Predictions for 2014 from Garry our correspondant in Thailand

I was lying there on my bed wondering what I could share with you on this topic.

Suddenly the room became filled with light and I heard of voice, with a slight Jewish accent, say,

“ tell them about the day when you were 13yrs 10mnths, 5 days old, sitting in class at Crows Nest Boys High, Sydney Australia.”

Yes, the ‘Literature teacher,’ had just read the famous poem by, Rudyard K,

IF http://www.kipling.org.uk/poems_if.htm

I could feel my skin tingling and my hair seemed to be standing straight up.

I think most of you at B & B WG know this beautiful poem but at the end you ladies just have to change the words to – then you are a woman.

That is my prediction – IF – because as sure as night follows day, we will face many of the challenges but members of B & B WG will soldier on!!!

As the light faded and the voice fell silent, I remembered another day at school when the drama teacher had chosen me to be Malvolio in the Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare. I can remember standing on stage, looking out at the audience and uttered those famous words:
’some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them.’

That’s my prediction for writers and poets from B & B WG – GREATNESS in 2014.

I hope this is not too serious – I did think of writing about 2014 being, things much the same as 2013 – those afflicted with M A D will continue with their songs, those who write the poetry will do so and ideas will flourish in the garden of ‘words of the day’. Discussions and homework will continue to reflect the creativity resident in the group and I’ll be thousands of kms away wondering how our political situation will evolve – civil war, a coup, or if the people will WIN – fortunately, I live in the far north, far from the maddening crowd and problems but I do feel so sorry for the families struggling and wish they could read, IF

 

Garry Holmes ©

 

January 2014


Homework due 15 January

A sticky situation

 

Record of meeting 8 January 2014

Words of the day

Chronic = long lasting health issue or habit

Acute = severe, keen

Kempt = neat, tidy, cared for

Fetid = stinking,

Intrepid = fearless, brave

Fiat = order or command

Foreleg = front leg of an animal

Conundrum = difficult situation, riddle

Coeval = contemporary, of the same age, having lived for the same time

Pensive = thoughtful

 

Stories from words of the day

After 10 minutes creativity we shared our stories from words of the day about - In our writing group, No cure from Dr No, From the comfort of opposition, Nothing left to eat, Rotten to the core, A rotten leg, You know what I mean, A large animal and My mind.

 

Homework

We presented a range of stories including from Terry – paid for being wrong, Elizabeth – her early cooking experiences, Jo – her lap top and printer experiences, Leonie – leaving without words for a life of her own, David C - Prelude to 2014, David R – haven’t seen the light but Ill eat smoked salmon, Helene – I’ll have a good time and Wendy – I wont do these things. Sorry Garry your homework was mislaid.

 

Discussions

The group discussed ways of raising political issues and how memories feed our writing.

 

A quick write – A room mate

After 10 minutes writing we read out our stories on the topics - A plan, A threat to pests, No room mate, Not the right room mates for me, He’s going back, Packing up for a roommate,  Getting rid of a room mate, A possum room mate, A mad man and I miss my room mate.

 

Homework

A sticky situation