St. Judes storm

Hoping that all folk reading this will be safe from the growing storm and that your loved ones, pets and property are unharmed.

If you have to go out during the worst of the storm take care and...

Be safe...

Custom Books latest

TAKE A MOMENT ... based on true experiences!

TWO SOULMATES  by Valerie Barrow
published by Custom Book Publications  

Walking Through Time & History

A chronicle of the spiritual and physical events and experiences of Valerie and John Barrow, and their many lifetimes together.

Over the last thirty or more years, this journey has bonded their minds, bodies and souls to an astonishingly profound degree. As an experienced medium and an advanced meditation teacher, Valerie has developed an understanding of how regression and past-life therapy can heal our soul and body.

CUSTOM BOOK PUBLICATIONS © 2010-2013  Hong Kong  
  Custom Books - Custom eBooks  - Kindi Corner Children's Books                                                            

Was this our founder member?

Our good friend Rani went to a seminar yesterday about nuns as scribes. There were not many in England but one fifteenth century English nun asked her readers to : " remember the scrybeler" clearly one of our founder members!

Nice one Rani!

Keep Scrybeling !!!
 

Meeting report for the Scribblers -

TUESDAY 15th OCTOBER 2013 IN THE ROOM AT THE TOP, FELIXSTOWE LIBRARY

Apologies were received from Barry D, Carolyn, Jane, Caz and Katy.

Those present for the evening were Clive, Suzi G, Martin, Barry M, Liliane, Beryl, Tony, Dick and Dave

It was good to see Clive back in attendance again even though he had nothing to read this time.

Ruth asked to be remembered to the Scribblers – how could we ever forget her? Also Dave bumped into Peter Jefferies our former Treasurer at the weekend. His health is not very good having suffered two heart attacks and is losing the sight in one of his eyes. Our best wishes go out to him.

Because of transport difficulties and being stranded in Woodbridge, Caz failed to make the meeting tonight. Consequently writers’ work from the last meeting could not be returned tonight but should be at our next meeting.

Beryl has confirmed that the rental is due for the hire of The Room at The Top at the start of November and reminded us that our membership fees for those paying annually are due at our next meeting on 5^th November.  The fee remains at £25 per year and cheques should be made payable to “Felixstowe Scribblers”. Meeting by meeting fees stay at £3.

As mentioned at the last meeting there will be another Book Festival in Felixstowe next year. The organiser is interested in producing a film show of ‘The Lost Sock’ along with time to ‘Meet the Scribblers’ and perhaps examples of our work. The possibility of putting together a small anthology is being investigated.

It is likely that The Bill Budner Trophy will be replaced and hopefully can be put on permanent display in the Library. This is something else that must be discussed in the coming weeks.

Caz is proposing to have a ‘Jack Wilkinson Trophy’ to run additionally to Bill’s competition. This would be held twice a year and Dick has suggested that the competition should be for Children’s stories. Sounded very good to those at the meeting but will have to wait for Caz to agree.

Caz also proposes that we have a Christmas meal – perhaps in January after the main festivities have settled down. She will investigate fresh venues, menus and prices and once we agree a date and place then deposits will have to be taken. The more the merrier of course!

Barry M suggested a Facebook page for the Scribblers and he will look at setting one up in the near future.

The proposed 2014 diary of meetings has been agreed by the committee and will be circulated very soon.

The Library’s next author talk features local author Tim Voelcker on Saturday 16th November at 2pm in The Room at the Top.  Tim, who did his much of his research at the Suffolk Record Office contributed to and edited the book, Broke of the Shannon and the War of 1812. Captain Philip Broke was born in Nacton and had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy becoming a national hero after he famously captured the USS Chesapeake with his HMS Shannon in 1813, during the war with the United States of America. Copies of Tim’s book will be available on the day at the special price of £15. Tickets cost £3 (available at the Library counter), to include refreshments.  Phone or email Debra to reserve places at debra.rowe@suffolklibraries.co.uk

Now for the historical homework in order of reading.

