The first active session of the season was well attended by fourteen members, apologies having been received from Lorna. Sandra opened proceedings with an update on the new venue and members were urged to give their opinions - in particular as regards to a morning meeting once in every four weeks. The intention of trying to win a grant from Renfrewshire Council was also highlighted and members are encouraged to notify either myself or Sandra of anything they wish to see included on the agenda of the AGM which is to held on 23 rd of this month.
Joan then led the activity based around “double decker” writing where members blindly select a noun and adjective and write a short story on the result within a generous allotment of time. Sandra gave us ‘The Dancing Gardener’ - a refugee ballet dancer finds employment as a gravedigger in his adopted country. Donnie avoided the more salacious with his title ‘Willing Lovers’ but, in his stead, gave us a survey of modern music he had discovered later in life - in particular, the works of Mark Knopfler. John H’s offering entitled ‘Dangerous Child’ was an expose of a pupils relationship with a uplift and Brian’s piece ‘The Wronged Sister’ related the tale of a young girl who intends becoming a nun to avoid the constant harassment of her elder brother. As ever, Sandra R’s ‘The Scottish Guest’ was humorous laced as it was with her usual west of Scotland slant. John Mac’ story called ‘The Weird Corpse’ ended a on a cliffhanger much to the consternation of members and there was an audible scream in the room when he got to a particular point then declared had ‘run out of time’!! Marilyn’s piece on the “Horrible Date’ told of visits to the dentist in an attempted to cure her thumb sucking habit when a young girl and this was followed by Rob’s offering ‘The Innocent Colourist’ - a wrongly accused murderer finds solace in prison holding art classes. Morag gave us ‘The beautiful cat’ - a cat endowed with beauty and a social conscience and Jackie’ piece entitled ‘The Curious Mistress’ also ended as a cliffhanger as the lady in question was about to investigate the marital status of her long time lover. Jeannie gave us ‘The Uninvited Victim’ the story of a disastrous out door date one Arran. Hilary’s darkly comic work was based around the reflections of an old gentleman, his three whiskeys and the obvious secret he was guarding and Joan ended proceedings with ‘The Cowardly Invalid’ where a personal tragedy forces a man to confront the realities of his life. A good exercise which demanded quick thinking, imagination and a degree of discipline.
Time was also left to complete a similar exercise; on this occasion the blind selection was curtailed by flash fiction - a work of fifty words , no more no less. We were given: Marilyn’s ‘Reluctant Victim’, Hilary’s ‘Scottish Bird’, John Mac’s ‘Devious Widow’, Irene’s ‘Weird Playmate’, Brian’s ‘Old Spirit, Jeannie’s ‘Desperate Disabled’, John H’s ‘Dangerous Colleague”, Morag’s ‘Desperate Child’. Sandra’s ‘Uninvited Writer’ and Rob’s ‘Good Looking Visitor’
Next week. ‘A Little Bit of Brit Abroad’ so have your string vests and knotted hankies ready!
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