Record of meeting 9 November 2011

Present: David C, Mandy, Wendy, Gary, Helene, Terry, Leonie, Geoff


News: David C heard that the poetry he has may or may not be genuine A B Patterson writing. Leonie house is moving ahead her toilet walls are painted a beautiful blue. Helene has a new Samsung phone. Geoff celebrated his birthday last week with an Indian meal. Gary went to Haymarket branch of the Bank of China and was able to withdraw money deposited in China. Mandy reported her friend has recovered from her illness and is moving into a retirement home. Wendy’s son in Queensland is getting married.


Words of the day
Helene - dénouement - comprises events between the falling action and the actual ending scene of the drama or narrative and thus serves as the conclusion of the story. Geoff – apostille – stamp or document with stamps that recognises a treaty. Gary – bailiwick – a special individual skill. Mandy – topical - relevant. Wendy – bellicose – belligerent aggressive, truculent. David C – advocate – someone who pleads a cause in a court. Terry – threnody – a song of lamentation.


Quick write
We wrote for 10 minutes using the words of the day. This was a challenge but stories about the Magna Carta, Joe Frasier and Berlusconi, concerts, migrants and singing emerged.


Reading of homework
Gary wrote about rain. Geoff about lottery wins. Helene wrote about having nothing to wear. Leonie wrote about food, water, wealth and self preservation. Terry produced a funny poem. David C was climbing out of the dung heap. Wendy was trying to choose between being dead or alive. Mandy wrote about a dancer and a birthday cake with an unexpected ending.


Leonie read more of her charming story of Madeline Holt and her maid. David C read more of his humorous story about Charlie the detective. Mandy read part of a story with the working title ‘War on words” about a young single mother. Terry read of poem of the stories he imagined from seeing a bunch of nails on a pole.

Books and authors
Helene talked about the book she is reading called "The Maeve Binchy Writer's club" a series of letters with advice, inspiration and information on writing and getting published.


Homework


1. Write a story or poem with the theme - The sweat poured down his/her face.


2. Bring with you next week a piece of plain paper with a typed list of three things about yourself the group does not know (do not identify yourself). We will share the papers for others to guess who’s who – who will have the best intuition?