“My mind,” he said, “rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most abstruse cryptogram, or the most intricate analysis, and I am in my own proper atmosphere… I abhor the dull routine of existance. I crave for mental exaltation. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession, or rather created it, for I am the only one in the world…. The only unofficial consulting detective.”

The Stormy Petrels of BC are back to discuss “The Sign of Four” (or, The Sign of the Four”.

This adventure, as Steve Clarkson puts it, “has something for everyone: exotic locales, fierce Sikh warriors, a cannibal shooting poison darts, a bearded one-legged villain, a fabulous treasure, secret hiding places, revenge, war, violent death, betrayal, and romance.”

If any or all of the above appeal to you, come to our meeting, if not, come all the same.

The date: Tuesday, Feb. 7. The time: 7:00 pm Location: Chez Wood.

For more information, please contact me, Fran, your Consulting Detective”

The next gathering of the Stormy Petrels of BC will take place at the lovely North Vancouver home of our own “Gloria Scott” at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, December 6th.

There will be no case for discussion and members are encouraged to bring a guest (and an appetizer to share)

Our Petrel tree will make an appearance adorned with items (ornaments and such) reflecting some of the cases from the Canon.

My aim is to eventually have all 60 adventures represented.

Decorating the branches to date we have:

Five orange pips
A bicycle
A photo of the Queen
A Christmas goose
A speckled band
A tie-pin, emeraled green.

A coronet
Some dancing men
The devil’s hound – it’s true!
A fat cockroach
An old clay pipe
A carbuncle or two.

A deep-red cardinal Tosca
A magnifying glass
A mazarine stone and mogul
Pince-nez, gold, not brass.

A violin, a man’s lost thumb
A big fat honey bee
A silhousette and deerstalk’ cap
Atop our Petrel tree.
(F.Martin – 1999)

There are at least a dozen stories represented here. Can you name them? The person who can name the most at the December jollification shall be rewarded with a lovely prize.

Please join us. If you need more info or directions, please contact your “Consulting Detective” (Fran) or “Gloria Scott” (Orilea)

The next regular meeting of the Stormy Petrels of BC will take place on November 1st at 7:00 pm at Hampton Place. Please contact your Consulting Detective for exact address details.

We will continue with our study of part three of “A Study in Scarlet”

Thank you to Gloria Scott for hosting our previous two meetings.

Have you ordered your copy of “The Narrative of John Smith”? This novel is Arthur Conan Doyle’s lost first novel and has just been published for the first time.

There are many new Sherlock Holmes pastiches available. You can check out the list at Classic Specialties”

A new book titled “Mr. S” (suitable for all ages) is also available. You can check out Daniel Adams website at: http://www.ashotrangout.com

Henry Zecher, who will be attending the Gillette to Brett conference, has received excellent reviews for his book “William Gillette, America’s Sherlock Holmes”

There is still time to sign a petition to award Jeremy Brett a posthumous BAFTA at http://www.petitions.com/petitions/bbafta3