Public School

Hola, hola: Empezamos el año 2026 con la obra maestra de Eduardo Galeano, *Las venas abiertas de América Latina* (379 páginas). Vamos a dedicar dos días a esta lectura y, para esta sesión, trataremos la segunda parte: EL DESARROLLO ES UN VIAJE CON MÁS NÁUFRAGOS QUE NAVEGANTES. El libro consta de varios subcapítulos y la propuesta será que elijáis tres de ellos y presentéis un resumen al grupo. Por otra parte, sería estupendo si formuláis algunas preguntas para estimular la conversación o preguntas de tipo Trivial para organizar una pequeña competición por equipos. No obstante, esta propuesta no es obligatoria. ¡Qué disfrutéis de América Latina! ¿Te interesa la lectura en inglés, francés o de la literatura persa?: [-](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-libros)[www.meetup.com/gaia-books](www.meetup.com/gaia-books) [-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres](http://-www.meetup.com/gaia-livres) -[www.meetup.com/persian-culture](www.meetup.com/persian-culture) -Instagram: @persian_culture_

🔵 THE FIRST 10 TICKETS ARE £4.50 ONLY 🔴 REMAINING TICKETS ONLINE ARE £9.50 ONLY 🟢 TICKETS AT THE DOOR ARE £15.0 CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO BUY TICKETS - https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1978221829745 In this workshop Ryan explains how to reduce hostility in social situations, then how to set boundaries & defend yourself if necessary while minimising the chances of overreacting or that there is a misunderstanding. Including brain training exercises you can practice to be sharper in this area. 🔵 - How to defend yourself if trying to keep things peaceful isn’t working 🟣 - How to set boundaries in a healthy way 🟠 - Being reasonable so that you’re neither having your boundaries broken but also not overreacting potentially ending up becoming the hostile person 🟢 - How to deal with bullying 🔵 - How to manage emotions related to this area ⚫ - Brain training exercises designed to increase sharpness at this area of social skills Ryan has been coaching people social skills full time for over 10 years. As a quiet & shy person he wanted to work on his own social skills & after making huge improvements plus understanding how social situations work & how to improve he developed a process to help others for every area of social skills. He has helped thousands of people over the years to improve & now has a huge following including over 180000 followers on TikTok. More info on Ryan & Social Shortcuts can be found on the website https://www.socialshortcuts.com 
After workshops we spend time hanging out together, a great opportunity to practice the workshop content & make new friends. Plus Ryan is happy to answer any questions you want to ask one to one. 
🟢Workshop happening after this: 🟠 Persuasion Workshop Sunday, February 15, 2026 at 5:45 PM GMT Ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1978221844790 In this workshop Ryan explains how to persuade effectively, ethically & without lying including techniques with brain training exercises designed to increase sharpness in this area with practice bringing this together at the end. 🔵 - The mechanics of how people end up being persuaded 🟣 - How to be ethical while being persuasive 🟠 - Persuasion using only the truth 🟢 - Emotions involved in persuasion & how they function 🔵 - Practical persuasion techniques that are effective, easy to use & unlikely to feel insincere ⚫ - Brain training exercises designed to increase sharpness at this area of social skills 🔴 - A challenge at the end to bring everything from the workshop together In person workshops are at 40 Store St. - Store Street Espresso: London. 
For any questions feel free to contact Ryan or Gabriel. Please don't contact the other group organisers as they are not involved in running the event & won't be able to provide much help:
✉ Ryan: info@socialshortcuts.com
✉ Gabriel: gabrielsocialshortcuts@gmail.com 
OTHER EVENTS LINED UP
🟡 Developing Humor And Quick Thinking In Social Situations
🟢 Persuasion Workshop
🟤 How To Manage Emotions Workshop 
5 minute documentary on our workshops - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rlbCYdeaws 
We have a score of 4.9 out 5 on Trustpilot - https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/socialshortcuts.com 
Our WhatsApp chat where we discuss social skill, give updates about our events & you can ask questions - https://chat.whatsapp.com/FuT9gAwf9oMKACjbWFLmxk 
For one to one coaching on social skills and also our free trial session - [ http://www.socialshortcuts.com 
We have over 180000 followers on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@socialshortcuts.com 
Our video courses - [https://social-shortcuts.teachable.com/p/conversation-course 
DISCLAIMER
This workshop is intended for educational and or entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition. 
Follow us on the sites below also:
http://www.socialshortcuts.com
http://www.youtube.com/c/socialshortcuts
http://www.facebook.com/socialshortcutsofficial
http://www.Instagram.com/socialshortcuts 
🟣 Albert Ellis
🟤 Being assertive does not mean attacking or ignoring others feelings. It means that you are willing to hold up for yourself fairly-without attacking others.

