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WOSSNAME -- Main issue -- February 2014
WOSSNAME
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
NOT SO EARLY EDITION
February 2014 (Volume 17, Issue 2, post 2)
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INDEX:
01) EDITOR'S LETTER
02) ODDS AND SODS
03) RAISING STEAM REVIEWS
04) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
05) ROUNDWORLD TALES: TREACLE MINING
06) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
08) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
09) MORE IMAGES OF THE MONTH
10) CLOSE
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01) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
So here we are, several weeks later, and I have to report that my health issues are still impacting on my ability to do my best on WOSSNAME work (or anything else, for that matter). I can tell you this: if anyone ever offers you a free sample of a charming dysfunction called Type 2 Trigeminal Neuralgia, just say no. Very loudly. Trust me on this. Persistent, brain-eating facial pain does what it says on the tin, namely eats one's mental processing and concentration abilities, and among other things causes one to not be able to write coherent reviews, and to move the town of Accrington from Lancashire to Cheshire, as I did in the previous issue (and I have less excuse than many, being well familiar with said town; many thanks to WOSSNAME's Director of Trains, Brian Dominic, for quietly pointing that out to me). However, today has been the first comparatively world-of-pain-free day I've had in weeks, so hopefully there are no similarly egregious mistakes below...
Now then. First off, some title news: the third book in The Long Earth series will be called The Long Mars! Release date will be 19th June 2014. To pre-order from Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jxuSkt
Remember, Sir Pterry will be the special guest at Eastercon 65 from 18th – 21st April 2014 at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Glasgow: http://satellite4.org.uk/
By the way, that turtle-shaped roundabout praised by Pterry and featured in the first issue this month is in Bundaberg, Queensland, Fourecks: http://tinyurl.com/mr3w6b7
– Annie Mac, Editor
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02) ODDS AND SODS
...and some of these are very odd indeed...
2.1 ANOTHER MOIST VON LIPWIG – CLOSER TO HOME
Fund manager Benjamin Wilson has now been jailed for seven years. His crime? He "used author Terry Pratchett's signature to dupe friends and colleagues out of £22million and spent it on lavish life of racehorses, sports cars and Vegas gambling trips". No, really:
"Benjamin Wilson, 35, used the money of 'several hundred' investors - including close friends and colleagues - to fund his 'lavish lifestyle', Southwark Crown Court heard. Wilson, who was today jailed for seven years, used the cash to pay for a multimillion-pound home as well as buying racehorses, a luxury sports car and gambling in Las Vegas.
He doctored business statements to hide his fraudulent activity, using Google Images to copy the signature of author Terry Pratchett to sign off audit reports, the court heard. He pleaded guilty in December 2013 to two counts of forgery and one of fraud, having previously admitted a charge of operating a collective investment scheme without authorisation. Sentencing Wilson to seven years, Judge Michael Grieve said Wilson had carried out an 'utterly shameless confidence fraud' targeting victims who invested money 'they could ill afford to lose'. He had used the cash to fund a lifestyle of 'untold lavishness and luxury', the judge said. 'You were the sole architect of the fraud from start to finish,' he said. 'There may well be some element of living in a world of make believe. At the same time it was a cruel and very sophisticated fraud with only one beneficiary - that was yourself.'..."
http://tinyurl.com/mphg2wq
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2.2 AND ANOTHER PRATCHETT OF INTEREST...?
In the Toronto Star, news of a new fantasy author by the name of Pratchett:
"It may be fortunate that Vincent Pratchett knows his way around a fire hose. His career as an author is liable to get red hot in 2014. A veteran of 23 years with Toronto Fire Services, Pratchett's first novel, The Raven's Warrior, was selected as one of the works to be given out on World Book Night in April... Already a winner of the 2013 USA Best Book Award for visionary fiction — handed out by USA Book News — the novel is set in 10th-century China. Its protagonist, a Celtic warrior, is taken in battle by Vikings and dragged and sold across Europe and Asia until he ends up a slave to a Taoist priest and his daughter in the Middle Kingdom. Under his masters' Eastern tutelage, the Celtic slave becomes a king in a story Pratchett describes as a kind of Arthurian legend... Pratchett — who works out of Station 135 in Forest Hill — is as surprised as anyone at his book's award recognition. Indeed, he's still shocked that he's a professional author at all..."
http://tinyurl.com/jw2yx6o
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2.3 ERIC AS INSPIRATION
A good many people consider Eric to be the lest of all Discworld works, but for fantasy author David L. Stone aka David Grimstone, reading Eric was a literal (and literary) life-changer – and only because he was a pound short for the book he had intended to buy!
"I'd almost given up completely when I found Eric. The book, showing a wizard shooting through the air with a boy dragging on the flying chest beneath him, was tiny….and I mean tiny. It was also £2.99. I resigned myself to buying an actual book, took it home and – rather miserably – started reading it just after lunch. By dinnertime that day I was absolutely in love with Terry Pratchett. He spoke so directly to my imagination that it genuinely seemed like he had tailored the book entirely for me. In the weeks that followed, I bought and read every Discworld novel from the back catalogue, and devoured them all at the weekends. This reached fever pitch when I actually started faking illness so that I could stay off school and read them...."
This blog essay is well worth a read. And I shall have to go back to our copy of Knights of Madness and see if Mr Grimstone is worth reading, too, since it contains one of his stories...
http://blokecalleddave.co.uk/?p=538
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2.4 APPEAL FOR A THOUSANDE ELEPHANTS!!!!
From Maggie Wilde, on behalf of the 2014 Wincanton Spring Fling:
"COME ON FOLKS, ANYONE COMING TO SPRING FLING AT WINCANTON 3RD/4TH MAY THE THEME IS "MOVING PICTURES" SO WE NEED 1000 ELEPHANTS!! PLEASE BRING AS MANY AS YOU CAN. They can be sketches, stuffed toys, knitted or sewn, old toys from charity shops, figurines, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, soap. In fact I'll give a prize to the 'most unusual form of elephant' and to the person who brings the most elephants. They can be loaned for the count up then retrieved or left to be sold on the 'Fifth Elephant stall', proceeds to the charity. Anyone who can't come but wishes to contribute please send your elephants to the Discworld Emporium, 41 The High Street Wincanton Somerset BA9 9JU with a covering letter. thank you. We can't send any back but they will be included on the stall. Any leftovers will go to local charity shops. PS nothing alive or dead or life size, thanks!"
