Non-Fiction Writing

**The creative practice of writing thought experiments gives you the opportunity to:** * investigate ideas (old and new) * work your imagination * write creatively and playfully * produce compelling conversation starters that you can share with friends and strangers to provoke great discussions Over the past 3 years, I've written over 200 thought experiments and learned a lot along the way. [Here's a bit more about why I enjoy the practice.](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/p/writing-thought-experiments) **In this workshop,** I'll share my process and together we'll create new thought experiments by: * Identifying areas of interest * Gathering ingredients for thought experiments * Imagining scenarios * Constructing narratives * Generating relevant, thought provoking questions * Participating in a round of small group discussions - you can volunteer your new thought experiment, or if you'd rather, you can pick one out of the hat. **By the end of the evening** **we'll have** * had some thought provoking conversations * become familiar with a new method for creative thinking * written our own original material for future group discussions :-) Although we’ll be learning a new technique we'll also be aiming to have **an enjoyable evening, with good humour and fun**. This will be less like school and more like a fun TEiP night out with an additional creative twist. **Who should come:** Everyone! We believe that the more perspectives, the richer the conversation. This group is not about being experts, it is about thinking creatively together and learning new ways to develop and communicate ideas. **Tickets** Space is limited (15-20) people and tickets are £15. I'd like to make this event accessible, so if cost is a barrier, please send me a DM. **Where we'll meet:** The Fitzroy Tavern in Fitzrovia. The nearest Tube stations are Goodge Street and Tottenham Court Road. We'll be upstairs in the Private Dining Room. Looking forward to meeting & talking with you! Bonny **[SUBSTACK](https://experimentsingroupwisdom.substack.com/) -** newsletter and further reflections on these events **[WHATSAPP GROUP](https://chat.whatsapp.com/D13LHw5BV3rEtUtO3ORklC)** \- stay in the loop **[INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/thoughtexperimentsinpubs/)** & **[FACEBOOK](www.facebook.com/thoughtexperimentsinpub)** \- see what we look like **[WEBSITE](www.alltogether.one)** \- everything else #philosophyinpubs #inclusivity #openmindedness #creativewriting #community #newskills

**The Unscented Transform: theory, extensions and practical application to Bayesian inference** We are delighted to have John Whitamore back at the Bayesian Mixer. Please register here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bayesianmixer/2154878 **Abstract:** How can we perform Bayesian inference without resorting to slow random sampling methods? Isn't there a nice, pragmatic way to use the geometry of a problem to use only a very small number of samples, placed deterministically? Isn't there a good, straightforward way to implement Bayesian models in practical settings? This talk explains the real-world problems that can be solved by the Unscented Transform. It begins with an intuitive introduction to Bayesian methods, discusses the Unscented Transform and connects the ideas to geometry, finite elements analysis and deep learning. **Bio:** John Whitamore is a Senior Data Scientist at Simply Business, a leading UK InsureTech firm. He has previously served as Head of Data Science for a leading food retailer, as Head of Trading and Systems for an investment management company and as Global Head of Convertible Bond Trading for a European investment bank.

𝐈𝐏𝐋𝐔𝐊 𝐁𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 [Ticket Booking Link](https://buytickets.at/indianprofessionalslondonuk/2168247) Thur, 14th May - 6:00 PM onwards Arena Marble Arch, The Sportsman Casino, W1H 7AF Price: £12.99 per person Includes 1 Starter (Veg / Non-Veg) https://www.instagram.com/indianprofessionalslondonuk/ Join us for an evening of networking, meaningful conversations, and building valuable business connections with founders, entrepreneurs & ambitious individuals from across London! Feel free to invite your friends & colleagues! Looking forward to seeing you all there! Email: hello@indiansinlondonuk.com Lovina Shenoy WhatsApp - 07570766017

