HOT HOT HOT

Hot pen time again. The word pulled out was ‘tomorrow‘. The ladies wanted to be richer, slimmer, healthier, more organized and in love. The men’s stories involved guns, fire, arguments, being the winner. What’s new!

Rob kicked off with a tale about getting the dreaded NIE, where you turn up only to be told to come back tomorrow, and then the next day. We have all been there.

Heinke’s contribution involved a window dresser who loved his job, with its changing seasons, where tomorrow never comes. Surreal as usual.

John remembered not being allowed to do things today when you are young, you must do it tomorrow, there are exams coming tomorrow, your friends can come to tea tomorrow, and then when you are at work there are deadlines tomorrow,

Heather’s input was about kaleidoscopes, and landscape with many vistas. So many things you did not know you had forgotten can make new patterns and tomorrow will add more to the mix. There were many good phrases used like ‘shake of fate’.

Rita was working in Saudi in 1993 but never got as far as the road to Damascus. In 2010 she found herself on the bus on the road to Damascus to start a holiday. Who says tomorrow never comes?

Maureen wished she could be richer and slimmer tomorrow, (don’t we all!) when she will write, do yoga, eat lots of veg and go to the gym, although she knew in reality she will eat chocolate, drink wine and start again the next day.

Lisa’s tomorrow involved meeting a man. ’I thought again how attractive he was in a Bamber Gascoine way. Perhaps I had better have an early night.’ Naughty.

Ian’s account was about promises made by builders, with manana being the key word. Because the Spanish builders didn’t turn up he hired Eastern Europeans to finish the job and it all ended up in a violent row.

Mary 1 wrote a poem today but thought that tomorrow she would write a true romance.

Mary 2 was thinking about the flamenco dance class she was to attend the next day, when suddenly tomorrow arrived. Mary can move her arms elegantly and dance the steps, but unfortunately not at the same time.

Ann had written a poem about spreading her wings, lying on a beach, who knows what is round the corner. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today.

Chris had a mischievous tale about meeting another man, ’See you tomorrow morning Bill. Jim will have gone to work by then.’

Jenny had a long list of things to do tomorrow as she couldn’t be bothered today, including finding her glasses, checking her bank statement, planting seeds, feeding the budgie.

Christina had written a poem about what she would do tomorrow; give up smoking, start a diet. It is better to look forward to tomorrow.

Alan said tomorrow he would be going back to England for 4 or 5 months. He hoped he would be in time to cast his vote in the election. ‘Past experience shows if you are honest with the electorate they will not vote for you’. He had prepared a manifesto for the National Progressive Party, some points included tax being replaced by VAT, the civil service to be reduced, Scotland, and Wales take themselves off.

Douglas did a poem - ‘Wherever I go if it is tomorrow I don’t want to know if it is linked with sorrow.’

Mary M is another one who wants to start a diet, tomorrow brings hope for a better world and life, today is tomorrow’s yesterday.

Gerry wrote ‘It cannot be tomorrow, that is when the boss is coming.’ He wanted to get out of the mob and the meeting with the boss might give him the opportunity, but what could they do short of a bullet.

TJ came in late but was given 10 minutes to do hot pen. A Sioux boy asks his father why he was called Worromot instead of a usual tribal name. His father explained that he was a breech birth so was born the wrong way round and should have been born the day after, i.e. tomorrow. Get it?

Nik‘s ditty was about two brothers wanting to leave prison to and see their mum who was dying. Eventually they were allowed out because they had been model prisoners, but the handcuffs were to stay on. It was to be the start of his next book.

In the second half there was time for some more readings

Rob read out a story for a competition arranged by AVIVA the first phrase to be ‘As I stepped from the ship the rain ceased.’ It was a tale of a wrongful conviction for stealing some calico and being carted off to Oz as one of the first convicts to arrive in Botany Bay. Following 7 years building houses he was a free man but decided to stay. Very tightly written.

John’s tale was about running the London marathon. Susan Tully of Eastenders was also running and all eyes were for her. John detailed his feelings as he went round the course. Susan Tully was gaining on him but he found the extra strength to finish 3 ahead of her.

Heather’s anecdote was about fear of flying. The storyteller didn’t want to fly and did everything to avoid it. A young man sat next to her and talked all the way to hide his own fear of flying. ‘It was a flimsy affair cocooned in plastic.’

Mary had written a poem about 2 people who met in a hospital car park. They both had spouses in a coma holding on to hope. One day they ended in each other’s arms ‘I badly needed that kiss, it eased the pain, our sorrow was shared.’

Alan continued with his political manifesto. Some of the policies included abolishing the present House of Lords and replacing it with volunteers drawn from the population, who should undergo an intelligence test. (that will preclude most of them in there at present) They are forbidden to have any alliances with political parties. Are you standing for office Alan? I’d vote for you.

Douglas continued his story about Kaplinski the pseudo FBI agent and the blind scientist; there was no sign of either of them. As the storyteller left the site the fire truck was going the other way and a plume of fire could be seen.

Next week’s themes are The orchard or I am pregnant Alex.

Cynthia