Issue 372 30th January 2015

The light flicks on regardless, a promise of three minutes of fame.

A hand reaches to the middle shelf, passing sour milk and mouldy oranges The withered dream of now green, iridescent bacon and the stale hope of

squashy tommies stuck with icy fingers to the back wall The stench is nauseating, the wanton decay a testament to neglect.

It was all so familiar: a backdrop to a life on hold, mildew on out of date

labels, decline lingers on out of mind thoughts, Shut tight the chilly door:

shut out its cold accusation as the light clicks off. Tell yourself, tomorrow. Yes, tomorrow, that will be the right day to

defrost the fridge. Always tomorrow. SMS 2014

2

http://www.francisfrith.com/stafford/learning-to-swim_memory-82481

Demolished in 1976/77 ... Do you remember the Brine Baths? http://www.staffordshirenewsletter.co.uk/Bathbrtimebrover/story-20146615-detail/story.html

Random words : repertoire, the Trossachs, nil, cataclys-

mic, beeswax, hassle, gurgling, negative, diet, gera-nium, the sea. Assignment : What if ...?

Rising Brook/Holmcroft/

Baswich/Gnosall

Libraries are under threat.

Here’s an easy resolution COME to WORKSHOP ... Every Monday 1.30 start

Rising Brook Library

Cover:

Web image

believed to be

in the public

domain

Do you remember the rowing boats? Did your school Have swimming lessons there?

www.issuu.com/risingbrookwriters

Random words- January 11th Career, poor/pore/pour, result, falling, betony, dreaded, new-moon,

cycle (PMW)

Carol had made some poor choices in her life, falling for the most unsuitable men. But she dreaded the thought of being alone for the rest of her life. Somehow, she had ended up in a career she hated,

where her job satisfaction was zilch. The result of both of these situations was misery. Come the New Year, she resolved to do something about her life. She had a friend who purported to be a white witch. Cassandra told her about a powerful spell which would surely improve Carol’s pros-

pects. Trouble was, it involved drinking an infusion of stewed betony leaves and riding naked round the parish on a cycle at new moon.

Anything was worth a try, Carol thought.

The Maverick (DV) Assignment

Every family needs a maverick. They challenge us to think 'outside the box', to venture beyond our easy comfort

zones. But not all mavericks are good - take Adolph Hitler for example - and many a little hitler has been known

to strut and fret their hour upon the stage not least within our families.

But fortunately good mavericks abound. In public life such names as Churchill, Ghandi, Mandela, Luther King come to mind, and then for each of these big names a thousand others operate for good at every level of society.

What makes for goodness in a maverick? Three things, I think. The same three things that make for goodness in the rest of us. They are:

1. Good faith - integrity in what we think and say and what we do. 2. Courage - positive thinking in action - the refusal to be governed by fear. 3. Kindness - consideration for others - friend and enemy alike.

Every family needs a maverick. So does every business, every public service, every football team, every

school, every church, every religion, every political party, every writers group, and indeed every grouping or organisation in art or in science that is going to do anything at all useful in our world, must have its mavericks.

Yes, every family needs a maverick, or more than one if possible. Perhaps we should all be mavericks challenging each other, challenging the comfortable assumptions with which we love to surround ourselves.

And me? What untrimmed mental hedges just shut me off from blossoming joys that they enjoy next

door? Let's all be mavericks. Let's open up life's possibilities and dare to think and act outside our little box.

Crossing the Bar By Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Sunset and evening star, And one clear call for me! And may there be no moaning of the bar, When I put out to sea, But such a tide as moving seems asleep, Too full for sound and foam, When that which drew from out the boundless deep Turns again home. Twilight and evening bell, And after that the dark! And may there be no sadness of farewell, When I embark; For tho' from out our bourne of Time and Place The flood may bear me far, I hope to see my Pilot face to face When I have crost the bar.

Alfred Tennyson, 1st Baron Tennyson, FRS (6 August 1809 – 6 October 1892) was Poet Laureate of Great Britain and Ireland during

much of Queen Victoria's reign and remains one of the most popular British poets

http://www.librarycampaign.com/

WHAT THE INDEPENDENT SIEGHART REPORT SAYS

QUOTES

The future of libraries as community hubs is essential for the well-being of the nation.

In England, over a third of the population visits their local library. In the poorest areas, that fig-

ure rises to nearly a half. It is no wonder that communities feel so passionately about their librar-

ies.