Welcome back ramblers, rovers, loungers and loafers and happy 2026! It's a new year, but we're picking where we left off, in the onetime capital of cockney London with its dockworkers and gangsters, the Isle of Dogs - which became the landing-pad for an invasion of alien Thatcherites in the 1980s with the construction of Canary Wharf, which now towers over the council estates and parklands of this misunderstood peninsula. From there we'll head west, looking eventually to end up in the Brutalist wonderland (featured in Kubrick's *Clockwork Orange*!) of Thamesmead, possibly by way of the free Woolwich Ferry service from north shore to south. Meet at Canary Wharf station, out in front of the big curved class canopy. Elizabeth Line services at Abbey Wood will get us home. See you there! Check planned TfL disruptions here - our day should be all clear for most everybody: https://content.tfl.gov.uk/planned-track-closures.pdf A little background on our City Drifting project here: **Now just wait a minute. What the hell is a drift ([dérive](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D%C3%A9rive))?** A drift is any unplanned journey through the urban landscape in which participants practice a form of radical mindfulness, collectively exploring new ways of relating mentally, ideologically and materially to the "ordinary" urban environment we all think we know so well. First theorised publicly by Situationist thinker, artist and provocateur Guy Debord in his 1956 essay *[Theory of the Dérive](https://libcom.org/article/theory-derive-guy-debord)*, drifting is a sort of *critique of ideology* done by walking, looking, and feeling. **The urban environment of London is not a neutral space:** it is packed with surveillance equipment, anti-homeless architecture, consumerist [Gruen transfers,](https://www.smartcapitalmind.com/what-is-the-gruen-transfer.htm) crowd management systems and security perimeters, among a thousand other subtle and not-so-subtle methods of population control. Moreover, our everyday relationship to the city and its pathways is conditioned deeply by our habits of movement and our habitual perceptions: our commute to work, to school, our nips down to the shops, etc. **All these routines create what Marxists call a *reified* relationship with the urban environment: through over-familiarity it becomes something seemingly natural, "just there", ordinary, unchangeable - boring.** This boredom and familiarity kills the radical imagination, without which we're fucked. To be able to start to imagine how society could be transformed, we also need to imagine how spaces, buildings, their use, their whole purpose (and who these serve) could themselves be transformed. A necessary step in this process, according to Debord and the Situationists, is the drift. Like the 19th-century gentleman *[flâneur](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fl%C3%A2neur),* by wandering the city with an attitude of "fresh eyes", we can shake loose our ingrained sense of what London and its streets are like. **As a collective, we will work to "estrange our senses" and see the streets, buildings and people differently, as if we were encountering them for the first time.** That is to say: these aren't just random walks around London - with the right frame of mind, they will be opportunities to turn the world upside down, if only for a moment! But don't take it from me - as Debord observed: *"In a dérive one or more persons during a certain period **drop their relations, their work and leisure activities, and all their other usual motives for movement and action, and let themselves be drawn by the attractions of the terrain and the encounters they find there.** Chance is a less important factor in this activity than one might think: from a dérive point of view cities have [psychogeographical](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychogeography) contours, with constant currents, fixed points and vortexes that strongly discourage entry into or exit from certain zones."* See you on the streets comrades, and remember, as [Raoul Vaneigem](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Vaneigem) once wrote: *"All space is occupied by the enemy. We are living under a permanent curfew. Not just the cops — the geometry".*

