Record of meeting 21 November 2012

Present

Jo, Geoff, Helene, Terry, Cathy, Leonie, Trish and welcome back to David C

 

News

We are fortunate to have David C return to the group after his gory and glorious battle with Sweets Syndrome in hospital. Trish went to see the Bogan movie "Housos versus Authority". Helene gave blood on Tuesday. Terry talked about Tom Hank’s father who was in the Diamonds.  Cath’s pineapple is nearly ripe, her Mexican garlic has grown and she bought in a book in to share. Leonie has progress in her garden thanks to her physiotherapist and following the exercises.  Jo’s son bought her a Laptop but it blew a fuse. Geoff had his foot operation, thanks to Terry for help with transport. Geoff is feeling much better and now wears a surgical glove on his foot in the shower.

Words of the day

Stochastic = random and unpredictable.

Paramour = a lover especially one in an adulterous relationship

Tarantella = a number of different Italian folk dances

Fungible = interchangeable

Trepidation = fearful of the unknown

Reprise = rent paid yearly, a resumption, a deduction from a payment, a renewal, a new attack in fencing

Dastardly = cowardly and malicious

Exuberant = luxuriantly prolific, overflowing with good spirits

Iterate = to repeat, to rehearse

 

Writing from words of the day

Cath – Lost happiness

Leonie – Her friend’s husband

Trish – Need a strong heel

Jo – the witch hunt

David C – the cherry

Geoff – the plot

Helene – the writing group

Terry – Marmaduke

 

Reading of homework

Garry – toilet leaves

David C – downsizing

Geoff – the Australian federation

Helene – Can’t stop

Terry – How do they think?

Cath – Chewing gum

Leonie – Yellow ducky

Trish – a day at the races

Jo – In the dishwater

 

Exercise

We took on the challenge to write a short story from a chosen quote and came up with a variety of interesting stories

 Leonie – an emergency

Cath – the explosion

Terry – Grown up

Helene – Tarago pub

Geoff – The real history

David C – How did I get here?

Jo – Notify who?

Trish – Washing up

 

Homework

Finders keepers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 14 November 2012

Present at Café Overboard Ulladulla

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

 

News

 David R had a wonderful time with his sister and niece who have been visiting – saw a total of eight whales with calves. Garry was diagnosed with Diabetes type 2. Cath has re-organised her garage. Jo had great service from the Glebe Morgue. Robyn had no hospital visits. Wendy W went to Canberra and had a nice day visiting her sister. Helene had her grandson visiting for a week. Terry’s daughter has a clean bill of health. Trish had her daughter visit on the weekend.

Words of the day

 Paradoxical = seemingly absurd or self-contradictory

Eviscerate = disembowel

Wamble = disgust, nauseate, walk unsteadily, vacillate

Decrepit = enfeebled by age or infirmity

Precocious = matured or developed too early

Chicanery = skull duggery, hanky panky, tricky

Venial = minor or easily excused

Flagrant = openly outrageous

Fragmentary = consisting of small parts

 

Writing from words of the day

 

The law and the nursing home. The sticky beak. That old man. Green Chicken curry. The ICAC investigation. The pirate. Thoughts of a hyena. Thoughts in noise. Youths in venial sin. Venial actions.

Reading of homework

A day at the Bong Bong picnic races. Mr Laisez Fair. Prince Lucky Mole and the mouse. Joining the Guides. The street man. Following the example. Caring for a boy cannot show he cares.

 

Readings

Terry - Nice tatts

David R - his great grandfather’s poem – Ode to the McLean river

David R – Beryl the whale single mother

David R – The Upper reaches

 

Homework

A brilliant idea

 

Thanks to Di and Steve for their hospitality at Café Overboard.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 7 November 2012

Present

Cathy, Leonie, Jo, Wendy, Gary, Geoff, Helene

 

News

Wendy: Went camping in Nowra - 30 bikes - good time, got flu, stiff neck.

Cath: Bought grass and painted shelves.

Jo: Didn't get to Trish's Melbourne Cup Day, although she was there.

Leonie: Went to Trish's got third prize.

