Record of meeting 20 August 2014

News of the week

David C is waiting for his second great grandchild to arrive. Leonie put several flowering plants in her garden this morning. Geoff had problems with his computer and modem. Jo attended a meeting on Monday because she was concerned about a small child riding a bike on her street but nothing happened and also bought in heaps of watches to show us – all fakes. Pauline invited people to attend a 500 card group at 1.15 pm Mondays at the Country Club Sanctuary point and happy she can stay till 4 pm today. Wendy is addicted to Cryptic crosswords and hasn’t had time to do much else. Helene watched 2 DVDs at home this week during the rain - Bullit and the Great Gatsby. Melissa co-hosted a radio show with Terry on Monday about cars. Terry is researching buying another camera. Di is waiting to learn how to use her new computer.

 

Words of the day

Acumen = wisdom, knowledge, ability

Incandescence = glowing with light

Pecuniary = financial

Mediation = an agreement between parties

Opine = to state an opinion

Prodigal = wasteful, recklessly extravagant

Curate = person in charge of something

Fungible = interchangeable

Prodigy = person with marvellous gift

Eschew = to shun as unworthy, avoid, abstain from

Gobble = to swallow hastily in large pieces

Zenith = the top

 

Stories from words of the day

We created a range of brilliant stories from the words of the day - The play write burnt out, Under the weeping willow tree, The beacon, God help us all, The fashion exhibition, Debt, We light the room – a great poem from Terry, In the harbour, A brilliant career, Hiding on the balcony, Kevin Rudd’s anger and at the show in silver tulle.

 

Reading of homework

Cath – A warm day ahead

Jo - Lifting the curtain

Leonie – In the café

David C – The shepard’s hut

Terry – What happened to dad?

Helene – the book

Lynn – A day never again repeated

 

Reading of stories

Di read a childhood story “Wait a bit man” from an old book

Melissa – read a letter and poem from her grandfather written for her 40 th birthday.  The poem was based on his experiences of loos and animals in Mildura.

 

Exercise

As Melissa is leaving JB to move to Adelaide this month we wrote stories to honour Adelaide

Jo – not on my radar

Pauline – new friends in Adelaide

Geoff – travel to Adelaide with work

Leonie – I want to go to Adelaide

David C – Adelaide gave her hand

Diana – three weeks in Adelaide

Terry – A girl called Adelaide – a great poem

Melisa – Lemonade and yurts

Helene – Aunty Mickey

Wendy – Adelaide the stripper – another great poem

Lynne – snakes in a hessian house

Cath – settlers only in Adelaide

 

Homework - 1,500 word story in three parts (max 500 each part)

Part 1 – introduction of two characters – was due 20 August 2014

Part 2 – the body of the story – due 27 August 2014

Part 3 – the conclusion – due 3 September 2014

If you haven’t already done Part 1, you can read it on 27 August 2014

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 13 August 2014

News

Cath enjoyed eating in the Indian restaurant in Nowra. David R is heading for Queensland to see his children and grandchildren. Helene went to two movies on the weekend. Wendy went on a vintage car day and has an infected leg. Melissa had front row tickets for the cancelled Rick Springfield concert. Pauline is sad about Robin Williams’ death. Jo brought info about The Harbour Bookshop Ulladulla Open Short story prize with the theme of Edge, entry form available from www.escapeartfest.com.au and enquiries to info@escapeartfest.info  Welcome back to Lyn who had no news!!!  Diana had a bad week with a problem registering her cat and received a parking fine. Terry is planning to attend a classic car day at Eastern Park providing the weather is good. Leonie had a quiet week and had a lovely time visiting people with two dogs. David C chopped wood all week. Geoff attended two concerts, an Irish movie called Calvary and attempted to go whale watching.

 

Words

Earmark = to mark for a specific purpose

Desiderium = an ardent longing

Depression = medical illness

Magnetic = a person who attracts by power or personality

Dauncy = feeling sick, lacking vitality

Nuance = a delicate shade of difference

Enervate = lacking physical or mental vigour

Privilege = a special advantage

Fraught = full of fright, anxious

Waive = suspend

Opportune = a convenient time

Perambulate = to walk

Metadata = data about data

 

Writing from words of the day

From the words of the day we created brilliant stories as follows

 

Leonie = protest from the majority

David C = getting my book published

Geoff = Mr Abbott has fast moving hips and lips

David R = the flea or me

Helene = chocolate metadata

Wendy = Lycra and suntan crème

Melissa = escaping a seminar

Pauline = Desire for innocent days

Jo = Leaving the school

Lynn = A soft target

Diana = meeting the scientists and management

Terry = What will I write

 

Reading of homework

Helene = silk and satin

David R = arachnophobia

David C = mixed up sisters

Leonie = cameras in the street

Terry = a visit to the morgue

Diana = preferring the night

Lynn = wind on my cheeks and crappy nappies - two great poems

Jo = a strange man at the door and ex husbands new wife - two different stories from Jo's amazing mind

Garry = scones with jam and cream

 

Discussion on matters of interest

1. Geoff while doing his tax on line, discovered that he was unable to claim medical expenses unless he had claimed them last year.

