February meeting

Only seven today.
All good stories mine was voted to be the best
Next month "A total surprise"

Staring out.

What is that noise? Emma's shrill voice woke up her sleeping husband George. George wasn't too pleased to be woken up from what had been a quite nice dream where he had been chatting up the new bar maid who had just started working in the local inn. I can't hear anything he said half rising himself up by his elbow. It's stopped now but it was a scuttling noise from the kitchen.

Get back to sleep most likely its from outside. No I'm going down to see what it is as Emma swung her legs over the side of the bed and switched on the bedside light. Oh alright hang on I'll go George struggled to free himself from the heaped blankets. Putting on his trousers and slippers he made his way to the door. I'll come with you Emma whispered.

Silently apart from Emma's teeth chattering with fright they both made their way downstairs.

George slowly opened the kitchen door and emboldened by no reaction he switched on the electric light. As he did so something flew from one side of the room to the other.

Jesus Christ George blasphemed what was that. What did you see Emma asked as she followed him into the room.

I don't know looked like a cat a black one.

Emma shook her head, I've never seen a black cat around here before she replied anyway how did it get in? I don't know perhaps when you put the bin bags out last thing.

Open the back door Emma I'll see if I can chase it out. George grabbed hold of the washing machine and pulled it out as far as he could He then got on his hands and knees and peered under the kitchen cupboards with the torch that was kept in case of a power cut. Now where are you pussy he said encouragingly Jesus he exclaimed and threw himself backwards A pair of malevolent shining eyes stared out at him. It's a rat he cried. As big as any cat. Emma shrieked and rushed out of the kitchen into the garden. George gathered his thoughts what could he do. He didn't fancy poking it with a stick the rat was big, big enough to attack him perhaps .

He could hear Emma talking to their neighbour who had come out on hearing the commotion. perhaps he might have an idea as he was a chap who was very practical and seemed to be able to solve any problem. He thought should he ring the police but no he would wait to see if Salvo his neighbour could come up with a suggestion.

A short while later Salvo turned up looking cheerful carrying a walking stick. George looked unimpressed “What you going to do with that, club it to death? I've already tried to get it out with a broom handle but it just retreats. You'll soon see, said Salvo confidently, bending down in the corner and pushing the walking stick forward. Suddenly George was deafened as the walking stick gun fired. There you are problem solved it's well and truly dead. Salvo triumphantly pulled back the gun and the dead rat. George looked on amazed but also concerned about the possible mess left behind and not only that he saw water was seeping out at the boiler end of the cupboards. Salvo you good at repairing burst pipes?

January meeting

Down in numbers just eight of us on a cold foggy morning in Sue's house. Sheila got the most votes.

Next month "Staring out"

MORE IMPORTANT

Jason was a kind and helpful boy.  He preferred the outdoor world and was very pleased when he, and his parents moved from the town to this village.  They had a lovely cottage overlooking the rolling countryside.  From most of their windows they had beautiful views of the hills covered with wild flowers and trees.  He loved it all from day one and got into a habit of going for walks after school. 

Sometimes his new friends from school showed him the local sights, places to play and walks in the nearby wood, but mostly he liked to explore on his own.  On one such walk he came across an elderly lady sitting on a fallen tree looking at the pretty fungus that was growing on it.  They chattered for a while and it became obvious that they both liked walking and watching the birds and seeing Nature at its best.  They bumped into each other frequently and he found out that her name was Mrs Lacey and since her husband died a couple of years ago she had been doing all the gardening on her own.  It wasn’t a very big garden she said but she really enjoyed the ‘pottering’.  

During the summer that Jason left school he still hadn’t decided what to do for a job.  He thought it was more important to do something out in the open, not being stuck in an office job somewhere.  He was telling Mrs Lacey this and she mentioned that lately arthritis in her hands were making it difficult for her to work in her garden, sooo, while he was deciding about a job would he please consider helping her a little bit in keeping it tidy?  He said yes, but he didn’t know much about gardening.  She said that she would tell him what to do.  He was a quick learner and soon could tell the flowers from the weeds.  He enjoyed planting out the little plants that they both raised from seed.  After a short while  he realized that this is what he wanted to do as a job.  

