Poetry Please!

Torrevieja Writer's Circle includes several poets in the membership and, from time to time, we are asked to put poems on the Circle Blog. Last week's suggested subject was STARLIGHT and member Heather Gingele' poem garnered several requests to see it in print, so to speak - so here it is. 

Sometimes the stars do not exist

Obscured behind the thickening mist

Of cloud punched up by weather's fist

Sometimes they are beyond our sight

In darkness, hidden by our light

By our electric day from night

Yet they shine forever in our minds

As metaphor for better times

When we cross the artificial lines

Drawn by the practice of our days

That keeps us in the darkened haze

Of blinkered thoughts and bridled ways

Starlight, up high but inside too

May pierce the fog and give the view

Of what we can, not cannot do

Starlight’s a dream that can inspire

Freedom from a prison’s wire

And hope to reach for ever higher

Showcase Reading for Beatles' Inspired Play at Torrevieja Writer's

Phil McNulty

The Ticket to Write Festival, a showcase for original plays selected from a wide international entry of short works on a Beatles Theme, was held at the Unity Theatre, Liverpool, in July.
Produced by experienced industry professionals and showcased by actors from the Ace Drama Theatre Company, the Festival takes the form of a competition. With writers from the USA and throughout the UK making the final, this annual cultural event reinforces the continuing world-wide appeal of The Beatles
Making the cut in this select group this year was Torrevieja Writer’s Circle member Phil McNulty, a published travel writer, essayist, poet and author of the political thriller ‘Deep State’ – available for Kindle from Amazon.com.
Phil’s fifteen minute play ‘Darren and George’ focuses on the ‘quiet’ Beatle George Harrison, a tribute to the band’s lead guitarist to mark the 70^th anniversary of his birth.
Torrevieja Writer’s Members will have the opportunity to hear the play as writer McNulty delivers a reading of ‘Darren and George’ at the meeting on November 27 at The Olympia, Mil Palmeras. Described as an encounter on a Liverpool railway station, the two-hander will also feature writer-member Tom Fratarolli in the twenty minute performance.

For more information: torreviejawriters@gmail.com

TORREVIEJA WRITER’S CHRISTMAS

The Annual Celebratory lunch for Torrevieja Writers is set for 4 December; this is a Wednesday and by common consent, at a recent meeting, members decided to forgo writing and go straight to lunch!  The suggested subject for the day, winter, can be held over until the New Year or indeed be an inspiration for a piece on the weather right now!

The lunch will be at La Finca de Eduardo – on the road from Cabo Roig to San Miguel de Salinas – and cost will be 12.95€ per person for 3 courses, not including wine but there will be a Cava reception on arrival. The Christmas menu offers a good selection and there will be a vegetarian option.

Unfortunately we are not able to subsidise this this year due to higher costs for weekly meetings.  

Christmas Party Menu

To Start

Homemade soup of the day, served with warm rustic bread

Chef’s recipe chicken liver pate, served with red onion compot, winter leaves and olive oil crostini’s

Classic prawn cocktail, small Atlantic prawns bound in Marie rose sauce on a bed of crisp salad leaves, with brown bread (€2.50 Supplement)

Melon and Serrano ham, drizzled with pomegranate reduction

To Follow 

Traditional roasted Turkey, served with all the trimmings, and a rich roasting jus

Roasted Chicken breast, served with all the trimmings, and a rich roasting jus

Beef Lasagne, served with garlic bread

Fish of the day

To Finish

 Traditional Christmas pudding, served with brandy cream

Bread and butter pudding

Fresh fruit salad

Selection of ice creams

If you would like to come to this festive event, please get in touch, either in person at the next meeting or two, or by email, phone etc. Also please advise if you wish to bring a partner.

If you have not been to La Finca, you can check it out at their website - http://www.lafincadeeduardos.com/  and then click through for travel directions should you need them.

Our other holiday tradition has been the Secret Santa; in a recent meeting, members present agreed that they would like to continue the tradition and set December 18 for the exchange of gifts to cost no more than 3€; names will be selected at the previous meeting – ie: 11 December.

18 December will be the last meeting for 2013; the first one after Christmas will be on 8 January 2014. Happy Holidays to one and all!

Multicoloured Hat Shows Up in Mil Palmeras

The Torrevieja Writers’ Group – based at The Olympic Restaurant, Mil Palmeras, recently hosted a presentation by local Author Barbra Dean, who debuted her highly original children’s story – ‘The Multicoloured Hat’ earlier this year via Ant Press, an English Publishing company based in Almeria.

Originally from the Home Counties, Barbra - following a career in journalism that included stints on local papers, corporate and fashion magazines - moved to Spain with her husband eight years ago. After a spell at She Magazine in the so called ‘swinging sixties’ Barbra took a step back to raise her two boys - during which time she brought fashion to the shires in her own column for the Watford Evening Post. At the age of fifty-five, wanting to revive a long buried dream, she undertook a University Course in Humanities and after 3 years became the proud owner of a BA Hons. Degree.

Since moving to Spain, Barbra joined an art class and planned the publication of her first book, ‘The Multicoloured Hat’ – a charming story aimed at the children’s market, the idea for which came to her whilst working at a playschool. Now published in paperback from Amazon, ‘The Multicoloured Hat’ is also available as an e-publication for  kindle,  kobo, i-pad etc. The paperback contains colouring pages that can also be downloaded for free at http://www.themulticolouredhat.com/

The Torrevieja Writers Circle is now in its fifteenth year; it comprises a varied group of people (anyone is welcome over sixteen years of age) meeting weekly to read, discuss, inspire, and share their work of fiction, non-fiction, poetry  - in fact all genres of writing. Members include several published authors; prolific Nik Morton, whose twentieth book, ‘Blood of the Dragon Trees’ has just been published. John McGregor – ‘Fairy Tales of an SAC’ and the soon to be released  'A Flock of Female Friends', Gerry Wright – ‘Farrel’s Last Case’ and Rob Innis – ‘Spain Exposed’ are also members of the Torrevieja Writers Circle that meets every Wednesday morning from 11:00 – 13:00 in Las Palmeras.