Software Development

**Please note that this event will take place IN PERSON on Saturday, 7 March, 2026 and Sunday, 8 March, 2026 in London from 9am London time until 5pm London time on each of the two days.** **In collaboration with Imperial College MathSoc!** **Full title:** A Weekend with Robert Carver in London: Backtesting Properly **Speaker:** Robert Carver **Training Agenda:** This workshop will run through the process required to construct backtests that provide realistic historic returns and provide the best chance of creating a strategy that will be profitable in the future. It is not about fancy ML or AI techniques, nor is it designed to give you a magic formula for making infinite money from trading. Instead it will focus on understanding: \- statistical significance \- optimisation \- the importance of robustness and how to achieve it \- avoiding the three different types of overfitting **Pre-requisites for workshop:** \- Attendance at the talk: https://www\.meetup\.com/thalesians/events/312539371/ \- Ability to use python / pandas ecosystem to the level of [https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/python-for-finance/9781492024323/](https://www.oreilly.com/library/view/python-for-finance/9781492024323/) \- A laptop with a full Anaconda stack **Venue:** Huxley Building, Imperial College London, 180 Queen's Gate, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ **Biography:** Robert Carver is an independent systematic futures trader and writer. He is a visiting lecturer at [Queen Mary, University of London](https://www.qmul.ac.uk/sef/staff/carverrob.html), and is research advisor to [Stylus Capital](https://stylus.digital/), a hedge fund trading digital assets. He is the author of four books: “[Systematic Trading](http://www.systematictrading.org/)", "[Smart Portfolios](https://www.systematicmoney.org/smart)", "[Leveraged Trading](https://www.systematicmoney.org/leveraged-trading)" and "[Advanced Futures Trading Strategies](https://www.systematicmoney.org/advanced-futures)". [Until 2013](http://news.efinancialcareers.com/uk-en/151380/key-departures-at-man-groups-ahl-fund/) Robert worked for [AHL](http://www.ahl.com/), a large systematic hedge fund, and part of the [Man Group](http://www.man.com/). He was responsible for the creation of AHL's fundamental global macro strategy, and then managed the funds multi billion dollar fixed income portfolio. Prior to that Robert worked as a research manager for [CEPR](http://cepr.org/), an economics think tank, and traded exotic derivatives for [Barclays](http://www.barclays.com/) investment bank. He spent his early career in the Middle East. Robert has a Bachelors degree in Economics from the [University of Manchester](http://www.manchester.ac.uk/), and a Masters degree, also in Economics, from [Birkbeck College](http://www.bbk.ac.uk/), University of London. **Links**: Rob's blog: [https://qoppac.blogspot.com/](https://qoppac.blogspot.com/)

