Record of Meeting 6 August 2014

  

News

David C is mastering the refurbished computer he bought for $80 from St Georges Basin. Geoff is planning a trip to South America. While writing Terry puzzled over the use of the words toward and towards and found both are acceptable. David R attended the Milton Ulladulla writing group on Monday and shared ideas with us. Helene went to the dentist. Wendy has not been on any picnics. Welcome back to Pauline, she is an unpublished writer and has edited her husbands 10 unpublished novels and other works. Jo gave out a handout about publishing and brought in jewellery given away in Sydney. Elizabeth went to a baby shower and saw amazing gifts. Diana learnt how to use her new phone.

 

Words of the day

Passing = slightly similar to

Prognosticate = to predict

Concoction = a mixture, preparation or potion

Mores = socially acceptable behaviour

Emasculate = to derive of power

Customs = fashion, usage

Inquisitive = curious or prying

Hinny = offspring of a female donkey and a horse

Berserk = frantic, mad, crazy

Veracity = truth

 

Writing from words of the day

How long to grow my hair – a great poem from Terry, I heard a whinny by David R, Ban the Hinny from Helene, Keeps me skinny by Wendy, In the bar with a smart phone by Pauline, I jumped on his back by Jo, This exercise is challenging by Elizabeth, On the ferry from Diana, Crazy dancing by David C and Brandis defeated from Geoff.

 

Reading of homework

I am a growing bush, On the stairs, Danger on a cold misty night, Revenge of the cow pats, In forgiveness, Little red rooster, Kissing on Valentines day and A surprise birthday party.

 

Readings and other stuff

Terry read out the poem “Mother to son” by Langston Hughes

Terry told us about an invitation to have a stall at the Spring event at Sanctuary point on 4 October 2014.  It was decided we won’t attend.

David R read two of his poems the first about an experience with his walking group, and the second on the topic Dialogue between the flying doctor and an injured stockman.

Terry read out the motive behind his crime novel – The taking of two lives

David R showed copies of Free Expression Magazine a great publication for writers, look at the site  http://www.freexpression.com.au/

 

Exercises

We listed and read out adjectives for each scene below based on looks, feels, smells, tastes and sounds like

• Summer at beach
• The Dapto dogs
• A derelict apartment
• Lost in the snow
• Sex on Sunday

 

Homework

Something I don’t like to touch

 

 

 

Recorded and posted by Helene

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting 30th July 2014

News:

Wendy - Shopped til she dropped at ShellHarbour Square
Melissa - Moving Aug. 27 (Boo Hoo)
Cath - Increased to swimming 26 laps 
Jo - Gave contact info. about Shoalhaven Councillor, Mark.Kitchener@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au
Elizabeth - Visited Apple Tree Flat Bay
Brian - First time visitor to the group, writes poetry
David C - Chopping firewood, mixing with other poets
Geoff - Looking forward to watching Borgen resume on SBS
Terry - Went away for the weekend with the car club to Mogo
David R - He and his partner went to Bendalong
Diane - First time visitor, interested in writing about her travelling adventures

Word of the day:

Wendy - edacity - greedy
Melissa - larrikin - hooligan, person who disregards convention
Cath - emotive - arouses intense feelings
Jo - salivate - to make the mouth water
Elizabeth - cringle - eye loop in a rope (nautical term)
David - ambsace - complete bad luck
Geoff - febrile - feverish
Terry - inscrutable - incapable of being understood
David R - flabbergasted - surprised

Activity: Quick write using as many of the above words as possible in a poem or story

Reading of Homework: "Age of suspicion" 

Jo - read a story about indulgent behaviour and a murder
Garry - musings about suspicion
Elizabeth - read a story about a previous homework topic, 'it's not what it seems'
Brian - read a poem, 'the smartest Dad of them all'
David C - read a story about a suspicious child who discovers who his parents are
Terry - read another part of his novel 
David R - Inkling, a poem

Announcements and readings:

Geoff - Sydney library is having an event in August to celebrate author Thea Astley, he also brought in a book by Janet Frame, "You Are Now Entering The Human Heart" Let him know if you'd like to borrow it

Jo - there is a new moth in the area, it is yellow, purple and furry...and very, very scary

David R - read a poem, Satisfaction, recounting the splendours of nature by the sea

Exercise: A peculiar pet
The group produced a range of material from short stories to poetry about peculiar pets including a blue tongued lizard, cats, a slave, moths, and rocks! 

