MINUTES OF THE MEETING :TUESDAY 20th AUGUST.
Present: Angela L, Izzie, Sandy, Tony, Susie, Liliane, Beryl, Dick, Clive, Barry M and Dave.
Apologies: Barry D, Caz, Martin, Les, Suzy G, Cathy and Carolyn.
It was nice to see Angela again, along with her daughter who has just finished three years at University and Sandy too. Nice to hear that Sandy’s daughter Sally has returned to work after a long spell of illness and she hopes to come along to a meeting soon. Welcome back to our treasurer Beryl after a number of weeks away.
Creative Writing Course for Beginners. Sandy has organised this new course to begin on Wednesday September 4th at Ipswich Library (entrance in Old Foundry Road) weekly for 15 weeks. It will run from 7pm until 9pm and costs £5 per session. If you know anyone who may be interested please pass details on. Sandy’s email address is stafford7176@yahoo.com.
Angela spent six years compiling, researching and checking details of Hadleigh based Harry Hughes biography of his wartime memories. A member of the Suffolk Regiment Harry’s recollections are a valuable insight into those terrible times. Long Way From Home costs £8.99 and was published by Printing for Pleasure in Chattisham.
Tony’s plans are progressing well with both Felixstowe and Ipswich Community Radio Stations and he asks that anyone can provide him with hard copies of their homework material or other stories/plays with the possibility of eventual broadcast.
I have just been informed of an interesting site – I have not explored it yet but it claims free ebook downloads to Kindles and ipads etc., the site can be found at http://www.openculture.com/free_ebooks
The homework assignment was to write in a different genre to normal. It can be difficult placing yourself in another style and this, we thought, would prove difficult. Guess what? Everyone adapted so well to it and provided another quite fascinating evening.
Tony: The Beach: A private investigator met a woman at the Orwell Hotel who had seen a report that a body, identified as Lindsay Williamson, had been found on the beach, apparent suicide. The woman claimed it was murder and asked the PI to investigate. Lindsay was, in fact, Lucy Everston who left home after family arguments 3 years earlier to live in Kirton. Her father, Roger, one day decided to go to a massage parlour where shockingly his daughter was working...
Sandy: Rambling Rose: Rosie’s memories were real and graphic to her, especially those from her childhood days when her mother read her stories and her father listened with her. The days with children and their laughter. She recalled darning knitting and sewing yet her memories were becoming muddled. In her younger days she was a flirt, flitting from man to man yet one, Michael, hadn’t been to see her. Michael was 5’ 1” tall and red haired with ruddy cheeks, the man she had wanted to marry but soon she will have her long sleep and he will be there when she awakens.
Angela: On Leave in Alex: Alexandria 1947, three Suffolk Regiment soldiers had a week’s leave in. A horse and cart arrive and the three Suffolk’s accept the offer of a lift. In a while the road is blocked by locals and they have to persuade the driver to take them another route concerned that they could be murdered. Through the streets they are asked to buy various items, see circus escapism act but then ask to go to the dock but found themselves out of bounds. Harry, caught by a corporal and a sergeant, declares there is no out of bounds sign and the sergeant checks then lets Harry run to catch his transport back to his billet. (This is an extract from her book, “Long Way Home”.
Clive: Smell the Coffee: A brave and moving story of Alex who awoke in his Finchley flat but felt something was not right. His foot felt funny and was dragging and he couldn’t understand why. He made his way to the station and to work where his colleagues asked about his foot. Eventually he had a permanent limp and went to see a consultant but soldiered on under the premise it would get better. He fell over in the King’s Road, had to be helped up then work colleagues got to hospital where he had a leg cast fitted. At home he googled his condition and found two possibilities that he either had Motor Neuron Disease or MS. An MRI brain scan showed it was MS. All through this his partner Mai Lei was supportive. (This was autobiographical)
Barry M: A New Home: Keith and Shirley sold their B&B in Brighton and moved to Ipswich where their grandchildren lived. Although sad to leave, they watched the removal lorry with all possessions aboard. They unloaded it at their new home overlooking a park. The first night when it was dark, Keith saw a lantern being waved from side to side on the park. With Shirley and their dog Rex they went for a walk across the park when suddenly a large figure engulfed in a mist moved towards them. The temperature dropped and the figure disappeared. Getting a take-away from the far side of the park they returned, the temperature dropped again, a mysterious voice called ‘Come on you old nag!’ then they heard and saw the galloping horses charging towards them. Shirley froze expecting to be trampled but they passed through her and disappeared through the mist. They researched the area and found this was where the Ipswich Races began in 1710 and they’d walked in front of the gentleman’s enclosure on the 100th anniversary of the races.
