26th August.

Nine of us today on a sunny morning but we decided to stay inside. Rosemary an unfortunate dog that was run over after being too snooty.  Sheila, Daisy walked up the ladder to success.  Brian one tree chopped down too many. John cheating book-keeper. Ann sick child gets wish. Joan pony training. I wrote about a fierce teacher starting a new school.

Next month "large  spring" 23 Sept at John's

Joan and Pat tied

This is Joans

Her reputation

Evelyn Grant was 65 years old and had been a widow for 10 years the first two years were the worst but with the help of friends and family she felt she now had a good life and a reputation for getting things done this was down to her mother who had told her when she was very young not to say she would do some thing unless she was sure she could do it and up until last year she had lived by this rule. It was a Tuesday and she was out to lunch with friends from the U3 A group she belonged to listening to every thing they had been doing such as yoga, tennis, golf, walking ect now she considered herself fairly fit but she did not do much exercise she was quite lazy in that respect. There was a pause in the conversation and she heard herself saying "I am thinking of running the London Marathon next year" every one looked at her in amazement, so she quickly added "That's if I get a place". Mary one of the group then said "perhaps if you apply on U3 A headed paper it will give you an advantage" so it was decided that this is what she would do and against all odds and to her dismay back came the number she would have 4462.

Since then she had been getting up at 6am to go running at the start she could not jog to the end of the road, let alone run, with out getting puffed and the stitch in her side but gradually as the months progressed it became easier she was now running twice a day morning and evening.

But unfortunately she was still only able to run fifteen and a half miles far short of what she needed. One of the ladies she sometimes ran with said she had heard if you run 15 miles in the forest that is like 20 on the road because of the uneven ground. So this particular Saturday morning she decided that's what she would do it was a beautiful morning there had been a slight shower the night before so every thing smelt fresh. She was jogging along very happily and was just going down an incline when out of no where a deer ran across her path it gave her such a fright that she stumbled, fell and rolled the rest of the way down landing in a small stream at the bottom. She lay there for a while getting her breath back, as she tried to move she had a terrible pain in her left leg she looked down and saw that a bone was protruding through the skin just under her knee. She went to get her cell phone then remembered it was on the kitchen table all she had was a letter from her sister that she was going to read later she realised that she had to get out of the stream so she tried once again but the pain made her pass out. Evelyn thought she felt something cold on her cheek and rustling then talking "Evelyn wake up, open your eyes" as she opened her eyes the nurse was saying "Do you remember you had a fall a dog found you and his owner called for an ambulance" As she fell back to sleep she thought at least her reputation was still good as she could not run the marathon now could she?

This is Pat's

HER REPUTATION

It was 'bake a cake' competition time again. I groaned inwardly as not being especially creative at cooking, I felt that I had to have a go.

After all, I belonged to the local Women's group who were very enthusiastic.

1. First, choose a recipe and make sure that I had all the ingredients. No improvising which is what I usually do, which probably accounts for my many disasters.

The cake was duly baked and I carefully carried it across the road to the

hall. Looking at the other entries I placed mine between two lavish designs hoping to go unnoticed. Some people just seem to go overboard at these things don't they.

Along came the judges, pens and pads aloft. They carefully examined each entrant, then proceeded to cut a small slice which was minutely inspected and notes were takes. It was all very tense and I stifled a giggle. Mine was checked, cut and tasted in turn, notes were duly written and they moved on.

Finally the serious business of deciding a winner was over, The ladies all sat down to tea and cake of course. We all knew who the winner was, indeed, she had outdone herself with a wonderful chocolate creation., and we ooo'd and aaahd. Her reputation was intact.

As no one had taken had bothered to take a piece of mine, I picked it up to take home to my other half or the birds. Looking back, I was just in time to see the winner trip over the step and the beautiful cake went flying through the air to a stunned silence.

