Jack is out of hospital again.

Dave writes.....



Caz (has sent a) text (which) said that Jack is out of hospital again. (He) Had a good nights sleep last night and went to school today. Great news!

A request from Rexie for help at a Charity Fete.

Hello Scribblers!



I have a request from Rexie, Gordon's wife, for help at a Charity Fete - details below. If you are able to help Rexie & Gordon then please email her direct at rexie0218@hotmail.com



She says


"Please can you help? I need help desperately for the charity fete we are holding on the 10th of July. The reason is that I got let down by some of the volunteers who had arranged to help me months ago. Sorry to be a bother to you but I am stuck. Your help will be appreciated. Rexie"



These are the details



EVENT; GRAND CHARITY FETEIN AID OF: UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILDREN IN THE PHILIPPINES. AGED FROM 5 TO 13(this is a registered charity here in the united kingdom, we aim to send second hand clothes and shoes to the underprivileged children in the Philippines. the money raised will be used to pay for the shipment of these goods and we also help with the school supplies)LOCATION OF THE EVENT: GROUNDS OF ST CLEMENTS SOCIAL CLUB AT FOXHALL ROAD, IPSWICHTIME: 12 NOON TO 5 PMDATE: SUNDAY 10 JULYACTIVITIES: DANCE DISPLAY BY IPSWICH DANCING SCHOOL, ICE ILLUSION MAJORETTES DISPLAY, BURGER VAN, ICE CREAM VAN, FACE PAINTING, LICENSED BAR, KARATE DISPLAY, TOMBOLA,CANDY FLOSS, AND MUCH MOREIf you can help, please contact Rexie direct.



Many thanks


Dave

Felixstowe Scribblers Report of Meeting 21st June

Apologies were received from Christine,
Scott, Sue, Judy, Richard, Caz, Jack, Tony and
Ruth.

In attendance were Lisa, Alex, Les, Dick, Liliane,
Peter, Gordon, Ellen, Ann, Morag, Belinda, Ken, Rachel, Dave and a warm
welcome first to Mark and then to Jacky.

Mark hails from Yorkshire, and is keen on science fiction
and fantasy. As a child he contracted meningitis and as he recovered was
supplied with comics that helped produce his interests.

Jacky, a late arrival, worked in the prisons, and hopes to
be able to write her autobiography and wishes to build her confidence and
writing skills.

News and events :

The Library:

Changes have taken place with a new entrance
door on the side of the building next to the public seat on the corner. Things
are moving and now, with our diary of meetings with the Library there should be
no further 'hiccups' with double bookings!

Christine is going away on holiday and when she returns she
expects to be helping her daughter move house. Christine sends her love to
everyone and promises she will be back as soon as possible.

After just returning for the last meeting, Scott is celebrating the summer solstice on Felixstowe Beach this evening.

Sue emailed from Canada explaining all the delights of her
wonderful holiday there and was especially impressed at a country fair where the
Canadian Mounties performed a musical ride. Sue is still in Canada and will be
in touch again soon. Her email is included at the bottom of this report.

Judy is currently pottering in the polders and for those
who think this means gardening, polders are tracts of low land reclaimed from
the sea by high embankments.

Spare a thought for Richard who is still unable to attend as his wife has still not recovered from her illness. Hoping she gets better soon.

Caz had to delay taking Jack back Addenbrookes because his blood count wasn't quite right but Jack is now there waiting for his next session of chemotherapy.

Tonyis having a night out - playing cards - representing Felixstowe at Bridge I believe.

Ruth is on holiday after having a hectic time with the publication of her book. She had a signing session at Magpie Books last week and would like to thank the Scribblers who went along to support her - Liliane, Ann, Lisa, Belinda, Alex and Caz. Their support was very much appreciated.

Her novel "The James Version" seems to be attracting its much-deserved attention. She is due to be interviewed by Rachel Sloane on July 4th at 3.10 She will then be having another book signing session at Ottaker's in Bury St Edmunds on Monday July 9th at 11am.

Three Scribblers offered to do critiques for Ann's last homework. This is also on our website http://nar8or.blogspot.com and hopefully will produce further comments

Report on the Age Concern Roadshow event in Felixstowe that Les
attended last Thursday along with Liliane at St Felix Church Hall.
Arranged for anyone aged 50+, it was intended to help them discover what is on
offer in the local area. Although there was no earth shattering attendance, the
Felixstowe Fire Brigade have asked if we would be interested in providing a
display at their open day - date yet to be confirmed.

