Minutes of Scribblers meeting held on Tuesday 4th August 2015

Present: Dave, Dick, Richard, Beryl, Jane, Mairead, Tony, Cathy, Sally and Jeanette

New members: Hayley and Claire

                

Apologies: Richard, Barry, Carolyn, Caz

General business:

1. A warm welcome was given by Dave to our two new members, sisters Hayley and Claire, both of whom found out about Scribblers via the Felixstowe Book Festival. Hayley has written one novel, and is in the process of writing another. Claire is a recent graduate in literary studies. Nice to have some younger members to lower the average age of the group!
2. Dick had recently celebrated his 80^th birthday, and told us about the surprise party his family had arranged for him. He was kind enough to bring along the rest of his special birthday cake for us to share – many thanks for that, Dick!
3. Best wishes to Liliane, who despite being unwell, collected the library key and delivered it to Dave before heading home again.  
4. Beryl gave advance apologies for the next two meetings, and Jane just for the next meeting

Reading out of homework:

Topic ‘The coach’

As usual, we were all able to enjoy listening to some very interesting, and often entertaining, writings.

Dave: En route

I joined the train on my southbound journey. Was it a mistake choosing the musty smelling coach compartment where three strange folk sat motionless? Or why the ticket inspector did not see them? Was I cocooned in a time warp? Would the truth be revealed as we entered Stoke Tunnel?

Cathy: Summer 1977

Honey is off to London with her aunt for a very special fitting; prosthetic arms, as she is a thalidomide victim. The coach journey gives her the opportunity to ask more about the mother who left once Honey was born, wracked with guilt for taking the damaging anti-sickness drug during pregnancy

Beryl: Thank you Mr Bullen

Our teacher hit you with a ruler if you got a sum wrong. My father's attempts to help reduced me to tears. I was simply hopeless at maths. But to qualify for university I needed 'O' level maths. Only a private coach, Mr Bullen, though brusque and somewhat frightening, made it all clear. Suddenly I understood. 

Dick: poem entitled Coaching Days. A delightfully detailed and atmospheric poem, telling the tale of a journey from York to London by stagecoach.

No synopses for the following stories:

Mairead: Catching the Felixstowe Stagecoach 2295

Jane: Monologue – the coach trip

Jeanette: untitled – an excerpt from her novel in progress

Sally: Reflections

Tony: A week in Wicken

Next meetings: 18^th August, the Jack Wilkinson Trophy competition

                             1^st September, when the 1000 word homework topic is ‘Magic’, as chosen by

                             Mairead