FROM THE SPOOKY ROOM AT THE TOP,
FELIXSTOWE LIBRARY.
May I firstly take this
opportunity of saying how truly sorry we all were to hear that Dave Feakes had
been admitted to Ipswich Hospital last Wednesday and we would all like wish him
a speedy recovery/ Get Well Soon Dave we will miss you.
Apologies were received from Tom,
Derek, Aidan and Cathy.
Those present were, Caz, Barry,
Les, Dick, Richard, Liliane, Jane, Tony, Susie, Beryl, Mairead, Hattie
and Gerry.
The Theme this evening was
‘Halloween’ or even something spookier, for some unknown reason that escapes me
for the moment!!
HATTIE - HALLOWEEN
AN OBSERVATION
All about what Halloween might
mean to different people. From pumpkin carving, to frustrated mother’s,
answering their door to little children, ‘dressed up to the nines’ as witches
and ghouls, making sure they have a treat or two, to hand out to the ‘trick or
treaters’.
Also the grown-ups, whose
dressing up skills needed a helping hand and of course how
seriously the person took their role for the evening. Some didn’t bother much
at all, showing more leg than artistic licence. Others, wishing to be
unrecognizable, to their fellow party-goers. Of course, it all could also
depend on how much money there was to spare on the outfit, make-up and other
paraphernalia, that didn’t delve into the ‘coffers’for alcohol.
An interesting insight into how
seriously, or otherwise, people took their costumes was very amusing.
JANE – A DARK NIGHT
This was for sure a scary
insight, into how one individual saw the evening at our usual writing group
coming together and where it may never, ever, be the same again. The rules of
our group were analysed and shown to be, I fear, far deeper than we ourselves
ever intended. It showed us as one, drawn together by our ‘leader’ who made
sure that each meeting we came together for one thing, and one thing only, to
express in words our deepest thoughts and creativity. This wouldn’t be helped
by tea, chocolate or alcohol, as they would be consumed a long time after (in
some cases not so long) our pens were drawn on our pads.
The Room at the Top this evening
was no longer our safe and happy haven but a place where if we dared, to drink or eat a morsel, it may well be our
last.
MAIREAD – THE PRESENT AND
A PRESENCE AT HALLOWEEN
An unexpected parcel had arrived
on the doorstep and as it was soon to be the birthday of this particular
character, she thought it was from someone very keen to be the first to send an
offering of celebration. There was no card to explain where the gift had come
from. It was also Halloween, a favourite time of the year, making it doubly
exciting.
Inside the parcel lay an
old-fashioned figurine. This figure seemed familiar for some reason but wearing
early nineteenth century attire. It was postmarked London but nothing more was
evident.
After supper and a rather Rocky
DVD, then retired to bed only to be disturbed after lights out, by eerie sounds
coming from the study. With something to defend herself she bravely ventured
forth, to find a stranger rifling through her bookshelf.
RICHARD – LOST
An insight into those who sailed
the high seas some fifty years or so ago..Nothing much happened during the
normal day to day running of the ship but one day a ship was spied and the
Captain suggested the signaller to ask if it was in any trouble. “No Trouble
and Good Night” came the ‘stern’ reply.
That ship disappeared into the
darkness and wasn’t seen again by those sailors on the high sea.
Many years later the Captain,
then retired, decided to do a little research into that particular ship and was
astounded to discover that there had been a ship called S.S.Albert Sanchez but
in a much, much earlier time frame than it was when they had spied her. It
could have been a reference number out of sync but much more likely that it was
the ghost ship of sailors past.
BARRY
Explained no homework due to the
fact he had been busy being part of 50,000 Word Novel in a Month.
SUSIE – PUMPKIN PIE
Could it be just a recipe for
Pumpkin Pie or could it be much more profound than that? As in most recipes
there are some ingredients harder to gather, than others. Most can be found to
hand in your larder or cupboard but others have to be sought out and whilst doing
so, can be pretty unyielding and horrid. Spiders found amongst piles of
forgotten things, whilst trying to find the bucket and stool, to milk the cows
to make the butter and cream. It is most important not to leave any ingredients
out.
Perhaps after all, I should have
gone to M&S as Mum suggested!.
BERYL – THE BIRDS
Mystery and intrigue into the
sudden death of a young woman from the balcony of her home. Did she jump or was
she pushed? The police investigating didn’t take long to discover that the
girl’s Mother had died in exactly the same way, some years earlier. Informed of
course by a ‘nosy’ neighbour (there’s always a nosy neighbour) to help the
police with their enquiries.
There were also birds who
witnessed the crime and I am talking the feathered variety. Seagulls to be
precise,. a mother gull and her youngster. Of course it would only be at the
end of the investigation that the significance of these birds would be bought
to the fore.