Dave: Lucky to be Alive: An account of an incident in the Bury St Edmunds area on 27^th February 1992 when a local villain, Barry Clutterham, described by some as a ‘likeable rogue’ but nicknamed ‘Crusher’, had an altercation after his relationship came to a bitter end. He took his sawn off shotgun, smashed the window of a police car and shot PC Keith Bottomley in the chest and arm. He then hijacked a driving instructor but was cornered by a police firearms team. Despite warnings, Clutterham fired at PC Derek Pooley narrowly missing his head. The police officer shot and killed Clutterham – the first man to be shot by police in Suffolk. Exonerated by the Police Complaints committee Derek went on to become Inspector with responsibility for the firearms team. He was lucky to be alive. He is Dave’s cousin.

Dick: Death in Sadlers Wood: The four men sat enjoying their pipes and ale planning, as the landlord thought, another act of villainy. They were all highwaymen and one of them, Hezekiah Dickens planned to rob a mail coach despite the warnings of his cronies. Meanwhile Lord Felton and his daughter Maddy climbed into their liveried carriage and set off for town through Sadlers Wood. Maddy’s husband followed on horseback after having his mount re-shoed in the village. Hezekiah waited in the woods and as the carriage approached he donned mask and primed his pistol.  The carriage pulled up and the occupants yielded to him. Just then Maddy’s husband Francis galloped up, and he and Hezekiah exchanged shots before drawing swords and duelling. Unbeknown to them the coachman crept round the back of the coach, took a shovel and then cracked it across Hezekiah’s skull. They buried him in the wood as he became another missing person... 

Tony: Torrents of Desire: Urgh knew he was in love. He felt lighter than air despite the emotional turmoil within. It had to be Aargh the name he had given her. In reality her identity was Orctsh but Urgh never knew that. She was perfection, and as she carried on her path he continued in the same direction, his gaze upon her. As they got closer he did not hide his smile nor she her impending desire. They met and as they touched electricity flowed through them. They were together, bodies entwined until they became almost one. Their juices flowed freely and they knew their world was about to change because of their chance meeting. As they looked sown the earth had changed. They had created a flood of biblical proportions. Only water and a small ark. With that the two clouds removed themselves from history by beating a hasty retreat over the horizon.

Beryl: The Strike Rally: It’s 1906 and Bascha has joined the Jubilee Street Club led by Rudolph Rocker to improve the lot of the East End Jews working in sweat shops. Tailors choose the thin and haunted eyed cheap labour from the weekly, crowded, Black Lion Yard. The Sunday before Passover is different, the yard and surrounding streets thronged with the masses of families when at three o’clock the groups march off, banners held high as the singing begins to the tune of the Marseillaise ‘Death to tyranny! Work should be free! March on, even to death! Our flag is red! The march from the Black Lion Yard is accompanied by police on their way to Victoria Park, the Speakers’ Corner of the East End. It’s an inspirational moment convincing people they will achieve their goal. Such foolish optimism!   

Liliane: The Popularity of the Pullman Car: The rich and well to do in the USA welcomed the advent of the luxury carriage shortly after the American War of Independence. It made rail travel a pleasure for the first class passengers. Excursions by train became popular. On the longer week long journeys passengers were served by an army of staff, their sleeping accommodation provided fresh linen daily whilst the dining car could provide up to twelve course lunches! Trains also provided libraries, barber shops, music rooms, an editorial office complete with printing press for a daily newspaper and even a saloon car complete with dance floor! The lot of the ordinary traveller or immigrant were not so well served suffered many discomforts although there were basic toilet facilities. In Britain the Pullman was slower to emerge, afforded less opulence than their American counterparts because of shorter journeys but they always attracted those willing to pay more for their comfort.

Barry M: Don’t ignore the signs: Mention the Titanic and modern people will say they either love or hate the film of the tragic vessel. There are many interesting but largely unknown facts of the event. Cats were taken on board ships as good luck and one named Jenny was transferred from the sister ship the Olympic and quickly gave birth to kittens. She left the ship with her kittens before the Titanic sailed. Tower Bridge is approximately the same height and length as the Titanic, Twelve dogs were on board but only three survived. Thirteen honeymoon couples were on board but only six couples survived. Due to weather conditions there was only 30 seconds between sighting the iceberg to impact. There were 20 lifeboats for 2,200 passengers with only 700 surviving. A novella Futility written in 1898 showed eerie similarities to the tragedy – the ship was called the Titan in the story some fourteen years earlier. The Titanic was never claimed as being ‘unsinkable, but was ‘practically unsinkable’ and was taken out of context...

