Learn to Cook & Bake

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-basic-wood-joints-74/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodwork-basic-wood-joints-74/) ⋆⋆⋆ A beginner's course that goes straight to the heart of woodworking. This five-week evening course will focus on timeless variations of wood joints that can be used for an endless amount of woodwork projects. Develop your skills with a saw, chisel and plane so that you can measure and mark out your work, cut, fit and glue joints accurately, ensuring your woodwork is strong, durable and darn good-looking. Learn these classic wood joints while you hone your making ability, and set free your ideas for furniture, box-making and all things fabulous. During the course, you will learn the uses and advantages of each joint as you construct a framework of sample joints. This project is a classic learning method. The **half-lap joint** can be used to make frames for pictures, perimeter door frames for panel or glass doors, dust dividers in cabinets and in many other situations. Because the half-lap does not add any thickness to the pieces of wood being joined, there are virtually no limitations for using it. The **mitred half** lap is an elegant yet strong corner joint, with its diagonal cut constructed with an internal half lap, The **tee halving** is a versatile joint which is often used in internal cabinet frames and simple framing and bracing. The **half dovetail** is a very strong type of joint because of the way the ‘tails’ and ‘pins’ are shaped. This shape makes it difficult to pull the joint apart and virtually impossible when glue is added. This type of joint is used in box constructions such as draws, jewellery boxes, cabinets and other pieces of furniture where strength is required. All use of tools and materials included. Perfect for beginners.

**Unleash Your Voice at Society Speakers** > **Next Session: Wed 3rd Jun \| 7PM \| Oxford St\, London** Whether you're pitching investors, cracking jokes at open mics, or giving a toast that doesn’t tank—**public speaking is your secret weapon**. And the only way to master it? Practice. (And ideally, not alone.) At **Society Speakers**, we give you the mic—and the *confidence* to own it. **Here’s what goes down:** * 3 prepared speeches (5–7 mins) * Lightning-round impromptu speeches (1–2 mins) * Constructive, empowering feedback * Laughs, insights, and mic-drop moments **As a guest:** You can chill and observe—or jump in with a mini speech if you're feeling spicy. **When & Where** Every 1st and 3rd Wednesday 7PM (doors), 7:10PM (kick-off) 📍 Speak Up London, 139 Oxford St, London W1D 2JA 🍻 **Afterglow** We wrap at 9PM and head to the pub for drinks and debriefs. Great convos, zero pressure.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-wednesday-eve-21/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/upholstery-bring-your-own-chair-wednesday-eve-21/) **⋆⋆⋆** KEY PROJECT: RE-UPHOLSTERING YOUR OWN CHAIR. Suitable for beginners and fun for advanced learners. This workshop is led by Krasmira Nikolova, an experienced upholsterer. We provide the use of all upholstery tools and equipment including compressed air staple guns. Basic upholstery materials that you require for your project will be moderately charged on a pay-as-you-use basis and will be dependent on each chair’s requirements. We can advise you on the purchase of your top fabric and we have a lovely library of fabric samples to help make up your mind. The Goodlife Centre sells all the basic tools and materials for use on projects worked on at home. This is a fantastic chance to up-cycle and personalise a family piece you have at home or a junk shop find and a great way to immerse yourself into the wonderful world of upholstery. The course is suitable for both beginners and those who have a basic knowledge but little experience who wish to extend their expertise. **Choosing a suitable chair** If you are a newcomer to upholstery, there are a couple of pointers to help you choose a chair to work on. Choose something that has one or two flat planes – a seat and a back – as curves and arms are more complex and take longer to achieve. If you are a complete beginner, you could bring something more simple such as an upholstered footstool. More experienced upholsters can bring more complex pieces. Your chair can be traditionally built or modern, but be aware that some modern pieces have been constructed using machinery and are difficult to recreate by hand. [Click here for a detailed PDF of suitable chairs.](https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2r8UvbQtaH5RTVKUjlBdkhDX3c/view?usp=sharing) **Please email info@thegoodlifecentre.co.uk with a photo of your chair prior to the course so we can answer any suitability questions and advise if your chair is suitable**. We have very limited storage at the centre, so we can only store smaller pieces during the course. Please make sure the total dimensions are less than 1000mm high by 750mm wide, with a depth of 750mm. The use of tools and machinery is included. All materials will be charged at nominal rates. Some materials will not be kept in stock but can be ordered. Approved projects can be stored at the centre. We cannot offer additional time to work on your project outside of workshop times.

