Record of meeting 12 March 2014

Words of the day

Banal = devoid of freshness or originality

Whetted = excite, stimulate, sharpen

Obliged = under a debt of gratitude for debt or favour

Cowed = disheartened or subdued

Contretemps = unexpected

Globule = drop, blob, bead, glob, ball

Crepitate = a crackling sound

Clout = thump, wallop, influence and type of nail

Excogitate = think out loud

Chagrin = feeling of disappointment, humiliation

Vestibule = passageway into a house

 

Writing from words of the day – less than six degrees of separation happening

We created a range of intersecting stories about Saliva and potato chips, Skin hugging tights, Precious, The scouts competition, Learning at the writing group, Claptrap investigating a mystery (Melissa confirmed that claptrap was word of the day on her IPad she just opened – na, na, na, na, na), The mob, His former self, Lycra undergarments and A tear and a cough.

 

Homework – lots more connections

 Our member in Thailand and other members shared their homework on the topics of The bicycle from Garry, The gawk hawk from David R, Like a bear from Helene, What a beautiful sight a self appreciative poem from Wendy, The silver tube from Terry could lead to more on the topic, My perfect day from Lynne, Wearing white for meditation by Margaret accompanied by a demonstration, Southern fried crush in a southern accent from Melissa, Busted at the bar by David C of course and My sister announced we are white water rafting on the Zambezi river from Elizabeth.

 

Afternoon tea

Snow balls (yummy chocolate coated marshmallows with coconut) and two varieties of Tim Tams for afternoon tea

 

Reading

David R recommends the P D James novel “Death comes to Pemberley” which he describes as fantastic. He will return it to the Sanctuary Point Library soon. 

David R will have a pacemaker inserted soon and shared his poem about it.

 

Exercise – physical not writing today

Terry and David C retrieved our cupboard containing fiction and non fiction books from the church. Books will be catalogued and are available for borrowing.

 

Homework

The forgery

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 5 March 2014

 
Words of the day

Cockalorum = a self important little man

Modernity = modern

Calliope = inspiration to write poetry and a steam organ

Surreptitious = under hand, secret

Quiff = a hairstyle and a woman who is promiscuous

Vigour = vigorously

Furore = a commotion, riot, public anger, uproar

Brick with eyes = Glen Lazareth

Erstwhile = former or once

Ensemble = band, company,

 

Writing from words of the day

We took the diverse list of words and crafted weird and creative stories about The writer’s festival, Bill Jay the poetry reader, Who would have guessed, Dances with blokes in frocks, The mayor in pink, Fat boy Tony, The little boys department, His mistress, The strip joint and Inciting furore.

 

Reading of Homework

Those present shared a variety of creative homework with the subjects - Not enough poor people by Leonie, The prawns for mum by Margaret, The rusty lamp from Garry and read by Jo, Modes of transport from Cath, Bananas by David R, I’m a disgrace from Wendy, A place to live from Helene, This too shall pass by Melissa and The need for speed by David C.

 

 

Afternoon tea

 

Margaret and Melissa shared tea cake and cookies with the group to celebrate Jo and David C's recent secret birthdays.

 

Reading and reading

Jodi Picoult – The storyteller – recommended by Melissa.

Jo read part of “The octopus” by Dylan Thomas and shared information about show not tell

Margaret shared information she used in teaching English.

David R – read the two comfy poems Preparation about his travel to his country retreat and Bed.

 

Exercise

Margaret gave us an exercise to write our first impressions from a variety of characters including an older person with long hair, someone with tattoos, piercings or red hair.

Some people quickly departed after hearing the exercise. Those left wrote about What people are thinking in their head – thoughts of a redhead and a blonde about the other person - a great insight from Melissa, Guess who, A cop and his captive, An attractive young man, In the reflection, No discrimination, Face like a road map and attracted by differences.

 

Homework

Caught staring - your character is caught staring, what happens next?

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 26 February 2014

 
Words of the day

Sanctimonious = hypocritical

Monosyllables = short conversation

Challenge = a claim a vote is invalid and four other meetings.

Clique = select group which excludes other

Ignoble = dishonourable, low birth

Vacillate = alternate or waver

Liminal = transition point, border

Solatium = money for compensation

Luddite = someone opposed to or not confident with new technology

Buss – kiss

 

Writing from words of the day

We created a fabulous range of imaginative stories and poems ie Nothing like a pollie from Terry, The fun moon from Cathy, An old man from Jo, It started with a buzz from Margaret, All kinds of excuses from Leonie, A new member from David C, The mayor from Susan, Bonsai Creek from David R, The press conference from Helene, and a great poem about The group from Wendy.