Martin: Ein bisschen Frieden (A Little Peace): Eurovision Song Contest Harrogate 1982. She was the last to perform. Long blonde hair and a huge white guitar and a smile as wide as a house as she sat on her stool and sung ‘Wie einen Blume am Winterbeginn’... - Berlin 1938. It was their fault; somebody had to take the blame. He called for action and the people burned houses, places of worship, and daubed walls JUDEN RAUS. - London 2013 Bulgarians and Romanians would have free movement in the UK. Cameron waited, Ed shrugged his shoulders whilst Farage led the charge. – Luton 2012 The EDL marched fuelled by fear, ignorance and 10 pints of lager looking for people to blame. – The Inkerman, Ipswich 2013. Justyna said to Marin in Polish she could feel the baby moving. They were not understood. It was their fault, taking jobs and benefits. He was kicked and punched. Justyna’s Grandfather was one of Churchill’s few - Nicole, from Saarbrucken, with her blonde hair and white guitar reprised her song in Dutch, French and English so everyone could understand A little lovin’, a little givin’... – Justyna and Marin’s daughter was born in Ipswich Maternity Hospital and maybe in the eyes of that precious bundle lies all our futures.

Suzy: Jasper Maskelyne and the 70 Year Deception: Londoners were dazzled by the magic and entertainment of John Neville Maskelyne at the turn of the 19^th century. By the outbreak of WW2 his grandson was also a magician of world renown. Wanting to contribute to the war effort he became a valuable asset and it was claimed his talents confused and deceived the enemy. Hitler wanted the Persian oil reserves, set up the desert rats under Rommel whilst the Allied forces had become shambolic. Maskelyne claims to have been the originator of unbelievable deception in Operation Bertram. Six weeks before Montgomery’s intended attack against Rommel, two camps began to appear in the desert each attracting much German attention. Each camp was being constructed of straw, hessian, cardboard, tarpaulins, wood and scrap metal and even the ‘dummy’ soldiers were regularly repositioned to make the camps seem real. The Allied attack took place 30 miles from where Rommel anticipated due to the deceptions and eventually the Allies emerged victorious. Could this have been Maskelyne’s greatest trick or was this, in fact, another deception?

So there you have it, a number of excellent historical tales mostly fact, some fiction, all providing another excellent evening of entertainment.

Our next meeting is in three week’s time... Tuesday 5^th November at 7.30pm when the homework assignment of up to 1,000 words should be something to do with Guy Fawkes, the Gunpowder Plot or similar. Alternatively a ghostly story of Halloween would be good...

Until the next time...

Keep Scribbling,

                                                                                                   

Historical evening,

The first part of the meeting was taken up discussing plans for the forthcoming year and, importantly, to confirm that annual membership fees are now due as our next payment to the library for our accommodation is to be paid at the start of November. The fees will be held at existing levels, £25 for the year or £3 per meeting attended. It would be appreciated if your payment could be made at our next meeting - 5th November 2013.

The historical theme worked well, though it is recognised that some writers are not keen on the research element this may involve. However, those who arrived provided some epic work and one could say that we all learnt a lot of the happenings in the last couple of centuries although some work went back to the Ark!

A good evening once again that provided both fact and fiction for our pleasure.

Our next gathering will be in THREE weeks time, on that special day in the calendar, 5th November. The homework theme can be either something related to Guy Fawkes, Bonfire night or even a Halloween type Ghost story. The choice is yours!

Until next time,

Keep Scribbling!

Booker-nominated M J Hyland - Fiction Masterclass

I am contacting writing groups to let them know about a great opportunity to work with Booker-nominated author- M J Hyland, who will be in Cambridge at the end of the month for the Festival of Ideas. She will then run a small writing workshop at a special festival rate. We currently have a couple of spaces available and are looking for keen writers to join the class - details below. I'd be most grateful if you could share this with your members. Writers working on short stories or novels are all welcome. 

Many thanks and best wishes, 

Alex Ruczaj  

M J Hyland in Cambridge - Fiction Workshop 

November 2-3rd

Inspiring and transformative workshop that will bring out your very best writing. Each writer will have 2,500 words of their fiction reviewed, work-shopped and edited by M J Hyland. 