29th July Meeting

Nine of us today met up at cheznous, Joan R started with a story a link we all thought of when we think about the curtain swished a funeral story and murder most foul. Sheila, school lessons and drama dress rehearsals. John told of a start to a happy union with a mysterious brother in MI5. Ann, about two boys finding a subject that they were both interested in. Sally, theatre and its destruction in 1943. Rosemary Captain Cooke suffering from a fever sees future. Joan a day at the seaside. My story Hazel's last day at home. Sue, dress rehearsal and successful play but no affection for producer.
 Next month P&B "her reputation"

 Rosemary voted the winner

24th June 2013

Very small group today seven only but with 8 stories including Rosemary's who was not able to be there. John read out that one first about the friendship that wasn't what it seemed but all revealed when a vet was mentioned.
Ann, Grandfather tells a story about when he was a boy.
Sheila told us about all the stories that could have written but didn't.
I wrote a playlet about a transplant heart. Joan story of a family surviving a crisis and coming out OK. Pat was about a predator who was shamed  in the stables. John, a story of a bricklayer who became a boxer.

Joan Read read out a shocking scary story which was voted the best one.

Lost heart

She tried opening her eyes oh why did her head hurt so much where was she. Finally her eyes opened it was dark but she could feel the chain that was on her wrist. What had happened she remembered going to the cinema what was the film yes The Lost Heart her and Jean, yes she had gone with Jean they left to walk home and this van pulled up along side of them and they were bundled in that's all she could remember until waking up. As her eyes became accustomed to the dark she could see that the room was very small with a toilet and a sink and another bed where was Jean? It was then she heard the scream she covered her ears but she could not shut out the sound. The screams went on and on until she thought she would die from the sound. Then there was a noise just outside the door she rushed back and laid on the bed and pretended to be asleep. She heard the door unlock, footsteps, and a thump then she was poked in the side and a voice said "We know you are awake the drug does not last that long you best look to your friend after all it will soon be your turn" she waited until she heard the door close. She rushed over to Jean she was naked and covered in blood from the knife cuts over her body there was a towel Mary wet it and tried to wash away the blood fortunately Jean was unconscious so she did not feel it. She covered her with a blanket and then went to the toilet to be sick after this she was exhausted she lay down on the bed and thought perhaps this is a dream when I wake up I will be home in my bed. When she came to Jean was looking at her she went over and they both began to cry Jean said "You know they will kill us when they have finished" Mary nodded her head when she looked Jean was unconscious again. Well Mary thought they will not find it so easy to take me they would have to take of the chain and that will be my opportunity. She waited until finally they came two of them one big and the other average size this one took of the chain and Mary lashed out with her foot she made it to the door before her hair was grabbed, pulled then she was punched. When she awoke she was tied to a bench she looked round and saw there were four men she also saw the bench with the knives and other instruments on it. She screamed as loud as she could but they just laughed "Scream as much as you like no one will hear you" He came towards her the knife in his hand and as the knife touched her skin the director shouted CUT that's a wrap let's call it a day.

Next month 29th July cheznous Cadnam

"The curtains swished"

27th May

At Jack and Joan's today on a sunny morning. I started off with Reg looking forward to getting out from gaol. Joan debated how to start the story. Pat all about cats and dogs as pets. Brian half the year gone and them hedgehog reminders. Sheila school and exams. John "wasted" education to become an actor. Joan giving up the allotment and going on a cruise.Sally won't marry the smell club footed fishmonger. Is this story PC?
Rosemary Coming back from a holiday with its chores.

 Ann a rather precocious baby which won another clear 5 votes.

