AGM and four little words.

The AGM had only eight members in attendance but that gave us more time for a convivial chat after the AGM proper was closed.

Members present were, DAVE, DICK, LILIANE, BERYL, MARTIN, CAROLYN, TONY and yours truly.

With so few numbers we managed to complete the business in good time to get a tea break in before a four word exercise.

The meeting was chaired by Dave and with no business from the last meeting outstanding we had a general discussion on how we thought the group was coping with todays pressures of life and Dave revealed that the Weblog has been visited by double the numbers from last year, with interested parties from all over the world, including Russia!

The question of Committee ratification was covered by everyone present thanking each and all for their work throughout the year and each committee member agreeing to continue for another year. Be careful what you wish for.

The Treasurer (Beryl) gave her brief report with the group holding a healthy if not excessive balance.

My meeting reports seem to be received quite well so they will continue.

One last item was the suggestion by Dick for a new format at one of our future meetings. He has kindly volunteered to write slips with different genres, i.e. western, romance, historical and on the prior meeting each member will draw from Dicks hat one slip and that will be their genre subject for the next meeting. The date for this change was agreed to be 21st August this year instead of a four word session. The change of format will be advised the week before.

Thus ended the AGM for the year ending 31st December 2011.

There followed a brief four letter exercise. My description will be brief as we had limited time available.

Dicks four words were; NOTEBOOK, GALOSHES, CUCUMBER and HOMEWORK. A report on allotment thieves.

Liliane had HANDCUFFS, STILETTO, ASKEW and SNOWDROP. Another Police investigation into a Snowdrop thief.

Beryl had SEETH SQUELCH, WRECKAGE and SUBTERRANEAN. Children's fantasies about the sea.

Carolyn had RESOLUTION, CARNAGE, MECHANICAL and SOLIDITY. A moving story with Champagne.

Tony. ANAEMIA, CLOISTER, HOUSEHOLD and WINDOWLENE. Thoughts from a lady cleaning windows in and old house.

Martin. STATISTIC, ALPACA, BLOCKBUSTER and FEEDBACK. A strange story narrated by a Polar bear cub.

Dave. SOFTLY, HORSE, INGENIOUS and EXTRAPOLATE. A few words of Cindy in long boots questioning a man named Horse.

Finally my four words were. CARNIVAL, BED, SCRABBLE and PURGATIVE. A short story of The Rubicon Rebels and the day of The Carnival.

Another meeting where we all agreed with Dave's remark that we are proud to be in a group that can produce quality work no matter what the subject and time allotted.

The next meeting will be a Bill Budner evening on the 17th January. Bring along an anonymous 1000 words on any subject to be read by another and be marked in order of preference to find this quarter's cup winner.

Hope to see you there.

Regards your old/new secretary.Barry.