 During this workshop, you'll learn every important trick. You'll find out how to write compelling fiction: how to begin, how to structure, how to build a story, how to create a strong narrative, how to write memorable and credible characters, how to write plausible dialogue, how to cure writers' block, and much more. The atmosphere will be fun and energetic, with plenty of in-class writing exercises. There will also be  practical advice to help writers polish and hone their work to publication standard.

Visit the website for more course information www.editingfirm.com or email info@editingfirm.com 

Price: £275.00 (Unique Festival of Ideas Price - usual Masterclasses £400.00)

Our Next Meeting

Looking into the past is something we all do from time to time. This can be very nostalgic and therapeutic, illuminating and interesting in subjects from forgotten times.

Our next meeting is at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 15th October in The Room at the Top when all your historical memories and research will have been recorded in 1,000 words or so. Yesterday was history so for some folk this can be a great starting point, others will be going back, perhaps, to pre-historic times. There is sure to be an eclectic mixture of stories.

Hope to see you there, so until Tuesday,

Keep Scribbling!!!

New publication

ESCAPING THE TRIAD  Jeremy Gadd's perennial thriller
published by Custom Book Publications  

In 1851, gold is discovered in Australia…
In China a different scenario is being enacted. A young man 
and his sister are escaping the Triad, crossing old and decaying 
roofs, hiding in alleys... but it is not enough. With his sister 
killed before his eyes, My Li picks up a fallen ring and flees. 
Pursued relentlessly, he eventually realises he has a Triad 
talisman of value.

Planning to depart for the goldfields to elude his would-be 
assassins, My Li is befriended by an elderly Chinese who 
decides to accompany and guide the young man. Soon bound 
for the Great South Land, they are followed closely by the 
Red Pole triad members sent to retrieve their ring and kill My Li …

Although a journey of suffering and prejudice, heartbreak and 
horror, their Chinese pride remains unbroken …

CUSTOM BOOK PUBLICATIONS © 2010-2013  Hong Kong  
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We currently publish Authors from Hong Kong,  USA, Canada, UK,

 Germany, Australia, Israel, Brazil, Malaysia, South Africa  & 

New Zealand...                                   

Prole Laureate competition

It’s that time of year again: we’re launching the fourth Prole Laureate competition. Details are below. We’d be very grateful if you’d share this information with your members.

We remain open to submissions of both prose and poetry via the usual submissions pages. We aim to respond to every submission within three weeks – and if we do publish, we pay royalties.

In other news, Sue Millard’s pamphlet, Ash Tree, has received a lot of very positive attention in Cumbria, radio and print media. Copies are still available on our site.

For anyone who writes poetry and fancies something different, we’re looking for three or four poets to put together a three/four author collection. As you likely know – poetry is a hard sell. We thought this might be a way of maximising exposure. As well as the usual Prole quality and around twenty poems or more, we’re looking for writers who are willing to get out there and do a little pushing of the product: readings, newspaper interviews, local radio etc.

Best wishes,

Brett and Phil

Prize	Winner: £140, Publication in Prole 13 in April 2014 Publication on the Prole website 2 x runner up prizes of £30, possible publication in Prole 13 Publication on the Prole website
Judge	Kate Noakes Kate Noakes is an elected member of the Welsh Academi. She has taught creative writing for Oxford University. Her most recent collection isCape Town from Eyewear Publishing (2012). I-spy and Shanty is forthcoming in 2014 from corrupt press. Her poem ‘Snow light’ was selected by Carol Ann Duffy for her Poetry Corner in The Daily Mirror in January 2010. She won the Owen Barfield Poetry Prize in 2009. Entries will be anonymised before being sent to judge.
Time scale	We will receive entries from October 7th 2013 to February 1st 2014 Winners will be announced in issue 13 of Prole in April and on our website by April 20th.
Details	We are, as ever, completely open: free verse, blank verse, highly formed verse. You name it, we’re looking for it. We want poems that epitomise the editorial values of Prole: to make writing engaging, accessible, entertaining and challenging. Quality is all. All work must be the original work of the writer and be unpublished.
Fees	£3.00 for first entry, £2.00 for any subsequent entries.
How to enter	Via our website and email – preferred. Make the correct payment using PayPay on the competition page:http://www.prolebooks.co.uk/page6.html Email your entry, including the text and PayPal transaction number within the body of the email, to:poetrycompetition@prolebooks.co.uk By post Make a cheque (GBP only, please) payable to  P Robertson for the correct amount and mail along with entry to: Brett Evans Prolebooks 15 Maes-y-Dre Abergele LL22 7HW
Profits	Any profits made from our competition help to support the work we do at Prole. We are independent; we receive nor seek funding.

