Our next meeting

Our next meeting will be our AGM on 6th January in The Room at the Top. Providing there is time then we will also have a short creative writing exercise 

Ipswich Writers' Cafe

All welcome to this event...

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS THIS WEEK

Wed 26th November 1900-1930
Felixstowe Radio 107.5fm or via the internet
Program 44
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman ...
The Mezzotint by M R James (theme by kind permission of Sarah Jane Scouten
Methala by Tony Shearman

Performers: Brian England, Alison Miller, Debbi Coveney, Martin Jarvis,
David Miller, Angela Silburn, Sheila Martin, Su Steadman, Robin Saunders
Alan Dix, Tony Shearman


Fri 28th November 1230-1300
Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM or via the internet
Program 38
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Oh whistle and I'll come to you my lad by M R James
Just a Suffolk boy by Dave Feakes
Friday Evening by Beryl Sabel
Performers: Beryl Sabel, Tony Shearman, David Miller, Sheila Martin,
Brian England, Robin Saunders, Debbi Coveney, Su Steadman, Dave Feakes

Hope you enjoy them.
Cheers Tony

******************************************************************************

Report of Meeting held on Tuesday 18th November 2014

Apologies were received from: Dick, Beryl, Derek, Clive, Carolyn, Gary, Cathy and Caz.

In Attendance:  Barry, Richard, Liliane, Tony, Tom and Dave.

This evening’s meeting was a surprise with the smallest attendance for years.  Obviously we always expect that members are going to miss meetings and sometimes absences cannot be avoided. With apologies because of illness and other commitments we sincerely hope that those who are unwell will soon return to good health. Dick found a new set of ladies to shock in the Copdock-Washbrook area when delivering another ghost talk to the WI!!  Poor ladies!!

It is sad for the Scribblers that Hattie has now moved away from Felixstowe for an exciting position in an Austrian Hotel where she will be able to enjoy her skiing. This talented young lady was a ray of sunshine amongst us and we sincerely hope that she continues her writing and enjoys her stay in Austria.

Both Barry and Cathy entered the National Novel Writing project and have to write 50,000 words of a novel within the target time. Good luck to them both! Others have participated in previous years and found it an onerous task that demands so much time to keep increasing the word count.

Angela Petch, as we have reported, came a very creditable third in the Mash Stories Competition and she thanks everyone who voted for her story. Maybe more Scribblers will enter their competitions -http://mashstories.com/competition/mash-short-story-competition-results/

Talking of competitions I am pleased to learn there is another short story competition for next year’s Felixstowe Book Festival.

Details are available at: http://www.felixstowebookfestival.co.uk/competitions/

Our friend Jan has sent a link to an interesting website that includes a list of competitionshttp://www.christopherfielden.com/short-story-tips-and-writing-advice/short-story-competitions.php#RegularComps  It includes a lot of information and I particularly found this to be of interest:  

How Long is a Short Story?

In terms of competitions, short story length is usually between 1,000 and 5,000 words, although I have seen short story competitions with a 17,000 word maximum. Some people might regard this as a novelette or novella. If you write a story of under 500 words, most people seem to regard this as flash fiction. Below is a guide to story lengths and how they might be named (there’s a fair bit of overlap as research shows that opinions differ greatly):

• Flash fiction: under 500 words
• Short story: 500 to 17,000 words
• Novelette: 7,500 to 25,000 words
• Novella: 10,000 to 70,000 words
• Novel: 50,000 words or more

I’m of the opinion that the correct name or length is whatever any publisher, competition judge or magazine editor deem it to be. Just write within the parameters they ask for and you’re more likely to win competitions and be published.

By Christopher Fielden.

Now to the subject of our homework theme, ‘Winter’:

Liliane: The Grim Season: After Christmas and New Year everything fell flat. Dull weather, bare trees and gardens. My family sunk into the misery and gloom of winter, having over-spent and over-indulged when much of the festive outlay would have been better spent on home improvements. The family were always cold and vying for a place round one of the stoves; the thought of central heating was a pipe dream. Elza never grumbled about the cold, only about other folk’s morals. She grew up in an orphanage then became a servant and didn’t know about luxuries such as heat. Uncle Jan had his own solution, going off to ‘The Flemish Lion’ where there was always the warmth of the big blond barmaid, Cecilia...

