A piece from Gary in Thailand

Here is Gary's homework piece sent from his castle in Thailand. It's a little different to his usual so we thought it worth putting on the blog.  

Homework 29^th May 2013

Some dreams are dangerous

The night had been warm and balmy; the smell of the jasmine flowers was wafting through the levers of the bamboo windows as the ‘Sage’ of the village bedded down for the night. He had been drinking fermented fruit juice and also eaten a few ‘magic’ mushrooms. Sleep started to engulf him as he seemed to be transported off to some strange far away place.

It was a though he was floating above a group of diligent people who were sitting around a large table – they all had pens and paper and discussing recent events in their lives.

One guy talked about swimming with dolphins, another about his amazing car. One lady wanted others to know that her Fifi was now centre stage now that the creepy Lucky Mole was gone.

The Sage floated around above their heads, unnoticed, but listening to what this interesting group of people, similar age to him, were excited about.

It seemed that news had come from a far away land from one of their friends relating how happy he was at this time but missing their friendship and intellectual stimulation.. The weather was good, the food great, the people wonderful BUT no friendship like the group to whom he had written.

Afternoon tea time, about 2:36pm, was a happy time as they drank tea/coffee, ate Tim Tams and other delicious things. One lady, who wears red Coke sun glasses, didn’t eat or drink anything and neither did the oldest member whom they called, Elizabeth. Two short ladies had been diligent in preparing everything and also seemed to be the ‘washer-uppers’ – a pleasant time being had by all. There were others there but they were ‘quiet but thoughtful ones.’ Stories, poems flowed from their pens onto the paper with such ease – an opportunity to ‘grow’ in their skills.

In an all to short time the gathering was over and the Sage started to wonder where he was and how to return to his ‘home’ – fear crept up on him as he quivered with the thought he couldn’t remember how he got to this place so how could he know how to get back. The night was closing in and loneliness infused him – tears dripped from his baggy eyes – this was a dangerous situation for him – a stranger in a strange land.

All of a sudden he felt the shaking on his shoulder and it was one of his gorgeous maidens trying to rally him from his sleep.

OMG – it was a dream, not reality, maybe those people don’t exist, maybe they don’t eat Tim Tams and write stories and poetry – he looked around his room, took comfort in the sounds of the night and the crashing of the waves on the reef. The smell of jasmine filled his senses and he vowed never to eat those ‘magic mushrooms’ again.

Meeting. 29.5.13

 

Present: Cath, Jo, Terry, Leonie, David C., Geoff, David R., Wendy.

 

News:

Terry:  Had an arthroscope.  All good.  But no more of those Panadeine Forte!  They're not your thing!

Leonie: 2 1/2 hours hospital wait.  Her computer went out at a crucial time for a competition entry.  More building at her place going on.

David C: NRMA - Ration Cards - sent a photo of them to NRMA.  Interesting. 

Geoff:  Anniversary of Mt. Everest climb, he went to school in NZ, which had an apiary, and Hillary was a beekeeper in NZ.  Geoff had an escape by saying no to a fellow who was later gaoled for financial fraud.

David R:  Enjoyed the Bill Gates interview.  Causes taken up by Bill and his wife are admirable.

Wendy: Got a cortisone needle in her hip.  Much improvement on how they give them these days.

Cathy:  Fell over a pile of papers at the IMB.  All okay after frightening the IMB.  Thank goodness she isn't an 'old' person.

Jo:  Finished her book, still editing, it never stops.

 

Word of the Day:

sartorial:  of tailors and their work.  Men's tailors.

florid:  flushed rosy, embellished.

blooming:  healthy, covered in flowers.

blight:  destroy, to frustrate

adamant:  firm or sure of himself, unyielding.

horripilation:  the erection of hairs on the skin.

draggle:  become wet.

complex:  complicated.

 

Short stories were compiled from Words: 

Jo:  A model on the stage, trying to sell cosmetics.

David J:  About a suit, wanting to sing in the shower.

Geoff:  Florid face - the relationship between two ill-matched people.

David R:  Pink thongs, rosy face, a soldier putting on a show.  A poem.

Wendy:  Algernon, a gentleman in every way - a ladykiller with rules.

Cath:  Theatre - cast - talk of the town.

Jo:  selling make-up.

Terry:  Poem - a man shouting and upsetting everyone.  Under a steeple, a big fight, mother met father that night.

Leonie:  Not going to wear a suit for no one - a spoiled evening with Josephine's arm-hair standing up. Just as well it's only once a year.

 

Homework:  'Some Dreams Are Dangerous!' 

Garry:  Drunk, drugged - gone into dreams, people reminiscing.  Death of Luckymole.  All his strange friends are back here.

David C:  Lock your doors when you dream.  Drugs again.  His dream is flying and eating in bed and falling.

Jo:   Doctor's calling, my dear, he'll give you something to dream about!

Terry:  Grandad explaining dreams.  Smoking pipe, to grandson, says to him: dreams are special. Even to be forced to marry a gorilla.  Only his dream, no one else's.  Mmm....

Leonie:  Daniel in hospital.  Doctor spoke to all in the room.  He dreamed of all his life then threw himself out the window.

David C:  Winners and losers.  In a cell.  Won Lotto.  His relatives bludged on him.  He shot them all, no more problems.  He only won $37!

 

Terry read a poem 'Dreams' about the day's doings, won't leave you alone at night in bed.

David C, read a poem, 'You left me with your Song' - about sand and sea and music where you lived.

Geoff read poem called 'Alfred Street, Circular Key at 5.30 pm in May'  About changing city scenery.

 

There was then, a conversation about 'Christmas in July', a dinner somewhere, perhaps,  If anyone has an idea, present it to one of us, otherwise the topic will continue next week.

  

A Quik-Rite:  'Someone must have helped her escape!'

David R:  A woman dancing - she had escaped from ?

Wendy:  Help me! she called.  She is a housewife.  I helped her escape.

Cath:  The dog had to escape.

Terry:  He wore a black cape.  He imprisoned her.  He is Satan.

Jo:  Pretty Boy died, because someone told him that the window was not shut.

Leonie:  The woman who was locked in the house.   Kids remember.

David C:  Julia was in a psycho hospital after Sept. 14th.  Who had helped her escape?  A man with a ski mask on. Swan?

Geoff:  Someone's mother hated the old people's hospital.  The daughter-in-law did it,  The bus company named Youth-in-Asia took her away.

 

Homework: 'Pretend'

 

No apologies for over-imaginitive reports.