Record of meeting 27 April 2011

Present; David R, Jo, David C, Terry, Robyn, Geoff, Helene, Wendy, Mandy


News: Mandy – Found “Book baby” a site offering e-book publishing for $99 but is checking if it is a scam contact books@bookbaby.com Helene – set up a blog for our stories at http://bayandbasinwritersstories.blogspot.com Geoff came up with a few new words as a result of Terry’s troubles eg Telstrated. Robyn did lots of washing because of Joe’s staph infection. She also had her first Easter without a chocolate. Terry wrote a ditty Bloody Telstra about loosing the Internet over the Easter break. David C had his brother visiting from the UK and bought two kayaks and lots of other stuff. Jo bought in two tomatoes that have not changed or deteriorated in four weeks. Jo told a story of Roxie the dog eating a dehydrated snake. David R spent time at his cabin over Easter enjoying the environment and writing.


Words
Wendy – Tenterhooks from tenter hanging out wool to dry. Helene - Rheum is thin mucus naturally discharged as a watery substance from the eyes, nose or mouth during sleep. Eye crust - Mucus from the nose travels up the tear ducts while you sleep and it hardens. Geoff – maven (also mavin) is a trusted expert in a particular field, who seeks to pass knowledge on to others. The word maven comes from the Hebrew, via Yiddish, and means one who understands, based on an accumulation of knowledge. Terry – alacrity – brisk and eager. Ephemeral – short lived. Vernacular – native speech. David C – vociferation – loud noises. Jo – lambast or lambaste – to beat, trash or reprimand. David R – enigmatic from French – difficult to understand or mysterious.


Reading of homework – the perfect stranger
Jo – changing the imperfect, depressed, cruel the PM. David C – Peter the Perfect Stranger with a facelift at the airport. Terry – a poem about the vampire bite. Robyn – a loss of memory seeing things anew. Helene – no oxymoron. Wendy – had to be home by three. Mandy – God is no stranger and depression the perfect stranger. David R – a poem of the collateral damage of war and a poem about the perfect stranger being unmet.


Exercise
We listed ten different places and associated smells and shared them with the group. A lot of fun about BO, bakery, beery, eucalyptus, dog, library, church, hospital and park bench smells.


Homework due 4 May 2011
A ten dollar note changes hands five times in a day - describe the journey of the ten dollar note and the people involved.


Have a look at http://bayandbasinwritersstories.blogspot.com to read some of our stories.

Record of meeting 20 April 2011

Present: Jo, Leonie, Geraldine, Cath, Terry, Robyn, Geoff, Helene, Wendy, Mandy and David R.


News: Leonie had a skin cancer removed from her nose. Geraldine has a hole in her kayak. Cath has finally finished sanding her step and she can open the screen door. Terry went to the local council meeting where approval was given to name the Ray Brooks reserve at Palm Beach for a deceased neighbour who did a lot of work for the community. Geoff has been away in Sydney and appreciated coming back home. Helene has been to Canberra again. Wendy went to Cootamundra. Mandy has her own personal cover for her book but had problem activating a new card. David R collected a list of people who want to be emailed the Anthology. Terry will also try to burn the CD and see how long it takes him. Jo attended a local community forum meeting where radiation issues from Telstra towers were discussed.


Community news
Shoalhaven Literary award entries close on 23 May 2011 phone 4421 0947 or email info@fawnswshoalhaven.org.au for entries and further information.


Shoalhaven medal – if you want to nominate a citizen ring the council to request a nomination form. You can also get a form to dob in a hoon.


Words of the day
Geraldine – Misogyny is the hatred or dislike of women. Misogyny comes from Greek misos (hatred) and gynē (woman). A person who hates women is called a misogynist.
Cath – ascribe 1. To attribute to a specified cause, source, or origin: 2. to assign as a quality or characteristic.
Terry – inherent - existing in someone or something as a permanent and inseparable element, quality, or attribute: an inherent distrust of strangers
Geoff – infer – what the listen hears imply is what the speaker says.
Wendy – pariah – outcast the lowest of the Indian caste system.
Mandy – A torc, also spelled torq or torque, is a large, usually rigid, neck ring typically made from strands of metal twisted together.
David R – inanimate- not alive in the manner of animals and humans. Quotidian – daily or commonplace.
Jo discussed the use of the words OK and pro.