 Next Few Weeks For the first few weeks of my life it was very quiet. I was very tiny and slept a lot. My mother wasn't very well so my Grandma came in most days to help when my father was at work. As I got bigger and mum got stronger we started going out more. Occasionally we visited some of mum's friends who had children, but I always sensed an atmosphere or kind of awkwardness among them and mum seemed relieved to leave. It wasn't until I was about six months old that I realised something was worrying my parents. What ever it could be was something that seemed to make them so sad. Now once again I was woken up to hear my parents talking about "it." "It" seemed to have been the main topic of conversation recently. My mother was getting upset and my father was trying to pacify her and telling her that he was sure this time everything was going to be all right. He told her that in the next few weeks they would know for sure and it was no good getting upset as there was nothing they could do and they just had to keep faith and look on the bright side. Just because I couldn't see them, they seemed to think I couldn't hear them either. I was still small and unable to communicate with them, but I knew everything they said and understood more than they would ever realise.
 The time passed slowly with me often being woken to hear my mother sobbing quietly. In the end Grandma came to stay again while my father was at work. I wanted so much to be able to let her know I understood her worries, but I knew in my heart of hearts that this time her worries would be unfounded. Eventually the day arrived when we all went to the hospital. The mood was quite sombre and no one spoke their inner most thoughts. I wanted to get things over and settled so that we could get back to normal. After all the formalities were over we were shown to a room and prepared for the procedure. Suddenly I heard a strange voice telling my mother she was doing really well and to push one more time. With an effort I was propelled from my soft, warm, dark bed into a light, cool environment with different voices around me. I closed my eyes tightly and took a sharp intake of breath that made me make a strange wailing sound. I was picked up as the strange voice said, "Congratulations. You've got a lovely little girl and it sounds as if she's got a good pair of lungs on her." I was then placed in a pair of arms that wrapped around me so gently. I knew they belonged to my mother. I opened my eyes to see her and my father peering down at me, their faces wreathed in smiles, but with tears coursing down their cheeks. I gazed at them for the first time. I knew my little brother had been born asleep last year, but I had tried so hard these last few months to let them know that everything was going to be fine this time. My mother looked at me in wonder and declared I was perfect as my father placed his hand around mine. I curled my tiny fingers around one of his as I gazed intently, happy to now be part of this family.

J&S's June 24th "Lost heart"

29th April 2013

Nine of us today John being last month's winner started off, a tale all about football and high wages. Joan E wrote about baby sitting. Pat attending a talent contest to support a family member who was singing. Sheila busy going to football matches and the U3A. Sally travelling by train and all its "pleasures" to a wedding. Ann God moves in mysterious ways. Sue continuation of the Indian saga and a racist preacher.
My contribution received most votes 5 in total a record says I modestly.

Joan and Jack's next month May 27th.
"the next few weeks"

Haven't got the time.

I haven't got the time now. John Noble mused over those words his son had said a few moments ago after a short message over the phone. His son had more pressing things to do than visit his terminally ill father lying in a lonely bed in the private room of the Priory Hospital. John reached out to the bedside cabinet and picked up his Rollex watch, it was eight oclock. With nothing on the television he had tried reading but soon gave that up. He felt lonely but accepted that he too had not comforted his mother when she died so he could not complain. His father had died early from a heart attack and now John wondered perhaps that was better to go that way than ending up here. Maureen his wife died several years ago and his daughter rarely visited him since then and he never saw the grandchildren from then on.

He studied his arms lying on the white sheets with multitudes of blue veins running down the length of them so little flesh, the hands of an old man he thought in disgust.

The words I haven't got the time echoed in his mind. He recalled when his son was eight excited by the tent they had bought him for his birthday, pleaded for his dad to join him inside. I haven't the time he had said. When Sarah his daughter asked him to help read a book that they bought for her Christmas he had again said he hadn't got the time. He had always been busy earning the money to keep his family in the comfort and luxury he believed was proof that he achieved all as expected as head of family.

He reached out again for the bedside cabinet to find the letter. His daughter had written a very short note to him the first one since entering the hospital for cancer treatment. He began to read it again. She wrote that she could not come down to see him as they could not take the children away from school as exams were coming up but hoped all was well. All is well he thought bitterly with half of his colon removed how could any one say that. The typed half page ended with the words I must go now to get a meal ready and prepare for the children who would soon be back from school.

God dammit surely she could find ten minutes to write. Does the imminent death of a father mean nothing in this world today. He screwed the letter up and threw it towards the waste bin.

The room seemed to have darkened the shadows deeper or was it his mind as blackness descended. He came to again hours later. A shadowy figure tall and gaunt sat watching him from the corner of the room a spectre that although not uttering any sound its lips framed one word. The word entered John's mind as clear as if it had been spoken . TIME.