Tony: Methala: Upon the small white orb that had circled a much larger orange one for billions of years, a tiny insignificant speck stirred. It called itself Methala. Rising from her bed she had dug in the snow she packed her hides away. She moved along the metre deep snow and noted the signal on her indicator had sped up then changed direction. The signal meant life, human life. Eventually it seemed to stop and remained stationary. Companionship she thought as she reached the top of a hill and looked down into the darkness. Down there was the signal where she found a dead wolf which became her first meal for days. And there was the signal. Perhaps the owner had been the wolf’s last meal. Methala wondered if she was the last human on the desolate planet.

Dave: In the Chill of the Night: Written for the Halloween meeting and subsequently edited to fit the winter them, this was perhaps an unusually dark story. Vic had set out walking to meet his date at a town centre rendezvous. On the way a mysterious woman appeared ahead of him and her magnetic effect drew him into a mysterious unknown alleyway which was more Victorian than present day. The woman kept beckoning him on but behind him some terrifying animal trapped him. As she turned towards him he realised she was not human... He never did meet his date.

Tom: Joe’s Dilemma: Joe Simmons stood by the operating table watching the surgeon pull off his theatre clothing then throw them into the waiting bin. Joe wondered why he could see himself but couldn’t move any part of his body then realised he’d croaked it. Joe learned about astral projection from a book so tried moving out into the corridor. It worked! The day had started crap and gone downhill fast. Late signing on, he spilled his tea in the Domino Cafe, dropped his toast before the blonde assistant told him his flies were undone. He left the cafe in a blue funk and got hit by a pantechnicon. Being dead meant no fags, booze nor sex. What there was to live for? He went to his sister Anne’s where her dog freaked out just before she got news of Joe’s demise. About fifteen folk attended his funeral when a man spoke to Joe. ‘My name is Karl and I have to prepare you for the final move,’ then everything became a blur.

Richard: Bleak: Lisbet’s story is about lying, deception and betrayal and how hard it is to reconcile with the people I knew all those years ago. I supposed Lisbet and Joachim would have lived on as I knew them, a linear path, predictable. Joachim owned a gardening business which was stressful. Lisbet did the bookkeeping and looked after their family affairs. All was not well. Ten years ago Joachim told her that eighteen years earlier he had an affair with an employee who had a child. To support them Joachim siphoned off cash from the business always lying about the increased cost of jobs. Lisbet eventually overcame the long term deception. When Joachim died Lisbet sent a formal notice of his death. Richard says, ‘I have good memories of Hamburg and two welcoming generous people. On the whole, I prefer living in the past.’

Barry: Sharing: Something Barry wished to share. Summer nights get darker, winter nights draw in, the wind chills the bones and makes the leaves fall. A summer walk along the promenade is pleasant, but the sea invades the land in winter storms whilst beach huts are dragged seawards. Life can be very hard in winter. One person who will not suffer this is my grandfather Ernest French, known to all as Will or Pops. He had his flu jab then went to hospital for a routine operation which was successful. Then he needed an emergency operation and lost a lot of blood. He battled a chest infection then was gone on 24^th October. The last thing he asked was for me to prop up his pillows. On 20^th November I will be at his funeral. An extract from my eulogy:

Ernest French was born 11^th September 1924. A true gentleman. There were only two places Pops loved to be – the golf course or making his garden look beautiful for my Nan. Now he is with her. He only needed three things to make him truly happy. Someone to love, that was my Nan, Florrie. Something to do, which was his golf. Good friends and family, all of you here prove he had that too. Thanks for being a fantastic grandfather and a good friend to us all. We will miss you. Bless you Pops.  

Although so few in attendance there were some really gripping words, and some sad words too. Another good evening though.

Just a gentle reminder that membership fees are now due.

Our next Meeting will be on Tuesday 2^nd December 2014 at 7.30pm at The Room at the Top in the library. The homework theme of up to 1,000 words is rather appropriately, 'ABSENT FRIENDS’!!

Look forward to seeing you all again then.

 In the meantime,

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave

Ps Thanks for all your good wishes and cards.

Tonight's meeting...

The smallest attendance for years failed to detract from an excellent evening's readings. With so many call-offs because of illness, and other commitments, whilst young Hattie has now moved away from Felixstowe for an exciting position in an Austrian Hotel where she will be able to enjoy her skiing, the Scribblers, for once, were rather thin on the ground.

Let's hope the next meeting will be better attended when the homework theme is, rather appropriately, 'ABSENT FRIENDS' !! 1,000 words for this assignment.

Barry is still writing his November novel and possibly Cathy is as well. Others have participated in previous years. An onerous task that demands the time to devote to piling up the word count. Good luck to them one and all!

Until next time - on 2nd December in the Room at the Top -

Keep Scribbling!!

