (or Jamaican). Confused! |
| July 17, 2007 – Ming says: Ah, now that Vinayak mentions it, I remember the Ginger Beer which I took at the picnic (that needed diluting) was Ginger Beer CORDIAL. No wonder it needed diluting!! |
| July 24, 2007 – jeni says: Aw, shucks Ming, I woulda gladly swapped your ginger beer cordial for my glass of boring soft drink (soda). |
| July 24, 2007 – Jeni says: Vinayak, there IS an authentic 'ginger beer' found in health stores, it may be found elsewhere too, but it's not too commonly found. It's made with real sugar as sweetener and they use real ginger root to flavor it. It's also carbonated. For ginger lovers, it's a 'must taste'. For sugar lovers, it's a flop. I personally like it for the STRONG natural ginger flavor it has. And yes, it says 'made in Jamaica', I believe. |
| July 31, 2007 – Victor Patterson says: I seem to recall somewhere that Enid Blyton based George on herself and since she clearly wasn't gay, I don't think that George is supposed to be. As for Ginger Beer, I have tasted it, but I didn't like it much - was rather disappointed, actually. I wasn't out of doors when I drank it, though. That might have helped. |
| February 24, 2008 – Daniel Sellers says: Nigel, "Gay Bandwagon", "their ideals"? Yes, some people are gay. Get over it. |
| February 26, 2008 – abhilasha says: I think George is the best of all the rest of the people in the Famous Five. And I am sure she is not a gay. I like her the best of all and I feel like killing a person who says George is no good. As for ginger beer, if George likes it, even I like it. And I really like the fact when George says she is better than any boy. In fact she is the best person and even better than boys, coz of her even I wish I could be a boy. This was also told by Henrietta (a girl also a tomboy), "you're better than a boy, George," in the end of the adventure. |
| March 1, 2008 – Jeni says: And YOU, Daniel Sellers, needs to get over the fact that not everybody wants to prance around in gay parades. Leave my Nigel alone. His word is pretty much 'law' to me. My choice. Your choice is your business and not my concern or interest. |
| March 2, 2008 – Nigel Rowe says: Why, thank-you, dearest Jeni; I am sure that you have no issues over your sexuality! ;-) For those of us genuine gay types, maybe a re-read of Enid Blyton's Gay Story Book might in order... |
| March 3, 2008 – Daniel Sellers says: Ooh, Jeni. Homophobia is actually a hate-crime now in the UK. Careful what you put in writing... |
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Inspector Jenks says: Aww, now come on, guys! From Enid Blyton to hate crimes? |
| March 4, 2008 – Jeni says: Ooh, Daniel Sellers, I'm Soooooooo SCARED!! I can't imagine what they'd do to a homophobic like me, why - they might 'tar and feather' me!! LOL! YOU must be gay then. I DO apologize for hurting your feelings! (Really!) I just do not think it's fair to imagine any 'gayness' in any of EB's beautifully innocent characters when no such thing exist in her books. Actually, Daniel Sellers. Exactly WHICH PART of my POST hinted at a hate crime? I understand the 'real' homophobics go around physically and verbally 'attacking' gays wherever and whenever they can. Allow me to remind you that this is a website dedicated to a CHILDREN'S author who was in no way gay herself, nor were the characters in her books. We on this website, do NOT appreciate any inferences to Ms. Blyton's beloved book characters being referred to as 'gay'. If that were the case, we here on this website would be welcoming your comments and cheering you on. But we're not. |
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Inspector Jenks says: Okay, enough now. Discussing the subject is fine; bickering like children is not. |
| March 5, 2008 – Nigel Rowe says: Ooh, Daniel. Thinly veiled threats are the weapons of the insecure - lighten up a bit, old thing! Jeni is a great person with a heart of gold. Threaten her and I'll send Timmy round after you! ;-) Just to show there's no ill feelings, let's go to the dairy, and I'll buy the macaroons! :-) |
| March 10, 2008 – george(abhilasha) says: I don't like anyone who is against George in any of her ways. You know, I always have answers ready for questions!! |