Many local authorities are delivering impressive and comprehensive library services. … The

need now is to build on and extend those practices to benefit every library in the country.

Despite the growth in digital technologies, there is still a clear need and demand within commu-

nities for modern, safe, non-judgemental, flexible spaces, where citizens of all ages can mine the

knowledge of the world for free, supported by the help and knowledge of the library workforce.

This is particularly true for the most vulnerable in society who need support and guidance and to

children and young people who benefit from engagement with libraries outside of the formal

classroom environment.

In such a fragile financial environment as we have now, economies of scale across the country

could have a huge and beneficial effect. And a national strategy could articulate what libraries

are, and why they are a force for good for us all.

Conclusions are clear, concise and practical. Three major recommendations:

1. A national digital resource for libraries, to be delivered in partnership with local authorities

2. A task and finish force, led by local government, in partnership with other bodies involved in

the library sector, to provide a strategic framework for England, and to help in implementing the

following

3. The task force, to work with local authorities, to help them improve, revitalise and if neces-

sary, change their local library service, while encouraging, appropriate to each library, increased

community involvement

Staffordshire Libraries Consultation Update: http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/leisure/librariesnew/Help-shape-library-service/What-libraries-could-look-like.aspx

A twelve week consultation was held on the original proposals in 2014.

The majority of people understood and supported that the library service needs to change, but there was some concern, in some areas of the county, regarding the viability of volunteers running „ Library Locals‟ – i.e. fully

community managed and delivered libraries. The consultation indicated that some communities need additional support to increase their confidence and skills to enable them to take on this role. (COMMENT: In other

words perhaps the public said NO WAY!)

There was also some confusion regards the terminology „Library Extra‟ and „Library Core,‟ and some concern that Library Core libraries would somehow be less valued. (COMMENT: In other words perhaps

the public said NO WAY to green and leafy areas getting a library upgrade at the expense of deprived areas.)

A new proposed approach:

„Library Extra‟ and „Library Core‟ libraries would all become 'Staffordshire County Council Managed/Delivered Libraries.' While larger libraries will still have more space to share with other groups, all council-staffed

libraries will be categorised in the same way.

A new 'twin-track' approach to support communities.

Community Managed Libraries/Community Delivered Libraries (initially called ‘Library Locals’)

Some community groups will take responsibility for managing and delivering their local library service as soon as they have satisfied the necessary conditions – and will have access to support from Library staff.

Staffordshire County Council Managed/ Community Delivered Libraries - a new category

For others there will be a transitional stage where volunteers staff the library on a day-to-day basis but the library will be managed by a paid member of county council staff - this is the Staffordshire County Council Managed/

Community Delivered Libraries category. The library will be part of a cluster which will have support from a member of library staff on a regular basis.

It is our intention that all Staffordshire County Council Managed/Community Delivered Libraries will eventually become fully Community Managed/ Community Delivered Libraries, and we are committed to working with

different communities to support them in the different ways they may need. (Comment: IN YOUR DREAMS ! IN YOUR DREAMS !)

We feel that this approach is an important stepping stone to ensuring the sustainability of libraries in these communities. This is about supporting all communities in the different ways that they need. (COMMENT: In

other words perhaps very few volunteer groups were daft enough to come forward and the consultation fantasy dream of thousands of volunteers rushing to take

over the SCC’s legal responsibilities was a wash out. Was this a useless consultation exercise? ... and one paid for by US the voters!)

A final decision

This new approach is being considered by county councillors. A final decision will be made on the 18th February about what the final model will be will be, which libraries will be in which category and which community

groups will be chosen to run their library.

Library Plus

The consultation results supported the proposal that online library service should be improved. An enhanced Library Plus (online library service) is currently being investigated. We anticipate that upgrades to the service will be

made during a phased roll-out in 2015 and 2016.

Opening hours ... As part of the consultation we consulted on opening hours at the libraries which were initially proposed as core libraries. The County Council‟s Cabinet will decide whether to reduce opening hours where

usage is very low and will offer the community the opportunity to extend opening hours through volunteers.

COMMENT: WANT OUR VOTES IN MAY? KEEP ALL OUR

LIBRARIES ‘FULLY STAFFED’ AND ‘OPEN’!

Make sure your Cllrs/MP know the voting public are totally against library cuts — feel free to share this bulletin with them ...