**🏸 Sid’s Badminton Club - Sunday Session @ Richmond** 📅 **Every Sunday** | ⏰ **4:30pm - 7:30pm** (3 hours) 📍 Christ’s School, Richmond (Queen’s Rd, TW10 6HW) - [Get Directions](https://goo.gl/maps/7Z2MsSsW4Rv) 🅿️ **FREE secure car park** **What’s Included:** ✓ Full sports hall - 4 courts | ✓ Premium feather shuttles | ✓ Singles & Doubles (Men’s, Ladies’, Mixed) ✓ Grouped by skill level | ✓ Lower Intermediate to Advanced players ----- ## 💰 PRICING **Pay-As-You-Go: £14 per session** **💡 BETTER VALUE - Join as a Member:** - **Full Year £450** = £8.65/session (save £278/year!) - **3-Month Trial £155** - perfect for testing - **20% OFF** for Students/U25s/Unemployed 👉 **[See All Membership Options & Save](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/membership.php)** 👉 **[Check Special Discounts](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/#discounts)** ----- ## 📋 SESSION ESSENTIALS **Payment:** - **Cash preferred** - pay organisers at start of session - Bank transfer available (**NOT for first-timers**) - Bring correct change please **Cancellation Policy:** - Cancel **24 hours before** or you’ll be charged full session fee - Outstanding fees **must be cleared** before attending next session **Skill Level:** - Open to **lower intermediate and above** - Not sure? Attend first session - we’ll help assess your level! - Contact us at **info@sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk** or use our [Enquiry Form](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/contact.php) **Important:** - Club carries **no liability insurance** - players responsible for own coverage - Bring appropriate gear (non-marking shoes, racket, sportswear) ----- **Questions?** Text us on Meetup or visit **[sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk](https://www.sidsbadmintonclub.org.uk/)** **See you on court! 🏸**

2nd Sunday of every month, join us for a relaxed and fun language exchange, where meaningful conversations flow as freely as delicious coffee and tea! This isn't just practice; it's **accelerated progress** in a supportive setting, designed to quickly boost your **Mandarin, Cantonese and English** skills. **How We Make It Effective & Enjoyable:** * **Perfect Groupings:** We carefully match you with native speakers and learners at a similar level, ensuring comfortable and productive conversation practice. * **Forget awkward silences!** We provide fun, engaging discussion topics to spark lively chats and keep the conversation flowing. * **Maximise Your Practice:** Rotate between groups if you wish to connect with more people and strengthen your conversation skills! * **Expert Support:** Our experienced tutor is always on hand to help. 👌 **All levels welcome!** Native speakers and learners alike. 💛 Please support the cafe by buying a drink or snack while you are here - they've kindly let us use the space. We can't wait to welcome you! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **Take your Mandarin beyond the exchange.** 🤝 If you’re looking for a bit more structure to go along with your conversation practice, let’s chat! We're offering **complimentary 1-on-1 advice sessions** to help you find the perfect learning path. Get a professional assessment of your level so you can study with confidence. **No commitment** required. [Book your Free Session](https://eu.bigin.online/org20070515371/bookings/course-advice) \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **China Unbound** is the best place to learn practical Chinese for adults. While most schools prioritise grammar and writing, China Unbound empowers you to confidently communicate in Chinese in real-world situations. Join us and discover a fun, fast, and personalised way to master Chinese! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- **🤘 FAQs:** **I'm learning Chinese, are the sessions suitable for beginners?** Yes! Come and speak as much or as little as you like, or just come and listen! There is no pressure! **Are there any discounts for Chinese lessons for members?** Yes, you can use code MEETUP10 for your exclusive £10 discount on our [Chinese courses](https://china-unbound.co.uk/personal/) site-wide! \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\- 每个月的第二个星期天，来加入我们，享受一场轻松又有趣的语言交流体验！在茶香与咖啡的陪伴下，开启一场自然流畅、充满收获的双语对话。 这不仅仅是练习，而是一种更快提升你英语水平的高效方式。我们为你打造一个轻松友好、真正有用的语言环境，让你的口语交流能力飞速进步！ **我们如何让语言交换高效又好玩：** * **精准匹配，聊天不尴尬**：我们用心将你和母语者或相近水平的学习者配对，确保每一次对话都轻松自在又高效实用。 * **话题有趣，轻松破冰**：拒绝冷场！我们提前准备了有趣又实用的聊天话题，让你一开口就停不下来，交流自然顺畅。 * **灵活轮换，提升更全面**：想多练一点？欢迎自由选择是否换组，认识更多人、接触不同语言风格，快速提升真实沟通能力。 * **专业老师现场支持**：我们的资深语言导师会在现场提供实时帮助，确保你在交流中不断进步、有信心开口！ **活动详情：** 🗓️ **时间**：每月第二个星期日 ⏰ **时段**：下午 2:30 - 4:30 💰 **费用**：免费参加 不只是练语言，这里还有文化的碰撞、朋友的陪伴和成长的喜悦。现在就来加入我们，开启你的高效交流之旅吧！ **🤘 常见问题解答：** **我最后会不会一直说中文而一无所获？** -不会，因为我们的“快速聊天”模式鼓励大家用中/英文交换来交流。 **会员有折扣吗？** 有，欢迎你跟你学中文的朋友分享代码**Meetup10**，他们会获得10镑的独家折扣！

