MINUTES OF MEETING OF WOKING WRITERS CIRCLE ON JULY 18 2019

Attending: Hilary, Tricia, Dan, Alan, Greg, Liz, Peter Morley

Apologies: Heather, Carla, Amanda, Cathy

 

NEWS

Alan had physical copies of his newly published novel, Theta Double Dot , to show us. Anyone who would like to buy one should email Alan, and he will bring copies along to the next meeting in August.

Carta’s review of the Parallel Lines exhibition at the Lightbox had recently been published on the Woking Writers Circle website

Liz had visited the National Poetry Library at London’s Southbank Centre, and distributed info on poetry competitions, groups and publishers that she had garnered during her visit.

 

READINGS

Peter’s philosophical piece about the concept of perfection, ‘Perfect Rhythm’, considered discoveries of the past before concluding that, for him, it meant “the sweep of synchronised oars on a racing shell”. This moment came to him “in a garden on the banks of the Thames, with hills rolling green, framing a reedy, restful, riparian scene, the river running steely grey past town, towpath, and temple”. Champagne for breakfast, Pimms, strawberries and cream, “dresses below the knee, blazers and schools caps”.  Henley Veterans Regatta.

Hilary read another extract from her novel. She is nearing the end of it, with two and a half chapters still to write.  The couple arrive late at their house, and Mark carries Sam over the threshhold, putting her down gently, “like a precious parcel.” She suffers a clinic flashback. A wicker hamper, jam, cream and scones, have been provided, “but suddenly it was all too much”.  The euphoric discovery of a swimming pool rescues her. The mood is edgy, the listener is tense throughout.

Tricia read an absorbing piece of Africa travel writing that she had first shared with this group a number of years ago, in a nod to the homework subject, Born to be Wild. On a game drive in Namibia, they come upon a lion feeding, “pulling and gnawing”, as well as a family of elephants. The piece was packed with exotic references: the forest of weird ghost trees, Bushmen, the Lake of the Mother Tears, and the Aawambo men, apparently known for their large genitals, according to the minute-taker’s notes; although this remains unconfirmed by Wikipedia. Greg suggested some of this fascinating material could be condensed into a poem.

Greg’s poem ‘The Dignity of Pizza’ paid tribute to the work ethic of Zizzi pizza chefs, in a restaurant on the site of a redundant brewery in Dorchester, now a regeneration redevelopment.   A rare foray for Greg – an attempt to look forward, not back.

We welcomed Dan back after a few months’ absence. His brilliant short story An Accident was about the death of an annoying neighbour. Was her end – a tumble down the stairs – really an accident? Her annoyed neighbour is an expert in criminal law. Despite its brevity, there was an echo of Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment about this. Totally publishable.

Liz came up with a travelogue relating to her recent trip to Canada. She didn’t take to Toronto, but met up with old friends from her Singapore days, which released a lot of South-East Asia memories. Her touring also took in a care home in Calgary, the mountains, and Banff.

Alan’s short story Dubai Desert Showdown included German tourists marching in military formation, and a sinister display of falconry, full of foreboding, culminating in the appearance of an eagle. As Alan notes early on, this could have all the elements of a war film starring Richard Burton. In the event, the story ends on a reassuring note, with the surprise survival of a gerbil.

Homework: ‘Backwards and in Heels’ or ‘Backwards’, a reference to the necessary dancing style of Ginger Rogers partnering Fred Astaire.

Next meeting date: Thursday August 15.

Jobs: Tricia (chair); Alan (minutes); Dan (wine); Liz (milk and biscuits).