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS THIS WEEK

Wed 19th November 1900-1930
Felixstowe Radio 107.5 fm or via the internet
Program 43
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman ...
The Mezzotint by M R James (theme by kind permission of Sarah Jane Scouten)
All the fun of the afterlife by Dave Feakes

Performers: Brian England, Alison Miller, Robin Saunders, David Miller
Martin Jarvis, Debbie Coveney, Sheila Martin, Su Steadman, Vincent Shearman
Alan Dix.

Fri 21st November 1230-1300
Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM or via the internet
Program 37
The Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Oh whistle and I'll come to you my lad by M R James
The other place by Beryl Sabel
I remember Salisbury/Falcons by Jack Wilkinson
Performers: Debbie Coveney, Becci Clarke, Alan Dix, David Miller
Brian England, Su Steadman, Robin Saunders, Ryan Guilder, Beryl Sabel
Tony Shearman, Richard Payne.
Hope you enjoy them.

Our Next Meeting

Hi Scribblers,

It's time to think about our next meeting... Tuesday 18th November in the usual place. The homework assignment was set as 'Winter' so I wonder what gems we have to make us want to curl snuggle up in front of a nice log fire?

I am looking forward to being able to attend again but, like some of you, still have to put together a few words for homework. Whatever happens I am certain it will be a good evening.

It is nice when I recieve news of members who have been unable to attend for a while or have moved away. so when I received a message from Clive who was able to attend regularly for a time who sends his best wishes to everyone and hopes he will be able to come along again some time in the future. Also I hear on the grapevine - well Facebook actually - that our friend Angela Petch came third in the Mash Stories competition and would like to thank everyone who voted for her. ( http://mashstories.com/…/mash-short-story-competition-resu…/)  

From Angela Lewis came news that the second edition of her e-book is now available on Amazon Details can be found at  http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/B00PG0JPLY/ref=sib_dp_kd#reader-link. She also mentions that if you ever need an anthology or book printed well and cheaply then  A S Publishing might be worth remembering. Go to www.aspublishing.co.uk    

Finally for now I am sure you will be aware of the strain on natural resources and the need to try an become a paperless society. Maybe this short 39 second video could help determine if it really is possible: 

http://www.youtube.com/embed/V_gOZDWQj3Q?rel=0

Hope to see you Tuesday so until then,

Keep Scribbling!!

Dave

The Importance of a Spell Checker...

Giving our work a professional look and to be free of obvious and some not so obvious errors reminds us that our computers have spell checkers included into their programmes. 

One thing that always springs to mind is that you need to be set up for your appropriate country otherwise we Brits could end up with Americanised spellings. That's rule number 1. Now for an example of a good spell checker produced here by Martha Snow...

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a quay and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
It's rare lea ever wrong.

Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
It's letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.

Hope that explains everything,  haha..

Dave

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL

SUFFOLK READING FESTIVAL BROADCASTS THIS WEEK
Wed 12Nov Felixstowe Radio, 107.5 fm 1900-1930 or via internet
Program 42
Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Marbles Lost Again by Tony Shearman ...
Up in smoke by Barry Martin

Performers: Brian England, Alison Miller, Angela Silburn, Pete Guilder
Debbie Coveney, David Miller, Tony Shearman, Robin Saunders,
Beryl Sabel, Su Steadman, Alan Dix


Fri 14Nov Ipswich Community Radio (ICR) 105.7 FM, 1230-1300 or via internet
Program 36
Sword of the Kings by Tony Shearman
Oh whistle and I'll come to you my lad by M R James
You by Beryl Sabel
Performers: Debbie CoveneyBecci Clarke, Sheila Martin, Martin Jarvis,
David Miller, Alan Dix, Tony Shearman, Brian England, Su Steadman
Beryl Sabel.

I hope you enjoy them.

Tony

We Will Remember Them

They shall grow not old,

As we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

Nor the years condemn,

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

MEETING REPORT OF TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER 2014

FROM THE SPOOKY ROOM AT THE TOP, FELIXSTOWE LIBRARY.

May I firstly take this opportunity of saying how truly sorry we all were to hear that Dave Feakes had been admitted to Ipswich Hospital last Wednesday and we would all like wish him a speedy recovery/ Get Well Soon Dave we will miss you.

Apologies were received from Tom, Derek, Aidan and Cathy.

Those present were, Caz, Barry, Les, Dick, Richard, Liliane,  Jane, Tony, Susie, Beryl, Mairead, Hattie and Gerry.

The Theme this evening was ‘Halloween’ or even something spookier, for some unknown reason that escapes me for the moment!!