Incidentally, congratulations to Les and Joan who have just celebrated their
Golden Wedding Anniversary.

Les really is in the news this time. He has just published "Another Life"
which is a personal history and anthology of his written work. It is a lovely
book and sells to members at £5.

Gordon had a surprise 60^th birthday party arranged for him
last Sunday by his wife Rexie, and what a superb job she did. There was quite a
presence from the Scribblers who enjoyed sharing the celebrations with Gordon. -
The buffet was good, the drink great and the dancers in their 'grass' skirts
absolutely superb. It had Ken ogled eyed and Dick wanting to book them for his
birthday soon. Alas the Scribblers weren't too good with the Karaoke - in fact
everyone else had gone home before Alex decided to become the one and only
Felixstowe Crooner…!

Ken has asked for help with feedback on an hour-long television script he has
written. If anyone would like a script to 'review', then please request a copy
to be sent by email.

Felixstowe TV's mini drama serial…

All ten episodes have now been completed by Ken, Dick, Tony
and Dave and sent to Felixstowe TV. News is awaited of the filming
dates from Chris. Remember, for the latest developments, keep tuning in to
http://www.felixstowetv.co.uk/miniserial/.

Felixstowe Scribblers website:

(currently at http://nar8or.blogspot.com ) Alex and Dave are working on the website and details of their proposals will soon be made available to the Scribblers. The day when we have a proper domain name and website is fast approaching…

***

And so to the readings.

Gordon read out the final part of his story 'Nightmare at
Norbridge' about a football club sponsored by Love Lines Emporium which had
intrigue and 'murder' along with copious supplies of Rhino-horn!

'Rising Tide' was extremely well written by Rachel that
was inspired by a photograph in the National Geographic magazine of a lady from
Pakistan who's home was flooded and her possessions lost as the sea encroached
on her village.

Dick recalled some wartime memories - even though he was
only four at the time, in 'Granny Goes to War'. Granny had always known Hitler
was a bad 'un and so she employed a local builder Mr MacAdam to turn her drawing
room into her own wartime Fort Knox.

Les read a short poem of his arrival on this earth and an
excerpt from the first pages of his book 'Another Life'.

Dave was next out of the hat with Atonement - a
recollection based on schooldays in Ipswich. Could there be any truth in them at
all? That's the mystery!

Morag read out Jan's poem 'Tangled Confession' based
on her own life story.

Lisa gritted her teeth and read out her work for the first
time 'Not a Happy Eater' about the experience as a child and then as a mother in
a motorway café..

Ken was perhaps suicidal when he compiled 'A Tone Moment'
and dangled from rope under a bridge hanging upside down.

Peter took on the Suffolk dialect with 'I Int Sorry' -
about women in Parliament.

Mark read out 'Prey Tell' a science fiction style opening
to a story that he will write. Characterisation and structure were discussed in
some depth.

Jacky read out Margareta's limerick 'Two Views on
Atonement'.

Liliane continued the family story featuring Elsa and Aunt
Carla who would get at anyone - especially men.

'A True Confession' a 'Sin of Hypocrisy' from Ann about
a group of very young girls, a catapult and a library window.

Untitled, short, intense staccato type tale excellently
scripted by Alex on weapons, a medal ceremony and contradictions and
actions. A man of few words - but so striking.

Belinda 'A Tone Meant For Me' - Tone being the young man in
the group she paired off with and the actions that followed.

Poor Ellen had to wait almost until last despite
suggesting the theme 'Atonement'. It was, of course, well worth the wait as she
relayed the issue when one child is mysteriously shunned by the parents for over
forty years despite all the efforts for a reconciliation.

The final word went to Scott with 'Caught in the Act'
about God being sentenced to year on earth as a human.

***

The new homework assignment is 'I Didn't Mean To Do It'
which was set by Ann and deserves between 250 and 500 words on the subject. The
open theme work 'volunteers' for their 1,500 word works of art are Lisa, Peter
and Mark.

Our next meeting is in two weeks time on Tuesday 5th July at
the usual 7.30pm start time.

Until then,

Keep Scribbling,

Dave.

THE THUNDERBURST NEWSLETTER #2:June 2005.

