Meeting 21st May 2014

Attendance:  Jo, Wendy, Cathy, Pam, Elizabeth, Helene, Geoff, David C.

News of the Week. 

Geoff: entered the Newcastle Poetry Prize.  He said that the St. George's Basin Music Club is closing down, one Concert to go, late June, at Community Centre, Meriton Street.  

Cathy: Has issues with Telstra.  She has a lovely flowered top on, good enough to put in a vase!

Helene: Saw the movie 'The Other Woman'.

Wendy: Went to Greenwell Point.  Ate huge amount of fish.  Watched pelicans.

Pam: Went to Gerbera Farm.  Will devote her time to them in future.  Felt sorry for the Dorplar Sheep.

Elizabeth: Lost her cheque book - found non-posted birthday card in a drawer.  Went to see Great-grand-daughter, Lucy, ust had tonsils out.

Jo: Did nothing.

David: Went to Sydney - grand-daughter and grandson, baby-sitting.  Road travel wonderful.

Words of the Day

Cath:      asperity - terse style

Jo:         mural-resembling a wall

Helene:    char - cleaning lady, tea for British, to burn

Wendy:    paraphenalia - personal belongings or bits of equipment

Pam:       lacuna - blank space, small hole in bone, etc.

Elizabeth: isthmus - a narrow neck of land - ocean on both sides land

David:     disenchanted - disappointed - to cause disappointment

Geoff:     condone - to accept, to forgive

Writings from 'Word of the Day'

David: Sitting on the balcony - damned charlady interrupted his dreams = she put a spell on him.

Geoff: The budget - Hockey acts like a charlady.  The outlook is bleak, especially for youth.

Jo: Condoning behaviour of the group?  Never.

Elizabeth: Charlady disappoints - looking across at the isthmus.

Helene: Amity - a char - cleaned cousin's house - and a mural - nothing worth anything there though, except Save the Trees PLEASE.

Pam: A rough mural - no good, a bad job.

Wendy: Poem - a mural - a lacunafull of stuff on the wall.

Cath: Joan - doesn't appreciate char's lazy job.

Homework:  "The Gossip Column"

Garry: Stories from secret groups in the Bay and Basin area

Helene: Secrets from See Change
Jo:      A provincial gossiper's silly stuff.

David: Sang his column at first - question and answer style - don't eat chicken with fingers - eat fingers with chicken!  Glenn - girlfriend thinks he's being unfaithful.  Fat woman - should be stapled.  Fat people are lazy people. Sang off.  Uncle Arthur's problem page at end.

Cathy:  Wedding on Saturday - honeymooning in Tunisia.  Open day for students.  Radio, good, easy listening, people, holidays.  Real people.

There is a photograph display at Lady Denman, Long weekend, no entry fee.  More details available at Lady Denman I would think.

Pam showed us a word, 'charrette' a new word for most of us, and it is repeated in our local paper about four times, word has been picked up by Herald.  Confusing the issues?

We did a Write.  Fairy Stories, etc.

Apologies to all for the Write summing-up, there is no info.

Homework: Write about someone who has a disability. 

Meeting 14th May 2014

Present:  Elizabeth, Wendy, David C., Geoff, Jo, Cath, Helene

News 

David has had his bad back attended to.  Went to visit family in Sydney in the weekend and had a great time.

Geoff had a quiet life lately, he said.

Cath went swimming and made crumpets, no, not at the beach!  She introduced a Budget Survey for comment - no one interested at this time.

Helene went to Canberra, saw the grandchildren, otherwise been a quiet time.

Wendy went to the German Club for Mother's Day, ate German food.  Didn't like dumplings.

Elizabeth Family weekend - new great-grandchild, she told him how to grow up.

Jo sent her book chapters away.  We talked about being forgetful too.

Word of the Day.

David:      ingenious - clever

Jo:          hysterical - emotionally disturbed

Geoff:      hypothecate - money allocated for particular purpose

Helene:    moraine - debris from a glacier

Wendy:    eschew - put aside.

Elizabeth: domicile - dwelling place

Cathy:      garrulous- talkative

The stories from those words were:

Cath:  A noisy moraine should be safe.

Helene: Fiona destroyed her house, got away with it.

Wendy: Budget - a poem - politicians conniving.

Elizabeth: She had an idea - sell her house.

David: Someone named Moraine - was to get married - cancelled it.