Homework: "Ambushed"

Micheal Robotham author event 1 pm, Saturday 23 August 2014 Nowra Library

Record of meeting 23 July 2014

News

Terry had a good lunch yesterday with great people

Cath had no new information about the mystery pizza delivery

Jo attended the local council meeting and received some help about her fallen trees

Leonie is going to see Mother Africa as a belated treat for her birthday

David C had a white crane steal the fish from his backyard pond

Geoff had an uneventful week with the highlight a visit from a local plumber

David R has recovered from his medical treatments and is arranging to self publish some of his poems

Helene took her grandson back to Canberra

 

Words of the day

Machiavellian = deceitful, perfidious

Freeload = bludge

Cleave = hold or divide

Cupidity = greed for money or possession

Emerald = is a gemstone, and a variety of the mineral beryl coloured green

Exotica = objects out of the ordinary

Abscond = to leave horridly and secretly

Contend = to strive, struggle in opposition

 

Stories from words of the day

We created an amazing range of stories from the words of the day - Visit to the theatre, Gemstones and the gentrified classes, Family jewels, A villain from Goulburn, The dinosaur park, More than his share and I’ve rung the police.

 

Reading of homework

Misunderstood, The witness – maybe more of Terry’s novel, The snake, The cement mixer, Exotica and A stage production.

Reading

David R – is reading and recommends “The colonial queen” by Peter Corris

Jo – recommends “The timeless land” by Eleanor Dark

David R read out his latest poem Ambiance

 

Exercises

1. Sounds of touching – we wrote stories about

Caresses and bites, A compromise, The comfort of water, Coat flapping, fingers snapping, The sounds of food cooking, Air in a carburettor, Tabasco sauce and Sound of Exotica.

 

2. A progressive write on the topic “Not what is seems” –

In my underwear, So bright and clean, Leaves in the trees, Musical chairs, Pulled the pin and Ancient exotic remains.

 

Homework

The age of Suspicion

 

Recorded and posted by Helene

 

 

Record of meeting - Wednesday 16 July 2014

Reminder lunch at Vincentia Golf Club

Tuesday 22 July at 12.30 pm

 

News

Jo bought in a picture of a snowflake and told us about a woman who attacked her front door.

Geoff announced the opening of a Tapas bar, in Milton.

Elizabeth had a scam call telling her she was going to get money from the Government and her son in law did not clean out her fridge.

Leonie went to a pain specialist, who did not help, also had a visit from a friend and a lovely lunch in Ulladulla. 

Helene had an accident in her car.

Wendy went for a beautiful fish and chips picnic at Culburra.

Cath played good Samaritan to her neighbours who were away in Vincentia.

Terry saw Chicago at the Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

 

Words of the day

Inimical = hostile or unfavourable

Morass = muddy or boggy ground or mess

Chief = boss

Nostalge = thinking about the past

Exacerbate = to annoy

Authentic = real

Impugn = assail by words

Equilibrium = balance, symmetry, stability

 

Writing from words of the day

Helene – a common criminal

Wendy – swinging from the trees and sinking

Cath – not an antique

Jo – the objectors

Geoff – Clive from Queensland

Terry – pigs might fly in the Red house

Elizabeth – the rock

Leonie – One man lost

 

Reading of homework

Helene – Fifi and Gigi to Fiji and An interesting phone call

Wendy – oldies but goodies

Jo – You should have been there

Terry – murder in Camperdown – possible part of Terry’s novel

Elizabeth – a planned visit to the beach

Leonie – Marry me again - more of the Madeline story

 

Two exercises

1. Day dream believer – we composed stories of three word sentences

Cath – a day delight

Jo – Spring and death

Geoff – out the window

Terry – I love school cloudy or fine

Elizabeth – long year gone

Helene – Visit exotic ports

Wendy – all day long

 

2. We wrote stories about a brush with danger

Wendy – sweeping with danger

Helene – Dangerous tooth cleaners

Elizabeth – Searching for eggs

Terry – cigarettes buts and drawing pins

Geoff – blood cousins

Jo – petrol and broken brakes

Cath – the building site

 

Homework

Not what it seems

 

Recorded and posted by Helene 

Meeting of 9th July 2014

ATTENDANCE/NEWS:

Wendy – Visited friends in Talong

Cath – Celebrated a friend’s birthday at the Mercure in Gerringong

Terry – Spent time with his musically talented teenage grandson, is also have a poem, “Hold My Hand”, published in the Alzheimer’s Journal – congrats Terry!

