Record of meeting 6 March 2013

Attendees: Wendy, Terry, Cath, Jo, Leonie, Geoff, David C, Garry

News of the Day

Geoff: attended a good concert by Sydney Male Choir – full house.

Garry: had an MRI and going to Wollongong Friday for results

Wendy: getting ‘stretching’ at physio to assist her sciatica.

Terry: having seriously annoying problems with his internet provider.

Cath: 3 great-grand nieces born this last week.

Jo: no car for a while so was home.

Leonie: had watched a TV series, LIFE, so bought the DVD’s

David C: disturbing story of ‘green-slip’ and insurance because of a typo on his records at NRMA.

Words of the Day

Intrinsic, humour (humorous), implication, acerbic, paltry, spectacularly, appertaining, contrite

Quick Write

A lot of fun in the poetry and ‘writes’

 

Homework readings

Poetry and writings were entertaining on the topic of annoy and annoying

Readings

David C read some poetry from his ‘treasure trobe’

Bride of the City – hand written over 100 years ago by John Kendrick Bangs

Jo read some poetry

Geoff read a letter he has written to the Editor about, ‘John Howard may be nominated a G G if Libs get into government’

 

Discussion

We had a good discussion covering interesting topics about writing.

Jo shared a web site for homework ideas.

www.creative-writing-now.com/short-story-ideas.html

 

Homework

Think of something you are afraid of and weave it into a character in a short story.

 

Record of meeting 27 February 2013

Present

Lyn, Leonie, David C, Garry, Trish, Helene, Wendy, Cath, Terry, Maria

 

News

Trish is having a quiet week. Helene saw the movie the Intouchables on the weekend. Wendy’s husband is doing everything after carpel tunnel surgery. Cath said she saw the About magazine at the Bendigo Bank and her cat is sick. Terry had friends visiting who had been staying in Kiama before the storm. Lyn spent time with her mother has been to a few weddings. Leonie feels great as she has been in touch with her children. David C has a birthday on Saturday and is still scratching. Garry was happy to read that the Australian Government has determined that Aboriginal children should go to Boarding school to improve their education to overcome poverty in the long term.

 

Words of the day

Impasse - a blockage

Guesstimation - not sufficient evidence, conjecture, working by hazard

Askance - looking sideways, look with suspicion

Circumvent – to go around

Argot – a slang or jargon to conceal the meaning

Acquiesce – to agree

Acumen – quickness of intellect or sc

A refectory (also frater, frater house, fratery) is a dining room, especially in monasteries, boarding schools, and academic institutions.

 

Abhor – dislike, detest

Writing from words of the day

On the bus, That’s fine – a great poem, Buying the table, The clock keeps ticking – a fun poem, The architect, No learning, Using the refectory table, Take out the hearing aids and Clean up Australia.

Homework

We heard good stories on the topics

Leonard, Shirley and the missing genes. Charlie’s back. You’ll be sorry – a funny poem. Like a deflated balloon. A camel ride in Egypt. A scary group of people – received a round of applause for Maria. The missing arm – a great chapter from Terry.  Perfumed memories – lovely story from Lyn.


Harmony day 21 March 2013

Writing competition – Many stories One Australia - create a video, take a photo or share your written journey. For more information visit www.sbs.com.au/harmonystories

 
Exercise

We completed a continuous write creating some interesting stories.


Homework

Annoyed with …………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 20 February 2013

Present

Leonie, David C, Trish, David R, Helene, Wendy, Terry, Cath, Robyn, Geoff and welcome back to Muriel who is visiting again from SA.

 

News

Trish had more contact with her cousin about her father and step sister. David C is feeling well and went to Bunnings and now has this third chain saw, Leonie took a sick projector to Sydney. Geoff plugged the Sydney Male choir gig. Cath was held up in traffic by the triathlon, saw Les Mis and is now wall paper free. Robyn has had a quiet time. Terry saw Les Mis at the movies and thought Hugh Jackman was great. Wendy’s husband is having surgery on his carpel tunnel in a few days time. Helene has been doing a big jigsaw puzzle. David R walked to Huskisson on Saturday and saw all the triathletes and also went to his sisters 60 th birthday in Sydney - sadly his dog had to be put down because of illness.

 

Words of the day

Amanuensis – one who writes from dictation

Turgid – slow moving sluggish

Adamant – very hard, unyielding, inflexible

Augur – sign of the future and carpenters tool

Magnanimous – generous in forgiving, noble

Gardyloo – watch out below

Epicene – common to both sexes or effeminate

Soupcon – dash, drop, morsel, taste

Culpable – answerable or blameworthy

Addendum – addition

Pedantic – fussy, pride of book learning

 

Writing from words of the day

We wrote about the boss and the galahs, spoiling the fun, time for fretting no real addendum, stealing books, getting frantic, he did not pee in the soup, always carrying a note book, stolen words, the recipe book and guests from America.