LES – GHOSTIES
COMING FOR ME
An eloquent poem penned about the
fear that can be caused by some fiendish little boys and girls, who set out a
tricking and a treating on All Hallows Eve. Although it is always meant to be a
light-hearted evening, it can be really frightfully scary, to some who don’t
quite understand the concept of it, or who don’t actually remember that it is
Halloween!
To dress up weirdly and howl and
screech may seem like harmless fun to you but just remember it can ‘scare the
pants off’ some poor old devil living alone.
DICK – LITTLE MISS
SHERWOOD
A tale of a night to remember
spent at the Golden Miles Hotel perched in a beautiful spot, near the glorious
river Wye. A room with a fabulous view but maybe overshadowed by talk of there
being the ghost of Miss Sherwood, wandering through the rooms of this two star
establishment. Only uncovered, when asked, if a leak from a radiator in their
room, could be investigated. It was such a shame because the room, though
sparsely furnished, had a comfortable bed and armchair, just so perfect for
their needs.
TONY – FLY BY DAY
Daffyth Ap Dracula by any other
name could not have described this tale any better with it’s awful twists and
turns. The Streets of Port Talbot would not be safe tonight! Though at least he
knew he could get his main course at the local hospital courtesy of Nurse
Jones, for not much more than a packet of cigarettes.
It wouldn’t be enough of course,
so he would be paying a visit to Catherine Beta-Blocker but he was too late she
had given herself to another, already that day!
It was sheer music to my ears to
discover that this Daffyth would be coming to a ‘powdery’ end as all Dracula’s
should because he flew into a room without doing the usual ‘recce’ first!
CAZ – TRICK OR TREATERS
Having returned from the hospital
after visiting Dave, I was sitting having supper cooked by my husband. Not to
my taste but I wasn’t going to complain and sat down to eat like a ‘good wife’
would, as the doorbell rang. Karl answering shouted “you are never going to
guess where these children are from”. I got up to see what the fuss was about
and it turned out much to my astonishment that they were from Salisbury, my
home town. A half term holiday in the caravan park had somehow, spookily bought
them to my door trick or treating. Now what are the odds of that happening? I
like to think that someone very close to us, might have sent them in our
direction.
Sadly I didn’t have much to share
with them because I had been busy with dog walks and hospital visits but I did
share what I had, including a bar of chocolate I had squirrelled away
for my weekend treat. It will sit better on their hips than mine after all.
LILIANE – THE FESTIVALS OF
FLANDERS ROUND HALLOWEEN
Apparently in Flanders, turnips
have been used instead of pumpkins, they have come from America and are bigger
than our European ones.
Halloween has not always been
celebrated but festivals to celebrate the saints have been and have elements of
ancient pagan rituals of the dead. St Hubert, (the patron Saint of Hunters),
and St Martin, (the patron Saint of soldiers) to name but two. Both these
saints were renowned for their kindness, one to the care of animals and the other to the care of people. Though
their beliefs would differ, in certain things during their lifetime, they
neither seem to have achieved a peace, even at their death.
GERRY – THE LAUGHING MAN
A Mother meeting her son from
school. As they drive away from school, the son is anxious to know what was
discussed with his teacher. Then the Mum shows her son, pictures of a man’s
face, who apparently he has been drawing during his lessons and in his school
books.
As with his Teacher, Duncan told
his Mother that a friend had made him draw the pictures. “What friend?” He
couldn’t answer his Mother, suffice to say that his hand was guided as he was
drawing the picture.
On returning home his Mother gave
out a cry on finding yet another one of these pictures on the hallway wall. She
knew by her son’s face he hadn’t been the culprit and explained “it must be
some kind of prank”. Or was it?
Maired kindly donated a very new novel (only published last
month). Night After Night by Phil Rickman. We had a raffle of all the names
present including Maired and she kindly declined it, so the next number out of
the ‘hat’ was Dave’s. So he will be receiving it as soon as I can get there,
after he’s home (which by my latest text from him, could be as early as
tomorrow. Out of surgery and all well thank goodness).
What an excellent meeting of many
weird and wonderful tales. I’ll tell you one thing, Dave is going to be so
sorry that he missed this one but we’ll send him our work and he can read it
for himself, when he feels more up to it. Thank you all for attending.
Our Next Meeting will be on
Tuesday 18th November 2014 at 7.30pm at The Room at the Top in the library.
The homework theme we agreed was ‘Winter’ but I’m sure someone will
let me know, if this isn’t the case.
Look forward to seeing you all again
then.
In the meantime Keep
Scribbling.
Caz Wilkinson
Secretary
Footnote from Dave:
Thanks for the get well cards and good
wishes! I was released from hospital today after having a minor heart attack.
Fortunately an angiogram proved that no surgery was necessary. Hope to be back
next time. Dave.
