World of Darkness

**Hercule Poirot's Christmas by Agatha Christie** *Locked room mystery about a family reunited for Christmas, written by the "Queen of Crime"* In Hercule Poirot's Christmas, the holidays are anything but merry when a family reunion is marred by murder — and the notoriously fastidious investigator is quickly on the case. The wealthy Simeon Lee has demanded that all four of his sons — one faithful, one prodigal, one impecunious, one sensitive — and their wives return home for Christmas. But a heartwarming family holiday is not exactly what he has in mind. He bedevils each of his sons with barbed insults and finally announces that he is cutting off their allowances and changing his will. Poirot is called in the aftermath of Simeon Lee's announcement. \*\*\* Chapters & Conversations is a space for fiction lovers to connect over great stories and lively chats! Whether you’re into literary fiction, contemporary novels, or fantasy worlds, we’re here to explore it all together. We’re hoping to meet fellow bookworms who enjoy getting lost in a good story and are open to sharing thoughts, laughs, and recommendations. At each event, we’ll dive into a chosen book, chat about characters, themes, and twists - above all, it’s about community, curiosity, and a shared love of reading! Stasia and Yana:)

**The Light of Meditation** **Brahma Kumaris UK is delighted to be supporting UN World Meditation Day 2025 with a nationwide series of events.** *The programme will be facilitated by experienced meditators.* Candlelit Winter Solstice Meditation. The movement from darkness to light is now unstoppable. Be part of this global initiative and ignite the light inside you for a more peaceful and transformed world. Web: https://brahmakumaris.uk/event/?id=6938483 We look forward to welcoming you, The Croydon Event Team

Christmas has arrived YAAAAAAAAAAAYYYYYYYYYY and what do we do for Christmas? We hike, we drink mulled wine and have tasty treats food surrounded by stunning medieval buildings, Christmas lights with the loveliest people to be found on all the continents AKA the Jonions! YAAAAAYYYYY First we will have a peak at all the historical sites and pretty corners of this stunning town, we will walk along the canals for some gorgeous views before we begin our journey through nature and climb the new big Instagram hill, St Catherine's hill, it is trending atm and there are some gorgeous views. Even there, you will be surrounding by history and beauty as the old 'hospital' an active monastry will be on our way, so why not have a peak if you fancy? Whether you hiked with us before or not, join us for a beautiful trip that mixes hiking, eating, drinking(if you wish), laughing, historying,(I know this isn't correct but it rimes), eating and eating... I hope you are ready for some fun! This year will be different from the others, we won't be celebrating in Britain's current capital, no, we will travel through time in a time machine; also called train... and will visit England's former capital and decreed as such by King Alfred, and what a beauty it is... Well, I have to say, this is a bit like visiting my family over there, it's true, the town which was once one the most Important on this Island of Great Britain was created by the Belgae, a celtic tribe from the continent coming from the area today called Belgium and some bits of Northern France who established their settlements around 150BC...my great great great great great great great great great ... grand parents might even have been some of the founders...kings and Queens I am sure!Yes, I am Belgian and not big headed at all! SO... Let's visit Winchester, you might have heard of it even just for its Christmas market, deemed to be one of the most magicals in England as well as the home of England eldest cathedral. (You might want to visit the remains of the castle for an extra 4 pounds first, it still has the round table! Yes, King Arthur's round table... the famous one.) This is a hiking group, so of course, we will begin this trip with a hike. We will climb the famous St Catherine hill and enjoy the views from its top. This hike is not too long, around 8/9 miles (14km) and the start of the hike is located very close to the city centre, after all, the town is surrounded by gorgeous wild greenery. From pretty streams, to woodlands and acres of fields, hills with 360 degree views and the remains of the early settlements as well as a medieval hospital that is also open to visit and is beautifully decorated around Christmas. And attention beer drinkers; he Hospital of St Cross is famous for its unique and ancient tradition of providing the Wayfarer’s Dole since the 12th century. This is a horn of beer and a morsel of bread given to any visitor who requests it. The custom was founded by a monk from Cluny in France, whose holy order always gave bread and wine to travellers. The tradition still continues today. Visitors may request the Dole at the Porter’s Lodge as they depart. Don't worry, the climb isn't difficult. We will finish the trip at the Christmas market where we will grab some delicious street food and some tasty mulled wine and wander in the historical streets of medieval England before we hop back on the time machine, a bit tipsy and our bellies filled with tasty fatty christmassy food... INFORMATION: DISTANCE: 9 miles/14km DURATION: 5 hours TRANSPORT: By train; we will buy an off peak group days return that will allow us to save 35%on the ticket price. Please ensure that you bring £25 in cash PRICE: £17 ( for the guide's fee) via PayPal About £25 In cash for the train INCLUDED: Guided hike A fun day out with lovely people NOT INCLUDED: Transport Anything else not mentioned above WHAT TO BRING: Waterproof shoes for the hike, preferably hiking shoes, otherwise good trainers; IT IS WINTER,WATERPROOF SHOES MANDATORY. Weather appropriate clothes, including waterproofs if there is a chance of rain; Water bottle; Packed lunch and snacks. MEETING POINT: London Waterloo at 08:30 am PLEASE ENSURE THAT YOU CHECK THIS PAGE AGAIN 2 DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE AS THE DEPARTURE STATION IS ONLY CONFIRMED BY SW TRAINS ON THE THURSDAY OR FRIDAY. ATTENTION: Our trips will not be cancelled due to weather conditions so please ensure that you do wear and carry appropriate clothing. 😄 POLICIES: 1: This group is designed for the pleasure and enjoyment of all of us, we do not accept any derogatory comments or behaviours towards anyone. Racism, discrimination and other unacceptable behaviours will only lead to your rejection of any of our trips and this is without exception. Everyone is welcome, we have religious and non-religious people, gay, straight, bisexual people, all shades and colours or nationalities, people of all ages, sex and political beliefs and mutual respect is the fundamental spirit of this group. 2: Our trips are only refundable up to 30 days before departure, if you wish to cancel after that, you will be offered a transfer to another trip for the same price or you may resell your slot to somebody else. 3: If we do cancel the entirety of the trip on our site, you will be fully refunded

