Chefs

We'll meet at the spot where Fed Square meets the Princes Bridge over the Yarra (near the pedestrian crossing closest to the river from Flinders St, on the Fed Square side). We'll walk for about 6km along the Yarra River, through the Botanic Gardens and back along the river to Federation Square for a coffee after the walk. This month, we're reading and talking about 'Things Fall Apart' by Chinua Achebe. The blurb: "Arguably Achebe's most important novel, *Things Fall Apart* has sold over 10 million copies worldwide and been translated into more than fifty languages Okonkwo is the greatest warrior alive, famous throughout West Africa. But when he accidentally kills a clansman, things begin to fall apart. Then Okonkwo returns from exile to find missionaries and colonial governors have arrived in the village. With his world thrown radically off-balance he can only hurtle towards tragedy. Chinua Achebe's stark novel reshaped both African and world literature. This arresting parable of a proud but powerless man witnessing the ruin of his people begins Achebe's landmark trilogy of works chronicling the fate of one African community, continued in *Arrow of God* and *No Longer at Ease*." Goodreads rating: 3.74 How does a walking bookclub work? Like a normal bookclub, we talk about the book, what else we're reading, have read, or want to read (as well as a few tangents into life outside literature!) but we do it while walking around Melbourne and then over a coffee. We often split into smaller groups as we walk, but we also regroup through the walk. Should I read the book beforehand? The conversation will be more interesting if you do, but you can still come along if you haven't finished it yet! Do I need to bring anything? **Comfy** walking shoes, drinking water, some money for coffee or a bite to eat after if you wish. No need to bring the book unless you want to. No shows No shows (RSVPing yes and not attending) mean the group waits unnecessarily for those who are not coming, thinking you are running a little late. It’s absolutely fine to change your rsvp for any reason up until the walk begins, and you don’t need to leave a comment, send a message or give a reason, but if you don't click that 'change rsvp' button, you may be removed from the group. Membership Fee Did you know that while it is free to attend most events, Meetup charges organisers about $600 a year to organise a group? Members of the Walking Book Club are asked to pay a membership fee of $10 per year (not per event) to help cover this cost. When you join the group, you'll be automatically given a three month trial so you can see what the group is like, without needing to make any payment. If you would like to continue attending events after this, please follow Meetup's instructions to pay the $6.50US/approx $10AUD fee once per year (or contact group organisers if you would prefer to make payment using paypal, payID, cash or bank transfer).

We will get-together at the KereKere cafe - at the community table just inside the cafe entrance. *This is a group for people with intermediate and advanced level French who are able to engage in a conversation en français. It is not suitable for beginners.* The cafe is close to the corner of Wellington Parade and Lansdowne St, East Melbourne in the Fitzroy Gardens. It takes about 5 minutes on Tram 75 from Flinders St Station, or 15 minute walk. Car parking around Fitzroy Gardens on Sundays now is $2 per hour with a 4 hour limit, Some parking is limited to 1 hour even on Sunday. And occasionally, if there is a game at the MCG for example there might not be much parking at all. Price: The event fee is $4.00 - cash necessary! . and please be sure you are a member of MyFrenchLife.org before attending reunion - merci https://www.MyFrenchLife.org. The event fees are transferred to MyFrenchLife contributing to the meetup platform - thank you. À bientôt ! Veronica and Daniel Réunion Hosts MyFrenchLife.org

**\*\*\*This is a pre-booking event. Please visit [artmasterclass.com.au](https://www.artmasterclass.com.au/) choose your ceramic, use the MEETAMC10 coupon code, and make a reservation.\*\*\*** **Ceramic Paint & Sip Workshop - Melbourne** **Hosted by Art Masterclass** Unleash your creativity at our fun and relaxing Ceramic Paint & Sip Workshop! Whether you're a seasoned artist or have never touched a paintbrush before, this workshop is perfect for all skill levels—no prior knowledge is required. Join us for different sessions every day, where you can personalize your ceramic masterpiece while enjoying a glass of wine in the heart of Melbourne. Book your session today and experience the joy of art in a fun and social setting!