Susie: Blue, Hues and Moods: A misty dawn at sea. The sea rises and falls like parachute silk, so alight with the golden dawn, embracing the day, dazzling, enchanting, effervescent waters. Tranquil and floating free, finding peace in the sea. The gentle swell, then whales, dolphins and sunfish swim past. The ocean appears as a lover in tango with the wind. Then turned into a whipped frenzy. Heaving breath upon the shores; flotsam and foaming froth. Evening golden alchemy, blending, balancing energy. Under a full moon distorting shapes, phosphorescence from the depths, nourished by rivers and rising like Venus, iridescent again in the morning. The changing patterns and the emotions of the ocean. (It is impossible to capture the mood and intensity of Susie’s work. It left everyone gasping with the descriptive vocabulary evoking a clear vision of the seas that she has sailed. From a personal viewpoint this was probably the best debut work I have heard in all my years at Scribblers.)
Liliane: A Month in India: Leaving home to fly for the first time, to India. A flight delay and then they were up in the clouds, able to see below the landscape. It was a 9 hour flight to Madras troubled by much turbulence in the air. Once in their accommodation they slept well but found the traffic outside was very noisy. The few pavements were blocked by traders stalls though the shops were nice and the bank air conditioned. Amongst all the traffic were the occasional carts drawn by oxen. The British stood out always wearing the ‘wrong’ clothes for the humid country. In the streets amongst the thronging crowds beggars were very aggressive. Whilst in India we visited the 7th century carvings in solid rock.
Beryl: This Year: (A poem set in 2006): Our first grandchild born, recalling all the maternal instincts of feeding, and changing the baby’s nappies. It was when my first cousin wanted to commit suicide then went to Switzerland to die with dignity. Beryl’s brother came to stay after many violin concerts in America and Germany. He did three concerts in eight weeks each involving much preparation. Always played in crowded concert halls but returned to his home in Idaho. (A rare poem from Beryl, so very emotive.)
Dick: The Best Laid Plans: A Galloway coach trip to Scotland with friend George. They hate haggis, the squeal of bagpipes and men in ‘skirts’! So why Scotland? Well the Scottish are amazing people weaving their magic with water, malt and barley to produce Scotch Whiskey. Whiskey, as we all know is a Gaelic word meaning ‘water of life’. We were partial to a wee dram so we methodically planned our day of leisure in Tayside where there were many tours of distilleries where they could enjoy a free wee dram. Armed with a carrier bag with a change of hats and mufflers they planned to change at the end of the tour and go back for a second tour and second free dram and planned to repeat the same stunt at other distilleries with the aim of a dozen free snifters in the day. As they approached the first ‘target’, two security men stopped them and insisted they leave their carrier bags behind... they had been well and truly scuppered!
Dave: All the Fun of the Afterlife: Craig was at it with the blonde from his office. Though he tried to hide it from me I knew. I planned payback on my husband but before I could, I had a fatal accident and felt myself flying upwards. There was life after death! I could see his crocodile tears and still needed to provide payback for all the hurt he had caused. The opportunity arrived sooner than expected. He was in our bed, my bed, with that blonde. Summoning up my spiritual energies I managed to send a chilling cold wind through the bedroom, my treasured painting fell off the wall and hit his head. She screamed claiming the place was haunted. When she dressed her panties were missing. The next day in the office they mysteriously appeared hanging from a light fitting. She slapped Craig hard across the face then claimed sexual harassment resulting in Craig resigning. Payback complete, I disappeared into the ether.
And so to our next meeting, Tuesday 3rd September, when the homework assignment is up to 1,000 words on “Autumn”.
To assist in writing meeting reports I wonder if you are able to supply a copy of your homework, or, perhaps, a fifty word synopsis please? This would be very helpful.
Until next time,
Keep Scribbling!!!
Dave