The deadline for The Book Of Hopes And Dreams anthology is fast approaching. You have only 2 weeks left to get your submissions to me. If you wish to submit a poem or short story for this anthology you’ll need to get yourskates on. The deadline is 30^th June 2005. Full guidelines can be read on my website (click on ‘The Book Of Hopes And Dreams’ tab on the main menu page. Submissions should be sent in hard copy to Dee Rimbaud, 7 Lothian
Gardens (0/1), Glasgow, G20 6BN, Scotland, UK.

The 30^th June 2005 is also the deadline for the competition to win signed copies of all my books and the last remaining complete set of Acid Angel magazine. Entries for this competition can be made by email. For further details, click on the ‘competition’ tab on the main menu page
of my website.

Over the last few months there have been substantial changes to my website. Following feedback from those who have visited the site I’ve simplified the look of the site and made it a lot easier to navigate round. Aesthetically, I think it is much improved. I hope you’ll think so too.

The website continues developing. A recent addition is the interviews section, where I chew the cud with writers, artists and musicians. Last week I posted up the latest interview, with Rodge Glass who talks about his work as assistant and biographer to the now-legendary Scottish writer and artist, Alasdair Gray. Rodge’s debut novel, ‘No Fireworks’ will be published next month by Faber & Faber.

In recent months The AA Independent Press Guide has been substantially updated. The Writers’ Resources links page has grown, as has the page of links to writers’ and artists’ personal websites. The Internet Magazines links page continues to expand, with over 750 webzines now listed.

From the Wolsey Writers Club: Invitation to Youth Theatre event.

You may not be aware, but every year at this time we invite schools in the
area to bring along a 15-20 minute piece of work on a chosen theme.

Lastyear we did 'Ghost Stories' and this year is 'Greek Myths'. We are
thinking of changing the format slightly next year to make more of a
community event of it - including the Youth theatre and maybe some local
musician/s - and we are also thinking of inviting some of our vast wealth of
writing talent(that's you!) to work in partnership with teachers to produce
scripts for the pieces - not an earner, I'm afraid, but an opportunity to see
work upand running. It's not carved in stone yet, but with the possibility
in mind,we'd like to flag up for you that THIS year's event takes place on
28th and 29th June and 5th July.

If you'd like to attend on one of those days to see the vast range of things
the schools currently produce, it's a mere £3.00 and might inspire you!

Best wishes
Lynn & Julia

Sue in Canada: Part 2

Sue Smith writes....

Hello, everyone,

We have now left the state of Alberta for the last time and are
in British Columbia. Our time has gone back by a further hour so we are 8 hours
behind you. During our last weekend with my cousin Terry and his wife Carol they
took us to Spruce Meadows to see some international show jumping and a country
fair Canada-style. One of the highlights had to be the musical ride performed by
the Canadian Mounties. In their full dress uniform and on identical black horses
as they performed their moves to music, it was a spectacular sight. We have seen
some stunning scenery in the Rockies, the mountains are still snow clad on their
upper slopes which made it very pretty. We have been to Lake Louise and, our
favourite, Moraine Lake. We visited Radium hot springs, and although the air
temperature was only about 14 degrees, the water temperature was 39 so it was
very cosy in the pool, which is completely outside. We have heard that Canadians
often visit during the winter and sit in the warm waters with snow on their
hair!

We are now in Kelowna, in the midst of the orchard and
wine-growing area which is very pretty. We will stay here for a few days, then
continue on to Vancouver, arriving there next Wednesday. The weather has been
very mixed, with some nice warm sunny days but also a fair amount of rain.

We have seen lots of the local wildlife and different birds. We
have seen bald eagles and ospreys and, at the other extreme, tiny little
hummingbirds. We have spotted muskrats swimming in the rivers, columbian ground
squirrels (which are quite different to the gophers in Alberta), chipmunks, deer
(mainly white tails and musk, but I also saw one elk) and - the highlight - 4
bears (not all at once!) and I'm pleased to say they were all seen from our car
and at a distance. The first two were black bears, grazing beside the road, and
we now think they were not full-sized although they weren't cubs. The next two
we saw were grazing beside a railway line on a hillside above the motorway. One
was black and one brown, and they were much bigger than the first two. At first
we thought they were grizzlies but, having read the guide books and studied the
pictures again, I now think they were full-sized black bears which, confusingly,
can also be brown!

Well, that's about it for the moment. I will send a final
newsletter towards the end of our visit, probably from Vancouver Island.

Love to all,

Sue.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 21st June at the usual 7.30pm start time although the side door to the Library may be in a new location!