Homework readings - a brilliant collection of stories
Leonie moved the group with a story of growth leading to seeing the image of an old Indian chief. Geraldine entertained us with the story of a contented park bench. Cath read a beautiful description of the Titanic. Terry told us an entertaining story of the Pirelli tyre. Helene described a two story house with grey wavy hair. Wendy read a humorous poem of excuse for no homework. Mandy composed the story of the Keep to the left sign from the road to museum. David R used words from the previous week’s homework and this week inanimate and created a poem about a chair. Jo wrote about a dictionary and its effect on the family.


Exercise The voice of a ten year old on the future at age 30.
Mandy had plans to become a wife and mother. Wendy wanted to be a model. Helene the teacher. Geoff the vet. Robyn wanted to leave school. Terry – the would be politician. Cath – the explorer. Geraldine – wanted to be rich and go overseas (where ever that was). Leonie – the cleaning lady becomes a police woman. Jo – the doctor the fisherman. David R – the joys of childhood escape.


Homework – A perfect stranger - due 27 April 2011.

Record of meeting 13 April 2011

Present: Jo, Cath, Geoff, Helene, Wendy, Mandy, Terry, David R, Vala and welcome to Jessica and welcome back Geraldine and Melissa.


News: Jessica a beauty therapist is working with Melissa on her biography. Melissa fell into a BBQ and has a cut above her eye. Cath cut her foot on the beach a few days ago. Geraldine paid her first golf game today for 20 years. Geoff heard of a number of deaths of well known people -Tony Bowral, David Clarke and Peter Rule. Helene told of her nursing skills after her son’s appendix removal. Wendy read her poem from last weeks homework. Mandy is progressing publication of her first e-book. Terry has got the conundrum on letters and numbers the last few times. David R has been away from civilisation and has been trying to have a satellite phone installed on his country property.


Words: Jo wanted us to check the spelling of jeopardise elocution, pretence. Cath ascertain – to make sure. Geraldine – insatiable – unable to be satisfied. Geoff – redact – (repeated from a previous meeting) to censor or obscure (part of a text) for legal or security purposes. Wendy – persnickety – fussy about small details. Mandy – vertiginous - turning around becoming dizzy. Terry - tawdry – poor in quality. David R – wraith – a ghost like image.


Homework readings


David – a poem about the departed not gone. Vala – a poem about problems in the world. Terry – poem ignoring the warning. Mandy – an interesting story of ghost animals in an old house for sale. Wendy – a poem revenge on next doors cat the tormentor. Helene – insects treat the pest inspector. Geraldine – a cold hand. Cathy – visions in the night. Jo – memories of a locked room and a preserved relative.

Exercise – we had lots of fun and laughter writing 12 circular stories.


Quick write – Misty corners


To Cath Misty Corner is a model. Geraldine had a good day. Geoff took us on a rough walk in the mist with excellent descriptions. Wendy wrote a poem of course, about cobwebs in the mind. Helene has lots of misty corners in her life. Mandy – a raunchy story of The Prince and the chimney sweep. Terry – a legal battle about a diverted creek and Miss De Corner. Vala – a short story of standing on the corner of Mi and Sty streets. David R – witches soup from the church (we have to beware of his cooking). Jo – saved from night frights by mother.


Homework due 20 April 2011 – write a story/poem as if you were an inanimate object.


Items of interest

David R is prepared to burn CDs of last year’s anthology. Check with David R after Easter.

Sale at the Op shop Huskisson – now on. Visit the Op Shop aka Harrods in Hawke Street Huskisson

BLOG FOR 6TH  April

Attending.

Kelly Otes.

Terry McKlaffety

Cathy Rose

Jo Ball

Dave  Cargill

Leonay Worthy

Mandy Byrne

Gerildine Barton

Geoff Bolton

Robyn Keller (came late but forgiven)

News of the Day.

 Dave. Lit his new fire, the saga of his new fire being fitted and now needs firewood.

His brother is coming from England and wont be here next week.

Leonay. Going into hospital to have a nose job.

Mandy. Her dog has learnt to behave or else.

Geraldine. Has a kayak and she goes fishing in it and catches fish. This is a recycled kayak.

Geoff. Wrote a letter to the Financial Times about Singapore wanting to take over our stock exchange. This has been blocked all because of Geoff's letter.

Kelly. Went camping on the weekend.and had lots of fun it didn't rain on them.

Terry. Went camong, not with Kelly and enjoyed himself kayaking on the Crooked River, is there really a river called tha? He also got a bargain at a book shop and bought some reference books for $20, a bargain.

Terry told us about Mellissa's acheivemnet writing a poem called Our Land . Well written and very descriptive of our area..

Cathy who I want to call rose had nothing to report she has been gardening, cutting back blackberries.