--

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Report of meeting

TUESDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2013 AT THE ROOM AT THE TOP 

Apologies were received from Barry D, Carolyn, Cathy, Clive and Susie H

Those present for the evening were Martin, Jane, Beryl, Dave, Dick, Barry, Liliane, Suzy G, Katy, Tony, Les and me, Caz.

Jack - Outward Bound

It was a welcome back for Jane after a number of months. She hopes to be able to attend on a more frequent basis in the future. The night was a little bitter sweet for her as she saw her 18 year old son Jack, himself a former attendee at Scribblers, leave Dover on his lone trek across Europe to Istanbul. We all wish him well on his journey and hope he gets safely back for Christmas!

The rental is due once more for the hire of The Room at The Top and our membership fees for those who pay annually will soon be due. It is hoped to hold the cost to £25 per year but will confirm this at our next meeting. The meeting by meeting charge should remain at £3.

As you will know there will be another Book Festival in Felixstowe next year. It is hoped we will be involved and might even take this opportunity of putting together a small anthology of work to launch and sell at the event. Some planning needed!!!

We paid our own little tribute to Ray who has moved to London with his wife to care for his daughter. He was a character and a gem of a writer. It made sense to read out the story he sent which would have been his entry to the Bill Budner Trophy.

RAY’S - THE PATIENCE OF THE IMPATIENT PATIENT 

Dave read Ray’s piece and it was all about how you wait and wait to see your doctor. As you wait you read the reams of notices about prostate cancer, Chlamydia, obesity and heart attacks and then when you eventually get in to see the doctor (45 minutes after your appointment time) he just looks at his computer screen and gives you the results he could have given over the phone but the receptionist had insisted on making the appointment.

The homework theme this time was “Pets” and what a mixture of tales we got...!

BERYL - THE LODGER 

A tale about growing up in a Jewish community, in Winthrop Street in the East End of London.  Having a best friend called Muriel who lived in a house very similar but ours was very close to the knackers’ yard with its distinctive smell. We were lucky that our parents took us to all the landmarks of London but on one those trips my brothers argued in front of a policeman and my Father was not amused. He told them they had disgraced themselves and the Jewish community and our trip was terminated. Our house had no bathroom; its lavatory was in the garden. We four children shared a bed and my parents had the other.

DICK – DON’T TELL SANDRA 

About a childless couple who lived next door to nightmare neighbours. Life was relatively quiet but for the neighbour’s son who had a menagerie of reptiles in his bedroom that were not always kept securely. Frank always worried that he might come face to face with an alligator, snake or tarantula. When the neighbour came a knocking to say their pregnant tarantula was missing. The neighbours hunted high and low for it, eventually it crawled out from its hiding place under a wheelie bin.

LES – LOVE OF ALL PETS  

All through their marriage they always had pets, from frogs to budgies, dogs and cats. Fred our frog lived in our very pretty pond in our garden.  We had a Budgie named Pip sat and nibbled our ears affectionately. Joan forbade me to swear in front of him! Our Tabby, Lucy was a real character who lived in the undergrowth. Our Llasa Apso puppy we named Barney - much disapproved of by Lucy the cat.  One day we found Barney one shivering in the pond which we decided to dispose of. Whilst doing so Fred suddenly appeared and ran off under the gate never to be seen again. Barney lived for sixteen years and had a good life with us as did all our pets. They were all much loved pets and we missed them all because all animals are beautiful.

LILIANE – IT TAKES SOME GETTING USED TO  

 I was quite resigned to leave when the new owners took over the house where I was a servant but was asked to stay as part of the family. From age fourteen I was a servant after I had left the orphanage. Their animals too were hard to get used to. The old Master had horses and dogs. Then Madame got herself an old cat in a kind of vengeance against her husband who only married her for her money. She doted on the cat and had it stuffed when it died.  A family living in a commune and all thirteen of them kept animals which took some getting used to. There was an awful parrot whilst Madame Annie loved cats then a dog was brought to the house as a present.  There was also a goat and there would be snakes and mice if certain people have their way.

