Writing group meeting 15 August 2012

Present in the sunny warm craft room Terry, Leonie, David C, Geoff, Cath, Helene and welcome back to Jessica who visited with 4 month old Eleanor.

News

Leonie had more calls from her daughter which is great and her son is visiting next week. Terry’s grandson is very creative and develops art from squiggles. Terry recommended the stars concert on 1 September 2012 at the Entertainment Centre. Cath has given her photographic equipment to Vincentia High and found a lovely café at the framing shops in Island Point Road. Helene saw the movie “The door”. Geoff went to the Eisteddfod. Geoff told us about an artisan day to be held once a month for artists to display their work at the Arts Centre in Nowra. David C visited the dentist, had no injection and felt no pain. Jessica introduced baby Eleanor.

Words of the day

Mawkish = obesity

Peripheral = edge border, threshold

Medalling = award winning

Engage = to bind or bring under agreement

Surreal = a form of art to express to the unconscious mind

Feckless = feeble, futile, aimless, weak and impotent

Writing from words of the day

My feckless girlfriend

Adolescent boys

I like big words - a great poem

At the pool

Art through peripheral vision

Four and twenty pies

Reading of homework

Less than 8 items. Myer or Spotlight.  A conversation at the gym. Mine forever. Catching up – funny conversations overheard in a coffee shop. Shelia the ladies maid a difficult conversation. Hell found me.

Exercise 

We had so much fun we did two rounds of progressive writes covering the topics – Solar Springs, The possum, Waltz back home, Home at the Lodge, Into music, Floundering in flounder, If you have the energy, Porridge, computer date, prawns are off, eggs and legs, not my real father and unicorns playing soccer.

Homework

The street where I grew up.

Record of meeting 8 August 2012

Present on this sunny day

Geoff, Helene, Wendy W, Leonie, Terry, Trish, Garry, Cath.

News

No picnics for Wendy she has been staying home. Helene went to see the movie “Not suitable for children”. Geoff went to see “Salmon fishing in the Yemen” and a concert at the Opera House. Garry watched the movie “The count of Monte Christo” and stayed awake till 11 pm. Trish has visited the place where Van Gough was imprisoned, also has been to Sydney to look after several children like Nanny McPhee. Terry wrote a letter to his son and he came to visit and the family is reunited. Leonie went to the National Gallery in Canberra to see an exhibition on expressionism. Cath brought in photos she was given by someone in the Philippines and now wants to find the owner.

Words of the day

Nascent = in the act or being born or formed

Dystopia = an imaginary place where everything is as bad as possible

Hornswoggle = to steal or take dishonestly embezzle

Resonating = echoing with a sound

Irk = to annoy

Prolix = excessively wordy

Zest = enthusiasm

Shilly-shally = hesitating


Writing from words of the day

We wrote a range of interesting stories covering Not on my watch, What a mess, Parents are the problem, Abbott – No, no. Standing tall. Visit to the Gallery. The Garden gnome. Living in Dystopia.

Reading of homework

A white stick in the city. Knitting from memory. Robbed blind – a funny poem.  A dip in the sea. Nana’s play house. Shakespeare from Juliet to Lady Macbeth – wonderful life experiences. Beautiful music.

Exercise

We wrote about finding a trunk on the topics of  –

A suitcase in the trunk of a car nut person – a deadly poem

The day my father wore a smile

Men trunks – a funny poem

Fifty shades of grey dust

A chest from Norway

Inside the mystery cylinder

Treasure trunks in the cave

A suspicious trunk at the airport

Homework

Record a conversation you have heard.

Record of meeting 1 August 2012

Present

Terry, Garry, Leonie, Geoff, Helene, Wendy W, David R, David C, Robyn. 

News

Terry’s grandson is playing basketball and dislocated his little finger. Garry shared his puzzle about his niece who had a heart attack. Leonie eldest daughter has made her happy.  Geoff had a phone call from E-way and has received compensation and had a letter published in the Fin Review about Tony Abbott. Helene saw the film “Salmon fishing in the Yemen”. Wendy’s youngest son has a first grade coaching job with the McKay Cutters starting in November. David R’s sister had a successful hip operation yesterday. Robyn’s pain level is down after a spinal injection. David R discussed the Inside program on pain last night. David C went to Wellington to see his one year old great granddaughter and also saw his old house which has been trashed.

Words of the day

Quixotic = romantic and unrealistic, titling at windmills.

Palpable = readily seen or heard.