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03) REVIEWS: RAISING STEAM
By Mark Vaughan-Jackson, in Canadian newspaper The Telegram:
"When he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago (2007, to be exact), I had a moment of mourning and feared that was it, that I'd never have a new Discworld tale — or at least only a few more. Since then, he's proved me and the rest of the world wrong. In fact, from our end as readers eagerly anticipating the next book, it seems the only change is Pratchett now uses voice technology instead of a keyboard... Either way, I for one am delighted that Sir Terry continues to put out new works — Discworld or otherwise... Lipwig has become Pratchett's latest in a long line of central characters who, for a book or two, become the focus before the author shifts back to a different part of the Discworld and a different protagonist. This has been part of Pratchett's secret of longevity. I've said it before: most big sci-fi or fantasy series choke on their own success after five or 10 books. Discworld hasn't — not after five, not after 10 or 20 or 30 or even now after 40. Just when you wonder whether yet another storyline featuring Granny Weatherwax will work, he changes tack and hits you with a Commander Vimes story, or a tale from one of the other countries clinging to the surface of the Disc, on top of the four elephants atop the Great A'Tuin, the giant pace turtle. These changeups keep things fresh, allowing Pratchett to keep on revisiting the creative well that he found way back in Book 1... As ever, Pratchett throws in a couple of curveball sub-plots, too. This time it's the continued inner unrest in the Dwarven realm, as Low King Rhys Rhyson struggles to maintain the new peace with Trolls and Humans while dealing with the unrest of the dwarvish religious fundamentalist, the Grags. Again, as ever, Pratchett has a deft hand as he casts a gently satirical eye over everything from dwarven gender discrimination to goblin emancipation. All in all, classic Pratchett that was great fun to read..."
http://tinyurl.com/nevzcrf
By Elli Christie, Books Editor, in Exepose, the University of Exeter's student newspaper:
"Despite, understandably, reducing his public appearances since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Pratchett still publishes a book a year and the Discworld remains as dynamic and refreshing in Raising Steam as it was when The Colour of Magic was published in 1983. Following on from the events in Snuff which saw goblins acknowledged as part of society and previous beliefs challenged, Raising Steam explores what the further implications of this emancipation are on Ankh-Morpork and the Discworld... Whilst this all sounds fantastical, Raising Steam constantly remains surprisingly relevant to not only our world but current day events. There is a thoughtful and subtle exploration of what might cause terrorism and how it can quickly engulf a community through fear and ignorance when certain dwarfs are able to destroy train stations and kill despite being a minority. Moist von Lipwig is also aware that positive media representation is essential for the railway that is so dependent on the goodwill of its customers and Pratchett demonstrates this with an insight into the commercial thinking that is behind his zany schemes..."
http://tinyurl.com/lcdaxb9
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04) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
SIR PTERRY RECOMMENDS: A BOOK ON ASSISTED DYING
"Sir Terry Pratchett provides foreword to locally-written book on dying with dignity... Lesley Close, of Stanley Hill, Amersham, had to make the decision. She chose to accompany her brother to an appointment with Dignitas, the Swiss organisation which offers to help people commit suicide. Her book, Assisted Dying – Who Makes the Final Decision? came out on Wednesday last week, and includes a case study of her experience... It is co-edited by Jo Cartwright, campaigns and press manager for Dignity in Dying... The book focuses on case studies of families who support assisted dying for different reasons, and hopes to raise awareness of the issue. Ms Close's brother, John Close, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2001, and in 2003 he made the decision to go to Zurich to end his own life with Dignitas..."
Here is the foreword to the book, as reprinted in Get Bucks:
"I don't fear death, but, like many other people, I do fear dying badly. This book explores assisted dying by looking boldly at the historical, medical, legal, philosophical and ethical aspects at the heart of the matter. It punctuates these with the stories of real people's deaths, of real suffering and the ght[sic] that has been inspired in the people living with memories of those deaths. Some of the people in this book, much like Peter Smedley who invited me to witness his assisted death at Dignitas, died too soon to ensure that they could die well. In years to come people will look back, aghast, at a time – this time – when people were forced to choose between living on and dying well. This book will undoubtedly move the debate forward and help us get to the stage when the choice to die as we wish is one that we can make at home, surrounded by the things and people that have made our lives what they are. That's a time to look forward to, when the fear of dying badly will have been consigned to history books.
Sir Terry Pratchett, October 2013"
http://tinyurl.com/mxzhmys
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05) ROUNDWORLD TALES: TREACLE MINING
From Wikipedia:
"The topic has been a joke in British humour since the mid 19th century. One possible origin of the joke is from 1853 when 8,000 British Army soldiers were camped on Chobham Common. The camp included storehouses containing barrels. When the soldiers left for the Crimean War and the site was dismantled, they buried barrels to avoid having to remove them. Some of the barrels contained treacle and Cobham villagers who discovered and removed them were called "treacle miners" as a joke. Local folklore about treacle mining was extended back into history back to Roman Britain. Another explanation is that 'treacle' meant 'a medicine', derived from the appearance of the Greek derivative 'theriacal' meaning medicinal (Gk theriake = a curative or antidote), so the various healing wells around Britain were called 'treacle wells'. Treacle later came to mean a sticky syrup after the popularity of a honey-based drug called "Venice treacle", and the continued use of the old form in the treacle wells led to the joke...
"The village of Sabden in Lancashire cultivated a considerable body of folklore about local treacle mining in the 1930s. The local newspaper helped foster the myth, publishing numerous stories about the fictional mines.