KATY – MY ZOO 

My Wonderful Zoo -. A Staffie called Ty, a cat called Smudge, another called Patch,  a Bengal called Tober, Two Royal Pythons called Khal and Khaleesii,  and Taga a Tortoise,. Then there are the straight haired and curly haired guinea pigs. Ice, Teddy, Sandy, Punk, Rusty, Popeye, Little Lamb, Pop Corn, Humbug, Sunny, Peaeye, Muffin, Lollie, Chutney, Truffle, Black Sheep, Ribbon, Floss, Angel, Honey, Sugar, Cookie, Biscuit, Twinkle, Star, and a Himalayan called Boo, Chestnut and Treasure. They all mean the World to me and with them is where I like to be.

SUZI - THE QUESTIONNAIRE

Who likes being stopped in the street to fill in a questionnaire, - nobody?  This young girl was so charming she couldn’t resist helping her.  First question, are you seeking a pet or pets?  No way, we have enough to do without worrying about animals too.  Old people look stupid with little miniature dogs I always think. Is there a pet that could do the washing up I wonder? Enough breeding in this house as it is already. Aunty Mary got a puppy to replace her old Labrador, which went on to eat all her shoes. We could always have a pony but I can’t stand show offs. What does it matter where you live so why should they ask what kind of dwelling a new pet owner would live in? Fred’s friend’s cat has had kittens and Fred so wanted one but his Mum said no way. Tom packed his school books away and Tom’s Mother got a shock to see a tiny ginger-haired kitten. With the kitten purring she couldn’t resist saying yes.

MARTIN – WOMAN WITH CATS

She had two cats more than she said but she liked to stroke them. She was a widow now but during her marriage there was no touching, talking or intimacy. Don’t look, don’t touch, don’t tell. Or you’ll go to hell .He wasn’t a bad man but liked things regimented. In a row, things he could count. She thought about the girl in the thin cotton dress, riding her bike and touching the corn with her hand as she rode. She met another man at the tyre and exhaust centre and they went to the Cinema together. Had lunch in a pub and then she invited him home and danced with him in the kitchen. They went to the bedroom, no man had ever kissed her bare. She felt his kisses inside her. It was just for her, only for her a place of warmth and sunshine she realised that her young self was still here. Her daughter came to visit and said she looked different She was glowing with green, blue and yellow and she had a twinkle, and she shone.

BARRY M – ROBBIE

The clock struck seven. That’s not seven o’clock, just the number of people passing as the clock fell from the tower. I have to be careful what I write in case the local rag sues me. I have a rabbit called Robbie and he has a whole double bedroom as a run when his hutch is cleaned up. You have to be careful what you say and do around rabbits because they have feelings just like we humans do. I left George our Jack Russell with Robbie.  There was a rustle of a plastic bag and really strange noises coming from it. Then George barked and I looked and saw Robbie on George's back likje a cowboy, pulling at his left ear.  I took out my phone and recorded what I was seeing, as no-one would believe it. I started to write my homework but listened to the radio for inspiration. There was Robbie using his paws to type up my story at my desk Robbie said he would do the writing if I supplied him with fresh dandelions on a daily basis. I won the Bill Budner Trophy ten times consecutively until I was banned from entering. Now we all know my secret, it was not me writing at all but my dandelion munching reliable rabbit Robbie. 

JANE - A SPECIAL RECIPE

Polly knew it was going to be a bad day when she was ostracised in the playground by her neighbour, for giving her son’s friend fish fingers for his tea. They were 100% cod so even Jamie Oliver would be impressed, even though he thought you should only use fish in oil... Polly revealed to a friend later that she used to quite fancy Jamie Oliver but now she could throttle him as she remembered in her nightmare, his sign saying ‘failed Mother’. As she sank into her chair in despair she wondered how she could explain how she had managed to reverse over and kill Henry the family cat. In half an hour she had to collect the children so she had to think fast. She told them that Henry had a heart attack and she had taken him to the vets. No time to bury him, she hid the cat in the freezer overnight. As Polly explained about the cat just going to sleep, the doorbell rang and Suzie bounded in with Jamie Oliver’s pasta sauce, containing seven different vegetables. The other neighbour side then called and said, “You found him then? I’m so sorry I reversed over Henry in my haste to get to the hospital and didn’t have time to stop.” Polly was relieved it wasn’t her who killed Henry then Suzie screamed “you’ll never guess what’s in her freezer?” Polly put her fingers to her lips and said it was a Secret Jamie Oliver Recipe ...