Gary: Went to Seniors for lunch Cup day, good food provided. Got the winner, gave the ticket away.

Geoff: Went to Sydney Men's Choir, Entertainment Centre - good crowd - his son was in USA floods, cons. no sight-seeing.

Helene: Picked up her grandson for a week's visit.

 

Words of the Day

acrimonious: bitterness or sharp in tone.

reconstruct: build up

palimpsest: a vellum that is re-written over but originals still observable.

revivify: memory - re-live - recreate - reanimate.

camouflage: blending in - use to conceal.

intricate: complex, complicated, obscure.

fracas: noisy, quarrelsome.

 

Writing using words of the day

Wendy: Found an old book - cave talk - riddle must be solved a great poem

Cath: Two Paras. 2 tales, Tautly written in newspaper style.

Jo: Princess Zia - spoilt - 11th century story.

Leonie: Legal things - words of Law, annoying.

Gary: Broome - huge building project in Aboriginal land, not wanted therefore. Peace in our time!

Geoff: US election - acrimony - goodwill and negotiation on all issues needed.

Helene: Camilla in a Museum - helicopter in old book.

 

Homework - A scary stranger

Helene: Walking home alone at night - followed by car - wait and see what happens.

Cath: Tony waiting for bus. Going to movies. Has audition for play, as a scary stranger.

Jo: A strange man poem. Has ideas for her at midnight.

Leonie: Memory of car crash. Wandering. Has every problem one can have. Gets a job to save herself but is mainly on night shift.

Gary: Fairy story continued - Luckymole - cockroaches beware.

 

A Quick Write - Desperate Measures

Gary: A Storm at sea – the captain prayed.

Geoff: ATM's versus bank hours. The former rush for cash no longer exists on Fridays.

Helene: Marina, doesn't like Melbourne. She tells her boss she has an exotic disease which will kill her if she goes to Melbourne.

Wendy: Poem: Happy and contented with a rich, blind man and his dog.

Cath: Eugene, why? What's it all about?

Jo: The hole in the ground.

Leonie: Keeping relatives alive - let things happen when they will.

 

Other news

In the break Jo handed around an interesting family tree sheet, showing how young our country really is as most of the people on the sheet lived to a good age. Aboriginal forebears were included.

We enjoyed lots of conversation about little-known types of community life in different countries, new road rules in NSW and Iview.

We will all be at the cafe in Ulladulla next week, a few of us being ferried.

Poetry reading Friday night 6 pm Arts Centre Nowra and Saturday morning Poetry workshop – info on line on Arts in Shoalhaven

 

Homework

Who cares?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 31 October 2012

Present

Leonie, Jo, Garry, David R, Helene, Wendy W, Geoff, Cath

 

News

Geoff has returned from the wedding of his second son in England and his other son is in New York. Cath’s grandson and wife went on a whale watch cruise and both were sick. Jo had a nasty phone call. Leonie didn’t do homework but entered a competition and loved the topic. Garry went to play Euchre on Tuesday and had a great time and will keep going back. David R had a lovely swim this morning. Helene enjoyed walking on the beach on the weekend. Wendy is going camping at Tarara near Nowra with her bikie friends.

The group decided to continue with our plans to meet in Ulladulla on 14 November meeting - Helene to organise.

 

Words of the day

Mongrel = a mixed breed or kind of dog or person not of pure race.

Incendiary = inflammatory, malicious setting of fire

Promethean = from the Greek god suffering for good

Heterodox = not confirming with orthodox standards or beliefs

Neurogenesis = the process of birthing new connection in the brain (from the book Retraining the brain Dr Frank Lawlis)

Paradox = statement that could be true but might not be true

Adduce = to argue based on your own belief, proof or instance

Smug = complacent and self satisfied

 

Writing from words of the day

 Helene – Paradox

Wendy – terrorist kid next door

Geoff – the debate

Cath – politics

Jo – the brothers

Leonie – something new

Garry – a smug look

David R – the receptionist

 

Homework

Garry – Brown paper bags, footballs and coconuts and pig tattoos – very imaginative.