25th March 2013

Only seven of us but eight stories to tell. Rosemary told of a story that at the end revealed it was the life of a butterfly. Sheila whistled or clapped for those pesky missing keys. Joan, a couple losing their dog on a walk. Ann continued with previous story. Pat Missing rosette, Brian blew up Wall Street. I raced around looking for things lost.

A wide variety of votes and John was the winner.
Next month at Sue's if OK with Sue and the chosen words Haven't got the time.


 DESPERATE SEARCH AUNT AGNES WAS A DEAR OLD SOUL WHO WAS LOVED BY ALL HER RELATIVES, AND SHE LOVED TO HAVE VISITORS. WELL OF COURSE THERE WERE LOTS OF NEPHEWS AND NIECES, WHO BY AND LARGE MADE AN EFFORT TO VISIT AGNES IN HER OLD AGE. SHE WAS ALWAYS WELCOMING, AND HER CAKES WERE LEGENDARY. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT WAS A BIT OF AN EFFORT AT TIMES TO GO TO SEE HER, BUT EVERYONE KNEW HOW MUCH SHE APPRECIATED THE VISITS. AGNES HAD NEVER MARRIED, BUT SHE HAD BEEN A VERY SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WOMAN WHO LIVED IN CONSIDERABLE COMFORT. IT WAS THOUGHT THAT WHEN SHE PASSED AWAY, THERE WOULD BE A FAIRLY SUBSTANTIAL ESTATE LEFT. THE HOUSE ITSELF MUST HAVE BEEN WORTH A MILLION OR MORE. THE FAMILY WERE VERY DISCREET WHENEVER AUNTIES ASSETS WERE DISCUSSED, BUT EVERYONE FELT THAT AGNES HAD YEARS LEFT IN HER, AND THEY JUST HOPED THAT SHE WAS ENJOYING HER RETIREMENT. UNBEKNOWN TO THEM AGNES WAS WELL AWARE OF HER WEALTH, AND HAD GIVEN IT MUCH THOUGHT AS SHE GOT OLDER, BUT SHE WAS DETERMINED THAT WHATEVER DECISION SHE MADE ABOUT HER ASSETS THEY WOULD ONLY BE REVEALED AFTER SHE HAD GONE.SHE HAD GIVEN HINTS THAT THERE WOULD POSSIBLY BE SOME SORT OF SURPRISE, WHEN HER WILL WAS ANNOUNCED, BUT THE FAMILY DIDN'T GIVE IT MUCH THOUGHT BECAUSE THEY FELT THAT SHE HAD A LOT MORE YEARS LEFT IN HER. YES, SHE SEEMED TO BE IN VERY GOOD SHAPE, AND THE VISITS CONTINUED. IN THE SUMMER SHE LOVED TO HAVE A HUGE GARDEN PARTY. HOW SHE LOVED HER HUGE GARDEN, WITH ITS WOODS AND LOVELY BORDERS. SHE DID MOST OF THE WORK HERSELF, BUT HAD A GARDENER IN WHEN SHE GOT OLDER, TO DO THE HEAVY WORK. THE GARDEN WAS A GREAT PART OF AGNES'S LIFE AND SHE WAS SO PROUD OF THE WAY IT LOOKED. THE PARTIES WERE LEGENDARY. THE FOOD AND DRINK FLOWED WITH NO EXPENSE SPARED. THE CHILDREN LOVED THE CHANCE TO EXPLORE AND HAD A GREAT TIME IN THE WOODS. AGNES HAD A WICKED SENSE OF HUMOUR AND WAS DELIGHTFUL COMPANY, AND WHEN THE TIME CAME FOR HER TO NEED ASSISTANCE, SHE INSISTED ON STAYING IN HER OWN HOUSE, WITH PLENTY OF HELP. THE FAMILY MADE SURE THAT SHE HAD PLENTY OF VISITS, AND WERE SURPRISED TO GET A REQUEST FROM HER TO HAVE A MEETING . WELL, WHEN THEY ALL GATHERED ROUND HER BED THEY WERE GRATEFUL! THAT SHE WAS STILL IN VERY GOOD HEALTH, BOTH MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY, FOR HER AGE. SHE HAD BEEN WELL LOOKED AFTER BY THE NURSES. SHE SAID THAT THE REASON SHE HAD GOT THEM TOGETHER WAS TO INFORM THEM THAT AS HER CLOSEST RELATIVES, THEY WERE ALL GOING TO GET AN EQUAL SHARE, OF HER NOT INCONSIDERATE FORTUNE, FOR WHICH THEY WERE ALL VERY GRATEFUL. BUT SHE SAID,"THERE WILL BE A LITTLE SURPRISE WHEN I DO GO WHICH MY SOLICITOR WILL DIVULGE TO YOU ALL AT THE READING OF MY WILL" SHE REFUSED TO BE DRAWN ON WHAT IT WAS, SO THE NEICES AND NEPHEWS HAD TO WAIT. THE WAIT WENT ON FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS BEFORE POOR AGNES PASSED AWAY. WELL, COME THE DAY OF THE READING OF THE WILL, THERE WAS A TENSE FEELING AS THEY SAT IN THE SOLICITOR'S OFFICE. THE SOLICITOR WENT THROUGH THE VARIOUS LEGACIES WHICH WERE THE SAME FOR EACH OF THE 10 NIECES AND NEPHEWS. AND THEN CAME THE SURPRISE. SHE HAD PUT £5000 IN WEATHERPROOF BOXES AND HAD BURIED THEM IN AN AREA OF THE GARDEN NOT TENDED BY THE GARDENER, WHICH SHE SAID WERE PART OF THEIR LEGACIES. ALL THEY HAD TO DO WAS FIND IT. SHE ALSO STIPULATED THAT EACH NEPHEW AND NIECE COULD ONLY HAVE ONE BOX EACH, AND THAT THE TREASURE HUNT SHOULD TAKE PLACE AT A GARDEN PARTY FOR ALL OF THEM. WELL COME THE DAY, THEY ALL MET IN HIGH EXCITEMENT. A WONDERFUL DAY WAS SPENT IN THE DESPERATE SEARCH FOR THE BOXES, AND EVENTUALLY THEY WERE ALL RECOVERED, LEAVING EVERYONE WITH SUCH WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF A VERY DEAR AUNTIE, THEY ALL MISSED VERY MUCH .