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Staffordshire-County-Council-backtracks-local/story-25877927-detail/story.html

Staffordshire County Council backtracks over local libraries plan ...

Apparently according to the local press ... 18 of the 24 at risk libraries may be reprieved in the short term. However, SIX libraries will

be forced down the volunteer route as from Sept 2015 and these will have a paid manager looking after three volunteer libraries ...

Apparently in the consultation a small percentage of people said they ‘might’ be prepared to volunteer a bit ...

However, 46% of those taking part in the consultation were totally opposed to the SCC proposals

and 63% had absolutely no interest in volunteering.

8

Gardening Tips January

Hope we don‟t get any snow as I think we have had enough bad weather already

this Winter, but the bulbs will soon be cheering things up with

the Snowdrops being the first. I know it may seem strange, but

now is the best time to buy them and plant them, while they are

in flower, or “In the green” as they say. Unlike most other

bulbs that are alright to plant dry from packets, Snowdrop

bulbs will often not shoot. If Anemones are your favourites, the

dry bulbs should be soaked in water for an hour or two before

planting. If you have been given a pot of Hyacinths for Xmas,

they can be planted in the garden for next year, when they have

finished flowering.

Even if we have a nice spell in January, don‟t be in too much of a hurry to pull out

plants that look dead, as they may shoot again. Shrubs that have got burnt by the

frost will most likely shoot again from dormant buds and should not be cut back too

early in case we have another cold spell that may do more damage. It is normal to

prune most fruit trees about now, but be careful with these as well, because if you

cut back too much healthy wood you may lose a lot of fruit buds if there is any die

back with the exceptional cold. Don‟t be too eager to cut back your roses either as

they can be left until well into March.

Some garden centres will be selling any remaining bulbs that they have, cheaply

now. They will still flower this year, but will be later and they will still get estab-

lished for next year.

If Garlic and Shallots were not planted in the Autumn they need to go in as soon as

possible, but Onions sets should be put in later. It is too early to sow most vegetables

yet, but early potatoes can be started off in boxes to “Chit”

them.

Jerusalem Artichokes can also be started off in boxes. Rhu-

barb forcing pots can be dug out of the shed and placed round

the plants as the buds will soon start to shoot. If you have any

stoned fruit trees such as Peaches, Apricots, Plums, Cherries,

etc, it is a good time to scatter a little garden lime around

them. This will help the stones in the fruit to develop and stop

the fruit from dropping. Do not lime round Potatoes though as

this can cause scab!

Check on any wintering Dahlia tubers and Chrysanthemums stools as mould and rot

can set in if they are too damp and there is not enough air circulation.

Most garden centres now have a collection point for Christmas trees that will go for

re-cycling. They will be chipped and then go back on the land, either as a mulch, or

they may be composted.

Well that‟s all for now Frances Hartley

Gertrude Jekyll

Gertrude Jekyll (29 November 1843 – 8 December 1932) was an British garden designer, writer and artist. She created over 400

gardens in the UK, Europe and the USA and contributed over 1,000 articles to Country Life, The Garden and other magazines.

Quotes : Colour in the Garden

I am strongly of the opinion that possession of plants, however good, does not make a garden; it only makes a collection.

The duty we owe to our gardens is to so use the plants that they shall form beautiful pictures; and that, while delighting our eyes.

Paint upon a palette, delighting our eyes with soul-satisfying pictures, a treasure of well set jewels a sym-pathy with growing things, fashioned into a dream of beauty, a place of perfect rest and refreshment of mind and body. This sense of beauty is a gift of God.

To devise these living pictures with simple well-known flowers seems to me to be the best thing to do in gardening. Colour in the Garden Country Life Library, George Newnes Ltd, London, 1908

The love of gardening is a seed that once sown never dies, but grows to the enduring happiness that the love of gardening gives. Dig, Plant, and Grow! (2009) by Louise Spilsbury

Jekyll was one half of one of the most influential partnerships of the Arts and Crafts movement, thanks to her association with the English architect, Sir Edwin Lutyens, for whose projects she

created numerous landscapes, and who designed her home Munstead Wood, near Godalming in Surrey. (In 1900, Lutyens and Jekyll's brother Herbert designed the British Pavilion for the Paris

Exposition.)