## 🌍 **Travel Now — London Chapter** Welcome to the London Chapter of **London Travel Now** 👋 This is a relaxed, community-powered **travel social meetup** for people who enjoy exploring, planning trips, sharing tips, and meeting fellow travelers—both online and in real life. London Travel Now is a **multi-city travel social community**. While we host in-person meetups like this one, most connections start and continue on our online platform: 👉[ ](londontravelnow.com)**[londontravelnow.com](londontravelnow.com)** That’s where members chat, share ideas, plan trips together, and stay connected between meetups. *** ✈️ *Travel for Free (yes, really)*\* We get asked this a lot, so here’s the simple version: \*\*Trip organizers travel free on the trips they create and run.\*\` If you: * Plan the trip * Handle the bookings * Bring the group together your spot on the trip is covered. \*Free applies to the trip organizer once the trip reaches minimum participants and is confirmed. Everyone else pays their own share. No travel industry experience required—just organization, reliability, and enthusiasm. *** ☕ **Where we meet** Meetups are kept simple and accessible—central cafés, pubs, or casual venues around London. There’s no formal agenda and no presentations. Just show up, grab a drink, and chat. (Exact venue details are always listed on the event page.) *** 🧭 **How this meetup works (important)** This chapter is part of a **community-led social network**. * Meetups are informal and community-powered * The main London Travel Now organizer may not attend every event * Attendees cover their own food and drinks * There may or may not be a designated host at each meetup Think of this as a casual, drop-in **travel social**, not a guided or hosted event. If you’re comfortable introducing yourself, joining conversations, and helping create a friendly atmosphere, you’ll fit right in. *** 💬 **WhatsApp community (recommended)** We also have a shared **London Travel Now WhatsApp community** with spaces for different cities. 👉 Join here: [https://chat.whatsapp.com/GjmFuzbk0baFavZRN0JGTz](https://chat.whatsapp.com/GjmFuzbk0baFavZRN0JGTz) Inside the London space, members: * Coordinate meetups * Ask questions * Share travel ideas and trip plans * Stay connected between events Joining is optional, but it’s the easiest way to stay in the loop. *** 🗓️ **What to expect** * Friendly, informal travel conversations * Trip ideas, tips, and shared experiences * Meeting people you may want to travel with in the future * A low-pressure, welcoming environment This is a **community meetup**, not a tour, class, or sales event. *** 🙌 **We’re looking for Chapter Organizers** As London Travel Now grows, we’re looking for local **Chapter Organizers**, including here in London. Chapter Organizers help: * Host or co-host meetups (weekly or monthly) * Choose simple, accessible venues * Welcome attendees and help spark conversation * Create and organize trips for the community Trip organizers travel free on the trips they run.\* No prior experience needed—just reliability and a friendly attitude. 👉 Learn more or apply here: **[www.londontravelnow.com/apply](londontravelnow.com/apply)** *** ✨ **Come along** New faces are always welcome. Bring curiosity, a travel story, or just yourself. This community works best when members help make it welcoming—we hope you’ll be part of it.

Ready to think clearer, reason better, and express with clarity? Join us for a practical wholesome philosophy practice where we learn essential thinking skills through hands-on group practice. Leave academics and theory at the door— this is a skills-building adventure for everyday life! ✨ This event's focus: **Constructing Your Position** 🎯a part of the Wholesome Philosophy series — that help you build a complete thinking toolkit. **See below** **Why should you sign up?** ✅ Practical toolkit you can use immediately ✅ Small group practice ✅ Private, quiet venue for focus ✅ Standalone session - Previous parts help, but not required **What is Wholesome Philosophy?** Practical philosophy for everyday life - helping you build useful skills for thinking clearer and communicating better in work, relationships, and daily conversations. You'll learn through pair work, and group practice. spread across **different sessions:** * **Clear Thinking & Better Arguments** — How to reason * **Develop Thinking Habits** — Spotting biases and fallacies * **The Art of Dialogue** — Having productive disagreements * **Constructing Your Position** — Building solid viewpoints * **Decision-Making Frameworks** — Choosing wisely under uncertainty * **Self-Examination & Growth** — Questioning your own beliefs Each session works standalone — attend one, some, or all. ***Want to join all?*** Speak to the facilitator about discounted pricing for the full series ✅ **Who is it for?** * You want to think clearer and communicate better * You feel frustrated when your point doesn't land * You want to spot weak reasoning (including your own) * You enjoy learning through practice, not just theory * You crave thoughtful conversation with curious people * You want practical tools you can use tomorrow No philosophy background needed — just show up ready to practice. **What's in it for you?** * Make your points stick (without fighting) * Think more clearly about any topic even complex ones * Have disagreements that don't turn into arguments * Understand the world better * Connect with curious, thoughtful people ✨ * Gain confidence in your reasoning abilities **How does it work?** * Facilitated practice session (2 hours) with structured exercises ⏱ * Small group discussions (4-6 people) * Pair work for hands-on practice * Individual reflection moments * Whole group sharing (optional, not required) Everything is timed and guided — you'll know exactly what to do at each stage **What to expect** Collaborative discovery, without competitive learning. Practicing together, without performing for each other. What happens in the room stays in the room. * **Depth**: Beyond small talk, but it's not therapy — we're developing thinking skills * **Safety**: Wholesome Agreement principles apply — respect, curiosity, no judgment * **Practical**: You'll leave with tools, not just concepts — things you can actually use the next day ️ * **Participation**: These are practice sessions — your active participation creates the learning environment **Ready to upgrade your thinking skills?** Join us for a Wholesome Philosophy practice session and walk away with various thinking tools — it's for anyone who wants to navigate life with a sharper, kinder mind. We really hope to see you there! **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. ️ **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80)