We're the All Good Bookshop writing group - we've been around for 10 years now. We offer writing feedback and discussion, whatever your level. Never been before? That's fine. Can only come once in a while? That's fine. Want to come regularly? That's fine. While we're predominantly narrative-based, any type of writing is welcome. Fiction, non-fiction, screenplays, novels, short-stories... bring it along and see if it fits. The cost is £5 to join us. Half of this goes to the bookshop and the other half goes towards snacks/drinks for everyone. Pay when you get there. (If you're having any financial problems, feel free to have a discreet chat with Chris about it). HOW IT WORKS First, we do introductions, which cover: 1 - Who you are 2 - What kind of thing you write 3 - What you're working on 4 - What you've done in the last two weeks. Then we find out who has stuff to read out (1,000 - 2,000 words), and who has questions/discussion points. If you'd prefer to do written hand-outs, you can as well. We then run through as many people as we can fit in, so they can read out or run through a discussion point. The group is run by Chris Brosnahan, an experienced writer and a long-running facilitator of writing groups. HOUSE RULES 1 - No egos. Everyone's stuff is up for criticism/feedback. 2 - Be constructive. We're not a review group - we're trying to help each other improve. 3\. No pressure\. You can turn up and just observe if you want \- you're not under pressure to read out or feed back\. 4 - We do our best to be a safe space. You don't know the backgrounds of everyone in the room. If you're going to read something that might be problematic or emotionally difficult, talk about it first - and if you're unsure, ask. 5 - We do our best to be a safe space. For particularly graphic scenes, please discuss in advance. A reminder that listening to erotica is, in itself, a sex act, and needs the enthusiastic consent of everyone involved. 6 - Content warnings apply. This doesn't just mean things like sex or violence. It also includes things like abuse, long-term illness, death - think of things that someone may find difficult if they're dealing with at the moment. We do our best to be a safe space. 7 - If you're struggling with anything being read, you can take a break without any justification or questions. 8 - Banned question: "Is this based on your own life?" - it doesn't add anything and can make discussion awkward. Please don't ask it. 9 - Let other people talk. You'll get your chance to feedback or ask questions, but it can be all too easy to talk over people. You also don't need to respond to every piece of feedback. 10 - Keep it respectful. Keep it friendly. Any problems? Get in touch and ask.

A Rabble session is 1 hour of fun and social team games. Each game disguises high-intensity intervals within the rules, giving you an effective, all-body workout without even realising it. We play a bunch of different games at each session (like British Bulldog, Capture the Flag, Dodgeball, Frisbee and many more), and every class is different. Sessions are open to all, no matter your sporting ability. Each game is explained before we start, so there's no need to have played any of the games before. Come solo or bring friends! And stay at the end for the social part! Who knew getting fit could be this fun? **TO BOOK**: It's essential that you book onto sessions via our website, using the link below; due to restrictions on games and preparation times we cannot accept walk-ins, or late arrivals. [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) Use the code **FREEPLAY** to get your first game free! *** We play every: * Monday in Finsbury Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Tuesday in Shoreditch Park (19:00 - 20:00) * Wednesdays in Elephant & Castle (19:00-20:00) * Saturday in Southwark Park (10:30 - 11:30) * Saturday in Finsbury Park (11:00 - 12:00) * Sunday in Clapham Common (12:00 - 13:00) We hope to see you playing soon! PS. We have a group of dedicated regulars, so numbers are usually much higher than meetup might suggest. Sign up at: [https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/](https://joinrabble.com/locations/london/) **Love Rabble**

This class offers an opportunity to learn simple and profound techniques to calm the body's stress response and reset the nervous system so that it is more relaxed, balanced and stable. We will work with the tools on our own and if desired, also offer support and consensual, healing touch in pairs. There will also be an opportunity to discover how the subconscious mind impacts the nervous system, our thinking and our behaviour and how we can work with the subconscious mind to live more freely. TRE® is one of the tools we'll explore. It uses simple and safe exercises that enable the body to access and release deep tension, stress and trauma patterns from the body. The exercises safely activate the natural and innate reflex of vibrating/tremoring/shaking in the muscles to release tension and calm the nervous system. When this movement happens in a safe and controlled environment, the body can find its way back into balance. This class is for you if: * you want to feel more connected to your body and less in your head * you are interested in learning a powerful technique that you can use for the rest of your life to manage stress and tension as nature intended * you want to let go of narratives, stories, limiting beliefs and find more freedom to be yourself For more information and to book, please click [here](https://www.outsavvy.com/event/17739/tre-tension-trauma-releasing-exercises-with-andy)

Venez passer une soirée dans notre cinéma et lounge, et parler de films. Nous vous offrons un verre de vin ou un jus de fruits et un truc à grignoter, mais si vous voulez autre chose; vous pouvez l'apporter. Nous allons regarder une des comédies françaises les plus populaires. Après une courte présentation, nous regarderons le film et après nous en discuterons. **The event costs £10,** but you will not be asked to pay until it is confirmed. It will run if we have **5 attendees** confirmed.