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/44506 **Game Description:** Come and join our social badminton session in Canning Town - Intermediate players and above. Music 🎶 3 courts Intermediate and above mixed social session Feathered shuttles will be provided. Join our whatsapp Group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LsLjg8CxI8MIxSFb82qkdb 🚪 Getting Into the School 1\. The school is surrounded by a green fence\. 2\. Entrance is near the stone wall\. 3\. At the gate\, find the intercom on the right\-hand side\. 4\. Press the ‘Call’ button and wait for security to respond\. 5\. When the intercom flashes green\, push the gate open\. \-\-\- 🏸 Finding the Indoor Court 1\. After entering\, go through the visitor gate\. 2\. Follow the corridor to the end\. 3\. Look for the yellow double doors – the badminton courts are inside\! \-\-\- 🚻 Facilities 🔹 Changing Rooms & Toilets \- Located outside the court area in the corridor\. \- Male facilities – right\-hand side\. \- Female facilities – left\-hand side\. 💧 Water Points \- There are three water points in the corridor outside the court\. \- Bring a water bottle to use with the water pump\. Enjoy your game! 🏸🔥 **Rules** Games to 21 Max 2 games on, 1 game off.

I am a native, qualified teacher of English and this is a session designed for you to go over any particular issues that you have in English - grammar, exam preparation, pronunciation, vocabulary and so on - as well as to practise your conversational skills discussing current topics. Just let me know if there is anything you would like me to cover during the session. The fee of £5 can be paid on the day in cash or in advance online. Thanks, Keith

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/43259 **Game Description:** West London Hitters Intermediate Social Games with 5-1 rotation! \*Please only book if you are comfortable in understanding the 5-1 rotations in volleyball\* **Rules** Rule is to have fun! and not take it so seriously 🤪 \- Be aware that the level may be higher than usual\. \- Please don’t book if you are a beginner and don’t understand 5\-1 rotations

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/42287 **Game Description:** Only sign up if you are Upper Intermediate/ Advanced Level Player and Knowlegeable of 5:1 Rotations. You will be ask not to join the game if you do not qualify from the criteria stated. Organizer have the right not to refund your money. Its not personal though. Our goal is to have a good time, enjoy the company of friendly people and play some competitive games. Remember "Every Serve is a Point" **Rules** 5:1 Rotations 6 Players/ team 15 points

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/44644 **Game Description:** Come and play in a casual​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​,​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ friendly & social badminton session. The session is for mixed ability players. So please be respectful and kind towards less experienced players - we all have to start somewhere join our WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/K507zMefM5pItnjxbXEgNg?mode=ems_copy_t We use YONEX MAVIS 600 Nylon Shuttlecocks. We have 2 spare rackets, or you can rent rackets from the sports centre (I think it’s about £2.50, but not sure) Format: We play doubles for the whole time and keep rotating opponents/partners across courts so everyone plays each other. **Rules** Classic doubles rules - can be explained at the start of the session if you’re new to badminton or need a reminder.

