Report of our meeting on 6th March.

We had a well attended meeting last night but with apologies from Les, Caz and Sally.

Those present were Dick, Dave, Lyndsay, Ray, Ally, Liliane, Beryl, Carolyn, Cathy, Sandy, Sarah, Martin and yours truly.

We had a short discussion making a donation to St Elizabeth Hospice for Joan, Les's wife and decided that apart from individual donations, the Scribblers will make a donation from our funds . I have spoken to Les this morning and he is delighted about the offer and says he will be with us on the 20th March for the next meeting.

For a crowd of people with 'Blank' minds there was certainly some entertaining stuff last night. I'm afraid to say my mind has been suffering from blankness for a while now and as a result, we had a coffeeless break. My apologies, I shall try to do better.

To work:

Carolyn gave us a moving account of family life and death and how as we get older the mind does start to slip in places and we had a picture painted of 'Karen's' mother dancing in the old folks home.

Sandy took us to dark places as she told the story of a police investigation that discovers bones of a long absent husband. During a chat with her friend the widow confesses that they might even find a knife under the rockery.

Cathy told of a night out for two old friends in the village hall for a film show. We laughed as we related to the friend wanting to spend a penny just in case she had to disturb people during the show. Her early visit ended as the hall was plunged into darkness and the eighty year old demolished the projection equipment.

Martin. I can't say too much about Martin as he gave us a superb collection of short poems.

Sarah gave us a portion of an unfinished piece about Lilly and her cat and how she found she was able to communicate with animals. This apparently is the beginning of a Dr Doolittle type story where the whole human race eventually has the same powers.

Dave gave us 1000 words which will eventually relate to the book about Pauline, and how her accident left her in a coma and led to a complete life change. Dave's piece told in detail of Pauline gradually awakening from this coma and then lapsing back into sleep. Very descriptive.

Lyndsay was very nervous about letting herself down on reading her first homework for the group but it ended in applause for a very well written and well read piece about a writers block and subsequent inspiration garnered from an angelic apparition.

Dick recounted a story of how 'It pays to be honest.' This concerned Mrs Robinson walking her dog and finding a briefcase full of money which she hands in to the police. She receives a thank you note from the local gentry and the invitation to fill in a blank cheque to the value of her find. She feels unable to claim the whole amount so later she receives another cheque for the full amount.

Ray unfortunately dropped or mislaid his story so had to write a few wise words during the tea break proving that we can all improvise.

Ally gave us 'Wipe out' the beginning of the first chapter of the sequel to Drift in which Gwyn, Fern's mother, gives her a potion which causes Fern to lose her memories from the last three months.

Liliane 'Without sin' was another family piece of love and morality at a birthday party and a discussion about the wisdom of having children.

Beryl read a story from a previous homework she had not read on 'News' A story of a party of people, mostly related, giving each other an alibi for the evening they all participated in murdering Steve.

My piece was a fictional account of how a misstruck Double Eagle coin was found after 150 years.

My thanks to all who attended for another foray into the minds of our members.

The next meeting will be on the 20th March when each will write of an historical period. If anyone who was not at the meeting wishes, I have a couple of spare periods for you.

Barry