Back row from left: Jason Nahrung, Angela Slatter, Mark Curtis, Michele Cashmore, Kate Eltham, Robert Hoge Middle row from left: Kirstyn McDermot, Nea Beauville, Deb Soukup, Sean Williams Front row from left: Jack Dann, Robert Shearman Picture by: Robert Hoge
Finally an update on our annual retreat, which piggy backed the World Con, this year a new venue, Eumarella Shores, Lake Weyba. We were joined by fabulous tutors Jack Dann and Rob Shearman who was good enough to extend his stay in Australia before a mad dash back to the UK for FantasyCon 2010. And just as well he made it back to the UK because he picked up two awards for his collection ‘Love Songs for the shy and cynical’.
This year was a blast as every year is, and extra exciting to have Jason and Kirstyn up from Melbourne, and Deb back on board and writing again. It was so fantastic to see her beautiful prose once again on the page. Paul unfortunately couldn’t make it this year and he was missed. Chris made it for the weekend and he entertained us with some gorgeous classical guitar which is always a delight. We were also entertained in more ways than one by other events that I will come back to later…Read on if you want to find out…
Sean our mentor, tutor and buddy in previous years has joined the gang as ‘one of us’ which is just so fabulous that he isn’t sick of us all by now. And even though he says he’s one of us, he still took the time to offer his professional wisdom along with Jackand Rob on our one-on-one sessions. I get so much from these sessions.
The group critique is fabulous and useful but there is something special about the one-on-ones. Probably, because we have time to absorb what has been discussed in the group critique that by the time we see our tutors, we are able to hone in on one or two things and concentrate discussing those. And when back with the laptop, I have a much clearer focus at what I want to achieve and some ideas on how to go about it.
Oh and this was the view from my room at sunrise…
So back to the other entertainment mentioned earlier. The lovely Kate gave us a rendition of ‘CJ’s version of The Jackal from the West Wing’s ep S1 E18′ – I must say, Kate was totally fabulous – check her out below…
Further entertainment was provided by an earlyish morning canoe ride in Lake Weyba with Rob Hoge and Angela Slatter. Their rowing was impressive as they powered through the water managing to miss the gazillion rocks, not fall in, not drown or any other terrible thing you might like to imagine.
Rob Shearman and Deb Soukup also managed to avoid the gazillion rocks, not drown or fall in (unintentionally anyway) however, they did manage to entertain us beyond belief with Rob’s very unique style of rowing which we nicknamed ‘stirring coffee’. Check out the footage to see what I mean…but wait you have to read on…
Their canoe headed downstream behind some trees and for awhile we lost them from sight. Had they capsized, fallen in, possibly drowned?
We could not hear any cries for help so we were all quite happy to amuse ourselves by their antics, in the certainty they were indeed safe. It was Jack who got a little concerned when it took some time before they reappeared. When they did, Deb was in the water, pulling the canoe behind her, while Rob: ₁ saved the day – stopping everyone from being stung by jellyfish, and being killed by pirates, and being sucked down into some sort of whirlpool that threatened to take us all to the centre of the earth?
But really he was sitting in the canoe a little dazed and confused (Jack had after all woken him up and dragged him out of bed) so he could have just been sleepy :)
Deb powered through the water like the warrior woman she is: ₂ fighting off the pirates and struggling to keep the ship afloat during the twenty foot waves and gail force winds.
Her toe went black and swollen (but did not fall off) as she stubbed it on the gazillion rocks, but like a trooper, she soldiered on.
Jack raced through the shrub and stripped to his boxers, braved the waves and wind, the pirates, and the jelly fish to give Deb a hand and Rob was saved! The image of Jack Dann as being: ₃ debonair, suave, and sophisticated is firmly etched in my mind because he has the power to make you believe anything 
Anyway, I shall stop rambling and post some incriminating pix soon. And as promised the video:
The venue was a winner so stay tuned for more updates for next retreat and tutors in 2011.
Midnight rambler missing Rob, Jack, Sean and ‘The Edge’ buddies…
Footnotes:
₁ Rob’s perspective ₂ Deb’s perspective. ₃ Jack’s perspective.
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