This is my favourite. I borrowed CC & PP from the library age 7 or 8 without realising Pa had various books, including CC. When he realised what I was reading, he showed me his copies of S&A, CC, P&M, & GN. When I needed to cover a book for my Brownie Book Lover badge, I did this. Pa did the writing

I’ve attended a couple of James’ talks … highly recommend if you’re interested in this sort of thing 😊

@aransome.bsky.social I'm sure Captain Nancy would have tried some of these!

Fun fact: that Lakeland holiday was paid for from money my brother gave me as thanks for being one of his Phone A Friends when he was on “Who Wants To be A Millionaire?” He didn’t even call me in the end; our sister won him £250K with her answer when he called her instead! But he was very generous 🙂

I bought this hardback copy of Swallows & Amazons at the Windermere Steamboat Museum over 20 years ago, on my first trip to the Lakes since 20 years before that! I still have many of the classic Puffins, but the family paperback of S&A had fallen to bits through much reading many years ago.

I've collected all the new hardbacks ... But I do love this secondhand one I picked up. Where is she now?

Some of our Northern friends might be lucky … 🔭

It's a toss up between a very battered paperback of my favourite WH (no idea when I bought it) and a pristine hardback of P&M. The latter is my only hardback and was a present from my sister about 25 years ago.

My favourite is the first I read. It's Swallowdale in traditional green hardback, (dustcover long gone). I was given it by relations for Christmas when I was 11. Several people had realised I was going to Grammar school and liked reading so everyone gave me books that year!

What a lovely shelfie from @jgardiner.bsky.social 📚⛵️

It’s a dark, wet day… let’s brighten it up by sharing our favourite Arthur Ransome copies. 📚Which is your favourite copy? 📚Is it paperback or hardback? 📚When/where did you get it? 📚What is it that you particularly like about it? Reply below! 👇 #SwallowsAndAmazons

In Cumbrian dialects, 'sweetmart' is pine marten in lore, pine martens are believed to plait horses’ manes during the night more: "Folklore of the Lake District" bardofcumberland.com/folklore/ #nature #folklore #lakedistrict art: Robert E. Fuller

Yewtree Tarn near Coniston, nicely frozen after a cold week. The sun doesn’t quite reach in there at this time of year.

Not quite signalling to Mars, but for anyone UK based, there’s a red alert for the aurora just now, so worth having a peak towards the north if you’re somewhere without too much cloud cover/light pollution

📣❄️ You are warmly invited to our Winter Holiday chat! ❄️📣 When? Sun 8th Feb, 7.00pm UK time Where? Zoom - link nearer time What? A relaxed chat about Winter Holiday. I’ll share a few questions beforehand to help us. Important Prep: cosy reading, nice rations, Susanish tea 🫖🍫 #SwallowsAndAmazons

Very wise words from @jauzfaktnevim.cz …

Hoping that Storm Goretti hasn’t wreaked too much havoc for Bluesky friends … take care all, may your igloo be weatherproof and your hotpots firmly above the ice ❄️

Coniston Water. Late afternoon.

Winter Holiday chat on Zoom! Suggestions: ❄️ we (re)read the book this month ❄️ we convene for a warm & gentle chat about it online for an hour or so ❄️ poss dates: Sat 31/1, Sun 1/2, Sat 7/2, Sun 8/2 - time TBC If you’re interested, pls reply with preferred date in comments #SwallowsAndAmazons

Thought: 📚 Would anyone be interested in a book group style discussion? Eg we could read Winter Holiday in Jan, and then convene to chat about it at the end of the month on zoom. If you’d be interested, let me know in the comments below 👇

Highly recommend ‘Reading Series Fiction’ by Victor Watson to anyone interested in children’s literature. Watson explores why we value reading series (like visiting ‘a room full of friends’), devotes a juicy 3 ch to Swallows&Amazons, &also explores The Dark is Rising, Green Knowe, The Borrowers etc

Are we right in thinking it was Mrs Dixon, busy with her pork pies, in Winter Holiday @penelophon.bsky.social ? 🥧

Any ideas for which character said this…??