The paper mills around Maidstone in Kent were known as 'The Tovil Treacle Mines' by locals, after the area where one of the mills owned by Albert E. Reed was situated. The company helped the myth with a float in Maidstone carnival with a 'treacle mine' theme... Tudeley and Frittenden in Kent are also said to have had treacle mines. A tank wagon on the Kent and East Sussex Railway was painted in fictional 'Frittenden Treacle Mines' livery in 2009... Treacle mines have also been claimed in Wem (Shropshire), Talskiddy, Bisham, Nuneaton, Chobham, Tongham, Tadley, Skidby, Ditchford, Crick. Dunchideock and many other locations across Somerset and Devon..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treacle_mining
And a more "myffic" tale from treacleminer.com, which also features quotes from Discworld books and from Discworld (and Roundworld!) folklorist Jacqueline Simpson:
"Many claim to know that there were Treacle Mines in Buxted, but few know the full story. They will tell you that the treacle mines of Buxted were sited next to the lighthouse near the harbour. They will not tell you that, in the 17th century, barges came up he river Uck and berthed on the quay-side, where treacle rock was loaded and transported to the coast; where it was taken by oxen driven wagons to larger towns, where the treacle was used to make treacle floss, treacle tarts, treacle toffee and surprisingly limpet mines... The lighthouse was a focal point of the old village of Bukktsted. The treacle miners operating in the area used the lighthouse as a lookout-post (camera obscura); as a bank for treacle nuggets; the storage for the miners' candles and products produced and as a meeting point for the village Morris Men... The treacle seams followed the ley lines stretching from old Buxted through Etchingwood beyond the Spotted Cow Ale House, along the Hadlow Down ridge and beyond to Hadlow Down, Jarvis Brook, Steel Cross and the Boar's Head..."
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06) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
6.1 A MESSAGE FROM THE CUNNING ARTIFICER
"Dear Emporium Followers,
"The ants are on strike, the FTB (Fluffy Teddy Bear) is missing and the mouse it without its cheddar. We therefore regrettably announce that our website is currently off-line and 'normal' service has been somewhat disrupted.
"We are working hard to to fix the problem, but until the site is back up and running we will not be able to send or receive emails via our usual business email address: reb@discworldemporium.com. We are very very sorry, from the bottom of our little hearts for any inconvenience and concern this may cause. Please rest assured that our 'real' shop hasn't vanished, so if you have any worries about your current/pending orders you are welcome to phone us on 01963824686, or use our temporary email discworldemporium@gmail.com
"Hopefully we won't have to resort to pulling the Big Red Lever just yet!
Thank you for your patience and support"
6.2 LEGO DISCWORLD CREATIONS
For all you Lego enthusiasts, here be a Flickr image set of the Potent Voyager, as described in The Last Hero graphic novel:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/l-space/12570487295/in/set-72157641076233184/
Also, a very impressive Sator Square in Lego:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38463026@N04/sets/72157641076999114/
6.3 DISCWORLD STAMPS
A new announcement from those Cunning Artificers:
"They've arrived! The new set of official Definitive stamp issues from the Ankh-Morpork Post Office have been delivered by our own Mr Spools, and we've been busy perforating and tearing hundreds of sheets and thousands of stamps in preparation for their launch. This perennial range of Discworld Stamps began life in 2004 inside Hardback editions of Going Postal, and has undergone an annual design overhaul ever since. As an official Roundworld branch of the A-M.P.O we are proud to reveal our new designs for the iconic Half Penny Post Office, Penny Patrician, 2p Coat of Arms, 5p and 10p Morporkias and famous $1 Tower of Art. Each issue will be available in sheets and singles from Monday 3rd February, and are available to preview now in the New Stamps section of our site –
http://tinyurl.com/m6wnxfa
"But why wait?! Keen collectors and aspiring Stanley Howlers can be the first to own these new issues with our first Little Brown Envelope issue of the year, the 'Usual Suspects' LBE – available now! The LBE is our version of the 'tenpenny lucky dip bag' featured in Going Postal, and this current edition includes an average of three new Definitive issues in every envelope along with an assortment of current Discworld stamps, and the chance to obtain their respective rare 'sport' variants – follow the link to view:
http://tinyurl.com/mgpeyzc
"ASK US ABOUT STAMPS! – find out how it all began by perusing our friendly Beginners Guide to the wonderful world of Discworld Stamps – http://tinyurl.com/m8bq3as – or start your collection with a Going Postal Starter Pack – follow the link to view – http://tinyurl.com/kjn2a9p ..."
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07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
7.1 MAKING MONEY IN SALISBURY: FINAL PERFORMANCES THIS WEEK!
When: remaining dates are 27th February-1st March 2014
Venue: Studio Theatre, Ashley Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 7TN
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: from Salisbury Information Centre, phone 01722 342860
http://www.studiotheatre.org.uk/
7.2 REVIEW: MAKING MONEY IN SALISBURY
By Hannah White, in the Salisbury Journal:
"The plot is everything you would expect from Sir Terry – an extraordinary storyline with plenty of humour. There were outstanding performances, especially from Stew Taylor as the lead role, Moist von Lipwig. Phil Taylor, as golum[sic] Gladys, was responsible for many of the laugh out loud moments, and Alistair Faulkner was fantastic as Mr Bent. Special mention must also go to Teddy Woolgrove, socially awkward Hubert, and George Goulding as Igor and Mr Slant as well as Theo Ross, Mrs Lavish. Anthony von Roretz put in a convincing performance as tyrant Lord Vetinari, despite stumbling over a couple of lines in the first half. James Bradwell proved he could pull off villainous Cosmo Lavish just as brilliantly as his hilarious performance as Manuel in Studio's recent Fawlty Towers production. All of the actors gave it their all and it was clear they were thoroughly enjoying themselves..."
http://tinyurl.com/k9flxcv
7.3 REMINDER: GOING POSTAL IN BASILDON
The Thalian Theatre Company,whose vast array of previous Pratchett productions includes Wyrd Sisters, Men at Arms, Maskerade, Mort, Guards! Guards! and Carpe Jugulum, are adding a new play to the list when they present Going Postal in March.
When: 27th to 29th March 2014
Venue: Mirren Studio, Towngate Theatre, St. Martin's Square, Basildon, Essex SS14 1DL
Time: 8pm
Tickets: £10 adult, £8.50 concessions, available from the theatre box office on 01268 465465, or you can book tickets online by going to http://tinyurl.com/kfubr4y
http://www.towngatetheatre.co.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4771
7.4 REMINDER: WITCHES ABROAD IN PORTSMOUTH
Collingwood RSC Theatre Group, already veteran Pratchett play presenters, will offer their production – a world premiere, no less – of Witches Abroad in March.
When: Wednesday 26th through Saturday 29th March 2014
Venue: HMS Collingwood, Newgate Lane, Fareham, Portsmouth, PO14 1AS
Tickets: £6, available via the box office (07502 037922)
To see their whimsical Kidby-pastiche poster, go to http://tinyurl.com/l9hlaka
https://www.facebook.com/hmscollingwoodrsc
7.5 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN NEWPORT, ESSEX
The Newport Free Grammar School, a fine old institution whose former pupils include the fine actor James Frain and a rather well-known cook fellow called Jamie Oliver, will be presenting their production of Wyrd Sisters in March.