Jekyll is remembered for outstanding designs and subtle, painterly approach to the arrangement of the gardens she created, particularly the use of "hardy flower borders". Her work is known for

radiant colour and flowing drifts of planting; it has been suggested that the Impressionistic-style may have been due to deteriorating eyesight, which largely put an end to her career as a water-

colourist. In Colour Schemes for the Flower Garden she put her stamp on uses of "warm" and "cool" colour combinations in garden design.

"Lindisfarne Castle and its Jekyll Garden - geograph.org.uk - 334038" by ann young. Licensed under CC BY-SA

2.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

File:Lindisfarne_Castle_and_its_Jekyll_Garden_-_geograph.org.uk_-_334038.jpg#mediaviewer/

File:Lindisfarne_Castle_and_its_Jekyll_Garden_-_geograph.org.uk_-_334038.jpg

"Jekyll Manor House Border" by Aquilineyes (talk)aquilineyes - Own work (Original text: self-made). Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

File:Jekyll_Manor_House_Border.jpg#mediaviewer/File:Jekyll_Manor_House_Border.jpg

RBW FICTION PROJECT FOR 2014/15 NOTES: ( CHANGES )

Story so far. Plotlines ...

Place: 1897: The Grand Cosmopolitan Shipping Line Chain: The Nasturtium Hotel (GNH) in Trentby-on-Sea a place that has a similarity to Southampton, twinned with Murmansk and has a decided international flavour. Despite recent squabbles with

Russia, France, South Africa and certain other countries all rich spending guests are welcomed—its rival is the Imperial Hotel which is almost next door on the prom.

Time Span: Between the arrival and departure of the steamship The Star of Coldwynd Bay. About 3 weeks.

Hotel: The GNH is owned by The Cosmopolitan Shipping Line and is the usual Victorian Hotel. It has three classes of accommoda-tion, that are roughly: Suites [1st floor] for those with money and the POSH nobs.

Rooms [2nd and 3rd floors] for the not so well off. Accommodation [tiny attic rooms, top floor back] for staff Staff:

Basil Bluddschott (70s) – Manager Mrs. Cynthia Bluddschott (20s) - 2nd (trophy) wife of Basil — affair with Manchini Daniel Bluddschott (40) – Son of Basil by 1st wife

Miss Marian Bluddschott (35) – Daughter of Basil by 1st wife Mrs. Natasha Bluddschott (34) – wife of Daniel — gambling debts up to mischief Antonio Roberto Manchini - Italian chef; has the hots for Marian & Cynthia

Mrs. Bertha Buckett – Breakfast Cook in Charge — Peter the porter Nancy the Scullery maid, Betty the Chambermaid

Guests: Lady Vera Accrington and Lady Gloria Stanley – a couple of old biddies with a chequered past who are enjoying themselves

their Ward Dorothy ... much admired by the Maharajah and every other red-blooded male Major Martin – May be the ADC to the Prince of ?? The Russian Prince of ?? Referred to as Mr. Smith; even tho' everybody know who he is.

Daphne Du Worrier - Writer Capt. Toby Fowlnett – Recently appointed skipper of the clipper ship The Star of Coldwynd Bay. He may be a little short on experience as his last job was skipper of the IOW ferry. [Hey! How difficult can it be to find India or China?]

St. John Smythe – Tea planter with holdings in Assam. The Maharajah of Loovinda and his wife and valet George (apologies to Shakespeare, you’ll see why immediately) The Sheik of the province of Kebab. (It’s a farce!!) Walter Wales – hack writer for Capt. Thaddeus Hook travel books Murray Durrisdane (currently a Boots)— Jamie Burke — Alexander Mulrose: baddies with Estella Murray’s wife & Mulrose sis-ter— Murray’s mother Lady Durrisdane also arrives

Russians? in room 212 Russian Agent Capt. Wild Will Body and his travelling Wild Rodeo Show, Missy Clementine Jane, Big chief Light–in-the-Sky and Texas Jim

McGraw the shootist (may be subject to change) Graf Hubrecht Walther Falscheim, the Graf von Jagerlagerberg involved with Ward Dorothy Kugyrand Rippling South African diamond dealer nasty piece of work

Princess Lotus Lily and her retinue including Fu Chan her major-domo and a ninja — after the dragon boat Music Hall turns playing at 'The Winter Gardens',

Also staying the GNH some in suites some in the accommodation class. Miranda Barkley – maybe mistress of the Prince of ?? Dario Stanza – singer Vesta Currie – cross-dresser hot stuff on the stage - Miss Maple piano-playing-Temperance Sister

Cystic Peg – Medium / Seances Dan Fatso – Charlie Chaplin type ALSO listed:

Diamond dealer — Boniface Monkface - and a South African gem dealer Jade - A rare Sankarat statuette with a Kali Stone (and lots more) - A nicked imperial dragon boat— a trinket from the Em-peror’s private collection worth a very large reward (NB Sankarat is completely fictional)

NOTES: CHECK THE DATE! Q. Victoria is Empress. Osborne House IoW is her fav. des. res.