Geoff: Hysterical attacks on Labour

Jo: An ingenious plot, to live on Mt. Everest.

Homework:  'One at a Time'

Pam sent hers: Temptation, misspent youth, influencing what the inmates are not to watch or hear on TV - Addicts - can it work.

Elizabeth: Lying in bed.  Grandson arrives. The dog plus, the three of them had a 'cricket game'.

Jo: The cat and pills.

David: What's next - an older man - wait for change - one day at a time

Helene: Poem - Wisdom and Happiness - one day at a time - writing - sharing- laughing.  Where is wisdom?

David spoke about Seymour Wells, and history.

Helene read out a letter from Gary.

We did a progressive write on Song and Dance.

Then we did an exercise from a textbook putting words into pertinent places.

The next week's homework is 'Write a Gossip Column'.

Meeting notes for 7th May 2014

Info.
David C.....Has had back issues gathering firewood...not 25 any more
Wendy.......Saw Brian Cadd and Glen Shorrock...terrific show
Terry..........May is birthday month...busy time
Lynn..........House sitting for Robyn and Joe
Helene.......Has laptop problems
Pam...........Just enjoying life in the Bay and Basin area
Elizabeth...Went to Collector Pumpkin Festival...now knows where Collector is
Cath...........Been minding 3 cats...oops lost one...found it again....hooray
Geoff.........Went to ukelele group for first time, also demonstration against ABC cuts proposed
David R.....Been further investigating David C's treasure chest.

Words of the Day
Pam.............parkour......training system utilising obstacles
Elizabeth.....gillie..........man attending a person who is hunting or fishing
Cath............cacophony..raucus, mixed noise, harsh discord
Geoff..........runcible......splayd like spoon with a cutting edge
David R..... prerogative..a right or privilege
David C..... scurrilous....use of vulgar abusive language, defamatory, untrue
Wendy....... laconic........terse, man of few words
Terry.........  nebulous.....vague, lacking definite form
Lynn.........  trapse..........walk idly or wearily without reaching a goal

Stories/poems from these words
Again a wide variation of ideas including parliament, traipsing through forests, lots of birds and  
gillies, and the odd commando unit.

Homework readings        (letters to/from the battle front)
Lynn..........Vietnam, a mate loses his life
Terry..........Poem about a soldier 5000 miles away and dying in Afghanistan
Wendy........lightened the moment with a tongue in cheek letter from a wife carrying on about her
                   "tough" life at home while husband plays soldier with his mates.
David C.....A real "Dear John" letter, and the mystery of astrological forecasts and Snoopy.
David R.....poem...from the front
Geoff.........a story re Chile that has lit the candle of interest in Geoff planning a visit.
Elizabeth..."Dear John" letter to a young man caught up in the moment and regretting his actions
Pam...........Letter from the front ...the Middle East...emotional
Leonie.......Isn't there another way...conversation not confrontation

General
*  Update re "Wild about Words"...those wishing to participate in reading their own work need to contact Sue or Boobook book shop.

Exercise..a quickwrite

"Write from the viewpoint of someone who committed a murder today but...do not mention the murder."
What a talented bunch we are. Efforts included...One a day, Shopping not stabbing, Doing Bertie in,
The blacksmith and the bloodied hand, Lime and the six foot holes, Done Kitty in...your job to bury her, Don't mess with me, Killed Joyce...or Killjoy?, Got to get away now,

Homework 

"One at a time"

Meeting notes 30 April 2014

Okay—Okay—Okay- It’s me again, even hiding behind Geoff I was found and the Mantle of Minutes Taker was thrust upon my effervescent head {ever known me to be effer wasn’t}.

 Present; Terry, Melissa, Lynn, Cath, Jo, Elizabeth, Leonie, David C, Geoff, Mary, Pam, David R, Wendy.

Info. 

Lynn.              House sitting

Jo.                   Trouble keeping her story on track.

Cath               Not letting the grass grow under her feet

Elizabeth       Too wise to be scammed / her daughter touring USA

Leonie            Back to nature at Bendalong beach

David C          Chest complaint now all good.

Geoff              Reading a good book about the women of the Eureka Stockade

Mary              Read an Email she had received.

Pam                Stamps for pensioners 60c at the Post Office

David R          Enjoyed his break, at his cabin near Gerrong

Wendy           Going to see Brian Cadd

Terry              Attended ANZAC dawn service at HMAS Creswell

Melissa          Having trouble containing herself, going to see Rick Springfield.

