Winter Walkers: A group take a walk in Priory Park. See below.
 

Regional News

Our Indian themed regional event has now been and gone and much fun was had by all. You can find photos of the event in this issue of Empress. Whilst attended by members from as far as Kent, Lancashire and Warwickshire it was disappointing to see the lack of support from local members. So now is the time to tell me what type of event you'd like to see in 2009. Would you prefer a posh dinner dance, a themed meal, a simple buffet and disco, or nothing at all? I'd appreciate any feedback so I don't waste my time and energy, as well as our regional funds, on an event that doesn't hold appeal for the majority of members. Please contact me on [Phone Number] or [Email]. I'd love to hear from you!

Our next big event is a "Space Science Day" and takes place on Saturday 26th April at Leicester University. It will include a visit to their space research lab, two Mensa exclusive talks in their lecture theatre on 50 years of space science and nanotechnology, hands-on activities involving comets and Mars lander, displays and short talks throughout the day as well as a buffet lunch. Tickets cost £17.50 adult or £14.00 child aged under 18. Come and learn about the past, present and future of space science. There's an optional visit to the National Space Centre in Leicester the following day at a discounted group rate of £9 per person. Details of these events can be found on our web site at www.mensa.org.uk/eastmids and bookings should be made to Diane Salter at the Mensa office by 18th April latest. Friends and family are most welcome.

Tickets for the "Space Science Day" are selling well as are places on our Milton Keynes Weekend, 23rd-26th May 2008. Some events with limited numbers are getting full so don't delay in booking if there's an activity you really want to do or you may be disappointed. Again full details on the East Midlands Mensa web site.

Maxine Bates

Regional Officer

Events and Meetings

photo of Jo Sidebottom

Mensans in MK & Bedford

On Thu 3rd Apr at 8.00pm - FThOTM

We have a new venue and start time for First Thursday on 3rd April. Starbucks @ Borders have started shutting much earlier, so we have decamped to our "backup" venue of Jury's Inn on Midsummer Boulevard, and moved the start time back to 8.00pm. Look out for the Mblem in either the foyer or the bar.

On Wed 16th Apr at 8.00pm - 3WOTM

Our Third Wednesday meeting at the Old Beams in Shenley Lodge is on 16th April. If you're definitely planning to come, please let me know as it will help us to grab the right sized table, but don't let that put you off deciding on the spur of the moment - you'll still be welcome. See www.mcmullens.co.uk for location and menu details.

On Sat 26th Apr at 3.00pm - T@3

We're also doing another T@3 this month, as they have proved popular before. We'll be in the restaurant at Dobbie's Garden Centre in Fenny Stratford on Saturday 26th April at 3.00pm. Dobbie's is on Watling Street, just up from the large A4145/A5 roundabout. It's well worth a visit for the food hall alone, not to mention all the spring bulbs and bedding plants that should be in bloom by late April. Hope to see you there.

Jo Sidebottom

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] / [Mobile Number] for details

photo of Val Hinkins

Mid Bucks

On Tue 29th Apr at 8.00pm - Scrabble evening

This months' meeting on Tuesday 29th April 2008 at 8.00pm is a repeat of last year's successful Scrabble evening in High Wycombe. All standards are welcome. Please ring Peter or Val a few days ahead for directions / encouragement. Tea and coffee will be provided.

Val Hinkins

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

photo of Sue Watford

Leicestershire Letter

On Sat 26th Apr at 7.30pm - Mexican Meal

On Saturday 26th April we're visiting the Cactus Cafe, a Mexican Cantina which opened in 1990. The address is 17 High Street, Loughborough, and the website is www.cactuscafe.co.uk. Prices are reasonable, and a sample of the menu can be found on the website. If you live in the Loughborough area, it would be lovely to meet you (which is not to say you won't be equally welcome if you happen to live in Brooke!). Please get in touch if you intend coming, so I can give a reasonably accurate estimate of numbers.

Sue Watford

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

photo of Richard Allen

Hertfordshire Happenings

On Thu 10th Apr at 8.15pm - FThOTM => 2ThOTM

Regular First Thursday of the month meeting will be on the second Thursday, 10th April, because I'm on holiday on First Thursday! Join us from 8.15pm at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin. Good food and good beer both available! Call me on for more details and encouragement. The pub is about ten minutes' walk from the railway station. Sadly, there are now very few evening buses in the area.

On Fri 25th Apr at 8.00pm - LFOTM

On Friday 25th April at 8.00pm join us once again at our new venue, the Prince of Wales,Hertingfordbury, to unwind at the end of the month. Food and an interesting range of beer available and interesting and stimulating conversation guaranteed! Look for the Mag/Mblem. Hertingfordbury is about 20 minutes' walk from Hertford North station.