Join me for a joyful and dynamic Flamenco Technique class where we’ll build strength, confidence, musicality and expression in a supportive and friendly environment — **everyone is welcome**, whether you’re completely new to flamenco or already dancing. In these sessions we’ll work on: • posture, arms (braceo) and body movement • footwork (zapateado) and rhythm • coordination and musicality • small sections of choreography • improvisation confidence • recognising different flamenco palos The aim is to help you feel grounded, expressive and empowered while enjoying the magic of flamenco. *** ### 📅 Dates Selected Saturdays 17 January • 31 January • 7 February • 21 February 🕒 Time: 11:00 – 12:00 📍 Location: iD Studios London 💷 Price: £12 per class *** ### ⭐ Who is this class for? Anyone who loves dance, music and Spanish culture. Beginners, improvers and experienced dancers are all very welcome. *** ### 👟 What to bring • Comfortable clothes • Flamenco shoes if you have them (otherwise sturdy shoes are fine) • Water • A smile 😊 *** ### 🔗 Booking Please book your space via iD Studios: [https://www.idstudioslondon.com/bookclass](https://www.idstudioslondon.com/bookclass)

Ready to build wholesome, deeper, more fulfilling relationships? Join us for a practical relationship skills where we learn essential connection skills through hands-on group practice. Leave theory at the door — this is a skills-building adventure for real life! ✨ This event's focus: **Being Heard & Understood** 🎯 a part of the Wholesome Relationships series — that help you build a complete relationship toolkit. **See below** **Why should you sign up?** ✅ Practical toolkit you can use immediately ✅ Small group practice ✅ Private, quiet venue for focus ✅ Standalone session - Previous parts help, but not required **What is Wholesome Relationships?** Practical relationship skills for everyday life — helping you connect deeper, communicate clearer, and show up more fully in love, friendship, and beyond. You'll learn through pair work, small groups, and real practice spread across **different sessions:** 1. **Attachment Theory to Skills** — Feeling safe in love 2. **Being Heard & Understood** — Listening and expressing needs 3. **The Art of Saying No** — Setting and holding boundaries 4. **Opening Up Safely** — Building trust and healthy vulnerability 5. **Fighting Better Together** — Conflict that connects (not destroys) 6. **Picking the Right Person** — Choosing partners wisely Each session works standalone — attend one, some, or all. ***Want to join all?*** Speak to the facilitator about discounted pricing for the full series ✅ **Who is it for?** * You want deeper, more meaningful relationships * You keep repeating patterns and want to understand why * You struggle to communicate what you actually need ️ * You find it hard to set boundaries without guilt * You want to learn through practice, not just reading about it No relationship experience required — just show up ready to practice. **What's in it for you?** * Understand your relationship patterns and where they come from * Communicate needs without blame or mind-reading expectations * Set boundaries that stick (without becoming a wall) * Navigate conflict without destroying connection * Show up as a whole person, not half of one ✨ * Connect with others doing the same growth work **How does it work?** * Facilitated practice session (2 hours) with structured exercises ⏱ * Small group discussions (4-6 people) * Pair work for hands-on practice * Individual reflection moments * Whole group sharing (optional, not required) Everything is timed and guided — you'll know exactly what to do at each stage **What to expect** Collaborative discovery, without competitive learning. Practicing together, without performing for each other. What happens in the room stays in the room. * **Depth**: Beyond small talk, but it's not therapy — we're developing relationship skills * **Safety**: Wholesome Agreement principles apply — respect, curiosity, no judgment * **Practical**: You'll leave with tools, not just concepts — things you can actually use the next day ️ * **Participation**: These are practice sessions — your active participation creates the learning environment **Ready to upgrade your thinking skills?** Join us for a Wholesome Relationships practice session and walk away with real tools for deeper connection — it's for anyone who wants to love better, communicate clearer, and show up more fully. We really hope to see you there! **About Deeper Connections** We have a mission at Deeper Connections to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world. **Our Values** * **Respect:** Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤️ * **Open-mindedness:** Be open to different perspectives and ideas. * **Active Participation:** Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions. ️ **Staying in touch** Interested in finding out about all the events sooner than on Meetup or staying in touch beyond the events, you can join our WhatsApp channel and community using [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Channel](https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vb6CBAdIN9ijrEYdv33z) [Deeper Connections WhatsApp Community](https://chat.whatsapp.com/EqGsmF3021RKTwBpGcuR80)

