What do you think? Might we revive this idea of talking together or – as some have suggested – is this a pointless middle class activity? Have your say in the comment box below

Meet your neighbours. Have a chat. Find new solutions. Have a nice time. Everybody is welcome at our Conversation Kitchen in the Hill Station 7-9pm Thursday 19 May.

We decide as a group what to discuss – do you have a suggestion? Ideas so far:

• Time credit  project in New Cross / Telegraph Hill (see here for more detail)
• Conservation and progress in Telegraph Hill
• Twinning with Telegraph Hill in San Francisco
• Your home’s microclimate (some of the Goldsmiths Design Research team hope to join re their Legible Landscapes project)
• Your topic. Which is….??

The cafe will not be operating so great if you can bring some food or drink to share

BACKGROUND

Following our February Conversation Soup event, the group felt it was a good idea to pursue the idea of regular neighbourly conversations. These will take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month 7-9pm in the Hill Station cafe.

What is the Conversation Kitchen?

The aim is to create an informal space for us to meet our neighbours and discuss a variety of topics. You are invited to propose topics in advance (via the website) and we also encourage ad-hoc conversation during the evening. We envisage several different conversations taking place at different tables. Participants free to join one / move around / start their own.

Who will be at the Conversation Kitchen?

This will work best if a wide variety of people are involved. Not everyone has the confidence to go to an event on their own, so if you’re planning to come along, maybe there’s somebody you could pick up on the way? An elderly neighbour? A young person (minimum age 18)? Somebody who has just moved into the area. Take the plunge and make the first move, you could be doing them a big favour.

What will happen?

• Timing: the event will run from 7pm to 9pm. Don’t worry if you can’t make the whole time, just come along when you can.
• Food and drink: please bring what you can to share. Together we should have plenty of food to go round.
• Topics. This is a co-creation event. Nobody is in charge, though Bill and Catherine are just convening. So do please comment below on what topics you would like to discuss.
• Questions. If you have any questions or suggestions at all about the event, do please contact Bill on bkonos@hotmail.com or Catherine on cmshovlin@gmail.com

• Time credit  project in New Cross / Telegraph Hill (see here for more detail)
• Conservation and progress in Telegraph Hill
• twinning with Telegraph Hill in San Francisco
• your home’s microclimate (some of the Goldsmiths Design Research team hope to join re their Legible Landscapes project)
• your topic. Which is….??

Please bring some food or drink to share

BACKGROUND

Following our recent Conversation Soup event, the group felt it was a good idea to pursue the idea of regular neighbourly conversations. These will take place on the 3rd Thursday of each month 7-9pm in the Hill Station cafe.

What is the Conversation Kitchen?

The aim is to create an informal space for us to meet our neighbours and discuss a variety of topics. You are invited to propose topics in advance (via the website) and we also encourage ad-hoc conversation during the evening. We envisage several different conversations taking place at different tables. Participants free to join one / move around / start their own.

Who will be at the Conversation Kitchen?

This will work best if a wide variety of people are involved. Not everyone has the confidence to go to an event on their own, so if you’re planning to come along, maybe there’s somebody you could pick up on the way? An elderly neighbour? A young person (minimum age 18)? Somebody who has just moved into the area. Take the plunge and make the first move, you could be doing them a big favour.

What will happen?

• Timing: the event will run from 7pm to 9pm. Don’t worry if you can’t make the whole time, just come along when you can.
• Food and drink: please bring what you can to share. Together we should have plenty of food to go round.
• Topics. This is a co-creation event. We are not in charge, we are just convening. So do please comment below on what topics you would like to discuss.
• Questions. If you have any questions or suggestions at all about the event, do please contact Bill on bkonos@hotmail.com or Catherine on cmshovlin@gmail.com

The Oxford Muse Foundation is beginning a project across the Borough of Lewisham creating in depth conversations between people who would not normally meet. The aims are to increase awareness of the richness and diversity of local people, to discover hidden talents, create a greater sense of connection and belonging, to create collaborations between people who wouldn’t normally meet, and such like.

The Project is the idea of writer and thinker Theodore Zeldin, author of ‘An Intimate History of Humanity’, and is in association with the National Portrait Gallery, Lewisham Borough Council and the NHS. The BBC are also making a documentary about the project for Radio 4.

We aim to have a conversation dinner soon in the Hill Station around the theme “A Community of Difference”. The eventual aim is to connect together 200 people from all walks of life who would not normally belong to such a diverse group. We believe this will have a positive impact on these 200 people and on the community as a whole. If you would like to be involved, or would like to suggest somebody who you think should be, please contact us.