Mrs Lacey told him that if he was serious then he should do it properly and go to Agriculture College.  So he thought about it, then discussed it with the career officer, applied to the nearest college and was excited when he was accepted.  The college was near enough to stay at home, so at the weekends he was still able to do Mrs Lacey’s  garden.  After he qualified he got a job with the local council working in parks which he enjoyed immensely.  Over the years Mrs Lacey was his confident and knew all about his girlfriends, then one in particular who eventually he married.  Mrs Lacey,by this time, was getting quite frail and shortly after  Jason got married she died.  He was broken hearted.  She had been there for most of his life and he knew he would miss her terribly.  A few days later he received a letter from Mrs Lacey’s solicitor telling him that in her will she had left him her estate.  Not just the beloved garden, but the sweet little cottage that she had had so many happy years in.  When all the official stuff had been sorted out Jason and his bride moved in with the knowledge that hopefully they would have as long and happy a life as she’d had.  

November

Ten of us in J&S's on a sunny cold morning. All good stories and it was hard choosing the best one. Ann got the most votes.
Next month Sues's

More important.

Brought Him

As Paul sat in the car, he wondered what had brought him to this place. He was in one of forest car parks, a place he loved, but he had no recollection of the journey here and assumed he must have been on autopilot. He pondered on the last few months and the events that had brought this feeling about. Being made redundant from his job at the factory had been a blow, as now he and Lisa had Danny they needed every penny they could get. If the truth be known though, he had been quite relieved when it had happened. He was a country boy at heart and had never been comfortable working in the factory environment. He had tried getting another job in the weeks since but had more often than not never had a reply to his application. The tension had increased between him and Lisa and they seemed to spend more time arguing and disagreeing each day. This morning Lisa had informed him that she was taking Danny and going to spend some time with her parents in the next town and after another unsuccessful attempt at getting a job, he had got in the car and just driven. He wondered what was the use of trying to keep on, as things seemed to just go from bad to worse and found himself wondering if everyone would be better off without him. He wondered what would be the best way to end it all. He could take an overdose, but there was no guarantee it would succeed and he could end up a vegetable which would make things even worse. He certainly didn’t feel he had the courage to hang himself, desperate though he was. The only other option he could think of was to gas himself. He could come to one of the isolated car parks and do it, but it would have to be planned as he had no hose in the car today. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he became it was the answer.

Suddenly the knocking on the window brought him out of his reverie and he saw an elderly lady standing beside the car. He wound the window down and asked if there was something wrong. She was in quite a distressed state and explained that she had been walking her dog, when it had chased off after a squirrel. It must have jumped to try and catch it and fallen awkwardly and was now unable to get up and was crying out in pain. He quickly got out of the car and rushed with her, following the anguished cries of the distressed animal. He found this “Heinz” collie type dog struggling to get up to greet its mistress. Kneeling down he gently spoke and smoothed it and with the help of the lady picked it up and then carried it back to the car. Insisting on taking them to the vet, he settled them in the car and followed her instructions for the journey. Once there he waited while they attended to the animal and as they decided to keep it in overnight, he offered to take her home. On the way she was very quiet, but on arriving home, she asked if he would come in for a cup of tea. It seemed churlish to refuse, so he agreed. When they had settled down with a drink and homemade fruitcake, she said she hoped she had not interrupted him, as he had seemed deep in thought when she had knocked on the window. He replied that having recently lost his job and been unable to find another, he was trying to resolve the problem and was thinking over the options. She asked what he had done and on hearing that he had never really liked factory work, suggested he could now try for something he felt comfortable with. She told him he was obviously a caring person from the way he had dealt with the situation he had been put in today.

On returning to an empty house later, he thought long and hard about what she had said and the next day made enquiries about jobs at the local wildlife centre. He knew he would never make a fortune, but it would be something he would enjoy and maybe he could eventually go to agricultural college and get some qualifications. He called Lisa and said he was coming to bring her and Danny home, but on the way called in to find out how the dog was and thank his Good Samaritan for her wise words and tell her what he had done.

October

Limited participants today. My own story was lost when the file corrupted still first time I missed. Joan Read won scoring three votes.