I don't know if this recurring event still happens. I suspect not, but I have never had any enquiry about it, or heard of anyone going on it. A weekly 'road' ride starting from outside McDonald's in Leytonstone. See http://www.northstarvelo.com/

**Important - Please Read** LIMITED SPACES - **You must have a confirmed place to attend this event. ** Welcome to London's Highest Rated International Languages Exchange group with over 1500 reviews rated 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 🇬🇧🇪🇸🇫🇷🇯🇵🇮🇹🇩🇪🇮🇳🇧🇷🇰🇷🇨🇳🇪🇬🇭🇰🇺🇦🇺🇸🇹🇷🇹🇼🇷🇺🇵🇱 To learn more about us and our community visit [www.languages.london](https://www.languages.london/) WHEN & WHERE Join us on Saturday for our global language exchange from 6pm. The venue is The Craft Beer Co. in Clerkenwell, a really friendly pub with a great selection of drinks (especially beers!) including non-alcoholic options and **we have the whole first floor space exclusively for our event!** The venue has excellent access to public transport via, tube, train and bus. HOW WE DO IT It's simple .... \~ When you arrive please collect your personalised language badge from us, **BEFORE** you order your drinks. We'll be waiting to give you a warm welcome 😃 \~ Please wear your badge during the event and return it before you leave. \~ Start meeting the community and having fun, lots of fun! Confirm your place to attend. There's a small fee of £2, which you can pay when you arrive. Please buy something from the bar to support the venue, who kindly offer us a dedicated space. 🇲🇽🇻🇳🇧🇬🇵🇸🇸🇪🇮🇱🇦🇺🇨🇦🇳🇱🇨🇴🇭🇺🇿🇦🇹🇭🇵🇪🇧🇴🇳🇬🇪🇬🇳🇿🇨🇭 **WHO** Languages in London events are organised for our community - being social, making new friends, building cultural bridges and always very relaxed. Our weekly events in London have the highest number of languages and countries represented. Note - This is **not** a dating event. Our events are open to Internationals, Locals, Expats, Students, Travellers..... Everyone! This is the event for a truly global community and for citizens from around the World 🌎 Is this the Intercambio you've been looking for? Want to practice your ingles, espanol , francais, italiano, Deutsch, portugues or other European languages? Asian languages ? Or maybe prefer to only speak English, that's just fine. **All languages and all fluency levels are welcome** Spread the love, bring your family, friends and colleagues 💙 The creator and organiser of **Languages in London - Girish**, will always be visible at the event and there to support you and help with introductions, if you prefer. These are real events with real people. We aren't one of those groups that fill our events with fictitious attendees👻 We want to remain the **BEST** language events group in London, being the biggest isn't our focus. **No-shows at our events are always removed from the group.** **Inactive members are also regularly removed from our group.** **LANGUAGES** Here's a selection of some of the languages that our community speak or have been practicing English, Spanish (incl Latin American), French, Italian, Portuguese (incl Brazilian), German, Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin & Cantonese), Russian, Korean, Hindi, Turkish, Arabic, Ukrainian, Polish, Hebrew, Swedish, Bulgarian, Vietnamese, Hungarian, Bengali, Dutch, Catalan, Farsi, Greek, Urdu, Welsh, Romanian, Norwegian, Czech, Slovak, Estonian, Danish, Finnish, Turkmen, Latvian, Lithuanian, Nepali, Yoruba, Filipino, Thai, Albanian, Croatian, Serbian, Ebo, Gaelic, Icelandic, Afrikaans, Tamazight, Tagalog, Creole, Malagasy, Mongolian, Tok Pisin and more... you get the idea! 🇷🇴🇬🇹🇨🇿🇳🇴🇩🇰🇫🇮🇨🇾🇺🇾🇪🇬🇧🇬🇦🇷🇰🇪🇱🇰🇲🇦🇹🇳🇩🇿🇸🇬🇲🇾 **SUSTAINABLE** 🌎🌳 Like you, we really care about our planet. We never use paper stickers or wristbands as they can't be reused or recycled and can even damage your clothing ☹️ The Solution? Our personalised and completely reusable Languages in London badges! 👍 So, please make sure you return your badge to us, before you leave the event. We'll sanitise it (anti bacterial & disinfectant cleaners) and use it again & again & again. Thanks for helping us do the right thing and keep our costs down🙏 **SAFE SPACE FOR EVERYONE** 👮‍♂️ We don't tolerate prejudice or harassment of any kind, at any time. Be polite and respectful to everyone else and they will reciprocate. Let's keep the space safe, welcoming for everyone and free of any political agendas. Please report any concerns to the Organiser immediately. Please look after your belongings, the venue is a public place. We may take photos or video at the event for future promotional use. Let us know if you'd rather not be included, we respect your choice 📸 **SPREAD THE WORD** 🗣️💬 If you enjoy our events, please tell your friends and colleagues and help us grow **your** community, thank you ♥️ Join our community - [www.languages.london](https://www.languages.london/) We're looking forward to welcoming you at Languages in London 😊👋 🇲🇰🇳🇵🇧🇩🇵🇭🇦🇪🇦🇱🇧🇪🇮🇪🇲🇹🇰🇿🇱🇦🇯🇴🇱🇹🇱🇻🇪🇪🇰🇭🇨🇱🇲🇳🇨🇺

