Today is Saint Swithin’s day, and according to legend if it rains today it will rain for 40 days and nights.
Also on Sunday 18 July its Nelson Mandela Day. On this day people around the world try to do something to make a difference in their communities no matter how small. This is inspired by Mandela’s work to create a more just and fair society.
So my question for the chat in the cafe is - What's the nicest thing anyone has done for you?
Suggestions
On Thursday 15 July at 7.00 pm Notting Hill carnival is Europe’s biggest street party, normally attracting crowds of around 2m people. Carnival has it's roots in the Abolition of Slavery act in 1833, when the first Caribbean Carnival was held in Trinidad, and black Caribbeans took to the streets for their own carnival party with song, dance and costumes. Notting Hill Carnival came out of a combination of nostalgia for the Caribbean and the pressures and racial tensions experienced by Caribbean people in the UK in the 50s and early 60s. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/organising-notting-hill-carnival-with-debbie-gardner-tickets-160201684551
Also on Thursday 15 July from 1.00 to 2.00 a lunchtime lecture Edwardian postcards were the original social media. There were several deliveries a day in towns and cities and postcards could arrive from early in the morning until late at night. The newly invented picture postcard was cheap and an extremely popular craze embracing all sectors of society. People could send quick, cheap attractive picture messages that would arrive within hours. Just as today, friends exchanged messages while travelling or at work. The Golden Age of picture postcards, 1902-1910 coincided with the reign of Edward VII so postcards of this period are known as Edwardian postcards.
Friday 16 July at 5.30 Learn a Chinese Folk Dance. Workshop Leader Annie will guide participants through Chinese dance exercises, steps and techniques. By the end of the lesson, you'll have learned a beautiful Chinese folk dance! The dance steps will be easy to follow, and you'll have a taste of Chinese culture while having fun.
Dance name: Yi Dance. You'll need: Comfortable workout clothes. Recommended for: All age groups, genders and levels - no previous dance experience required.
Also on Friday 16 July at 2.00 - The mind behind the mysterious Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle devised great detective fiction that left readers captivated and curious to know if Holmes really did exist. In this thrilling talk, author Shrabani Basu reveals what happened when Doyle himself turned real-life detective. You'll witness original records, including police reports and Home Office files, as the tale of this true-crime is uncovered.
On Monday July 19, 6.00 pm - Adrian Piper the calling card from the National Gallery Washington. Our new series of short, relaxed talks features staff from across the National Gallery. Up first, research and programmes librarian Anne Simmons shares a work of art that she donated to the National Gallery. Inviting curiosity and thoughtful questions, these talks are the perfect Monday pick-me-up. Virtual Summer Talks are free and open to the public, and are designed for anyone interested in talking about art. No art or art history background is required.
On Tuesday 20 July 2 pm to 3.30 pm Tour of Joan Eardley’s drawing and Paintings
Joan Eardley had a studio in a coastal village called Catterline, as well as one in the contrasting area of Townhead in Glasgow's East End. Be prepared to be taken on a tour of Joan Eardley' s drawings and paintings of these two areas via the use of film, still photography and simple mapping. Participants will be inspired to draw the essence of different places and spaces and the people who inhabit them. This informal workshop explores drawing outdoors, with all its contrasting elements and zest. You will emailed with a list of art products required before the event.
On Wednesday 21 July 5.30 to 6.30 Chaucer telling tales
During the hour, Marion Turner will discuss the historical context in which Chaucer wrote the tales and how his work connects with the world of pilgrimage to the shrine of Thomas Becket. Patience Agbabi will perform some of the poetry from her book Telling Tales (2014), inspired by Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, using modern characters and idioms.
On Thursday 22July at 6.30 to 8.00 pm from the Science and media museum. Café Scientifique is an informal discussion about science and scientific developments. This month hear from Dr Dominic Watt about his work as a forensic speech analyst. A huge amount of information is encoded in the human voice. Phonetic details can tell listeners so much about the speaker from their assumed gender, age, social background even their mood.
Also on n Thursday 22 July at 7.00 pm Sleeping sickness, strange behaviour and mass hysteria... In The Sleeping Beauties, neurologist Suzanne O'Sullivan explores 'psychosomatic illnesses', travelling the world collecting fascinating stories of culture-bound syndromes. Join us at 7pm on Thursday 22 July for our free online Q&A with the award-winning writer https://www.hayfestival.com/p-17963-suzanne-osullivan.aspx?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign
Leaf through some of the greatest rare books from the British Library and see close up views of their pages
Thanks for listening and best wishes
Corinne