Apologies were received from Barry D, Martin, Les, Carolyn and
Beryl.
A lively and very enthusiastic meeting commenced at 19.30 hours
and those present were: Dave, Barry M, Dick, Liliane, Katy, Tony, Suzy, Susie, Clive
and myself.
News:
Tony had some news about his future slots on Radio Felixstowe
and Ipswich and says there will be room for others to participate at a later
date. Currently a demo disc has been forwarded to both stations so we wait to
hear developments.
I was in Mr Cobbler’s shop last week and Scott told me the
fantastic news that he and his wife Aimee are expecting their first child. This
is wonderful news and we are absolutely thrilled for them.
This follows on from the news that Ally is also expecting, and
time is fast approaching her new arrival. She emailed recently and says:
‘I know I don't attend anymore but I
do love reading the emails as it makes feel still connected to the group.
‘Tuesday is now our girls’ night as
it is the only evening we can all get together. Since finding out I'm
pregnant, I've struggled to write anything so I wouldn't be able to contribute
much to the meetings anyway. My brain is tuned into baby station.
I'm now 31 weeks so the countdown to 15th Nov is starting to get
exciting. It'll be a son (we found out). I can't wait to meet him,
despite my nerves of being a first time mum.
‘Say hi to the group for me and
hopefully once life settles down and if girl's night changes evenings,
I'll be able to see you all and get involved again.
‘Take care, Ally x.’
Good news that there will be another Felixstowe Book Festival
next year and the confirmed dates are the weekend of 28th and 29th
June. This opens up thoughts again of possible sponsorship if we are asked and
can afford it, if we can organise a showing of The Lost Sock and tie this in
with a kind of ‘Meet the Scribblers’ event. Food for thought and time, perhaps,
to organise a committee meeting to discuss our future plans.
Finally under the ‘news’ headline, Dave is contemplating running
two new sections on the weblog of ‘pen pictures’ of current members and also of
former members in a ‘where are they now/what are they up to’ section. The plan
would be to produce one a month.
Food for thought:
The Bill Budner Trophy only has two spaces left for engraving
winners’ names on the cup. This brought a suggestion from our last holder,
Barry M that, we approach the library to seek permission to hang a permanent plaque
in the library. This would be complete with photograph of Bill and the winners’
names so far. Another suggestion is to buy a new trophy and donate the original
to Bill’s widow Maureen. There will be further discussion on this.
I would like to propose that we also have ‘The Jack Wilkinson
Trophy’ donated and purchased by myself, so that we can alternate these
competitions. There will obviously need to be discussions about this and
perhaps you can think about it before our next meeting.
And now to the competition for The Bill Budner Trophy which is
again up for grabs.
Dick – Just One
Bloody Sub
The story of Danny Wells and his traumatic experience, as a
stoker-mechanic, on the SS Mirabelle. We were helping to keep trade open
between Canada and North Scotland just after the war. Pretty sure of a safe
journey but RN Captains would end up with difficult choices if Jerry U Boats
did manage to get amongst us. So great were merchant ship losses becoming that
rules were changed. A group of destroyers tried their damndest, to achieve a
kill, with depth charges. Regrettably the dear old ‘Mirabelle’, on whom I was
working in the engine room, was hit by a torpedo and on impact the cold icy
water of the North Sea began to pour in.
SUSIE - RE-ARRANGING THE FURNITURE
How our circumstances can change and how we have to sort the
good from the bad, the junk from the must have. How every part of our home
reminds us of times gone by, our children, their nursery school, their lows and
highs. Their first school, their first love, their first exams, and then the
first one to leave home. All the things we collect and hoard that we feel we
can’t throw away. Thousands of memories of better times with the love of your
life and not the monster who didn’t prop you up, when you needed it the most.
Who once loved you with all his soul and now all he wants is destroy it. Making
everything spick and span is now the plan and to feel comfortable in these new
surroundings, with spaces full of hope for the future. It is hard to throw away
some of the past but we must to make space for the excitement of what is to
come in the glorious times ahead.
SUZY - LAURA
The story of Jake, a great fan of Pingu and his friend Timmy and
how his Mum was trying to get him ready for his very first sleepover. Timmy was
continuously wriggling and very excitable and chattering ten to the dozen,
while Mum struggled to get his shoes on. Interesting how boys pick up on things
that their own dads don’t do but their friend’s Dad’s do. Pretending to be an
elephant for example or a lion of course that the boys could crawl all
over... Timmy not wanting to kiss his Mum, goodbye but wanted to rush
outside and get in his friend’s Dad’s car. Then when Timmy and Jake were called
down for supper, Timmy asking where the other plate was! “My Mum always puts
another plate out just in case”. Both the boys’ had a love of baked beans but
one of them detested porridge. Timmy’s Mum and Dad finding the abnormal
quietness around the house tangible but Timmy’s Mum keeping a watchful eye at
the window, just in case today was the day that their lost one would
return home safe and sound..
Liliane – Forever Burns
All about a psychic whose name was Forever Burns! Whatever next
but it was her name, she blamed her parents. How Forever would become the
partner of a Private Detective, named Fred Flint. A missing person’s case came
along and Fred asked Forever to help with her psychic powers of detection, to
solve a case of a missing person... When Forever introduced herself to Fred as
‘Forever’ he thought that was an awful name that could only bring ‘doom and
gloom’. Much to their surprise they went on and found the body but not the
killer. The lady who had hired Fred and Forever to find this man was
heartbroken but was told she had had a lucky escape, as spies don’t muck.
