Minutes of the meeting at La Rosa Hotel on the above date.
Present: Adele, (Acting Chair and Minutes), Ian, Michele, Harry, Jenny, Lesley, Kaz.
Apologies: Gill, James, John, Laura, Pip.
Topic: Members’ work-in-progress.
Ian —
Read from his uncle’s book ‘Chota Sahib’ by Charles H G Nida, a memoir/autobiography of his working life in India. Chapter: Bombay Appointment looks back to when he was 6 years old receiving a picture book in which two images had a huge impression upon him. One was of a kind of traction engine mowing down women and children at a festival to Vishnu, where the driver was pleased with his actions; the other was of a palace like something from 1001 Arabian Nights. Later, as a young man working in a large London retail store, where he envied the salesmen travelling the world in their various trade sales, he overheard a conversation with the shop owner saying ‘I wish we had a young man to fill that Bombay appointment’ and thought this was the opportunity for him to travel as per his desire. His father dismissed his request at the chance after the tradesman laughed at him for being too young when he made a direct approach asking for the job earlier.
Everyone liked the story and were keen to hear more if Ian would bring the book in again. It has just been re-published and people also admired the book cover design.
Adele —
Read from her Covid Diary. Extracts from events dating 23rd May to 2nd July 2022. Boris Johnson appears to be getting close to his ultimate demise. Baroness Hallet is appointed to investigate the Covid Enquiry. China has been experiencing unbearable lockdowns in Beijing and Shanghai but can we trust the numbers we are provided with as to case numbers there. First hand experience of hospital protocol while visiting family and how the recent spikes in Covid cases is having an impact and immediate return to mask-wearing and sanitising for visitors in various authorities around the country.
Harry —
Please refer to the sheet provided by Harry. 1960, Harry’s wife is aboard ship with him as they arrive in Egypt and prepare to be bombarded with local tradesmen including an Arab called Jock McGregor who is known to Harry. Everyone enjoyed the extract and felt that Harry evocatively captured the experience in this piece.
Michele —
Read from her biography set in the Boer War. It is 1902 and war is over. Anna and Finn who have endured the worst experiences of camp life during the war both now travel back to their respective homes. Anna travels back home with her terminally ill mother and finds herself a stranger in her own home following construction of block houses at the farm, salt ruined fields and men-folk hit hard by war. No-one can be the same again and everything must start from the beginning, but experience has scarred them all. Finn meanwhile, has travelled to his home town of Aberfeldy, Scotland. Here there is little sign of the war even having taken place. A few smatterings of images, medals on display and the upcoming Black watch parade of homecoming soldiers and war heroes – no scars, no ruined lands, just normality. Finn cannot find comfort in any of it and yearns for Anna, as she does him.
Lesley —
Read a short story she shared during the first Covid lockdown period when WWG could not meet in person. Called ‘Sat Nav’, it tells the tale of Dan becoming lost in snowy countryside where he takes refuge at a farmhouse overnight after his sat nav stops working and becomes lost. The Fairbanks had lost their daughter, a picture of whom was on the mantelpiece. She had left home 30 years earlier with the farm hand who reputedly had got her pregnant, and she had bever returned. On returning home the next morning he endured terrible flooding on the road which had washed away all the snow. He went through a memory box given to him by his adoptive parents, within which was a photograph of his birth mother – the exact same as at the Fairbanks Farm. His birth certificate called him ‘baby Fairbanks’. He must be their grandson. Keen to find out more he returned with his wife, only to find the place where the farm was had been buried when a reservoir was built some 20 years ago. How could this possibly be? Will we ever find out?
Well, Lesley wondered whether to write more and expand things, particularly from the perspective of the missing mother. All agreed it could be taken further, but perhaps keep it as another short story sequel taken from the mother’s perspective of the situation. Lesley will ponder what to do.
The meeting closed at 12.45 pm.
Whitby Writers Group 