Luton and Leighton Area (LLAM) meeting Link group invited London Link to come to their SUMMER LINK event at Watford meeting house

We took the train up from Friends House and arrived at Watford a bit earlier than expected. Thank you everyone for being so prompt! We introduced our selves with a few name games and joined up with the LLAM linkers, making 20 of us in all, many of us knew each other through Summer School and from previous Link ups so we quickly re-connected.

We then went off to Cassiobury park where we had an energetic game of rounders and relaxed in the very sunny weather. After we walked back to the meeting house, where Alistair Fuller, Outreach Officer for Britain Yearly Meeting joined us to talk to us about Talking about theism and non-theism. We explored how we communicate the concept of GOD and the different approaches and vocabulary we might use to help us.

We had some free time while the group on the rota helped to prepare food. Watford meeting has a fantastic garden and it being great weather we had a BBQ. As the evening drew in we gathered round the fire chatting and listening and signing to some guitar playing which lead us into an epilogue around fire. Free time and then bed (well,  floor).

On Sunday we had breakfast and went back out into the garden to play table tennis, swing on the swing, bounce on the trampoline or just chat with chickens until it was time for Meeting. After meeting we continued the theme of theism and non-theism by discussing some quotations from “Twelve Quakers and God” in smaller groups in a creative listening session.

After this we had a picnic lunch in the garden, some free time, a short evaluation session and then back home.

Thank you to all the volunteers from London Link and, especially to Luton and Leighton Link group committee for organising and inviting London Link group to their SUMMER LINK event.

As we journeyed from the grand St.Pancras International to the ever so slightly less grand East Croydon, much like the early Friends, we grew in numbers from those convinced on the worthy of London Link Croydon II. From 5 to  22.

Having arrived at Croydon Meeting house we introduced ourselves and welcomed new London linkers, gratefully our dinner was already well under way by this point so our next job was to set out the dinning room and eat and then clear up.

After a small amount of free time we went to an epilogue lead by a nominated participant then some hot chocolate and bed.

Croydon meeting house has many advantages, but one that stands out for us is the warm upstairs carpeted rooms. Hooray for Carpets! Small luxuries but we definitely appreciated them.

On Saturday morning we had breakfast and then Liz, a local Quaker came to talk to us about her job running community services for Croydon council, she challenged us to help think of solutions to the problems of building communities, and many ideas came out of this. With some interesting discussions on how strong communities build a sense of home and responsibility to the place you live, as well as providing a valuable support network.

We had some free time before lunch to play some games and relax with friends before we caught the tram to the bowling venue.

Two games of bowling later we were all bowled out and returned to the Meeting house. A bit more free time then dinner.
After dinner we played a new game called Empire where each person gives themselves a new name such as “George Cadbury” and you have to guess who would give them selves that name, guessing correctly gains you that person onto your team/empire.

The down fall of the empires left standing was time, as we then went into an epilogue and then bed.

On Sunday morning we got up and joined the early bird Croydon Quakers for breakfast  we had a small amount of free time afterwards to chat before going into meeting.
After meeting we continued some quiet reflection, we came up with a few ideas for next events and gave some feedback on what were the highlights and lowlights of the weekend.

We have an invitation to join LLAM’s link group in 2-3rd March St.Albans (Contact for details/see their facebook page). We also heard about the new initiative for regular events at Westminster meeting house, starting with the 17th March, as we look to make Westminster our base meeting house. Looking slightly further ahead of course the much anticipated MARGATE II on the 19th-21st April! (booking forms now out).

Thank you to Croydon meeting for hosting us so well, all the young people for being brilliant and the fantastic volunteer team – Andy, Michael, Katie and Inga

Just when you thought the partying was about to end

and you were about to recover from Christmas and New Years. London Link’s annual winter party comes around, and a good thing too.

As with previous years, we were gratefully hosted by Westminster meeting house. We played various favourite games, from a young people vs volunteers Giants, Wizards and Elves to Quaker musical chairs.

Thanks to Westminster meeting, Westminster meeting’s wardens, the young people, volunteer team, parents and all the lovely food that was brought for the shared tea.