1. Gas lighting or oil lamps – no public electricity supply about for another couple of decades; unless the hotel has its own generator, electrical lighting is out.

2. Horses and carriages in the streets, steam trains for long distances and on the dockside. Trams in some areas. 3. Limited number of phones, usually locally between ministries or business offices. Messengers or Royal Mail normally used. Telegrams are available.

RBW Library Workshop group are working on a script for the next book. The ideas so far include a hotel in

the 1890s with as diverse a mix of travellers about to de-part for the far east as it is possible to squeeze into the

plot. Obviously the action will take place in Trentby-on-Sea, twinned with Murmansk, and

the establishment will be man-aged by Basil Bluddschott and his new wife Cynthia. If you’ve ever watched a Carry On film you will have had all the training you’d need to join in.

The annual joint project ...

The joint comedy is good practice in group co-operation, character building, plotting, dialogue, storyline arc etc and

besides it’s hilarious to write an un-PC plot which pokes fun at everybody. Here outrageous stereotypes are encouraged!

What is more people actually read our free e-books ... Some brave souls even give us LIKES on Facebook

OPPORTUNITY: Take a room in the hotel ... Who is waiting to go to India? Why are they going? What are they running away from or towards?

Fu Chan had had a sense of foreboding ever since taking hold of the imperial dragon boat. Princess Lily

had been beside herself with the glee of success when he placed it on a table in her suite, where she had been waiting with anxiety for his return.

‘We have done well, Fu Chan. We can go home.’ ‘Many will seek to take if from you, mistress. The reward for its return is great. The prestige ...’

‘The Honour will not be ours Fu Chan. The return of the Emperor’s prize possession will carry a life-time of obligation. We are too lowly for such greatness to be bestowed upon us. We are unworthy.’

The old man nodded, how else could it have been. The ‘Princess’ was owned hand, foot and finger by

the Tong, he too was tied into the service of the Tong: what did that make him? Princess Lily clapped her hands and a black clad figure appeared silently from the shadows of the

window. The handle of the long curved sword protruded above the shoulder and the feet were wrapped in linen bands over rope soled slippers. Only the eyes were visible and they were dark as dark could be. ‘They can try,’ she said placing the statuette inside a heavily carved hardwood box and locking it with a

silver key which she kept on a chain round her neck. ‘In two short days we will be safe aboard the ship and on our way back to Shanghai.’

‘As you say mistress,’ agreed Fu Chan bowing so low his embroidered sleeves touched the floor and the long queue of his plated grey hair dropped

over his shoulder. What he said and what he thought, however, being at great odds.

The Grandfather clock in the foyer of the

Grand Nasturtium Hotel was chiming 8.00pm when Murray and Nancy entered to be greeted

by Lady Durrisdane in all her feathered finery complete with black mourning jet necklace and

lace fan. In fact she carried another in discreet grey which she pressed into the hand of young Nancy as they air kissed in greeting.

‘You canna be going to your first ball with-out a fan lassie,’ she said as Nancy’s eyes wid-

ened in surprise. She had been overwhelmed by Lady Durrisdane’s generosity already that day which had seen them shopping with gusto

and had the sales assistants at Madam More-debt’s haberdashery establishment rubbing

their hands in glee with the thought of all the commission they were earning. The idea of

hiring a Ladies Maid from the Imperial staff for two days had come as a complete bolt out of the blue but her Ladyship was in her element

and taking no prisoners. Murray decided to let them get on with it and busied himself making

their travel arrangements for Saturday morn-ing and cancelling his mother’s ticket on the packet.

‘Madam, welcome. Your Lairdship, Miss Nancy,’ he bowed low. To say Basil Bluddschott was amazed at the transformation of his new-boots and scullery maid to that of the landed aristocracy was a joy to behold. But, Bluddschott was a professional to his boot-straps and bowed the guests of Lady Durrisdane

into their table in the ballroom with great aplomb as if all was as it should be. Young Nancy was learn-ing fast and settling into her new role with credit: she had sat still for an hour and been crimped and

laced into a demure satin and lace frothiness and had her unruly mop of hair threatened into an elabo-rate concoction under the watchful gaze of her new Grandma’ma.