Taisoken Sword Fitness classes are formulated to sculpt your whole body, build lean muscle and focus the mind. Based on traditional Japanese sword movements (‘Taisoken’ literally means ‘exercise sword’ in Japanese) the class blends cardio and light weight resistance training to burn fat and build long lean muscles. We make use of traditional Japanese training swords (called ‘Bokken’) to tone our arms and strengthen our cores. No prior training or martial arts experience is required, the class is completely non-contact and suited to all levels of fitness. Come and join us every second Sunday for a strong work out - most weeks be pop to the local pub/café for a quick coffee or cake (and let’s be honest, sometimes both!) Meetup Cost: £10 Please bring the payment with you on the day and pay directly to Taisoken or you can make a bank transfer on the day. Classes are for ladies only. Back ground Info: Taisoken Sword Fitness has been developed and is led by Jeff Humm, who has been studying studying the use of the Japanese sword for over 45 years together with other traditional martial arts. He holds a Masters degree in Traditional Japanese Martial Arts and a 7th Dan in Japanese fencing (Kendo). The movements are authentic cutting actions, some dating back more than 3 hundred years when your life depend on how well you wield the Sword. By taking authentic Japanese sword movements of attack and defence, these actions have been formulated into practice routines which work and sculpt the full range of the body’s muscles. Additionally the routines require participates to focus and visualise their actions leading them to seeking perfection in application which in turn empowers the mind and develops greater body and mind equilibrium. The Japanese sword is sharp and slender, renowned and admired across the world for its beauty and image; those that can weld it effectively are held in great esteem and revered. They are resilient and tranquil, with poise and grace they move without effort, mind, body and sword as one. Please bring the payment with you on the day and pay directly to Taisoken.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO TAKE PART? You just need to RSVP using the button on this page, and show up on Sunday. That is true for both DMs and players. You must be 18+ to attend. If this is your first time or looking to join a game, please find the Sunday Hosts Edward or Jason on your arrival. We will point you towards a game you can join. **Unless you have spoken to Jason or Edward beforehand about reserving tables/rooms at the pubs, you are NOT allowed to do so. I cannot state the importance of being able to rotate the availability of the rooms with other attendees/general pub goers in case the Pub needs them.** **The rooms should only be used by attendees who have a group plus DM or attendees who are DMing on the day. Otherwise I will assign you to the tables around the pub. This is non-negotiable.** TIMES Please ensure you arrive between 12:30pm and 1.00pm. **If you arrive later than 1pm, it may not be possible to find you a game.** I'VE NEVER PLAYED BEFORE, IS THAT A PROBLEM? Nope! You do not have to have previous experience of D&D or another tabletop role-playing game. We will have newbie-friendly games on Sunday. WHAT DO I HAVE TO BRING? Nothing. If you have dice, paper and pencil, and a Player’s Handbook, then bring them, but it’s not a problem if you don’t. We can lend you everything you need including a pre-generated character. I'M NOT FROM THE UK, THAT ISN'T A PROBLEM, RIGHT? Actually, we have loads of members from other countries; at times, we’ve had more ex-pats than Brits. We get a lot of people joining who’ve just moved to London from another country, left their old D&D friends behind, and who are looking for a new gaming group, so you don’t need to worry about not fitting in. The one catch is that your English does need to be OK. You don't have to be perfectly fluent, but roleplaying’s a language-based activity and if your listening isn't decent you may have trouble following what’s going on. Lots of our members speak more than one language, but we can't guarantee that we can place you in a game with someone who can interpret for you. DUNGEON MASTERS We are always on the look-out for DMs. If you would like to run a game, please PM Edward_w or Jason Sia. HYGIENE & ANTI-COVID GUIDELINES If you are symptomatically ill or suspect/know you have caught covid in the last 10 days but are asymptomatic, please do NOT attend. Please wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth and/or a face shield whenever possible. This is not a rule, merely a request. Please avoid sharing food. Please wash your hands and/or use hand sanitiser gel frequently. Please maximise social distancing where possible and keep social mixing to a minimum. If you test positive for covid after attending an event, please contact Zander the Meetup Organiser, immediately. If possible, please let Zander know your Dungeon Master's name. If your venue has stricter rules than those outlined above, please follow those rules. **VENUES AND MONEY MATTERS** There is no charge, membership fee or subscription. However, a collection tin may be circulated by the Organiser/Assistant Organiser/Host towards the running of the Meetup. There is a recommended donation of £2 cash per attendee (DM or player), but contributions are purely voluntary: you are under no obligation. We do not track or record who donates what (and for that reason, donations by Paypal etc are not accepted). **The venues are businesses and, as such, rely on us spending on food and drink while we are there**. Our continued use of the venues is dependent upon it. Please spend as much as you reasonably can; if you are thinking of having lunch at your venue, please do. The venues have vegetarian and vegan options. Please do NOT bring drink from outside except tap water in a transparent plastic bottle. Please do NOT bring food from outside. Bringing food or drink (except tap water) from outside can result in you being permanently banned by the venue's management. Guide dogs are absolutely fine. Other dogs and pets may not be permitted subject to the discretion of the Pub Staff & Organisers. If you have any questions, please post it in the comments below or PM Edward_w or Jason, the Sunday Hosts.