🔵 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/1978232295047 In this workshop Ryan explains how it’s possible to become more funny plus the best ways to do this, what the different types of humour are with brain training exercises designed to make you sharper in this area. With practice bringing everything together in conversation at the end. ⚫ - Why it is possible to improve humour if you’re not currently very good at that area ⚪ - How to become more funny over time 🔴 - What the different types of humour are 🟡 - How to deliver humour in social situations 🟣 - 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. 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: 🟠 How To Initiate Interactions With New People Date: March 15, 2026 at 5:45 PM GMT Ticket: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1978232301065 In this workshop Ryan explains why people often have emotions blocking them (usually nervousness) in social situations & how to deal with this to not miss out on opportunities. In the 2nd half he explains how to smoothly start a conversation & make it flow. 🔵 - Understand why people get nervous in social situations or have other emotions blocking them from socialising 🟣 - How to reduce & overcome nervousness or other emotions blocking you from socialising 🟠 - How to start a conversation easily in almost any situation 🟢 - How to use positioning & body language to make starting a conversation much easier 🔵 - How to get a conversation flowing after starting it ⚫ - 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 
🟣 Victor Borge 🟢 Laughter is the shortest distant between two people

# Safo Music's – Songwriting workshop **Sunday 8th March** **11:00am – 6:00pm** **Safo Studios, 23–27 Crouch Hill, London N4 4AP** **£40.00** **Led by Laurence Hobbs – gold & platinum-selling songwriter, producer, and owner of Safo Music.** *** After our sold out workshop last month, we'd like you to join us for a full-day **Songwriting workshop** at Safo Studios – a celebration of creativity, collaboration, and the joy of writing songs. Whether you’re just starting out or already experienced, this is your chance to connect with others and explore the craft of songwriting in a supportive, inspiring environment. ### What to Expect: Small group co-writing sessions in professional studios A relaxed space to share ideas and build confidence Meet like-minded musicians and discover new collaborators Personal mentoring and guidance from Laurence Hobbs throughout the day Working in teams, you’ll co-create original songs from scratch – blending lyrics, melodies, and experiences into something fresh and exciting. It’s all about enjoying the process, learning from each other, and celebrating the art of songwriting. Bring your instrument, your notebook, or just yourself – and spend the day writing with us. [ ](https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JHMW8VKCW57Y4)**[Tickets: £40.00](https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/JHMW8VKCW57Y4)** Spaces are limited to keep sessions intimate – book now to secure your place. See you on the 8th March