When: Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th March 2014
Venue: Newport Free Grammar School, Nedwport, Essex CB11 3TR
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: £8, concessions £6
Booking is through the Finance office on 01799540237
For more information, and a good-looking poster (reproduced with permission, no less), go to:
http://tinyurl.com/nela4oc
7.6 REMINDER: MEN AT ARMS IN KEW
The Q2 Players, "Kew's Leading Amateur Theatre Group", will present their production of Men at Arms in April.
When: Thursday 3rd – Saturday 5th April 2014
Venue: Kew Community Centre, St. Luke's in The Avenue, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2AL
Time: Thurs-Sat shows at 8pm; Sat Matinee 2.30pm
Tickets: £8 (concessions £6) Box office TBA; email q2players@gmail.com
http://www.q2players.org.uk/Q2_Players/Upcoming_Show.html
7.7 REMINDER: NATION IN TEMPE, ARIZONA
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts will present a production of Mark Ravenhill's NT stage adaptation of Nation in April, directed by Megan Weaver.
When: 4th–13th April 2014
Venue: Galvin Playhouse, 51 E. 10th St, Tempe, AZ 85287 (at Mill Avenue & 10th Street, University of Arizona Tempe campus)
Time: 4th, 5th, 10th and 12th at 7.30pm; 6th and 13th at 2pm
Tickets: $8-$16; to buy online, go to http://tinyurl.com/lhb2oyw
Herberger Institute students are offered free admission on tickets reserved in advance.
7.8 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN ACCRINGTON, LANCASHIRE (note Jograffy correction!)
Oswaldtwistle Players will present their production of Wyrd Sisters, adapted by Stephen Briggs and directed by Martina Burns, in late April and early May.
When: 30th April - 3rd May 2014
Venue: Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, 157 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington BB5 3HZ
Time: 19:30
Tickets: £8.50 (concessions £7.50); all tickets £7 on 30th April
http://i72139.wix.com/oswaldtwistleplayers
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08) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group", meets on the first Monday of every month at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ: "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz. The prize is superb. The chance to set the quiz the following month."
Next meeting: Monday 3rd March 2014, from 7pm onwards.
The Broken Drummers February 2014 meet report:
"We arrived on Monday night in a state of shock due to problems with our landlord and letting agent. Thank you to everyone for your support, stories of your own problems with unscrupulous landlords. Thank you to Sim especially for the offer of going to shout at them in her most Australian way, which is apparently very disturbing to British sensibilities. It was great to see such a large crowd this month. I'm afraid I have little to report this time as we were feeling pretty drained and left early. Jax was just beginning her quiz as we left so I don't know the result.
Addendum: I'm told that Tim E. was the winner."
For more information, go to http://brokendrummers.org/ or email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk
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The Pratchett Partisans are a new fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett". For more info about their next meetup, go to http://www.meetup.com/Pratchett-Partisans/ or contact Ula directly at uwilmott@yahoo.com.au
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The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have regular monthly dinner and games nights, longer games days, plus play outings, craft-y workshops, and fun social activities throughout the year. For more info and to join our mailing list, visit:
http://cityofsmallgods.org.au
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The Broken Vectis Drummers meet on the first Thursday of every month from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight.
Next meeting: Thursday 6th March 2014, probably, but do email to check.
All new members and curious passersby are very welcome! For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
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The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) meets on the first Friday of every month at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
Next meeting: Friday 7th March 2014 (probably).
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The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005 but is now looking to take in some new blood (presumably not in the non-reformed Uberwald manner). The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles.
Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
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Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney,2000.
Next meeting: Monday 3rd March 2014 at 6.30pm (probably). For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
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Perth Drummers meet on the first Monday of the month, subject to holidays.
Next meeting: Monday 3rd March 2014 (probably).
"Please note we have moved to Carpe Cafe from 5.30pm Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, WA. Meeting at a cafe means we are under-18 friendly!"
For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – otherwise message Krystel directly at khewett@live.com
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Western Drummers (that's two groups for the Sydney Pratchett fans now) intend to meet on the third Monday of every month at The Rowers, Bruce Neal Drive, Penrith at 6.30-7.30pm for food, 7.30pm for games, quizzes and chat. For more information, contact Nanny Ogg – lewis_oz@bigpond.com – or visit their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/westerndrummers
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09) MORE IMAGES OF THE MONTH
Here we have Sir Pterry and Mister Fusspot just before the opening night of Salisbury Studio Theatre's production of Making Money. Remember, it runs through the 1st of March!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg766GVIgAAtvbV.jpg
And here he is with the less quadrupedal members of the cast: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg76GUNIIAA-CbL.jpg
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10) CLOSE
And that's it for February, as far as I know. Remember, next Tuesday is Pancake Day! I for one am hoping to be able to eat one. There's only so much liquid breakfast and broccoli smoothies a body can stand...
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: interact (at) pearwood (dot) info
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Copyright (c) 2014 by Klatchian Foreign Legion
Newsletter of the Klatchian Foreign Legion
NOT SO EARLY EDITION
February 2014 (Volume 17, Issue 2, post 2)
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INDEX:
01) EDITOR'S LETTER
02) ODDS AND SODS
03) RAISING STEAM REVIEWS
04) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
05) ROUNDWORLD TALES: TREACLE MINING
06) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
08) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
09) MORE IMAGES OF THE MONTH
10) CLOSE
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01) LETTER FROM YOUR EDITOR
So here we are, several weeks later, and I have to report that my health issues are still impacting on my ability to do my best on WOSSNAME work (or anything else, for that matter). I can tell you this: if anyone ever offers you a free sample of a charming dysfunction called Type 2 Trigeminal Neuralgia, just say no. Very loudly. Trust me on this. Persistent, brain-eating facial pain does what it says on the tin, namely eats one's mental processing and concentration abilities, and among other things causes one to not be able to write coherent reviews, and to move the town of Accrington from Lancashire to Cheshire, as I did in the previous issue (and I have less excuse than many, being well familiar with said town; many thanks to WOSSNAME's Director of Trains, Brian Dominic, for quietly pointing that out to me). However, today has been the first comparatively world-of-pain-free day I've had in weeks, so hopefully there are no similarly egregious mistakes below...