**🚲 Maribyrnong River Social Ride — Exploratory Edition** Sunday 18 January 2026 **Start time**: 10:00am sharp (I won’t wait for stragglers) **Meet from**: 9:45am or earlier **Start/End point**: The Love Cafe next to the Melbourne Skyline Ferris Wheel, which is next to the Exhibition Centre at South Wharf. Hard to miss😀 **🌞 About the Ride** Join us for a fun, friendly, social bicycle adventure tracing the Maribyrnong River , in the west of Melbourne — roughly 30 km return trip, about 2 hours up and 2 hours back, depending on group pace and café temptations. ****### _Before you consider joining this event, read the group rules section at the end_ ###**** This is an exploratory ride. The organiser is not familiar with this part of Melbourne, so expect a spirit of discovery, possible detours, and the occasional “Is it this way?” moment. That’s part of the charm. We’ll aim to stop every 40 minutes or so at cafés (if any appear), or for lunch if we find a good spot. After reaching our turnaround point, we’ll return along the same route back to the Ferris Wheel. **🚴‍♀️ Bike Hire** If you need a bike, Blue Tongue Bike Hire is just over the river from the Exhibition centre, It’s quick, but please allow extra time to sort it out. If you want a pre‑ride coffee, arrive early and enjoy one at Love Café. Hire Info: [Blue Tongue Bikes ](https://bluetonguebikes.com.au/) **🧰 What to Bring** - Water - Sunscreen - Snacks - Helmet - Bike lock - Tyre pump, repair kit, or spare inner tubes - (Optional but wise) Kevlar‑backed tyres — they saved us from puncture chaos last time - (Optional but recommended) RACV Bike Assist — around $24/year via the Arevo bike‑navigation app, handy for transport help, fatigue, or minor repairs **🗺️ Pace & Expectations** This is a relaxed, social ride — but we roll at 10:00am. Please arrive by 9:45am so we can meet, greet, and get moving on time. **🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️🚵‍♀️Ride Motto**. Our last ride had a great attitude where people looked out for each other, if people were slow or had emergency repairs. This ride would suit people who are the more caring types🥰 **Group Rules and Event Etiquette** **Fitness Requirements**: **Riding:** 10 to 15km/hr Ensure you have adequate fitness, it's unfair for the group to wait extended periods for you. You may be asked to exit the event as a consequence. **Very Fast or Very Slow People** It's a group activity the organiser can't manage the group if people are everywhere, please consider going by yourself, joining faster groups or having adequate fitness. You may be asked to exit the event as a consequence. **Busy People** Best to give yourself some wiggle room, or not attend the event if you have time constraints. Things rarely go to time, especially when having fun. **⚠️+++VERY IMPORTANT+++** **People Who Do A No Show**. This is too common for small group events, there may be people on a waitlist wanting to come on the event and hence very inconsiderate. Remove yourself from the going list at least 24 hours before the event to give people on the waitlist an opportunity. **If you do a No Show you will likely be removed and blocked from the group**. If you remove yourself from the event an hour or two before the event (flaking) you may also be blocked and removed from the group if there is a waitlist, very unfair to those people. **People Not On The Going List** This is a major security concern, **DO NOT TURN UP RANDOMLY**.You will be asked to leave the event unless you have made arrangements with the organiser **PRIOR** to the event. **People Who Are Late** You will be left behind and or removed and blocked from the group as a **No Show.** It is your responsibility to communicate with the organiser if you will be late. It's up to you to catch up. This may not be possible for some events. **Second Chances** Please communicate with the organiser if you do not want to be blocked and removed from the group 🚩**Disclaimer: No Liability & Organiser Indemnity** By participating in this event, you acknowledge and accept full personal responsibility for your own safety, wellbeing, and belongings. The organiser assumes no liability for injury, loss, or damage incurred during the activity. Participation is entirely at your own risk.

**\*\*\*This is a pre-booking event. Please visit [artmasterclass.com.au](https://www.artmasterclass.com.au/) choose your ceramic, use the MEETAMC10 coupon code, and make a reservation.\*\*\*** **Ceramic Paint & Sip Workshop - Melbourne** **Hosted by Art Masterclass** Unleash your creativity at our fun and relaxing Ceramic Paint & Sip Workshop! Whether you're a seasoned artist or have never touched a paintbrush before, this workshop is perfect for all skill levels—no prior knowledge is required. Join us for different sessions every day, where you can personalize your ceramic masterpiece while enjoying a glass of wine in the heart of Melbourne. Book your session today and experience the joy of art in a fun and social setting!