HATTIE -  HALLOWEEN AN OBSERVATION

All about what Halloween might mean to different  people. From pumpkin carving, to frustrated mother’s, answering their door to little children, ‘dressed up to the nines’ as witches and ghouls, making sure they have a treat or two, to hand out to the ‘trick or treaters’.

Also the grown-ups, whose dressing  up skills needed a helping hand  and of course how seriously the person took their role for the evening. Some didn’t bother much at all, showing more leg than artistic licence. Others, wishing to be unrecognizable, to their fellow party-goers. Of course, it all could also depend on how much money there was to spare on the outfit, make-up and other paraphernalia,  that didn’t delve into the ‘coffers’for alcohol.

An interesting insight into how seriously, or otherwise, people took their costumes was very amusing.

JANE –  A DARK NIGHT

This was for sure a scary insight, into how one individual saw the evening at our usual writing group coming together and where it may never, ever, be the same again. The rules of our group were analysed and shown to be, I fear, far deeper than we ourselves ever intended. It showed us as one, drawn together by our ‘leader’ who made sure that each meeting we came together for one thing, and one thing only, to express in words our deepest thoughts and creativity. This wouldn’t be helped by tea, chocolate or alcohol, as they would be consumed a long time after (in some cases not so long) our pens were drawn on our pads.

The Room at the Top this evening was no longer our safe and happy haven but a place where if we dared, to drink or eat a morsel, it may well be our last.

MAIREAD – THE PRESENT AND A PRESENCE AT HALLOWEEN

An unexpected parcel had arrived on the doorstep and as it was soon to be the birthday of this particular character, she thought it was from someone very keen to be the first to send an offering of celebration. There was no card to explain where the gift had come from. It was also Halloween, a favourite time of the year, making it doubly exciting.

Inside the parcel lay an old-fashioned figurine. This figure seemed familiar for some reason but wearing early nineteenth century attire. It was postmarked London but nothing more was evident.

After supper and a rather Rocky DVD, then retired to bed only to be disturbed after lights out, by eerie sounds coming from the study. With something to defend herself she bravely ventured forth, to find a stranger rifling through her bookshelf.

RICHARD –  LOST

An insight into those who sailed the high seas some fifty years or so ago..Nothing much happened during the normal day to day running of the ship but one day a ship was spied and the Captain suggested the signaller to ask if it was in any trouble. “No Trouble and Good Night” came the ‘stern’ reply.

That ship disappeared into the darkness and wasn’t seen again by those sailors on the high sea.

Many years later the Captain, then retired, decided to do a little research into that particular ship and was astounded to discover that there had been a ship called S.S.Albert Sanchez but in a much, much earlier time frame than it was when they had spied her. It could have been a reference number out of sync but much more likely that it was the ghost ship of sailors past.

BARRY

Explained no homework due to the fact he had been busy being  part of 50,000 Word Novel in a Month.

SUSIE – PUMPKIN PIE

Could it be just a recipe for Pumpkin Pie or could it be much more profound than that? As in most recipes there are some ingredients harder to gather, than others. Most can be found to hand in your larder or cupboard but others have to be sought out and whilst doing so, can be pretty unyielding and horrid. Spiders found amongst piles of forgotten things, whilst trying to find the bucket and stool, to milk the cows to make the butter and cream. It is most important not to leave any ingredients out.

Perhaps after all, I should have gone to M&S as Mum suggested!.

BERYL – THE BIRDS

Mystery and intrigue into the sudden death of a young woman from the balcony of her home. Did she jump or was she pushed? The police investigating didn’t take long to discover that the girl’s Mother had died in exactly the same way, some years earlier. Informed of course by a ‘nosy’ neighbour (there’s always a nosy neighbour) to help the police with their enquiries.

There were also birds who witnessed the crime and I am talking the feathered variety. Seagulls to be precise,. a mother gull and her youngster. Of course it would only be at the end of the investigation that the significance of these birds would be bought to the fore.

LES –  GHOSTIES COMING FOR ME

An eloquent poem penned about the fear that can be caused by some fiendish little boys and girls, who set out a tricking and a treating on All Hallows Eve. Although it is always meant to be a light-hearted evening, it can be really frightfully scary, to some who don’t quite understand the concept of it, or who don’t actually remember that it is Halloween!

To dress up weirdly and howl and screech may seem like harmless fun to you but just remember it can ‘scare the pants off’ some poor old devil living alone.

DICK – LITTLE MISS SHERWOOD

A tale of a night to remember spent at the Golden Miles Hotel perched in a beautiful spot, near the glorious river Wye. A room with a fabulous view but maybe overshadowed by talk of there being the ghost of Miss Sherwood, wandering through the rooms of this two star establishment. Only uncovered, when asked, if a leak from a radiator in their room, could be investigated. It was such a shame because the room, though sparsely furnished, had a comfortable bed and armchair, just so perfect for their needs.

