Issue 438 20th May 2016

FLASH FICTION: half-baked, sedative, sliding, gateaux, generous,

intermittent, flummery, pocket, chocolate, algebra

Assignment: Where are we now?

A warm welcome awaits. COME to WORKSHOP ... Temp. home: Rising Brook Baptist Church Cafe

Workshops same time 1.30 Monday.

Images Facebook origin unknown

Observation: This is the most

exciting time of year. Every

morning, something new has

sprung up in my garden.

Residents living near a pop

festival complained about the

noise keeping them awake.

“Why don‟t you join in?” They

were asked. “Then you can rant

and rave at the same time!”

www.issuu.com/risingbrookwriters

1 From fairest creatures we desire increase, That thereby beauty's rose might never die, But as the riper should by time decease, His tender heir might bear his memory: But thou contracted to thine own bright eyes, Feed'st thy light's flame with self-substantial fuel, Making a famine where abundance lies, Thy self thy foe, to thy sweet self too cruel: Thou that art now the world's fresh ornament, And only herald to the gaudy spring, Within thine own bud buriest thy content, And tender churl mak'st waste in niggarding: Pity the world, or else this glutton be, To eat the world's due, by the grave and thee.

2 When forty winters shall besiege thy brow, And dig deep trenches in thy beauty's field, Thy youth's proud livery so gazed on now, Will be a tattered weed of small worth held: Then being asked, where all thy beauty lies, Where all the treasure of thy lusty days; To say within thine own deep sunken eyes, Were an all-eating shame, and thriftless praise. How much more praise deserved thy beauty's use, If thou couldst answer 'This fair child of mine Shall sum my count, and make my old excuse' Proving his beauty by succession thine. This were to be new made when thou art old, And see thy blood warm when thou feel'st it cold.

http://www.gutenberg.org (educational/nfp usage)

A thought or two about RANTING online ... (SMS assignment)

What is okay to share online?

Recently, I received a post from a group in which local people sell things. It wasn't

anything for sale. It was a rant which named a person and accused them of vile

deeds. The person accused was named and their photograph circulated. This accusa-

tion was sent out to over 4,000 people in that group; it ended with the instruction to

“share, share, share”.

It raises several questions: was this rant approved by the group administrator?

was it libellous? would anyone who published this rant by sharing also be doing a

libellous act? could the administrator also be accused of libel for so publishing?

Perhaps this person had done the nasty things of which they were accused,

none of which seemed criminal ... but, so what? Should a selling group accept what

seems like revenge posts in which only one side of a failed 'domestic' relationship are

posted? And, would the administrator be liable for the costs of those who shared the

information should the person accused decide to sue?

I'm not a solicitor so I don't know the answers, but I made the decision not to

share that post ...

All That Jazz! The RBW workshop comedy for 2016 is now online as a free e-book. www.issuu.com/risingbrookwriters www.risingbrookwriters.org.uk/DynamicPage.aspx?PageID=15 and on RBW Facebook page where it is free to like and share

Voting has now taken place at the next on the theme for the next comedy: first options were ...

Pirates/1065/French Revolution/Roman Britain The themes which gained the most votes in round one were,

Romans (the Bluddschotticus building the Watling Street), or Pirates, (Yo ho ho, me hearties) By two votes, ROMANS won and will be the next comedy.

We have decided to make some submission changes, to make it easier and fairer: There will be a pool of stock characters as usual. Contributors will be restricted to three exclusive characters of their own making per plot strand. Contributors must not use any other contributor‟s exclusive characters. Contributors must have a plotline approved before starting. Contributors may only submit 500 words per week. Block submissions will not be accepted. It is important to other writers to be able to hear storylines unfolding week by week. The page limit of the book aims to be 150 pages. The house font is Tahoma 12pt - no bold, no italics, no coloured inks, no centred headings, „ for speech not “ , no underlining, no attachments, all submissions in ragged-right-edge embedded email, all submissions to be spelled checked and grammar checked prior to submission. One space only after a full stop. All contributors should acquaint themselves how to punctu-ate dialogue. A Buddy system, where a beginner may be asking the advice of a more experienced contributor prior to submission, is to be encouraged. NB: It has been agreed for workshoppers to go on a field trip to study a Roman dig site.

Fun With Strawberries.

Strawberry plants need to be replaced every few years as the old plants become

“Tired,” or too old and woody to be productive, so it is always a good idea to be

growing on a few “Runners,” each year for when they are needed as replacements.

Having just planted a nice Strawberry bed last year with “Runners,” taken from

plants at home the previous year, I decided I ought to create a few more plants. I

filled with soil, and carefully placed, a couple of dozen 3 inch pots under some of

the larger Strawberry runners on my allotment plot. The un-rooted “Runners,” were

held onto the pot by some large stones so that they were in contact with the soil to

encourage the roots. After just a couple of weeks they were rooted well enough into

the pots to cut them free from their parent plants. Leaving them attached like this

means that they keep growing while rooting instead of separating them before they

have rooted and starving them of moisture when the weather could turn hot and fry

them.

