Fiction

Join us at SOAS for a free discussion with author Mattin Biglari about his book *Nationalising Oil and Knowledge in Iran* (2025). ***Nationalising Oil and Knowledge in Iran: Labour, Decolonisation and Colonial Modernity, 1933–51* by Mattin Biglari** Iran’s nationalisation of oil in 1951 was a key catalyst for the rise of resource nationalism as an animating force of global decolonisation, expelling the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company (AIOC, now known as BP) after nearly fifty years of domination in southwest Iran. *Nationalising Oil & Knowledge in Iran* turns attention to the origins of nationalisation in the everyday struggles between the oil company and subaltern actors in the city of Abadan, then home to the world’s largest oil refinery and deeply imbricated in networks of colonialism and racial capitalism. Engaging with energy history, postcolonial/subaltern studies, and science & technology studies, the book focuses on the politics of expertise: how nationalisation reproduced the epistemic coloniality of the oil company, which rested on local dispossession, social engineering, as well as racial and gendered segregation. It argues that nationalisation diverged from subaltern contestations of oil expertise in Abadan, which presented a more fundamental challenge to colonial modernity. Reservation details: [https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soas-book-discussion-with-mattin-biglari-on-nationalising-oil-in-iran-tickets-1980422394694?aff=ebdssbdestsearch](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soas-book-discussion-with-mattin-biglari-on-nationalising-oil-in-iran-tickets-1980422394694?aff=ebdssbdestsearch%0A%0A) After the two-hour discussion, we’ll hang around for a chit chat. Are you interested in reading world fiction and non-fiction in English, Spanish and French? Join my other groups: -www.meetup.com/gaia-books -www.meetup.com/gaia-libros -www.meetup.com/gaia-livres -French Art Group (send me a request) -Instagram: @persian_culture_ -Persian Culture Whatsapp group: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EZk35ZbJZ6W6wwyHyuxoS2)

It's **Thursday** & our main night of the week & the fun & games are just getting started here at DWL! We're located here in the Cinema (which can be found on the 3rd floor of the Mercury Mall Shopping Centre) on: * **Tuesdays & Thursdays**: From 17:30 to 22:00. * **Saturdays**: From 12:00 to 22:00 🦁 And we're still running every Monday 6pm to 11pm at the Golden Lion Pub too. 🌭☕ There are hot & cold food & drink options available from the cinema at low prices! Supporting Premiere Cinema by buying their food & drink IS supporting Dicing With Life! The cinema has been very generous to us by bringing us into their space & our way of showing our gratitude is by sending some business their way. And their menu is surprisingly cheap! Especially compared to any other cinema. Here's some cool examples of some great **offers**: Buy a large **Popcorn** (it's a huge bucket!) or a large **fizzy drink** & it'll initially cost you £4, BUT, take your bucket or cup back to the bar for a **refill** & the cinema will refill it back up to the top for just £2! 🍿🥤 That's half price Popcorn & Pop! This also applies to **Ice Blasts** too (£5 initially but to refill it's just £3). There's also Hot Dogs, Nachos, Pick n Mix & many other treats in store too! Check out their menu 😋 If you have any questions, please ask & let the fun commence! 🎲

After a wonderful pilot event at HAWKINS FORGE, we’re returning right away for another thought provoking evening 💭 This time we’ll be discussing **CHARITY** by way of three original thought experiments. Hawkins Forge embodies our values: warm, welcoming, convivial, and a home to deep thinkers. I can't wait for you to join us there. The pub has boardgames and cards for the after party, and they’ve also **kindly offered us a deal on their Arrowsmiths Darts experience**: 30 minutes free for anyone who buys a drink. Spaces are limited, so get your ticket early if you want to be there 😊 **THOUGHT EXPERIMENTS** \- announced on the day of the event **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/DapwAXpnOHO5DRYThobpe4)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** \- see what we look like \(including The People of TEiP project\) **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/)** \- sign up for the newsletter and more **The idea:** A chance to meet and talk meaningfully about thought provoking topics. **How we'll do it** (timings approximate): * 7:00pm - Arrive at Hawkins Forge. We'll be in the private dining room - ask at the bar if you can't find us. * Organise ourselves into small groups (3-4) * Have a look at the **thought experiments** (announced on the day of the event) * 7:15 - First rotation begins - Talk about the first thought experiment, but feel free to pursue tangents and anecdotes. * 7:35 - Optional reshuffle: swap groups, move on to the second thought experiment. * 8:00 - Optional reshuffle: swap groups, move on to the third thought experiment. * 8:25pm - Wrap up - hear about upcoming events, feedback/requests for future meetups. * 8:30 Meetup ‘ends’. But feel free to carry on conversations. Usually a lot of us stay until late :-) **Notes on the general atmosphere**: * The vibe is to let conversation flow rather than stick strictly to one topic. * While we'd like to talk about 'meaningful things', we also see the value in lighter topics, so don't worry about not being 'deep' enough! * Feel free to suggest ideas for future Thought Experiments in Pubs meetup groups, both in terms of structure and topics to discuss. **Where we'll meet**: This group will be at Hawkins Forge, 5 minutes walk from Clapham Junction. We'll be in the private dining room - ask at the bar if you can't find us. **Who should come**: Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts in Philosophy, it is about *doing* philosophy. That is, bringing our various life experiences and lenses on the world to group discussions about the human experience, the nature of reality... etc.... I'm so looking forward to meeting & talking with you in this beautiful location :-) If you would like to further support me & these meetups, you can do so here: [https://buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor](https://buymeacoffee.com/bonnyastor) Thank you!

