August 2026: Single room supplements are additional fees for solo travellers occupying double rooms. Tour operators consider them necessary to cover fixed room costs, solo travellers deem them penalties or "singles taxes".  The ‘Pros’ are having your own room where you control the space and lights, and don’t’ need to accommodate another's habits, although possibly missing making a new friend. The ‘Cons’ are costs, 30% - 100% above the per person cost, feeling penalised by paying more yet consuming the same food and drink as others, getting a small room, and having less money for extras. Can you avoid them? Companies… Read More

July 2026: Has the people’s game stopped being the people’s game? With attendance depleted by heat and holidays a small group of us enjoyed Coleen’s lead on this topic that encompassed the origins and history of the game since mediaeval times. What started as villagers kicking the head of an executed miscreant or a pig’s bladder around, was subsequently banned after the civil war yet survived in schools. Under James I football was included in the list of activities permitted on Sundays. At the time it was an upper-class pursuit, considered character-building and played at public schools, although under varying… Read More

June 2026: We began by looking at how free speech in the UK compared to other countries, and the nature of the legal framework of free speech in the UK. We discussed the extent to which free speech is honoured, and reflected on a number of ways in which free speech is constrained. Specific aspects of the free speech debate that we explored included social media/digital platforms, and censorship. The consensus was that free speech was not an absolute, and that it was very difficult to reconcile differences of opinion about constraints on free speech. As always we had an… Read More

January 2026: We had a lively and informative discussion on whether or not it would benefit society to legalise drugs, led by Jackie in our new meeting venue, which was comfortable and welcoming. We made a clear definition of the drugs we were discussing and began with the legislation on  prohibition being introduced after WWII, with an approach to alcohol and dangerous drugs. We discussed the effects on individuals, but more so of the effect on our society of the misuse of drugs. We discussed many drugs which had been introduced intending to benefit our health, including cocaine as an… Read More