Tonight's meeting...

What an evening of fantastic stories tonight, many of them true and some very, very sad. Altogether a really good evening with words that kept interest flowing through to the very end.

Christmas is creeping up so quickly that it is hard to believe our next gathering will be in December! The year has slid by so quickly hasn't it? The place to be will be on 3rd December at 7.30pm in The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library when the results of the 1,000 word homework assignment on a "Winters Tale" will be shared.

Looking forward to it already!

Keep Scribbling!

Don't forget, new members are always welcome.

Our Next Meeting and news...

Here is a reminder about our forthcoming meeting in The Room at the Top, Felixstowe Library at 7.30pm on Tuesday next, 19th November . The homework assignment is for up to 1,000 words on 'PLACE', that is, anywhere in the world, even your home or garden. It can be a story of course, or just fond memories of your favourite place . It gives us something to look forward to on these far darker and cooler nights.

We have heard from our friend Ray who had to return suddenly to London with his wife to care for their daughter. It has taken some time for him to get onto the Internet again but has, at last, managed it. He sends his belated thanks for all the good wishes from the Scribblers and individual members. Here's hoping everything works out for Ray and his family.

Some really good news has filtered though via Facebook; our friend Ally gave birth to a bouncing 8lb 12oz baby boy at Ipswich Hospital. Noah Jack arrived at 1.15pm yesterday. Father. mother and baby are doing well. Congratulations from all the Scribblers and every good wish for the future!

Now we must look forward to Tuesday and hope we will see you there.

Until then,

Keep Scribbling!

Adverts follow...

I contacted you some time ago about my website www.myperfectpitch.com  My site uniquely contains a free database of about 1000 traditional book publishers who are accepting submissions. You were kind enough to help me by mentioning it to your authors.
Just wanted to say thanks for your support. The site is doing well, and I’m constantly updating and improving it. I hope you can continue to mention my website whenever appropriate. It’s an overused cliche, but I genuinely couldn’t have done it without your help.
Best regards,

Brian Grove.

I just want to bring to the attention of your group an ezine called ‘Broken The Fable’ which aims to showcase short stories and poems from around the World. There is no financial angle – there is no advertising, no spam, no passing on of details to other companies or concerns, the ezine is free to subscribe to and free for writers and poets to submit their work for consideration.

The first edition is currently online and I would like to invite your members to read it and, more importantly, to consider sending me material for possible inclusion in subsequent issues. Full details are given on the website which iswww.brokenthefable.com

Thank you for your time,

All the best, 

Kern Robinson, editor, Broken The Fable

We will remember them

They shall grow not old,

As we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them,

Nor the years condemn,

At the going down of the sun

And in the morning

We will remember them.

Laurence Binyon (1869-1943)

Report of our meeting

FELIXSTOWE SCRIBBLERS MEETING: TUESDAY 5th NOVEMBER 2013

Apologies were received from Barry D, Caz, Martin and Katy.

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

The meeting began with the collection of fees from those wishing to pay for the year until November 2014. Anyone still wishing to pay for the year may still do so of course, cheques payable to “Felixstowe Scribblers” please. Meeting by meeting fees stay at £3.

Whilst we have paid up until the end of the year, 2014 will see us making two six monthly payments which will give us a slightly better discount than we currently have.

Clive, as a relatively new writer, has asked if the more ‘experienced’ members of the group could discuss how they write their stories and plays etc. perhaps with planning and outlining plots etc. It sounds a good idea and this is something we include in at a meeting in the very near future.

Barry M suggested a Facebook page at the last meeting and we are pleased to report the page is now up and running so if you are on Facebook then have a look at it. Regular and up to date information will be posted regularly. Thanks to Barry for offering to create the page and maintain it.

Dick reported on the recent Fright Friday at Landguard Fort though he was in the View Point Cafe for most of the time scaring each group with his ghost tales from around Suffolk.

A reminder that the Library’s next author talk features local author Tim Voelcker on Saturday 16th November at 2pm in The Room at the Top.  Tim, did his much of his research at the Suffolk Record Office and 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 fun! The results of our homework assignment.