***"The spectacle is the existing order’s uninterrupted discourse about itself, its laudatory monologue. It is the self-portrait of power in the epoch of its totalitarian management of the conditions of existence. The fetishistic, purely objective appearance of spectacular relations conceals the fact that they are relations among men and classes: a second nature with its fatal laws seems to dominate our environment."*** **\- Guy Debord\, *The Society of the Spectacle*** Welcome back readers! By popular request, we're bringing back (for a new generation of LMRG readers) an old favourite: the always-relevant Guy Debord and his masterful *Society of the Spectacle*. We'll kick off with the first three chapters. Find the next here: https://www.marxists.org/reference/archive/debord/society.htm Often maligned as theorymaxxed nonsense but little-read, this slim volume is certainly dense with ideas - all of which carry as much relevance today as those half-forgotten postwar years when the Situationist International made its mark on the world, if not more. With the rise of the Internet and social media, the decline of literacy and the closing of the mass mind, the endless doom-loop of doomscrolling and bed-rotting, increasingly performative protest, the commodification of everything, the Epstein-approved culture war, and the theatre of spectacular cruelty that is imperialist colonial policy from Gaza to Venezuela, we really are living an age where everything that was once directly participated in has passed into representation. Every hand-grip one searches for to get some kind of grasp on the world seems to be a mirage; "participation" in anything, from politics to culture, has been reduced to fandom - limited to nothing more than expressing approval or disapproval through totally mediated social media platforms. Above it all stands an utterly corrupt, irresponsible elite class more and more transparent in how it relishes in conspiratorial play, power-games with unlimited stakes for us and no consequences for them. Such a world where power wears a shit-eating grin and keeps us off our balance by endlessly[ "flooding the zone"](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flood_the_zone) (in Steve Bannon's terms) with distractions so intricate they short-circuit the collective brain is exactly what Debord not only predicted but described in frightening detail, with more than a little bit of humour. So let's dig in and find out: just what can we do to unplug from the spectacle? Is the spectacle even un-plug-from-able? Debord haters, cope and seethe: as a much more orthodox Marxist than he ever gets credit for, there really are some strategies in here. We just need to be creative. Take care and happy reading!