Just discovered my file so have printed after Joan's masterpiece. Well it would be a shame if nobody read it.

Next "brought him"

Stood Close

Dan McGuire stood close to the fence keeping in the shadow of the hedge that grew the length of it. He was waiting for the occupier of the house who's garden he was in to go to bed. He stood very still hardly breathing then at just after eleven o'clock the lights went out. He waited for about a half hour and then crept round to the back of the house to the door he knew led into the kitchen he also knew there was a dog flap but no dog. He was quite small and could usually wriggle his way in through the flap. But this was no ordinary burglary he was being paid a fair amount of money to enter and retrieve from a desk that was situated in the lounge a CD marked Honey. 

He had no idea what was on it and he didn't care he just wanted the money. He set about greasing his clothes with Vaseline this helped him through the flap and also messed with any prints left although he was always careful to wear gloves and a skull cap so no loose hairs could fall out. He gained entry and silently made for the desk he just hoped that it was not locked it would take valuable time for him to unlock it not that it would be a problem fortunately it was open he searched and found the CD he put it in his pocket and started to leave when he heard a noise. He quickly hid behind the thick curtains and peeked through an opening. He could not believe his eyes another burglar had come to search the desk of course he left with nothing. 

After a short while Dan left as he was making his way home he thought to himself that there must be something of value on the CD he had in his possession if someone else also wanted it he decided that when he got home he would play it. He placed the disc into the machine and hit play he watched as several short clips came up of a girl with various men it was then he realised that this was being used for blackmail as he knew one of the men was a very senior partner in a law firm and it looked as if the girl was very young. He took two copies of the CD for insurance and then made the phone call to his contact to say the work was done. 

A meeting was arranged for the next day and at exactly 1.30pm Dan was sat in a coffee shop waiting. Through the door came two men they sat down opposite him one put an envelope on the table and waited Dan looked inside and had a shock instead of money there was a note telling him that a gun was pointed at him under the table and if he knew what was good for him he would hand over the goods. He passed over the CD and sat perfectly still until they left breathing a sigh of relief he finished his coffee to stop himself shaking then paid and left. The more he thought about how he had been screwed out of his money and threatened he decided he would take the CD to the police and report the whole thing and take his chances. He went straight there and spoke to a detective he told him about his part in the burglary and how he had copied the CD. He was escorted home and he passed over the two copies. Over the next two months arrests were made against many men for statutory rate of an under aged girl. When Dan was sentenced the judge asked him why did he turn himself in Dan replied "Well your honour I came to the conclusion that I would rather be tried by 12 men than carried to my grave by six".

The End

Stood close

Did you get the impression on hearing the word STOOD that it seemed odd and on thinking about it I believe it might be because it is an irregular verb. Why don't we say he standed up instead of he stood up. Perhaps saying it brings the answer, it does sound odd to the ear.

Right now we have dealt with that what else can I write about. The first person I can remember who had a different body spatial norm was from Poland. He came over during the war and was working in the docks as a crane engineer. He was quite a likeable chap but he would stand too close and if you backed away he followed until you were no longer able to retreat as your back was pressed against the wall. Just remembered another one years later while crossing railway tracks again in the docks I was button holed by a Frenchman who was lost and wanted direction. He too gave me the close body engagement. Do all the French get close I wonder.

One more comes to mind he was a short chap no more than five foot a keen gardener and often exhibited his prize fuchsias on the common when the Southampton show took place. He too was a nice chap if you forgave him from getting in close and staring up your nostrils, not a pretty sight. Thinking about the past I can recall the smell of the hot tent and the grass crushed by the many feet with the wooden display tables covered in green velvet cloth displaying all the wonderful colourful varieties of flowers.

The only one other person I can think of was a chap I believe to be a lorry driver as his face was familiar. He only had a string vest on - apart from his trousers and shoes of course. We met in Smith's where all the journals were stacked on the shelves. He was perusing the Chuck and Driver magazine while I was getting the motorcycle weekly. It was very hot that day and as I scanned the the first few pages the truck driver reached up for his magazine showing his hairy armpit releasing a pungent smell that was hard to ignore he didn't have to stand too close to drive away the fellow customers as he effectively cleared the decks.