Pam – Busy with her new bundle of joy, a 9 week King Charles Cavalier that goes by the name of Henri

Elizabeth – Storing wine for one neighbour and giving the other’s something to talk about…

David C. – Brother-in-Law passed away, has been spending time with his grandson

Mike – Joined us for the first time today, he is living in Coastal Waters, writes children’s books and poetry  -  welcome Mike!

Geoff – Had a letter to the editor published about the procurement of military aircraft

Melissa – Is moving in late August

WORD OF THE DAY:

David C. – Jejung – boring

Mike – raffle – lottery

Geoff – homage – tribute

Melissa – jaunty – sprightly

Wendy – formicate – to swarm

Cath – tactile – touchy/feely

Terry – gratuitous – unnecessary

Pam – loom – appear dimly

Elizabeth – contretemps – a hitch

The group then used all the words in a quick write and produced thought provoking, humorous pieces, as usual of course!

READING OF LAST WEEK’S HOMEWORK: a phone number written on a wall

Garry – a short story about a phone number on a wall

Terry – “The Dunny”, a poem

Elizabeth – a short story about a number left on a wall, with a surprising conclusion

David – “Ring Me”, a short story about a ladies’ night out, also with a surprising ending

OTHER READINGS:

Mike – read a few of his poems inspired by the local surrounds, including “The Sailor”

Terry – read his poem, “Hold My Hand”

David C. – read his piece that will be published on the ABC OPEN webpage, “It’s a Great Feeling”

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Poet’s Breakfast this Sunday at Angel’s Café in Huskisson, starts at 9 am – there will be an open mic, come along and read your poetry

QUICK WRITE:

2 nouns that rhyme, 2 verbs that rhyme, 2 adjectives that rhyme, 2 names that rhyme – use the 8 words in a story or poem

HOMEWORK TOPIC: an honest answer

Record of meeting 2 July 2014

 

News of the week

Geoff finished the first draft of the Japanese novel he has been working on for 10 years

David C is organising a poets breakfast at the Angels on Sunday 13 July – let David know if you want to participate

Leonie has written 35,000 words of her book and went again to the beautiful Wollongong Botanical Gardens

Elizabeth had her amazing granddaughter and great grand son visiting

Terry caught up with old friends in Sydney while his trailer sailer is now in Canberra on the way to Perth.

Wendy had a freezing time in Canberra and used her new blow up bed – next she wants to add an electric blanket for future visits.

Helene saw and enjoyed the movie Grace of Monaco and had her lap top fixed.

Pam sent a message that last night she collected Henri, her new tiny puppy so stayed at home today.

Discussion

 

We discussed recycling collection that can be arranged by the council. Contact the local council for more details of these services.

 

Words of the day

 Digress = to wander or depart off the track

Conquer = to defeat or sundew or over come

Motley = diversity in colour or character

Pervicacious = stubborn

Perfidious = treacherous or disloyal

Tragic = sad, disastrous, heartbreaking

Thuggee = a cutthroat ruffian, criminal

Connive = conspire or cover up

 

Writing from words of the day

We created stories covering the topics - A plan, Lack of patience, Next door neighbours, Crew in government, Good character will prevail, Living with the consequences, Tony and Clive, and the Ape.

 

Reading of homework

David C - 38 seconds

Helene - Smoke, the dog

Terry – fire dancers

Garry – life in the wilderness

Elizabeth – Granma was a hoarder

Leonie – the draw of the smoke

 

Reading

Geoff read us part three of his Japanese novel - a great reading Geoff

 

Exercise

We used the topic Panic to create a wonderful array of stories about

Nothing in the fridge to eat, What’s the time Mr Wolf, She forgot the boiled eggs, The exploding gas bottles, Work in a TV factory and Not the usual path.

 

Homework

Write a story or poem about your character phoning a number found on a rest room (toilet) wall.

 

 Recorded and posted by Helene