FELIXSTOWE SCRIBBERS MEETING REPORT ON
TUESDAY 15TH JULY 2014
In attendance: Barry. Caz, Dick,
Tony, Jane, Les, Beryl, Richard, Susie G, Liliane, Richard, Carolyn, Mairead
and Tom.
Apologies were received from Derek, Dave and
Susie H, Ali, Bruce, Gerry and Cathy.
We hope that Dave will soon be 'on the
move again' without the aid of a walking frame.
Mairead very kindly bought us a huge stack of teas, coffee, sugar and
biscuits to replace those mislaid at the last meeting . We would like to take
this opportunity of saying a huge thank you for her kind generosity.
Then
we moved on to the subject of this week’s Geographical homework.
Barry: Having no homework Barry
read from a book of letters entitled 'The Time Waster'. They were letters
written by a man, to a well- known store about the ludicrous subject of
his lost lace. Also letters written by the store manager back to him.
Dick: Wind and Waves Inspired by the sea on a rough day with Thomas Cavendish Ships in
the Harbour and gorgeous dolphins riding on the bow waves. The sounds being
created were like an orchestra creaking through the timbers of the boat. When
hope suddenly gave way to fear as the ocean whipped up a horrendous storm.
Tony: We’re All Going On an .... excursion to New York? Antwerp?, Arizona? Kingston Upon Thames?
Felixstowe? Monte Carlo? Holiday planning. 200 words to get nowhere. Flying
sickness and whether to wipe fellow passengers clean or not! Helicopter
sickness, is there was such a thing? Woolwich Ferry Sickness? A trip that would
take by car (eight days to get there and eight to get back (meaning he would
have to return three days earlier than he got there!)
Les – Stop Over In Haven Before I start I am aware that some sceptics
will believe I have a head full of trained nuts! I was booked to go to
Australia. The flight was progressing nicely and I was holding a nice glass of
cognac. My fellow passengers had all changed into strange green coloured
clothing. I was unable to utter a single word as I pondered over the change in
everyone. I wasn’t at all scared I had a strange sense of euphoria. I sat
back, sipped my drink and hoped that all would become clear. The
hostess’s attire had also changed and they confirmed we were stopping at Haven
for seven hours, instead of Singapore. What on earth was going on? The airport
was beautiful and everywhere I looked there were smiling faces. Animals like
soft toys were everywhere at horrendous prices but also free to a deserving cause,
if you will just care for it! On our eventual landing in Australia Steve
and his wife were waiting to greet me, with a look of euphoria all over my
face.
Suzie’s poem – Living By the Sea Climb up to the cloud place turn around, looking up to get lost in
the sky. The wide Atlantic around you as the town nestles down. Hear the waves
breaking on granite shore, beer-foam crashing and blowing being caught by the
wind.
Richard – Passing Through In the 1940s If you are coming from the station and you walk
along the Marienstrasse, you will notice the architecture. It is in the
post-war reconstruction, slab concrete style. Each morning at half past seven,
when I walk to work, it reminds me of my situation and in the brightest of
summer suns I remain pessimistic. At street level there is much going on, the
butcher the baker, the agent for some technical equipment on the one side, the
ladies’ hairdresser, an insurance office and a dress agency on the other. This
is the street where I live and this for the moment is my lot. I count the weeks
before giving my notice, quit the job and leave the Marienstrasse. and will the
other residents notice my departure? I doubt it, for in this cold, transient
environment, coming and going is unnoticed’ for the time being I hardly exist.
Carolyn – Dislocation Down Under Serious Ferry. Fresh salty
air, the sea like a shimmering glass curtain. Sail boats racing, a party boat
and a 18 footer scurrying by in Sydney Harbour. 16,000 kilometres away from
Detroit. I know there is going to be a tomorrow because it is already there in
Australia. Sunlight and colour everywhere. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the
longest day on 21st September.
Tom – Grey – In 1940s Glasgow was so grey. John’s mood was
lightened by the click, click, click, click of high heeled shoes on the
pavement.. John was what the scruffs called a red sandstone boy. There was a
surreal quality to the tenements of the Gorbals. There had been family holidays
in Ayr, cinema, beach, Whittles Road and Mrs Mason’s Holiday House. Cream teas
and being allowed to stay up late with the adults. Then clicking into real time
the raised voices and in came Brian staggering as usual with too much alcohol
inside him.
Liliane – The Gympie Pyramid On the internet. Showing the Queensland Town
of Gympie. Stinging trees like nettles. 1867 Gold Rush – there was mining but
there was no rush. Tourist Centre with pyramid. 13 Pillars – never been
excavated. Who built it and why? Would be interesting to delve more into this
mystery. The pyramid was said to be a tourist attraction but the pyramid and
the land on it was bought by a company, who now deny anyone access to the site.
Jane – Feeling the Cold – Staring on the quay side Carol watched the ferry approaching in
the distance, the bow of the boat cresting the gentle waves of the Aegean
waters. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the day was at its warmest, forcing
even the most devoted sun worshippers to seek some shade. Carol could feel the
sweat dripping down her back, her pink t-shirt sticking to her. She didn’t mind
though. Today of all days she wanted to feel the sun on her. A wonderful tale
of love, deceit and revenge showing a poetic twist at the end of the story.
Beryl – The World-Wide Tour 2004 Well that’s what the travel agent called it
when I booked it. It came about when my two little dogs died within three weeks
of each other. Once I’d got over the trauma I suddenly realised I was a free
agent. I had a brother in Idaho and a friend in New Zealand, both wanting me to
visit. “Combine the two,” suggested the friend. “After all, Idaho’s halfway to
New Zealand,” So I did. I spent 3 months with my brother Geoffrey in Boise,
Idaho’ 2 months with Eunice and Angus in New Zealand, then back to America for
Christmas and New Year. 6 months in all, a sort-of-semi-sabbatical. One last
thing to mention’ on our way home from one of our days out we stopped at a
Perkins, a chain of cheap and cheerful restaurants, where we discovered that
our waiter had been to school in Snape.
Mairead – The Vicar’s Dilemma May
1856 (A piece of fiction loosely based on fact) The vicar whistled merrily as
he gently guided his horse to a trot. A little fox terrier, sat beside his
master,watching the lift and fall of his hands, as they held the reins.
However, Teddy sensed the unease behind the vicar’s bravado and the front he
put on for his parishioners. Whimpering, he pushed his nose into his master’s
pocket. Was he a cold-hearted murderer that you will discover as the story
unfolds!
Read by Caz: Dave – Space: The Final Frontier The growing discontent on
Earth, increasing lawlessness and a planet lacking space for further criminals
to be imprisoned. Through the centuries a new Penal Colony was created on the
distant planet of Uranus and the Starship Depositor was on a mission to deliver
1,500 convicts there. Trouble brewed in one of the holding bays on the vessel
and a crewman ejected them into the depths of deadly space.
Our next Meeting with be in THREE weeks time on Tuesday 5th August 2014 at the Room at the Top
commencing at 19.30 hours. There is no set homework, this time you may write on
any subject up to a 1,000 words or share an excerpt of an ongoing novel or
story.
Hope to see you all there.
Caz
Secretary
Felixstowe Scribblers.
