Today I went around to my parents as is my usual weekly routine to catch with their news over a cup of coffee or a wander in their garden. My father asked me about the University of the Third Age and how it was set up. I knew that it was an international not-for-profit organisation […]
Exploring Your Local Area
It’s Sunday and I am taking it easy today recovering from a late night out last night. At my age, I can’t spring back the next day if I don’t have my full 8 hours of sleep every night and every time we stay out past our bed time, it just takes that little bit […]
Barefoot Bowls, Beers and Burgers and a Sense of Place
Last year during lockdown, we were unable to get out of a 5 kilometre radius from our home due to restrictions and curfews to prevent the spread of the virus. Having this restriction for some months made me realise a lot of things about the friendships and relationships I have with my local community, neighbours […]
Third Place is Now On Facebook
Back in 2013, I created a community of people interested in learning and development to gather in social environments for conversations and connections called Third Place. It was inspired by a book I had read by Ray Oldenberg called The Great Good Place and a London tweetup that I had attended that got me thinking of […]
Update on Third Place
I wanted to share an update on Third Place. I created Third Place in 2013, a social meet-up, social learning and networking group for people who share a love for lifelong and continual learning. During a Twitter chat in 2013, a member of my personal learning network (PLN) mentioned to me a book by Ray Oldenberg […]
The Mechanics Institutes
I’m no stranger to libraries. In fact, one of my delights is to check out different libraries in my local area and become a member. While some people accrue credit cards, I seem to have an increasing collection of plastic library cards that I like to fan out like a deck of cards to unsuspecting […]
Visit to Knowledge Market
Today I organised a co-working day at Knowledge Market which is a community space situated in the Docklands in Melbourne. It was another event as part of the social networking group that I created called Third Place. Co-working with #3PlaceMelb at the #knowledgeMarket in #Docklands https://t.co/rBdJqTxqT9. Great space check it out! pic.twitter.com/E4OmiR503U — Helen Blunden […]
The Realm in Ringwood
On Friday 12th February 2016, I organised a trip out to the City of Maroondah’s new $24m state-of-the-art, The Realm in Ringwood which is a Business, Cultural, Language and Innovation Centre. Opened in October last year and located directly opposite the new Ringwood train station, the Realm incorporates green spaces, cafes, retail shops as well as […]
Where’s Your Third Place?
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Co-Working at the Docklands Library
Last Friday, I organised a co-working day at the Docklands Library in Melbourne and called it ThirdPlace. I started this meet up group a couple of years ago for people interested in adult education, coaching and all things related to “learning” to gather for informal social networking events. The people belong across all different industries and professions. […]
Co-Working at the Nest
Today I went along to the free co-working day hosted by Nest Coworking in Thornbury in the northern suburbs of Melbourne. (I’m currently typing this blog post from their big community desk you see in one of the photos below). Joyce Seitzinger (@catspyjamasnz) had alerted me to this space to check out due to […]
The Future of Business is Digital…Even in My Own Suburb?
In the last week of October, I visited the lovely coastal town of Geelong to attend the Pivot Summit. The summit was a one day conference focussed on inspiring the start up community in Geelong with new ideas around social business. After I saw that Brian Solis (@BrianSolis) was one of the speakers I immediately […]
A Short Stint Into Film Making of Third Place
A couple of months ago, I saw an opportunity to assist a friend to build her photography and video production business and in return, learn more about the new medium of video that I am exploring. I always wanted to do a short film about my social networking meetup group called Third Place but I […]
A Short Stint into Film Making of Third Place
A long time friend of mine is preparing to set up her new business. Ever since I have known her she has always been learning. She is a qualified masseuse and a photographer (and currently in the process of getting her pilot licence) and ever since I can remember, she has been energised by her pursuits […]
The Village Square
Some years ago I had travelled to Greece, the country of my heritage and landed in Crete. It was the first time I had travelled to Greece and I remember that even though I could speak the language and shared the customs and traditions, there were still many elements that remained foreign and curious to me […]
The Newest Group of Friends in the Oldest Pub in Melbourne
Last night a large group of members from Third Place met at the Duke of Wellington pub in Melbourne for dinner and a catch up. Third Place is a social networking, learning and co-working group I founded in September 2013 for anyone interested in learning regardless of the industry or profession they are from. There […]
You Can Have a Neighbourhood But Do You Have a Community?
This post has nothing to do with learning or performance and all about community. For the last four weeks there has been a homeless man living out of his car outside our next door neighbour’s house. I’m not much of a keen observer at the best of times but I did notice a car that […]
It’s Always Great to Meet Your Mates
Last night I attended the City of Kingston’s Meet Your Mates networking event. The Kingston Council holds these events and invites business owners to a cafe situated in the industrial areas of Kingston. Last night it was in Moorabbin which is close to the area that I live. Some time ago I joined the Council’s […]
Co-Working at the Melbourne Hub
On Friday I had an opportunity to co-work at the Melbourne Hub through a new Meetup I had joined called Jelly. Jelly organises monthly co-working events are various places around Melbourne and the reason I joined was to experience this new co-working space but also meet others who were outside my field of learning and […]
Where are the Third Places in the ‘Burbs?
On Saturday morning after I gave some blood, I bolted to a nearby cafe to get something to eat. Having fasted overnight, I was feeling light headed and I had to eat something quick or risk fainting. I knocked back a cup of coffee and a sausage roll and at once, all was well in the world. With […]