This article was written for Annabel & Grace, which is now part of Rest Less.
With the festive season upon us, it seems only right that The Joy Club’s theme for December is celebration.
As well as their usual monthly programme of 100+ live online events, The Joy Club will be hosting some seasonal specials designed to get you in the mood for Christmas. Great British Bake Off’s Karen Wright will be back with a class on perfecting a decorative and delicious festive favourite: gingerbread. They will also be putting on a wrapping master class with Tina, who will offer you environmentally friendly and quirky alternatives to your usual gift-wrap style.
As always, there will be a range of fascinating expert talks to attend at The Joy Club. This month they will celebrate the life of a lesser-known writer, Samuel Palmer, as well as the life and work of one of our nation’s most cherished authors: Jane Austen. There will also be an opportunity to discover the surprising origins of our Christmastide traditions in an expert-led talk with Kirsty Hartsiotis.
Don’t miss…
The Joy Club travel series: Romance and mystery in rural England – Monday 12th December at 9.30 am
A society called “The Ancients”, strange shadows under the moonlight, romantic visionaries in a small Kent village… No, this is not another adaptation of Agatha Christie but the story of artist and writer Samuel Palmer. Palmer, a follower of William Blake, created paintings and woodcuts that instill magic into the English countryside.
Gift wrapping with Tina – Monday 12th December at 12.00pm
Learn tips and tricks to make gift wrapping stress free and easier this festive season. From eco-friendly, to odd shaped items and pleated gift wrapping, you won’t be short of ideas or techniques!
Celebrating Jane Austen – Thursday 15th December at 2.00pm
We all know that Jane Austen was a skilled novelist but did you know that she was an equally skilled craftswoman? In this illustrated and lively talk, Jennie Batchelor talks about Jane Austen’s skills with the needle and pen and how these different activities informed one another throughout her life.
Mistletoe, wrens and mumming: Explore Christmas traditions with Kirsty – Monday 19th December at 1.00 pm
Ever wondered where our Christmas traditions come from? Or how people celebrated Christmas in the past? Join a hunt for Britain’s quirkiest Christmas traditions, and discover the secrets of some of the things we take for granted during Christmastide.
December bakes with Karen (Grandchildren friendly!) – Tuesday 20th December at 4.30 pm
Under the guidance of former Great British Bake Off contestant Karen, learn to make the most delicious gingerbread dough, before cutting it out into different shapes and decorating them with royal icing and sweets. These biscuits both look and taste fabulously festive – see if you can resist leaving them hanging on the Christmas tree!
How much does it cost to become a member of The Joy Club?
There’s plenty more to discover and enjoy at The Joy Club. If you’re not already a member you can sign up and enjoy one month of free Premium membership (normally £9.99 a month), which will give you unlimited access to all our sessions, our new daily uplifting articles and all the conversations happening in our forums. You won’t need to provide your card details and there’s no obligation to stay on after your trial.
About The Joy Club
The Joy Club is an online activity club and community that provides inspiration for a joyful retirement. Members can try something new at live online events, find inspiration with our uplifting articles and videos, and discover a community of like-minded people in our forums. Whether you’d like to try your hand at crafting, practise Tai Chi or join an expert talk – or perhaps you’d prefer to grab a cuppa and settle in to read our latest articles – there’s something to bring you joy at The Joy Club. Membership is open to anyone living in the UK who is retired or semi-retired.
What their members are saying…
“People often worry about what they will do when they retire, but very quickly you become seen as an additional resource – care of elderly parents (or even spouses), care of grandchildren and so on. The Joy Club is quite simply time for oneself, for exploring the things which interest you.”
Maureen