The new homework assignment is "ATONEMENT" which was set by Ellen and deserves between 250 and 500 words on the subject. The open theme work 'volunteers' for the 1,500 word works of art are Rachel, Gordon and Dick.

Our next meeting is on Tuesday 21st June at the usual 7.30pm start time although the side door may be in a new location!

Ruth interviewed by Rachel Sloane BBC Radio Suffolk 3.10pm July 4th

Ruth is being interviewed by Rachel Sloane on BBC Radio Suffolk on July 4th at 3.10 - That's Independance Day!

W3: WISE WORDS ON WRITINGNo 33. Writer's Doubt Syndrome

Writer’s Doubt Syndrome

W3 Issue 33





This is W3’s 33th issue to be sent to 7899 readers. W3 has been labor of love and as a thank you to all the writers who have helped me develop my craft by passing by on their knowledge mixed with my own. However, it is taking more and more time to send out and maintain the mailing list. First I thought to make W3 bi-monthly, but then I decided that I would keep it monthly, but instead of sending it out, I’ve decided to let readers pick up comments from a blogspot http://wisewordsonwriting.blogspot.com All old issues have been posted there.





I commit to having a new issue of W3 on the blogspot by the 15th of each month starting in July. I know some readers will fall off, but if anyone wants to remember to look for it, mark your agendas on the 15th for the next few months. Future topics will include overcoming writers block, freelancing and writers circles/groups.



To finish reading the article (and the other 32) please go to http://wisewordsonwriting.blogspot.com.....



Old issues are still available at www.wisewordsonwriting.com

Article about Ruth's book 'The James Version' in the East Anglian Daily Times and the Evening Star.

Her book, 'The James Version, by R.E.Dugdall' receives its formal launch on Thursday 16th June between 2-3pm at Magpie Books, Hamilton Road in Felixstowe.










please click the images for the full sized article


this material is copied from the East Anglian Daily Times and remains their property and copyright and is reproduced here as a courtesy to them, if you are from the EADT and want us to remove this material please mail us.

Please visit the excellent EADT website at http://www.eadt.co.uk/.

Criticism Requested 2: Ann's beginning of a Historical Novel.

Ann writes.....

I should be
grateful for any comments from scribblers.




Historical novel

The wind was sighing through the rigging and the large square sail buffeted and filled, carrying the huge vessel across the silvery sea. Edwin tugged his cloak tightly around himself, and leaning on the starboard rail, gazed into the darkness. The moon had risen and was reflected in the water, its image changing and distorting in the swell, which ran under the wooden hull. Edwin wondered if Matilda could see this same moon and whether she thought of him. Soon they would complete their crossing of the great northern ocean and then there could be no time for such reverie. He wondered if he would ever return. Did he dare hope that eventually he might return to the gentle lands of Suffolk.



The sky had cleared and the stars shone brightly, their brilliance dimmed only occasionally when light spilled from the fo’c’s’l as the curtain slung from the fore deck swung gently in the breeze. No lights shone on the sides of the vessel that would inform the enemy of their position. He could hear the sounds of muted voices. Men were playing cards. Gambling with the few groats that they had left from the final evening's visit to the local tavern. Only a few of the sixty oarsmen were in position. Their oars were muffled so as not to alert the enemy of their approach. By the light of the moon, Edwin could see the other ships in the fleet, which had set out twenty-four hours earlier from the estuaries of the Deben and the Orwell.



Soon they would be in sight of the coast of Flanders and perhaps catch a first glance of the French Fleet, but at this moment all seemed so peaceful. Most of the archers were asleep, huddled in their cloaks on the deck and clutching their longbows to their chests, even as they slumbered. There would be little opportunity for rest soon enough. As he looked over his shoulder Edwin could see the steersman, a burly giant of a man, carefully holding the ship on course. Edwin had never sailed on a ship of this size before and he enjoyed listening to the rhythmic creak of the timbers and the soft splashing of the oars as the warship ploughed its relentless furrow through the waves.



Edwin barely heard the opening of the door of the aft cabin, but was conscious of shadowy figures moving around on the after deck. It was the master of the vessel and he could also make out the hated figure of John de Thetwich, cousin of the King. Any feeling of peace left him. The feeling of rage and injustice rose up again and the fierce determination to be avenged.



