Saturday, 21 January 2017

Katharine C: inaugural meeting of AWG's MOOC

Over the last 18 months, Mireille has been inspired to undertake online learning courses - one on
Six Sigma methodology, a data-driven methodology for business/manufacturing process improvement,  from the University of Sligo in Ireland, and one on bio-ethics from Harvard University.  Mireille shared her journey with the group of us - Orla, Mary-Catherine, Cathy, Genette, Mariannick and Katharine C, and how this experience has opened up a new world of potential lifelong learning through free online courses - MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses).

The group had assembled to discuss how members of AWG can become MOOCers - the idea being that individually we choose an online course (from the thousands available - most of them free, although some courses apply an administration fee for a certificate of completion,  which is optional 
(one of Harvard's course fee certificates, for example,  is $88).

l to r:  Katharine, Mariannick, Mireille, Orla, Cathy, Mary-Catherine
The group met in AWG's light and airy office, and it was agreed that the group will meet there monthly on saturday mornings from 10 through noon, to share their experiences of individual online courses (MOOCs) in order to encourage one another,  to discuss curricula offered, to examine the pros/cons of the courses (which normally run for 8 weeks each), and to keep one another motivated in our individual course choices.  (A bit like Weight Watchers, except I expect we'll skip the weighing-in).  Course choices are enormous and vary from the practical (e.g. digital photography), to the career-enhancing (law, global health, business), to liberal arts (the art of photographic advertising or modern American poetry) to the artistic (quilt-making).

For more information on this exciting new AWG program, contact any of the group above.  We are grateful to Mireille for introducing this idea to AWG - but Mireille pointed out that she is one of the group, she's not the leader and we won't be taking a top-down approach on this from her - we are
collectively going to make this a fruitful endeavour for all those participating, and we encourage many members of AWG to join in.  


Wednesday, 18 January 2017

Jane: Hike on the marshes of Candillargues


Crisp, captivating Candillargues
 
Mariannick took us on a very special hike today to the marshes of Candillargues beside the sea.  
We all wore hats or hoods, gloves, super warm polar tops and strode forward for a superb two-hour hike.  Some of the ‘étangs’ were frozen over but the channels were moving, and the birds delighted us.  
A little too chilly to stop for refreshments but as always, nuts, biscuits and sweets were shared.


AWG and FOAL and BCA  members plus friends...... and Sammy.   (Underneath the polar fleeces etc are hiding Jane, Mariannick and Rosie).  You all look very smart in this sub-zero temperature! 



Maggie: AWG's annual Galette des Rois

Photo credits:  Maggie

Great galettes, great company.  Thanks so much to Susan Rey for
hosting.  (Lydia specifically mentioned that it's convenient to go to
Susan's since it's so easy to park right in front of the house, thus no
walking necessary.)  Nice to see some faces we hadn't seen in a while, and a
prospective member, Barbara.  

There were several galettes, and several people who wore the crown having found the fève, including Linda, Anne, Elisabeth and one person who preferred anonymity. 

l to r:  Linda, Anne, Susan, Sue Rich, Lydia, Elisabeth


Linda


Susan Rey, Sue Rich, Lydia, Elisabeth, Barbara, Joyce

Lydia, Elisabeth and Barbara

Maggie: Visit to Château de Castries

Editor:  Maggie took many photos of this event.  If you would like to see all of them, with the descriptions of the various portraits of past Marquis de Castries, please send email to Maggie or Bernadette.

Here are some of my photos from the visit to the Château de Castries on
Saturday, January 7th.

The visit was great.  Thanks so much to Bernadette for organizing it.  Other AWG attendees included  Cerese, Maquita, Mariannick, Susan Rey, Jill, Gretchen, Joyce, Sheila, and Mireille, plus some spouses.



Other photos are of the great hall, with its extremely decorative wood-stove
(I think there's a story there, but I don't remember it),

the dining room,
the upstairs kitchen (dumb-waiter behind a door), and photos of photos of
the furnished great hall and a lady's bedroom - larger than a man's bedroom,
and with a door on each side of the bed.  One is for the maidservant, and
the other is the bathroom.  I was told that beds were shorter than now
because people slept sitting up, but that might want verification.


Perhaps Bernadette could also provide some details about the big event the
Assoc is organizing at the beginning of July.  I forgot to note the dates,
and it's not supposed to conflict with "our" Fourth of July, but looking at
a calendar, I realize that it might be at the same time as our Fourth of
July party, which is usually on the weekend.  That would pose no problem if
our party is near Castries....   I'll also ask my contact to send me the details of the event.





There is some dispute as to whether the statue outside the château is actually the Roi Soleil, Louis XIV.  I would tend to go with those
who say it is, since the inscription is "ET LUCET ET TERRET," lucet from
lux, meaning light, related perhaps to sun.  But that's just my humble
opinion.


Bernadette wrote to Maggie:

Thanks a lot for the great information and photos you sent. I received a message from General Irastorza with some attachments (one of them in English) that indicate how Castries is involved with the American history and the program of the upcoming events. It will allow us to see what we can do to contribute if we decide to do so. I believe it could be interesting. We'll talk more about it.
Editor:  if any reader would like to view the attachments, please contact either Maggie or Bernadette.

---------------------

Here are some additional photos of AWG members of the visiting group from Cerese:

Gathered in the Orangerie, learning how water came to the Castle, with Jill and Fred,  Mireille and JeanPierre, Maquita and Ron, Sheila and Kevin looking on.  