**Who We Are** Early Bird Speakers is one of London's best public speaking club for beginners and experienced speakers alike. Our fast-paced, engaging meetings help members develop confidence and refine their speaking skills in a supportive environment. **What to Expect** Each meeting follows a structured format with three key segments: * **Prepared Speeches** – Members deliver speeches based on projects that enhance skills like storytelling, persuasion, and vocal variety. * **Impromptu Speaking (Table Topics)** – Participants practice thinking on their feet with 1–2 minute speeches on surprise topics. * **Evaluations** – Constructive feedback is given to foster continuous improvement. **Why Join Us?** * A **diverse and welcoming** community, including professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, and more. * **Energetic and engaging** sessions designed to make learning enjoyable. * A **structured yet fun** experience that builds confidence and skill. * Optional **post-meeting coffee or breakfast** for networking and socialising. * Each meeting is attend by 30-50 people **Whether you’re terrified of public speaking or already confident at the mic,** this club is the place to grow. From first-time speakers to experienced presenters — everyone has something to gain here. **Meeting Details** 📍 **Where:** Freemasons' Hall, 60 Great Queen Street, London, WC2B 5AZ 🕖 **When:** Every Thursday at 7:00AM - 8:45 AM (Please try to be on time as reception downstairs will close shortly after the meeting has started) Join us for free as a guest! Feel free to sign up on Meetup or **simply show up on Thursday.** Whatever your speaking ability, you'll find a warm and supportive atmosphere to grow your skills. 📩 **Questions?** Send us a message on meetup, visit [www.earlybirdspeakers.com](http://www.earlybirdspeakers.com/) or e-mail us on membership@earlybirdspeakers.com

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/traditional-and-modern-lampshade-making-77/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/traditional-and-modern-lampshade-making-77/) ⋆⋆⋆ If you aspire to the luxury and elegance of lampshades that ooze class like a dowager, this is the workshop for you. Even if you have never stitched in your life, Ian McQueen’s relaxed and friendly style of tuition will have you wishing you had taken to the sewing needle years ago. Ian is a City and Guilds trained craftsman who makes elegant traditionally built fine lampshades for interior designers and high-end shops. Some are sophisticated – lined with silk so light glows through, some are dramatic statements bejewelled with vintage adornments. All are hand stitched -not glued – so that they retain their shape and structure to give years of pleasure. During a one-day workshop, you will select a wire frame and transform it into a bespoke home accessory for all to admire in your home. We use a 10-inch diameter Drum shade and a 12-inch diameter straight Empire frame. You can select fabric from a few fabrics we have available but we recommend you bring along 1 metre of fabric to match your colour scheme. If you want to walk on the wild side, bring any fabric you want to give new life. Students have even transformed an old pair of jeans into a striking shade. The process is fun but meticulous so there is sometimes only the time to complete the stitching on one lampshade in a day. This will depend on your speed. What you will take home is some of the historical skills used by milliners and upholders. (They were the stitchers who hung the tapestries on medieval walls.) As well as the know-how and route to suppliers you will learn how to make your own lampshades at home. The tutor can demonstrate how to make simple trims in the same fabric. No special machinery is required and only a little help from a simple sewing machine is available at the centre. It does not matter if you have never used a machine before. Choices- 1. Make a firm drum lampshade. Using a supplied frame, you will learn how to stitch reinforced fabric onto a frame using a traditional stitch. 2. A pleated or unpleated lampshade. The lampshade fabric is stretched or folded directly onto a ‘Straight Empire’ frame. The lampshade can then be lined with a contrasting fabric. The use of all tools and materials are included. We have additional assorted frames for sale, as well as a small range of vintage trimmings for you to make more lampshades at home. Suitable for beginners. Enjoyable for all.

