In attendance: Richard,
Mairéad, Tony, Liliane, Beryl, Les and Dave.
Apologies were
received from Derek, Caz, Dick, Barry, Katy, Carolyn, Tom and Suzy G.
Thanks: First may
I thank all those who have helped running the Scribblers over the last couple
of meetings. Although currently on crutches, fingers crossed things are
improving and hopefully my physiotherapist might even be pleased with me on
Friday! (Ed: Positive news thankfully!) Thanks
to everyone who has sent messages of support. It really helps boost a flagging
morale!
Next may I thank those who
attended this evening’s meeting. With holidays prevalent, such good weather, Derek
on his travels, Katy still unwell and Tom’s Lynda’s mother passing away, one
can understand the low turnout. Hope to see you all again soon, fit and well.
News: I have heard from Chris down in Cairns and am arranging to
exchange one of our anthologies for his latest book. Can’t wait!
Dick, as some will know, is
writing the novel of the film the Lost Sock... and marvellous stuff it is too!
Dave actually managed to record
two stories at the Victoria Studios – that’s Tony homestead – and hopes they
come out okay when finally broadcast. Thanks for the hospitality Tony.
Committee Meeting: Some of you will already know we
held a recent committee meeting and suffice to say many subjects were
discussed. The meeting this evening was the ideal opportunity to go through
many of the items on the agenda and have some meaningful discussions on the
decisions taken on your behalf. I make no excuse for reproducing the minutes
(still waiting for ratification from the committee).
1. Post Mortem on Book Festival. What went
wrong?
Being offered only one early evening slot after
declaring our interest early in the year. Being missed out of the published programme.
The short story asked be read to help advertise
the Book Festival on radio was cancelled at the last moment. No other date was offered
nor an apology received from the radio station.
Seating allocated by the Library as 30 was reduced
to 20 by the organisers due to a misunderstanding but reverted to 30 the day
before the event.
Ticket availability was haphazard – Felixstowe
Tourist Board knew nothing about our event then found 4 tickets! Wolsey Theatre
(not shown on printed programme) had 10 tickets and the balance would be
posted. 6 arrived the day before the event.
On that same day Library confirmed 30 seats and
would print the extra tickets. Applications for them were rejected as staff
said they weren’t issuing tickets yet one client was charged £7 for a free
ticket at the Library but was quickly refunded.
The benefit of hindsight says that tickets were
available in too many places – there should have been a single outlet. Organisations
should have written confirmation of their event, seating limits and where
tickets would be available.
These things reflected badly on our group
through no fault of our own. Suffice to say our event was a huge and enjoyable
success for those who attended with some fantastic feedback given.
Serious consideration will be given for
participation in future events. All
agreed.
2. Anthology. Gipping
Press provided us with the time to discuss our requirements and provided a very
competitive quote. We supplied, as agreed, the final draft on a memory stick
and Caz the cover photograph at our first meeting. There was a little hiccup
with the cover but once explained it reproduced extremely well. What was to be
a black and white publication except for the cover, was produced in full colour
and for the same price. No hesitation in recommending Gipping Press to any
writers who wish to self publish. Dick is retaining the main supply of
anthologies. Anthologies are on
sale at Stillwater Books and at Mr. Cobbler and at Scribblers meetings.
3. Complimentary
copies of anthology: Library, Suffolk Record Office, EADT/Evening Star. Counsellor responsible for funding. No hesitation
in agreeing to these complimentary copies –Caz has delivered to the
counsellor and to Scott whilst has Dave delivered to the Record Office and
Felixstowe Library. Dick to see Richard
Cornwell.
4. Display Boards. Thanks
to Karl Wilkinson and the Sea Scouts for the loan of display boards. We must
purchase table top display boards that can hold a permanent display and be used
at short notice in shop windows, schools and exhibitions alike. All agreed. Dave to investigate.
5. Treasurer’s State of our finances. New
signatories needed. We need to replace two
signatories – Barry Darnell and Ruth Dugdall who are no longer able to attend
meetings. The replacements will be Caz and Dave. Although we are a non profit
making organisation our finances will allow the purchase of much needed
equipment and cover our general expenses. Beryl
to organise new signatories with the bank.
6.
Purchase
of small engraved discs for order of meetings. All
agreed small round counters and two small cloth bags would be ideal for our
purposes. Les
has sourced small cubes which he has numbered and will make meetings run more
smoothly. Small round counters were not available.
7. Refreshments and possible purchase of
further storage box. In view of the recent
situation over missing items of refreshment purchase of a second storage box
was suggested making one available for cups and crockery and the other solely
for refreshments. Caz has purchased
and delivered to
Library.
Programme
of meetings. Changes required to our format or subjects? Suggestion to include an ‘open’ themed 1,000 word
homework assignment from time to time, to also have designated evenings for character
and story building and more creative writing sessions and for members to offer
advice or feedback if desired from copies of their work. Dave to provide suggested programme for 2015.
9. Planning for increase in membership numbers
that may affect the length of homework assignments. In
the event of an influx of members 1,000 word homework subjects would be difficult
to accommodate, the committee members will step down and hold their work back
for another day. There is an option to post unread stories on the weblog. Other
options are available but have yet to be discussed. All agreed.
Membership fees. Meeting
by meeting fees will remain at £5 but from November annual subs will increase
to £30. Still excellent value for money working out at less than £1.25 a
meeting. All agreed.
1 Social functions. Our
two last social events have been very poorly attended. Any future social events,
most likely in January or February, will be arranged with the proviso of a
non-refundable deposit taken at time of booking. All agreed.