Now then. First off, some title news: the third book in The Long Earth series will be called The Long Mars! Release date will be 19th June 2014. To pre-order from Amazon: http://amzn.to/1jxuSkt
Remember, Sir Pterry will be the special guest at Eastercon 65 from 18th – 21st April 2014 at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Glasgow: http://satellite4.org.uk/
By the way, that turtle-shaped roundabout praised by Pterry and featured in the first issue this month is in Bundaberg, Queensland, Fourecks: http://tinyurl.com/mr3w6b7
– Annie Mac, Editor
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02) ODDS AND SODS
...and some of these are very odd indeed...
2.1 ANOTHER MOIST VON LIPWIG – CLOSER TO HOME
Fund manager Benjamin Wilson has now been jailed for seven years. His crime? He "used author Terry Pratchett's signature to dupe friends and colleagues out of £22million and spent it on lavish life of racehorses, sports cars and Vegas gambling trips". No, really:
"Benjamin Wilson, 35, used the money of 'several hundred' investors - including close friends and colleagues - to fund his 'lavish lifestyle', Southwark Crown Court heard. Wilson, who was today jailed for seven years, used the cash to pay for a multimillion-pound home as well as buying racehorses, a luxury sports car and gambling in Las Vegas.
He doctored business statements to hide his fraudulent activity, using Google Images to copy the signature of author Terry Pratchett to sign off audit reports, the court heard. He pleaded guilty in December 2013 to two counts of forgery and one of fraud, having previously admitted a charge of operating a collective investment scheme without authorisation. Sentencing Wilson to seven years, Judge Michael Grieve said Wilson had carried out an 'utterly shameless confidence fraud' targeting victims who invested money 'they could ill afford to lose'. He had used the cash to fund a lifestyle of 'untold lavishness and luxury', the judge said. 'You were the sole architect of the fraud from start to finish,' he said. 'There may well be some element of living in a world of make believe. At the same time it was a cruel and very sophisticated fraud with only one beneficiary - that was yourself.'..."
http://tinyurl.com/mphg2wq
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2.2 AND ANOTHER PRATCHETT OF INTEREST...?
In the Toronto Star, news of a new fantasy author by the name of Pratchett:
"It may be fortunate that Vincent Pratchett knows his way around a fire hose. His career as an author is liable to get red hot in 2014. A veteran of 23 years with Toronto Fire Services, Pratchett's first novel, The Raven's Warrior, was selected as one of the works to be given out on World Book Night in April... Already a winner of the 2013 USA Best Book Award for visionary fiction — handed out by USA Book News — the novel is set in 10th-century China. Its protagonist, a Celtic warrior, is taken in battle by Vikings and dragged and sold across Europe and Asia until he ends up a slave to a Taoist priest and his daughter in the Middle Kingdom. Under his masters' Eastern tutelage, the Celtic slave becomes a king in a story Pratchett describes as a kind of Arthurian legend... Pratchett — who works out of Station 135 in Forest Hill — is as surprised as anyone at his book's award recognition. Indeed, he's still shocked that he's a professional author at all..."
http://tinyurl.com/jw2yx6o
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2.3 ERIC AS INSPIRATION
A good many people consider Eric to be the lest of all Discworld works, but for fantasy author David L. Stone aka David Grimstone, reading Eric was a literal (and literary) life-changer – and only because he was a pound short for the book he had intended to buy!
"I'd almost given up completely when I found Eric. The book, showing a wizard shooting through the air with a boy dragging on the flying chest beneath him, was tiny….and I mean tiny. It was also £2.99. I resigned myself to buying an actual book, took it home and – rather miserably – started reading it just after lunch. By dinnertime that day I was absolutely in love with Terry Pratchett. He spoke so directly to my imagination that it genuinely seemed like he had tailored the book entirely for me. In the weeks that followed, I bought and read every Discworld novel from the back catalogue, and devoured them all at the weekends. This reached fever pitch when I actually started faking illness so that I could stay off school and read them...."
This blog essay is well worth a read. And I shall have to go back to our copy of Knights of Madness and see if Mr Grimstone is worth reading, too, since it contains one of his stories...
http://blokecalleddave.co.uk/?p=538
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2.4 APPEAL FOR A THOUSANDE ELEPHANTS!!!!
From Maggie Wilde, on behalf of the 2014 Wincanton Spring Fling:
"COME ON FOLKS, ANYONE COMING TO SPRING FLING AT WINCANTON 3RD/4TH MAY THE THEME IS "MOVING PICTURES" SO WE NEED 1000 ELEPHANTS!! PLEASE BRING AS MANY AS YOU CAN. They can be sketches, stuffed toys, knitted or sewn, old toys from charity shops, figurines, cakes, biscuits, chocolate, soap. In fact I'll give a prize to the 'most unusual form of elephant' and to the person who brings the most elephants. They can be loaned for the count up then retrieved or left to be sold on the 'Fifth Elephant stall', proceeds to the charity. Anyone who can't come but wishes to contribute please send your elephants to the Discworld Emporium, 41 The High Street Wincanton Somerset BA9 9JU with a covering letter. thank you. We can't send any back but they will be included on the stall. Any leftovers will go to local charity shops. PS nothing alive or dead or life size, thanks!"
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03) REVIEWS: RAISING STEAM
By Mark Vaughan-Jackson, in Canadian newspaper The Telegram:
"When he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's a few years ago (2007, to be exact), I had a moment of mourning and feared that was it, that I'd never have a new Discworld tale — or at least only a few more. Since then, he's proved me and the rest of the world wrong. In fact, from our end as readers eagerly anticipating the next book, it seems the only change is Pratchett now uses voice technology instead of a keyboard... Either way, I for one am delighted that Sir Terry continues to put out new works — Discworld or otherwise... Lipwig has become Pratchett's latest in a long line of central characters who, for a book or two, become the focus before the author shifts back to a different part of the Discworld and a different protagonist. This has been part of Pratchett's secret of longevity. I've said it before: most big sci-fi or fantasy series choke on their own success after five or 10 books. Discworld hasn't — not after five, not after 10 or 20 or 30 or even now after 40. Just when you wonder whether yet another storyline featuring Granny Weatherwax will work, he changes tack and hits you with a Commander Vimes story, or a tale from one of the other countries clinging to the surface of the Disc, on top of the four elephants atop the Great A'Tuin, the giant pace turtle. These changeups keep things fresh, allowing Pratchett to keep on revisiting the creative well that he found way back in Book 1... As ever, Pratchett throws in a couple of curveball sub-plots, too. This time it's the continued inner unrest in the Dwarven realm, as Low King Rhys Rhyson struggles to maintain the new peace with Trolls and Humans while dealing with the unrest of the dwarvish religious fundamentalist, the Grags. Again, as ever, Pratchett has a deft hand as he casts a gently satirical eye over everything from dwarven gender discrimination to goblin emancipation. All in all, classic Pratchett that was great fun to read..."