| March 11, 2008 – jeni says: Keith, who's bickering? You are this website's mastermind and I quite believe you make an enormously difficult task look quite easy, that is, managing this website. However, if you do choose to print 'controversial' posts by certain people on sexual orientation and that sort of thing, you ARE going to get controversial feedback from your website fans. Some people will respond, others won't. I, for one, don't see the connection with sexual orientation and Enid Blyton. One has nothing to do with the other. Ms. Blyton is and was a children's author and her books were based upon the time of life when children are busy exploring the world within and without (Adventure and Famous Five series); exploring the sometimes complicated world of young teenage girls (Malory Towers, St. Clare's) and etc. All of her stories were based upon their lives of children and children far too young to be thinking about procreation and human reproduction, other than learning about the birds 'n' the bees. Like many of these EB fans who post on this site, I too, grew up in a world of wisha wisha (per Nigel), fairies dressed up in leaves and flowery petals and every young boy and girl experiences life's youthful beginnings by being guided toward good, and not bad. Good behavior gets rewarded; lying, deceit and overall dishonesty is regarded as shameful conduct as it should be. In a tiny nutshell, as small as I can make it, THIS is Blyton's extraordinary, magnificent world - where children everywhere who were fortunate and blessed to be in possession of her books, were rewarded with stories of excitement, adventure and learning how to get along with others and life's difficulties which are sure to greet them on the threshhold of adulthood. So, per Ming, let's keep things, 'Blyton, Blyton, Blyton', and let's follow Nigel's advice and re-read EB's wonderfully GAY stories for the gay-hearted!! |
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Inspector Jenks says: Well written! And I totally agree with you. I just didn't like the "oooh I'm sooooo scared" comment. Maybe I read it wrong, but it sounded like something a few bickering kids in a playground would say! :-) |
| March 13, 2008 – Nigel says: Well, all I can say is, "You can't beat a bit of bickering!" Seriously, since our friend Daniel hasn't made any further comment on the subject, maybe it's time to blow the whistle, form an orderly queue and march quietly back to the classrooms. ;-) |
| November 9, 2009 – Padré says: To return to the subject of ginger beer, I was in an off-licence the other day, and a lady asked the girl behind the counter if they sold ginger beer. The girl said that she had never heard of ginger beer! The lady said "In that case, you must have never read the Famous Five books." |
| March 22, 2010 – Katrina says: Why is this topic called "Ginger Beer or Gay?" I fail to see any similiarity between the two. And where does "gay" come into the Famous Five books? they are children's stories. And being a tomboy doesn't automatically make you gay. |
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Fatty says: Ginger beer is (I believe) Cockney rhyming slang for queer, so in the 40s/50s gay men were often referred to as Ginger Beers. I imagine then that Nigel's thread title is a play on words, as it concerns the beverage and George's sexuality. I fully agree with you, tomboys need not (and mostly aren't) gay. As you say, they are children's stories which, unfortunately, some people do too much reading between the lines. |
| March 23, 2010 – Nigel Rowe says: Yes, Fatty, Ginger Beer was a common term for homosexuals at the time of Enid's writing. It might appear to be a rather derogatory term in these more enlightening times, but there is a lesbian and bi-sexual information guide on the internet called Ginger Beer. Good to see that we all retain a certain sense of humour! The origins, as you say, Fatty, are probably to be found in Cockney Rhyming Slang. Other terms for 'queer' are Brighton Pier and King Lear! What a fascinating language we have! Anyway, I must "bangers and mash" now! |
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Fatty says: Thanks for that, Nigel. I imagine no one can complain about the term if our gay friends use it! I guess that it's not what you say that matters, but how you say it! Bangers and Mash? Dunno what you fat and lean! Incidentally, I can now see why our Viv calls her outlets Ginger Pop! |
| March 24, 2010 – rogoz says: A recent film about Barry Humphries, AO, CBE, mentioned that the many euphemisms for 'homosexual' arose because legally the act was a crime prior to 1967 - [ my ] implication being that to publicly call someone a 'homosexual' risked being taken to court for defamation unless it could be proved. |