Richard Allen

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

photo of Ian Sargent

Northants NNotes

On Thu 3rd Apr at 9.00pm - FThOTM

Our 1st Thursday meeting is on Thursday 3rd April and it's at our usual venue: The Fox & Hounds in Harlestone. If you've not been there before, the village is on the A428 a couple of miles north of Northampton. A Mensa mag on one of the tables will show you who we are sometime after 9.00pm.

On Thu 17th Apr at 8.00pm - Roadshow

This month's Roadshow meeting is on Thursday 17th April and we go back to The Barley Mow at Paulerspury. The village lies just to the west of the A5 a few miles south of Towcester and you will normally find us to the right of the bar as you come through the front door. We'll be there at 8.00pm. Hopefully the pub will be open when we get there, unlike the Bricklayers Arms at Creaton which was to be the venue for our February meeting. I hope that the short notice change to Spratton didn't inconvenience anyone.

Ian Sargent

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] / [Mobile Number] for details

Derby Diary

On Wed 16th Apr at 7.30pm - 3WOTM

The "3rd Wednesday" falls on the 16th this month, so why not join us at the Standing Order any time from 7.30pm for a meal or just a drink or even just to pop in to say hello. Just look for the yellow Mblem on one of the tables at the back. Please contact me for directions and encouragement.

On Mon 21st Apr at 7.00pm - At Home

I'll be having my own 'at home' on the following Monday, the 21st, in Butterley Park, Ripley with the usual offer of friendly chat, food and board games, but please call to let me know you're coming so I can organise parking and herd the cats.

In the meantime, may I recommend a little gem of a cinema I tried out for the first time this February? It's the Ritz in Belper and it's a small, independently run cinema with incredibly comfortable seats, including a couple of sofas! You can even buy a glass of wine or a nice mug of fresh coffee (and home made cake!) to take in with you and you get a little table next to your seat to put it on. They have their own website at www.ritz-belper.co.uk and I was thinking of planning a visit one afternoon or evening, so if you fancy the idea just let me know and I'll see if I can get something organised. As always, if you want some encouragement to attend your first meeting, advertise one of your own or just want to say hello, then please call me at home on the above number or email me.

Merry Metcalf

photo of Maxine Bates

Notts News

On Sat 5th Apr at 8.00pm - 5OTM

We have our three usual offerings with a variety of hosts this month. As I'll be away at the Regional Officers conference Kevin Bamford has kindly offered to host our "5th of the month" event at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road in Nottingham. Join Kev and the regulars from 8.00pm on Saturday 5th for drinks of both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic variety. New faces always welcome. Contact Kev on [Phone Number] for directions if required.

On Wed 9th Apr at 7.00pm - Chicks & Flicks

On Wednesday 9th Paul Henchliffe is hosting our "Chicks & Flicks" event. Meet at 7.00pm inside the doors to the Cornerhouse in the city centre. From there we'll dine at Nando's peri-peri chicken restaurant whilst arguing over which film to watch at Cineworld afterwards. Cornerhouse card holders get free soft drinks at Nando's and Orange mobile owners get 2-4-1 cinema tickets to make it a cheap night out. Contact Paul on [Phone Number] or [Email] for details.

On Tue 29th Apr at 7.30pm - Postcode Pubcrawl

Let's see if this month's "Postcode Pubcrawl" event is as exciting as the one in January. 16 of us turned up at the pre-booked venue to discover they'd just had a powercut! Whilst we could have dined by candlelight, the heating had gone off and there were no cooking facilities. My birthday meal was swiftly moved to another pub where the food was still delicious - and cheaper! Thanks to the staff at the Pullman Inn for managing to serve us drinks by torchlight and my Mensa friends for persevering with the venue change. This month a pub has been recommended in the NG23 postcode area so we're going to the Boot & Shoe Inn, Main Street, Flintham, near Newark which is just off the A46, at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29th. The venue is a traditional English pub dating back to the 17th century and now serves homecooked food. Directions and their menu can be found at www.thebootandshoeinn.com. Please let me know by 26th if you can join us so a table can be reserved.

Ciao for now!

Maxine Bates

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

Luton & Dunstable

On Sat 26th Apr at 7.30pm - Curry Eating Meeting

We will be meeting at 7.30pm in the bar at the Brache Beefeater Osborne Road, Luton, LU1 3HJ off Gypsy Lane. We'll be eating about 8.30pm at The Meah Tandoori Restaurant, 102 Park St, Luton. LU1 3EY . Please ring Les on [Phone Number] to book your place ASAP or by previous Wednesday at the latest or email [Email]

Les Draper Eames

photo of Jacquie Harrison

Lincoln

On Sat 26th Apr at 5.00pm - Eastern buffet

Join for an early dinner at the Laughing Buddha on Silver Street whether or not you are going to the "Scottish play". All very welcome but please leave a message on [Phone Number] if you hope to turn up so we can get a table together.

On Sat 26th Apr at 7.15pm - Theatre

Join us for the Lincoln Shakespeare Company's "Macbeth" at the Drill Hall. The seating is usually chose as you arrive so you can either book direct yourself or Jacquie will book for you if you ring [Phone Number] by the 11th. Either way, please let her know to look out for you if you are not going to the meal first.

