Report for the 3rd April.

The homework set from last time was Monster or Monsters.

We had a few apologies, Carolyn, Caz, Sandy Cathy and Sally.

Members present Dave, Tony, Dick, Les (welcome back) Liliane, Susan, (welcome) Ray, Martin, Lyndsay and bringing up the rear yours truly.

Les had found it hard to concentrate on new work this last few weeks so he read a piece imported from Oz. More of that later.

First to read and rush off was Tony. He was late for a rehearsal of the Rushmere Players version of The Canterbury Tales. His story was another part of his novel which is out on spec to a publisher, the chapter contains mentions of a woman called Sally Vate and her friend Bugg Roff. To try to recall all involved would give me a migraine so suffice to say it was a clever collection of words containing a mention of numerous Rolling stones songs. You really had to be there.

Next in line was Dave who gave us the story based on fact of a loco numbered D6996, one that took with it enough bad luck for ten cracked mirrors.

Mine was next. A play on the word mine again my story was recounting experiences when I lived in Australia in the sixties. Very blokey so I will not dwell on the tale of large machines working in West Australia.

Lyndsay was the first to have us chuckling with a truly inspired account of a story originating from a children's tale of a green headed but kindly monster that lived under the stairs. This was crafted into dialogue of correspondence between the council officer and the monster after he received an eviction notice.

Martin's tale was his usually clever play on words about people arriving in the USA and viewing the monster at the gates of the harbour, The statue of Liberty.

Ray brought us at last a tale he began weeks ago but dropped and ran over, on the way to the history meeting last time. His subject had been the Roman era so his story was about the death of a monster named Caligula and the resulting deadly rampage of the Praetorian Guard when his murder was discovered.

We welcome Susan who was a bit trepidatious about her first reading but by the time the round robin reached her she was more at ease. She tells us her interest has been mainly poetry but having listened to us read she believes, I think, that it will not be too hard to branch out. She gave us a very short but very sweet poem, and the main one filled with happy memories of holidaying in France, in Mastinou and the friends she has there.

Next came Liliane. What can I say about Liliane, her stories always amuse and her wit and humour gave us many a belly laugh as she recounted a story of some of the family, holidaying in Scotland with Grandfather trying to tell a story about 'Macbet' as he called him. This drew many laughs as her clever dialogue gave us a true to life account of the old man trying to tell a story with countless interruptions.

Les was back, full of his usual humour after his sad loss and the story he read was one imported from Australia and a Scribbler watcher named Chris Shaw, one who used to attend but now resides in Cairns. He sent me this story and it was just the thing for Les to read. Les's reading and the extremely funny content had us weeping with laughter at the tale of Chris's hospital stay and his subsequent calamitous night of trying to pee into a hospital bottle. Another case of you had to be there. Thank's to Les and thank you Chris.

Last but by no means least we came to Dick and his tale of a short case of hearing loss where unbeknown to the population their resident ogres were gentle things who loved nothing more than to knit. The Town Council meeting instructed a knight of the community to go yonder and obey the command from the Ogres of 'leave us a bone.' They deliberated on what sort of bone then decided it would have to be a substantial one so a dragon's bone was the one he had to go and find. After much slaying and hacking one such bone was obtained but on his presenting said bone to the Ogres he was informed loudly, loud enough for the whole town to hear 'ARE YOU MAD, WE SAID LEAVE US ALONE!!!'

Another fine meeting.

Thanks to all in attendance.

The next will be on the 17th when Dave will bring a photograph and we will all have quick study then write for twenty minutes, a short tale woven around the picture.

So no homework for next time just bring along some paper and pen or pencil.

Thanks again to all and see you at the next meeting.

Barry.