Adult/Continuing Education - just for fun

[Earlybird]

Who's taken an interesting course just for fun? What was it, and where did you take it? I'm thinking about art/art appreciation, cooking, theatre, literature, film, politics, photography, languages, gardening, philosophy - anything!

I want to do something that will be stimulating, and the idea of an evening class is a possibility. What can you suggest? And please don't say pick up a copy of Floodlight...I've done it, and it's so dense and badly organised that I lose the will to live just looking at it. Personal recommendation is the way to go, I feel.

I've put this under the "culture vulture" heading because I'm not after career/degree information. I simply want to build time in my life to "keep thinking".....

Do you like swimming? How about pool lifeguard or open water scuba diving?

This is going to sound strange, but I took maths from pre-algebra to differential equations calculus and biology, chemistry and anatomy for people who wanted to be doctors 'for fun'. They just became interesting to me in my mid- to late-20s/early 30s.

And it was GREAT fun!

Do it!

I did a great class at my local Arts Centre in Pottery-met some very interesting people who i would never have normally met.

Didnt cost a fortune,was fun,stimulating and the hot chocolate afterwards was divine!

Some good ideas here - anyone else?

This will probably sound really silly, but I've always wanted to do aroma threapy, massage courses. Dp's fine with it, but as he's currently doing (work related) evening course, I've put mine on hold, was really surprised the local college actually offered these courses.

Wehre are you ? Ours are run undnr the umbrella of the local FE college but at dedicated local centres around the area. A copy of the prospectus and course details is available at the library.

I'm in central London. Don't mean to be dense, but what is FE?

Further Education - like where school leavers do their NVQ's and Diplomas

Love expat's idea - what a clever one.

I've always liked the idea of quite a technical music appreciation class - as in what really is a fugue.

(FE is further education)

I suspect the City Lit or Mary Ward Centre might be your cup(s) of tea. Mary Ward particularly.

oops, that was a cross-post with LIZS, as you'll have guessed

I used to sing in the really very good chamber choir at Morley College. I like Morley, and although it's not central it's very accessible.

Thanks for all these ideas/suggestions. Lots to think about.

Bink - the links look great. You've given me yet another reason to stare too long at my computer screen...though, after lots of staring/reading, I hope to eventually get out into the big, wide, interesting world!

citylit have such wonderful courses - so many options for langs, art history, exercise, history etc etc - make the most of being in central london, you lucky thing! Also, if you're into art history the Tate & National Gallery do fascinating courses too!
Cd also try the unis - - like City, UCl for p/t courses. If you want fairly heavy duty & wt to do a p/t degree cd look at birkbeck college.

MI - Morley College website looks intriguing too.

You lot have given me a great deal to digest! Thanks for pointing me in the right directions.