David R – Indelible memories a thoughtful poem

Wendy W – Take me as I am – a funny poem about body enhancements

 

Geoff – in transit in the Sheiks building Dubai 

Cath – turn off the beer keg

Jo – Finding a sister after an accident – a great description

 

Poetry news

Peter Porter poetry prize $4,000 – look it up on the net.

Poetry reading in Nowra Friday 9 November – details in the Register.

 

Exercise

We wrote super short stories in 50 words or less. The topics included Take it easy. Dancing. Going to the mountains. Wish I was with Do Do. Old bloke. Watery grave.  End of romance. Cool water. Lazarus rose. One who won. Too late.

We also wrote and told embarrassing stories about My neighbour, The rug, A strong wind, No light, Elastic, Broken couch, Falling off the bike and Falling off a horse.

 

Homework

Write about a scary stranger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 24 October 2012

Present

David R, Jo, Wendy W, Helene, Garry, Leonie, David C, Cath, Robyn

 

News

Today Garry had a diabetes test and met an interesting woman. He also enjoyed his dog sit of Jaffa near Braidwood. Leonie has returned from a nice visit with her mother. Jo has tangled with the bank over her son’s account suggested we look at class action banks on the net. Robyn’s husband Joe has been home for a week without going to hospital. David C and wife drove down Holden Street and paddled their kayaks to Moona Moona Creek ended up in the water and walked back to the car. Cath had a wasp building a home on her garbage bin and went to a digital camera workshop. Wendy W planted her vege garden etc. Helene had a battle with a tick. David R has also been working in the garden.

 

Words of the day

Garry – defenestrate = to throw out the window

Leonie – razzia = a hostile incursion or pillage

Jo – apache = a violent lawless hoodlum

Robyn – precocious = advanced

David C - Brogue = accent of the Irish/Scottish and a shoe made out of one piece of leather

Cath -congruent = harmonious agreement

Wendy W – insouciant = carefree, nonchalant

Helene - Chauvinism = irrational belief that ones own country, race, group, or sex is superior

David R – anachronism = belonging to another period

 

Writing from words of the day

Wendy – I don’t care. Cath – the next battle. David C – the upstart. Robyn – head dress. Jo – successful mission. Leonie – beaten by brogues. Garry – don’t touch the Abbott. David R – Razzia the racehorse – a great poem. 

 

Reading of homework

David C – Jeremy’s winter adventure – a mountain change a funny story. Helene – lunch and breakfast. David R – Family Christmas dinner with feudadynamics. Garry told us the story of how we got picnics and make up. Leonie – the next generation organising an event with love and affection. Jo – no family meals here. Robyn – a picnic and surprises for the family.

Meeting at Café Overboard Ulladulla Wednesday 14 October 2012

David C to organise the meeting on Wednesday 14 November 2012 at Café Overboard. Plan is to leave the church at 12:30 pm and be back by 4 pm. Helene to give an updated email list to David and David will send an email to all on the list.

 

Reading

Wendy W read her children’s poem “George and Barry” very cute.

David R read letters to the Argus newspaper from two Rudder brothers who had served in the Boer War.

 

Exercise

We did a progressive write using words that sound the same.

 

Homework

Write about a tattoo.

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 17 October 2012

Present

 

Leonie, Jo, Jenny, David R, Helene, Wendy W, Terry, Robyn, Cath

 

News

 

Robyn’s husband Joe is home feeling like a yo yo after spending 10 days out of hospital since August, he is a lot better. Terry’s house was not damaged in the recent storms but his Renshades were and the company is replacing the material. Cath went to the RSL last week and slid down the leg of a chair and had a pond in her garage. Wendy W has been away to Yeovil and saw Banjo Patterson poems displayed. Helene has been away to Dubbo and Katoomba. David R’s daughter has recently obtained a job at the Noosa Leisure Centre. Jenny is returning to Queensland later today and has enjoyed her time here. We wish Jenny a safe return to Vincentia. Jo is into nothingness. Leonie is going to see her mother in Queensland on the weekend. Leonie has written letters to each of her children and it was emotional.