Beryl: Billy Finds a Friend:

Billy West was a schoolboy, a loner who didn’t fit in with other children at Whitechapel Boys’ School. He couldn’t play football, learnt not to put his hand up too quickly in class and at seven had not a single friend. He hated playtime, spent it scuffing his feet in the dirt. When the Blitz came the whole school evacuated to Buckingham where his mother rented a room. At his new school, Billy found a friend named Charlie East. They played together and soon Billy was invited to have tea at Charlie’s on three occasions. All the food was homemade and Charlie’s mother was beautiful but old fashioned. Billy’s mum invited Charlie to tea. The next morning she saw the headmaster and said how happy Billy was at his new school and explained about his friend. When Charlie had come to tea Billy played with him except... there was no Charlie. An imaginary friend. Charlie East, the headmaster said, had never fitted in, was bullied then killed himself in 1922...  

Liliane: The Black Rabbit:

The Australian artist critically viewed his own painting and wondered what others would think. It was a gloomy, sinister painting of a totally grey decorated room. In the corner cowered a skeletal man and facing him was a black rabbit with a blood red tongue protruding from its mouth. He sat in front of the painting when something happened. The rabbit was growing and protruding from the picture becoming real. Its fur was real, its fiery eyes stared into his and it snarled. It stepped out, elephant sized and pushed him into the corner enveloping and suffocating him. The cleaner discovered his body but the rabbit? It was back in the picture. A collector who bought the painting was found dead in the corner of his room where he had hung the work and it remains there today. It is said that a burglar tried to make off with it but was found dead at the bottom of the stairs with a broken neck.

Dick: Not Alone: (Eerily read by torchlight.)

Wartime, Landguard Fort. 20.00hrs (8.00pm) the Sergeant Major burst into Barrack Room 6 and assigned four men to all night guard duty, each being assigned to a Bastion, Corporal Tim MacDonald to the Holland Bastion. Orders were to stay alert, watch and listen for the Luftwaffe so that we can be ready with the anti-aircraft guns. Kitted out in weather proof clothing, tin helmet and with his .303 rifle on his shoulder he patrolled slowly, back and forth, stamping his feet from time to time to keep them warm. Then the mist swept in, sure to keep the Luftwaffe away. Suddenly he was aware of company on the bastion, a shadowy figure not of this world. It appeared to wear a Cromwellian puritan’s hat, one long yellow tunic coat and carrying a musket. When his report went in he was called to see the Captain and explain the nonsense. Major Harrison said the description matched The Duke of York and Albany’s Marine Regiment of Foot. Yes, the Fort was haunted.         

Jane: The Hell Factor:

The hilariously dark side of Jane’s writing! How on earth can I report that Satan was so angry that the walls of hell quaked with mass murderers running for cover? Myra Hindley soothed his worried brow whilst Stalin declared Satan must reduce his numbers. With Saddam Hussein in limbo and Charles Manson and Rasputin outside plotting something as bewildered suicide bombers lurked, Oscar Wilde took notes. Poor Guy hated November and kept his head down but Queen Lizzie told him of the rehab scheme. He had to write to Simon Cowell who had sold his soul. Guy wanted to know where forgiveness had gone, all the teasing he got despite paying his protection money to the Kray twins. Normally Simon enjoyed a challenge but this was a regrettable case just as Max Clifford’s in plugging for Robert Maxwell. Simon didn’t want to be known as ‘The Man Who Stole Bonfire Night’ so plumped for the Spanish Inquisition instead.  

Suzi: Fire Works:

The Mighty God leaned back on his cloud with a smile of satisfaction. ‘Learning to be God’ Part 6 had instructed; ‘Now that you know the basic principles of how to create a world, it is time to put your own character on it. We expect to see a world that is uniquely yours.’ He provided the rain that poured down on the earth, and saw the people dressed in dark rain cloaks looking wet, cold and miserable and praying for the perpetual rain to cease. Preparing for his final exam he re-evaluated his answers. Yes, he had earth, air and water but no fire so he created the enormous ball of fire, the sun. It dried up the rain made his people warm and happy. He passed the test with 98%. Yes, he thought, fire works.   

Clive: Goodbye Guido Fawkes:

The 50s. Tom knew he had been lucky. As a child he recalled the mythical figure Guy Fawkes and the effigies of straw filled guys that helped children beg for money to buy fireworks. Bonfire night, a time of smoke, of mist and mystery that surrounded a mountainous creation. The whoosh of rockets, the woomph and crump of bangers. That was then. Now masses of fireworks are launched electronically, all heads turn skywards to watch the multicoloured panorama yet Tom was drawn to the bonfire. He peered into the smoky flames and watched the macabre spectacle reveal itself. Someone, or something, stood amid the inferno, then danced around, arms outstretched. Others screamed in horror as they witnessed the mystery. The one flaming body became a wavering family just above the flames, rising slowly as if giving some kind of message to those present. 