**Welcome to UK Mafia!** We meet at **The KINGS ARMS near London Bridge** on the Second Floor (see large function room). **Do I need to know anything beforehand?** This is a **beginner-only** event, and many will be playing with us for the first time. If you are new, **please arrive early if you can** to hear explanations of the rules, and so you get to play many games. We will also explain strategies. Most importantly, this is a social activity, so feel free to talk to anyone between the games and have fun! \* *If you are an intermediate player, there is also a separate intermediate table on the other side of the floor \** **️‍♂️ What is Mafia?** Have you seen 'The Traitors'? Play the game that 'Traitors' is based upon! Mafia is a 10-player social game; it can get competitive, but it's easy to learn. We play at multiple tables. You get a secret role and work with your team to win. A game lasts about 45 minutes, so we play many during the day. The **Mafia team** tries to hide and eliminate the **Citizens**, while the **Citizens** try to find the Mafia through deduction and logic. While this is a beginner-friendly event, we also host tournaments and online events with players from around the world. We even organise trips abroad to meet and play with other Mafia clubs ✈️ *** **[How to Play?](https://bit.ly/HowToPlayMafia)** We will teach you how to play when you arrive. You will quickly see that the game has two phases: **Night:** * The Mafia secretly targets a Citizen * The *Don* (Mafia) learns if a player is the *Sheriff* * The *Sheriff* (Citizen) learns if someone is Mafia ☀️ **Day:** * Each player says in their turn who they think the Mafia are * Then, everyone votes publicly to eliminate one player The game continues until the Mafia are eliminated or they outnumber (or equal) the Citizens. We will explain all the rules at the venue, and you’ll pick it up. Want to learn more about the game? See our wide range of resources, including brochures and videos: **[https://bit.ly/EMF-TIPS](https://bit.ly/EMF-TIPS)** *** \*\* Why Mafia?\*\* Mafia is a global game played by over 15,000 people in 50+ countries, with clubs, tournaments, websites, and federations, like the [English Mafia Federation](https://bit.ly/EML2025) and the [Mafia World Cup](https://www.youtube.com/@MafiaWorldCup/streams). --- **❓Questions -** Message any admin, anytime! --- \- Mafia Tips\, Rules\, Videos\, Resources: **[https://bit.ly/EMF-TIPS](https://bit.ly/EMF-TIPS)** \- Watch games and lessons here: **[https://www.youtube.com/@MafiaWorldCup/streams](https://www.youtube.com/@MafiaWorldCup/streams)** **Contact UK Mafia Club** \- UK Mafia Club Instagram **[https://www.instagram.com/uk_mafia_club/](https://www.instagram.com/uk_mafia_club/)** \- UK Mafia Club YouTube **[www.youtube.com/@UKMafiaClub](http://www.youtube.com/@UKMafiaClub)** \- UK Mafia Club Telegram Channel **[https://t.me/UK_MAFIA_CLUB](https://t.me/UK_MAFIA_CLUB)** \- UK Mafia Club Telegram Chat **[https://t.me/UK_MAFIA_CLUB_CHAT](https://t.me/UK_MAFIA_CLUB_CHAT)** \- UK Mafia Club Discord **[https://discord.gg/fQM7duV96D](https://discord.gg/fQM7duV96D)** \- UK Mafia Club Email **[ukmafiaclub@gmail.com](http://ukmafiaclub@gmail.com/)** \- UK Mafia Club Mafgame profile **[https://mafgame.org/clubs/79/view](https://mafgame.org/clubs/79/view)** **Contact the Mafia World Cup:** \- Mafia World Cup Instagram **[https://www.instagram.com/mafiaworldcup/](https://www.instagram.com/mafiaworldcup/)** \- Mafia World Cup Facebook **[https://www.facebook.com/mafworldcup/](https://www.facebook.com/mafworldcup/)** \- Mafia World Cup Telegram **[https://t.me/Mafia_World_Cup](https://t.me/Mafia_World_Cup)**

*“Some men are born lucky; others are called Didius Falco”.* For our next read, we will discuss Lindsey Davis’s historical mystery novel *The Silver Pigs* on Saturday 7th March. **About the book:** * The first Lindsey Davis's Marcus Falco mystery series (1989), introduces the wise-cracking Roman informer Falco as a sort of detective in AD 70 Rome and Britain. * Alongside the mystery and adventure, the novel sets up a slow-burn romance that develops over subsequent installments. * The book received awards and widespread acclaim. **About the event:** * Location: The Mad Hatter Pub, 3-7 Stamford St, London SE1 9NY * Timing: Saturday 7th March from 3-5pm. Approximately 15 minutes walk from Waterloo station along the river. I'll have a sign on the table and a copy of the book so it should be easy to spot where we're meeting. * Our table is booked for six - please update your RSVP if you are unable to attend so that other people can join. * We have a WhatsApp group - totally optional but message me on Meetup if you want to join. Happy reading!