| August 1, 2016 – Evie Hamada says: Some people on this thread digust me. Why would it ruin Enid's books to have a gay character? It's not really appropriate to talk about such things in a book that young children would read, I agree, but you talk as if there's something wrong with it. And as for George being gay, there's no clue as to whether she is or isn't. |
| May 14, 2018 – Simone says: Maybe George was trans? |
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Daisy says: Why can't people just accept that when the books were written back in the 40's/50's that some girls were tom-boys. Why is there this need to put a title on a fictitious character in a book. |
| May 14, 2018 – Nigel says: Maybe Enid created George as just a girl ahead of her times. She didn't consider herself to be of a weaker sex, she wanted to do all of the things that boys did and not be restricted by the male-dominated rules of the era where girls were weak, couldn't go outside after washing their hair, mustn't go out in the dark and are second-best to boys at everything they do. In fact, George is exactly like most 21st century girls. Contrary to some belief, George was a character out of Enid's mind. She didn't really exist, so had no feelings of sexual orientation. She was a little girl frustrated by the time in which she lived. She was born, bred and lived in the depths of Enid's mind which thankfully Enid put her into the pages of the Famous Five books. In post-war Britain, Anne was the 'normal' little girl. Today George would be the 'normal' young girl. |
| April 18, 2019 – Evie Mitchell says: Why have the moderators allowed comments using the word queer? It's a slur. You can't say it if you're not LGBT, just like you can't say the n word if you aren't black. Jeni, I don't expect you will read this but your attitude that gay themes are somehow not innocent are wrong and based on homophobia. I've had crushes on other girls when I was in primary school, just like my friends had crushes on boys. |
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Buster says: The word queer means a number of things. The dictionary says - differing from the normal or usual - odd or strange - dubious, shady - faint, giddy or queasy. |
| April 18, 2019 – Paul says: Evie. The message board tries to be non-political and it tries to be nonpartisan. While you are right that young LGBT kids should be supported, I don't think an Enid Blyton message page is right for that. |
| January 8, 2021 – Eve says: My girlfriend introduced me today to the 1995 tv series of the Famous Five. Gotta say, not a great deal of ginger beer content in that one! I personally felt like I resonated with George ;-). |
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Fatty says: It would be interesting to note the times ginger beer gets a mention! Maybe it's not as often as we imagine. |
| January 11, 2021 – Paul Austin says: In modern Blyton, children characters drink coca-cola. Enid is right that drinking tea is much healthier. |
| January 18, 2021 – Lisa says: Though drinking tea is much healthier, it is not suitable for old people and people who cannot withstand the cooling effect of tea. Tea can be quite cooling and people who can't stand its cooling effect may end up with flatulence. |
| January 19, 2021 – Arka says: Ok Lisa, I agree that tea is not good for old people and people who cannot withstand the cooling effect of tea. But, I don't think that means the publishers should change tea to Coca Cola, does it? If tea is not good for old people, it is at least better than cold drinks, especially for young children, isn't it? P. S. I guess this is the hundredth time, I am critiscing the publishers. But after all, they are ruining the enjoyment and suspense of these books, aren't they? Thank You. |
| January 19, 2021 – Lisa says: No, the publishers shouldn't change tea to Coca-cola, Arka. I didn't suggest Coca-cola either. Personally, I rather the publishers publish as per what Enid Blyton had written. No doubt, we have to move with the times but I do think it will be odd to change any elements in Enid Blyton's books just to move with the times. Some of the elements changed may not gel with the setting of her stories. I rather the publishers make her books look colourful and attractive by all means but maintain the content. |
Enid Blyton
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Keith Robinson