Hi, in this workshop, we will learn to prepare some picnic items such as bread (vegan) goats cheese roulade (v), mackerel or chicken liver pate, panisses (vegan), pissaladière, a lentil salad, maybe a quiche, and of course, a cake and some sweet things. There will be a clearer plan once I know how many are coming. We will then go and taste them in the dining room or upstairs while admiring the view. If it's a beautiful day, we could go and enjoy it at Mudchute Farm. The event is free in itself, but I will charge for the ingredients. It should not exceed £15/ person. Please note, the event will only run if there are at least 3 people coming, and I will send you a payment link to be paid before attending. We will cook together (in French of course) in our beautiful 56th floor kitchen, and then we will share and chitchat together in French and you can take some home if there are any left! (bring tupperware) You are welcome to bring a drink if you like, we have glasses and everything necessary, although if we go to the farm, you might need to bring a drinking vessel of some sort. For extra fun, you could bring an ingredient you'd like to experiment with!! Cooking will take place from 11-3pm, and after that we'll mingle (in French still!) until you feel fully frenchified. Teenagers are welcome, but there might be too much going on for smaller children.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodblock-printing-2/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/intro-to-woodblock-printing-2/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Course:** Intro Wood Block Printing **Suitable for:** Suitable for beginners. No prior experience is required. **About:** Spend a day learning to cut a wood block to create layered relief prints. Printing onto paper. This one day course is a great introduction to the craft of reduction woodcut printing onto ‘Awagami’ paper. Even if you have never cut into a piece of wood or have any artistic experience, You will be able to explore your creativity and learn wood cutting methods to create prints. You will be guided through the techniques to carve your own woodblock, creating a layered image as the surface of the block is cut away at each stage, printing each new colour as you go. A single block will be carved and printed in layers, lightest to darkest, until a final unique piece reveals itself. You will learn to use different woodcarving tools to make various cuts into your woodblock taking inspiration from iconic Japanese woodcut prints (like The Great Wave of Kanagawa), well known artists, nature, and patterns to create your own design with guidance from tutor Ollie Norris, or perhaps you may already have your own designs in mind? The woodcuts are shallow and do not require great strength to make, so the workshop is open to all abilities. All use of tools and materials supplied Bring an apron or wear old clothes in case some of the paint jumps onto you.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/basic-tiling-morning-78/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/basic-tiling-morning-78/) ⋆⋆⋆ Not quite sure where to start with a tiling project? A bit daunted by the thought of tiles falling off the wall if you do get them on? What about those half tiles at the corners… and cutting a curved shape? If the idea of tackling a tiling project yourself is terrifying, yet you yearn for the skills to have a go, then this weekday morning workshop is just for you. In this hands-on practical workshop, we will guide you through choosing appropriate tiles for the job, sizing up, planning out, and preparing the surface. You will use the correct adhesive to tile a small area and learn how to grout in between the tiles to ensure a watertight finish. You will also practice cutting straight lines and curves. Come and break our tiles instead of yours while you practice. Bring photos of problem areas and leave with expert advice and confidence to help you complete your very own project at home. All personal protection, tools, and materials are included. Suitable for absolute beginners. Enjoyable for everyone.

**Bookable via our website ➡️** [https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/lino-block-printing-5/](https://www.thegoodlifecentre.co.uk/events/lino-block-printing-5/) **⋆⋆⋆** **Suitable for:** Suitable for beginners. No prior experience is required. **About:** Spend a day learning to cut a lino block, ink up and print onto fabric. On this one day workshop you will gain an introduction to the lino printing technique onto fabric. You will create your own one color lino print on fabric, an artwork ready to hang on your wall or perhaps as a gift for someone. Taking inspiration from natural objects, plants and images provided and learn to free your hand and mind with the process of mark making itself. Katharine will guide you through the process of carving your own piece of natural linoleum which you will then ink up and print onto your prepared piece of fabric multiple times using a brayer roller. You will make your own creative decisions as you go with as much or little guidance as you need, while always bearing in mind mistakes can lead to positive and new outcomes!

Who’s up for a pizza night at the highly requested Pizza House? 🍕🍻 Join us at for great pizza, good laughs, and even better company! Come hungry and ready for a cheesy good time.

If you enjoy knitting, crocheting, working with yarn, this is the group for you. Meet new friends, bring your projects, learn from others.
We normally meet a few times a month during the week from 6-8pm. We will occasionally meet on weekends during daytime hours.

A cookie covered in creamy frosting can brighten anyone’s day! National Frosted Cookie Day is all about that simple joy. **DETAILS:** We'll celebrate the occasion by visiting Cheryl's Cookies headqtrs. cookie shop, trying to decide which seasonal treats to choose! **NEXT:** we'll head west on Polaris Pkwy to Bonefish Grill for Happy Hour eats n drinks. We can share our sweet finds for dessert... *In a busy world, National Frosted Cookie Day offers a little sweetness that reminds us to slow down and enjoy the moment.*

Welcome, readers! Our May read is **_Kindred_ by Octavia E. Butler.** The story follows Dana, a Black woman living in 1976 California, who is suddenly pulled back to a Maryland plantation before the Civil War. She learns her survival is tied to a white slaveholder’s son. Forced to move between centuries, she must endure the brutal realities of slavery while fighting to hold on to her identity. Tense, intimate, and unforgettable, Kindred explores how the past refuses to stay buried. Looking forward to discussing with everyone! We will meet at Zaftig Brewing Co in their event room in the back. We are welcome to bring in our own food, but **drinks must be purchased at the bar.** Happy reading! 📖

We are bringing Microsoft Build sessions to Columbus Ohio! The Central Ohio Azure Meetup and Central Ohio .NET Developer's Group (CONDG) are coming together to bring some of the labs and breakouts from Microsoft Build to your backyard. In this free, 1 day event, you are going to Build stuff with us! And yes, there will be free food. So please RSVP for a head count!