Issue 443 24th June 2016 IN/OUT, IN/OUT What’s it all About?

Okay, they’ve got me reeling,

I don’t know what to do.

Which side will get my vote?

I haven’t got a clue.

I’ve listened to the arguments,

Asked clever folk who know,

Just what this country needs

To make economy grow.

But when all is done and dusted,

Will I notice any change?

Our lives in transformation,

And Great Britain back in range

I think it will be difficult

To sift through all the dross,

To be absolutely sure

Where to put my cross.

Are those people talking,

Economical with the truth,

Feeding a pack of lies,

With no sign of solid proof?

When I go into the polling booth,

I hope to be ready to pick.

Having considered all the options

I’ll know the box to tick.

FLASH FICTION: smile, living, stoic, sense, lost/loss, Blitzkrieg, decided,

fatigue, devastate

Assignment: Going on one

A warm welcome awaits. COME to WORKSHOP ... Rising Brook Library

Workshops 1.30 start Mondays

National Poetry Day

theme this year is 'Messages'.

Thursday October 6th 2016

Observation:

Poems:-

To rediscover an

old favourite after

many years is

delightful.

Chorley & District Writers' Circle

'Toxic' Short Story Comp 2016 Message: Dear Rising Brook Writ-ers, Please find details of Chorley's 2016 competition at http://chorleywriters.org.uk/ Diana Hayden Editor www.writers-circles.com

www.issuu.com/risingbrookwriters

Roman Britain: somewhere very near here on

the, being constructed, Watling Street

Year 177AD early March so the grand opening

is supposed to be on the 15th (it had to be, did-

n't it) .... NEW we‘ve had to add 100 years to

timeline to loosely tie in with historical facts

(that‘ll be a first ...)

Trentbilious Fort (aka Gailey)

Site of work camp, and Fort and wannabe

CITY, for building the Watling Street, an arte-

rial road for troop marching ... (Appinan 5 on

their route map) Building has started in Deva

(Chester) and at Londinium. The two ends of

the road are supposed to meet at Trentbilious –

they don‘t – hence a roundabout will be needed

through the car park of the Spread Eagle pub.

Two other roads going south east are also sup-

posed to join at this junction. It‘s a hub, a trad-

ing post. Lots of nefarious opportunities.

Trending: they all say ―Ciao‖ which is way out

of timeline.

The Ninth legion have already started marching

up from Londinium for the celebration and

Gladiator games are to be held at great expense.

Vicus: All the good positions are held by the

totally corrupt Bluddschotticus family

Magistratus : Freedman Nigellos Bluddschotti-

cus, he sub contracted out the road works

hence the grievous error in mapping, Viola

Bluddschotticus, his shrew of a wife who wants

Nigellos to gain Plebeian Citizenship (grade

three Roman Citizenship) at any cost

Bean counters: Titus Purcious and Teflonicus

Maximus, Gias Velcrow (very simple scribe —

adopted by Titus‘s sisterinlaw Angelica when

found in a basket ... So, who is he?)

Boris Bluddschott (no icus) Brother of Nigel-

lous, (Welsh) wife Blodwyn, dim and jealous,

son Bulch, lazy and hairy

Forum: Soothesayer: Fortunata Agonyia Arntyous

Fort: Commander Fattassious Fatallis; Daftus

Brushious (second in command)

Regional Commander/Senator Marpellious

Domestios coming with the Ninth Legion to

open the joining of the roads

Guards: Pearmainus, Bacon Fryed, Hovis

Brightus

Temple of Vespa: Vera and Gloria Vespals

and keepers of the sacred flame

Temple of Queen of Heaven: Isadora, High

Priestess; Galenodorius, Greek Doctor;

Hilarious, Theatre Owner puts on plays

Gladiators: Bresslorian, Glutinous Maximus

and Flirticus

Traders: Collectus Alloto (scrap metal recycler)

Bathhouse Slaves: Smerkio & Flavia Exotica

Undertakers: Habeous and Corpus

Bertha Velcrow: madam, keeper of a seedy

hotel — mother of Angelica

Ancient Britons: Lurid Ashious and Flori-

bunda

Druids: Aggrevious Wife and Daughter

Marcia of Mercia — Celtic group of waifs

and slaves

Roman Timeline: Real and Fictitious Roads construction between 45 and 410

AD

60/61 Boudica Rebellion

98 -117 Marcus Ulpius TRANJANUS

pushed the ‗limes‘ frontiers out to

greatest extent (Spanish)