It's Herschel's birthday (1792). Not William, who discovered Uranus & various moons around it and Saturn, or Caroline who found a few comets. John, continuing the family work completed mapping of the Southern Hemisphere sky, and named the discovered moons - in Saturn's case, after Titans in Greek mythology. First stop along this Wealden walk will be his home at The Moor, a quintessential English village complete with green where cricket was played in Herschel's day, church, and the Eight Bells. The church houses a very unusual relic, delivered in 1944. Next in our orbit is Bewl Water, the largest stretch of water in SE England, described as unlike anywhere else. [Bewl Water - The Ultimate Destination for a Family Day Out](https://www.bewlwater.co.uk/) Final stop is Ticehurst, with chocolate box cottages. Further details: [Best places to live: Ticehurst, Sussex | Muddy Stilettos | Muddy Stilettos](https://sussex.muddystilettos.co.uk/best-places-to-live/sussex/best-places-to-live-ticehurst/) And when taking photographs along the walk - who coined the word 'photography' which he helped develop? Yep, John Herschel. Outward Travel: Take the train departing 9.24 AM from London Bridge to ETCHINGHAM. The return train fare with a Network Card or GroupSave is £17.00. Gather outside the ticket office at London Bridge to arrange group tickets. Walk start: 10.31 AM from Etchingham rail station. Bring a packed lunch. Village / pub stops. Orbital walk. *How to join?* * The walk is entirely free of charge; * You only arrange for your own travel and pub expenses; * Understand our terms and conditions below (the "IMPORTANT" part); * Understand how to stay safe outdoors, as you will be responsible for yourself. See our quick safety tips: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/ *What to bring* * Plenty of water, 1-2 litres recommended * Enough snacks and packed lunch to keep you energized along the walk * Extra snacks and an extra packed lunch just in case * Rainproof (ideally waterproof) clothing, sturdy shoes/boots you don't mind getting muddy * Spare socks * Walking poles and/or an umbrella :-) * Yourself... * ...and your camera! * Cash for train ticket * Cash for pub at the end of the walk? Feel free to ask any questions in the comments section! IMPORTANT Please bear in mind this is a free of charge, self-guided trip with a hobby group. It is not organized by a business nor any entity with commercial purposes. Any trip details, travel advice, route planning, instructions and other content in our group merely represent our shared personal knowledge, research and suggestions as outdoor enthusiasts. As this is no business, there is no "product", "service" or "package" and also no "tour guide", "operator" or "walk leader". Each participant is responsible for their own safety. Even if some of us are very experienced walking outdoors, nobody assumes responsibility for any kind of injury, damage or loss that may happen. Despite this, we take extreme precautions and all trips we plan are very safe, fun, highly educational and popular. Our experienced members volunteer their time and effort to shape a pleasant and quality adventure for everyone :-) By participating you acknowledge and agree with this disclaimer. Here are our tips on staying safe during outdoor trips: http://www.meetup.com/Free-Outdoor-Trips-From-London/about/ TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATION, INSURANCE Although we provide detailed suggestions, each participant is expected to arrange their own travel - this gives everyone the freedom and choice. Anyone interested in travel or outdoor insurance should also arrange this on their own. As mentioned above we always take extreme precautions, but some people may still feel safer if covered. As most of our trips are confirmed or postponed very close to the event date - heavily depending on the weather forecasts - we advise not to buy this until the last minute. People getting tickets from the same station are encouraged to meet early on the day to benefit from discounts such as GroupSave.