http://tinyurl.com/nevzcrf
By Elli Christie, Books Editor, in Exepose, the University of Exeter's student newspaper:
"Despite, understandably, reducing his public appearances since being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, Pratchett still publishes a book a year and the Discworld remains as dynamic and refreshing in Raising Steam as it was when The Colour of Magic was published in 1983. Following on from the events in Snuff which saw goblins acknowledged as part of society and previous beliefs challenged, Raising Steam explores what the further implications of this emancipation are on Ankh-Morpork and the Discworld... Whilst this all sounds fantastical, Raising Steam constantly remains surprisingly relevant to not only our world but current day events. There is a thoughtful and subtle exploration of what might cause terrorism and how it can quickly engulf a community through fear and ignorance when certain dwarfs are able to destroy train stations and kill despite being a minority. Moist von Lipwig is also aware that positive media representation is essential for the railway that is so dependent on the goodwill of its customers and Pratchett demonstrates this with an insight into the commercial thinking that is behind his zany schemes..."
http://tinyurl.com/lcdaxb9
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04) PTERRY AND ALZHEIMER'S NEWS
SIR PTERRY RECOMMENDS: A BOOK ON ASSISTED DYING
"Sir Terry Pratchett provides foreword to locally-written book on dying with dignity... Lesley Close, of Stanley Hill, Amersham, had to make the decision. She chose to accompany her brother to an appointment with Dignitas, the Swiss organisation which offers to help people commit suicide. Her book, Assisted Dying – Who Makes the Final Decision? came out on Wednesday last week, and includes a case study of her experience... It is co-edited by Jo Cartwright, campaigns and press manager for Dignity in Dying... The book focuses on case studies of families who support assisted dying for different reasons, and hopes to raise awareness of the issue. Ms Close's brother, John Close, was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2001, and in 2003 he made the decision to go to Zurich to end his own life with Dignitas..."
Here is the foreword to the book, as reprinted in Get Bucks:
"I don't fear death, but, like many other people, I do fear dying badly. This book explores assisted dying by looking boldly at the historical, medical, legal, philosophical and ethical aspects at the heart of the matter. It punctuates these with the stories of real people's deaths, of real suffering and the ght[sic] that has been inspired in the people living with memories of those deaths. Some of the people in this book, much like Peter Smedley who invited me to witness his assisted death at Dignitas, died too soon to ensure that they could die well. In years to come people will look back, aghast, at a time – this time – when people were forced to choose between living on and dying well. This book will undoubtedly move the debate forward and help us get to the stage when the choice to die as we wish is one that we can make at home, surrounded by the things and people that have made our lives what they are. That's a time to look forward to, when the fear of dying badly will have been consigned to history books.
Sir Terry Pratchett, October 2013"
http://tinyurl.com/mxzhmys
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05) ROUNDWORLD TALES: TREACLE MINING
From Wikipedia:
"The topic has been a joke in British humour since the mid 19th century. One possible origin of the joke is from 1853 when 8,000 British Army soldiers were camped on Chobham Common. The camp included storehouses containing barrels. When the soldiers left for the Crimean War and the site was dismantled, they buried barrels to avoid having to remove them. Some of the barrels contained treacle and Cobham villagers who discovered and removed them were called "treacle miners" as a joke. Local folklore about treacle mining was extended back into history back to Roman Britain. Another explanation is that 'treacle' meant 'a medicine', derived from the appearance of the Greek derivative 'theriacal' meaning medicinal (Gk theriake = a curative or antidote), so the various healing wells around Britain were called 'treacle wells'. Treacle later came to mean a sticky syrup after the popularity of a honey-based drug called "Venice treacle", and the continued use of the old form in the treacle wells led to the joke...
"The village of Sabden in Lancashire cultivated a considerable body of folklore about local treacle mining in the 1930s. The local newspaper helped foster the myth, publishing numerous stories about the fictional mines.
The paper mills around Maidstone in Kent were known as 'The Tovil Treacle Mines' by locals, after the area where one of the mills owned by Albert E. Reed was situated. The company helped the myth with a float in Maidstone carnival with a 'treacle mine' theme... Tudeley and Frittenden in Kent are also said to have had treacle mines. A tank wagon on the Kent and East Sussex Railway was painted in fictional 'Frittenden Treacle Mines' livery in 2009... Treacle mines have also been claimed in Wem (Shropshire), Talskiddy, Bisham, Nuneaton, Chobham, Tongham, Tadley, Skidby, Ditchford, Crick. Dunchideock and many other locations across Somerset and Devon..."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treacle_mining
And a more "myffic" tale from treacleminer.com, which also features quotes from Discworld books and from Discworld (and Roundworld!) folklorist Jacqueline Simpson:
"Many claim to know that there were Treacle Mines in Buxted, but few know the full story. They will tell you that the treacle mines of Buxted were sited next to the lighthouse near the harbour. They will not tell you that, in the 17th century, barges came up he river Uck and berthed on the quay-side, where treacle rock was loaded and transported to the coast; where it was taken by oxen driven wagons to larger towns, where the treacle was used to make treacle floss, treacle tarts, treacle toffee and surprisingly limpet mines... The lighthouse was a focal point of the old village of Bukktsted. The treacle miners operating in the area used the lighthouse as a lookout-post (camera obscura); as a bank for treacle nuggets; the storage for the miners' candles and products produced and as a meeting point for the village Morris Men... The treacle seams followed the ley lines stretching from old Buxted through Etchingwood beyond the Spotted Cow Ale House, along the Hadlow Down ridge and beyond to Hadlow Down, Jarvis Brook, Steel Cross and the Boar's Head..."