110AD OUR HADRIAN VISITS

TRENTBILIOUS – meets Angelica

Velcrow (Bertha Velcrow‘s daughter)

and fathers Gias Velcrow the scribe

slave who she claims to ‗find‘ in a bas-

ket and adopts

117 to 138 Publius Aelius HADRI-

ANUS (Spanish)

120 - 123 Hadrian‘s Wall Built

OUR STORY 130 AD

138 to 161 Titus Aelius ANTONINUS

PIUS (Antonine Wall)

STYLE SHEET READ THIS FIRST PLEASE BEFORE

SUBMITTING

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 tables, no bold, no italics, no col-oured 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 ac-quaint themselves how to punctuate 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.

EDITOR NOTE: Both pieces using General characters and Exclusive characters,

dialogue driven. Word count: under 500. This is how it is done.

Well done to both writers. Both showing not telling.

New men? Maybe 'It is done!' The shouted words from the temple echoed around the forum.

There was a snort as Gnaeus Musius Habeus awoke from a pre-prandial nap. 'You what? What's been done, who did it and did we get our cut?'

Gnaeus Musius Corpus, who was frying meat – best not to ask what it was or where he got it – over the office fire, replied, 'No. That priest says we didn't earn it.' 'He can't say that! We got him that antique statue of that god of his didn't we? You can't get

statues like that! It didn't fall off the back of a cart you know!' 'I know. I helped lift it onto the back of ours, and I haven't got the paint off my best tunic

yet.' A hand was waved, wafting the problem away. 'Needed a bit of a touch up to get it into first

class nick, didn't it? Ancient Greek gods need touching up. Everybody knows that!' 'What do we say if somebody comes asking, bro?' 'Nice statue, wonder where he got it from, of course. For a commission of course, you might

be able to use your extensive contacts to find something a similar. Couldn't guess the price, though something that age is bound to be expensive. What else!'

'Can we? Get him another one I mean. Anyway, who is that god? I don't recognise it.' 'Sylvanus I think. Yes, definitely Sylvanus … probably.'

'Ri-i-ight. You think we could get another ancient Greek statue like that one?' 'No problemo bro. Cousin Tarquinius Superbus is knocking another couple up for somebody in Londinium. He's also got some bronze cupids aging in his saltwater bath, says a couple of mar-

ket days in there puts a thousand years on them. With that dopy lot of soldiers coming up here for the new road opening, we'll make money hand over fist. What's for dinner?'

'Chicken, Gallic peas and turnip mash. Scrounged from the Vestigial Virgins. Told you that my being an altar server would pay off!'

'Not one of them temple chickens is it? One of them they uses to tell fortunes with.' 'Course not. Well, not one they'll miss anyway. Feeling poorly it was. Fell right off its perch it did. I did the best I could but I had to bury it in case the others caught it. Very sad it was …

should taste good though.'

Word count 406 CMH

Roman Names: I came across these websites which may be of use to the others. NP http://blogs.transparent.com/latin/interesting-ancient-roman-names/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fictional_Romans http://home.golden.net/~eloker/romanname.htm

Random words: refreshments, clever, colander, shyster, railway, real, cheese, cup, enclosure, life,

stunned, gate/gait, jump, physical

The members of the Trentby Historic Railway Society sat in the refreshment hut each with a cup of

tea and a cheese sandwich. They had been stunned to discover a break-in, during which their fund-

raising collection box had been rifled, and worst of all, they suspected one of their own volunteers

was responsible.

The local Crime Prevention Officer called round to give them some much-needed advice.

―Sorry to tell you but your current security measures have as many holes as a colander. Once an of-

fender gets inside the enclosure, which isn‘t hard because the side gate is rickety, well….‖

They told him of their suspicions.

―Ah yes. He‘s a prolific offender, well known to us: a clever shyster in great physical shape. A real

pain in the butt. I‘ve known him jump an 8 foot fence to gain admittance to a premise. If I had my

way, I‘d bang him away for life!‖

A major source of animals was the Roman army, which had a special rank (venator immunis) for those in charge of animal pro-curement writes NP

My characters so far: Two brothers: the elder Maximus Gluteus and the younger Minimus Gluteus they have been in the Ro-man Army for a long time and collect and supply wild animals for games in the arena. Catharticus private (miles/gregalis) And his friend Infectious also a private

On the Road

At the head of a column of wagons were the two animal suppliers for the games, Maximus Gluteus and his younger brother Minimus Gluteus. Both had been in Roman army for some time and had acquired the rank of venator immunis. This meant they were exempt from most normal duties, all they had to do was catch wild animals. Most of the work was actu-

ally done by their trusty private Catharticus with help from his friend Infectious. Maximus was chatting to Minimus.