Backgammon Bingo at Gest - read updated message below Venue: Gest Restaurant, by Euston Square Underground exit Address: 152/156 N Gower St, London NW1 2LU, UK Date/Time: Sunday 21 December 3-7.30pm (and possibly beyond!) at least 15% off food and drink for our group First timers please read below about Meetup fee, Bringing boards etc ☺️ Dear Backgammon Lovers, Ready to roll the dice together again? Festive Backgammon & Games Night at Gest 🎄Join us for a cheerful evening of backgammon, laughter, and good company at Gest! We’ll be rolling the dice, moving the checkers, and hopefully squeezing in a few other favourite games too - Rummikub and Yahtzee are on the table for anyone keen to join the fun. A special congratulations to David, our Backgammon Bingo Champion, for his remarkable achievement in winning both fun games — whether shared or solo! Bravo, David! 🏆 There’s no better place to celebrate the season than at Gest, whose warm atmosphere and charming management make this venue a backgammoner's delight with plenty if good cheer! Looking forward to seeing everyone there. Please note that we will continue at the CSC but are looking at alternatives when the Club is booked or closed around Christmas. Also as our group becomes even more popular it's nice to discover alternative venues with more space and warmer vibe.. It's always a treat to catch up with our regulars and welcome new players into the mix - and this session promises more of the same great energy. Social Backgammon Whether you’re a seasoned player or completely new to the game, everyone’s welcome. Our fortnightly Sunday afternoon offers the perfect blend of friendly competition, laughter, and the occasional lucky double six! Add drinks, food, and easy conversation, and you’ve got the ingredients for a truly relaxed afternoon and early evening.. so come and join us! Gest 20pc Off Food and Drink Gest has kindly offered our group (pssst.. keep this to ourselves) a discount on their drinks and food with great dishes served up. Please support the venue, as we're expected to do, by ordering at least a drink and a bite to eat during our session at Gest. About Our Backgammon Group Our group started in June 2015 - that’s over 10 years ago! Since then, we’ve held nearly 450 official backgammon meetups and well over 200 off-grid gatherings besides. With nearly 2,000 members, we’re the largest backgammon group in the UK - what makes our group special is the warmth, humour, and friendliness everyone brings to the board. We typically meet fortnightly on Sundays, with around 20 or so regular players and new faces each time. Everyone’s welcome. Dinner, Drinks and Playing Time We usually sit for a relaxed group meal around 6pm, but you’re free to order food and drinks whenever you wish. RSVP Please RSVP as soon as you can. It helps to know numbers in advance, especially as this is a new venue for us. Bring Your Own Board If you have a backgammon board, please bring it along. Don’t worry if you don’t yet own one - just post a note on the Meetup page or message me. It’s also fun seeing the wide variety of board styles people bring. Meetup fee: £4 per person. This modest contribution helps cover rising admin, hosting, and other organisational costs. Etiquette Let’s keep things friendly with each other, and please do thank the staff at Gest for hosting us. If anything comes up during the event, just have a quiet word with me. Backgammon Rules We play under international backgammon tournament rules, with one or two small exceptions. You can find the details on our Meetup page. My Contact If you need help finding the place or have questions, call or text me on 07956 263451. (Please avoid sending Meetup messages within two hours of start time, as I might not see them.) Looking forward to rolling dice and sharing another brilliant Sunday with you all - this time at our new trial venue! Best wishes, Chris Sattaur