Time is precious. Here we value non-boring valuable chats and interactions that are fully engaging, soulfully enriching, inspiring, and leave you a bit wiser than when you arrived. In that spirit (mind the pun!), today’s fully hosted laid back social coffee chat will offer a perfect haven for the inquisitive & curious - those drawn to the mysteries of the universe, life and everything in between. A tasty caffeine infused fun afternoon of thought-provoking causal chats exploring spirituality/consciousness and related interconnected topics spanning **philosophy,** **neuroscience**, **parapsychology,** **paranormal.** **cosmology** and **noetic sciences** over a mug of sweet coffee. Hosted by me - a former Reuters journalist & published empirical researcher exploring spirituality topics in pursuant of the "truth" since a teenager, there'll be no strict structure - a relaxed friendly space to openly chat, exchange ideas & experiences without judgement, but I'll preside to promote inclusivity and zone in on specifics to avoid people digressing onto unrelated tangents to ensure like all of our events - particpants derive maximum utlity and insights from attending. We’ll touch on everything from the limits of scientific understanding to exploring the unexplained using practical fun exploratory divination practices drawing on elements of **psychology, metaphysics, epistemology** and **statistical** **probability** of rare events as we do so. Whether you're a practicing "spiritualist", a curious skeptic, or just someone who loves deep conversation on **life’s big questions**, you’ll hopefully walk away more enlightened with some practical tips you can start applying and inspired to explore more! As well as illuminating chats to guide self-reflection, obviously no sprituality event woul be complete without practical tools so there'll be FREE Tarot & I-Ching readings, demonstrations of meditation method to activate super powerful gamma brain waves, and pyschic tests for a bit of fun, laughter & intrigue! **Sample of conversational threads** might include: Are we mere organisms pursuing biological survival or does consciousness exist beyond neurons firing in our brains? What explains peoples' paranormal experiences? What would reality look like If our brains were limitless? Declassified CIA files show that as as well as mind control experiments, the US govt employed mediums and remote viewers. If all mumbo jumbo then why? Is Nirvana just a fantasy of deluded people? Does everything happen for a reason? To clarify - we define spirituality here as an exploration of consciousness, Donald Rumsfeld's unknown unknowns and undiscovered aspects of reality, NOT religion. After all, as my philosophy professor once rightly postulated to me: "If God created Adam, who created God Lucas?" Yep - that inconvenient flaw **debunks every fairytale religion** out there including the oldest religion of them all - paganism - so why is witchcraft still practised outside of **Hogwarts** today? I may also share the latest peer reviewed empirical evidence surrounding **paranormal** and **consciousness** phenomena. **=== POTENTIAL CONVERSATION STARTERS ===** 1. Does consciousness survive death or is Cambridge Astrophysics Professor Brian Cox right in asserting if **ghosts** existed then particle accelerators at CERN would have already detected ghost molecules making Ouija boards kids play? Are Poltergiests 100% hoax? Brain scans indicate thalamocortical circuits in our brain (pathways in the parietal cortex & central lateral thalamus) drive **consciousness -** so how can spirit/mind live on after **brain death**? 2. Is **synchronicity/coincidence** simply randomness disguised in the eye of the beholder or can what Einstein called “spooky action at a distance" (quantum entanglement) explain it? Molecular Biologists have shown that just like plants - our cells give off resonant frequencies between 10 & 180 kilohertz - could this be a source of non-verbal communication like telepathy? 3. Given **neuroscience**'s infancy with much yet undiscovered - could mediation help access functions outside of our BAU alpha & beta brain wave states? Can **Kundalini yoga** boost **DMT** (dimethyltryptamine) naturally vs drugs like ayahuasca, mushrooms, LSDand if so by what mechanism? Do the artifically created neural signatures using magnetic stimulation observed during mystical experiences debunk them? Is the Maharishi Effect real? 4. Are clairvoyants and mediums just good people readers or are they really able to access time and space in non-linear ways? Is Tyler Henry the real deal or just faking it? Was **Abraham Lincolm** precognizant when he dreamt his own fatal assignation? 5. The laws of statistical probability, Drake Equation & common sense tells us there is other non-microbial life out there. So what explains the Fermi Paradox? Was that 1976 WOW signal aliens? How about the recent strange bahaviour of Boyajian's star or Oumuamua/Atlas interstella object that has just entered our solar system? 6. Could metaverse explain deja vu & reincarnation vs theories from the **psychology** literature (Mandela Effect?) or do we just live in a **simulation** as **Elon Musk** proposes? 7. **Stephen Hawking** once said: "The past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities" If matter only manifests when observed as the double slit experiments shows, does that mean everything is consciousness? Does the discovery of *quantum superposition /* disappearing neutrons imply **parallel universes**? 8. Do NDEs suggest something beyond physicality? Were Steve Jobs final words "Oh wow. Oh wow. Oh wow" before he died (New York Times) visions of an afterlife or just neurochemical changes / drugs playing tricks? 9. Can photons omitted by our bodies explain auras that people see? 10. Could limits in our understanding of quantum physics, space and time explain paranormal experiences? 11. What existed before the **big bang** \- how do you get something from "nothing"? I believe our reality is the product of a black hole\. What you reckon? ***So how do we get to the "truth"?*** Both in my journalism days and applying the most advanced empirical research techniques in my client consulting work - it becomes clear the truth is often elusive. No matter how much we triangulate evidence - we can only provide part answers. "All models are wrong, but some are useful" George Box What we think we know and reality diverge leading to that great **paradox of knowledge.** And as the boundary between knowns and unknown converge, we end up with cognitive dissonance and more questions. In that spirit - every credible philosopher & scientist acknowledges - we'll never get to the complete truth but could **experimental methods** get us closer to it? A balanced approach guided by Immanuel Kant's pragmatism and Aristotle's deductive reasoning seems the most rationale framework here but are there any other methodologies? How about the **"spirituality"** toolkit? **=== RENDEZVOUS POINT ===** We will meet in the Penderel's Oak. *283–288 High Holborn, Holborn WC1V 7HP* zone 1 central london so very easy to get to. I'll be wearing a **Starwars identifier** and will share mobile hotline just before event start and table number/location Lucas - The Unenlightened Desperately Seeking Answers