‘How many Lions did that Bluddschotticus want?’ ‘He said as many as possible,’ replied Minimus. ‘So he ought to be pleased with the fifty lions then?’

‘I suppose so. He said he wanted lots of other sorts of animals too.’ ‘Catharticus, come here,’ called Maximus. ‘Yes, boss,’ replied Catharticus, after he had he ridden up to the front of the travelling zoo.

‘How many and what animals have we got all together?’ ‘Let me think now, mmm. Do you want the whole list now?’ ‘Why did you think I asked?’

‘Alright, here is the list: fifty lions, ten tigers, fifteen leopards, forty elephants, nineteen camels with one hump, twenty seven camels with two humps, forty six ostriches, eighty baboons and twenty crocodiles,’ recited Catharticus.

‘You missed out the eight gorillas, sixteen rhinos and the twelve hippos,’ interjected Infectious. Catharticus continued, ‘The food bill is enormous and the amount of manure we are getting would fill the Colosseum in

a week. Who’s paying for all this lot?’ Minimus replied, ‘Some Briton called Bluddschotticus.’

‘Well he better had pay or he will end up on the manure heap the hard way, after passing through one of the lions,’

muttered Maximus. ‘Are we nearly there yet?’ asked Minimus

‘How should I know, we seem to have been travelling for weeks. The smell of this lot is getting right up my nose and

the food is dreadful. Do the Britons really live on turnips, cabbage and over boiled mutton? I have to spend hours in the lavatorium or more often the bushes,’ moaned Maximus.

‘Another couple of days should see us there,’ said Catharticus helpfully.

‘Hoo-bloody-ray,’ shouted Minimus, ‘the rain, food and smell is driving me mad.’ ‘Cheer up boss, we will soon be in the bath house having a good wash. After that some good old fish sauce with some

proper food,’ said Infectious cheerfully.

Luckily, they did not know about the catering arrangements that were to come. So let us leave this travelling menagerie slowly plodding up the road leaving behind a trail of animal and human ma-

nure.

The mosaic floor

That morning, as the cock was coughing and spluttering, Angelica Velcrow, sister to Titus Percius was at her toilette, combing her hair and squinting into a solid plate of polished copper. (Actually,

she was sister-in-law to Titus whose brother had legged it many years ago to join the legion, him being a sensible man who’d rather face barbarians and hardship than stay another day with Angel-

ica.) ‘But, why can’t we have some?’ she bleated. ‘All the other villas are having them installed.’ Titus sighed. He knew this would happen. Once his burden found out the floor layers had been

ordered for the Commander’s villa, he had been counting the days, before she pressed him to or-der mosaics for their humble villa.

‘It’s too expensive, my dear one.’ ‘Rubbish. I want one,’ the brushing started accelerating. The house slave holding the mirror

tensed in anticipation. When the mistress wanted something most people gave in immediately to

spare themselves pain and aggravation. ‘Even squares and simple twisted bands of tesserae cost a small fortune.’

‘Rubbish. I’m not asking for tiny, tiny, tiny blocks just medium sized would do and no elaborate portraits of the gods, a simple boy riding on a dolphin would be fine. It’s not much to ask. Your

brother ...’ ‘Yes, yes ...’ said Titus leaving the table, his bread and wine untouched. He couldn’t stomach

another lecture on the failings of his departed sibling so early in the day. If truth were known, he’d

like to beat the living daylights out of the swine for dumping him with this loud mouthed woman, whose only saving grace was her devotion and love for Gias, the babe she had found floating in a

basket and adopted twenty years ago. ‘I’ll ask them for a quotation,’ he said as he left, ‘but no promises.’

‘Boy on a dolphin,’ smiled Angelica setting down the brush as her electrified tresses exploded into static.

‘Boy on a dolphin,’ muttered Titus as he squelched through the quagmire towards his office in

the Vicus and pulled his cloak up over his head as the rain deluged down. ‘Boy on a dolphin.’