2. David R suggested for the future three part homework, the opening the first week, the second week the middle the second week, the end the third week.  Based on his suggestion David R read the first part of his poem - In the beginning.

3. Reminder - Author event Michael Robotham, Life and Death

Nowra library 1 pm Saturday 23 August

4. Leonie read a beautiful story about angels she wrote for her granddaughter.

5. Melissa’s last week 20 August before she sadly leaves JB with her husband Scott to live in Adelaide. Bring a small plate of goodies to share.

 

Two exercises

1. We created stories of survival in an overcrowded life raft

 2. We completed an exercise to improve three sentences while starting them with a noun

 

Homework

As part of a three part homework exercise write the introduction for a short story/poem. Your story should be up to five hundred words, set the scene and introduce two characters.

In the two following weeks we will write the middle and the end of the story. This homework is designed to develop confidence writing longer stories.

 

 

 Recorded and posted by Helene

 

 

 

 

Record of Meeting 6 August 2014

  

News

David C is mastering the refurbished computer he bought for $80 from St Georges Basin. Geoff is planning a trip to South America. While writing Terry puzzled over the use of the words toward and towards and found both are acceptable. David R attended the Milton Ulladulla writing group on Monday and shared ideas with us. Helene went to the dentist. Wendy has not been on any picnics. Welcome back to Pauline, she is an unpublished writer and has edited her husbands 10 unpublished novels and other works. Jo gave out a handout about publishing and brought in jewellery given away in Sydney. Elizabeth went to a baby shower and saw amazing gifts. Diana learnt how to use her new phone.

 

Words of the day

Passing = slightly similar to

Prognosticate = to predict

Concoction = a mixture, preparation or potion

Mores = socially acceptable behaviour

Emasculate = to derive of power

Customs = fashion, usage

Inquisitive = curious or prying

Hinny = offspring of a female donkey and a horse

Berserk = frantic, mad, crazy

Veracity = truth

 

Writing from words of the day

How long to grow my hair – a great poem from Terry, I heard a whinny by David R, Ban the Hinny from Helene, Keeps me skinny by Wendy, In the bar with a smart phone by Pauline, I jumped on his back by Jo, This exercise is challenging by Elizabeth, On the ferry from Diana, Crazy dancing by David C and Brandis defeated from Geoff.

 

Reading of homework

I am a growing bush, On the stairs, Danger on a cold misty night, Revenge of the cow pats, In forgiveness, Little red rooster, Kissing on Valentines day and A surprise birthday party.

 

Readings and other stuff

Terry read out the poem “Mother to son” by Langston Hughes

Terry told us about an invitation to have a stall at the Spring event at Sanctuary point on 4 October 2014.  It was decided we won’t attend.

David R read two of his poems the first about an experience with his walking group, and the second on the topic Dialogue between the flying doctor and an injured stockman.

Terry read out the motive behind his crime novel – The taking of two lives

David R showed copies of Free Expression Magazine a great publication for writers, look at the site  http://www.freexpression.com.au/

 

Exercises

We listed and read out adjectives for each scene below based on looks, feels, smells, tastes and sounds like

• Summer at beach
• The Dapto dogs
• A derelict apartment
• Lost in the snow
• Sex on Sunday

 

Homework

Something I don’t like to touch

 

 

 

Recorded and posted by Helene

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting 30th July 2014

News:

Wendy - Shopped til she dropped at ShellHarbour Square
Melissa - Moving Aug. 27 (Boo Hoo)
Cath - Increased to swimming 26 laps 
Jo - Gave contact info. about Shoalhaven Councillor, Mark.Kitchener@shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au
Elizabeth - Visited Apple Tree Flat Bay
Brian - First time visitor to the group, writes poetry
David C - Chopping firewood, mixing with other poets
Geoff - Looking forward to watching Borgen resume on SBS
Terry - Went away for the weekend with the car club to Mogo
David R - He and his partner went to Bendalong
Diane - First time visitor, interested in writing about her travelling adventures

Word of the day:

Wendy - edacity - greedy
Melissa - larrikin - hooligan, person who disregards convention
Cath - emotive - arouses intense feelings
Jo - salivate - to make the mouth water
Elizabeth - cringle - eye loop in a rope (nautical term)
David - ambsace - complete bad luck
Geoff - febrile - feverish
Terry - inscrutable - incapable of being understood
David R - flabbergasted - surprised

Activity: Quick write using as many of the above words as possible in a poem or story

Reading of Homework: "Age of suspicion" 

Jo - read a story about indulgent behaviour and a murder
Garry - musings about suspicion
Elizabeth - read a story about a previous homework topic, 'it's not what it seems'
Brian - read a poem, 'the smartest Dad of them all'
David C - read a story about a suspicious child who discovers who his parents are
Terry - read another part of his novel 
David R - Inkling, a poem

Announcements and readings:

Geoff - Sydney library is having an event in August to celebrate author Thea Astley, he also brought in a book by Janet Frame, "You Are Now Entering The Human Heart" Let him know if you'd like to borrow it

Jo - there is a new moth in the area, it is yellow, purple and furry...and very, very scary

David R - read a poem, Satisfaction, recounting the splendours of nature by the sea

Exercise: A peculiar pet
The group produced a range of material from short stories to poetry about peculiar pets including a blue tongued lizard, cats, a slave, moths, and rocks! 