**Association of Black Humanists Book Club Meeting** We are delighted to invite members to our next Book Club gathering, where we’ll be discussing ***Spirituality Before Religions: Unseen Science and Seen Spirituality*** by **Prof. Kaba Hiawatha Kamene**. This book challenges us to explore African-centred understandings of spirituality, science, consciousness, and human meaning. It’s a powerful invitation to interrogate what spirituality can look like outside dogma—and what it has meant for Black people historically and today. As Black humanists, this conversation sits right at the intersection of culture, reason, history, and liberation. Expect a rich, respectful discussion, critical reflection, and space for diverse perspectives. The book confronts one of the most enduring legacies of colonial domination: the erasure and distortion of African knowledge systems. Long before imposed religions, our ancestors engaged deeply with science, consciousness, spirituality, and the natural world—without dogma, without fear, and without submission. Date: Saturday, 7th March 2026 Time: 4pm Where: 55 Square Bar & Restaurants, 126 Barking Rd, London E16 1EN

If you're looking for a laid back Saturday playing some board games and talking nerd stuff in a pub with some awesome people, this is the meetup for you! Whether you're new to London or just want to get some long-lost in-person socialisation, we're a friendly community and welcome you all. **What to expect:** We officially play from **2 PM to 7 PM**, but we keep it casual. Show up when you can, and stay as long as you like. If you’re having a good time, there’s usually a group that stays late for a few extra pints and chat. **Some house rules:** * We aim to ensure these events are friendly, welcoming and safe, and so we ask you abide by our [Code of Conduct](https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YEl0gv61SkBFN-YF6fyVvuQYicWbWhRL/view?usp=drive_link) * We have a community box of games we keep in the pub, but please feel welcome to bring your own games along. Just be prepared to teach us how to play! * We don't charge a cover fee, so please help support the pub by ordering food and drink throughout the afternoon. * Please keep your RSVPs updated so we can manage numbers and ensure we can reserve enough tables.

**Do you ever feel the pull to be creative, but don’t know how to start, or even what you want to make?** **Do you ever get a flash of inspiration, but never have the time or energy to follow it through?** **Do you worry that you have to become technically skilled before you have the 'right' to make art?** **If you answered yes to any of the above, then this event is for you!** As children, we create all the time. We sing, draw and write as part of our normal lessons. We make sandcastles, secret dens, friendship bracelets, invent ball games and make up elaborate storylines for dolls and action figures. We don’t fear failure because the point isn’t to succeed, but to express ourselves and have fun. In fact there’s a whole branch of folklore called childlore! But as adults, it can become hard to connect with that creative instinct, whether that’s due to time, energy, cost or self-doubt. So for this event, we’ll be taking time and space to connect with what inspires us and flex our creativity just for the fun of it. Skill and experience levels don’t matter (although those who are skilled or experienced are welcome!)-what matters is remembering what creative inspiration feels like to you personally, and pursuing it to create something authentic to you. To do this, we’ll be emulating artists across millennia in using folklore as inspiration. A collection of folklore genres will be supplied, each containing a collection of prompts, and you will be picking a piece of folklore that speaks to you on that day and creating a piece of art based on your own interpretation of your prompt. This art can be anything, from poetry to sketching, sewing to architecture, make up, set design, tattoo art, songwriting, fashion, game design or event planning-whatever your prompt inspires you to create! You can choose to do several pieces or spend the whole session on one. Paper and pencils will be provided, but please feel free to bring other materials so long as they are not disruptive to the people or environment around us (eg no liquid paints, musical instruments, etc). Please note: this is not a technical lesson! No specific creative skills will be taught, as the aim is connecting with your own personal creative process. But you are welcome to take your pieces home with you to hone your skills. We are currently exploring free spaces to have this event so location and accessibility details will be confirmed closer to the time. (And if you know of a good location, do let us know!) (This is a free event, so we ask that you please keep RSVPs updated to ensure that as many people as possible who want to come are able to. Cancellations with less than three days’ notice may be removed from the group to prevent wasted spaces in future. Many thanks for your understanding!)