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06) DISCWORLD ARTS AND CRAFTS NEWS
6.1 A MESSAGE FROM THE CUNNING ARTIFICER
"Dear Emporium Followers,
"The ants are on strike, the FTB (Fluffy Teddy Bear) is missing and the mouse it without its cheddar. We therefore regrettably announce that our website is currently off-line and 'normal' service has been somewhat disrupted.
"We are working hard to to fix the problem, but until the site is back up and running we will not be able to send or receive emails via our usual business email address: reb@discworldemporium.com. We are very very sorry, from the bottom of our little hearts for any inconvenience and concern this may cause. Please rest assured that our 'real' shop hasn't vanished, so if you have any worries about your current/pending orders you are welcome to phone us on 01963824686, or use our temporary email discworldemporium@gmail.com
"Hopefully we won't have to resort to pulling the Big Red Lever just yet!
Thank you for your patience and support"
6.2 LEGO DISCWORLD CREATIONS
For all you Lego enthusiasts, here be a Flickr image set of the Potent Voyager, as described in The Last Hero graphic novel:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/l-space/12570487295/in/set-72157641076233184/
Also, a very impressive Sator Square in Lego:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38463026@N04/sets/72157641076999114/
6.3 DISCWORLD STAMPS
A new announcement from those Cunning Artificers:
"They've arrived! The new set of official Definitive stamp issues from the Ankh-Morpork Post Office have been delivered by our own Mr Spools, and we've been busy perforating and tearing hundreds of sheets and thousands of stamps in preparation for their launch. This perennial range of Discworld Stamps began life in 2004 inside Hardback editions of Going Postal, and has undergone an annual design overhaul ever since. As an official Roundworld branch of the A-M.P.O we are proud to reveal our new designs for the iconic Half Penny Post Office, Penny Patrician, 2p Coat of Arms, 5p and 10p Morporkias and famous $1 Tower of Art. Each issue will be available in sheets and singles from Monday 3rd February, and are available to preview now in the New Stamps section of our site –
http://tinyurl.com/m6wnxfa
"But why wait?! Keen collectors and aspiring Stanley Howlers can be the first to own these new issues with our first Little Brown Envelope issue of the year, the 'Usual Suspects' LBE – available now! The LBE is our version of the 'tenpenny lucky dip bag' featured in Going Postal, and this current edition includes an average of three new Definitive issues in every envelope along with an assortment of current Discworld stamps, and the chance to obtain their respective rare 'sport' variants – follow the link to view:
http://tinyurl.com/mgpeyzc
"ASK US ABOUT STAMPS! – find out how it all began by perusing our friendly Beginners Guide to the wonderful world of Discworld Stamps – http://tinyurl.com/m8bq3as – or start your collection with a Going Postal Starter Pack – follow the link to view – http://tinyurl.com/kjn2a9p ..."
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07) DISCWORLD PLAYS NEWS
7.1 MAKING MONEY IN SALISBURY: FINAL PERFORMANCES THIS WEEK!
When: remaining dates are 27th February-1st March 2014
Venue: Studio Theatre, Ashley Road, Salisbury, Wiltshire SP2 7TN
Time: 7.30pm
Tickets: from Salisbury Information Centre, phone 01722 342860
http://www.studiotheatre.org.uk/
7.2 REVIEW: MAKING MONEY IN SALISBURY
By Hannah White, in the Salisbury Journal:
"The plot is everything you would expect from Sir Terry – an extraordinary storyline with plenty of humour. There were outstanding performances, especially from Stew Taylor as the lead role, Moist von Lipwig. Phil Taylor, as golum[sic] Gladys, was responsible for many of the laugh out loud moments, and Alistair Faulkner was fantastic as Mr Bent. Special mention must also go to Teddy Woolgrove, socially awkward Hubert, and George Goulding as Igor and Mr Slant as well as Theo Ross, Mrs Lavish. Anthony von Roretz put in a convincing performance as tyrant Lord Vetinari, despite stumbling over a couple of lines in the first half. James Bradwell proved he could pull off villainous Cosmo Lavish just as brilliantly as his hilarious performance as Manuel in Studio's recent Fawlty Towers production. All of the actors gave it their all and it was clear they were thoroughly enjoying themselves..."
http://tinyurl.com/k9flxcv
7.3 REMINDER: GOING POSTAL IN BASILDON
The Thalian Theatre Company,whose vast array of previous Pratchett productions includes Wyrd Sisters, Men at Arms, Maskerade, Mort, Guards! Guards! and Carpe Jugulum, are adding a new play to the list when they present Going Postal in March.
When: 27th to 29th March 2014
Venue: Mirren Studio, Towngate Theatre, St. Martin's Square, Basildon, Essex SS14 1DL
Time: 8pm
Tickets: £10 adult, £8.50 concessions, available from the theatre box office on 01268 465465, or you can book tickets online by going to http://tinyurl.com/kfubr4y
http://www.towngatetheatre.co.uk/index.aspx?articleid=4771
7.4 REMINDER: WITCHES ABROAD IN PORTSMOUTH
Collingwood RSC Theatre Group, already veteran Pratchett play presenters, will offer their production – a world premiere, no less – of Witches Abroad in March.
When: Wednesday 26th through Saturday 29th March 2014
Venue: HMS Collingwood, Newgate Lane, Fareham, Portsmouth, PO14 1AS
Tickets: £6, available via the box office (07502 037922)
To see their whimsical Kidby-pastiche poster, go to http://tinyurl.com/l9hlaka
https://www.facebook.com/hmscollingwoodrsc
7.5 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN NEWPORT, ESSEX
The Newport Free Grammar School, a fine old institution whose former pupils include the fine actor James Frain and a rather well-known cook fellow called Jamie Oliver, will be presenting their production of Wyrd Sisters in March.
When: Thursday 13th to Saturday 15th March 2014
Venue: Newport Free Grammar School, Nedwport, Essex CB11 3TR
Time: 7:30pm
Tickets: £8, concessions £6
Booking is through the Finance office on 01799540237
For more information, and a good-looking poster (reproduced with permission, no less), go to:
http://tinyurl.com/nela4oc
7.6 REMINDER: MEN AT ARMS IN KEW
The Q2 Players, "Kew's Leading Amateur Theatre Group", will present their production of Men at Arms in April.