For anyone who can access BBC iPlayer, this is a lovely watch and there are some nice little snippets about Arthur Ransome www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation had a call out yesterday straight from 'Winter Holiday.' Their facebook post about it is very punny! At Dyffryn Ogwen. 'location was a bit woolly, but at least they had warm clothing for their overnight stay.' paypal.com/gb/fundraise....

Fair winds and following seas to all for 2026… wishing everyone a year ahead full of good things ⛵️ #SwallowsAndAmazons

Coniston Water

Hello friends, I’m sorry for the radio silence, it’s been (is) a difficult time hence the lack of quizzes/advent calendar this year. I hope to start again in the new year, but in the meantime, I’d love to hear your recent Ransome reads, thoughts, moments… or just say hello! #SwallowsAndAmazons

To @aransome.bsky.social @tarsociety.bsky.social and the crew, Explorers, pirates, natives too, Here's lots of cheers from me to you. #swallowsandamazons #arthurransome

OK, while we’re on the animal theme what was the heron hunting for when seen from the train window? And which book?

Important crossword clue: see 17 across …

Looks like just the right thing to put in his hutch! Amirite, @aransome.bsky.social?

Excellent quiz question here from @alistairwilson.bsky.social … Reply with guesses 👇

Signed by Arthur Ransome & he has drawn a sailing boat in ink underneath, Pigeon Post will be at Neil Summersgill's stand - Illustrated, Children's & Detective Fiction Book Fair 8th Nov 10-4pm. Pavilions of Harrogate HG2 8NZ @tarsociety.bsky.social @aransome.bsky.social www.pbfa.org/fairs/northe...

Hello everyone! I’ve been away from here for a little while but as we move into autumn, I’ve started to think ahead, and wondering if anyone would be interested in another Arthur Ransome advent calendar? (Quiz every day during advent with the answers posted the next.) Would welcome your thoughts!

Just catching up with Only Connect … some excellent Ransomish clues here 🏴‍☠️

2. Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome. Swallows an Amazons forever, and death to Captain Flint.

Swallows & Amazons To John, Susan, Titty and Roger, simply being allowed to use the boat to go camping on the island is adventure enough. They find themselves under attack from the fierce Amazon Pirates, Nancy and Peggy. And so begins a summer of battles and discovery.

The Swallows and Amazons series by Arthur Ransome. It has been done as a TV series, but badly. It has to have the parts where they get swept out to sea by a storm and where Titty and the baby are trying to get out of the salt marsh while the tide rises straight up out of the ground.

‘Swifts, swallows and Canada geese’ Artist: CF Tunnicliffe (What to Look for in Summer, 1960)

If Squashy hadn’t been so shy and just demanded to know what Nancy was doing with his paint pot (like he was a Mr Jemmerling) the novel would have ended then. Then, I guess if he wasn’t so shy he’d have knocked on the Beckfoot front door in the first place and it would never have started.

Excellent pic here from @owenjell.bsky.social 📸

And the answers were: 1. Squashy Hat (aka Timothy) 2. John, Dick & Nancy 3. Gold! The Swallows, Amazons & Ds (S.A.D.) Mining Company 4. Pigeon Post Take 1000 cheers and a nugget of gold for each correct answer!

A quiz! Can you name: 1. The furtive character A 2. The three characters at B 3. What B are searching for, and the name of their company 4. The book Reply with guesses below, answers tomorrow! #SwallowsAndAmazons #ArthurRansome

@aransome.bsky.social Timothy hits back!

I’ve just listened to the Audiobook of Swallowdale - it was absolutely lovely. Think I might move on to Pigeon Post next but have always wondered how Roger could swallow that bit of chocolate!!!

A mighty pigeon poses at sunset.

It’s been a little while since we’ve had a discussion, so… What’s your preferred Ransome read for July? Perhaps you like to dive into Pigeon Post for a sweltering adventure, or take refuge in the cold of Winter Holiday?? Do share your thoughts! 👇 PS quiz to follow soon #SwallowsAndAmazons

What an interesting thread! Thank you so much for sharing @jauzfaktnevim.cz

On a similar principle the Swallows, Amazons and Ds called their transport 'dromedaries' in Arthur Ransome's 'Pigeon Post' (1936). 'Pigeon Post' is set in a drought - appropriate reading for this summer coming?