Wikipedia image: Cupid on a dolphin, Fishbourne Roman Palace, Chichester.

If you’re a research glutton ...

Lunt Roman Fort Festival on July 16/17th, Coventry Rd. Baginton, Coventry. CV8 3AJ luntromanfort@culturecoventry.com 10.00am - 4.00pm Adult ticket: £6; Concession: £5; Family (2 adults and 2 children): £17 Get ready for a Roman Summer. Travel back in time and immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Roman Britain! With cavalry, infantry, artillery and living history encampments, the Lunt will be bursting with life and activity throughout the day. Costumed interpreters will fill the fort with weav-ing demonstrations; battle re-enactments and plenty of activities for children. Activities for all the family will be on offer, with interactive battle drills for little ones and creative activities such as making your own oil lamp. Plus don’t miss the unique opportunity to see horseback demonstrations and infantry fighting in the famous Gyrus! Discover life in Roman Britain from some of the country’s leading re-enactment organisations: Textiles Through Time, ARC cavalry and Legio XIIII Gemina et Cohors I Batavii – aka The Roman Military Research Society. Family Fun and interactive insight into the early history of Coventry, from the Iron Age to the end of the Roman occupancy all in a single day! Refreshments will be available on site.

Flowers on the Allotment.

When the Allotments were first set up it was decided to discourage plot holders

from growing flowers and try to persuade people to grow just vegetables and fruit.

It was said that the Allotments were not to be thought of as gardens, but large and

productive vegetable patches. However, comments were made that without flowers

to encourage the Bees, things like Runner Beans would not get pollinated and the

beans wouldn‘t set. The first year there were virtually no flowers anywhere on the

site, apart from on the vegetables, but this, the second year, there have been flowers

grown on many of the plots. Sweet Pea towers standing tall have been dotted about

the site and several people have put on a show with some spectacular Dahlias. Lit-

tle borders of Marigolds have brightened up one or two plots as have Poppies and a

wild flower mix on others. My own Chrysanthemums did very well providing

many cut flowers for the house and one or two for some of my mothers elderly

friends, so consequently, I am planning to put in more flowers for cutting next year.

When I had my plot on the other Allotment site at Amerton, we had a problem

with Rabbits, so were looking for and experimenting with natural deterrents. One

plant that we identified as fitting the bill nicely was Monarda Didyma, otherwise

known as the herb Bergamot that is used in making drinks. As a result we bought

some seeds which produced over a dozen nice sized plants ready for planting out

this year. One of the TV gardeners talked about them saying what a wonderful dis-

play of flowers they produced, so after losing the intended site for them, we de-

cided to plant them at the Hixon allotments. I don‘t know how suitable the flowers

will be for cutting, but I have planted 6 plants anyway that should make a nice little

drift of flowers, next to where I will make my Chrysanthemum bed in the forth-

coming season. Instead of tying the Chrysanthemums themselves up with canes for

support though like last year, I am going to plant them in a broad row and run a roll

of ―Chicken Wire,‖ horizontally along the length fixed securely with posts at a

height of about 18 inches and 3 feet. Hopefully, this will give the growing plants

more natural support and allow the stems to space out better instead of being

bunched and tied up against canes.

My Sweet Pea towers were also very successful this year and will be put up

again in the new season, although I would like to find out why the stems on the

flowers got shorter and shorter as the season progressed this year.

Normally we grow quite a few Gladiolas at home for cut flowers, but many

corms seem to die over winter in the ground. It may be because they are supposed

to be a little bit frost tender and don‘t like winter wet either, although they have

been in sheltered, dry spots in the garden, so this year, as they die down, I am dig-

ging the bulbs up and storing them dry and frost free, in the greenhouse. When I re-

cently I emptied the fish-pond at home I saved the big mesh planting baskets to

plant some of the Gladiola bulbs in. The idea is to plunge the baskets in the ground

in the allotment next year, so that the plants will draw the moisture they need from

the ground, will not need watering, but will be easy to fetch up when next Winter

comes.

Next year, after seeing the great looking Dahlias on the other

plots, I have also decided to try a few plants from tubers rather than

growing the cheaper bedding type. By the time the new season comes

round I may have added a few more flowers to the list to grow.

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

18 June 2016 — Folkystuff

Garry Copeland

IF YOU had trundled out to the Old Peculiar pub in Handsacre,

Rugeley, on Thursday expecting to enjoy the monthly traditional

session you would have been disappointed.