🔩 ***Resurrection never goes to plan—especially when the Bride has her own ideas. Once she’s back… she decides what happens next.⚡️*** 👋 **Hello everyone!** Looks like Monster horror is back, and this time Maggie Gyllenhaal dives straight into the genre with a bold horror-romance reimagining of **Bride of Frankenstein**. The film feels like a fresh rabbit hole into **Mary Shelley’s** creation. Honestly, any story from that universe is worth retelling. Set in **1930s Chicago**, the film follows their outlaw romance against a backdrop of societal unrest. A lonely Frankenstein seeks the help of Dr. Euphronius to create a companion. They reinvigorate a murdered young woman… and a Bride is born. The plan is to meet for drinks at the **Victory House Wine Bar**, so come prepared with your favourite monster stories. The we'll head over to **Cineworld IMAX (Screen 1).** We'll be around **L32** or **D32**, but feel free to pick you preferred seat. After the film we’ll reconvene to score and review it for our **[Letterboxd Page](https://letterboxd.com/movieroadhouse)**. **Something in the air says this Bride is hungry for more than just a little blood and flesh.** **Look forward to seeing you guys there.** **Ray, Jonny & Ashley** \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 👉 **HEADS UP** * If you ***sign up*** but later can’t make it, please 🙏 **just drop us a quick message** (or change your RSVP) — it really helps with planning. And follow us **[@thehideoutmax](https://www.instagram.com/thehideoutmax/)** on **Instagram** — for fun updates! 🗓 **SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN** * **6:00 PM:** Drinks (Victory House Wine Bar) * **7:20 PM:** Movie (Cineworld IMAX Leicester Square) * **9:50 PM:** Review 📱**STAY CONNECTED** * Join our WhatsApp or Telegram groups (available by request), or hop onto our **[WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDvGuK0AgW8KPxOnG2V)** or **[Telegram Channel](https://t.me/thehideoutuk)** for quiet updates without the chat. Whatever you prefer! 🎬 **PLOT DETAILS** * In 1930s Chicago, Frankenstein asks Dr. Euphronius to help create a companion. They give life to a murdered woman as the Bride, sparking romance, police interest, and radical social change. [Trailer](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE-Kgxge8a4) 🎟️ **TICKET INFO & PRICES** * **Price:** From £19:99 * **Members Price:** From £0.00 * **Tickets**: [Cineworld Empire](https://experience.cineworld.co.uk/select-tickets?sitecode=103&site=098&id=112112&lang=en) 📍**VENUE ADDRESS** * **Victory House Wine Bar:** 14 Leicester Pl, London WC2H 7BZ * **Cineworld Empire:** 5-6 Leicester Square, London WC2H 7NA, United Kingdom 🔊 **HOW WE ROLL** * Have fun, be respectful, and no abuse of any kind * Three-time no-show limit (applies after your first attended event), please update your RSVP if your plans change * This group is for over-18s only 🌐 **FOLLOW US ONLINE** * [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/thehideoutmax/) * [Letterboxd](https://letterboxd.com/movieroadhouse/) * [WhatsApp News Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaDvGuK0AgW8KPxOnG2V) * [Telegram Channel](https://t.me/thehideoutuk) * [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8lKPsVlDHcEnh3N6G6MQsw) * [Facebook Page](https://www.facebook.com/hideoutmax) * [Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/thehideoutlondon) * [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/jonnyhideout/) (Jonny) * [Threads](https://www.threads.com/@jonnyhideout) 🫂**OUR MEETUP CLUBS** * [Movie Roadhouse London](https://www.meetup.com/movieroadhouse) * [Cosmic Nightmares Book Club London](https://www.meetup.com/cosmicnightmareslondon)

**Our March pick is *God of the Woods* by Liz Moore.** **This month’s novel is an award-winning literary mystery that blends family drama with psychological suspense. It explores women’s voices and relationships while delivering an exciting, eerie, and deeply suspenseful story. The book is 576 pages in print or 14 hours and 35 minutes on audiobook.** Early morning, August 1975: a camp counselor discovers an empty bunk. Its occupant, Barbara Van Laar, has gone missing. Barbara isn’t just any thirteen-year-old: she’s the daughter of the family that owns the summer camp and employs most of the region’s residents. And this isn’t the first time a Van Laar child has disappeared. Barbara’s older brother similarly vanished fourteen years ago, never to be found. As a panicked search begins, a thrilling drama unfolds. Chasing down the layered secrets of the Van Laar family and the blue-collar community working in its shadow, Moore’s multi-threaded story invites readers into a rich and gripping dynasty of secrets and second chances. It is Liz Moore’s most ambitious and wide-reaching novel yet.