Although the parent plants produced a lot of “Runners,” they were disappointing, as

there was virtually no fruit to pick and what little there was, had been just pulled

from the plants and left on the ground. Maybe birds or mice were the culprits or

maybe the thieves were a different type of local animal life altogether! In fact I har-

vested more Strawberries from the original half dozen plants in the drainpipe

“tower planters,” at home than the 24 plants on my Allotment! Maybe the plants

needed another year before becoming fully productive, or it maybe that the “Bark

Chippings,” that I spread around them instead of Straw, robbed the soil of too much

Nitrogen.

While on our travels the other week we saw a new type of Strawberry called a

“Pine Berry.” I was not really that impressed with them on first inspection as they

looked just like anaemic, white, Strawberries to me. They were supposed to taste of

Pineapple, but I think that was just using poetic license to sell them. However,

when my Mother pointed out that, as white Strawberries, they are unlikely to be

stolen by certain types of thieves because they won‟t know when they are ripe!

Another type of Strawberry that has been disappointing for me this year has been

the Strawberry Tree, or Arbutus Unedo that has not produced a single berry again

this year. I lost one bush a couple of Winters back and since then the remaining Ar-

butus is growing well, but not “Berrying Up,” at all. I was hoping to get some self

rooted cuttings from my plant, but cuttings are difficult to root, so I was thinking of

trying to grow one from seed. However, Arbutus are slow to grow and need to be

quite mature before the bright red, slow developing berries, are produced, so I think

I will have to buy an expensive, mature companion plant for the garden to get some

fruit sooner, rather than wait years for it.

Another weird, freak of a plant that I couldn‟t resist buying when I heard about it, is the “Pink

Blueberry.” A contradiction in terms I think the pink fruit will still look good in a fruit salad.

Finally, I managed to buy a Japanese Wine Berry, to use its common name, which is a member

of the Rubus, or Bramble family like Blackberries and Raspberries. This plant is really more

decorative than for fruit as the long canes are covered in bright red bristles and the berries are

small and full of seeds. However, although the berries are also fairly tasteless, they are sweet,

so they are full of sugar and good for their juice in making homemade wines etc. Hence, the

berry‟s common name of Wine Berry.

Image Wikipedia: Betty Cai

St George and the Dragon (assignment)

St George and the dragon? How did I get involved? That's a good question.

Well it was the St George bit to start with. I had heard about the new NHS trusts being set up within the Health Ser-

vice but not given a lot of thought to them. Then out of the blue this chap appeared from Birmingham asking me if would I

take on the job of heading up the board of a new NHS Trust that would be made responsible for mental health care in Mid

Staffordshire. It would be based, on our St George's hospital in Stafford. The idea, I believe, was to involve people with

private sector management experience to complement the ethos of the public sector in the oversight of local NHS organisa-

tions.

Should I or shouldn't I? I had no direct knowledge of the world of mental illness but I did know someone who did -

an old friend who for some years had been a well respected consultant psychiatrist at St Georges. What did he think? He

surprised me. He was wholly in favour of me getting involved.

Only one day a week; that's what they said it would involve. They lied of course! But I was about to retire from my

normal employment and the pay for the four year stint would be a useful addition to my pension arrangements. They said I

could be useful so I took it on.

That's when I started to get my first whiff of the dragon - the dragon of mental illness - for, for most of us, mental

illness combines the dark mystery and the fearfulness which perhaps dragons used to inspire in folk in days gone by.

I quickly learned that the standing of our mental hospital at St George's was second to none in the whole of our coun-

try and that we were noted especially for having raised the profile and standards for the care of the elderly mental ill - a

much neglected area at the time. I started to get to know the staff and to learn a growing respect for the skill and the dedi-

cation of their caring. Here indeed, by their humour, their sym-

pathy and their professional caring, the followers of St George

challenged, not unsuccessfully, the dragons of mental illness.

So when, whilst on holiday in Wales, I saw this beautiful

dragon carved and coloured on slate, I tracked down the artist

and ordered my own St George mounted and fully armed and a

dragon, scaly from head down to tail, with wings extended and,

of course, nostrils breathing flames of fire. And there he soon

hung in pride of place in my office a knight of St George doing

battle with the dragons of mental Illness.

Of course we don't really believe in dragons do we? Do

we?? At least, not in the scaly monster breathing fire like the

one in the picture. But we do all have our dragons to fight from

time to time as we travel the pilgrimage of life's journey.

One famous life-pilgrim* wrote of his experience like

this,

Whoso beset him round

With dismal stories

Do but themselves confound;

His strength the more is.

No lion can him fright,

He‟ll with a giant fight,

He will have a right

To be a pilgrim.

Hobgoblin nor foul fiend

Can daunt his spirit,

He knows he at the end

Shall life inherit.