Jacquie Harrison

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] / [Mobile Number] for details

photo of Jenny Habib

Berkhamsted

On Wed 30th Apr at 7.45pm - LWOTM

Please note change of venue. We will meet at the Crown Inn at Ley Hill. Car parking is in the lay-by opposite, which usually has plenty of spaces. Do come and drink, eat or just join us for a chat. All members welcome, come if you can. If the weather is nice we can stay outside.

Jenny Habib

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

Space Science Day

On Sat 26th Apr at 10.30am - Space Science Day

See SpaceScienceDay.ashx for details.

Welcome to the world!

Emily Alison Louise Perry arrived safely on 30th January 2008 at 6.58pm weighing 4lb 3oz, a sister to Katie, a second child to Rob and ex-Herts LocSec Julie.

Cover Photo: Inside Story

A group take a walk in Priory Park.

Richard Allen writes: On Sunday 3rd February a hardy group of six braved high winds to enjoy a circular walk around Priory Park, Bedford. The park covers a large area and our walk, while not of RAMSIG proportions, was a very pleasant two-and-a-half miles followed by an equally pleasant pub lunch afterwards.

Left to right are Richard, Linda, Chris, John, Jo and Chris, with, centre stage, Max the Dog!

It was good to see a number of new faces as well - see you again?

Arts Day: Saturday 10th May

Gwen Jones writes: Once again I'm holding an Arts Day, this time in Waltham Abbey. Whatever your favoured art or medium (drawing, painting, photography, creative writing, music) you're welcome to participate. Bring your own materials. It won't be a workshop: seek your own stimulus in the Abbey Gardens; the adjoining Lea Valley Country Park; the small historic town; the abbey church, said to be the last resting place of Harold. The Epping Forest District Museum in Sun Street will be open.

The format of the day will be as follows:

10:30

Meet up; chat; information. Disperse for art activities.

12:30

Meet up for picnic (you'll have brought your own, along with any other refreshments you might want during the day). Chat about progress; perhaps show/read/play some of the fruits of our creativity. Disperse for art activities.

15:00

Meet up (optional). Chat and show as before. Feedback. Finish.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.

A Taste of India

Photos from our Indian-themed event in Leicester on Saturday 23rd February:

More than a dozen members got instruction in Indian dancing.
Photo: too many names to fit into this space! Who do you recognise?
Some of the members dressed in Indian costume for the event.
Photo: Smita, Sue, Maxine, Carol, Merry
An Indian buffet completed the evening.
Photo: Kevin, Emma, Christine, Andy, Merry, Giles, Mark, Erin, Thomas, Pen, Richard, Sue
 

20 Questions (No. 79)

Answers from the Indian themed quiz in February were rupee, a chakra, 1947, Jaipur, dance, Portugal, bindi, BHO, Indian Railways, Bombay, fish, New Delhi, 31st October 1984, Brahmaputra, Hindi, Mumtaz Mahal, potato, Jammu & Kashmir, Diwali and Pingali Venkayya. Entries from Pamela Covey of Woburn, Andy Cole of Cleethorpes, Elaine Yates of Watford, Rita Beeson of Kempston, Chris Impey of Tring, Alex Foster of Derby, Geraldine Ellis of Nottingham, Roger Lord of Aylesbury,Mike Hadley of Lutterworth, Tony Dodd of Belvoir, Chris Jury of Nottingham, Joyce Ellis-Croft of Rushden, Richard Pecout of Herts, Amanda Burrows of Nottingham and Robert Kerr of Leics. The winner was Pamela. Well done!

This month we have cryptic clues to place names in Northamptonshire and they have been set by the LocSec, Ian Sargent.

1. Device used in preparing breakfast? (9)

2. Garden maintenance brings very small reward (11)

3. The value of a building material? (9)

4. Mixed up, anyhow, and losing something in the process (5)

5. Beware! The water drawn from it may be boiling! (9)

6. Where to hide Moses in his cradle? (7)

7. To sum up, one is bigger than the other (5,9 & 6,9)

8. Stream full of insects? (9)

9. Little Patricia lives in some splendour (10)

10. Almost heaven and almost meritorious (9)

11. To accommodate a church official or his aircraft? (11)

12. Was once a shallow crossing? (8)

13. A pain in the neck! (5)

14. Attempt by little giant killer (8)

15. Paradise lost by evil deeds? (6,6)

16. Literally the last place in the county (10)

17. Ancient shellfish? (9)

18. Set to catch lots of mackerel (8)

19. Direct Dickens to do this when hungry (6)

20. Spoilt for choice of places to worship (5,4,8)

Send your answers to arrive by 20th April to '20 Questions (No. 79)', [Address]. Please state if you'd like to receive a £10 Leisure Voucher (valid at a variety of restaurants, shops and tourist attractions) or a £10 National Book Token if you're the lucky winner.