I gr
ew up with Christopher Robin, Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and Rabbit and his friends and relations. When I was sick, my mother used to read the stories to me, changing the name of Christopher Robin to Monica Jane (my real and legal names). My younger sister even put, “How sweet to be a cloud” to music she made up. I can still sing it. In high school, I had a friend who used to quote Milne’s poem, “Now I am six and . . .” while George loves the poem which begins, “King John was not a good man. . .”
The Winnie-the-Pooh stories even influenced my writing. In The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek, Charley the plumber gets stuck in a cabinet in the same way Pooh bear did in the hole to Rabbit’s house. Adam thinks he may have to starve Charley until he’s thin enough to pull himself out–as Rabbit had to do with that silly bear. However, I didn’t allow Adam to hang his wash on Charley’s legs.
The original illustrations are wonderful, line drawings which suggest and define the characters. Children who grew up on the Disney version have missed out on the delight of the E.H. Shepard drawings. Here’s a link so you can appreciate them. http://bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2008/11/original-winnie-pooh-drawings.html
I’m writing this because a friend on Facebook posted that the house on Pooh corner is for sale, the one where A.A. Milne wrote the books and Christopher Robin came down the stairs with his bear bumping down behind him. I emailed the information to my husband. He says we can’t buy the house but that doesn’t matter. I love the memories this news evoked and it is a little above our price range. However, if you’re interested, here’s the link. Click here: Savills UK | Cotchford Lane, Hartfield, East Sussex, TN7 4DN | Property for sale
Did you read Winnie-the-Pooh when you were young? Or even when you were old? What memories do you have?
James, James, Morrison, Morrison, Weatherby George DuPree took good care of his mother though he was only three…..
Oh, yes! Love that. Milne had such a wonderful beat, didn’t he?
This post brought back such wonderful memories. I agree that the original drawings capture the spirit of Christopher Robin and Pooh so much better than the Disney version. Another of the poems I remember, especially reading to my children, is the one that begins “Hush, hush, whispter who dares, Christopher Robin is saying his prayers. Another favorite was the one of Christopher Robin going to see the queen. I could go on.
Oh, yes! I’d forgotten these poems. We gave our books of Milne poetry away several years ago–I need to read them again! Wonder if they are available on Kindle? Thanks!
Thank you Jane for a fun thing to look at Saturday morning !! I’d want just the gable end building with the “drawing room” down and two beds up–betcha anything that’s the original cottage. And just a bit of garden with the statue of Christopher Robin for sure !
Will send this link on…
Pam
Oh my ..yikes, I would feel the same way. I am glad they do not do that up here in the great white north I would love to go back to the days Pooh and the Ninja turtles for my guys they are a tad bit older .um 27, 27 and 26. Have a loevly evening!
Thanks for leaving a comment, Pam. I hope they’ll allow you to buy this corner of the house + garden. If so, I’ll visit you.