 

Reading of homework

Wendy – Not funny Valentine – a brilliant funny poem. Helene – Begin the beguine, David R – Always in my heart a lovely poem, Trish – dog love, David C – wake her with a kiss “stubble is trouble”, Leonie – told a story about her grandson, Geoff – a reef encrusted with values, Robyn – a letter from the spiritually alive, Terry – more of his novel. Muriel – a love poem for her husband.

 

Reading

Trish – more memories from London - Deidre absconding from the front desk

Leonie – A life not mine

David R – Apparition – tribute to Oscar the dog and

               Flying in a metal box

Muriel – Dear nurse – remember my good points

Homework

A fright and or Sweet nothing   

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 13 February 2013

Present

David R, Garry, David C, Leonie, Lyn, Trish, Terry, Cath, Wendy, Helene and welcome to Maria

News

David C’s brothers will be visiting soon from the UK. Garry brought in an item about the Masai people where he once lived. David R highlight of the week was Sing Australia meeting. Wendy is going to Tarago for a picnic with her car club. Cath has been stripping off wallpaper. Terry bought a 1976 Triumph 2500 classic car last week. Maria moved here 30 years ago and has moved back to the area recently. Trish has been in touch with her cousin in England who reminds her of her dad. Lyn’s son has a new job and she is working on a new exhibition at the Lady Denman. Leonie has no news.

 

Words of the day

Quixitous = romantic notion, idealistic

Mendacity – dishonesty, deceit, lies, deception

Sully = to soil or dirty

Facile = pliant, easily gained, docile

Pettifogging = to quibble, or use cheap or mean ways in law

Acquiesce = to agree without protesting

Wax = to become angry at insinuation

Nuance = subtle difference or distinction or response

Conniption = fit of range or hysteria

Damascian conversion = the penny dropped

Disruption = answering phone call

 

Writing from words of the day

 David R – Wayne was waxed – a very funny poem

Helene – Madge the beautician

Wendy – Love can make you mendacious

Cath – Jim was violent

Terry – you can be king

Maria – called to dinner

Trish – Going crazy

Lyn – No time to relax with a quick write

Leonie – the meeting

David C – McDonald a scoundrel – very well written

Garry – Fifi waxed the table and became CFO – a very good story

Reading of homework

Trish – lessons from Adele including a very honest family portrait

Lyn – the slob at the kitchen bench – a great story

Leonie – thoughts from the past – a lovely story

David C – exemption from National Service

Garry – I love living in Thailand – a great letter

David R – Late delivery – like a letter in a bottle

Helene – Fifi has Music Appropriation Disease

 

Reading

Terry – more of the story of McCord

David R – read from “The infinite Plan” by Isabel Allende from Chile, also read his poems Alphabetical – about the group, Reflections and Liaisons both about love

 

Homework

 Valentine

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 6 February 2013

Present

Garry, David C, Geoff, Robyn, Jo, Cath, Trish, Leonie, Wendy, Helene, Lynn, David R

News

This week Garry learnt about using Listerine to deter mosquitoes. David C is on new medication for his Sweets Syndrome. Geoff had a letters published between Nick Minchin and himself. Robyn’s husband had a pacemaker inserted. Jo has deterred rats with dead rats and squealing rats. Cath went for trip on the bus to Nowra for $2.50. Trish is promoting Sing Australia. Leonie cleared out her garage and could not stop. Wendy went to Wagga at 6 am, had a picnic and came home by 4:30 pm. Helene had a massage and went back to Aqua. Lynn went to work, and went to Nowra for a test but had to come home. David R went to a Cancer recovery group dinner and enjoyed it.

 Words of the day

Uncouth – lacking in social skills, foul-mouthed

Sanctimonious – self righteous, pretending to be religious, pious

Hebetude = mental lethargy, dullness of mind

Sangfroid = calm and cool

Volte-face = about turn, about face, u turn

Wane = to decrease in strength

Melliferous = yielding or producing honey

Punctilious = conscientious, on time, careful about small details

Halcyon = calm, peace and happiness

Irredentist = people who want to rewrite history, recovery of Italian places

Scepticism = theory in philosophy that absolute knowledge is impossible

Maxim = a proverb, rule of conduct, established principle

 Stories from words of the day

Geoff – Tony Abbott

Robyn – leaving the country

Jo – judged according to their crimes

Cath – it’s obvious

Trish – getting the contract

Leonie – needs more honey

Wendy – the whole truth

Helene – religion

Lynn – the lad of minimum effort

David R – sprayed Listerine

Garry – a difficult problem

David C – Bullshit

 

Reading of homework

David C – turned around lots of old wife’s tales and waiting

Garry – waiting and thinking leads to loving waiting

David R – three wives tails and I used to be a waiter

Lynn – the little hand waiting and shuffling along a bench

Helene – waiting for Godo

Wendy – a magic lotion – a great poem

Leonie – waiting for a baby

Trish – waiting for pests

Cath – waiting for news

Jo – a special Christmas tree

 

Reading

Geoff – letters to the editor about Tony Abbott and Nick Minchin

David R – Inspiration a poem about a recovery group – the sick heal the healthy

 

Exercise

We completed a circular write with a few gems included.