Report from Second Creative Writing Group

JUST A BRIEF OUT LINE OF OUR RECENT GROUP MEETING. AS YOU KNOW THERE IS ONLY THE TWO OF US. ON TUESDAY THE 26TH OF FEB, WE MET AT CAROLS HOUSE AT 10.15. AFTER A GREAT COFFEE AND CATCH UP WE READ ALOUD OUR STORIES. THE TITLE THIS TIME WAS, (SOMETIMES I FORGET WHAT ITS LIKE TO RELAX LIKE THIS) THE TITLES ARE PICKED AT RANDOM FROM A SELECTION OF TWO BOOKS AND AN AD HOCK PAGE AND LINE. MYSELF AND CAROL STORIES ARE ALWAYS POLES APART IN CONTENT, AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES IT SO INTERESTING AND ENJOYABLE. I THINK CAROL HAS A WONDERFUL CARING VIEW OF LIFE'S STRUGGLES, WHERE AS I SEE ONLY INTRIGUE AND THE DARKNESS LIFE HAS TO OFFER. "I FRIGHTEN CAROL AND SHE WARMS MY SOUL". WE LAUGH TOGETHER AND ARE NEVER CRITICAL OF OUR ATTEMPTS AT BEING AMATEUR AUTHORS. "SO WATCH OUT CATHERINE CROOKS AND MARTINA COLE!!" WE ARE AFTER YOUR READERS. I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL TO THE U.3.A. FOR THE OPPERTUNITY TO EXPAND AND GIVE A VOICE TO MY WRITING AMBITIONS. BUT BEST OF ALL, MY FRIENDSHIP WITH CAROL LEGGETT. YOURS SINCERELY, ANN STRUTT.