Cogitate = to think carefully about something

Celestial = heavenly, divine

Heft = weight or burden

Fealty = an oath of faitfulness, a pledge of allegiance of one person to another

Plethora = an abundance or surplus

Necrology = an obituary or list of the dead

Impecuniously = broke

Stories from words of the day

The writing group.  Dependence on income. Dreaming. The homeless woman. A former boss. A celestial end. Not on the list. The study of necrology. Life is a mess.

Reading of homework

Wonderful stories covering Pearl’s mummy, Appointment with Grand mama – a royal story, I became a cast member of Hello Dolly, Freedom, The fairies next door – a funny and very gay poem. Using all prompts and dedicated to Jo. Did someone hear a bang – a very funny story.

Other readings

Terry – Vengeance - part of a story in rhyme.

Geoff – more of his Japanese novel.

David R – Purple heather – a poem from Scotland 1961.

Leonie – told us about the movie “A big year” – a true story only the facts have  been changed.

An exercise

We completed an exercise identifying the smells, tastes, touch and sounds from several locations.

Homework

As a blind person using the senses of smell, taste, touch and sound describe either a fish shop, a beach, a football match, a garden, a dog, a zoo, Nana’s house, a flower or the city.

Record of meeting 25 July 2012

Present: David R, Jo, Terry, Trish, Garry, David C, Cath, Helene, Wendy W, Robyn, Leonie, Geoff.

News

David C has booked another cruise. Garry celebrated another family birthday and shared other family news. Trish joined the music society and attended a great concert on Sunday. Terry recommends a great site for writers to share their work; the address is http://fanstory.com/index.jsp Geoff went to a concert. David R’s sister and partner visited. Wendy W’s brother in England who is 51 and 44 year old partner are having a baby. Helene and grandson saw a whale at Nelson’s beach. Cath has been sewing Christmas stockings for an orphanage in Uganda. Robyn has signed the contract for a block of land and is having a spinal injection next week. Leonie went to the doctor today.

Words of the day

Resile = to spring back & resume a former position.  

Demean = degrade, disgrace.

Turpitude = wickedness or depravity.

Specious = appearing well at first sight, apparently true.

Infuse = soak in or absorb.

Invidious = arose or incur resentment envy or anger in others.

Fey = whimsically strange, able to see into the future, feted, doomed to die.

Tranquil = calm, serene, peaceful.

Omnipotent = wisdom, power energy, goodness.

Maudlin = tearfully sentimental.

Not withstanding = to oppose or resist.

Rabble = disorderly crowd.

Writing and readings from words of the day

We wrote some great and greater stories with the topics -The poor stranger, Tony and Julia, The meeting, Three minutes from the greatest. Infusing the crowd. An orderly rabble. Jehovah. Soaking my feet on my bed.  The words reflect the person. Values of the rabble. The protest. Cooked goose underground.

Reading of homework

A great selection of stories covering the topics. The secret. Georgina. Tricks of time. The only time is now. The woman in the picture. Tomorrow never comes. Long ago right here and now.

Reading of other work

Terry – A funny poem about a Fart collector.

Leonie – The time of our lives.

David R – Silhouettes.

David R recommends - Derek Hansen – The sole survivor and A man you can bank on and Thomas Harris – The red dragon.

Homework

Free write – write on any topic of your choice. Like the Asian free size – it fits all.

Notes from our meeting for 18 July, 2012

Facilitator: Terry

Attendees: Wendy, David R, Terry, Leonie, Robin, Garry, Cath, Geoff

News:

Robin had a good day out going to Wollongong for medical/optical visits; Garry enjoyed another birthday – one of his nephews now 47; Leonie had done a trip to Kiama to drop her friend off at the railway, enjoyed the trip and scenery despite not liking to drive at night; Wendy was still not well, along with her chest infection she is also suffering from sciatica…but she braved it all; David R had been enjoying swims and walks and daily poetry writing; Cath was having problems with her digital TV but she’ll struggle through; Terry shared how his daughter would be going for surgery soon for the tumor she has on her brain; Geoff shared about a surprise visit from his son who lives in Melbourne and a poem that is evolving from the visit.

Words of the Day

Garry…Reflective introvert…writers are often described so. Leonie… leporine…rabbit like; Geoff…irresolute…indecisive, dithering; Robyn… ramifications…consequences resulting from an action; Wendy…wifty….silly, inane; David…mnemonics…pattern of letters to aid the memory; Cath…synesthaesia…seeing letters/numbers in colour; Terry…arrant…downright (as in downright liar)

Quick write, 10 minutes, using all the words, brought out the cleverness of the Poets and Writers

Homework: ……the baby sitter saw a disturbing photograph

Once again, the Poets and Writers expressed themselves admirably.