 

Homework

 You have just received a letter that was written 10 years ago.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 30 January 2013

Present

Terry, Garry, Leonie, Jo, Wendy, Trish, Helene, Cath, Geoff and welcome back to Lyn

 

News

Leonie has finished her garden and it survived the rain. Garry’s niece had an accident with her horse. Lyn worked last week at the museum. Geoff saw the movie Life of Pi. Helene has a new sewing machine and sewed some curtain linings. Wendy has gone back to Aqua lite twice a week and has been on two picnics during the week. Cath has been stripping off wall paper. Terry research for his novel has found that dentists in the US are putting micro chips in people’s teeth for tracking. Trish mentioned the case of the teenager missing for two months in the bush. Jo also read about the missing boy. 

 

Words of the day

Inadvertently – not intentioned

Auto-didactic – self taught

Solicit – to seek favour, request

Android – robot, zombie, resembling a human

Stymied – to filibuster, to thwart

Wraith – shadowy, ghostly

Brusque – abrupt, blunt

Skein – flock of geese in flight & yarn wound in a loose coil

Seesaw – to move up and down, vacillate, reciprocating motion

 

Writing from words of the day

Geoff – Tony Abbott

Lyn – a poem about being encouraged to provide a word

Garry – a beautiful morning

Leonie – a comparison

Jo – a king with a skein of words

Trish – in an ally way

Terry – rather be in the creek

Cath – thoughts on the seesaw

Wendy – oh crap

Helene – Byron the robot

 

Reading of homework

Garry – still love you nana

Leonie – does this count as a table

Jo – the old wives club

Trish – my friend Callum

Terry – Chapter two from his novel

Wendy – Lie’s - a brilliant poem

 

Helene - where are the old wives

Geoff – Readers Digest tales

 

Reading

Jo - How to explain oldness

 

Invitation

Isabel Mac Callum invites you to celebrate the publication of “Life is what you make it” an expose of her life to be launched by Joanna Gash MP at the Nowra Library ,Berry Street Nowra, at 11:30 am Monday 25 February 2013. Light refreshments. $10 from each $25 signed book to Anglicare Shoalhaven Community Care

 

Quick write - Life is what you make it

Jo – life as a fish

Trish – the head I have now

Terry – listen to what I say

Cath – tragedy versus challenge

Wendy – the easy life

Helene – life is fun

Geoff – a journey

Lyn – doing what I want

Garry – life in Africa

Homework

Waiting ……

 

 

 

Record of meeting 23 January 2013

Present

David R, Garry, Terry, Wendy, Helene, Leonie, David C, Geoff, Cath

 

News

Geoff – the fires and the weather. David C – been there, done that - looks tanned from Iodine and potassium treatment and uses baby powder for his rash from Sweets Syndrome. Leonie has been working on the garden near her clothes line. Garry had a call from his mother to say was having a biopsy for breast cancer.  David R has bought a cam corder on line at the site www.oo.com.au and recommended the price and service. Helene took her grand daughter to Sydney and had a great trip. Wendy’s 13 year old dog died recently and she misses him. Cath was awakened by her mobile early this morning and told us a joke. Terry has been investigating poisons for his novel.

 

Words of the day

Astute – shrewd, smart

Prandial – pertaining to a meal

Purpose – the reason

Prerogative – exclusive right of privilege, natural gift of advantage making one superior (from Latin)

Pecuniary – relating to or connected with money

Ameliorate – to heal, remedy or improve

Solipsism – nothing but self

Remorseless – pitiless, cruel, resentful

Middling – moderate, average

Writing from words of the day

 

David C – a political comment. Geoff – health threats. Terry – sad clowns in a rusty Holden ute. Cath – struggling. Wendy – looked like a fool Helene – a good GP. David R – the egotist and the poisoned pancake. Garry – the $150 hamburger.  Leonie – the menu.

Reading homework

Wendy – Parts replacement – a brilliant poem about surgery Terry – The smell of a police station David C – Identical twins x 2 Leonie – Madeline and the necklace. Garry – before the rains the circle of life and pies at the cricket. David R – replacement therapy.  Helene – friend are irreplaceable.

Pecuniary discussions

Discussion on using funds for prizes, publishing an Anthology, training etc but no decision was made.

Reading

David R read two poems one about Burma and the other titled Restless.

 

Homework

Old wives tales