Come join me watch a great 2024 documentary called Antidote at the Dochouse in Bloomsbury Curzon. Award winning Antidote follows three whistleblowers who face grave consequences for their efforts trying to expose [Vladimir Putin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Putin "Vladimir Putin")'s regime in Russia. Drinks afterwards in the Perseverance pub nearby.

**You will find us in the games area in the lower section of the pub.** Please ensure you read these: [Rules](https://www.londononboard.com/rules-regulations) We don't allow Chess, Scrabble, Monopoly, Roleplaying games, Magic the Gathering, Mafia, Werewolf etc. at LoB as there are other venues or groups for that and we want to make sure that there is enough space for board games. We want everyone that comes to our events to have a good time, and we know that some games require more communication than others. Please be mindful that we are in a small space and that other members will need to explain rules and focus. As a small group of volunteers, we are very dependent on the good will of our venues to host us for free. It is vitally important that everyone attending LoB buys food and drink to ensure that we can build and maintain those relationships with our venues. If you have any feedback about the venue, please report it to us directly rather than speaking to the staff. You must only attend if you have a place, i.e. that you have made it off the waitlist. If you can no longer attend, please mark your RSVP as ‘Not Going’, ideally more than an hour before the event starts. Please be aware that an organiser may ask to see proof of RSVP.

