Meeting held 5th May 2011
Suggested theme: Reflections
A good meeting with ten contributors to “Reflections” in spite of the (forgiven) absence of Sue, Stef and Iain.
Bill kicked off with a comfortable cruise starting from Bergen but finishing with an ambulance ride following a fall on the escalator: his highlight , seeing preying Sea Eagles. Richard was a very welcome listener who reassuringly for the rest of us, registered interest and responsive emotions! Elizabeth gave vivid recollections of her compulsory solitude with Scarlet Fever when nevertheless, she kept contact with the outside world through the familiar routine sounds. Her cleverly rhymed, very amusing piece of a Father’s over-ambitious raft-building, was a gem. Charles told a tale of Christmas, enlivened by the visit of three angels, one red, one blue and one green, who lodged in the top of a tall Oak Tree, travelled in space but were not above riding in a wheelbarrow. They had a beneficial influence on his father’s heavy drinking in the local ‘Three Angels’!
Roy’s “Reflections” talked of seeing ourselves in water and other mirror images where we are always bilaterally inverted, giving us “two faces”. His “New Eyes” explored retirement and the new unscheduled time to see, hear and smell and record earlier experiences as well as becoming more aware of the everyday. Doreen’s “Reflections” spoke of seeing her mother in her own mirrored reflections but also of catching glimpses of her sons’ behaviour traits in her grandchildren.
Penny’s “The ‘Solitary’ Prisoner” gave time for the unfortunate incumbent to think “as he had never thought before”. “T.V. Death” - the title said it all, that self-imposed solitude which gives the illusion of being part ofeveryday life and no time to discover “the person he might have been”.
Mike’s “Reflections” recalled being required to ‘paint’ a beautiful woman in words, rather than with his paintbrush. His language got ‘so excited’ he had to give up: he vowed to write a book instead. Mike is off to Australia and his “Farewell” reflected his schizophrenic lifestyle - “and although I shall be a committed Australian, I’ll be English when I’m dead!”
Robert’s “Reflections” marvelled at that all-controlling satellite, the moon, in charge of night, light and tides. His “Road to Damascus” longed for another “blinding light” to sort out today’s Syrian leaders. Having just returned from Jordan and Damascus, I felt a very powerful personal response: it was brilliant.
I used my slot to reflect on Jordan’s unique masterpiece of rock-carving - the secret and hidden Petra, then the bizarre swimming/floating in/on the Dead Sea and finally a glimpse of an elderly Muslim lady’s reluctant but smiling response on the plane back home.
Next 1st Thursday, June 2nd, same place same time, suggested topic -
Train/s’.
Jean Tyler