Dear Members, As the **early evening from 5pm** [https://luma.com/he99iszf](https://luma.com/he99iszf) unfolds toward sunset, the tone deepens. Conversations shift from introductions to alignment: * Capital meets narrative * Ideas meet execution * Ambition meets backing * Complimentary nibbles & drinks What to expect: Guests arrive at Flex @ Tide, stepping off the street into a space that feels deliberately curated—minimal, elegant, quietly confident. **630-730pm There will be 5 Roundtables** \- Investment\, Tech & Ai\, Film & Music\, Scaleups & GovTech\. If you would like to head a table for discussion please reach out \(Zee Whatsapp 07588812528\)\. **Thank you to Flex @ Tide, The Master Collective**, **YouYaa**, and the **Future Crowd.** Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the river like a living artwork. There’s a subtle soundtrack—low, ambient, almost cinematic—punctuated by the clink of glasses and the first bursts of laughter from early connections forming. Feel free to bring friends and colleagues. If you are looking for future collaborations please let us know. **8pm Carriages** With warm regards, Zee & Team NB For Partnerships or Sponsors zee@picnicbank.com & [zm@mastercollective.xyz](mailto:zm@mastercollective.xyz)

MCP is changing how developers build with AI, but we're just scratching the surface. Join us for an evening of talks that go beyond retrieval to explore what's actually possible when you give agents real tools, real constraints and real APIs. **Agenda** ​6:00 PM - Doors open, registration and networking ​6:10 PM - Welcome (Upsun & Cloudflare) ​6:20 PM - MCP: Context is Everything! - Carly Richmond, Elastic ​6:45 PM - Sandboxes: how to limit agents so we can use them more - Patrick Dawkins, Upsun ​7:00 PM - Break (Food & Drinks) ​7:30 PM - Cooking with MCP in VS Code - Liam Hampton, Microsoft ​7:55 PM - Efficient tools with MCP code mode - Confidence Okoghenun, Cloudflare ​8:15 PM - Open networking and drinks ​9:00 PM - Close 🗣️ ​**Talks** ​**MCP: Context is Everything! - Carly Richmond (Developer Advocate Lead, Elastic)** ​MCP is a powerful tool for giving LLMs capabilities to not just retrieve information, but to automate key actions based on relevant data. Let’s see how it can be used for retrieving relevant context and other activities such as observability. ​**Efficient tools with MCP code mode - Confidence Okoghenun (Senior Developer Advocate, Cloudflare)** ​Traditional MCP approaches choke on context windows: Cloudflare's 2,500+ endpoint API would require 1.17 million tokens. Code Mode flips the script by having LLMs write code against typed APIs instead of making direct tool calls, achieving 99.9% token reduction. Come learn how code mode works and how to optimize your MCP tools with it. ​**Sandboxes: how to limit agents so we can use them more - Patrick Dawkins (Principal Engineer, Upsun)** ​We want our agents to run longer and use more tools, but we're hampered by constant prompts for approval. Sandboxes are the practical middle ground: isolate the agent so you can stop watching every command and let it work. This talk covers what "sandbox" means, who provides them today and the Linux primitives that let you build one yourself. ​**Cooking with MCP in VS Code - Liam Hampton (Senior Cloud Advocate, Microsoft)** ​In this session Liam will show you how VS Code is fully supporting the MCP spec, from MCP Apps to sandboxing and elicitations. 📅 **Date and Time:** Thursday, May 14, from 6:00-9:00 PM 📍 **Location:** Cloudflare Address: 6th Floor, County Hall/The, Riverside Building, Belvedere Rd, London SE1 7PB, UK 👉 You can also register here: https://luma.com/eb8j6lhu ⚠️ Please make sure you provided your full name (no nicknames or abbreviations will be allowed) and to bring your ID card as it will be mandatory to show it upon check-in to security. Entry will be first come, first served. We recommend arriving early to make sure you get in. **⚡️ Interested in giving a talk? ⚡️** Have you ever considered presenting on your Elastic use case? We welcome 5-10 minute lightning talks, 45-minute deep dives, and everything in between. If you're interested, please submit via our [CFP](https://sessionize.com/elastic-meetups/) or send us an email at [meetups@elastic.co.](http://meetups@elastic.co./)