**Address: 210-212 Southwark Park Road, London SE16 3RX** **Doors Open 12pm Event starts 12:30pm-5pm** **Player Capacity: 8 players** Welcome to our **Weiss Schwarz TCG** Constructed Tournament. The event consists of 3 to 5 rounds of Swiss and prizing is distributed to players with a positive record. To participate in the event, alongside your **ticket purchase on [our website](https://www.thebrotherhoodgames.co.uk/weiss-schwarz-events)**, you will be asked to register on the desk to be entered into the tournament. We will hand out a promo pack for entry to the tournament. If you are unfamiliar, please ask our member of staff upon arrival to the store where a member of staff will be happy to assist. If you haven't already, please join our Instagram, YouTube and Discord Server for news about upcoming events, announcements, and social interaction with your fellow players! *The Brotherhood Games Discord* https://discord.com/invite/SJaQXyeNXx

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！

**AMPLIFY HER SONGWRITING CAMP IS BACK** We’re returning with another unforgettable **Amplify Her Songwriting Camp**, and it’s bigger, bolder, and more creative than ever. Spend a full weekend writing, collaborating, and connecting with an inspiring community of songwriters. You’ll be placed in groups of five, creating music to real daily briefs and bringing fresh ideas to life fast. We’ll close out the weekend with a **Sunday night listening party**, where a panel of industry professionals will share live feedback on your songs. 🎟️ **Tickets are on sale now — don’t miss out.** Come write. Come connect. Come amplify your voice. **Amplify Her Members receive 20% off.** **Here’s what to expect: A week filled with great vibes, incredible musicians, and great songs** The week begins on Thursday at 6 PM with a friendly virtual info session, where we’ll walk you through everything you need to know. It’s a great chance to ask questions and get excited for the days ahead. On Friday (5 pm - 7 pm), we’ll gather in person for a relaxed cocktail meeting — a chance to meet your fellow creatives, start building connections, and ease into the weekend together. The songwriting magic begins on Saturday (9:30 AM – 7 PM) and Sunday (10 AM – 6 PM) with two full days of writing, collaborating, and recording. Each day, you’ll choose from a selection of briefs and be encouraged to record one song in response. It’s all about exploring your creativity, pushing your boundaries, and sharing your voice. We’ll wrap up the weekend with a group feedback session and an industry panel, offering kind, constructive insights to help you reflect, grow, and celebrate what you’ve created. **Expect:** Daily songwriting challenges (1 song per day to a brief of your choice) A safe, welcoming, and empowering space to collaborate Insightful feedback from peers and industry professionals Real-world experience writing to briefs A beautiful community of like-minded creatives Lots of inspiration, support, and memorable moments This isn’t just a camp, it’s a celebration of who you are as a songwriter, musician, or composer. Whether you’re here to refine your craft, meet your people, or simply reconnect with your creativity, we can't wait to create with you. **[Make sure to reserve your ticket on our website.](https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/event-details/amplify-her-songwriting-camp-celebrate-womens-day-tickets-here)** **Ticket prices:** £89 – General Admission **Amplify Her Members receive 20% off.** **Follow us on:** [https://www.instagram.com/amplify_herLive/](https://www.instagram.com/amplify_herLive/) [https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/](https://www.amplifyher.co.uk/) [https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifyher/](https://www.linkedin.com/company/amplifyher/)

