The Final 2013 meeting

FELIXSTOWE SCRIBBLERS MEETING: TUESDAY 17th DECEMBER 2013

Apologies were received from Clive, Caz, Cathy. Dick, Susan F, and Suzi G.  

Those present for the evening were: Martin, Barry M, Tony, Liliane, Carolyn, Beryl, Susie H, Jane and Dave

It was nice to see Martin again but, he tells us, his attendances will be fewer as he is studying for a new job and that takes up so much time. Much as we will miss him, we must say what a tremendous writer he is with such a fine staccato type delivery to his words. He promises to attend whenever he can.

The report takes a slightly different look to its usual format.

We began by reading out some messages received recently and they are reproduced here:

“Hi Everyone,

Hope everyone at Scribblers has a great Christmas and all the best for the new year.
 'The Winter's Tale' theme made me smile as the title of the book I am working on is called 'Midwinter' - that is the character's name.

Talking of books I am about to sign a contract with Endeavour Press  who are going to re-publish two Jack Giles books - 'Rebel Run' and 'The Fourth Horseman' for Kindle and other e-readers.
There is a curious tale attached to this. My first book was published in 1983 (thirty years ago). Here we are in 2013 and two of my books are about to become available again. I am now living 200 yards away from the house where we were living in 1983.

All the best,

Ray”

“Hi Dave

Just to offer my apologies for next meeting, and to wish all the Scribblers a Happy Xmas. Hope to see everyone in the New Year, and attend a little more frequently!

Cathy”

“Hi Dave,

Thanks for the email to keep me up to date.  Sounds as if things are mixed good and bad/sad for the group.  Please say hello to everyone for me and wish them the seasons best wishes.  Seem to working too many Tuesdays at the moment and am rostered for the next one as well 
Hope to get to see you all in the New Year.

Kind regards - Susan French”

“Dave. We have just had a Speakers of Felixstowe meeting and the committee were keen to offer our speaker services to read out stories for your competitions for the Bill Budner trophy. Would this be of interest? If so what are the dates? 

All the best and season’s greetings

Debs”

“Dear Dave,      

Please could you give my apologies for tonight.  Just returned from a few days with a very demanding 90 year lady and I'm now in recovery.

Could you wish everyone A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS from me!   (That should have been a question mark, but an exclamation mark seemed more suitable ......)  

Have a wonderful Christmas, Dave.     

love,suzy”

Clive apologised for his absence from the meeting but sent a Merry Christmas to all Scribblers message.

Since the meeting I have received two further messages, from Barry D who has forwarded the one from Les. It is possible you will already have received these direct from Barry but if not they are reproduced here.

“Sorry I haven't been with you for a while. You are all in my thoughts for a Happy Christmas.

I received this from our Uncle Les today. As you see he is having a great time in all that horrible heat.

See you soon.

Barry.”

“Hi Barry, Smith here suffering in 36 degrees while you lucky buggers have all that lovely cool weather.

I am doing my best to enjoy it by lazing on the beach, bloody barbies’ and all that Ozzy stuff, but you

must know I would be there with you.  Seriously, I am having a great time; at my sister’s currently,

in a little town named Corowa, in NSW; it was 35c today with 40c forecast.  It is a lovely place with plenty  of character, friendly natives and delish’ food and drink; of which I am doing my best to  see off as much  as I can.  Sister Joan is easily as mad as me so our days are one big laughing comp’. 

I am heading back to my son Steve’s place in another small place, Wattle Glen, near Melbourne, there I shall meet up with all the other Nieces, Nephews and assorted relatives; plus neighbours and friends who are queuing up to meet the mad guy from the UK, my reputation seems to have gone before me so I must act up to the part.

Been watching the Ashes on TV and crying along with Joan and my friend Pepi, her dog, with whom I have become a good friend, he follows me around for a game and lays on my lap for the evening, AAAH.

Please would you pass some of this to fellow scrib’s if you can.  I wish you all an extremely pleasant Christmas and an all write new year.  See you next year, Nunky Les. 

PS I saw Ruth on TV, small world innit!”

Tony re-iterated the details for both Felixstowe Radio who will play us 'live' on 107.5 fm at 2100hrs on Wednesday, (tonight) first broadcast 18/12/2013. You have to catch it live either by radio or internet. There is no later feed.but ICR will play us 'live' on 105.7 fm at 1530 on Tuesdays; first broadcast was this afternoon 17/12/2013. There is a later feed available via the ICR website, (just Google ICR). Tony was advised that due to their planning it takes about 36hrs before the feed is active.

News of Jane’s Jack is that he is heading back to the UK and should be here on Saturday. He has had two jobs in Budapest, one in the hostel where he was staying and a second leading groups out on pub crawls... He’s got it made! With orders forwarded for traditional roast meals it seems as if he will return to Budapest early in January and will not be able to attend a Scribblers meeting which is a shame for us.

Thanks were passed to Barry M for creating the Scribblers Face Book page and what a good job he is doing with it.

Dave handed out a number of Scribblers business cards in the hope that they can be used to attract new membership. Fingers crossed!

Now for the magic and mayhem of the creative writing exercise. With Dick absent through illness, Dave brought along his hat for the words to be drawn from. There is something about these four word exercises that bring so much creativity from each writer. Under pressure to write something in fifteen minutes seems quite a task but those present proved beyond doubt that, not only can they include their words in their text. but they can come up with completed stories too. Carolyn noted that Liliane had neatly written two pages without making an error!

Beryl: Wonder, Demented, Crackers and Xenophobic.

Susie: Zombie, Lingerie, Woods and Catheter

Jane: Glittering, Reindeer, Snowflakes and Penguin.

Dave: Aftertaste, Harassed, Murder and Gold.

Martin: Bunji-jumping, Hospital, Presents and God.

Barry M: Aftershock, Aftermath, Afterlife and Colours.

Tony: Baby, Stable, Murder and Stardust.

Liliane: Starlight, Exaltation, Santa and Vomit.

Carolyn: Smile, Trees, Yacht and Watchtower.

After this exercise came the opening of the goodies and much food was enjoyed by all except for poor Tony who was fasting prior to a hospital procedure the next morning but at least he took home a doggy bag full of treats for later.

Now it rests for me to remind everyone that our next meeting is on Tuesday 7^th January 2014 when we will hold our AGM when perhaps we can discuss meeting formats, attracting more members and ensuring that we have enough in our reserves to cover the cost of The Room at the Top.

Between now and then, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year

We hope to see you all there with us in 2014.

Keep Scribbling!!!

Dave.