Summer Meeting 17th July, 2013

RECIPE FOR A LITERARY COCKTAIL

Ingredients
•    1 dram of drama, with ‘legal’ spices
•    2 slices of social history, marinated for hundreds of years
•    1 dash of crime novel, with a salty taste
•    1 splash of flash fiction, with a twist in the tale
•    3 portions of short story, flavoured with poignancy, humour and nostalgia
•    1 shot of terror with the treat of the guillotine
•    1 sprig of children’s verse, sprinkled with rhyme and rhythm
•    3 dollops of poetry, fearful and funny

 Method
    Bring all ingredients together in a comfortable, well ventilated room.
    Allow each ingredient time to breathe and infuse with appreciation and advice.
    Add generous amounts of fluid when temperature rises.
    Pause for short break to allow ingredients to settle.
    Continue mixing and lace with laughter for almost 3 hours.
    Finally, add ONE cherry!

WARNING –
 The effects of this cocktail may take some time to wear off.

Thanks to Pat Young for her perfect hosting and all ‘ingredient’ contributors!
Carolyn O’Hara
18th July 2013

Summer Meeting - 3rd July, 2013

This morning I woke up laughing; I’d been dreaming about Maggie’s false teeth. Intrigued? No more than we were. Last night’s readaround was a feast of literary fayre, with almost all the party of thirteen bringing something tasty to the table.

    The first challenge, of course, was making our way to the venue, a significant quest even for the most seasoned of orienteerers. Yet it is a fitting testimony to our collective determination, that there was barely room enough, in Maggie’s generous conservatory, to seat us all.

    As each in turn served up their piece, we laughed, grimaced and sighed in unison. From a humorous recitation, complete with alarmingly accurate sound effects, through several enticing opening pages of crime novels, articles giving vent to the some of life’s frustrations (squirrels, left-handedness and the unwanted attentions of the Chinese tourist paparazzi) and short stories speaking of love and, oh yes, false teeth.

    In the comfort and conviviality of our hideaway, we welcomed each dish, allowing the flavours to settle before adding our unique spice to the mix.

   When darkness surprised us, we realised it surely was time to retrace our steps; hopeful caravans were hastily agreed as one by one cars turned and twisted their way back to the main thoroughfare and peace returned to that particular corner of Kilmaurs.  Each head, no doubt, full of promises to self, to finish that story, add a bit here, remove a word there, something to sleep on and perhaps to dream about. 

Speaking of which, what about Maggie’s false teeth?  Well they weren’t Maggie’s exactly, but it makes a good headline, doesn’t it?

   

Dorothy Gallagher