Jo. Went away for the weekend to Lake Woolloomooloo and it stunk  she said, with lots of dead fish. And the water in the lake is too low and causes the smell.

Jo also wrote to the Mercury and complained about a mans comment  when he wrote to the Mercury complaining about people in Woolongong who are disadvantaged. Jo had her say about his attitude.

Robyn. Her husband's health has improved and he doesn't have to see the heart specialist for 3 months. Great news as it has been a worrying time for Robyn and her family.

Word of the day.

Mandy. Hologist. A maker of fine time pieces.

Geoff. Brook used not as a stream but can be to use and enjoy to bare or endure and can be used as a negative. Also Redapt. Meaning to censer something black out information on paper.

Kelly. Nouse. Intelligent practical person uses his nouse. Commonsense.

Terry. Defer. To yield in judgement or opinion with someone.

Cathy Expunge. To blot or cancel out.

Jo. Forgot how to spell her word.

Dave. Salacious. Leacherous not nice to be this.

Robyn Speechless unable to expunge her word.

Leonay. Peau-de-soie. Smooth fabric like Robyn had for her wedding dress. Of satin or silk.

Homework.

Jo. A Slippery Tale. A fantacy. Or fairy tale with a strange ending.

Dave. The Devils last spin. A tale of poker machines and the Salvation Army.

Robyn forgot to bring her homework just a receipt she thought was the homework from her doctor. We didn't think that worthy of reading aloud.

Leonay. She remembered the Day. An interesting short story. Well written. Good use of words set by Jo.

Mandy. Marmalade  with Dreams. An early settlers tale.

Geraldine. The Petrol Station. A tale of the unknown could be called horror.

Geoff. No homework.

Kelly Unknown Title. A Jabberwocky tale of nonsense. About her talking horses. Funny and well done.

Terry. Lucy. A poem. Cleverly woven with all the words. Well done Terry.

Cathy. Ginger. A short story. About a man and his cat.

We all used the words in different stories and poems.

Robyn read a piece from the Aussie Bible about Lent. In down to earth Aussie language.

Geoff read another part of his novel. Which is set in Japan. More character driven this time less description of the countryside.

Mandy read from her novel Birds Began to sing. Asked for suggestions and comments.

Exercise. Using the words that follows The hairs stood up on the back of my neck and I knew something was very strange, the moment I stepped into the room. Now write them in five different sentences using the same words.

Homework. What was in the room that made the hair stand up on the back of my neck, it was very strange.

  

Record of meeting 30 March 2011

Present
Kelly, Robyn, Eva, Geoff, Terri, Jo, David C, David R, Kelly, Mandy, Wendy, Helene and welcome to Leonie


News
Kelly is sore after a Zumba class. Geoff received a compliment on his writing. Eva is hosting a teenage party. Mandy had a nice weekend visiting her family. Terri has had problem doing the homework. Leonie sold her house after 3 years and 4 months. Jo has invented a tool to clean out the gutters. David C has his new slow combustion fire installed. Robyn reports the doctor said Joe is getting better but needs a pace maker installed. David R has been working on the anthology. Mandy offered to print it out on her duplex printer.


Word of the day
Kelly – Jabberwocky a poem of nonsense verse written by Lewis Carroll, originally featured as a part of his novel Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There (1872). The book tells of Alice's travels within the back-to-front world through a looking glass.  Mandy – hyssop – fragrant herb like marjoram. Wendy – thrall – someone in bondage or slavery inthrall the verb enthral – to captive. Helene – pannier - a basket, bag, box, or similar container, carried in pairs either slung over the back of a beast of burden, or attached to the sides of a bicycle or motorcycle. The term derives from the Old French, from Classical Latin, word for bread basket. Eva – vagary – unpredictable. Geoff – insouciant – carefree without worries. Terri – obsequious – fawning. Leonie – Cataplexy – sudden temporary paralysis due to fright. Jo – persimmon – an American date plum tree that bears fruit. David C – penitent. David R champered – taking an edge of timber. David R - tenant – principal or belief.


Reading of homework - Lent
David C – Father knows best – Very clever story a manipulation of penance for the family. Leonie – giving up creativity for the short or long term. Eva – a poem Jesus versus the Easter Bunny. Helene – giving up writing. Wendy – a domestic goddess leaving the housework. Mandy – A cup of sunbeams from Sam the 4 year old angel. David R – Affinity – a poem about a brown eyed dog and Lent – giving up food.


Quick write - The breeze was softly blowing
Helene - a story of anxiety. Eva – A dark shape in the bushes. Geoff – A kookaburra the 3 am caller. Terri – the old tea set. Leonie – day to day living the silent treatment. Robyn – a decomposing body. Jo – a young face in the mirror. Mandy – Delia a ghost who can't smell.