When: Thursday 3rd – Saturday 5th April 2014
Venue: Kew Community Centre, St. Luke's in The Avenue, Richmond, Surrey TW9 2AL
Time: Thurs-Sat shows at 8pm; Sat Matinee 2.30pm
Tickets: £8 (concessions £6) Box office TBA; email q2players@gmail.com
http://www.q2players.org.uk/Q2_Players/Upcoming_Show.html
7.7 REMINDER: NATION IN TEMPE, ARIZONA
The Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts will present a production of Mark Ravenhill's NT stage adaptation of Nation in April, directed by Megan Weaver.
When: 4th–13th April 2014
Venue: Galvin Playhouse, 51 E. 10th St, Tempe, AZ 85287 (at Mill Avenue & 10th Street, University of Arizona Tempe campus)
Time: 4th, 5th, 10th and 12th at 7.30pm; 6th and 13th at 2pm
Tickets: $8-$16; to buy online, go to http://tinyurl.com/lhb2oyw
Herberger Institute students are offered free admission on tickets reserved in advance.
7.8 REMINDER: WYRD SISTERS IN ACCRINGTON, LANCASHIRE (note Jograffy correction!)
Oswaldtwistle Players will present their production of Wyrd Sisters, adapted by Stephen Briggs and directed by Martina Burns, in late April and early May.
When: 30th April - 3rd May 2014
Venue: Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre, 157 Union Road, Oswaldtwistle, Accrington BB5 3HZ
Time: 19:30
Tickets: £8.50 (concessions £7.50); all tickets £7 on 30th April
http://i72139.wix.com/oswaldtwistleplayers
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08) DISCWORLD MEETING GROUPS NEWS
The Broken Drummers, "London's Premier Unofficially Official Discworld Group", meets on the first Monday of every month at the Monkey Puzzle, 30 Southwick Street, London W2 1JQ: "We welcome anyone and everyone who enjoys Sir Terry's works, or quite likes them or wants to find out more. We have had many visitors from overseas who have enjoyed themselves and made new friends. The discussions do not only concern the works of Sir Terry Pratchett but wander and meander through other genres and authors and also leaping to TV and Film production. We also find time for a quiz. The prize is superb. The chance to set the quiz the following month."
Next meeting: Monday 3rd March 2014, from 7pm onwards.
The Broken Drummers February 2014 meet report:
"We arrived on Monday night in a state of shock due to problems with our landlord and letting agent. Thank you to everyone for your support, stories of your own problems with unscrupulous landlords. Thank you to Sim especially for the offer of going to shout at them in her most Australian way, which is apparently very disturbing to British sensibilities. It was great to see such a large crowd this month. I'm afraid I have little to report this time as we were feeling pretty drained and left early. Jax was just beginning her quiz as we left so I don't know the result.
Addendum: I'm told that Tim E. was the winner."
For more information, go to http://brokendrummers.org/ or email BrokenDrummers@gmail.com or nicholls.helen@yahoo.co.uk
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The Pratchett Partisans are a new fan group who meet monthly at either Brisbane or Indooroopilly to "eat, drink and chat about all things Pratchett". For more info about their next meetup, go to http://www.meetup.com/Pratchett-Partisans/ or contact Ula directly at uwilmott@yahoo.com.au
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The City of Small Gods is a group for fans in Adelaide and South Australia: "We have regular monthly dinner and games nights, longer games days, plus play outings, craft-y workshops, and fun social activities throughout the year. For more info and to join our mailing list, visit:
http://cityofsmallgods.org.au
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The Broken Vectis Drummers meet on the first Thursday of every month from 7.30pm at The Castle pub in Newport, Isle of Wight.
Next meeting: Thursday 6th March 2014, probably, but do email to check.
All new members and curious passersby are very welcome! For more info and any queries, contact broken_vectis_drummers@yahoo.co.uk
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The Wincanton Omnian Temperance Society (WOTS) meets on the first Friday of every month at Wincanton's famous Bear Inn from 7pm onwards. "Visitors and drop-ins are always welcome!"
Next meeting: Friday 7th March 2014 (probably).
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The Northern Institute of the Ankh-Morpork and District Society of Flatalists, a Pratchett fangroup, has been meeting on a regular basis since 2005 but is now looking to take in some new blood (presumably not in the non-reformed Uberwald manner). The Flatalists normally meet at The Narrowboat Pub in Victoria Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, to discuss "all things Pratchett" as well as having quizzes and raffles.
Details of future meetings are posted on the Events section of the Discworld Stamps forum:
http://www.discworldstamps.co.uk/forum/
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Sydney Drummers (formerly Drummers Downunder) meet on the first Monday of every month in Sydney at 3 Wise Monkeys, 555 George Street, Sydney,2000.
Next meeting: Monday 3rd March 2014 at 6.30pm (probably). For more information, contact Sue (aka Granny Weatherwax): kenworthys@yahoo.co.uk
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Perth Drummers meet on the first Monday of the month, subject to holidays.
Next meeting: Monday 3rd March 2014 (probably).
"Please note we have moved to Carpe Cafe from 5.30pm Carpe Cafe, 526 Murray Street, Perth, WA. Meeting at a cafe means we are under-18 friendly!"
For details follow Perth Drummers on Twitter @Perth_Drummers and Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/Perth.Drummers/ – otherwise message Krystel directly at khewett@live.com
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Western Drummers (that's two groups for the Sydney Pratchett fans now) intend to meet on the third Monday of every month at The Rowers, Bruce Neal Drive, Penrith at 6.30-7.30pm for food, 7.30pm for games, quizzes and chat. For more information, contact Nanny Ogg – lewis_oz@bigpond.com – or visit their Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/westerndrummers
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09) MORE IMAGES OF THE MONTH
Here we have Sir Pterry and Mister Fusspot just before the opening night of Salisbury Studio Theatre's production of Making Money. Remember, it runs through the 1st of March!
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg766GVIgAAtvbV.jpg
And here he is with the less quadrupedal members of the cast: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Bg76GUNIIAA-CbL.jpg
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10) CLOSE
And that's it for February, as far as I know. Remember, next Tuesday is Pancake Day! I for one am hoping to be able to eat one. There's only so much liquid breakfast and broccoli smoothies a body can stand...
– Annie Mac
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The End. If you have any questions or requests, write: interact (at) pearwood (dot) info
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Copyright (c) 2014 by Klatchian Foreign Legion