**BOOK HERE**: https://sportas.co.uk/games/43271 **Game Description:** Join us in East London, John Orwell Centre in Wapping. Full-court, 3 teams, 5v5. A team stays on twice in a row regardless of win or lose (Apart from the first game of the session when the winning team stays on). A good game level. Quite inclusive. A mix of regulars and guests. **How to get there:** Come in either from Wapping Overground station (5’ away from the venue). Or via bus 100 or D3 and stop at Wapping Health Centre. Via DLR from either Shadwell or Towergate stations. Closest underground station is Tower Hill (15’ walk). Whatsapp Valentin on 07879011856 for more details. **Rules** 11 points or 8 minutes game: 2 points each shot inside the circle 3 points from outside No free throws No advantages, as in whichever team reaches 11 points first wins. But each team must rotate after being on twice in a row.

Dale Gnidovec, Curator of the Orton Hall Museum of Geology at The Ohio State University, will be presenting a program he has wanted to share with us for a long time: Plate Tectonics. His description of his program: Continents on the move - Nothing in Earth history makes sense without moving continents - it tells us why mountains, volcanoes, minerals, and fossils are where they are. This talk examines the evidence for continental drift, why it was disbelieved, and explains how the more-encompassing theory of plate tectonics was developed and eventually proven. Dale is an energetic, incredibly knowledgeable, and very entertaining speaker and this will be another wonderful program by Dale. Hope to see you there! Food and drinks will be provided at the event. Feel free to show up a little bit early to hang out and talk. Going forward our meetings will be hybrid. You can meet us in-person or attend online Join Zoom Meeting [https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1](https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87836564953?pwd=4Mi57ElZkDIFlb1fnlNwOJ0NiOK4tP.1) Meeting ID: 878 3656 4953 Passcode: 760812 One tap mobile +19292056099,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (New York) +13017158592,,87836564953#,,,,\*760812# US (Washington DC) The formal presentation will start at noon

Come check us out! You will have a wonderful time! The music and friendships are life-changing!

Inspired by the successful events like "Pot Luck in the Park" and "Saturday Mornings @ East Market," this meetup promises a fun and engaging atmosphere where like-minded individuals can connect over a shared love for languages and cultures. Whether you're a language learner, ESL student, or simply passionate about exploring new cultures, this event is perfect for anyone looking to immerse themselves in a diverse and welcoming community. Come join us for an enlightening afternoon of language, culture, food, of course, and connections! (Everyone will individually choose from the buffet and pay for their own meal, by weight.)

We will have lunch at Cap City Diner in Gahanna at 12:00 then walk over to the theater afterwards. The Movie Solo Mio starts at 1:20.It will be posted when tickets available to purchase probably the week before then we’ll post our seat number so we can all sit together 😎

Join us for an interactive Bombay Gin Cocktail Class at TownHall — a fun, social experience designed to bring people together over great drinks, great food, and great conversation. During the class, you’ll learn how to craft several different Bombay Gin cocktails, guided by a master mixologist in a relaxed, high-energy setting. This isn’t a lecture — it’s hands-on, engaging, and built to spark connection, laughter, and good vibes. Whether you come solo or with friends, this experience makes it easy to meet people, enjoy expertly crafted cocktails, and unwind mid-week. ✨ What’s Included (A Ton 😁) • Multiple Bombay Gin cocktails • Interactive cocktail instruction • Food & appetizers sponsored by TownHall • A lively, social atmosphere 🍸 Sponsored by Bombay Gin 🍽 Food & appetizers sponsored by TownHall Must be 21+ to attend $20 fee per person