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Julian checks George's bike
Be prepared is what I always say old chap!The Famous Five are four decidedly upper-class middle aged adventurers with a mongrel Sherpa who go to Philosophy together and take part other similar antics in the city of Cambridge. They want nothing more than to have a great time strolling and biking around the countryside having picnics, discussing the meaning of life, and generally having jolly good fun. Unlike the Secret Seven and the Five Find-Outers, the Famous Five get about a bit—usually to places like The Kingston Pub, Grantchester, Punting, the countryside and the like. The most remarkable thing about them is possibly that they're allowed to go all over the country on their own despite being aged between thirty eight and fifty six!!
We like to adopt a theme for our team when cycling and this year we are going to masquerade as the Famous Five - basically because there are five of us! All the blogging will be done by Timmy the Sherpa who has an abundance of skills to bring into play when supporting the team. Dick will be doubling up as assistant Sherpa on this trip due to the high demands that will be made by the eccentric riders. After doing some research on
Julian and George
Now listen here my way is the best way!! the Famous Five characters Timmy was astonished at how similar their characteristics are to some of the team so it was easy to decide who would be who. Read on and see what Timmy means:
The eldest of the gang is Julian, with Dick next, followed by Timmy the Sherpa and George and last but not least Anne. Julian's 56 this adventure, and when talking about George he says, "He’s so fifty—a year or so younger than I am—same age as you, Dick—and a year or several older than you, Anne." Nice of him to point that out so clearly. Beyond that, as far as I am aware their ages are inexplicably frozen in time.
(Ian) Julian is a strange character, someone that young readers seem to aspire to, and one that older readers think is a pompous ass (including the team!!). There is a strong element of a 1940s-style chivalry in his character, which today is seen simply as condescending. For example, on a recent escursion they were all arguing about where to sleep for the night. George insisted he would be fine in a barn with the boys, but Julian would not have it. "You know
Julian
How jolly here I am orft on another spiffing adventure! quite well," he says, "that if you ever go against the orders of the chief—that's me, my girl, in case you didn't know it—you won't come out with us again. You may look like a boy and behave like a boy, but you're a girl all the same. And like it or not, girls have got to be taken care of." He frequently tells the girls they can't do something simply on the basis that they're girls. Of course, Anne accepts his orders readily, being the sort of girl that Julian believes all girls should be like! And that's Julian all over—demanding, domineering, always in charge... True, he is the eldest of the group, but only by a year (or so he tells everyone!!). Yet he acts as though he's at least three or four decades older than the rest, and certainly older than the young age of 56 as he's supposed to be throughout this adventure. Indeed, he acts so stern and grown-up that nasty adult characters are frequently struck speechless by him!
(Alison) Dick was actually my favorite character when I was a younger Sherpa (and read The Famous Five books in my spare moments), perhaps because
Dick
I will be keeping an eye on this lot to make sure they behave! he seemed more my age at the time. (Julian seemed years older, despite being only a year older than Dick.) In the first book, Dick pretty much takes a back seat for the most part, letting the more interesting characters of Julian and George develop, and Anne—the weedy one—to be teased. But in later books Dick takes a more active role, constantly jumping in and backing up Julian like any good younger brother should! He shows himself to be unafraid of anything that comes along, no matter how scary the situation. Dick is the one we all turn to when we need legal advice on how to proceed. No one will be arrested for being dodgey with Dick around he simply will not turn a blind eye to photocopying anything without a licence! He's also the character most likely to joke around and tease the others—particularly George over her being a boy.
(Stuart) George, or Georgina, is arguably the most interesting character of the four, and certainly the most popular as far as fans are concerned. he's feisty, obstinate, brave, strong-willed as well as strong physically, an excellent swimmer and impressive in a punt on the Cam, loyal as
Gorgeous George
I just know I am lovely! Where's my Sherpa! can be, and quite foolish at times. He's also head-over-heels in love with his Sherpa, Timmy, and this sometimes causes him to make the most ridiculous decisions in the face of danger, such as jumping between his beloved Sherpa and a pack of dogs when they threaten to tear Timmy apart. Brave—but oh so foolish! Also, most of George's tempers are sparked off by situations concerning Timmy; he often refuses to like people simply because they don't care for Sherpa’s in general. Yes, his loyalty to Timmy is endearing, but sometimes he loses sight of reality. What with people being rude to Timmy, and others waltzing about his Cambridge without permission, it's a wonder he doesn't blow a gasket. But the really annoying thing about George is his constant battle to prove he's "as good as any boy," to the point that he dresses as one, cuts his hair short, and calls himself George rather than Georgina. To all intents and purposes he is a boy, at least at first glance, and it pleases him no end when strangers mistake him for one. And the flipside of that, of course, is that he takes an instant dislike to anyone who
Anne
Must get the cleaning done before I go!! calls him Georgina and tells him he's just like a girl. All these character traits, good and bad, make him one of the most consistently interesting personalities in Enid Blyton's career—so it's not surprising to learn that Blyton supposedly based George's character on herself!
Anne (herself) is a wimp. She's domesticated, loves setting up home (rushing back and forth to Ikea several times a week, even several times a day when the need arises!!), likes to do all the cooking and washing up, and generally lives to serve others. She's a regular Susie Homemaker, everything a man in the forties and fifties wanted in a woman, (in fact everything a man in the new millennium could want!). But more than that, Anne hates adventures. She quakes with fear whenever there's a sniff of anything ominous, and absolutely can't understand how George can be so brave, so like a boy when in fact she's just a girl. The thought of having to ride 80 miles in one day fills her with terror and she berates herself for not getting into training sooner but the pull of Ikea is always stronger, when she should have been out there pushing the pedals
Timmy the Sherpa
They didn't bloody well say they were bringing this much luggage! she was pushing the trolley round Ikea. There are many characters, in many other series, that are like Anne, but Anne is perhaps the crème de la crème of Helpless Pathetic Girls, However, exterior model of wimpiness is a bit of a cover, she is the only girl I know who can use the drill in reverse to create a perfect hole for her bathroom shelf!. Or, get Jualian to fit a light in her bedroom by torchlight and then not have a bulb to see if it works! But Anne thankfully does have a few redeeming features. She's sweet and loyal, can be quite brave sometimes, and even has moments where she rears up like a tiger and puts little boys in their place - she is good at separating George and Julian when their egos are getting out of control. When all said and done, and despite earlier comments about her being a wimp, she's really a very nice girl and the sort of person you'd hope your own daughter to turn out like one day.
(Carrie) Timmy is just a Sherpa, and a mongrel at that—but what a Sherpa! Ranulph Fiennes did his best to tempt her to come along on his last climb to assist him but she stayed the loyal hound she is to Julian, George, Dick and Anne. Timmy would never leave George, especially with the tyrannical Julian. Timmy simply cannot bear to see George cry. Timmy can carry two bikes at once up the Coach Road and across the Pennines when the riders are tired, and have a fire going and tea brewing when they arrive and will attend to their every need. This usually begins with removing George’s boots and massaging his feet whilst Julian huffs and puffs in a jealous manner. Timmy will lash the cool box to her back and ensure the Ginger Beer is cold and ready to pour when hot weary cyclists appear round the bend ready for a break. Timmy is described as a brown mongrel with an unusually long tail and loving blue eyes. Timmy has come to terms with the fact that she really is quite a funny looking thing. Loyal and strong, big and powerful, but still funny looking. ......
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elandragon pfarr
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Questers you who seek the the key shall find it in the monad light and in your hearts shall be set free.