 

Reading of homework

The diligent writers shared creative stories and poems  - A flying challenge from Garry, The cardigan from Margaret, Some thoughts home, jobs and living with fibromyalgia from Leonie, Yoga and being bendy from Susan, In the shadows and Changes two poems from David R, What can I share from Helene and Music was in my blood from Terry.

 

Reading

Margaret is re-reading “A fortune teller told me”, sounds interesting but Margaret was mysterious.

 

Helene has read “Sex, lies and bonsai” by Lisa Walker - an interesting combination of themes.

 

 

Quick write - Lost and found

We used the inspirational words "lost and found" from the absent Melissa to write a variety of short stories as follows.  Jo - People, feelings, creatures; Margaret – a place in time, a new bright day; Leonie - at the beach; David C – my best man; David R – Forgetful; Helene – lost in a forest of bonsai; Wendy – taste for music; Lynne – lost my mind; Terry – jewellery and Cath – finding the way.

 

Homework

In excess - let your mind wander to excess, no not Exeter - although that is a charming place.

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 19 February 2013

News

Welcome to Sarah from ABC Open who stayed at the Coolangatta Wine Estate last night for paddling and food. Also welcome to Susan who is writing short stories including one using emails.

Terry met up with old friends attending the Hobie Cat races, Leonie has been swimming and doing her physio exercises, David C has returned from beautiful Tasmania, Jo not doing much, Elizabeth is back from a gathering of the clan, Cath had a busy time at home, Melissa went to see the play the Long way home, Helene is having some deck supports replaced, David R is living the idyllic life and editing his old poems. Garry news he is moving from Thailand to Malaya.

Welcome back to Morrie who was not able to write from the time he left the group until recently.

 

Words of the day

Flaccid = soft and limp, drooping feeble

Belligerent = hostile

Encase or incase = to put in a case

Cathartic = purging

Cognisant = aware, having knowledge

Abnegate = to deny and renounce

Hubris = overbearing pride or presumption

Emergence = appearance, surfacing

Personal = individual,

Bionic = having artificial body parts

Besmirch = defame, slander

Jejune = naive, unsophisticated, superficial

 

Writing from words of the day

We used the diverse list of words and created a wealth of stories covering the topics - In Parliament from Leonie, Personal comments in the department from Susan, Question time from Terry, From the bathroom by Sarah, Salad greens from David R, Banana cake by Helene, The fairy and her operation from Melissa, The bionic character by Cath, Experiments in life, and Not human – strangely from David C.

 

Reading of homework

A baby’s hand – Terry, Further description of Mrs Banks by Leonie, I’m a procrastinator by David C, The voice from the gorge – Jo, A haiku poem from Melissa, Readers Digest by Helene, The scene of schemes by David R and The medicine man from Garry.

 

ABC Open

Sarah Moss who is the producer for ABC Open South Coast and Tablelands made a presentation to the group about ABC Open. Sarah informed and encouraged us to contribute to ABC Open. For more details have a look at https://open.abc.net.au/projects or contact Sarah on mobile 0477 309 110 or work (02) 4428-4544

 

Homework

A personal challenge – take the challenge - it’s homework this week and the topic for ABC Open contributions for February 2014.

 

 

Record of meeting 12 February 2014

News of the week - a week of cats and dogs

Geoff is not well and staying with friends at Calala Beach- we would send him a real get well card if we could - instead we send him out best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to the group.  David R has enjoying swimming, walking and writing. Cath announced her birthday on Facebook and made cats meat stew, she also received a condolence card from Fifi the cat. Melissa discussed SFA. Helene discussed frozen tomatoes. Wendy went to the dingo farm and shared interesting information.  Terry went to the sailing of the Hobie Cats on the weekend. Jo has been to doctors and other boring things, and wore her new glasses to impress us - see pic below.  Leonie has visited the beach but went home  quickly because of the strong wind. Welcome to Debbie who writes in her head (doesn't everyone she asked, she will fit right into the group) and is doing a writing course soon

 

Words of the day

Putative = generally considered or reputed to be

Niche = small space or speciality

Filch = to steal something small

Nascent = not yet mature fully emerging or developed

Sandstone = a rock of closely adhering sand

Hope = feeling of expectation of desire

Infinitesimal = very small or calculus term

Leeway = make allowances

Diaphanous = transparent, sheer

Contrived = planned

 

Writing from words of the day

From our eclectic list of words we created brilliant stories about The exhibition house - Helene, Stealing sugar and salt - Wendy, People storing - Terry, How many grains of sand - Jo, The statue of remembrance - Debbie, The department store from Leonie, Dreams of a man from David, Hidden away by Cath and Cherubs from Melissa.

