29th June

Wonderful hot sunny morning at Woodlands sitting in the garden listening to our varied stories. Bill told of a soldier storming the beaches in 1944. Joan told of the trials trying to grow plants in a garden. Ann about a boy in a coma. John a young officer posted to the far flung empire in Queen Victoria's reign. Pat told of their invite to celebrate the Queen's 50th anniversary. Sally told us more of her adventures in the air force when she was posted abroad. Sheila recounted the frustration of teachers in dealing with unruly children.

Next month the "compensation to pay"

A record set today as seven people voted for one story, making Joan Read the outright winner.


That Annoying
Well Angela said to her friend Mavis was that annoying or not for the fourth year running her sponge cake had come second in the competition at the village fete on the WI stall. "Well that's it" she said "no more cakes I shall do something else." Mavis said "like what" well there are plenty of things to do flower arranging she would give that some thought French I don't think so if I remember rightly I did that at school and I'm pretty sure that my brain and memory were a lot better then. Writing no I have listened to some of the stories written by other people and they are just too good.
Mavis said, " Lets go and sit down and you can drown your sorrows over a cup of coffee" It was then I saw the poster Fed up with the same routine need some excitement and thrills then Skydiving is for you. I showed Mavis the poster and said "this is it" well after she had stopped coughing she had chocked on her coffee she said "are you mad you're 68" well that did it I said "I may be but that is not old" and I rang the number on the poster and made an appointment to go for an assessment the following day.
The next morning I rang Mavis to see if she wanted to come but she replied she had no wish to see me make a fool of myself so I went alone. I was met by a young lady named Francis who told me all about the routine. I would participate in a Tandem skydive which many older people preferred and she played several DVD's of this. She then introduced me to Gary or as she called him the main man who I would be with if I decided to jump. I must admit to being a bit scared but thought I have come this far so I signed the papers but to my horror I was told that as the weather was expected to hold for the next week I could jump if I wished on Wednesday I agreed. Francis asked me to be at the centre for 9 o'clock. When I got home I rang Mavis and told her she said "well if you are intent on killing your self you might as well do it for charity" I thought what a good idea and made out two forms one for the restoration of the local church and one for NSPCC.
The next day I went round and saw everyone I could think of family and friends and by the end of the day both forms were full either side, which I was quite pleased about.
Wednesday dawned sunny and warm and I made my way to the centre I was met by Gary who said we would be jumping at around 2pm this morning would be spent learning the ropes and the moves. All to soon 1.30pm arrived and as we were making our way to the plane I heard a lot of noise and there was Mavis with a number of the ladies from the WI shouting and waving cameras about I put on a brave face waved and boarded the plane. Soon we were up in the air and Gary started attaching the belts and cords that would keep us together and then the door opened and before I knew it we had jumped My cheeks felt as if they were trying to get to the back of my head I looked down and could see the fields, trees and the roads and they were rushing up to meet us when all of a sudden we seemed to go back up and I realised that Gary had opened the parachute and then we were gliding down going left and right as he pulled the cords it was wonderful just as we came to land he said knees up and his feet touched down and then I put my feet down we ran a short distance then stopped. It must have been all over in about 5min but I would never forget the feeling. I thanked Gary and went over and joined my friends we all went into the centre where we had champagne and nibbles and I was presented with my certificate. "Well" Mavis said "what are you going to do next" I replied "that I would have to give that some thought" But that evening when all the bones and muscles in my body ached I came to the conclusion that coming second in cake making was not so bad after all.

June Story

Nicest day of the year so far bright sunshine and very warm. Rosemary joined us for the first time. Sue started us off about the young woman reminded of her past when she stole an eclair. Sheila gave a description of her day at the Wembley cup final. John told us about the Scottish MP and fishing restrictions. Brian a trader with a honey tongue. Joan E a family saga. My effort was about the top of the food chain. Rosemary and hiding the post. Joan R on hidden letters from another age. Ann told of a prank to make a car less in demand for lifts
The winner was Pat's.

Stuffed out of sight
This was to be the theme of our small writers group next project.
I wrote the words on a page from my notebook and put it on the kitchen table, waiting for the" brilliant idea". When, after a while nothing came to mind, I tucked it under the place mat.. you know that old saying, out of sight out of mind.
As it wasn't raining I decided to do a spot of gardening. The gardeners among you will know there is no such thing as a spot of gardening, one thing leads to another and before you know Its time for lunch.
I watched our friendly squirrel hanging by his toe nails trying desperately to eat the peanuts through the supposedly squirrel proof wire, he won. Still no brilliant idea! Finished lunch and returned to the garden. Oh good, those blue crystals had worked their magic and there was a slimy mess left by some hungry snails and slugs, the birds will finish those off. I love these new green slug baits. Whilst tucking long daffodil leaves under the heather to dry of, stuffed out of sight? ?Yes, No.. I spied a huge ants nest in the middle which I poked it about until the ants were running around with their creamy eggs in a panic. Then left them to the waiting robin.
We have had this huge Clematis Armandii in an old water butt which was well passed its re potting date by about 15 years. As its an early bloomer we didn't want to lose it, so decided to remove it from the tub and replant close by. Well, first off we couldn't lift it or dig it out, so my dear husband brought out his saw and cut straight down one side. As this didn't help at all he cut down the other side. This left a hard plastic flap which sprang up every time we tried to lift out the plant. In the end we rolled it slowly on its side desperately hanging on to the long branches and finally put it in the freshly dug hole. It sat there looking at us as the hole was too shallow by about 6". By then we had had it. After 3 days we gathered our strength and tools, we must plant this plant! It took both of us on our knees with a shovel, spade and a plank of wood to lift it out of its hole, dig a little deeper and finally re- plant it. Hooray. I took a couple of cuttings from the branch that had annoyingly snapped, just in case.
At the end of the day, whilst enjoying a well earned cup of tea and cake, I looked at my note again and still couldn't come up with a decent idea for a story, so I stuffed it out of sight, again.