Dave: Halloween Train Delay:

A train is severely delayed, its passengers then transported by coach except one is sent the wrong way and ends up in an old hotel. There he is confronted by a friendly female who he befriends and they have their evil way together in bed until the Witching hour when she turns into an evil haggard witch. Mysteriously he lands on a sacrificial alter and sees her approaching with a knife. Meanwhile his wife, frantic with worry over Halloween, seeks help from the railway company, the police and the press. A knock at the door reveals two grim faced police officers that a charred body has been found in the dying embers of a bonfire. 

Tony: Mistakes in the Night:

Stephen Cook was over the legal limit so drove carefully along the A12. As he approached Colchester a thick fog descended impairing his visibility. He slowed his BMW to a crawl but decided he had to stop. As he did so, the car engine spluttered to a stop. Leaving the vehicle he tried to find a garage or nearby house. Eventually he reached a building, felt his way round to a door. The light switch was dead. Suddenly Stephen heard the slow, heavy, shuffling footsteps approaching and the maniacal laughter of witches. He tried retracing his steps, brushed against something furry that screamed and growled. He tripped and fell cracking his head and was found dead next morning in the sound effects department of Anglia TV.   

Barry M: Two Tears: (A two character play, assisted by Carolyn):

Emma, a modern day woman is pregnant and is startled by the strange tramp like figure that appeared from nowhere. He is Albert, the ghost of the keeper of the Castle that fell 400 years earlier and she is on the site of the Chapel. He warned that it was All Hallows night and she was close to the witches’ coven. Emma thought him a weirdo, even a pervert spying on her and her lover, Tears fell from her eyes. He asked her help to redress the sins of his past and asked for two tears in exchange for his bejewelled cloak so he could return to the spirit world and Emma could buy a house for her and her child.   

I will thank everyone for ‘loaning’ copies of their homework to enable an easier reporting process – in truth I get to read them all the stories again! Thanks everyone!

Our next meeting is in two week’s time, Tuesday 19th November at 7.30pm when the homework assignment of up to 1,000 words is on “PLACE”. This can be anywhere in the world, or just your own home or garden. The choice is yours.

Until the next time,

Keep Scribbling!

                                                                                                   

Tonight's meeting

A scary old evening with plenty of written tales of Halloween, of ghosts and ghouls, not to mention stories associated with Guy Fawkes. Add to that a tea and coffee break discussing sighted ghosts and paranormal activities... wonder if I will sleep tonight?

Next meeting is in two weeks time, Tuesday 19th November, when the 1,000 word homework theme will be 'PLACE', which can be anywhere in the world, perhaps even your own home or garden... the choice is yours to make.

I have just learned that the East Anglian Daily Times Felixstowe Supplement tomorrow (Wednesday) will feature the Scribblers...

Keep Scribbling!

 

Our Next Meeting...

Hope you are all well and safe after St Jude's storm earlier in the week and that you all survived the Halloween 'festivities'. With more high winds expected and also the forthcoming Bonfire night please be safe.

Our next meeting actually falls on the 5th November and am sure it will produce another collection of stories. As you will remember the 1,000 word homework surrounds either a Halloween or ghostly story or even one connected to Guy Fawkes night... it's your choice. So if you are coming along, and we really hope you do, be prepared for a  scary story or two...

A reminder that annual membership of £25 is due at this meeting. Cheques should be made payable to Felixstowe Scribblers. For others normal meeting by meeting cost of £3.00 still applies. Charges have to be raised to pay for the hire of the room.  

Talking of all things scary... Mr Cobbler, aka Scott,  sent us this:

"For the month of November I will be growing a moustache (hopefully).
If you would like to sponsor my efforts and donate to men's health and
the fight against cancer then please follow the link.
http://uk.movember.com/mospace/7354941
Totally understand if you can't what with Christmas e.t.c. on the way,
but thought I would ask for your help.
Cheers
Scott"

Until Tuesday in The Room at the Top

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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...