Meeting Report for 18th October 2011

Just four meetings to go before Christmas.

The meeting tonight was one with members giving each other a piece dealing in some way, fictional or otherwise, of a set period in our history (or future, for Liliane).

As usual the end of the year does not herald a lessening of our ability to write pieces that are both informative and exceedingly funny. In some cases the period inspires the writer to seek further information and increase their knowledge of previously shied away from times.

Enough chatter, suffice it to say we had another wonderful meeting with everyone welcoming our newest recruit, Sarah, who is in the area for a year or so, and studying at the University. Welcome Sarah and forget your misgivings, your writing was in no way a reflection on your doubts. We all enjoyed your piece.

Now for the meeting.

Members present were; Ray, Martin, Sandy, Sally, Sarah, Pamela, Liliane, Les, Dave, Tony, Dick and Barry. The meeting was chaired this evening by Dave.

Apologies from; Caz, Ruth, Carolyn and Beryl.

The periods and writers were as follows;

DAVE. The 50's... 'REBELS' : This was a energetic ride through Dave's early life and his being influenced by Teddy Boys and Rockers and the smell of Castrol engine oil.

SANDY. Ancient Greece. 'CORINTHIA' : Sandy was one of us inspired by the subject which at first seemed daunting as she had always shied away from the endless numbers of Gods attributed to the period. She now has resolved to delve more deeply after giving us a surprisingly raunchy tale of Zeus and his attempted seduction of Corinthia.

SALLY. 'EDWARDIAN BRITAIN': Having recovered her breath after her mother's Ancient Greece Sally gave us one thousand words on how she sometimes wishes she could have lived the life of a young lady of means in Edwardian times. Her comparisons with todays seeming lack of appreciation of a modern life means the people today miss out on many things.

LES. Elizabethan times 'THE VIRGIN QUEEN' : was a story of the close friendship of Elizabeth the first and Sir Robert Dudley and how the Queen confided in him during his lifetime and how she asked his advice on many things including when England was being threatened by Spain.

RAY. Medieval Britain. 'BETRAYAL OF TRUST' : was the legend of Beddgelert in Wales. It was told that Lord Llwelyn of Gwynned killed his faithful hound Gelert after mistakenly thing it had killed his infant son only to find the blood was from wolves the hound had slain protecting the child.

LILIANE. The Future. Liliane gave us 'MANY FUTURES' : a story of a woman with the dubious gift of seeing into the future. Not just a vision of herself but many different futures where she is sometimes a young woman and at others older in many different times ahead, with some things the same and others vastly different.

MARTIN. The 60's. With '1963' : Martin told of a time of change for all countries but none more than the United States with Martin Luther King and the march on Washington where he gave his 'I have a dream' speech just before another iconic figure, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas.

BARRY. The 40s. 'AUGUST 26' : was the title of my contribution. Being born during WW2 my childhood was dictated by movement away from the blitz in London and being born in August I looked for and found a young man who tragically died after being swept from a US Submarine in the Barents Sea on my birthday in 1949.

TONY. The Roman period. "GALLSTONED': was the title of Tony's piece that had us in fits with his telling of a fictitious battle where the Romans were making ready an attack. The Centurions were somewhat less than professional soldiers in there actions and speech with the trio of Podium, Sodium and Valium eliciting much mirth among us.

SARAH. 'THE SPANISH CIVIL WAR': Sarah's first foray into our world brought forth the story of Demetrio and his visions while lying wounded in the fields near Bilbao. Her tale was read with much less nervousness than many of us exhibited on our first evening. It was a well crafted story bring in some of her own memories of Spain.

PAMELA. 'NAPOLEONIC TIMES': Pamela gave us a thoughtful piece of life and times during the Napoleonic period.

DICK. The Renaissance. Dick gave us a piece full of intrigue as you would guess from the title ' BANQUETTING WITH THE BORGIAS': A story of love and poisoning and the Borgias setting their caps at Leonardo da Vinci with tongue in cheek references to old and recent inventions.

Once again I finish the report with thanks to all who attended this splendid meeting of the minds. I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity and artfulness that dwells in the minds of our members. Well done to all.

The next meeting, on 1st November, will have a homework subject of 'A ghost story' being close to Halloween. We've had this subject many times in the past but it always brings forth new and amusing pieces from our members.

There will be a meal out evening for our members and their partners on either the 22nd or the 29th of November. Watch this space.

Keep scribbling.
Barry.