We few, we happy few, we band of Oasisers;
For those this evening that slurps their soup with us
Shall be our Oasiser; so they have a smile,
This day shall gentle their condition:
And members of Oasis now a-bed
Shall think themselves a little disappointed that they were not here,
And hold their Oasis membership cards cheap while any speaks
That meet with us upon Saint Barbara’s day.
From Oasis Meeting 18th January 2025, Act IV, Scene III
Our 2025 Oasis, commenced on a sad note, as we started our January meeting remembering our friend Dee. After a moment of reflection, Carole was able to lift our spirits with an extraordinary tale of a journey down the loo, through the sewage system, very reminiscent of Andy Dufresne’s escape in The Shawshank Redemption (sorry for the spoiler!).
What was it that led to Carole reciting the title poem of Steve Turner’s fab verse aimed at the young, and the young at heart? Oasis celebrated the wonder of words, in the form of verse, poetry, soliloquies, and song. Much fun was had by all, even better than being tickled.
As we sat upon the ground, we asked Renee not to walk away, we lived life in colour, we learnt that hope is a thing with feathers, we rejoiced that we are what we are, and observed midway in the journey of our life, sometimes we might find ourselves in a dark wood. Oasis exists to help us all navigate our way through the complexity of life, to hold your hand, to wipe your tears, to give you a reassuring hug, to make you laugh, and to dance together, from dysphoria to euphoria.
At the heart of each Oasis is our meal together, and this month we enjoyed four refreshing soup flavours. Rhian’s provided a tasty and rather potent mulligatawny, which had a supporting cast of tomato, butternut squash, and cauliflower with stilton potions. Complemented by baguettes and nan bread. Pud was some Christmas Pud and Dee’s cake, with lashings of custard. Comme d’habitude.
Oasis meeting are such wonderful things; the meetings always somehow set up and deconstruct as if by magic, in an act of collectivism that Starlin’s Five Year Plans or Chairman Mao’s Great Leap Forward could only dream about. Thank you to everyone involved, especial to souper sous chief Rebecca and souper soup chief Rhian.
And now, for January at least, the end of Oasis is here; it’s time to close the final curtain, my friends, I’ll say it clear, and as ever, I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.
Much Love
Lilly
xxx
Ceila read “Selva Oscura” by Louis MacNeice
Carole read “The Day I Fell Down The Toilet” and “Words” by Stephen Mangan
Lilly read “Don’t Walk Away Renee” By Billy Bragg
Serena sang “I Am What I Am” by Gloria Gaynor
Serena read ‘Live Life In Colour’ from Poems Of Positivity by Daniel Thompson
Nicole read “Hope” Is The Thing With Feathers by Emily Dickinson
Hope is the thing with feathers –
That perches in the soul –
And sings the tune without the words –
And never stops – at all –
And sweetest – in the Gale – is heard –
And sore must be the storm –
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm –
I’ve heard it in the chillest land –
And on the strangest Sea –
Yet – never – in Extremity,
It asked a crumb – of me.
oasis norfolk 