TONY – THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE EMOH

Sharing an excerpt from his story Tony tells of Persia and Borox who lived in a semi detached cave in the times of the Stone Age Man. They had done some frolicking and Borox had put a spider down Persia’s dress. In her horror to rid herself of the creature, she fell and soaked herself with a bucket of water and Borox laughed like a drain. While getting dried off in a room behind a closed door Persia standing naked saw a person unknown to her staring at her. He had a scurrilous tale to tell of being sat there on this rock for many moons but could do nothing. Persia asked if he had seen her before and he affirmed that he had on many occasions. He insisted there was nothing wrong with this as he was her part-Grandfather and her nakedness was just so natural. Allirog has spent his whole life looking for you, replied Persia and when you turn up he is nowhere to be seen. As John Bubblan introduced himself officially, he took off his coat and offered it to Persia to hide her modesty, if a little too late to defend her modesty.

CAZ – OTHER PEOPLE’S PETS

My piece was about how five years ago I started to look after people’s pets in their own homes. How after Jack had died I felt a real need to get out of the house but didn’t really want to go back to office work. Totally by accident I looked after a customer of Karl’s cats, while she went to India for three weeks. Then I started my business of house/pet sitting. and now have a lot of regular customers whose homes I go and stay in, while they are away, from a night to a fortnight. Many of my customers have dogs, that I walk twice a day and feed and feel that looking after them, in their own homes, helps them to cope with being left by their owners. Much nicer than going to kennels. Most of my customers I have through word of mouth and although I will never make a fortune, with my very reasonable rates, it has given me some peace from my relenting grief at the loss of my only son.  I will never forget Jack or ever stop missing him but I feel in my heart he is with me, every step of every walk I take...

DAVE – MISSING

Shereen, our neighbour’s daughter and a pupil at the school I taught at, knocked on our door and asked “Have you seen my little Pussy?” As I spluttered my way to a reply I heard my wife stomping through the hall and asking “What’s going on here?” It was not the most ideal of situations standing between the ‘devil and the deep blue sea!. I trembled as the foundations shook in the wake of my wife’s thunder. Shereen had a twinkle in her eye and a beautiful body but she quivered at the sound of Merle’s voice. “I’ve lost my little pussy and I was asking if your husband had he seen it?” Merle was furious and told her not to come round here flaunting herself in this way. It didn’t matter that I tried to defend this young girl, as she tried to explain ‘Pussy’ is the name of her new kitten that had escaped from their home. I managed to find Shereen’s little pussy behind the garden shed but not before it sank its fangs into my hand and drew blood. In front of the Head Teacher the next day I asked Shereen, “how was her little pussy” and I’m still awaiting the disciplinary action that wll be heading my way.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 15^th October when our homework assignment is to write up to a 1,000 words on an event in your favourite historical period. It can be fact or fiction of course.

Hope to see you all there, in the meantime

Keep Scribbling!

Caz

Reminders - Ipswich Writers' Cafe etc

A late reminder that the next Ipswich Writer’s Cafe takes place tomorrow:-

Sunday 6th October 2013 - 7pm (for 7.30pm start) at Costa Coffee, Queen Street.  People can bring a piece of no more than five minutes work to read aloud.  If you want to read, it is recommended to arrive early as it’s very popular and reading slots are limited. Further details can be found at http://www.ip-lit.co.uk/

For those Scribblers who might need time to do a little historical research before our next meeting (Tuesday 15^th October) the 1,000 word homework assignment is to write about an event from your favourite period in history.

At present there is difficulty with our weblog with something blocking updates on certain elements of the layout. Doing my best to sort it...!!!

Until the next meeting,

Keep Scribbling!!!

