February Meeting Report

13 February 2016

Meeting in our temporary home certainly didn’t quash the enthusiasm and warm atmosphere of the group. A great turnout on such a cold day too.

Some of the most exciting news is that WWB has been found a new home from April ! We will be meeting in the new John Lewis’s Community Room, Grand Central. It is adjacent to the Audio Department and we should make a cosy home for ourselves there. Usual meeting times, 12.00 – 2.00pm. Any changes will be splashed across the media in good time.

The AGM will take place on Saturday 6th March 12.00 – 2.00 still in the Lloyd Room at the Patrick Centre, Thorp Street, please bring all your great ideas for the coming year. How about an outing this year? Do we want to try and be part of the Birmingham Literary Festival? Any ideas for workshops? The floor will be open for your thoughts, WWB is a group effort after all.

The sharing of work was as eclectic as we come to expect but always relish. Highlights are difficult to choose but it was staggering to listen to Ricky Dragon’s recitation of his Greek themed epic work that left us all open-mouthed at its astounding content and performance; welcome back Ricky with a bang!
We were also moved by a piece from Martin reproduced below, a reflection on WWB and the family that we are. Thank you for all the other contributions on Valentines, Love both Black and Red, the Cold weather plus many others and topically but so amusingly written, the humble if expensive 5p Carrier Bag.

There are so many exciting collaborations in the pipe-line they couldn’t all go in one news blog in detail so please watch out for information as they are fixed. To whet your appetites though…..

• The wonderful Birmingham Opera Company are putting on their interpretation of Dido & Aeneas in March with the original music but no doubt a very different staging. WWB are considering a more involved collaboration with them compared to last time. The outline thoughts at this stage are for members to write and perform poetry on the themes of the opera at each of the 9 performances, this will give the opportunity for more people to take part. Further details to follow but see their site here BOC
• The GAP arts project are also looking for collaborators in an April event which may well include Poetry and music plus those more graphically artistic WWB members in other sections as well. See their site here GAP
• Writing West Midlands – Room 205 project might be of interest for members to take a look at, see it  here WWM
• A reminder about a group already running and led by our very own Shirin, see the previous notice Here

Keep Smiling, keep Writing, keep ‘On Point’ with our great sense of Community.

WWB
And so we have gathered again
the first Saturday of the month
and we are round the table laughing,
chatting and then quiet as we read and listen
the writings we have brought to share.
And I reflect that this meeting regularly –
is always the same –
and yet not the same. The friendship is –
the respect -, but what is never quite the same
each month, is different the gathering – sometimes
a new face and familiar faces are not, –
sometimes a visitor, sometimes a return –
someone is present who has been absent,
or a traveller abroad, sure as a swallow,
returns, exactly to this spot –
and I reflect that water is more permanent
and no less essential too
is beautiful in clear sunshine flowing
quietly absorbing, shifting, glistening
rippling its soft bed with a deeper current.
I step into it again – for the first time.

Martin Underwood