Present: David R, Jo, David C, Geoff, Helene, Mandy, Wendy
News: David R apologised for the things he has said that upset some people in the group and will make an effort not to do so again. Jo is thinking about the number of times she has almost been killed. Jo’s son Danny has vacuumed up all her spiders. David C is learning to play the ukulele because his fingers are too short to play a guitar. David C is has advertised his chamber pots on E Bay as a collection – anyone interested. Geoff talked about M J Hyland and how she cultivates the reader. Helene drove from Canberra this morning to attend the meeting. Mandy has bought a mobile phone and is learning how to use it for emergencies but will not give out her number. Mandy recently put her sixth book called “Missouri” on Smashwords. Wendy talked about an article in Rugby League week about Kim Williams her son who is a coach of coaches.
Word of the day: Mandy followmelad – ribbons worn on the back of a hat indicating a woman is single. Wendy – let the cat out of the bag – came from the practice of substituting a cat for a pig. David R – cash-cow – a business investment or product that produces an easy profit. Jo – forebear and forbear to abstain from, to restrain oneself, be patient and an ancestor. David C – coetaneous - of a similar age. Geoff – schadenfreude - dark friend. Helene shared a thought for the day “The one cause of stress is the belief that my life is not going the way I want”.
Homework reading: David C – time traveller thought mental communication and a robotic nurse. Jo – wish hard enough and you will get it, life in a white laminated world. David R read “Seduced” a poem and “the great escape” a poem about a prisoner who escapes with hairspray. Wendy read her poem on the pleasures of living in a retirement home. Mandy a monologue Doris Day funny questions and answers about being old and repeating yourself, repeating yourself.
Exercise: We wrote progressive poetry and progressive stories which included ostriches, bears, crocodiles and buttons and bows.
Quick write: The scream echoed over the ocean stories included the characters Hortence, the Lock Ness Monster, seagulls, dolphins, a bull shark, a lost daughter and murder in the dark.
Homework: Write a story using the words an annoying boss, bikini and fake illness.