Greetings from the Historian, with our Bernadette who arranged our visit

In the gardens of the Castle, Gretchen M and Susan Rey taking it all in, but like the rest of us, shivering on a VERY COLD saturday morning.  Sheila and Kevin behind Susan to the right






Many thanks to Bernadette, who did a top-notch job coordinating this visit. 

Sunday, 15 January 2017

Cerese, Maggie and Pam: Writers' Bloc workshop with Kristin Duncombe

Photo credits:  Cerese and Maggie
Text:  Pam 

Kristin held a writing workshop at Pam's elegant and comfortable home.  (But she didn't
let Alaska come to the workshop). 

Kim, Bernadette and Kristin

Kristin, Maggie, Rosie and Pam
Here are Maggie's photos from the workshop:

l to r:  Rosie, Cerese, Kim, Bernadette and Kristin


Kristin Duncombe


Rosie, Maquita, Hostess Pam in the center, and Maggie


Writers' Bloc members Pam, Maggie and Rosie with Kristin

Pam, Maggie, Rosie, Kristin, Maquita, Bernadette

 ..... and then there was lunch,  of course.  But still no Alaska, Pam? 
Pam writes:

AWG Fireside chat with author Kristin Duncombe
A group of AWG women interested in writing had what could be called
a fireside chat with Kristin Duncombe on January 14th at Pam’s house in Saussines.  Kristin kindly and thoughtfully reacted to questions members of the Writers’ Bloc had submitted to her for discussion. Kristin has written two memoirs of her life as an expat, mother of two, multi-cultural psychological counsellor. Drawing from her experience she gave us would-be writers some worthwhile advice such as:

Start your work by writing an outline.
Be sure you are clear as to “what your story is about.”
Jot down on paper or on an electronic device the “bursts” that come to mind (as you are vacuuming, cleaning the bathroom, washing dishes, etc.) and then go over them to see how you could use them in your writing work.
When you have produced a certain amount of writing on your computer, try printing the pages to improve the connectedness.
Memoir-writing and fiction are two different things. However, one can write a fiction piece in the first person.
Self-doubt is normal. You’ll have good days and bad days.
Author James Patterson gives an excellent on-line Master Class, a 6-hour video, on novel writing. ($90).
If you like a writer’s style, read and re-read his/her works.
     
The gathering was convivial and enriching. Thanks to AWG for making the weekend with Kristin possible.

#####
Maggie writes:  

Here are a few more notes that Maggie took during the workshop, as well as some questions from Writers's Bloc members that had been formulated prior to the workshop (and not all of which were
answered during the allotted time):

I think Kristin said that regarding suggestions, she doesn’t always follow them herself.
She said she likes to write in the first person because she likes to READ in the first person.  She also said that the first person narrative creates more of a sense of immediacy.
She cited two ‘unusual’ books, written in the second person and in the present tense.
Also, that when you find a book that ‘speaks’ to you, don’t hesitate to read it again and again.
She used the terms “bursts, then transcribing, then connecting whatever is there.”
Discipline.
Both her memoirs were self-published (but she did work with agents first).

The following are some of the questions we “submitted” to Kristin, though there was not enough time for her to address all of them:

* Why, when, where and how did you first start writing? What single piece of advice would you give us to help us get started on a large work? 
* Do you think in your head or on the paper?
* Is it necessary to have rules such as - you can't have lunch until you've written 6 pages?
* Do you get attacks of self doubt about the quality of your manuscript in the middle of a project, and if so, how do you overcome them?
* How difficult do you think it is to make the transition from memoir to fiction? 
* Have you tried writing in the third person? What problems does this present for you?
* About publishers... Are there some special formats to adopt to send a finished work and are there publishers who can be interested by part of any work? In other words, do you have to send a finished book ?  What are the rules?
 
* Did you have to do a lot of communication/promotion work for your books?  Is this mandatory and in a contract with publishers?



Saturday, 14 January 2017

Katharine C: Kristin Duncombe at MRI-Nelson Mandela

Kristin Duncombe
AWG sponsored a return visit from author and psychotherapist Kristin Duncombe (right) and were
very graciously offered the use of MRI-Nelson Mandela by the Mairie of Montpellier.

A big shout-out to them, and to the staff of the Mairie who were present and helped make the evening
so successful.  The event started with an apéro and an opportunity for those present to visit.

Kristin with Pam

Hannah and Kim

Susannah and Philip

Maquita and Mary



Mme Nicole LIZA, representing the Mayor of Montpellier, with AWG President, Mary-Catherine

Jean-Baptiste of MRI with Cerese

Katharine and Ed

Kristin had brought copies of her books, and was signing them

Kim and Rachel



 Mary-Catherine introduced Mme Nicole LIZA, Conseilliére Municipale, and Deléguée au Livre et aux Littératures,  member of the Mayor of Montpellier's staff,  who spoke to us
about the commitment that the Mayor and City of Montpellier have made to the arts and to a broad swathe
of cultural activities that will enhance our community,  including many anglophone-oriented events that cover inter alia literature, photography and art.  The City's goal is to put Montpellier on the map as a recognized international cultural center.

How great for those of us here who will benefit from this major commitment and investment. 


Mme Nicole LIZA, member of the Mayor of Montpellier's staff


Kristin is an animated speaker