WoTD

Terry              Slake                   To quench or satisfy

Wendy           Charlatan             Imposter

David R          Foozle                Clumsy ---Botched

Pam                Rambunctious     Rowdy---uncontrollable

Mary              Malapropism       Comical misuse of words

Geoff              Elicit                  Draw out—extract

David C          Ire                      Anger ---resentment

Leonie            Assivism            Resemblance to a distant relative or event

Elizabeth       Bollard               Concrete or wooden pillar or harbour post

Cath               Ilk                      Similar characteristics

Jo                    Seduction         To entice –win over

Lynn               Allude               Infer in a round about way

Melisa            Grimalkin          A female cat ---an ill tempered old hag

Quick Write from WoTD

Terry              Hoist the mainsail               Melissa            Car park seduction

Lynn               Iron Lady                               Jo                    Swan song

Cath               Ship shape                            Elizabeth       Lion hunting

Leonie---Geoff---David C                       Similar theme, political, attack the government

Mary              Words of wisdom                Pam                Good use of words

David R          Poetic licence          

Good response all round

Homework.

Lynn               Invitation to a lady for dinner

Jo                    The unfinished house / cat lover

Elizabeth       An enthralling walk down memory lane

Leonie            Step out of a photograph

Geoff              Hector and the Silent Bus

Mary              Homeless Harry Field

Pam                Country lawyer in the big smoke.

David R          Interception

David C          A brilliant story worthy of a Pullet prize

Afternoon Tea

Exercise         A play on words using name association

Homework    A letter to/from a soldier.    

Record of meeting 23 April 2014

Words of the day

Inadmissible = not allowed

Postern = back door or gate

Illicit = unlawful

Marvellous = wonderful

Precarious = doubtful, perilous

Scintilla = a small amount

Innocuous = harmless

Discern = perceive with a mind

Bliss = ecstasy, delight

Writing from words of the day

Using our short list of words we created amazing stories on the themes of The spider, The little scoundrel, A small list is good, Sly grog business, No remorse, The fight and The precarious gate.

Homework

Some of those present shared stories about A cock and bull story, The millionaire, The closeness of neighbours, Dreams, Tales from Poppa Possum and The Queen size bed.

Exercise

From an exercise provided by Leonie we considered a list of characteristic and then created a story displaying the characteristics.

David C wrote a story of a creature of habit, Pam an attractive 40 something woman, Cath looking for a solution, Lynn told the story of Sarah who arrived on a bride ship, Terry wrote about a young girl’s coming of age, Helene told about Sally who did a little skip. Geoff described and discussed the main female character from his Japanese novel.  Mary wrote about Harry’s pain and regrets.

Homework

Develop a character or use an existing one. Write the story of meeting your character in a specific location - describe the city, location, year, season, furnishings, others present. Remember to use aroma, noise, tactile objects, music and atmosphere to add to your description.

Wild about words

The See change 2014 winter arts festival booklet is now available from businesses in the local area. The festival provides 63 activities including music, exhibitions, activities and workshops to choose from.  Activities of interest include

Item 42 Trivia night of literary sophistication Huskisson Community Centre, Dent Street Huskisson 6- 10 pm Friday 30 May BYO drinks & snacks

I have bookings from David & Cathy, Melissa & Scott, Geoff & Holly, Jo & Lyn which I will pass on to Sue.

Item 45 Book busk Boobook on Owen, 68 Owen Street Huskisson.

Book in to read 5 – 10 minutes of your favourite book, bring props and dress up.  Book in advance with Boobooks on 4441 8585 - Gold coin donation

Item 47 Local writers read their work, Boobook on Owen, 68 Owen Street, Huskisson

Share 10 minutes of your stories in a supportive environment. Book in advance with Boobook on 4441 8585

Record of meeting 16 April 2014

Words of the day

Tizzy = state of anxiety, panic

Polyglot = person who speaks in different languages

Virescent = starting to turn green

Neap = low tide in Spring

Periphery = border, edge

Vapid = bland or uninspiring

Sordid = dirty, mean, squalid

Proclivity = tendency to do something regularly

Pay off = reward, bribe

Moue = pout

Platitudes = uninspired, insincere, a common place

Pellucid = pass right through

Macabre = gruesomely imaginative

Erudite = learned, the polish or teach

Writing from words of the day

We used the words of the day to produce a brilliant range of interesting stories about Learning French, Speaking Chilean, In the sand, the scientist, Dead on the beach, On the periphery of the law, Making an impression, On a cobble stoned London street, One language after another, Expected dreams for the future, No lollipop for Sally, Platitudes don’t cut it, To the back bench, the glass bowl and The stew a brilliant poem from David R.