1 Any Other Business. Les was nominated and seconded as a member of the Scribblers
Committee, confirming the oversight when he returned from Australia after our
last AGM. Unanimous agreement. Also
thanks to Dick for his hospitality in hosting the committee meeting. Unanimous agreement.
And so to the business of the day, a later
start for obvious reasons, but hopefully the delay was beneficial to those
present.
The open themed homework provided
some really fascinating stories again.
Tony: The Cape by Sarah Jane Scouten: Sarah
Jane is an incredible Canadian country and folk singer and songwriter. Here
Tony describes each of the eleven tracks on her 46 minute album, all backed by
her appropriately named ‘Brilliant String Band’. The album starts with ‘Our
Small Town’ on Bowen Island and shows her desire to leave such a beautiful
quiet place for the bright lights of a big city. Each song tells a story,
getting over a failed relationship, or of a lifelong love between two people
not separated by death. Tony describes in detail each song, and of how he met
Sarah Jane. Having heard a track, I completely understand how taken he is with
this attractive and talented singer.
Dave: Harry Vincent: The true
story of Dave’s Uncle, reminding us of the start of the war to end all wars
that began a century ago. Joining a Canadian brigade he was badly wounded at
the battle of Vimy Ridge. After the war he joined the famous Canadian Mounted
Police then spent time in the States before returning home. Arrested in WW2
after displaying information on his cafe flysheets that he overheard as a radio
ham that were classified ‘top secret’. Alleged a German collaborator, Harry was
badly beaten up on a visit to France. Back in Falmouth he continued running the
Overdale Guest House with Dave’s Aunt Gladys. A great character loyal to King,
then Queen and country. He died in 1969.
Les: Three poems:
I’ve Decided
(I think): It takes hours of concentration choosing from a menu, ordering a
drink then changing my mind. I know I’ll beat the curse, but then again I might
not!
Thankyou
Edith Gray: Volunteering
at Age Concern even when feeling down, Edith came in and sat herself down then
we chatted an hour or more and sorted her problems that could be solved. After
she’d gone I no longer felt blue and wondered just who had helped who?
Requiem
for Lost Love: We had a
love as fickle youth, said some words that were not the truth, spiteful insults
and jealous rage, the damage done, remnants of love scattered all around and
now it matters not who was to blame.
Beryl: And so to New Zealand: You
couldn’t get a greater contrast to land-locked Idaho than the lush rain forests
and exotic flora of New Zealand. Eunice and Angus emigrated to Ngunguru in 2001
living on the Pacific coast of North Island with its stunning panorama. Idyllic
as it was, any sort of night life was over two hours away in Auckland. During
my two month stay we visited South Island where we took the Trans-Alpine
railway but caught only glimpses of the Alps as the weather closed in. We
visited so many places, Wellington included, a small city the size of Ipswich
where 19th century buildings have been replaced by hideous high
rises. Altogether six months away, mostly in Idaho, an experience of a lifetime,
an incredible half year. So good to spend time with my brother and the sibling
rapport that has lasted the course of time.
Richard: Dog Story: Thirteen
years together, from the day he leapt into the RSPCA van until he died in the
garden, he was a constant companion. Duke was three years old when we found
him, a Collie-Cross who, like me, had no family history worth recording. Truth
is that if he belonged to anyone he belonged to my wife who fed him, walked him
and did all the difficult things. To Duke I was just another dog with a driving
licence who would give up a chair to him, play on the beach and throw sticks
for him. There was a time he went missing, presumed dead when I believed in a
dog heaven. His life with us was one long summer and when the vet came to kill
him we, the assassins, found it hard to forgive ourselves the betrayal.
Liliane: Dog Days: (an excerpt from an early anthology story): Carla
was finding the heat hard to bear. Immersed in a renewed affair with Paul, she
found it cruel and draining. Hours of bliss alternated with days of torment.
How she wished for their youth back again but it could never be as Paul was a
married man cheating on his wife. Carla hated the woman Imelda whom he had
married – her parents well off. She was delusional if she thought Paul would
ever return to her. She wanted revenge on Imelda but what good would that do? A
lifetime in prison? There was no respite from the stifling heat, outside mongrel
dogs lay panting in whatever shade they could find whilst alley cats grew
thinner. Thunderflies appeared from nowhere in that seemingly endless summer.
Mairéad: It Was for Satan’s Sake: One of
the spookiest and scariest stories told at Scribblers for a long time. All I
can advise is to avoid purchasing Elliott O’Donnell’s “For Satan’s Sake.” Kate
loved the ghost stories O’Donnell wrote and that night took it and the three other
books she purchased to bed but soon fell asleep. Suddenly she awoke, freezing
cold, fumbled for a light and her glasses as the noise she heard coalesced into
a loud, evil, inane peel of laughter. Her eyes focused on a tall shape with the
stench of death and a rope like tether running from mid torso into the book. Its
snake-like eyes were the pure evil which entered through her own eyes. Kate built
an altar to Belial who had appeared before her. As she lit two black candles
the police arrived with a warrant to search the premises. They found two bound
women and a man gagged and with satanic symbols carved on their skin. No one
noticed the soft red mist rising from that little red book...
Our next
meeting will be held on Tuesday 19th August at 7.30pm in The Room at the Top,
Felixstowe Library commencing at 19.30 hours. This is your chance to win the lovely Jack
Wilkinson Memorial Trophy which is currently held by Beryl. All you
need to do is write a 1,000 word story for, or about, children. You will have
the benefit of reading out your own story - the best will be judged the winner
by Caz. Good luck!
Hope to
see you all there.
Keep Scribbling!