He attempted to calm himself by recalling the circumstances that had led to meeting Matilda. He was a carpenter, taught by his father in their tiny workshop within the outer bailey of the castle at Framlingham. He had heard of the great fleet of ships being gathered and trained by King Edward in the nearby estuaries and when orders came for carpenters to accompany the huge timbers that had been felled in the nearby forest, to be taken to the shipyards, Edwin was desperate to go. A group of men from Framlingham were to go under the supervision of Peter of Dunwich, a skilled carpenter who had worked for twenty years for Thomas Brotherton, the late Earl Marshall of Norfolk.



Edwin’s parents were reluctant to let him go.


“Why are you so restless boy?” his mother demanded. “There is plenty of work for you here at the castle. You father grows old and his eyesight is failing. We need you here”


“It is but a day’s journey away,” reasoned Edwin, “and I shall only be gone for as long as it takes to make ready the fleet. The king is anxious to get his archers to Flanders as quickly as may be. I shall be home again before you know it.”



Eventually they were persuaded and Edwin bade goodbye to his parents and to his young brother James.


“Tell me about the sea and the king’s ships when you get back,” begged his brother, “and don’t get in the way of any arrows.”


Edwin ruffled the young boy’s hair fondly.


“I’ll make sure I duck if any are coming my way and you make sure that you look after mother and father for me.”



The huge baulks of timber were loaded onto wooden carts and pulled by teams of horses through the rutted lanes and by-ways as far as the river crossing at Wilford. Here the timber was lashed together on the banks until several large rafts were assembled, which were carefully pushed into the river at high tide.



The journey downstream felt like an escape to Edwin. As he and Peter helped to manoeuvre their raft between the shifting shoals and mudflats he gazed at the fields of barley and the meadows which bordered the widening river and smelled with excitement the sea air, as they approached the mouth of the Deben. As they neared landfall he marvelled at the hive of activity at the King’s shipyards. He could see at least twenty ships lashed to posts for repair and could hear the pounding of hammers and the shouted instructions of the foremen to the labourers as they swarmed over the wooden skeletons.



Once tied up safely at the wooden jetty at Goseford, the timber was manhandled ashore. Round about, were piles of wood and other materials used for the repairs. Edwin would live here in one of the shacks with the other hired men.



But first he knew, he had to present himself at the Hall. Edwin knew that Lady Alice Brotherton was now in charge at the manor house, since the death of her husband last year. He also knew that she insisted on personally meeting anyone who was in the employ of the manor.



“Come on lad,” called Peter. “If we are to be there and back afore nightfall we must be leaving now. Her ladyship will not want to be kept waiting by a mere boy.”


As they walked along the foreshore Edwin could see a building on the cliff top ahead of them.


“Is that the Manor?” he asked.


“Nay lad. That’s all that’s left of the castle built by the Romans when they were the masters here. It doesn’t look much now does it? Not since King Henry took most of the stone to build his castles at Orford and Framlingham.”



Edwin and Peter walked in companionable silence along the track that led inland from the castle ruins. It was as they passed the tall tower of the Church of St.Peter and St. Paul, that Edwin caught his first glance of the cluster of stone buildings that were Walton Hall.



AP 06/05

Felixstowe Scribblers Report of Meeting 7th June 2005

Dave writes...





Felixstowe Scribblers Report of Meeting 7th June 2005





Apologies were received from Richard whose wife is unwell. Sue is on holiday in Canada, Judy is also on holiday sailing to wherever the wind blows her! Allen is spending time in Wales with his daughter. Christine is unable to attend for two or three meetings from tonight.



It was nice to be able to welcome Lisa to the meeting as she wished to meet like-minded people. Lisa has only

been writing for about 18 months but has already sold 13 stories to Take A Break magazine and their monthly supplement fiction feast. 8 have already been published, the remaining 5 stories will be published over the next few months.





It was also good to see Scott back in the fold after several meetings absence although of course his homework comes in regularly.





Pride of place this evening had to go to Ruth who was having a night out from her young family - and to celebrate the publication of her long awaited novel "The James Version".





Joining them in attendance were Alex, Dick, Ann, Belinda, Rachel, Caz, Morag, Gordon, Liliane, Tony, Ken, Peter, Ellen, Les, Dave and a little later, Jack. A tremendous attendance of nineteen!





The Library: As the modernisation progresses, there will be some structural changes with a new 'side' door expected to be in place and operating before our next meeting. For the second time in two meetings the library was double-booked for the evening! A complete accident but at least we all fitted in and weren't really disturbed in the Children's corner.





Events.