Confirmation of International Writing Competition Results

‘The 1st Liverpool International, Open Short Story,

Poetry and Playwriting Competition 2013’

 

During 2013: the City of Liverpool’s ‘Year of Dementia’

 

Decided by our Annual International Competition Judge; Linda Walters, in the company of the Group Treasurer / Founder Member and Competition Organiser; Tommy McBride, and our Group Treasurer; Hilary Alexander, on Tuesday 1^stOctober 2013

  

Please direct all email correspondence and enquiries about our international writing competition to the Group Secretary and Competition Organiser Tommy McBride

thomas.mcbride2@sky.com

  

Short Story Category

 

1^st Prize of £200 goes to Alan McCormack, with his story entitled

‘Swallow’

 

2^nd Prize of £50 goes to Christine Minshill, with her story entitled

‘One Hour’

 

3^rd Placed: a £20 book token goes to Sarah Evans, with her story entitled

‘The Promise’ 

 

Short-Listed in the Short Story Category

 

 

Maria Lalic:                            ‘Flying with the Eagles’

Judy Walker:                           ‘Just a Moment’

Noreen Rees:                           ‘A Day Out’

Cecilia Crowson-Quinn:         Be good and you will be Lonesome’

Ann O Brien:                           ‘A Soft Day’

Pam Philburn:                        ‘Abbey Story’

 

Poetry Category

 

 

1^st Prize of £200 goes to Don Nixon, with his poem entitled

‘A Politician visits a local care home’

 

2^nd Prize of £50 goes to Tony O Neill, with his poem entitled

‘Ogden’

 

3^rd Placed: a £20 book token goes to David Punter, with his poem entitled

‘Maiden Stars’

 

Short Listed for the Poetry Category

 

 

 

Beth Tynan:                   ‘Her’

 

Rona Laycock:                ‘Russian Vodka’

 

Margaret Gleave:            ‘Lava Lamp’

 

Josephine Scott:            ‘The Broken Vase’

 

Robin Lindsay-Wilson:   ‘The Story Tellers’

 

Anthony Watts:              ‘The Mothers’

 

…………………………………………………………

 

Playwriting Category

 

 1^st Prize of £200 goes to Lindy Newns, for her play entitled

‘Sky Suspended’

 

2^nd Prize of £50 goes to Fiona Richie Walker, for her play entitled

‘The Sibling Service’

 

3^rd Placed: a £20 book token goes to Dr Phil Leeson, for his play entitled

‘The Night before Christmas’

 

 

Short Listed for the Playwriting Category

 

 

Danny McCullough:                         ‘A Soldiers Christmas’

 

Derek Keen:                                      ‘Food for Thought’

 

Acknowledgements

 

 

On behalf of myself the Group Secretary and Competition Organiser, and everybody associated with our Liverpool based creative writing group, ‘The University of Liverpool Creative Writing Society for Lifelong Learning’, as well as every other person who participated in ‘The 1st Liverpool International, Open Short Story, Poetry and Playwriting Competition 2013’, I would like to say many, many congratulations to each and every one of our international writing competition winners, runners-up, third placed and those who were short listed.

  

The quality of the writing for each and every category was excellent, so you have all done extremely well considering this year’s competition entrants for 2013, were from countries including America, Holland, Canada, Belgium, Spain, South Africa, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, North and South Wales, and every single English county. Well done to you all; and now for the invitations to everybody who entered our international writing competition, including their friends and family.

  

‘The 1st Liverpool International, Open Short Story,

Poetry and Playwriting Competition 2013’

 

‘Annual Gala Awards Night 2013’

 

Will be held on Saturday 16^th November 2013

At ‘The Casa Bar’ 29 Hope St, Liverpool,

Merseyside L1 9BQ Tel: 0151-709-2148

From 7.30pm until late

 

The large back function room at The Casa Bar in Hope Street Liverpool is booked for our forthcoming Annual Gala Awards Night on Saturday 16^th November 2013. Were all of the competition category winners, runner-ups, and the third placed prize winners as well as the short listed, will be invited, congratulated and presented with their prizes by our renowned International Writing Competition Judge; Linda Walters.

 

 Our Group Treasurer Hilary Alexander will be presenting a cheque to Francesca D’Arcy, a representative from the Liverpool branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, and there promises to be a full evening of entertainment as usual. There will be lots more details and information about this wonderful event quite soon.

 

Take good care for now everyone,

 

Tommy