Hello there,This week's newsletter contains:
Info about holiday closures
An updated TOPO events calendar
A poster for Stirchley Community Market
Lots of links this week
and a pomodoro playlist by Marie
Holiday & Christmas planI am taking this week off. Well, apart from writing this newsletter and finalising some tiny details for my Birmingham Community Matters project.So I'm closed this week, 23-25 Nov,curry still on tonight and I'm looking forward to itOpen Weds 30 NovOpen Thur 1 DecClosed Fri 2 Dec for a private eventOpen from Wed 7 Dec as usual up until Fri 16 DecOpen Weds 21 & Thur 22 DecClosed Fri 23 DecReopening on Monday 9 Jan... TBC!
Coworkers curry at Akrams *TONIGHT!*Tuesday 22 Nov, 6pm-7.30ishJoin me and 8 of your coworkers at this coworkers curry at Akram's. Plenty of room for more - don't worry that the eventbrite says full, we can fit you in. Pop me a reply email if you're coming - or message me on instagram @theoldpostoffice.space
Wellbeing walks with The Clear SpaceFriday 25 Nov, 7.45-8.45am (and every Friday morning)The fourth wellbeing walk is taking place this Friday, meet at TOPO at 7.40am. Reply to this email if you'd like to be added to Laura's whatsapp group (it's a broadcast only whatsapp group.)
Christmas crafts with Kerry & RachelTuesday 6 Dec, 6pm-8pmWe're going to be making Christmas cards with leftover craft materials from our craft projects of Christmas past... There will also be all the pom pom materials from the last crafternoon if you missed out on that. There will be snacks and hot choc. Tiered pricing, tickets via eventbrite
Freelancers / Coworkers christmas partyFriday 16 Dec, 4.30pm onwards* A christmassy get together for TOPO coworkers held at The Old Post Office. Let me know you're coming by signing up on eventbrite, teas&coffees available, christmas jumpers encouraged, snacks, BYOB.*I did an instagram poll with various different time slot and it was pretty much equally split! So let's go for 4.30ish onwards.
Links from my B30 friends, coworkers & peers
Cork and Cage are now doing cobs Tues-Thurs all the details on their instagram
Verbena's Christmas shop is open - gift vouchers, afternoon tea, yule logs. Yes please. Bookings are open for December for their Christmas menu
Florist friends Isherwood and Co, Hedge and Hiya Petal are all holding wreath workshops over the coming weeks. They each offer something unique
Minang Cuisine, Stirchley's Indonesian eatery are holding monthly fundraiser days with arts & crafts - they are raising funds for causes close to their hearts, for Indonesian & Syrian children in need. The next event is taking place on 27 Nov.
Artefact, one of Stirchley's power-trio* co-ops, have a nice looking t-shirt on a pre-order for £20. It’s designed by member Ashley Swift. Place your order here by 5 December. *Loaf, Bike Foundry, Artefact
Mince pies will be on sale at Loaf from Thursday 1 December. If you've had a Loaf mince pie you'll know this is newsworthy! Their cookery school dates for January through to March will be announced mid-December and you can sign up to hear the news first here
Flic's Drink and Draw at Blow Water is sold out tomorrow night, however she's holding another event in town at Digbrew on 11 Dec
Danielle is celebrating a year of her brilliant podcast Building Better Brands and is looking for ideas of how to celebrate - I reckon an in-person live podcast event at TOPO! Well done Danielle! Listen to the podcast here.
Music to work to #20 - The Pomodoro Technique, playlist by Marie Kreft"I’m Marie Kreft, a copywriter and occasional travel writer. I work mainly on local government comms and for a small charity called Birmingham Community Matters. The travel-writing work is fun when it comes along but, with two young sons, I lead a life that is far more Rowheath than Heathrow! The planet doesn’t need me flying around it, either. Outside of work I’m a wannabe novelist, rusty flautist and newly trained volunteer literacy coach.I’ve been working from home since 2008 when I started my business, Good As Gold. My secret for keeping on task is the Pomodoro Technique. It’s very simple: you set an alarm (the name comes from those tomato-shaped kitchen timers) for 25 minutes and make yourself work, uninterrupted, until the bell. Then you have a five-minute break – away from your screen, ideally. After four pomodoros (I know the erroneous plural will irk anyone who speaks Italian), you take a longer break. I find the Pomodoro Technique is best for deep work, such as writing, but sometimes I’ll make a list of smaller tasks and see how far I can get in one pom. Either way, the short bursts of concentration and frequent breaks help me Get Stuff Done while avoiding those two big freelancer traps: procrastination and burnout.And so my playlist is called The Pomodoro Technique. It’s as close to exactly 25 minutes of uplifting jazz-pop, electronic and R&B/soul tracks as I could make it without driving myself crazy, with a round of applause at the end. I hope you enjoy it."Thank you Marie! Much chair-swaying from me listening to this as I put together the newsletter. Here's a link to Marie's playlist - Music to work to #20
ps. I'm signing a new three year lease this evening hopefully.More on that next week!!