Attend a free seminar on how to have successful and lasting relationships. At this seminar you will learn: How to spot and handle negative and toxic relationships. How to get through the "rough patches" in a relationship. How to choose the right people to work with. The three things that make or break any relationship. How to make a good relationship great. All are welcome. Be sure to click on the red "Attend" button below to come to this local event. We look forward to seeing you there. Hosted by the Dianetics and Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

This is a free, in-person meeting on the subject of betrayals, losses and how to get over them so you can build lasting relationships. Burdened by a stressful relationship? Unhealthy relationships can trigger feelings of anger, despair or self-doubt. They can create dwindling spirals of fights and seeking to make-up, or trying to “pin the blame” on someone or something. If you don’t find the RIGHT reasons, or select the correct sources of the problem, the problem can just get worse and worse. Whether in love or personal ties, with friends or at work, our life really IS affected by the quality of our relationships. Good ones can promote pleasure and survival while less optimum ones can lead to annoyance, anger, self-doubt, stress, or even affect our health and ability to survive well. Whether you are suffering from a divorce, or a painful break-up, don’t know who to trust (or who to CHOOSE) as a partner, friend, boss or employee - the anxiety of relationship troubles can really make a mess of things. Maybe you’ve suffered a betrayal, or are dealing with hostility or criticalness or invalidation. Dwindling relationships can involve destructive behavior, where we hurt those we love, or start succumbing to self-destructive thoughts, attitudes or behaviors that spiral out of control and affect much more than our immediate relationship. Past losses in love or life can affect how we act or react to new people and situations and hold us back from even starting to create new, possibly great relationships! How can one get back onto a saner course of action? Come to our Meetup, where we can introduce you to some of the knowledge, tools and techniques of the breakthroughs in the field of the mind that we can apply to this ever important area of life: human relationships! Break free from self imposed limitations Here we will discuss: • How to “erase” the trauma of past hurts and betrayals so that one isn’t always repeating past mistakes. • Why and how do the negative emotions of others affect you? • Why is my partner withdrawing and what can I do about it? • Why do we sometimes feel compelled to hurt the ones we love? • Fights & arguments - what's really behind them? • What underlies “corrosive criticism” or the need to invalidate self or others? • How one can stably change one’s outlook on life so they can affect positive change? • Where do compulsive destructive behaviors come from and what can be done about them? • How to form closer bonds & keep growing the relationships with the people you care about? • How to enhance one’s own ability to survive and create positive healthy relationships whether in love, family & friendships or in work, business or one’s career? Relationships can be hard and life itself IS challenging. Why not arm yourself with the knowledge and breakthroughs that have been made about the mind, mental reactions & interpersonal relationships, so that one has better awareness and control over themselves and life in general. Learn where painful experiences are “stored” and how they can unknowingly affect us. You will also find out how one can “erase” those past painful experiences so that one is free to move forward without being tripped up by the past. Learn too, about what can lead some people to become “toxic” personalities and how to identify those traits in others so you won’t be tripped up trusting the wrong person. Our free Meet-ups occur in a safe environment where one can learn, without fear of judgment or criticism, and without the recommendation of harmful mental techniques or therapies, just how YOU can get yourself onto a happier & more successful path: in love & in life. We look forward to having you join us! This class is sponsored by the Dianetics & Scientology Life Improvement Center of Central Ohio.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/2/a/9/6/600_348310902.jpeg Instructor - Crow, HPS Class fee is $30 at the door or approved exchange RSVP with Advance pay of $25 (discounted) by PayPal on the web or by contacting Enchanted Elements (614) 437-2642. Reservations made directly to Enchanted Elements will be added to the class list manually not online. Private Instruction ~ Closed to the Public ~ Initiated Members Only Please come prepared for ritual. Blessings ~ Crow

The topic for March is "Our Bodies, Ourselves" Speak Easy: true stories, told live. The idea is simple: an audience, an open microphone, and great stories. Hilarious, gripping, poignant- it's up to you. Audiences are invited to come to listen or come to tell as folks from all corners of Columbus offer their stories live on stage! Held at Wild Goose Creative's warm, intimate space, this night of tales occurs on the 3rd Thursday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 pm, show starts at 7:00 pm. Please arrive early if you want to tell, as we generally only have room for a limited number of tellers, and the sign-up sheet has a tendency to fill up fast. Formed around the idea that people need stories--they're what hold and draw us together--SpeakEasy celebrates the strangeness and commonness of being human. And in a world of smartphones, Facebook, Twitter, and more . . . it gives people a real, breathing, in-person way to connect. The night is geared for true stories of all kinds, taking the best tales told around kitchen tables, in darkened pubs, on the street corner, and at late-night parties and giving them an audience. Speak Easy is also a great outlet for performers, writers, and artists looking to share their favorite stories and perfect their skills. We strongly encourage tellers to please tell the story rather than read it so we keep within the spirit of good storytelling and stay engaged with the audience. All are welcome. Hang around after the show for a drink and build community!