Les has volunteered to represent us at the Age Concern Roadshow event in Felixstowe on Thursday 16 June 2005, at St Felix Church Hall, Gainsborough Road, Felixstowe from 10 am to 12.30 pm. The event is for anyone aged 50+, to go along and discover what is on offer in the local area. It would be nice to give Les some support! Thanks Les!





Ruth's will be staging two book signing events, the first at Magpie Books in Felixstowe between 2 and 3pm also on Thursday 16 June 2005, then at Ottaker's in Bury St Edmunds on Monday July 9th at 11am. "The James Version" is set 30 years after the murder of Maria Marten in the Red Barn at Polstead and looks at why the murder happened and the motivation behind the heinous crime. The book retails at £6.99.





Felixstowe TV's mini drama serial…





The Scribblers Scriptwriters have now finalised the first nine episodes and are well on the way to completing the tenth and final one. We are just waiting now for some filming dates to come through from Chris at Felixstowe TV. Remember

http://www.felixstowetv.co.uk/miniserial/ for updates.





***



And so to the readings. There was a change in the writers of the long open pieces with Ann opening proceedings with her untitled story that evolved after finding some fragments of medieval pottery in her garden. It prompted tales of Edwin going to join the English fleet bound for Flanders… Three Scribblers offered to do critiques for Ann who has promised to forward it to Alex for display on the website and hopefully produce further comment. Our website is at http://nar8or.blogspot.com





Caz followed with "Ride For Life" the true story of the Wilkinson family's involvement in raising funds for the East Anglian Children's Hospices with their 25-mile bike rides in Thetford Forest. Jack was the motivation behind this and he raised well over £700 in two years. Puts some of us to shame!





"Five Go Mad In Fallopia" was Tony's flowing contribution that could have got him into trouble with some of the lady Scribblers - in fact how he got away with it one will never know. What with Fallopia, tubes and sprogs…well let your imagination take over!





Alex provided one of his rare long pieces of work. Based on truth and his cycling experiences through pine forests, a hamlet and the most descriptive uphill ascendancy to the peak of the mountain resulting in the wonderful alpine views.





Ironically two of the four open topic works revolved around the homework issue of "Cycling" which we have to thank Peter for!





The shorter works on the homework theme began with Dave's abridged but humorous version of "On Yer Bike". Liliane followed with "Cycling Son" about her son who enjoyed two wheels. It was backed up with a photograph of him in full gear out on the road..





Ruth, as one would expect, came up with a lovely story about buying her fiancée a Citroen off E Bay for Christmas. The fiancée bought a ring that he by selling his Citroen on E Bay.. Scott's "The Race" was another of his fabulous tales about … The Animal Olympics Cycle Race!





Belinda's was a true story "Round and Round We Go, Heel to Heel, Toe to Toe" about her as a six year old on a tricycle with her almost three year old sister making a fearless journey to Grandma's some four miles away.





"Big Ears Strikes Back" could only have been written by Gordon and featured the Tour de Toyland Bike Race in another hilarious outpouring of emotions with poor Noddy being banged up by the 'orrible Mr Plod!





Rachel is a wonderfully expressive writer as she showed with her "Cy Cling" based on the madness of war in Yugoslavia. She followed this with a poem "Choice" written for a previous homework.[knees]. As Dick suggested [or was it insisted?] Rachel should be entering poetry competitions.





Our Jack arrived late, lay down on the floor and wrote a lovely little piece entitled "The Imaginative Ride" and put many of us to shame. There's no writer's block there!





Ellen provided "The Bike Race" in which two starry eyed teenagers had diaries of Our Love Life With Mr Kenning. One loved him so much that she would do anything to make him notice her with disastrous results at the end of the Tendring Ten Cycle Race.





Margareta's last minute email with her homework "A Condition for Happy Cycling" had a July setting during Festival Time in Salzburg and relayed the choice between attending the full opera premier and a forgotten bicycle lock. A lovely lucid tale read out by Ken in a foreign language - well Cockneyish-Essex at least!





"A Shock For Ian" was one of Dick's little ghost stories with a Claude Butler bike slipping onto the railway line at the lonely country station and under the wheels of the approaching steam train - except moments later the bicycle lay undamaged on the ground devoid of railway lines…





Morag was given the task of reading out Sue's very newsy "Canada 1", a resume of her first days in Canada which is posted below.





Peter produced "Wheels for a Purpose" including one large lady cycling through the country lanes complete with a settee strapped to her back!





Last and by no means least our Les - unfortunately having lost his homework - was blessed with two pieces of his work for display at Age Concern and read both out beautifully - "Caesar's Farewell" and also "Don't Go Son."





