EMPRESS

Regional News

We have a variety of events for you again this month, but with the ever-changing virus rules and regulations we advise you to contact the host to make sure the event is going ahead before setting off. Pub socials, restaurant visits, walks, treasure trails, pamper parties, book clubs and more plus some online Zoom events too. We're hoping to organise a regional event soon that will encompass the activity that proved most popular on our recent survey so watch this space!

If you still prefer to stay at home but would like to get involved, please consider compiling a '20 questions' quiz on your specialist subject to test other members. Or write a short feature on your home village /town/city to encourage us to visit it whilst the majority of us are spending time exploring the UK rather than suffering the hassle and uncertainty of flying overseas. What hidden gems have you discovered in the British Isles over the last two years?

I'm on [Phone Number] or [Email] and always happy to hear from you.

Maxine Bates

Regional Officer

Editorial

Welcome to the February edition of Empress. Yesterday I was reading an article about the planned festivities to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June. I can only hope that everything that is planned is achievable given the current situation. If it is then perhaps we will be on the way back to a normal life again.

Christmas and New Year are now behind us and as one article pointed out we have a few months to go before the next Bank Holiday. I feel that this is a very cynical viewpoint as life is more than thinking about when the next Bank Holiday is due. Being a boring old fart, I can remember Bank Holidays that were something special - as a family we used to go a huge market near Cambridge railway station and then on to another one in St Ives with a Chinese in Regent Street in between.

Roy Latham

Young Mensa Mini Weekend

Josh Dade is from Nottingham and is organising a mini-weekend of social activities for Young Mensans (age 18-35) in the city over the weekend of Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th March. It aims to be informal meeting for lunch on Saturday then an afternoon of sightseeing before early evening amusements, dinner and night out with Sunday brunch for anyone staying overnight. An event has been created on the Young Mensa UK Facebook group for discussion and further details. Or contact Josh on joshdade1990@gmail.com

Ruddington Treasure Trail

Two of the teams solving a clue at the entrance to Rushcliffe country park

The first three teams arrive at the pub

After a few days of rain and snow showers, Sunday 9th January dawned as a crisp dry day with blue skies so perfect for our treasure trail around the Nottinghamshire village of Ruddington and part of Rushcliffe Country Park. The professionally compiled trail involved a ficticious seamstress linked to the local framework knitting industry who was discovered dead. Participants had to solve 18 clues to discover whodunnit and with what implement. Six teams set off at five minute intervals, although didn't necessarily finish in the same order as a couple of clues proved quite tricky. Along the way the trail pack gave interesting facts about the history of the area. Everyone finished with the option of a drink or meal in a pub at the end. The Sunday roasts had the biggest Yorkshire puddings we'd ever seen! It was an enjoyable afternoon combining gentle exercise with using brain cells. And even better free to join in - apart from any food and drink purchased. Watch out for other trails throughout our region during 2022.

Pictures from East Midlands events

Derby

3rd Wednesday of the month - December meeting

Derby

4th Wednesday of the Month zoom from December. Things talked about included connections to celebrities. Examples included being nearly trodden on by Ian Botham, and nearly slamming the door in Seb Coe's face.

Aylesbury Treasure Hunt

Ten members attended the Aylesbury Treasure Hunt at the end of December.

The photo shows some of them checking their answers on their return to our cafe base.

Ignorance Is Bliss

By Frank Forster

In the 1960s I was working as a rep for a very good builder's merchant. Each morning after early morning phone calls from customers or to head office, I would get into the car and drive off. My customer list was very varied, ranging from one tradesman, contractors and local authorities.

Summer and winter I travelled the highways and byways of south Lincolnshire plus bits of neighbouring counties where we had a presence. I would leave home anywhere between 8:00 or even 9.30am. Likewise I may finish on one day at 4:00pm and the next day 9:00pm. In all of this time I went out whatever the weather, hard hat and gumboots in the boot plus, in snow, a shovel. Only once did I not venture out. In a particularly bad winter I had a call from head office to tell me every vehicle was taken off the road and I was to stay at home for the day.

Forward now to 1970. The previous year I was promoted into management and moved the family to the coast. A large estate car came with the job and it was in this that we all set off in August 1970 for two weeks in the Lake District.