### 📍**CheckedIn London — Speed Networking for Real Connections** CheckedIn London is built for one thing: **helping you meet the right people faster—in real life.** We get you out from behind the screen and into the room, where real conversations happen. We show up at tech mixers, networking events, and industry gatherings across Leeds and use the **CheckedIn app** to turn quick introductions into meaningful connections—*on the spot*. ### 🚀 How Speed Networking Works with CheckedIn At each event, the CheckedIn app helps you: * Instantly connect with people you meet—no business cards required * Follow up later without awkward LinkedIn requests * Remember who you met, what you talked about, and why it mattered * Turn short conversations into real collaborations, fast Think of CheckedIn as the **spiritual successor to LinkedIn**— but built for **in-person moments**, not endless scrolling. No cold DMs. No forgetting names. Just tap, connect, and keep the conversation going after the event. Whether you’re a founder, operator, creative, or curious professional, this is a space for conversations that actually go somewhere. Come solo or bring a colleague. No pressure. No pitches. Just good people, efficient introductions, and momentum. *** ## 🌍 Help Us Grow CheckedIn CheckedIn is expanding, and we’re actively looking for **chapter organizers** to help run and grow chapters in cities around the world. If you enjoy: * Bringing people together * Hosting great events * Building real community We’d love to hear from you. 👉 Apply here: **[www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply](http://www.checkedIn.site/organizer-apply)** *** ## 🌍 About This Chapter CheckedIn is a **chapter-based, community-driven network**. The Londonchapter is part of the wider CheckedIn community. On some occasions, the primary organizer may not be in attendance. These meetups are designed to be **self-led, welcoming, and participatory**—members take ownership of starting conversations, making introductions, and helping others connect. If you show up, you belong. If you tap in, connections start immediately. **Join us. Check in. Connect faster.** **CheckedIn — open the app and tap.**

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

Discover Kiro, AWS’s innovative development environment that adapts to your workflow. Whether you prefer specification-driven development or a more intuitive, vibe-based approach, Kiro empowers you to build applications your way. In this session, speakers will explore Kiro’s core functionality and its evolution through re:Invent 2025, along with demonstrations of prompts used to create APIs, hooks, and steering documents. In the latter part of the session, watch as we build a complete example from scratch, showcasing Kiro’s agentic AI workflow in action for spec-driven development and vibe coding. What You'll Learn - Core Kiro concepts and development philosophy Feature evolution: pre and post re:Invent 2025 Practical examples: API creation, hooks, and steering docs Live coding demonstration with real-time problem solving Who Should Attend - Developers, solutions architects, and technical leaders interested in modern AWS development tools and AI-assisted coding workflows. **Speakers Bio:** Matthew Jorat: Matthew Jorat is a Customer Solutions Manager at AWS with nearly three decades of expertise in AI, cloud transformation, migration, modernization, IT, technology, and business. His career spans infrastructure engineer, solutions architect, security auditor, customer success director, support and services director, and operations officer. He was an early adopter of AWS services as a customer, and his current role at AWS uniquely blends his technical and business skills as he partners with executive teams to translate strategic priorities into measurable business outcomes through cloud adoption, AI implementation, and operational excellence. Matt leads end-to-end AI initiatives for enterprise customers, identifying high-impact use cases and maintaining relentless focus on measurable ROI. He holds eight AWS certifications and serves as Adjunct Professor at Franklin University teaching cloud computing and AWS architecture. His expertise encompasses GenAI, agentic AI systems, migration, modernization, and optimization strategies that drive transformation at scale. [https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattjorat/) Girish Bhatia: Girish Bhatia is a seasoned technology delivery leader with deep expertise in cross-domain program management. He holds multiple AWS certifications, including AWS Certified Solutions Architect – Associate, AWS Certified Developer – Associate, and AWS Generative AI Practitioner, and is also an AWS Community Builder. Girish brings over two decades of experience in the information technology industry. Throughout his career, Girish has led major technology-driven business transformation from modernizing on-premises applications to driving large-scale cloud migrations. His work includes API-based integration platforms, data-center and mainframe modernization, and enterprise cloud adoption initiatives. Based in Columbus, Ohio, Girish works at a tech-forward fintech company. He is passionate about AWS serverless architectures, Generative AI and emerging cloud technologies. An avid learner and builder, he continues to explore and apply the latest innovations in AWS to help organizations accelerate their digital transformation. https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/[https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/](https://www.linkedin.com/in/girishbhatia/) **THANK YOU** *Franklin University* for hosting our meetup! To learn more about *Franklin University*, please visit their website: https://www.franklin.edu/ **DIRECTIONS** Franklin University Fisher Hall 300 E. Main St, Columbus, OH 43215 Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jxjBA2hUmS5qrvhq8 Parking is FREE! Please park in Lot C in front of Fisher Hall. See attached map. NOTE: Map the address only. When mapping with Google Maps it may use the Fisher Hall at OSU, which is NOT correct. **Want to sponsor the pizza and/or bar tab?** Please contact me if you would like to sponsor this meetup's pizza and/or bar tab: angelo@mandato.com