Spreading the love of poetry, this will be an informal session involving: - discussions about 2 poetry techniques to focus on in this session - spend about a half hour working on any poems that you're drafting, or otherwise - read through some of the poetry books that I'll bring along - finally, we'll practise our open mic skills (only if you wish to) by reading to one another any of your own poems, or anything else interesting that you found in the poetry books 😁 Cheers Dave

**SUMMARY (all info is approximate!)** **Distance**: 27.5km (17 miles) **Ascent:** 426m **Duration**: 7-8 hours walking (4km/hr) **Grade**: Energetic **HIGHLIGHTS** * Circular from Haddenham & Thame Parkway over rolling hills of western Aylesbury Vale * A delightful mix of woodlands, arable fields * Slow ascents and descents linking 4 hilltop villages on remote paths * Great views over 5 counties from hilltop village of Brill * Thatched roofs and quaint pubs along the way. This is a beautiful part of the Aylesbury Vale in Bucklnghamshire, with fantastic views, quaint villages, rolling hills, white cows and stallion horses. The morning will be filled with meandering over open fields and a bracing for a slow uphill hike to the top of the hill at Brill for a great views and a pub stop – bring sandwiches as we are stopping for refreshments only. In the afternoon, we will continue to another two villages of Ashendon and Nether Winchendon before we make our way back to Haddenham. At 27.5km, it will be a long and energetic day out – and you will discover countryside which is very different to the normal meetup hikes and rewarded with quaint pubs with thatched roofs - and of course, there is a pub in Haddenham for post hike drinks! *ps. My walks make time to enjoy the views, take in local history and have time for taking photos* **COST AND LOGISTICS** **Cost**: £10 **Start**: 8.30 Meet for a group save ticket **Meet:** 8:45 for those who buy their own tickets & walk to train **Finish:** 6pm in Haddenham for an optional pub visit. **Recommended morning train from London** **Dep**: 09:02 London Marylebone **Arr:** 09:41 Haddenham and Thame Parkway **Return** It is impossible to promise a specified finish train and time, but we aim to return to London from 18.06 (arrives at 18.45) or 18.17 (arrives 19.10), 19.06 (arrives 19.45) **Recommended train ticket** Off-Peak Day Return to Petersfield · **£22.60 group save/ network rail price** Recommended: Buy a yearly Network Railcard for reduced train prices www.network-railcard.co.uk **Meeting Point:** Marylebone Station - In front of timetable noticeboards **REVIEWS** [Trip Advisor](https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g186338-d19994843-Reviews-AAA_Hiking_Outdoor_Group-London_England.html) \| [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AAAHikingUK/reviews) \| [MeetUp](https://www.meetup.com/aaa-outdoor-hiking-adventure-travel/feedback-overview/) **PRICE INCLUDES** · Guided hike planned and led by an experienced AAA leader, trained in Outdoor First Aid. **PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE** · Travel costs · Lunch, drinks or any refreshments · PayPal fees **RECOMMENDED KIT LIST** [(](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist)complete list[)](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/kitlist) · Suitable hiking shoes or boots · Packed lunch and snacks · Water - 2 litres recommended · Waterproof jacket and trousers (Please no jeans!) · Warm windproof layer e.g. Down/Primaloft/Fleece · Wicking base layer e.g. Polyester/Tencel/Merino **CANCELLING/REFUNDS** If you can no longer join the hike, please message the Host listed on here, and update your RSVP status to 'Not going', to allow others to take your place. If the hike is full, and you have messaged us and have changed your RSVP to 'Not going', we will refund you, less than the PayPal/Meetup fees. To obtain this, please email info@aaalondongroup.com **after the event**, with the email address you use on your PayPal account and transaction reference. If the hike is not full, unfortunately we will not be able to provide any refund. **QUESTIONS** If you have any other questions, please check visit our [FAQ page](https://mailchi.mp/aaalondongroup.com/frequently-asked-questions). If you are still unsure, contact the event Host shown on this page. We have operated over 1,000 events without significant incidents in the last ten years, achieved through meticulous planning. All participants (members and their guests) in any AAA Hiking event or activity are personally responsible for their fitness, safety and welfare, and must be equipped accordingly. If you have signed up for the event, you acknowledge and accept the AAA London Group Terms and Conditions. © AAA London Group Ltd. Errors and Omissions Excepted

