Ethel and Ernest (Raymond Briggs)

Actually, for a few months, I lived a few doors down from the real Ethel and Ernest though she died very soon after we moved in.

Obviously I didn’t know at the time they were going to be in a book! Or that Raymond Briggs was going to be famous?

I keep the book on my ‘special books’ shelf with others that I treasure and plan to pass on when I die.

I bought E&E when it first came out.
I found it heartbreaking, ditto When the Wind Blows.
They are both absolutely brilliant, but I won’t be revisiting either any time soon!

Loved that book and found the account of his parents’ passing very moving. They lived good and simple lives. I watched a documentary on tv about him and he seems a lovely man too.

Ethel and Ernest was brilliant, moving and funny, how lucky Raymond Briggs was to have such lovely parents. I also remember when When the Wind blows appeared, I had two young children at the time and was fearful of something like that happening, I now have two young grandchildren and the same fears have risen again

When the wind blows is defiantly not in the genre of the snowman, but it’s a brilliant and powerful book, there was a play of it too.I’ve been thinking about this book the last couple of weeks in light of what’s going on in Eastern Europe

Yes we had all the Raymond Briggs books and Ethel and Ernest was very moving, and was so true at the time when people were making fall out shelters under the stairs and stocking up on tinned food.
I have been thinking about it recently in view of current events.
What a charmed time we have been living in, and perhaps hadn’t appreciated.

Oh Yammy, the things children say x

I love all the books and all the films, I’ve read and watched them many times.
Yes, When the Wind Blows is and has made me pause to think.

I have this book and really love it.......such a touching story and the illustrations are spot on. I reread it often and even though I know what happens it always makes me shed a tear.

JaneJudge

I have also been thinking about when the wind the blows, can you remember?

I remember it and debated whether to read it to DD's.
We were moving house at the time and found the door to the understairs cupboard in the garage. They had left quite a few toys and one DD said "Oh look how kind they have left us their {I thought toys} but she said fall out shelter.
At the time Alexander Dubchec was trying to break Czechoslovakia away from the Russians.Tense times like at the present.

I remember when my OH was working on the Tin Pot General and the Old Lady ( Falklands War)
It was scathing towards Thatcher. I was amazed that it was ever printed

I absolutely loved the animated version of Ethel & Ernest, I cried and laughed and didn’t want it to end.

I thoroughly recommend it.

Thanks for comments about the DVD - must say that after reading that Jim Broadbent and Brenda Blethyn star in it, I was thinking again and have now ordered it.

As someone said, a 3 bed house in Wimbledon Park for £850 - on a single milkman’s wage!
Different times indeed - Dh’s parents lived in Wimbledon Park and prices are stratospheric now.

Us too.

The animated “Ethel and Ernest” brought tears to my eyes. ?

We watched it on TV a few years back, and it was absolutely wonderfully done.

JaneJudge

I have also been thinking about when the wind the blows, can you remember?

I remember that . Brilliant little film. Heartbreaking.

I have also been thinking about when the wind the blows, can you remember?

Oh the animated version is lovely, you wont be disappointed. It is so moving