**Lindsay River and Rev Adam Slate** On the shortest day of the year, we honour the ancient rhythm of darkness and light. The Pagan observance of winter solstice reminds us that even at the coldest time of year, the turning has already begun. We celebrate this cosmic promise of renewal, the quiet peace that this time of dormancy holds, and the hope that sustains us through winter's depths. Lindsay River is a long-time member of New Unity, and has been a pagan since 1975. She has followed different spiritual paths within that broad umbrella, taught workshops and classes, and trained individual seekers. In November 2025, she was initiated into the Anglesey Druid Order. *Kids Club programming is on break until 11th January 2026. All are welcome in the chapel!* Attend either online or in person at the Newington Green Meeting House, 39a Newington Green, London, N16 9PR (fully accessible). Go [here](https://www.new-unity.org/sundaygatherings) for more information and the Zoom link, and [here](https://www.new-unity.org/find-us) for directions to the Meeting House.

In this live and in-person seminar you will have an opportunity to explore how you could possibly improve YOUR self-confidence. How does a lack of confidence affect you? Is it in personal relationships? In the professional arena? In meeting new people in social groups? Or just within yourself and having your own confidence to do what you would really like? This seminar is geared toward you. Come and discover what could be a real boost for you! Personal interviews are offered and personal recommendations can be made to assist you in life. The seminar is presented to you by an experienced life improvement consultant from the Church of Scientology London. All references are taken from the works of L Ron Hubbard.

Who doesn't enjoy a twisted tale to go along with their holiday cheer!? Join us as we get together for a psychological thriller and quite possibly the biggest book-to-film release this year: THE HOUSEMAID! The twisty-turny tale follows a young woman who takes a job as a housekeeper for a well-to-do family who could harboring dark secrets! Here’s a description, trailer and plan for this event: DESCRIPTION: Trying to escape her past, a young woman accepts a job as a live-in housemaid for a wealthy couple. But what begins as a dream job quickly unravels into something far more dangerous - a sexy, seductive game of secrets, scandal, power and filled with shocking twists that will leave you guessing until the very end. The Housemaid is directed by Paul Feig (A Simple Favor) and based on the first in a series of books by Freida McFadden. The film stars Sydney Sweeney, Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Michele Morrone and Elizabeth Perkins. TRAILER: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48CtX6OgU3s BUZZ: Early buzz is strong with critics calling it an "entertaining,” "twisty" and suspenseful psychological thriller with non-stop twists and turns to keep you guessing until the end! PLAN: Details for this event have already been confirmed! Please purchase your ticket for the 7:15pm showing and we’ll meet in the lobby area between 6:45 and 7:00pm! This fun little twisted thriller is shaping up to be the surprise hit of the season so advance ticket purchase as soon as possible is advised! Once you have yours please list your seat number in the Comments below. The theaters are pausing “Discount Tuesday” pricing for the holidays but we picked some of the lowest price tickets in town! Look forward to seeing you there, Dan

Rev. Steven Clevenger is an ordained spiritualist minister with over 40 years experience as a Spiritual Healer, Clairvoyant and Spiritual Teacher, educated and trained at the White Lily Chapel. Rev. Siobhan Wolf Shaffer is an ordained spiritualist minister and certified medium and healer with over 20 years experience. She began her development in 1988 in Pennsylvania and continued when she moved to Ohio in 1998 where she studied at Rays of Lights Church with Rev. Steven Clevenger. Our full worship services consist of an inspirational lecture, healing meditation, and messages from the spirit world that serve to demonstrate evidence of eternal life. Please visit our Official Church Website (http://raysoflightchurch.com) for more information.

$5 MOVIE NIGHT! With avatar fire and Ash, James Cameron takes audiences back to Pandora in an immersive new adventure with marine turned Navi leader Jake Sully. Navi Warrior, Naytiri and the Solly family. The film has a screenplay by James Cameron and Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver. We will see the 6 PM showing and I will post my seat so that we can sit together. We can grab something to eat after if people want and chat to round out the experience. This is a MUST SEE MOVIE for me. I hope you feel the same. I will CANCEL if there are less than 5 RSVPs on the movie date.

We will be having an open discussion of the book "the Soul of an Octopus" by Sy Montgomery. [this is the amazon link for this book](https://a.co/d/1bRn8h4)

Who says you can't get into someone else's head? In the 1999 movie, *Being John Malkovich*, Charlie Kaufmann and Spike Jonze explore the answer to that question with some strange and extremely funny consequences! Nominated for 3 Academy Awards, be prepared for a "mind altering" discussion!