Ian kicked off with The Storyteller, which tells of his evolution from a technical writer to where he is presently and of his love of reading and of book stores. He remembers writing a poem or story in the past, reading it out and awaiting comments, just as he did today...
Heather had another charming tale about Rufus Macgregor which will form part of a number of stories about him. It is Em’s birthday and she wakes up early and goes downstairs and opens her presents. One of them is a pink hippo which Rufus hates on sight as he fears it might replace him in Em’s affections but he learns to accept the fact that a friend of Em’s is a friend of his. The stories are intended to show children that they must learn to share.
Gerry wrote a poem about writer’s block.
‘There is nothing worse than writer’s block except sucking sick through a sweaty sock.’
I‘m glad I am not eating my tea as I write this blog!
Brenda read out her synopsis for the book about Belle and the diaries. Everyone agreed it could be shortened by at least 60 words by taking out unnecessary words.
Glyn’s contribution were two 500 word first pages of a book for entry into a competition. ‘His first customer was Irma, an evil and haughty woman, her gaze never wavered.’ He pulled the handle and she went through the trap door. The story-teller was an executioner and Irma had been sentenced to death because of atrocities during the 2nd world war. The other first page was about a young soldier in Kandahar. The narrator sees tears on the young soldier‘s face and then realises that they are his own tears, and that the soldier is dead. Glyn also told us that two London agents want to see him about publishing his Army book and he will see them when he visits UK in September.
Geoff wrote on the theme ‘Premonition‘. ‘It was the size of her shoes that struck me.’ He had run out to post a letter to the council with only a towel to hide his dignity, which slipped from him as he was dragged to the home of the lady with the large shoes. She looked deeply into his eyes ‘I heard that you have been fined by the council.’ As she was the local ASBO-holder she didn’t want anyone else muscling in on her notoriety. There was only room for one social nuisance on the street. When he read his horoscope later it said ‘Today you will meet a person of social standing and the morning will be full of surprises. You will need TLC later on.’ If only he had read it before he went out to post his letter. As usual the story was amusing and surreal.
John’s ditty was on the theme ‘How the affair started.’ I thought it was going to be one of John’s stories about his past misdemeanours but the affair was with Spain, which started when he and his family went to the Costa Brava on a BEA aeroplane that took 6 hours to get there. Skegness it was not! He came to live in Spain in 1995 and the novelty has not worn off yet. The story was descriptive and evocative.
Douglas read out a charming anecdote about his wedding to Jean who he met while on leave from the Army. They married in 1952. It was very descriptive about the lean times that existed then, when make do and mend was the order of the day, highlighting England’s war-time spirit. Douglas passed round a picture of the happy couple on their wedding day, and what a handsome young man he was then and still is now of course.
Avril had penned a poem about a car wash and confectionery!! It was a sweet rhyme about all sorts of things. Avril is writing a book of anecdotes for her son in Australia.
Norma also wrote on ‘The Premonition.’ A scream erupted from her mouth as she reflected on her dream in which her son was thrown off his cycle and she shouted out ‘Mark.’ The intensity of the word ‘Mark’ never left her. Three years after this dream she saw her son’s scarred back when he came out of the bathroom. Two years later she travelled overseas while her husband stayed at home. A voice in her head insisted that she get home and she managed to get on a plane. Her husband was on the landing and the doctor said the effects of the stroke had been ameliorated by her speedy arrival home. Mesmerising.
Jenny wrote about Summertime. Ned rocked back and forth, sat on his veranda. Teenagers were nearby. Ned sat swatting and watching. The boys saunter over to the girls and they pair off. Ned remembers. The repeating of the rocking, the swatting, and the watching was very atmospheric.
Maureen read out a shortened article about travel to a ski resort in Bolivia. The party left the ski lodge for the capital La Paz. A young girl peed on the ground and Maureen noticed the smell of urine pervading the air (not all of it from the little girl!). It was very descriptive; perhaps too descriptive for a travel mag.
Next week's theme is 'The world has changed' and that is the ending.
Cynthia
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