I never stay too long standing by the shelves looking at the journals since the time I was standing by an old lady who was avidly reading a popular newspaper when she was approached by I assumed to be a young manager and he said the papers were for purchasing if she wished to read it. I've just been reminded of another chap who stood close when talking to anyone. He also had anther anti-social habit of spitting when gobbling his food. Being hyper-active bits of food and spit flew all directions.

Just had a thought why is it I've never came across any woman who wanted to take my space up by getting close - except Joan of course?

September Story

Just eight of us one with a cold, one on holiday and one suffering from lack of sleep.

Rosemary got most votes. 

Next month STOOD CLOSE

August

A full house apart from one with four winners with two votes so just one was selected by John which happened to be mine. So here it is.

Back over

If you could live your life back over would you want to? If on dying you were given the opportunity to relive your life as it was or accept the unknowing nothingness of complete oblivion what would you choose. I would take the oblivion. My decision might be different if I had control to change things by using the wisdom that does come with age. We older people are not torn by jealousy or desires We know that whatever we lust after loses it lustre after attaining it.

If it was possible to dip in and out of our life stream to bring peace to an event where there was anger or fear that perhaps might change my mind.

Even then would that be enough to make you want to live it again I doubt as it would be like seeing Shawshank Redemption over and over again. It is the unrolling unknown that brings the life into our existence. And the magical moments that live in our memory.

I mentioned to my neighbour Ted who was a member of the U3A the subject I would be writing about in this month's creative writing. I asked him what would he do to change his life and after reflecting for a moment he said he would change things so that he would be living in Scotland where he was born.

I asked why were the people better or was Edinburgh so nice a city to be attractive enough to want to go back? I told him I would not be offended if he said it was the people.

He said he had a lot of friends there but I pointed out not too unkindly I hope, that they were all dead. He said it is such a beautiful city. He recalled a time during the war in which he was involved, manning a Landing craft support ship. It was just after D Day he returned to Scotland and getting out of the train he walked up the main road from the station with all the historic buildings bathed in sunlight with few people about and the feeling he had was that the whole scene was bathed in a ethereal light it transformed his features at the remembrance.

I did wonder if it was the sunlight being such a rare sight in Scotland. But I didn't say that to him either.

There is a philosophy that suggests we ought to accept what is happening including our thoughts each moment. If adopted it will mean life is no longer a struggle to fight to change what is.

In today's paper the young woman dancer who lost her leg in the roller coaster accident says she would not change what happened to her as it made her a better person.

In my case if I was able to go back in time to reassure my parents when the bombs landed all around us in Gosport that we would all survive the war and there was no need to evacuate to the Isle of Wight it would have changed everything for the better. The IOW experience was good but coming back to the mainland was too much of a sacrifice.

But I know if my mother had the same question put to her when she passed through the gate and had a chat with Gabriel I would not have come into the world in the first place.

Next month    "Be Naughty" 

Meeting at Sue's, Pat declared the winner 
Just Loosen

I'm not sure about you, but I wish this digital age had passed me by. Its difficult to ignore as its integrated into our everyday life.

The young ones have no fear, and therein lies the difference. We ARE afraid we might break something or be unable to return to our starting point.

One evening, watching an interesting programme on the T.V. A button on the remote was pressed in error. Result, black screen. My husband had dropped off clutching the hand control and I woke him up trying to loosen his grip. We tried everything to no avail so took a look in the booklet, which might as well have been written in Klingon. The decision was made to press every button starting at the top. Fortunately the 2^nd and 3^rd buttons restored the picture and sound. Hooray. By then, of course, we had missed all the interesting parts of the story. Now the remote is in a remote place, just in case.

The battery had worn out on my mobile and as it was less expensive to purchase a new phone than a new battery , went ahead. The helpful young sales lady transferred all my contacts onto the new one, or so I thought. However only half of them were there...how annoying was that.

Now, I am not against new technology, just think of the Space Station. Then there’s PokeMon. It apparently means Pocket Monkey. I don't understand how people can spend so much time searching for things that aren’t there! Life is too short for this, and I do wonder if the next generation will be able to tell the difference between the real and the unreal world.

Next month cheznous Back over