**Write together with other writers. If you write more surrounded by others, I hope you'll join these new sessions.** Starting up regular Saturday sessions where we writers will gather to write in the same space. There will be plenty of time for you to push forward your own individual projects, but I can provide a writing prompt, short exercise or challenge to anyone who needs them. You can book a spot for a guest with your ticket if you want to bring a writing friend with you. They don't have to be a member of our group. Timing: From **12:30** grab a drink, a table and set up **12:35** individual writing time\* *\*if you'd like a prompt or writing exercise, please ask when you arrive.* **13:15** take a breath (stand up, stretch, look out window, tea, wine etc) **14:00** end of writing time **14:00** we'll gather at the same table to say hello, compare notes and how we got on with our projects in the session **14:45(ish)** end of session but you don't have to stop if you're mid-flow. If you want to stay on and keep writing, please do so. I'm hosting this in the main public area of the pub so you can come and go as you please. You can come to write for a short time or the whole thing. I've allowed two hours for the session but you can easily stay on longer if you wish. I will be there for 12pm when the pub opens to grab us the horseshoe of tables (pictured above) so most of us can be sitting in the same vicinity together. That said, it's a spacious pub so if you want to spread out and choose your own spot, feel free. Manners suggest that you'll buy a drink and perhaps a snack or two from the pub as a part of using their table. Please don't bring your own drinks from elsewhere (water bottles included) as the pub will never let us back in. See their menu on the website for more info. Location: The Square Pig, 30-32 Procter St, London WC1V 6NX. Closest tube is Holborn. Timing: Doors open 12pm for a 12:30pm start and we'll finish the main session by 3pm at the latest. Cost: £10 for hosting, venue arrangement, writing task prep etc. Please follow the steps to pay via PayPal when you RSVP. Refunds or credits will only be offered if the meetup is cancelled by admin. If you change your mind after booking, please change to RSVP to 'not going' as we often have people waiting. Download the Meetup app (check the app store) to manage your RSVPs on the go and be notified about new workshops. Questions or concerns? Please post a comment below and I'll respond. I'm looking forward to it already!

We love a good chat. Come and join us at Table 45

We will meet outside the Blackhorse tube station (Victoria line and Overground) and make our way to see the wetlands. * Walthamstow Wetlands is a 211-hectare nature reserve adjacent to the River Lea. The reservoirs, under the ownership of Thames Water, also form part of a larger Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation, noted for the mixture of aquatic and terrestrial habitats on site, and for their London-wide importance (especially for birds). * We will finish our walk outside the Blackhorse tube station. Optional drinks/lunch at the end of the walk. What to bring: Comfortable footwear Water Photo-taking gadgets and chargers An umbrella just in case (it's London after all) The walk is free for members who have subscribed for an annual membership. For other members the fee is £5 cash/card on arrival to contribute towards the organiser's meetup fees and costs. The annual pass option is £15 payable by cash or card on the day. This will provide access to at least 40 walks per year (members are welcome to bring a guest to each event). All walks are free for the NHS staff (also welcome to bring a guest). **'No Show' Policy:** *If the member replied 'yes' but did not attend the event, did not update the RSVP and did not inform the organiser on 3 occasions – this triggers an automatic removal from the group. That's once for events with a waiting list.*

Join us this Thursday (5/14) at 6:30 pm at Rocky Fork Metro Park in Westerville as we walk about 2.5 miles of a fully paved trail. The Beech Woodland trail is a flat yet scenic trail with a variety of landscapes. Let’s take it in together!

