Intellectual Stimulation

I found myself with a bunch of strangers at an event, all trying to find some mutual conversation. I suddenly recalled something from the original Bridget Jones film when she was trying to make “intelligent conversation” and I said “ so, what do you all think about the political situation in Chechnya “ .... I recall Hugh Grant responding with “ I don’t give a F..k Jones” .... however, my bunch of strangers suddenly looked alarmed and clearly didn’t know what to say .... and we all burst out laughing together ! Humour is always a great ice breaker.

Just been on the 'Rude Songs' thread. That should be enough intellectual stimulation for the day ???

Even though some of Radio 4 is not high brow there are still lots of thoughfully made and thought provoking programmes. If you like countryside things do you listen to Farming Today? It is available on the iplayer if it is too early for you. On Your Farm and Open Country are too. Kitchen Cabinet is enjoyable, the Reith Lectures are stimulating and you can get podcasts of them going back years. What about programmes on 4 Extra? Those too can be heard on the iplayer.

Then on tv there is Countryfile and Gardeners' World as well as lots of programmes on travel and other countries on BBC4 and Channel 4.

If you search for local MeetUp groups online there is a whole host of groups ranging from social & craft meet ups, philosophy discussions to yoga and a million things in between. Everyone is a stranger until you go regularly and there’s no joining fee, although sometimes a tiny fee for a hall cost if they don’t meet in a free venue. It’s give you a wider circle of friends of different ages and an opportunity for a simple chat if nothing else.

I couldn’t survive without reading the Guardian/Observer cover to cover every day and often the Metro/Standard also. The one time I tried U3A I absolutely hated it. I had paid a years fee foolishly but never went back.

Am currently doing a FutureLearn course 'Strategies for successful aging'!! Lots of interesting pointers. Have done many other courses with them too - great as it can be at one's own pace. The downside is it is solitary but as others have said U3A, book groups etc. are all more social - have fun

I don't think anyone has mentioned Sky Arts channels yet. My tv is worth having for those and BBC 2 and 4. Some fascinating and informative programmes. I do agree that much tv is absolute dross. I am a fan of TED talks and podcasts as well as online newspapers. However OH is happy to watch tv when he isn't out in the garden. He wonders why I spend so much time online. Our viewing together tends to be on catch-up where we can watch drama series we have missed but obviously you need more than a basic tv package to benefit. I am about to join a local choir and am looking for a nearby book club too, but in vain, alas.

Thank you for all the great suggestions on this thread.

You can subscribe to online magazines very cheaply, and using the same company, can get many on one subscription.
Lookout for free/very cheap online access to newspapers. Likewise Twitter have news tweets if you follow the right people.
PS After 40yrs of listening to R4, have come to the parting of the ways - news and weather only now.

If there's a property nearby join the National Trust as a volunteer. It's history and sociability all wrapped up in one. Just about all the properties need volunteers for various roles. (I am a volunteer at my local house.)

Thanks to hillwalker70 for starting this thread.
I can find plenty of intellectual stimulation by reading and via my laptop, etc. What frustrates me is finding other people locally to have a stimulating conversation with. There must be loads of women in my area (N W London) who are active retirees of around my age but how to meet them.....?
I have tried several groups (eg 2 different reading ones) but the members are much older than me (mid seventies upwards) and I had little in common with them.
I will try some of the other recommendations here.

Day6, ask at your local library for book groups. Ours is host to no fewer than 13! Only one meets there as far as I know, but give it a try..

LBC have just had 2 hour show presented by Jacob Rees Mogg. Lots of listeners calling in for and again his opinions on Brexit. It’s really stimulating. I often shout at the radio.

I was going to suggest your local library, but others feel that may not be an option anymore. I don't live in UK, but here the libraries still have newspapers and magazines in the reading-room. Worth popping in and checking, surely?

Probably the right place to find a book reading group too.

Thank-you Stella for telling us about Future Learn, I've just signed up for a course!

Get out there and join clubs that share the same interests as you, easy peasy!!

Have you thought of joining a Book Group?

Lots of excellent ideas!

I'll include MOOCS Massive Open Online Courses which are mainly free. They cover loads of topics at all levels and you don't have to complete at all (average completion rate 15%). Some are lectures etc, some are interactive so you can share and develop knowledge. Could be there is something you always wanted to know about.

Somewhat different is Quora, a question-and-answer site where questions are asked, answered, edited, and organized by its community of users. There are all sorts of topics on this blog, from psychological to political to scientific and more, and very varied are its answers.

Hi Hillwalker - Fab thread isn't it. I find a sub to The Times online helps a lot with 'up-to-date' ness. The World Service is often better than R4 - less parochial. Are you a member of your local wildlife trust? Also Heritage Open Days are coming up - have a Google, there may be places/ideas near you.

I’m so glad that others have found this thread useful. I am new to the Internet so still fumbling around rather but lots to find out about now. I live a very quiet life with a few really long term friends, it isn’t any company I need, but the right company if you know what I mean. We used to have a really good WEA here but that has gone as have mobile libraries, I suppose most older rural dwellers have similar problems as to finding good conversation. I am just off to a Garden Party down in the village so I should get an entertaining afternoon of village news, there was a lively Parish Council meeting the other night so might find out what happened after I left.

I just wanted to add a couple of things that have worked for me. One is literary festivals. They are all over the country now, and you dont need to be an avid reader of great literature because they cover all subjects and have lots of speakers who are politicians, academics, or documentary presenters on TV. I find our local one so stimulating I rarely sleep whilst its on - my brain is too busy trying to process all the information. The other on line source of really interesting courses is the US based EdX. You can study from anywhere in the world and most courses are free if you dont want a certificate: www.edx.org I did The Science of Happiness last year, run out of UC Berkeley and it was amazing (re-running in September). Ignore the initial page which makes it look as if you have to pay and use the search facility which drops down from the top toolbar.

Brilliant Maps website is interesting

Stella 1949 thank you for sharing about Future Learn courses. Never heard of that before. I looked it up and am so excited about this site!!!!! Wonderful. I love to learn. I’m 65 and retired. I am always looking for things to do and learn. Very excited to start!!

Lack of money really restricts what anyone can do. I can’t afford to go to lectures, talks, groups which have to be paid for. I don’t drive so can’t go beyond walking distance in my very small town.
I joined a book group but we had to buy a book every month. U3A also requires transport.
I listen to Radios 3 and 4 and value my free Guardian from Waitrose and buy books in charity shops.

watermeadow Online courses with Futurelearn, Coursera and other sites don't cost anything, unless you want an official certificate when you have completed the course.
medium.freecodecamp.org/a-massive-list-of-free-online-course-providers-from-around-the-world-925766226f46

Couple of ideas

Have you tried joining a social walking group? I find the local walking4heath.co.uk walks are brilliant, about an hour, about two miles, natter all the way and we always stop for a coffee and a decent chat afterwards.

Also it has finished for this academic year but my local university, and lots of others too, have ‘public lectures’ series in the early evening, mostly new professors ‘professing’ their subject. Always a glass of wine after and a good intriductiin ‘did you enjoy the talk?, did you learn much?’ Try ‘events’ or ‘public seminars’ at the university web site