Record of meeting 2 May 2012

 Present: Trish, Garry, Geoff, Mary, Wendy G, Helene, Cath, Wendy W, David R, Leonie, Terry, Jo, Robyn.

News: Wendy G tripped, dislocated her shoulder, went by ambulance to hospital and had her arm in a sling. Geoff was charged for not using his toll pass. Garry was moved by ANZAC day and the words “we were there”. Leonie went to Port Macquarie on the spur of the moment and saw her best friend. Trish had her family visit for the school holidays and washed lots of towels. Trish warned about a bogus email from the Tax Office. Terry happily announced the signs are now up on the Ray Brooks reserve. Jo has changed to Southern Phone and has had problems. David R spent a week in the cabin and enjoyed the moon and stars. Wendy W has had pleurisy but is feeling better. Cath bought a digital camera. Helene made several trips to Canberra and ate delicious hamburgers at the Nerriga and Tarago pubs.

Words of the day

Ruthless = having no pity, merciless and cruel. Untenable = unable to be up held or maintained. Adulterated = spoil something by adding inferior material. Appetence = a strong craving, instinct or tendency. Nefarious = wicked. Sobriquet = nick name. Unkempt = untidy, no combed slovenly or untidy, rough dishevelled. Scuttlebutt = gossip and rumours. Dissonance = combination of sounds that are not harmonious, assonance = harmonious. Binary thinking = only two options. Pragmatic = ability to understand another speaker. Unction = to anoint with oil, soothing or flattering words, keen enjoyment. Mondegreen = misheard lyric. Bunker = a maritime word for fuel, sand filled hollow on a golf course.

Stories from words of the day – we wrote about the choir, I am a woman, Cold Hands, Mr Slipper, demise, Jump for joy, singing in the bunker, the colours of war and much more.

 Homework readings

David – ending of the war. Wendy - feeling peckish. Mary – moving memories of an aging veteran. Geoff – does anyone else think about Robert a NZ Sergent, and Garry a birthday on Anzac day and Anzac biscuits. Leonie and Terry both wrote about the futility of war.

Other readings

Trish – My garbage bin has been stolen – very funny story and more to come we hope

Geoff – The Foley artist apprentice – the sounds used in films etc

Terry – The Brussels sprout – funny story

David R – Venus d lilo – funny poem.

Homework: Write about dreams awake or asleep