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.