Neither of them saw what Forever should have, with her psychic powers, that she
would soon be Forever Flint because they made a great team not just in their
working life but their personal life too.
Tony – Way Out
Someone knows a fair amount about fencing according to this
piece of writing. A fear of rats initially I thought but then it seems it
wasn’t anything to do with fight against a rat, well not as we know it that’s
for sure. An opponent with huge eyes and a toothy grin, enough to put anyone
off, that’s for sure. An opponent that was better, sharper, and smoother than
me ... or so he thought. I would have to fight the good fight and not be found
wanting with my back to any wall. He laughed in my face but I wasn’t fazed by
his sneers. It isn’t over until it’s over. I will get him attached to my blade
if it is the last blade I ever draw. He fell back and I knew that was the
end.... not of me of him.
Dave - Lakeside Chalet
I was hoping that I could get away from it all. Away, in the
‘back of beyond’ with nothing and no-one, to stress me. It was a track that
started to narrow and had non-descript fungi spreading everywhere along the
track. I came upon a shack of sorts but it would be perfect for my needs. No
dainty touches or curtains but who needs them. It had a bed to lay my head,
with a gas ring ample for my needs. It was damp and smelly, so I threw open the
windows to bring in some clean air. Later at the Loch I filled my lungs with
fresh air and listened to the birdsongs. I stayed too long but it was worth it.
Thought suddenly it was gray and misty and hard to see far. Rooted to the spot,
I was afraid of something approaching. Dragged into the water I managed to struggle
free and got myself to shore. I didn’t want this fearful solitude and headed
for the car. As I sped away scraping the embankments I climbed and trundled
back along the track. Suddenly I was aware of someone was shaking me and asking
‘hadn’t I heard of the ghosts of the area,’ or was I just a thrill seeker,
perhaps I was.
Barry M – Dear Grandma
Lucy answered the phone but wondered who would be ringing at 2am
but deep down she knew. “Hi Grandpa,” she said “What’s up?” Her Grandpa was
always ringing, every night explaining someone was trying to break in the room
at the nursing home. Lucy would go and see him every day but he would still
ring every night. Lucy was exhausted but what could she do? Her Grandpa needed
her more than ever. Lucy felt guilty about turning off the ring tone but knew
she had to sleep sometimes. The lift leading to her flat was more often than
not ‘out of order’ so she stayed fit by going up and down those stairs at least
once a day. One day Lucy went to visit her Grandpa as usual but there was no
sign that Grandpa, she hoped he was asleep but sadly that was not the case.
Lucy would no longer need to visit the home, for he had gone perhaps to be with
her Grandma.
Clive – A Rude Awakening
Forty five years ago Phillip was fortunate enough to go to uni.
In the 1960s not everyone had money to send their offspring to university. Tony
was streetwise and energetic. After graduating Philip and Tony met up often. At
their final meal together before the untimely demise of Tony, Philip had an
inkling it would be their last. After a call to be told Tony was in hospital,
on life support Philip wasn’t surprised. Being close to his friend’s family he
had to tell the children their father had passed away. Making sense of losing
someone at the tender age of 42 made Philip give himself a ‘kick up the
backside’ and get his life back on an even keel. He started looking into all
things spiritual and found others who were like minded. He learned of the
College of Psychic Studies and decided to attend a class in September.
Strangely on arrival there Philip felt so at home and in tune with others.
There were all kinds of folk who shared their experiences and understanding of
the spiritual world. He was welcomed and encouraged in another class by those
who shared a wealth of knowledge. There was meditation. Students worked in
pairs. Finally Philip knew where he wanted to be in life and this was his road
to follow. Philip uses his abilities of spirituality to this day.
Katy – A Day In The Life
This tale was about how a certain feline spent her day in the
tranquillity of her owner’s house and garden. Occasionally daring to cross over
the fence and explore other terrain, not just to do her business but to see how
the ‘other half’ lived. Wandering the gardens and coming across flowers of
every hue, weeds, uncut grass and extraordinary stones. An unknown cat from
down the street had dared to come into her space and she would never settle
until she had seen it off. It might seem to some cats that life could be better
on the other side of the fence but this particular one, well, she preferred her
own surroundings, children, household comforts and would head indoors and
snuggle down for the evening, where she knew she was safe and
loved.
Caz – Our Sincere Thanks To Everyone at Montague Road
My piece was originally a letter to the nursing home that my
father in law had spent the last years of his life in. Before moving into this
particular home Bill had been on a pretty awful ward, where you wouldn’t want
anyone you loved to be. No-one seemed to care there. So it was with a real
sense of ‘bless you’ that I wrote my letter of thanks when Bill passed away.
Through the five years and nearing the end of his days, Bill could not have had
better care. Considerate and loving, as though they were looking after someone
in their own family, the staff and their support were unstinting.
I worry about how I and my family and friends will be treated
as we get too old to care for ourselves I just hope we end up in a home with
such compassion and support.
After hearing the excellent stories beautifully read by Dick and
Susie, the choices were made and the points totted up.
The winner for the first time was Suzy who became the thirteenth
different winner in the twenty occasions the competition had been held. Congratulations to Suzy for her story ‘Laura’.
Runner-up was Barry with Dick and
Tony equal third. Really there were no losers as every story obtained votes and
provided yet another fine evening of creativity.
Our Next Meeting will be held in two weeks time on Tuesday 1st October at 7.30 at the ‘Room at The
Top’ in the library.
The homework theme is for up to 1,000 words on ‘PETS’.
Look forward to seeing you all then - in the meantime take care
and Keep Scribbling.
Caz Wilkinson
Joint Secretary