Homework: "Ambushed"

Micheal Robotham author event 1 pm, Saturday 23 August 2014 Nowra Library

Record of meeting 23 July 2014

News

Terry had a good lunch yesterday with great people

Cath had no new information about the mystery pizza delivery

Jo attended the local council meeting and received some help about her fallen trees

Leonie is going to see Mother Africa as a belated treat for her birthday

David C had a white crane steal the fish from his backyard pond

Geoff had an uneventful week with the highlight a visit from a local plumber

David R has recovered from his medical treatments and is arranging to self publish some of his poems

Helene took her grandson back to Canberra

 

Words of the day

Machiavellian = deceitful, perfidious

Freeload = bludge

Cleave = hold or divide

Cupidity = greed for money or possession

Emerald = is a gemstone, and a variety of the mineral beryl coloured green

Exotica = objects out of the ordinary

Abscond = to leave horridly and secretly

Contend = to strive, struggle in opposition

 

Stories from words of the day

We created an amazing range of stories from the words of the day - Visit to the theatre, Gemstones and the gentrified classes, Family jewels, A villain from Goulburn, The dinosaur park, More than his share and I’ve rung the police.

 

Reading of homework

Misunderstood, The witness – maybe more of Terry’s novel, The snake, The cement mixer, Exotica and A stage production.

Reading

David R – is reading and recommends “The colonial queen” by Peter Corris

Jo – recommends “The timeless land” by Eleanor Dark

David R read out his latest poem Ambiance

 

Exercises

1. Sounds of touching – we wrote stories about

Caresses and bites, A compromise, The comfort of water, Coat flapping, fingers snapping, The sounds of food cooking, Air in a carburettor, Tabasco sauce and Sound of Exotica.

 

2. A progressive write on the topic “Not what is seems” –

In my underwear, So bright and clean, Leaves in the trees, Musical chairs, Pulled the pin and Ancient exotic remains.

 

Homework

The age of Suspicion

 

Recorded and posted by Helene

 

 

Record of meeting - Wednesday 16 July 2014

Reminder lunch at Vincentia Golf Club

Tuesday 22 July at 12.30 pm

 

News

Jo bought in a picture of a snowflake and told us about a woman who attacked her front door.

Geoff announced the opening of a Tapas bar, in Milton.

Elizabeth had a scam call telling her she was going to get money from the Government and her son in law did not clean out her fridge.

Leonie went to a pain specialist, who did not help, also had a visit from a friend and a lovely lunch in Ulladulla. 

Helene had an accident in her car.

Wendy went for a beautiful fish and chips picnic at Culburra.

Cath played good Samaritan to her neighbours who were away in Vincentia.

Terry saw Chicago at the Entertainment Centre on Sunday.

 

Words of the day

Inimical = hostile or unfavourable

Morass = muddy or boggy ground or mess

Chief = boss

Nostalge = thinking about the past

Exacerbate = to annoy

Authentic = real

Impugn = assail by words

Equilibrium = balance, symmetry, stability

 

Writing from words of the day

Helene – a common criminal

Wendy – swinging from the trees and sinking

Cath – not an antique

Jo – the objectors

Geoff – Clive from Queensland

Terry – pigs might fly in the Red house

Elizabeth – the rock

Leonie – One man lost

 

Reading of homework

Helene – Fifi and Gigi to Fiji and An interesting phone call

Wendy – oldies but goodies

Jo – You should have been there

Terry – murder in Camperdown – possible part of Terry’s novel

Elizabeth – a planned visit to the beach

Leonie – Marry me again - more of the Madeline story

 

Two exercises

1. Day dream believer – we composed stories of three word sentences

Cath – a day delight

Jo – Spring and death

Geoff – out the window

Terry – I love school cloudy or fine

Elizabeth – long year gone

Helene – Visit exotic ports

Wendy – all day long

 

2. We wrote stories about a brush with danger

Wendy – sweeping with danger

Helene – Dangerous tooth cleaners

Elizabeth – Searching for eggs

Terry – cigarettes buts and drawing pins

Geoff – blood cousins

Jo – petrol and broken brakes

Cath – the building site

 

Homework

Not what it seems

 

Recorded and posted by Helene