Hello again blog readers.  I hope you liked the picture of that mysterious object in last week's post.  It happened to catch my eye, when I was going around an art exhibition at the Edinburgh Festival this year.  Beyond being decorative, I can't think of a purpose for it.  Maybe an attractive paper weight?
Well this week's activity at the Speakers' Circle, saw some ingenious story telling.  Kathy began by telling a fascinating war-time story, complete with props, followed by yours truly with a strange tale of the two cars that disappeared in the space of four weeks........yes, I know it was incredible that it even happened!   Michael then convinced us that 'where there's a will there's a way' and illustrated this with a suitably moving story.  Kate had us entralled with her wonderful story of that stunning blue sequinned jacket and being singled out to sing on stage at the Opera House with Frankie Vaughan!  Austin told a wonderfully inspiring tale illustrating the key to living is love........ Well, readers, take it from me, this was a very worthwhile evening.  Once again, we'd like to see some more of you out there, join us.   If you're reasonably convenient to Belfast (Northern Ireland), just follow the directions on this website.   Please check out the site next week for more details of our activities. Bye for now.

Hello again blog readers.   Well, last night at the Speakers' circle was challenging and different. How good are your skills at describing a mystery object and making up a fairly? plausible story about what it could be used for?   It's surprising the sorts of ideas that come into your head, when the audience is looking at you quizzically and you've unwrapped a fairly ordinary looking mystery object from the box and proceed to tell a story about it......   So there it was, after the struggle to unwrap it - a TV remote control device!  After a few moments hesitation wondering what I could say about it,   I then heard myself figuring out that this wonderful burnished ebony (alias plastic) object had come from the depths of the Amazon jungle and how I'd struggled with giant spiders etc. to bring it back home to have it made up into a remote control.    Anyhow, back on non-fantasy land, more speakers had us guessing about the real purpose of their objects, to much hilarity at times. So, altogether an entertaining and instructive exercise in keeping cool and focused in front of an audience.  Thanks to Austin, for standing in for Barry to-night and keeping the continuity going.  Next week, and again you're very welcome to join us, for some story-telling.   By the way, any guesses as to what the object below is?  Tune in, next week for the story about it......................

Barry welcomed members to the meeting and introduced adjudicator, Hilary Stephens.  She was delighted to be back among us again and gave some tips about preparing our 3 minute speeches, in only ten minutes - quite a discipline in itself.  It was important to choose a topic quickly, to avoid wasting time through indecision and to try to begin with a question to the audience.  Then, it was important to map out a structure, with a middle and conclusion, and to include a quote where possible.  She reminded us again of the importance of voice pitch and pausing.   Our hard-working Secretary Maureen, had prepared a list of fifteen topics, so it wasn't too difficult to find one that appealed, and then to start on the ten minute preparation task.

New member David, was first to speak on the topic - ''The worst thing I've seen in my life' and spoke movingly about his visit to Hiroshima and the power of forgiveness, as a message to the Japanese people.  Ann then spoke on the topic -' To apologize is a sign of weakness' and proceeded to present balanced views on this issue.
Michael spoke movingly on his topic ' What my mother used to say', Irene voiced her thoughts on 'I believe in the power of friendship' and another Irene considered whether or not 'Health is wealth' and definitely thought it was. Further members addressed topics, such as 'Is it always better to tell the truth' and wondered if it was possible to live life without telling a lie at all?  So, as you see, another absorbing evening at the Circle, and thanks to Barry for interesting anecdotes, while waiting for the adjudicator to finish writing her comments between speakers.   Hilary in her summing up remarks, was so impressed with our speeches that she couldn't decide on the winners, in fact we were all winners.   So with that happy thought, I look forward to next weeks activities at the circle, (clue, describing mystery objects), so check out this blog next week, or even better, come along and visit us.

Hello blog readers - well once again Monday evening was interesting and stimulating.  Most of us had our speeches prepared from a choice of five topics.  Barry welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Lynsey, our adjudicator for the evening.  I volunteered to start off, thinking that was a better choice than waiting. The chosen topic was 'The best golden rule is that there are no golden rules'.  It was quite a challenge to cover all the material I had prepared into four minutes, as there was so much to say on this subject.  The next speaker  tackled the topic of ' The thing we should remember most about 9/11 is that the murderers weren't psychopaths but religious fanatics' - very emotive subject this one.  Other topics were - 'Should we all go to bed hungry once a month out of respect to those who have to do it every day?   Then 'Lonely Planet was right.  The British are totally celebrity obsessed' and finally, a topic no one tackled funnily enough - ' Last night I slept in sheets the colour of fire, to-night I lie alone and curse my own desire'  Maybe you didn't know that these lines are from a Carly Simon song.
And so, having completed our speeches, we awaited judgement.  Lynsey was most impressed, but just to balance out her compliments, she mentionned the danger of 'over-cooking' our speeches in the sense that the average person will only remember three things about a presentation.  I guess it makes sense of course in the space of four minutes to think of three key points and devise ways of getting the audience's attention.  This could be by beginning with a question or striking quote, using some form of story-telling, vocal variation and pausing.  Barry thanked Lynsey for her very helpful adjudication and the meeting adjourned to the refreshment table.