Report of Meeting 3rd May 2005......subject Knees......

Felixstowe Scribblers Report of Meeting 3rd May 2005






Apologies were received from Ken who had to take an Uncle to Papworth Hospital whilst Sue is on short stay in Norfolk. Scott was absent again but will soon be returning to the fold and Caz also sent her apologies.




A surprise visitor this evening was our good friend Margareta who flew in from Austria to spend a few days 'at home' in Felixstowe so was able to come along in person instead of being a 'virtual' Scribbler over the Internet. Joining her in attendance were Alex, Les, Liliane, Gordon, Peter, Ellen, Morag, Christine, Ann, Belinda, Richard, Dick, Tony and Dave.




Again we thank Liliane for collecting the library key.




The Library: The modernisation of the Library has begun! Currently there is not much to see but this will alter as the year progresses. Regular users will notice that the upper level is now closed and that the ground floor is a little more cramped than usual. Lynne Gibbs the Library Manager has assured us that we will still have space for our meetings during the first phase of the work that is expected to last until October. After that space will still be provided elsewhere in the Library.




An Update on Jack and Caz. Since the meeting news has filtered through that Jack is now back in Addenbrooks and Caz is, again, staying with him. It was nice to know that he was able to be at home for the bank holiday weekend and part of the following week. Having spoken to Jack on the telephone he had hoped that he would be allowed to come along to Scribblers if he was well enough. Nice gesture from Rachel Sloane to play a request for him and so glad that he heard it with Caz.



I received the following from Rachel :



JUST HEARD FROM JACK - HE HEARD HIS DEDICATION AND WAS THRILLED, Rachel.



Caz also sent a message which read :




Thank you so much for that request Jack and I sang along and really enjoyed it. Have a good meeting and we hope to be able to come some time soon but at the moment Jack is neutropaenic so should not be amongst too many people, however lovely they are!



Lots of love to all and many thanks for all those good wish e-mails and cards etc it has been wonderful to be remembered at a very scary time in our lives. Lots of love



Caz, Karl and Jack xxx



I am certain Caz would love an email at some stage - her email address for those who don't know is, cazwilkinson@ntlworld.com or if you wish you can text her a message. I will pass her number to anyone Scribbler who asks. I know she, and Jack, will love to hear from you.




I haven't heard any news from Jan about her mother recently but promise I will give an update as soon as I receive news.




I also learnt that Avril is in hospital too. She has been unable to attend Scribblers for some time now but hope she will be able to come along again soon.



Our thoughts and wishes go to them all.




Other news :




If any Scribblers have writing successes with publication, good critiques etc., then please let us know so it can be included in these notes.




For my own part I have submitted a Suffolk dialect article to Chapter & Verse that was found in the pages of the old East Anglian Magazine. More recently I have completed the research and submission of an article on the career of Jeremy Doncaster, former international and Ipswich Speedway rider, for inclusion in his Farewell Meeting that takes place at Foxhall Stadium Ipswich on Thursday 2nd June 2005 start time 7.30pm. There's bound to be a lot of fun that evening….




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BBC's Last Laugh competition has now closed. Thousands of submitted some very funny endings - the reading has commenced and some real talent has already been spotted.



If any Scribblers made it onto the short-list then you'll be contacted before the end of June, The series will be broadcast in September and October and information will follow in due course.



Keep your eyes peeled for other BBC writing opportunities at www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom.



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Competition?




I understand that a new writing group is being formed in the area and is soon to have its inaugural meeting. The Ipswich Writing Group gets under way later this month and I shall go along to one of their future meetings as a guest. Ipswich is long overdue for such a group so I hope that we will be able to work in unison rather than in competition with each other for the benefit of our Suffolk based writers.




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News has also filtered though that it seems as if Trevor from author.co.uk has "retired" and according to his weblog is no longer publishing books which has been a great disappointment to at least one of our members.




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Felixstowe TV's mini drama serial…




Haven't had an update from Chris at Felixstowe TV just yet except that he liked the latest script that was sent to him. I understand from Jacky, who is to play the part of Rita, that the first four scripts have been delivered to her and now she has to learn the lines.




As far as the Scribblers are concerned we are currently finalising the seventh episode and working on the eighth of the series of ten. As promised the fourth episode was read before coffee and seemed to flow quite well. - but you'll all have to wait to see the final six episodes on Felixstowe TV… The suspense is killing us - especially the writers! - How will it all end?




For current information keep an eye on http://www.felixstowetv.co.uk/miniserial/.




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On to the readings on the theme of "Knees"…




Ellen opened with "Knees" - a quite conversational style of writing which flowed well making it easy to visualise the characters and surroundings.




Les brought a bit of humour to proceedings with his "Curse of Smithy's Knees" - a true story of his personal dual embarrassment!




Dave relayed "On Yer Knees" a painful tale of bike and motorbike accidents from his (much) younger days




Alex produced "Too Soon" based on horrific real life events witnessed by Londonderry Ambulancemen.




Ann read "My Gran" who changed completely following a holiday at Pontins and a Knobbly Knees contest.




Peter came up with an unusual tale "Brought to Their Knees" about a mother sparrow and her nest made from the marvellously descriptive magnolia petals.




Who else but Liliane could provide a further chapter of family history revolving round Elsa? Seeking protection against ghosts and vampires etc., perhaps Heavenly Social Services really did help!




Christine was brave enough to brace herself with a poem "At the Dentists" - not a happy place to be.




Now one has come to expect something special from Gordon and it was delivered with "Preventative Medicine" that highlighted the introduction of a Knees Restriction of Bending Act.




Margareta provided a thought-provoking limerick embracing Knee High and Knee Level.




Belinda read out "Freda" who loved to dance but the colour of her skin meant there were unjust limitations to enable her to join a dance company. Following this Belinda provided many facts about the coloured dancer Josephine Baker (1906-1975) who left school early to begin a career on the stage.




Morag shared an extract from her book "Muddy Boots and Mishaps" when horses appeared on a their lawn and, just beyond their fence, a new gypsy encampment.



Dick for once provided an amusing limerick "A Sting in the Tale".




Tony's " A Weale Champion" provided an amusing thought provoking tale of bad knees sustained from a parachute jump - or was it?




Richard, back in the throng for the meeting, delivered "Choice" about the selfish purchase of a sports car and the resultant choice between that and his wife. Well which one would you have chosen?




Finally Dave read Scott's "Down the Pub" another humorous tale this time about Knobby and Neil …




An excellent evenings entertainment once again.




The homework assignment for the next meeting is "EYES" which was set by Margareta. This will see the meetings revert to three open subject stories which Liliane, Peter and Belinda have volunteered to provide. The rest of us are welcome to write up to around 500 words on the homework topic.




The next meeting is on Tuesday May 17th at the usual 7.30pm start time.




Until then, put out your kind thoughts for those in need,




Keep Scribbling,




Dave.