Five minute write - A miss is as good as a mile
Leonie - The clock, Terri - worrying, Geoff – fan tan. Eva – poem about housework. Wendy – it didn’t rhyme. Mandy – David R – the freight train. David C – flat as a pancake. Jo – rolling down the aisle.


Homework
Write a story or poem using some or all the following words - slipper, lamp, ark, marmalade, dictionary, cabin, comet, angel, horse, inferno, box, heel, fairy tale, wake.


Social gathering
Members and friends are invited to afternoon tea at 2 pm on Tuesday 5 April at the Purple Bean Café in Sanctuary Point. Please let Helene know on helene.gaul6@bigpond.com if you will be attending.

Record of meeting 23 March 2011

Present: David C, Terry, Cathy, Jo, David R, Mandy, Wendy, Helene.


News: David C is having a slow combustion heater installed soon. Helene went to five gym sessions already this week. Wendy avoided the rain and drove to Cootamundra and visited the Temora air museum. Mandy spent time helping a friend with a children’s book manuscript and has reduced her commitments to allow herself more time to write. David R went to see the Kings Speech at the Huskie pictures and had lunch at the Catalina Club in Batemans Bay. David R took the opportunity to read a seductive cat poem and a serious poem. Jo told us our blood pressure is higher in the winter. Cath has almost finished sanding her front door step to stop the door sticking – everyone was curious to hear what she will do next. Terry has been reunited with his son.


The group discussed establishing a new blog which allows for more interaction and feedback between members - Terry to investigate and report back.


Word of the day


David C – a diacritical mark - two dots placed over vowels to indicate pronunciation. Helene – filibuster – A parliamentary procedure for delaying debate or a military invasion of a foreign country. Wendy – pangram – a sentence containing every letter of the alphabet. David R – anathema – a noun something vehemently disliked. Cath – shanks pony – one owns legs. Terry – brou-ha-ha – a confused uproar or hullabaloo.


Homework readings – using words of the day from last week


David C – Siamese twins. Helene – the para linguist. Wendy – What’s for tea? Mandy – A strange feeling. David R – Caprice. Jo – digging his own grave. Cathy – words. Terry – Bugger.


Exercise


We used the words hypocrite, biscuit tin, city, telephone to create a story. Some funny and some weird stories emerged. Jo wrote about fast limping. Cath entertained us with a weekend away. Terry about a night time telephone call involving blood stains. David C wrote a poem about a wrong number. Helene wrote about a buried watch. Wendy wrote a short poem about not being alright. Mandy wrote about a pompous boss stuck in the bath. David R concocted a poem about Lady Gar Gar, animals and meat.


Homework – What would you give up for lent? This does not have to be a religious work – use your imagination.

Record of meeting 16 March 2011

Present: Mandy, Terri Nolan, Jo, Cath, Wendy, Terry M, Vala, David C, Helene and welcome to Kelly.



News: Wendy had cortisone injection and waiting for improvement in her shoulder, Cath has had a clean up and donated goods to charity, David C’s daughter completed the Huskisson Tri-athalon with a PB, Terri’s daughter was accepted into the NSW police force. Mandy is so fit she could push her husband up and done the hill to the pool, Helene saved her grandson at the beach on Sunday. Kelly is happy to be at the meeting.


Word of the day


Terry - Dyad – a couple, tropes – a figure of speech eg a cold heart. Wendy - Discombobulate – to throw into a state of confusion. Cathy – foetid – smelly. David C – caprice – a whim. Vala - sobriquet – an affectionate or humorous nick name. Jo – transit passage of a body and transitory continuing for a short time. Terri – avuncular – uncle like. Mandy – antecedent and precedent - happens before the event. Helene – passion. Kelly – para linguistic – communicate without language, the study of vocal (and sometimes non-vocal) signals beyond the basic verbal message or speech.


Homework readings


Terry – Revenge. Wendy – Me and dad. Cathy – Amanda. David C – Love is. Vala – Santa’s lap. Jo – Lap dancer. Mandy – A new life. Helene – A Christell clear view. Kelly – A fantasy.


Exercise


Scrambled musical instrument names – challenging and fun exercise.



Quick write


The worst teacher I ever met covered darning needles and the sewing teacher, lollies at school, school raps, the face slap, the dishonest Science teacher and creative cheekiness, physical voice, Mr Mack, killing passion, Mr Pin Head.




Homework


Use one or more words of the day (above) to write your poem or short story.