Then fancies fly away,

He‟ll fear not what men say,

He‟ll labour night and day

To be a pilgrim

*John Bunyan 1628-1688

Pilgrim‟s Progress

Latest News: Items added to the Poetry Library in April 2016 | 14-May-16

Items added to the Poetry Library in April 2016 and now available for reference or loan. Luxury of the Dispossessed by Dan Duggan | 14-May-16

Staff Pick from our Poetry Library Open Day 2015 by George Jackson, Library Assistant. Unsolicited Acquisitions | 06-May-16

What do we look for? New Events:

ONLINE: Light - write in the morning | 17-May-16 Light - an online writing course to brighten your mornings Tuesdays, from 17 May to 9 June 2016

MANCHESTER: Lustful Feminist Killjoys | 18-May-16 Book launch: Lustful Feminist Killjoys by Anna Percy & Rebecca Audra Smith. New collection by the founders of Stirred.

BIRMINGHAM: Hit The Ode | 19-May-16 Performance poetry in the heart of Birmingham

CAMBRIDGE: Poetry at the Relevant | 20-May-16 Poetry at the Relevant Cafe

MANCHESTER: Poets & Players | 21-May-16 Poets: Moniza Alvi, Jonathan Edwards and Cath Nichols // Music: Glenn Sharp and Chico Pere

THE POETRY LIBRARY: Conceptual Poetics Opening Event | 24-May-16 Conceptual poetics takes Marcel Duchamp's approach to visual art and extends it to poetry.

MANCHESTER: Poems as Friends - An Exchange | 27-May-16 Join The Poetry Exchange to talk about a poem that has been a friend to you and in exchange, receive a bespoke gift...

New Exhibitions: The Homeless Library | 09-Jul-16 to 18-Sep-16

Experience powerful first-person stories of Britain's homeless through this book, poetry and art collection.

Latest Competitions: Wigtown Poetry Competition 2016 | Closing Date: 27-May-16

Scotland's International Poetry Prize, Open to All. Prizes: Main Prize - £1500, Runner-up Prize - £400, Scot...

Ways to be Wilder Poetry Challenge | Closing Date: 29-May-16 The Young Poets Network is digging a little deeper into the idea of the 'nature poem' and cre-ating a new challenge which...

Carefree Kids Poetry Competition | Closing Date: 01-Jul-16 Fundraising poetry competition for anyone, anywhere, of any age. Poems about the following subjects: Babies, Children & ...

Wasafiri New Writing Prize | Closing Date: 15-Jul-16 Submissions are welcome in three categories: Poetry, Fiction and Life Writing. Ensure that you submit your entry/entries...

Winchester Poetry Prize 2016 | Closing Date: 31-Jul-16 Winchester Poetry Prize aims to give serious recognition to the successful poets. As well as receiving substantial prize...

Thoughts on renewable energy ...

Globally, why are „the people‟ having to

fight their own govts to make renewable

energies replace fossil fuels?

Is it something to do with the notion that

it is global corporations that own parties

and dictate energy policy, not the

voting people?

Is democracy really a veneer for

profit grasping corporate dictatorship?

Is it govt corruption and greed of self-

serving politicians that make this

situation possible?

Saving the planet! Is a nonsense.

The planet will be fine ...

once the human species has

destroyed itself.

Blog opportunity ... What do you think?

I see him sitting on the line, his beak in time with song,

Singing in the garden, notes delivered clear and strong.

A sleek and handsome blackbird, seconds after dawn,

Entertains spectator as he dances over lawn.

I hear another calling, could be his tired wife,

Wriggling over eggs, soon to bear new life.

I know just what she‟s saying, heard it all before,

„Come and bring my breakfast, relieve me from this chore!

Let me get some fresh air, this nest is rather small,

Let me spread my wings and sun-bathe on the wall.'

The garden still and quiet, my line now filled with pegs,

And somewhere a sleek blackbird, wriggling over eggs!

The common blackbird (Turdus merula) is a species of true thrush.

Photo credit Andreas Trepte. www.photo-natur.de. Wikipedia

Random words: oats, bran-flakes, tray, television, frame, cup, photosynthesis, safe, mantle, right/rite, gin, reli-

gious, development, contemplation

Professor Smythe put down his gin and soda on the coffee table next to the empty coffee cup and sat down in his

armchair. It was safe to say he was feeling quietly pleased with himself. Following the retirement of his col-

league, he had taken on the mantle of leading expert in his field, and his award for scientific achievement hung

in a frame above the fireplace. On top of this, a TV company was about to make a film of his life and work.

“Your almost religious fervour and enthusiasm for your subject will come across to the viewer,” the producer

had told him.

For a moment, he was lost in contemplation ... but, he must write up his latest findings for a scientific paper on

how to aid and encourage photosynthesis in oats and other cereal crops, which had led to the development of the

most delicious and highly effective bran flakes on the market.

Assignment: Ranting

When the world is making you sad, And your blood pressure‟s gone sky high, And all the news is bad, Here‟s something you can try. It‟s healthy to let off steam, And a rant will do you good.

You‟ll find it‟ll work like a dream,

If you let it all out like a flood.

To get things off your chest

You‟ll see relieves the pressure.

Screaming out loud works best,

And you‟re bound to feel much fresher.

And to make it work even better,

Besides ranting, you need to rave.

Your emotions you should not fetter,

If your sanity you‟re to save.

Let it rip, go ahead, don‟t be scared.

Folks will stare, but you mustn‟t mind.

For reactions you should be prepared…

But you WILL feel better, I find.

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