Driving 60 miles to the A1 at Newark where the journey started properly, we turned north. I have always regarded the A1 as one I least liked, at least then. Yes, it is a means of getting north or south, however I found motorways characterless and somewhat boring, the tedium only relieved by a few adventurous drivers. Turning west, we made our way, via a stop in Kendal, to Windermere where we booked in for our first night. Following that we found our road via Chapel Stile into Great Langdale. A mile or so before there comes a dead end was a white walled farmhouse standing back about 30 yards south of the road advertising B&B. That's more like it, nice and remote. My wife carried out her usual recce and we booked in. The front of the building faced the Langdale Pikes. Our sons slept at the front, my wife and I had a room in the back of the house with a view of lesser hills but with a beautiful little waterfall which we could just hear. That was a tranquil spot.

The following morning we donned our walking boots and explored the head of the valley on foot, clambering over the big rocks and soaking up the clear atmosphere and wonderful scenery. Other days we explored the beautiful Grizedale Forest, Coniston, Hawkshead and the rest. On the first full day while we were near the water, Neil our second son was able to go angling by boat on Windermere, a hobby he's kept to this day. Now his brother Alan said he would like to go birdwatching at Bee's Head, the only cliffs in Cumbria and a recognised spot for seabirds. With this in mind I got my road map out. As I said earlier, I preferred to drive on interesting roads rather than direct ones. I spotted that towards the head of the valley was a gate to a route I thought I might enjoy.

All set now, everybody in? Good. The field road was nothing new to me excepting it climbing. We climbed, descended to another gate after which we joined the road as anticipated. Road? It was a single-track road, furthermore it was foggy. As I said earlier, I never let weather deter me so I pressed on. The track started to rise and the fog became denser. There was no way back because of the narrowness and so it was a matter of slowly does it. Some miles further we encountered a Ford Cortina in a passing place. He had put rocks under his wheels to prevent him running backwards after suffering a burnt out clutch.

I had no idea of the topography on either side of the road, nor was I aware that on at least one point we were at more than 1200 feet. I did know the road was full of twists and turns, but then again at such a low speed the extreme nature of these was not apparent. I know now there is a sign telling the motorist the gradient is one in three. Whether that sign existed then, I don't know.

The mileage can't be big. But there again if you are navigating a one-track road in dense fog you don't spend a lot of time studying the mileometer. We began to descend, the fog became less dense. At something like sea level we spotted the nuclear power station to our left. I think there were combined sounds of breaths being released and muscles relaxed. Quite soon a building appeared on the right. The first one apart from the power station we had seen since we left the farmhouse. I, for one, was delighted to find it was a hostelry serving delicious coffee.

After suitable refreshment we resumed our journey eventually reaching St Bees and Bees Head. Alan was able to do some birdwatching although he was a little disappointed that the numbers weren't as great as they might be. Mission completed we made our leisurely way back via Cockermouth. By the time we were in Windermere it was dinner time. After dinner, we made our way back into the valley, farmhouse and bed.

Up in time for an excellent breakfast the lady of the house asked, as she did each morning, "Where did you go yesterday?". We told her and then she asked "Which route?". "Wrynose and Hardknott" was my reply after which "Oh yes and what was the weather like?". "As thick a fog as I have seen" I replied. Her face changed. "Don't tell me you drove over there in fog, the locals don't do that!". So, as I said, ignorance is bliss.

PS Although my driving days are over, I would love to be driven through those passes in good weather.

20 Questions (No. 244)

The answers to our Christmas quiz were Norway, Christmas cracker, sausages and bacon, 1994, Coca Cola, George V, carp, Japan, The Snowman, Indian ocean, poinsettia, Paris, Ladbaby, 4, Michael Caine, football, Justin Trudeau, Edgar, Bono and 364. The winner of a £10 One4All gift card was Andy Cole of Cleethorpes. Congratulations!

Many thanks to Les Hurst for compiling the quiz this month. All the answers contain the letters OX. Do you know them? Send your entries to arrive by 20th February to '20 Questions (No. 244)', [Address] or [Email] remembering to include your name and address in case you win.