This rounded off yet another excellent evening's entertainment that money just can't buy!



The new homework assignment is "ATONEMENT" which was set by Ellen and deserves between 250 and 500 words on the subject. The open theme work 'volunteers' for the 1,500 word works of art are Rachel, Gordon and Dick.





Our next meeting is in two weeks time on Tuesday 21st June at the usual 7.30pm start time although the side door may be in a new location!





Until then,





Keep Scribbling,





Dave.





*** *** *** ***

Hello, everyone [from Sue]Or, in Canada-speak, Hi, guys, ....and other news.

Everything going well so far. Good flight, with spectacular views as we flew across Greenland and Northern Canada. The weather during the first week was lovely - sunny and warm with clear blue skies but as we entered our second week the cloud and rain moved in, bringing the temperatures down. Still, it hasn't stopped us enjoying ourselves!





On our first day here, the Queen and Prince Philip arrived to spend a day in Calgary, so we joined the throngs to see them drive by. We had a good view of Prince Philip waving from the car window, but couldn't see much of Liz apart from her hat. We have visited various sights and museums dealing with Canadian geography and history - the Indians, The Mounties, the trading posts, the lives of the ranching families. We have been on our first trip into the Rockies, visiting Banff and Jasper, seeing waterfalls and going on a Snow-coach ride onto the Athabasca Glacier - a very different experience.





This area is extremely varied - Calgary is only an hour away from the mountains yet there is also lots of rolling, arid prairie land. Mining was a big industry here once, so there are many museums and artifacts dealing with that. Drumheller is the site of the biggest dinosaur findings in Canada and has a fascinating museum dealing with the excavations and dinosaur history.





As for more modern wildlife, we haven't seen a great deal of it yet although there are warning notices and bear-proof bins throughout the Rockies region. We have seen several of the white-tailed deer that are very common here, but no big fellows such as elk, caribou or moose. We saw a huge beaver dam in one of the rivers, though no sign of the beavers. Black squirrels are quite common, we have also seen one red. There are lots of prairie ground squirrels, called gophers - they look more like a small weasel than a squirrel and live in burrows in the ground. We have seen several different species of birds: American robins, red-winged blackbirds and the very pretty Blue Mountainbirds.





We are currently back in Calgary, spending our second weekend with my cousin Terry and his wife Carol. They have made us very welcome, and we are enjoying a break from the sightseeing while we do some more normal, everyday things. On Monday, we set off again for another trip into the Rockies, returning to Terry and Carol for a final visit next weekend before we begin our trip across the mountains towards Vancouver.





I will send more news as we travel round. Meanwhile, love to everyone at home,





Sue.





****





An email from Jan.





Whilst you have been to your Scribblers meeting tonight, I haven't been slacking as I've been busy sending off my microstories to Spread the Word's 4th annual writing competition. Have you heard about it?





Spread the Word wants short stories of just 50 words! - Something which I have found addictive. Once you write one then you want to write another! Prizes include £150 of book tokens. Why not give it a try? There is still plenty of time left as the closing date isn't until 1st August.





****



... additional info from Spread the Word website:





Spread the Word's Fourth Annual Creative Writing Competition - Microstory



Stories - no more than 50 words - come in all shapes and sizes, and it can be about anything you like from a mini-saga to a love story, knife-edge thriller to a short, short tale of woe. There are two categories of entry, under 16, and 16 and over, the prizes are book tokens of £150 (1st Prize), £100 (2nd Prize), and £50 (3rd Prize).



Enter online by visiting Spread the Word’s microSTORY website at www.spreadtheword.org.uk/microstory/





****





Dear Writing Group Secretary





As you may already know, The AA Independent Press Guide, with detailed information of over 2000 print magazines and publishers, is now hosted online at my website: http://www.thunderburst.co.uk/



This service is a completely free resource for writers, artists and editors. Recently I have added further resources, including links to over 700 internet zines. I’ve also added pages of links to writers’ resources, writers’ personal websites; and most recently, the websites of writing groups and circles.





If you would like me to link to your writing group, please send me the URL, name of your group and its geographical location.





I’d be grateful if you could link back to my website. Below I’ve pasted in HTML code, if you use banners and/or descriptions.





All the very best, Dee Rimbaud





****





Dear editor,





Have you, or anyone you know, had a bad experience in the world of writing? Been ripped off? Had your hopes raised and your time wasted by people who promised fame and fortune but failed to deliver?