I wrongly listed the gig in last week‘s diary. My apologies.

The good news is that the session, at the late and much lamented

Pete Wallis‘s local and hosted by his old band, Ragman‘s Trum-

pet, will be held as usual on Wednesday.

(Memo to self: the Old Peculiar session is always held on the

last Wednesday of the month).

THERE‘S still time to buy tickets for the Spring Chickens‘

afternoon charity concert at Granville‘s restaurant, Stone, on

June 26. The gig aims to raise money for the chemo unit at Staf-

ford County Hospital where band members Jeff Eaton and Dave

Pickard both received treatment following recent serious ill-

nesses. The concert, featuring the Chickens, The Hornets

(reformed for the occasion) and Dreamticket, will kick off at

1pm and run until 6pm. Admission price includes a hog roast

(and a vegetarian option). Tickets are £15 each (£5 for children)

and are available from Dave (01785 663585) or Jeff (01785

664629).

LIKE Jeff and Dave, Patricia Inammorati, who, with husband

Tony, works tirelessly for the good of folk music, is indebted to

the health service and is looking for support from friends for a

charity project.

Their late daughter-in-law, Amina, was cared for at a Mid-

lands hospice which has been nominated as Sainsbury‘s charity

of the year by the firm‘s store in Priory Queensway and Colmore

Row, Birmingham. The nominated charity receiving most votes

in a national poll will be the one chosen and will benefit hugely

from Sainsbury‘s generosity.

If you‘d like to help this, or any of the nominated charities,

Patricia is inviting you to visit https://

www.sainsburyslocalcharity.co.uk and vote.

Next week‘s diary

Unless otherwise stated, sessions begin at around 8pm, but don‘t

be surprised if things don‘t warm up until nearer 9pm.

Monday

The Elms, Church Road, Shareshill, 8.30pm. Christine Edwards

hosts a singers‘ night which offers a warm welcome to all-

comers. Contemporary, country and occasional traditional.

Friendly landlord Kevin provides free sandwiches.

Granville‘s, Granville Square, Stone, 8.30pm. Singer Paul

Walker hosts a weekly anything goes acoustic open-mic night at

this popular restaurant.

Tuesday

Spittal Brook, Lichfield Road, Stafford. The home of Stafford‘s

longest-running session. Originally strictly traditional, but nowa-

days pretty much anything goes. Good range of real ales.

Wednesday

Rose and Crown, Eastgate Street, Stafford. Amicable session in

a great town centre venue, hosted by the Spring Chickens. Can

be noisy (it‘s a pub – what do you expect?), but there are few

better ways to enjoy an evening among friends.

The Old Peculiar, The Green, Handsacre, Rugeley, WS15 4DP.

Traditional session hosted by Ragman‘s Trumpet (see above).

Thursday

The Roebuck, Hilderstone. A bit far out, but well worth the

trip for both the music (courtesy of Ant and Andy, Albert,

Gary etc) and splendid free grub.

Market Vaults, Stafford. Bluesman Pete Wearn‘s open-mic

session at this popular town centre pub (just off Market

Square) isn‘t strictly folk, but folkies are welcome. Banjo ace

Dan Walsh cut his performing teeth here, which should be

recommendation enough.

Brewood Acoustic Music Club, Brewood Cricket Club, Four

Ashes Road, Brewood. Friendly open mic session. Full de-

tails here: brewoodacousticmusic.co.uk/whats-on-4

Friday

Bradford Arms Folk Club, Ivetsey Bank, near Wheaton As-

ton. Performers‘ night hosted by Chris Edwards. Call 07917

142506 to book your spot.

Coming soon

June 26. Charity concert in aid of chemo unit at Stafford

County Hospital, Granville‘s, Stone, 1pm (see above).

June 26. Irish folk and blues acoustic night with Vicky Evans

and friends, 7.45pm. The Royal Oak, Gnosall, ST20 0BL.

June 28. Jonathan Byrd and Pickup Cowboy, MET studio,

Gatehouse Theatre, Eastgate Street, Stafford. http://

www.fishrecords.co.uk/roster/jonathanbyrd.html

July 6. Moreton Millennium Community Centre. American

Independence Day folk session with Vicky Evans and friends.

Wikipedia image: 5 string

banjo

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

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