Discussion:

David R shared about how he writes daily and read an example ‘poem’ about togetherness

Homework

Leonie shared about ‘TIME’ : in time, on time, out of time, best time and many other things related to, TIME, so our topic for homework is : TIME

Record of meeting 11 July 2012

Present and opinionated: David R, Jo, Terry, Trish, Geoff, Leonie, David C, Helene, Geoff.

 News: Terry quoted a saying – there’s something special about being unique. Terry will send the link to a pod-cast about a young man motivated by poverty who started Beechworth Bakeries and has been successful through hard work. Trish had the family visiting at the weekend and won four meat trays which meant she had to cook. Garry shared a birthday cake with his nephew and regained contact with a Karin friend in the States thanks to the Internet and Skype. Leonie was concerned she had another skin cancer but the dermatologist cleared her. David C has looked after his sick wife. Helene’s four year old grandson has delayed his visit to attend his girlfriend’s birthday party. Geoff received a parking fine last week in Nowra. David R is back swimming at 8 am in the mornings and has been on a few walks from Palm Beach. Jo had her son visiting and told us about positive feedback from the Cancer Council and has entry forms for a local poetry competition.

Word of the day

Malleable = can be moulded Disquisition = a long or elaborate treatis or discourse on a subject. Preconceived = to form an opinion before hand. Stalemate = deadlock. Adverse = unfavourable, undesirable. Censorial = adj an aspect of the superego from the subconscious from the translation of zensur. Ponderous = very heavy, weighty, important. Intransigent = unwilling to agree or move. Inane = senseless. Inamorata = in love.

Writing from words of the day

 The plastic brain. The committee on climate change. An open forum not a love in. Kat’s eyes. Uncle Paul - a very funny poem. Casanova and a basket of figs. Ducks on a ponder.

Reading of homework

 David C – Signing the contract. Leonie – how opinions are changed. Garry – an opinionated person, a gambler, leaders, experiences, knowledge and freedom of speech. Trish – a great story of buying the best house twice. Terry – debating from different points of view, media and mind games. Jo – read an opinion from the paper on National Parks and Shooters Party. David R – O pines I eaten - a poem.   

Other readings

Leonie – Her grand father - the husband of Rose. Terry – a poem about refugees on leaky boats

A quick write on - your manuscript will not be returned

Produced great work on the topics of Murder by mail. A work of art. Thomas wrote the declaration – my life’s work. My children’s story. A true story his alone. The literary agent. Environmentally friendly. Poisoning the editor. A poem on expecting huge prizes.

Homework - The baby sitter finds a disturbing photograph.

Record of meeting 4 July 2012

Present and aware: Cath, Terry, Trish, Garry, David C, Leonie, Robyn, Helene, Wendy, David R, Jo.

News: Helene went to see the movie “The Lady” the story of Aung Sun Su Kyu. David has been in the cold country and recently went for a swim in the bay around midday. Jo has had needles in her eye and her family have gone home. Cath has been busy making her will and we had a discussion about making wills. Terry’s grandson has an effective way to deal with bullies. Trish and Garry told different family stories. David C had new bleach resistant carpet laid. Leonie has written a story for her grandchild and sent him a treasure.

Words of day

nimby = not in back yard

ponder = to weight up carefully and reflect

abnegate = to renounce a right or belief

eloquence = well spoken

serendipity = fate, destiny

wonton = immoral, frisky or lude

lycanthrope = werewolf

liberal = generous, free from narrowness

innocuous = harmless

implacable – relentless, cannot be appeased, unyielding

unique = one of a kind.

 Writing from words of the days

 From our words we wrote about the girl next door. Telecommunication towers. A poem about us all. Clean water, the troll, the man from Mullumbimby, the nimby in my backyard, Tom’s lycanthrope, Dr Jeckel, pondering on the story, thoughts about cats.

Reading of homework

Wendy – the creator of the wonder bra. David R – crystal waters a poem about a tropical paradise. Terry – Leonardo in a parallel universe and Charles Dickens. Trish – the first breakfast. Garry – dreams of meeting Gina Reinhardt. David C interviewed John Cleese - but wanted more. Leonie – Rose, my grandmother. Robyn – my great grandmother.  Helene - Simone de Bouvier

Readings and discussion

David R is reading Elizabeth George – Believing the lie – a fascinating read. Terry is reading the Steve Jobs book. Helene bought in the book "Christmas Island naturally".

We discussed our book preferences and writing about the truth and our opinions

Homework

Opinions or onions which ever you prefer.