She was under instruction. Say little and listen and learn. It was no hardship, it was what she had

been doing her entire life. ‘Lovely soup,’ she said as she couldn’t help but wonder how Mrs Bertha was

managing in the kitchen what with that Italian Chef being so useless as the first of the ten courses ap-

peared as if by magic as the ballroom filled with the soon to be departing quality and the quartet began to play a waltz.

Noticeable by their absence was Varanasi and Estella: when Natasha had discovered Jamie Burke had been washed up on the beach and realised his companion had scarpered without paying she had re-

ported the matter immediately to Basil. ‘Scandal, my dear. Vexing to be sure, but do we want a scandal to empty our rooms quicker than a rat

can shin up a drainpipe. I don’t think so. A dead man and a floosie staying here, we don’t want that to

get out, do we? No. I think not.’ Natasha had to agree and sent Peter the Porter to clear out the belongings and take them to the sec-

ond-hand shop, where the hotel already had an account. Within half an hour the suite where a man had died and been shoved out of the window was ready again for business, with clean sheets and a waft of beeswax, without a stain on its character.

Noticeable by their arrival were the Americans. Natasha had eyes on stilts as Wild Bill Body strode into the ballroom accompanied by the Shootist and the Deadshot Gal complete with rhinestones and leather

tassels carrying a white Stetson hat in his huge hands. ‘Table for three, litt-le darlin’,’ he actually winked as he passed her by, fortunately not observed by her husband Daniel who was otherwise engaged with

the lady novelist who was not happy with her table being so near to the musicians. All eyes swivelled as Princess Lily arrived followed one step behind by Fu Chan carrying a box. But be-

fore anyone could wonder what was in the box, a round of applause broke out as Captain Fowlnett en-

tered and unfortunately whose size 11 feet found the edge of the carpet runner and went sprawling to-wards the dance floor where he was fortunately caught by the buxom bosom of Lady Vera.

‘La sir, you are a caution,’ she cried assisting his whiskers from her décolleté, ‘What will people think?’ Not to be outdone Lady Gloria in a trice had the unfortunate man by the arm and was steering him red

faced and full of apology towards their table where he first clapped eyes on their adorable young ward Dorothy ... and the rest they say is history.

NEW WRITER MD

As the captain strolled into the nearest inn he could find, he looked up in great surprise as cheering sounded all around

the full bar area. His eyes were sore from the heavy night he had the night before. He had to concentrate, he needed to find his boat, many people relied on him, yet somehow the prettiness of the female kind that somehow surrounded him made him not only want to in one way forget about finding the boat full stop, but made him wonder what it was about this place

that made him so attractive to everybody he met. Oh yes, everybody, he could tell as they all looked his way and stared as he walked on by and now, today, the cheering . . . well it must mean something, musn’t it? Surely it was a sign to stay drift-ing from dock to dock, picking up the absolute variety that was here, make the most of the attention he had somehow come

to gain. All in the name of fun and frolicking, it was so very easy to be him, yet the responsibility of finding the boat, well, it nagged him somewhat, he knew that he only had that day, just one day to find his responsibility and float away with it . . .

darn that responsible attitude, there were good times to be had, just one more day . . .he would find it, he promised himself that, he would. Convincing nobody but himself of his certainty, he took a stool at the bar and was handed a glass. Brown liquid burned his throat, flowing down him like a heatwave. It felt rather good.

‘We all have heard of the captain lost ship,’ the bartender said as he washed a few glasses. Everybody else had turned away, going back to their own business of chatter and gaming. Captain Fowlnett knocked back the rest of his drink and handed the glass to the bartender.

‘Another?’ he asked. The bartender smiled and readily made another drink and gave it to the elusive captain. ‘You know we all have heard of your flaunting of the body onto our women,’ he said, still smiling. It was difficult to read

what he was truly thinking behind that friendly smile. Could this be an enemy? Was the captain treading on thin ice at this

dock? ‘The women just follow me,’ he said lightly. ‘I simply oblige to their desires and their needs. It’s rather like they cannot

leave my side, a strange effect the water side has on me.’