 

Words of the day

Panacea = solution or remedy universal cure

Teller = bank cashier, counts votes and one who tells

Parsimonious = frugal or penny pinching

Calumny = slander

Misnomer = misapplication or a word or term

Epitome = a summary of a book or article or a perfect example of a summary or type

Personality = individuality, offensive remark about a person

Animism = inseparable from matter to which all life, apparition

 

Writings from words of the day

An excellent array of stories - Personality of a wheelbarrow, In the house (a funny poem by Terry) The town of Panacea, Do we believe, Return for a body, The scrooge, Ms Nomer, Steve the teller, The right to be mean.

 

Reading of homework

The Scottish kilt, My bush garden, Tendrils in the garden, The party – seduction as an art – very entertaining, A little wind - invited into their world, Tempe tip. A tall thin man - Oscar Wilde. Discrimination – a poem through a haze.

 

Readings

David R – the bat from hell visits Meatloaf.

Jo – read out a letter written in 1925 from a man who was gassed twice in the First World War.

Terry provided explanations of lay (set something down) and lie (to rest in a horizontal position).

 

Exercise a 10 minute write about sleep

Half asleep or half awake: Ned nodded: Marmaduke the magician – a funny poem: The dream of sleep: Light through the curtains: Throttle the creep: Ideas through my mind: Stayed up all night: The orange wall.

Homework

Write about the family dynamics at a family dinner or picnic.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting on 10th October 2012

Meeting Notes for 10^th October 2012

(Wendy facilitated)

In attendance: Jo, Mary, Leonie, David R, David C, Cath, Geoff, Wendy, Terry

News This week.

Leonie…Stayed home to write rather than a trip to Pt. Macquarie

David C…Still chopping wood…Saw Di and Steve at their café in Ulladulla… suggestion to hold one of our Wed. meetings there.   Geoff…Wrote a letter to the Australian referring to plagiarism by one of their journalists     Wendy…Going on a trip to Canberra, Cowra, and Parkes      Terry…had another fun time with 3 grandsons…hours of fun just with paper planes and a ceiling fan.   Jo…Nothing to report  Mary…went to see Cirque de Soliel…fantastic     David R…youngest daughter’s b’day today

Cath…just the usual

Words of the day…

Jo…Scarlet…red, scarlet woman…interpreted as representing pagan Rome

Mary…piscatorial…of fishing (Pisces)…a bit fishy

David R…eidetic…an image which revives a previous image in vivid detail

Leonie…bovine…someone a bit slow, not too clever

Cath…salubrious…conducive to health, wholesome

David C…penogammy (penology?)…the science of punishment

Geoff…supine…lying down on your back, listless

Wendy…nutate…nodding

Terry…facile…agreeable, yielding

Stories from words of the day…a range of fascinating ways to incorporate the words...from fishing…to neighbours…politicians…napping…scarlet women …reflections

Homework…

David R…a poem about a trip to Gina’s attic with Garry… finding a suitcase filled with expensive goodies.

Leonie…continuing Madeline’s story…about Josephine…a filing cabinet in an attic…and a hidden letter…showing past skullduggery

David C…about rose cottage…an old port…gnomes…an angel…and a dove

Wendy…Fame…a poem…poor Mrs Average Australian

Terry…Poem…three boys investigate an old house and find a shrunken head.

Jo…Kids in a neighbourhood…always looking for the mystery trunk…

Mary…Aunt Cecelia’s legacy…refound in a porn shop…oops Pawn shop.

Garry…The continuing adventures of Prince Lucky-Mole…finding Pandora’s box.

Post break…Mary read a story about a Ushabti…obsidian figures buried with a body to aid in the afterlife…and a small boy’s strange experience. Really interesting.

Leonie…read a young children’s story about jumping onto clouds. Really very good…she should try and get it published.

David R read one of his poems. He’s becoming quite prolific.

Terry…read a couple of poems by Spike Milligan. What a talent he had.

Exercise…The letters of the alphabet were used as the beginning letter of a word or sentence. What a range of odd stories and poems.

Homework…Do a description of a person, place or thing so that the person reading it gets a real understanding of the person or place…or thing.