Reading of homework

Lynn read homework from 4 years ago a moving piece about the realisation she’s never coming back, Cath shared a great story of Love grew cold, Terry read Remain at arm’s length, The disabled ship by Jo, Watching as years go by – Adele, My wish from Margaret, Obsessed by the double bed an unsettling story from Mary, Too many sheets to wash – David C, Never again and Burnt another cake – poems from David R. Disappointed with the day by Leonie.

Wild about words

Sue from the Sea Change committee has asked us to let her know about our participation by 28 April. Details of events are listed in the minutes of 2 April 2014 and will be publicised after Easter.

Competitions

Information from Geoff was circulated about competitions

Reading

Some time ago David C bought a box of material at auction and from some hand written material read a poem Cecil’s plaint.  David R read a poem called “From the south”.

David R also recommended the book he is reading "Playing with water" by Kate Llewellyn about her experiences establishing gardens on the south coast.


Garry in Thailand recommends the number one New York Times Bestseller "The 4 hour work week" live anywhere and join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss.

 

Quick write - I have absolutely no idea

We participated in a quick write on the topic "I have absolutely no idea". David C shared history of a personal blonde moment. Elizabeth wrote about a great feathered friend on the farm.  Adele found herself sitting dumbfounded after a dream. Jo in a mean mood wrote that nothing is a comfortable mood. Terry questioned us on how any ideas  happen.  Lynn experienced being lost in the tile shop and encountering the latest trends.  Helene showed she knew nothing right about the group.  Leonie told us an intriguing story asking what’s in the diary. David C wrote a poem about the group.  Pam wrote about who, what, where and when. Geoff puzzled us with an intelectual comparison between the known and unknown.  

Homework

Cocky

Writing group 9 April 2014

Words of the day

Waffle = rubbish

Mimic = imitate, impersonate, copy

Inimitable = impossible to copy, unique

Derelict = abandoned or ruined

Floe = moving ice

Dulcet = harmonious, sweet or melodious

Eccentric = different from usual, odd, unusual

Pimping shed = open shed for storing firewood including faggots – small kindling

Tantamount = the most important, equal, equivalent

Meld = blend

Loquacious = talkative

 

Writing from words of the day

We used the words of the day to create amazing stories.  Jo - My idea of perfection. Adele – the trip over the tundra. Margaret - Not another like it. Leonie – an eccentric old man. David C – she told amazing stories. Elizabeth – gathering faggots. Geoff – Clive Palmer. David R – Micky was a mimic. Helene – melding metals. Wendy – nothing to say. Terry – unique styles.

 

Reading of homework

Leonie – we need dictionaries and diaries. Margaret – I’m not wild about adverbs. Jo – letter to Ace Pet supply. Terry – early language, a great poem. Wendy – I think I’ve become an Aussie. Helene – women wild with words. David R – in the jungle. Geoff – a growing language. Elizabeth told a story how her grandson said Australians speak funny French. Mary - the wonderful world of make believe. Garry – a royal story.

 

Discussions

We discussed the use of adverbs and adjectives and of the meaning of anticipate and expect.

 

Competitions

Jo provided details of the following competitions

2014 Ipswich Poetry Feast – opens 6 April and closing 1 August at 5 pm see www.ipswichpoetryfeast.com.au

Joyce Parkes Writers Prize for Women and the Joe Sullivan Writers Prize closing 30 June 2014 see www.irishheritage.net

 

Lunch 17 April and Trivia night

Helene will send an email asking for names for lunch on 17 April and nominations for the Trivia night on Friday 30 May 2014 and other Wild about words events.

 

Progressive write starting with I anticipate

We each started a story with the words I anticipate and passed it around the table for a progressive write. We had fun reading stories about - A long walk and dance, Tony Abbott, rainbow spots, Clive Palmer, bull dog clip, fish, Easter eggs, tadpoles, inspiration, frog enclosures, soccer balls, chocolate fountain, Noah, the moving house, bullocks, lunch, prawns and the nudist colony.

 

Homework

Use each word of the sentence below to start the sentences of your story or poem.

After leaving her husband she never could sleep in a double bed again.