TONY – FLY BY DAY

Daffyth Ap Dracula by any other name could not have described this tale any better with it’s awful twists and turns. The Streets of Port Talbot would not be safe tonight! Though at least he knew he could get his main course at the local hospital courtesy of Nurse Jones, for not much more than a packet of cigarettes.

It wouldn’t be enough of course, so he would be paying a visit to Catherine Beta-Blocker but he was too late she had given herself to another, already that day!

It was sheer music to my ears to discover that this Daffyth would be coming to a ‘powdery’ end as all Dracula’s should because he flew into a room without doing the usual ‘recce’ first!

CAZ – TRICK OR TREATERS

Having returned from the hospital after visiting Dave, I was sitting having supper cooked by my husband. Not to my taste but I wasn’t going to complain and sat down to eat like a ‘good wife’ would, as the doorbell rang. Karl answering shouted “you are never going to guess where these children are from”. I got up to see what the fuss was about and it turned out much to my astonishment that they were from Salisbury, my home town. A half term holiday in the caravan park had somehow, spookily bought them to my door trick or treating. Now what are the odds of that happening? I like to think that someone very close to us, might have sent them in our direction.

Sadly I didn’t have much to share with them because I had been busy with dog walks and hospital visits but I did share what I had, including a bar of chocolate I had squirrelled away for my weekend treat. It will sit better on their hips than mine after all.

LILIANE – THE FESTIVALS OF FLANDERS ROUND HALLOWEEN

Apparently in Flanders, turnips have been used instead of pumpkins, they have come from America and are bigger than our European ones.

Halloween has not always been celebrated but festivals to celebrate the saints have been and have elements of ancient pagan rituals of the dead. St Hubert, (the patron Saint of Hunters), and St Martin, (the patron Saint of soldiers) to name but two.  Both these saints were renowned for their kindness, one to the care of animals and the other to the care of people. Though their beliefs would differ, in certain things during their lifetime, they neither seem to have achieved a peace, even at their death.

GERRY – THE LAUGHING MAN

A Mother meeting her son from school. As they drive away from school, the son is anxious to know what was discussed with his teacher. Then the Mum shows her son, pictures of a man’s face, who apparently he has been drawing during his lessons and in his school books.

As with his Teacher, Duncan told his Mother that a friend had made him draw the pictures. “What friend?” He couldn’t answer his Mother, suffice to say that his hand was guided as he was drawing the picture.

On returning home his Mother gave out a cry on finding yet another one of these pictures on the hallway wall. She knew by her son’s face he hadn’t been the culprit and explained “it must be some kind of prank”. Or was it?

Maired kindly donated a very new novel (only published last month). Night After Night by Phil Rickman. We had a raffle of all the names present including Maired and she kindly declined it, so the next number out of the ‘hat’ was Dave’s. So he will be receiving it as soon as I can get there, after he’s home (which by my latest text from him, could be as early as tomorrow. Out of surgery and all well thank goodness).

What an excellent meeting of many weird and wonderful tales. I’ll tell you one thing, Dave is going to be so sorry that he missed this one but we’ll send him our work and he can read it for himself, when he feels more up to it.  Thank you all for attending.

Our Next Meeting will be on Tuesday 18th November 2014  at 7.30pm at The Room at the Top in the library. The homework theme we agreed was ‘Winter’ but I’m sure someone will let me know, if this isn’t the case.

Look forward to seeing you all again then.

 In the meantime Keep Scribbling.

Caz Wilkinson

Secretary

Footnote from Dave:

Thanks for the get well cards and good wishes! I was released from hospital today after having a minor heart attack. Fortunately an angiogram proved that no surgery was necessary. Hope to be back next time. Dave. 

Services return to normal...

Apologies that the weblog has not been updated for a while and for the lack of notification of the last meeting.

Unfortunately I was rushed to hospital with what turned out to be a minor heart attack and spent 8 days as guests of the Claydon Ward at Ipswich.

After an angiogram I was thankfully informed that no surgery was needed and was released today.

For anyone out there who criticises the NHS then please note... every member of staff I had contact with from the paramedics, A&E, the staff of Claydon Ward including the catering staff and cleaners, and the staff in the new Heart Centre were absolutely terrific. Friendly, caring, at times jovial (and you know how I like a good laugh!) and so very knowledgeable. Bless them all!

From a very grateful patient.