‘So , you’re making the most of what little you have?’ ‘Well, to not put it quite so bluntly,’ he said feeling a little agitated by the personal remark. ‘However if they feel they

would like my company, then I will happily talk with them and offer a shoulder.’

The bartender gave him a strange look that said to the captain that his honest cheek may just land him in hot water that he couldn’t get out of. Changing tact rather quickly, he sat straight and put on his serious face.

‘Have you seen the boat that I am missing? I knew exactly where it was.’ ‘Is that so?’ ‘Of course, it must have been moved,’ he said. ‘I’m sure since you know me so well, you may also know that I am looking

for it for the voyage tomorrow.’

‘That I am aware of.’

‘So it’s on this dock?’ ‘Well, let’s just say that you may . . . may, get to set sail one time, my friend.’ ‘That gives me a sense of relief,’ he said sitting back smiling, just as two rather stunning young women entered the bar,

and flashed their smiles his way. Suddenly, the boat and his responsibility to find it for tomorrow, had drifted far out of his mind as his smile spread across his face in a polite return.

The hotel had emptied like a tidal wave of water draining down a plug-hole. For three hours a convoy of carts and car-

riages had conveyed the baggage and accoutrements of the guests down to the steam packet, the Star of Coldwynd Bay. Lady Durrisdane had lingered over breakfast and waited until the froth had settled in the foyer of the Nasturtium before

making her departure arrangements.

‘Put the trunk in the carriage, we’ll be stopping at the Imperial to collect two other passengers for the train station,’ she said slipping Peter the Porter a silver threepence. Peter knuckled his forelock in the time honoured gesture of knowing his

place in the pecking order and hoisted the trunk onto the trolley. Basil, ever the professional, assisted the Grand Dame into the Hackney cab: ‘May I wish you a safe journey, ma’am,’ he

said, closing the door with a open handed gesture thus allowing the lady to discreetly present him with a tip a good deal lar-

ger than three pennies. A few minutes later found her in high dudgeon, puffing up the steps into the foyer of the Imperial. Greatly vexed, Lady

Durrisdane busied her skirts and petticoats in annoyance that Murray was not on the steps waiting to greet her. Where was

the man? Murray was nowhere to be seen but in a corner looking like a lost waif and stray, ‘He’s gone,’ sobbed Nancy sitting amidst

a pile of parcels and a trunk. ‘He took the boat.’

Lady Durrisdane crushed the child to her bosom, her own eyes brimming. Here was her greatest fear come true. The pull of the wild, that dreadful woman and something else had undone all her hopes once again.

‘It’s the Kali Stone, what dun it,’ whispered Nancy, ‘It’ll never let him go.’

LEDBURY POETRY FESTIVAL 2015 John Burnside is the Festival poet in residence and he will offer workshops, give a reading and also talk about his ‘desert island poems’. The Festival will also fea-ture Simon Armitage, Pam Ayres, Sophie Hannah, Jane Yeh, Denise Riley, Imtiaz Dharker, Nic Aubury, Don Paterson, Steve Ely, Eleanor Rees, Matthew Clegg, Chris Jones and Paul Henry. Rowan Williams will appear in conversation with Marina Warner on Poetry and Belief. James Booth will talk about Philip Larkin. As always we will host the brilliant Foyle Young Poets and Eric Gregory Award Winners, plus winners of the National Poetry Competition. We are excited to welcome former Ledbury Poetry Competition winner and recent Costa Prize winner, Jonathan Ed-wards, in an event hosted by Ian McMillan. Juliet Stevenson will read Emily Dick-inson poems, with Mark Fisher giving the context. There is much more in the pipe-line. Festival Dates are 3 – 12 July 2015. The box office opens for Friends on 14th May and for everyone else on 16th May. The phone number is 0845 4581743. If interested in becoming a Friend please contact Sandra our Finance Manager on the above number or email finance@poetry-festival.co.uk – they will not be taking bookings for Pam Ayres (attending the Festival on 5th July) until the 14th May.

We miss your words of wisdom in group Edith Sending much love and respect all at RBW XX

These images are from the Facebook

Friends of

Penkridge Library Page.

This library is under

threat ...

What more could

these good folks be

doing to show their library is a vital

community hub?

All the branch libraries under

threat have similar activities such as

reader groups,

writer groups, poetry groups,

kiddies storytime

etc

The message is clear:

“Hands Off

Our Libraries!”

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