Record of meeting 29 August 2012

Present

Jo, David R, Geoff, Garry, Helene, Wendy W, Cath, Terry, Trish, Robyn

 

News

Wendy W went for a picnic in a lovely spot at Congo near Moruya.  Helene has been reading lots of books on her e-reader and found it is possible to borrow e-books from the library. Garry found he couldn’t remember how to live without his computer. Geoff brought in a cartoon about the liberal party and work choices. David R is going away for some time including the bush, Kempsey, Kyogle, then to Queensland. Jo has been running round keeping busy. Robyn’s husband has been in hospital for a week and is now home. Terry is catching up with his son for the first time for many years and his daughter is having her surgery next week. Cath has been gardening and bought in old maps of Vincentia and other areas for us to examine.

 

Words of the day

Calumny = false statement used to destroy someone’s reputation, slander.

Panoply = complete equipment of a warrior, magnificent array

Hobnobbing = to mix socially with the upper class

Courteous = polite, considerate, chivalrous

Stupidity = foolishness

Asymmetric = uneven, oddly matched

Zephyr = a soft wind or gauzy material

Ichneumon = a mongoose

Translucent = transparent

Catalyst = help or encouragement for progress or change

We constructed amazing stories from the diverse range of the words of the day. The stories were about The missionary and the headman, the mongoose, The corruption, Asymmetrical steering, The hoi poli, Egyptian fashion, The work meeting, A blue butterfly (a great poem), The council and My niche (a funny poem).

 

Reading of homework

Our fractured fairy stories were extremely creative with the following topics

 

A grim tale of long hair and no stairs

Three pigs as the neighbours from hell and the generous council

A young woman who lived in shoe on benefits

Red and the wolf

Mary had a little lamb called Shadow including singing by Garry - very creative

Three brothers, Telstra and Optus - a modern intellectual tale of brothers reunited

Sunday dinner from the lamb’s point of view

Two little pigs – never believe what your mother tells you

Other stuff

David R read a poem called “Windy town” written for Wendy and our recent windy weather.

Terry shared information about naming characters in fictional writing.

 

Homework

Write a story that has moral.

Record of meeting 22 August 2012

Present in our sunny meeting room

Cathy, Terry, Trish, Leonie, David R, Geoff, Garry, Helene, Wendy W

News

Terry’s daughter finished her Certificate 3 in Aged care last week. Cath said there are lots of birds around at present. Wendy had a weird phone call from the IMB and has been on her usual picnics. Helene had a new Lamb burger and has a new Galaxy Tablet. Garry’s foster mum is now in a Nursing home and is not happy. Geoff’s sons October wedding details are on a web site. David R has been away for a couple of weeks. Leonie’s son is not visiting as expected. Trish visited a friend with dementia yesterday.

Words of the day

Ministries = office, bureau, department, organisation.

Inkling = suspicion, hint

Glimmer = a flash of light or hint

Raucous = harsh in sound

Mollify = to appease

Juxtaposition – side by side

Objurate = impenitent, not giving into persuasion

Alacrity = brisk and cheerful readiness

Allusive = indirectly, implying, hinting

Collaboratively = working together

We produced a variety of stories using the words on the topics of; An interesting week in parliament, I liked the t-shirt, The agenda, The reader I bought, Ministries of Experts, The scenery for the mini series, The Karma Sutra, Promises of local government.

Reading of homework

We read our stories about

Custard fights in Gallipoli Street, Drawings on the walls in Auburn, Bronze medal for hurdling, Running with burning paper, A dark dream, Valley Road Mt Eden, Down Memory Lane on 30 shillings a week, On the streets where I didn’t grow up, If only - brilliant poem on being a man.

Books and poetry

Gary read three great books recently Gina Rinehart, the biography “The good earth” by Pearl Buck and the Cathy Freeman biography.

Terry read out the poem “The jewel in the crown”.

Wendy suggested looking up Roald Dahl on Google for funny stories.

David R is reading “Too many murders” by Colleen McCullough. 

Homework

Write a fractured fairy tale or nursery story ie from a different point of view, a different outcome, change the characters. Use your imagination.

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