One of the most valuable parts of this community is the opportunity to think out loud with other product professionals. This session is built for exactly that. As we wrap up the quarter, it’s a great time to pause and reflect. What’s on track? What needs adjustment? Where could a small shift create bigger impact? Join fellow product professionals for a focused, interactive conversation designed to help you recalibrate for the next quarter. You’ll have the opportunity to share where you are, hear how others are thinking through similar challenges, and gain fresh perspective you can bring back to your team and organization. We’ll gather at 8:00AM, with discussion starting promptly at 8:15AM. 📍 First Watch - 7227 N High St Located in: The Shops at Worthington Ample parking is available. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Start your morning with clarity and connection — we hope to see you there! ☀️

Columbus Code & Coffee is an inclusive, informal co-working session. People of all skill levels attend, and we love it that way. Many people (optionally) bring projects to work on, and many other people (optionally) socialize the entire time. It's entirely up to you! **What to Expect at the Intro Circle** \~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~\~ Near the beginning of the event (1:30 pm), we do a standup: * Organizer announcements, updates, and logistics Round 1 - (7 secs max): * Your name * What you're working on * What you can help others with Round 2: * Community events you wanna plug. If none, that's cool too. Round 3: * Job opportunities you're hiring for OR announce that you are looking for one. If none, that's cool. After the introduction circle, everything is self-organized! Feel free to work alone, pair up, attend one of our workshops/presentations, or mingle!

We're excited to launch **GitHub Copilot Dev Days**, a global in‑person community event series running **March 15 – April 30**! Let's come together as developers, grow our local community, and showcase the power of GitHub Copilot with **free, high‑quality training materials** from Microsoft + GitHub. * GitHub Copilot in VS Code * GitHub Copilot CLI … and more! * **Intro Talk (30–45 min):** GitHub Copilot + AI development * **Local Community Talk (30–45 min):** NOT ME, **[Matt Eland](https://www.linkedin.com/in/matteland/)** * **Hands‑on Workshop (1 hour):** Practical exercises using GitHub Copilot * **SPECIAL GUEST** **(virtual)**: **[Andrea Griffiths](https://www.linkedin.com/in/acolombiadev/)** (Senior Developer Advocate at GitHub) ***Bring your laptop and expect to write some (non-AI-generated) code!*** Food and drinks will be available. **LOCATION:** 6515 Longshore Loop, Suite 300, Dublin, OH 43017 **FREE PARKING:** 6725 Longshore Street, Dublin, OH 43017

Drake Lundstrom is presenting: Code Anywhere by Talking to your Phone Abstract: Have you heard the trend of people deploying code anywhere from checkout lines to doctors' offices? In this talk, you will learn how to talk to your phone and have an app on Azure to show your friend 5 minutes later. The basic DevOps tools you already know, plus a little bit of AI magic, are all you need! If you want to follow along, the demo will be in Azure with GitHub Actions and GitHub Copilot, and you can have it set up on your phone by the end of the session. Just come in with an Azure account and a GitHub repo. Join us for pizza, drinks, and networking @ Improving's office. Doors open at 5:45.

Christians in Tech is a community at the intersection of faith and technology. Our meetups are designed to spark meaningful conversations, promote knowledge sharing, and encourage growth—both in your career and your spiritual walk with God. Whether you're an experienced professional or just starting your tech journey, CIT welcomes you. Our Website [https://linktr.ee/citcbus](https://linktr.ee/citcbus) Sponsors and Partners * Improving (Venue Sponsor) * Bethel World Prayer Center (Fiscal Sponsor) * Fruits & Roots (Coffee Partner)