Greetings writers! Come down and join your fellow wordsmiths for one hour of uninterrupted writing time in the upper level of the Market District Supermarket in Upper Arlington. The main entrance of the shopping center opens onto stairs/elevator leading up to the 2nd floor cafe section where we will have a table displaying a sign with the Shut Up & Write logo. Writing is largely a solitary craft. Practicing with others in a community setting may be the thing you need to fire your own routine. We’ll meet on Wednesday evenings, starting the clock at 6:30, following a brief period of introductions. This is solid writing time and all inclusive. Any project is acceptable, be it fiction, non -fiction, work or homework assignment. All is welcome and will remain private to you. The market boasts a Starbucks, a full service bar and various affordable food options. Parking is plentiful, free Wifi is provided as well as outlets for charging your devices, though they are somewhat limited, so plan accordingly. Show up as early as you like, or stay late. This group tends to socialize some, both before and after the alloted time, but this is not mandatory to you. Feel free to come and go as you please and late arrivals are welcome. The cafe may be noisy on occasion so headphones/ earbuds are reccommended as you see fit. Please try to RSVP if possible so that we may grab enough seats for all—the venue can be busy at times. Feel free to message me privately wth any questions and/ or concerns you may have. Happy writing!

Let’s meet and wander the galleries! General admission on Sundays is free.

Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 11 at Streetlight Guild. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. **SCHEDULE:** 6:45ish - Quick introductions 7:00 - Timer starts: write for 1 hour 8:00 - The End **OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING** happens before and after the writing hour. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. **BEING LATE IS OKAY:** just show up and get settled! If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing & I look forward to seeing you at Streetlight Guild! **WHAT SHOULD I BRING?** Whatever you need to be able to write! You're welcome to bring earplugs/headphones if noise will bother you! **OTHER IMPORTANT DETAILS:** * **RSVP:** Please RSVP by 6:00pm the evening of the meeting. This helps me know how many to expect, and if we'll need additional space! * **COVID:** While masks are not required, please be mindful of the other writers around you and their comfort levels. * **WIFI/OUTLETS:** Outlets are limited, so please ensure your devices are charged when you come! But Streetlight Guild does have free WiFi! Yay! * **PARKING:** There is free public parking at Streetlight Guild.

