Record of meeting 4 April 2012

Present: Jo, Terry, Robyn, Garry, Leonie, David C, Geoff, Helene, Wendy, David R and Di

News

Terry was pleased to get the conundrum on "Letters and numbers" last night. Di is going to visit her family in Victoria for Easter. David’s eye test was OK. Wendy went to Nowra players “Nearly the Eurovision” and could not stop laughing. Helene told about a letter she received from the Minister of Human Services about payments to aged pensioners and refugees. Geoff gave us bad news about the termination of literary awards by Campbell Newman in Queensland to save money. David C returned from his cruise Zealand and described the brilliant use of shipping containers as shops in Christchurch. Leonie’s mother is coming from Queensland to visit for Easter. Garry completed a comprehensive driving test and now has an Australian driving licence. Robyn has been away for several weeks, has had a cataract removed and a new lens installed and has now recovered from sinusitis - its scarey how well she can now see dust and everything so clearly.

Robyn read out the process and record for the election of new officer bearers. President Terry, Secretary Helene, Treasurer Wendy, Committee members David R and Geoff. Thanks to Robyn for her work as Treasurer for the group

Word of the day

Terry – bagatelle = a mere trifle, a game and a light piece of music. Jo – ensanguine = to smear or cover with blood. Enrockment = a rock sea wall. Di lyrical = enthusiastic or effusive pleasure gratitude. David R – nostrum = medicine not considered effective, a quack remedy. Wendy – carmageddon = a traffic jam. Helene – explicate = to develop a principle, to make plain or clear, explain or interpret. Geoff - protean = constantly changing from Protease the sea god. David C – fremescence = tumultuous noise. Leonie - obeisance = a gesture of respect a bow or a curtsy. Garry – A paraprosdokian = is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect by comedians and satirists. 

Quick write from words of the day

We created amazing stories about Goldilocks the girlfriend, A rock wall causing a wall of death. A beautiful woman bowing. A bag who was an engineer. Using quack medicine. The comedian. Rocks for murder. The Minister smiled. A musical evening out and a bleeding nose. Toad parking in Malibu and the professor.

Reading of homework

A range of interesting stories including a monument to irrelevance and how did I get here. Climbing a tree, marriage, strength and creativity. Decorum and lots of deca words ringing of bells. School as stability with a family of serial renters. A new decade. Madeline’s ten years and yes I can.

Reading

Di read from her story “Cooking from the heart” a lovely picture of a meal for three in a beautiful garden.

Homework

Write a catchy first paragraph of a story and then a short outline of the rest of the story or use a short story you have previously written. Give the story a few different titles and discuss what about the titles and first paragraph will make people want to read your story.