Ready to add some rhythm to your week? Join us for a **FREE Salsa class** right in the heart of Melbourne! No partner or experience needed — just bring your energy, and we’ll handle the rest. You’ll learn the basic steps, meet amazing people, and have a ton of fun while moving to Latin beats. ✨ **What to expect:** * Easy, step-by-step instruction — perfect for first-timers * A fun and welcoming community * Great music, great vibes, and maybe a new obsession! 📍 **Location:** 600 Little Collins St, Melbourne CBD (The Salsa Foundation Studio) 🕕 **When:** Multiple sessions weekly — book your spot now! 🎟️ **Cost:** 100% Free — bookings are essential due to limited space

## Details \#\# Learn Infrastructure\-as\-Code \(the FUN Way\) — Through Minecraft 🎮☁️ **Joint Meetup: DevOps Columbus - Azure CBUS - Columbus HashiCorp User Group** What if learning Terraform and Infrastructure-as-Code didn’t feel like a whitepaper… but more like a game? Join us for a joint DevOps Columbus, Azure CBUS and Columbus HashiCorp User Group meetup where **Mark Tinderholt** \(Principal Architect\, Microsoft Azure \| HashiCorp Ambassador \| “The Azure Terraformer”\) shows how **Minecraft** can be used as a surprisingly powerful way to understand real-world Infrastructure-as-Code concepts. In this session, Mark will demonstrate how Terraform and Azure can be used to provision, configure, and manage Minecraft servers—while teaching the same patterns you’d use for production cloud infrastructure. \#\#\# What we’ll cover * Infrastructure-as-Code fundamentals using **Terraform** * Provisioning real infrastructure on **Azure** * Applying **IaC best practices** (immutability, repeatability, versioning) * How playful environments like Minecraft make complex concepts *click* * Why learning through experimentation beats click-ops every time \#\#\# Who should attend * Developers, platform engineers, and cloud engineers * Terraform users (new or experienced) * Anyone curious about Infrastructure-as-Code but tired of boring examples * Minecraft fans who want to see it used in a totally unexpected way No prior Minecraft experience required—just curiosity and a willingness to learn infrastructure the fun way. Come for the blocks, stay for the Terraform. 🧱➡️📐

Join us for a guided wine tasting sponsored by Wine Trends, featuring a curated selection of wines paired with individual charcuterie boards. $30 per person paid at venue. RSVP required. Each guest receives a personal board with a curated selection of meats, cheeses, olives, nuts, jam, grapes, and baguette. A relaxed, social way to unwind and try something new. Must be 21+ to attend

This is a time where players of all ages, and skill levels can gather and enjoy a nice Sunday full of Chess!

Volunteer with Mid-OH Food Collective Mid-OH Market 4041 Gantz Rd Grove City, OH 43123 -fill carts with boxes -help support the various stations inside the Market -help scan groceries at the check-out stand -help repackage groceries into shopping after being scanned -help deliver groceries to customer vehicles Some volunteers will help load groceries into vehicles so dress in layers as needed. RSVP by contacting Renee with name, email, phone # 614-257-9389 or reneelquillet@gmail.com

2026 may be the last year many developers write code by hand. We need coding agents to solve complex problems in production codebases, but vibe coding alone won’t get us there. Vibe coding is all gas, no brakes. It burns up the context window until the agent slips on its own slop. You can go fast at first, but the more you stuff into the context window, the more tangled its outputs get. While the industry is rapidly increasing code generation speed, we still have to understand, review, merge, and maintain what gets shipped. This talk featuring Michael Geiger will outline how coding agents (Claude Code + Gas Town) work and a framework for orchestrating them to solve complicated problems in complex codebases. It’s about steering the model: doing the research to align intent, planning the approach up front, implementing in parallel steps, and breaking early. Human judgment still matters, but it should be spent on high-leverage decisions: what to build, what to forbid, and “what is quality?”, not cleaning up slop. Attendees will leave with a checklist to identify workflow and environment gaps that hold agents back, so you and your team can ship higher-quality software starting tomorrow.

Join Sacred Sound Alchemy Columbus for a transformative Sound Bath experience that will take you on a journey of self-discovery and healing. Immerse yourself in the powerful vibrations of various sound instruments like crystal singing bowls and rain drums, carefully orchestrated to balance your chakras and uplift your spirit. The soothing sounds will help you release negative energy, reduce stress, and promote deep relaxation. This event is perfect for those seeking a moment of tranquility and a chance to connect with their inner selves. Whether you are new to sound healing or a seasoned practitioner, you will benefit from the harmonious frequencies that will resonate with your body and soul. Come and allow yourself to be enveloped in a wave of healing energy, leaving you refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready for life's next chapter. Please bring something comfortable to lay on like a yoga mat. Being a pillow for your head or for under your knees and a blanket to cover over yourou. The library can get cold. Bring some water to help flush your body for after the session.