 

Reading of homework

George’s lost marbles - a poem from David R, A description of Mrs Louise Banks by Leonie, Jo talked about a character she had problems developing further, Terry - on the other side of the curtain, Fifi lost her marbles from Helene. The competition from Garry in Thailand contained a dog called Fifi - where is your respect Garry? Have you been living too long in a foreign land?

 

Information and reading

Terry read out the message about the See Change festival - Wild about words. We expressed interest in participating in the trivia challenge on the weekend of 1 June 2014.

David R – read his poem Shades he wrote this morning and another poem Dreams. David also explained how he sees friends in colour and told us our colours.

 

Exercise

We participated in a progressive write starting with Welcome to my world. The cobbled together stories covered - my stomach and the witch doctor, fins and fangs, The mental hospital, A bumpy ride, Up the creek, A zombie, Outer space, An unforgettable party, the Angel and falling on my face.

 

Homework

Trust me I’m a …………

 

 

Jo impressive in her new glasses - she says she can see better

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record of meeting 5 February 2014

 
Words of the day

Selfie = a self portrait photograph

Angst = feeling of anxiety sometimes associated with depression

Subtle = so delicate

Rebuke = to criticise with sharpness and often abruptness

Hireling = a person who is hired for dubious work

Evoke = to bring forth or recall to the conscious mind

Infallible = faultless, floorless, perfect, never wrong

Gravitas = dignity, solemness

 

Reading of writing from words of the day

We created wacky stories from words of the day about

Fifi taking a Selfie in the bath, Before the wedding, Artistic achievements, Leave the mines, Red hot pants, Promoting himself, A hireling photographer and All over the country.

 

Reading of homework

We read brilliant stories and poems on the topics

Helene – Lost time

Wendy- What the Heck

Garry- lost teeth and glasses

Terry- Memories

Margaret- Colour Blue

David- Sat Nav

Leonie- A Strand of Loose Hair

Melissa- Accent

 

Announcements

Terry – announced Wild about Words (a literature component of the See Change festival consisting of local readings) will occur at the end of May at Boo Books in Huskisson.  Sue Kucharova, an organiser of the event will come to a meeting to give us more info.

 

Book recommendations and discussion

David. R - Questions of Travel by Michelle de Kretser (Miles Franklin award 2013)

Margaret- A Fortune Teller Told Me by Tiziano Terzani

Discussion about words- the wonderful, the wacky, and the weird!

 

Quick write

We spent five minutes describing a person's physical characteristics in terms of food – yummy stuff

 

Homework

George never would have guessed a coffin could hold so many marbles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting 29 January 2014

 

Words of the day

Invoke = to call on, address in prayer, ask earnestly

Gobbledegook = confused or unintelligible jargon

Enervate = to make someone feel drained of energy

Cliché = expression or idea no longer effective because of overuse

Skulduggery = underhanded dealings

Recalcitrant = obstinately uncooperative, disobedient

Bogan = uncultured unsophisticated

Specious = looks OK at first sight, plausible

Muzzy = fuzzy or confused

Expatiate = wander at large or roam, speak or write at great length

 

Writing from words of the day

We created some serious stories - I worship the English language, Speechless bad fairy, RBT – I was invigorated, Exposure of skulduggery, A fist fight near the Mall, The group discussions,  Letter to the Housing Commissioner, A phone conversation, The audience was bored and a typical bogan.

 

Reading of homework

We told tales of A taxi in Barcelona - Elizabeth, He was not alone - Margaret, The last trip home - David C, Charles Dickens stories from Geoff, Sir Roger Ponsenby – a boyhood escape from Terry, Borrowing memories from names in a book an intriguing story by Melissa and Surgery from a book from Helene. Sorry Garry mislaid your homework again.

 

Exercise

We wrote creative stories about the colour blue, new national holidays for Bogans, Non Politicians Day and Short Ass day and strange tourist attractions located down steep cliffs and at the end of multi coloured stairs.

 

Homework

This morning I couldn’t find ……………………………