**History** The history of [Blendon Woods Metro Park](https://www.metroparks.net/parks-and-trails/blendon-woods/) began long before its 1951 opening, rooted in a landscape of rugged ridges and deep ravines that made the land unsuitable for traditional farming. In 1945, a report proposing a metropolitan park system for Franklin County specifically highlighted these cliffs of Bedford Shale as some of the "wildest land in the vicinity". Following this recommendation, the recently formed park district purchased the first 229 acres in early 1949. Because the terrain was so uneven, developers had to cut a mile-and-a-half-long roadway through dense woods just to bring in heavy equipment. This initial preservation effort ensured that the mature second-growth hardwood forests remained largely untouched by the urban expansion spreading toward Westerville. Opening day arrived on Labor Day, September 3, 1951, marking Blendon Woods as the second park in the Columbus and Franklin County Metro Parks system. The final push to open was a frantic race; the State Highway Department only finished the primary gravel access road four days before the gates opened. Early staff members, consisting of just four full-time employees, had to hand-dig pit toilets and learn construction skills on the fly to build the first picnic shelters. Despite the dusty conditions and limited facilities, the park was an immediate success, drawing massive crowds from across Central Ohio. By the end of the 1950s, annual visitation had already climbed to over 190,000 people. As the surrounding suburbs grew in the 1960s, the park faced severe overcrowding that threatened its natural habitats. In response, Franklin County voters passed the first Metro Parks levy in 1960, providing the funds necessary for a decade of steady expansion. During this era, the park nearly doubled in size, growing from 264 acres to over 570 acres by 1968. Planners also addressed a critical water shortage by collaborating with the U.S. Soil and Conservation Service to build a lake in 1964. This body of water originally served as a temporary reservoir before its role shifted toward conservation and wildlife support. The 1970s marked a transition toward the specialized wildlife and educational focus for which the park is known today. In 1971, the Walden Waterfowl Refuge was established around the 11-acre Thoreau Lake, creating a sanctuary that remains restricted to provide a quiet habitat for migratory birds. A formal nature center was also developed during this period, expanding on the guided Sunday walks that had been a park staple since the early 1950s. The park’s famous "Monarch Mansion" also became a prominent fixture, starting a long tradition of raising and releasing thousands of monarch butterflies each September. These initiatives cemented the park’s reputation as a premier destination for birders and nature enthusiasts. In more recent decades, Blendon Woods has continued to modernize while maintaining its wilderness character. The 10-acre Natural Play Area was added in 2017, encouraging kids to explore the ravines and woods off-trail. This was followed by the opening of a $1.5 million inclusive playground in April 2025, designed to accommodate children of all physical abilities. The nature center also underwent major renovations to include immersive, three-dimensional exhibits and a new butterfly house. Today, the park encompasses 653 acres, preserving a unique geologic and biological corridor amidst the bustling Westerville and Northeast Columbus area. **Map of the Park** Here is a map of [Blendon Woods](https://www.metroparks.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/BLN_map_Inclusive-Playground-and-Butterfly-Trail_May-2025_1980px.png). **Summary** For this event, we will hike the Lake View, Hickory Ridge, Ripple Rock, Overlook, Brookside, and Sugarbush Trails. This sounds like a lot, but it will really be only a little over five miles. Blendon Woods has a few hills here and there, but it's not one of the more strenuous metro parks. **Where We'll Meet** We'll meet just in front of the Nature Center. This is about a mile into the park from the main entrance. You have to go past the Ranger Station and the Shadblow Reservable Area to get to it, so don't stop too early at the Ranger Station and get it confused with the Nature Center. **After the Hike** Afterward, we will head over to [Forbidden Root Restaurant & Brewery](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/) at Easton for [drinks](https://forbiddenroot.com/restaurants/columbus-ohio/#dinner-menu) and [food](https://forbiddenroot.com/wp-content/uploads/Cbus-Food.pdf). We should be there by 5 if you can't make the hike and just want to join us for drinks. The brewery's actual address is [4080 Worth Ave, Columbus, OH 43219](https://www.google.com/maps/place/4080+Worth+Ave,+Columbus,+OH+43219/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x88388a86d10b6619:0x4d42b470a5cf11d3?sa=X&ved=1t:242&ictx=111); however, I recommend pointing your GPS to the [Worth Garage](https://www.google.com/maps/place/Worth+Garage/@40.0542293,-82.9137962,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x88388b4df6082825:0x17582f0eccd9dda1!8m2!3d40.0542293!4d-82.9137962!16s%2Fg%2F11rzfvvv8b?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDQxNS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D) across the street. Parking in this garage is free as long as you're not on the first floor, and it is literally right next to the brewery.

We'll meet at The Capital One Café, 167 Easton Town Center, Space A-103. This is in the main mall where the Microsoft store used to be, on your left if you're standing at the bottom of the AMC Theater escalator. Join us on Saturday for an hour of uninterrupted wordmaking! • What we'll do Join us for an hour of writing! We’ve discovered that it’s strikingly helpful to write with other writers. See if it’s true for you at 10AM on Saturday mornings. Be it a book, blog, script, essay, dissertation, resume, melody, poem or just plain work stuff, you are invited to write it with us. No one will see what you've written or give you unsolicited advice. Instead of just thinking about writing, come and get some real writing done. SCHEDULE: 10:00 - SESSION 1: quick intros. 10:10 - timer starts: write for 1 hour. 11:10 - chat / take off / keep writing. OPTIONAL SOCIALIZING happens at 11A-11:30ish. Writing is very solitary. Connecting (and sometimes even commiserating) with other writers is a cool thing. BEING LATE IS OKAY: just show up and get settled, then check-in with me after the session. (I’ll be the person with the Shut Up & Write! sign.) If you were on time, please be willing to make room for the friendly latecomer. Happy writing and I look forward to seeing you! • What to bring Whatever you need to be able to write! Bring earbuds/earplugs if you want to block noise or the occasional conversation by other patrons. Electrical outlets are limited, so charge your devices before whenever possible. See you at The Café on Saturday!

This month we’ll be reading Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett. Feel free to come and chat even if you don’t finish the book!