We at Can Write Will Write have opened a forum dedicated to exposing such sharp practice by encouraging people to tell others about their experiences. We want the parasites that leech off the energy, enthusiasm and money of dedicated writers to be named and shamed.





Serious or trivial, tragic or comic, we want to hear all the scams people get up to in order to destroy our dreams while separating us from our money. Forewarned is forearmed.





Please tell us your story so that others may be warned.



Our address is: http://www.canwritewillwrite.com/





****

Ruth's Book launch and signing at Magpie Book'sThursday 16th June 2-3pm.

Ruth as we have said has published her book after many, many attempts. Her book, 'The James Version, by R.E.Dugdall' recieves its formal launch on Thursday 16th June between 2-3pm at Magpie Books, Hamilton Road in Felixstowe.


We have all been through this project with Ruth and she has always been the wonderfully supportive of her fellow Scribblers .... so lets hope as many of us as possible can make it to give her book a good send off. Aside from any other motivation I like book launches as they are always really good fun and great places for seeing faces. So see you there and all the very best to Ruth and well done ....

A Light Entertainment Evening.....with the Rushmere players.

A Light Entertainment Evening.....with the Rushmere Players.

Friday 24th June at 730pm,
Rosehill School,(near Derby Road Rail),
Ipswich.

featuring scenes from....

'A Few Good Men',
'M.A.S.H'
and a dramatisation of 'Knees' (Written by our own Gordon and dramatised by our own Tony for the Scribblers).

And other material too.

£2 on the door inc tea + Nibbles.

News and a reminder that the Next Meeting is On Tuesday 7th June.

Dave writes.....



First though I am pleased to be able to tell you that Ruth has finally taken delivery of her historical novel "The James Version, by R.E.Dugdall". Costing £6.99 Ruth hopes to be along on Tuesday night when she will have copies available for sale..



News of a Writers Workshop :



Short circuit II



Writing short stories for the magazine market. Jump over the agent and connect with the publisher



Ever thought about getting your work published in magazines? The magazine market provides one of the few remaining avenues for writers to send their work direct to a publisher. This workshop will focus on writing short
stories for the magazine market, look at the types of magazines that publish short fiction as well as how to submit your work. Practical exercises touching on the different styles of short fiction will give participants the
chance to experiment with their writing. As part of the day participants will receive feedback on the work they produce.



Linda Leatherbarrow is three times winner of the London Writers Competition. In 2001 she won the Bridport Prize and an Asham Award. Her stories have been widely published in magazines including Ambit, Cosmopolitan and Mslexia, in anthologies such as Even the Ants Have Names, Harlot Red, and The Nerve, and broadcast on BBC Radio 4. Her short story collection Essential Kit is published by The Maia Press.



Saturday 25 June, York Room, Central Library, Ilford IG1 1EA. £10/£6 Concessions. Number of places available: 12



To book a place call 020 7735 3111 or you can book online at our website www.spreadtheword.org.uk




A reminder that our next meeting of the Scribblers will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 7th June in the Felixstowe Library. The homework theme is "CYCLING". Hope to see you there with stories to tell!



News of Jack has filtered through from Caz who says:



We are back home again from Addenbrooke's and Jack is fine, just tired as you would expect. Jack has done really well having the chemotherapy with no side effects but I had better not shout that too loud.



We don't have to go back again until the 14th June, when Jack will have the next course of Chemotherapy so hope to spend the weekend taking Jack out for some fun. He loves Pleasurewood Hills so has asked his Dad if we can take a friend. We will of course as long as Jack stays well.



Again we would like to say 'thank you' once again for the continued support from all our Scribbler friends and would like to take this opportunity of saying it means so much that you are all there for us.



Will keep in touch and perhaps get some homework done if we have the time, as we may end up back in Ipswich Hospital for a while we'll just have to hope not.



Lots of love please pass this on to all our friends.



Caz, Karl and Jack xxx



Other news:



Having this evening tried to log on to the author site the following message has appeared:



"Account for domain author.co.uk has been suspended." One wonders if the site has closed for good or if this is just another blip in its recent troubled history.



A message from our friend Jan,



Whilst trawling through writing competition sites earlier when I went onto the entry form page online for both Middlesex University Press Literary Prize 2005 and Legend Award, the detection system we have installed on our pc, offered a severe malicious virus warning so be warned!





Keep Scribbling!





Dave