Thai meal on 3rd December
Regional News
February is here already! As usual we have lots of events to tempt you out this month to suit all ages and budgets, midweek and weekend, daytime and evening. So whether you'd like to meet other members over a pint in the pub, viewing artwork in a gallery, discussing a book, solving a treasure trail, chatting over brunch or something else, do see what's happening near you and come along. New faces are always welcome as are non-member guests. Online events are gradually disappearing as life returns to some normality. But do let us know if you prefer to Zoom from home rather than go out in person in case there is still demand. There are big changes planned within Mensa in the coming months so watch this space. And do let the Mensa office know your email address if you have one and they are not already aware of it otherwise you'll miss out on regular communication.
I'm on [Phone Number] or [Email] and always happy to hear from you.
Maxine Bates
Regional Officer
Editorial
This month, Empress has been a joint effort, Maria and I have each done a part of it, with Maria having done the lions share.
Christmas is now well behind us and I was reminded today in Sainsbury's that Easter is just around the corner when I saw hot cross buns on sale already. I thought I'd share a fairly obscure fact with you: Hot cross buns are a modern version of the Alban bun which was created by Brother Thomas Rocliffe, a 14th Century monk, and were intended to feed the poor on Good Friday. The cross on the bun does not have a religious reason - it was put there so that the bun could be divided into 4 pieces. The water Mill at Redbourn has it's own bakery and still produces the Alban bun alongside it's modern version.
Roy Latham
Please.....
Every month the editors rely on a few members to supply content beyond the regular items. This is your newsletter and it would be very helpful if more of you could submit something for inclusion - meeting reports, unusual pastimes (clean, of course) and anything other members may find interesting would be most welcome.
Events and Meetings
Derby Diary
On Wed 8th Feb at 1:00pm - Lunch
Come to our regular 2WOTM meeting in Belper, at Cocoa Cafe, 2 Strutt St, Belper DE56 1UN, https://www.ishouldcocoacafe.co.uk/ . Free parking nearby, just off the market square, or on a number of nearby side streets. Panini, sandwiches, salads, daily specials, hot/soft drinks etc. I need to know numbers as it's a small place, so please contact Helen on [Phone Number] or [Email] by the previous weekend. All welcome!
On Wed 15th Feb at 7:30pm - 3WOTM
We have a separate room booked at Mr Grundy's, Ashbourne Road, Derby, DE22 3AD (part of the Georgian House Hotel, entrance round the back). Ask for "Susan's Group". Come along to eat or just for a drink. Real Ales available. The hotel has its own car park. Wheelchair accessible. Contact Susan on [Email] or [Phone Number].
Susan Graves
Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] / [Mobile Number] for details
Hertfordshire Happenings
On Thu 2nd Feb at 8:00pm - FThOTM
This is our monthly meeting at the Three Magnets, in Leys Avenue. This is one of the main shopping streets of Letchworth, and is a short walk from the railway station, which is served by frequent trains between London and Cambridge. Thursday is traditionally curry night, but other meals are available (standard Wetherspoons fare). If interested, please contact me on [Phone Number], or email [Email]
On Fri 24th Feb at 8:00pm - LFOTM
As ever, we are at the Cowper Arms, Digswell (next to Welwyn North station) from 8 pm. Good food and good conversation guaranteed. Please call [Phone Number] to let me know by the 17 February if you intend to come so that I know to book enough tables, as it does get busy there on Friday nights.
Steve Thomas
Contact [Email] or [Mobile Number] for details
In Leicestershire
On Mon 20th Feb at 8:00pm - Pub Social
Join me for our usual convivial third Monday of the month gathering at the welcoming Cradock Arms, 201 Knighton Road, Leicester, LE2 3TT. The pub serves real ales, hot drinks and food. You are welcome to bring a friend or partner. Look out for the Mblem or Magazine on the table. If you need any directions or encouragement, please contact me on [Phone Number] or at [Email].
On Sat 25th Feb at 7:00pm - Pub meal
This month we are dining at the Soar Bridge Inn, 29 Bridge St., Barrow on Soar LE12 8PN This is an Everard's pub with good real ales and meals cooked in house. Feel free to come along with a guest but it's essential to book ahead so please let me know if you want to join us by the 18th February. Contact me on [Phone Number] or [Email]
Haydn Starkie
Contact [Email] or [Mobile Number] for details
Lively Lincs
On Sat 11st Feb at 12:00pm - 2SOTM pub discussion
Join us for a friendly discussion over lunch at the Adam & Eve Tavern, Lindum Hill. This month's topic: 'What organisation would you like to be banned from?' All welcome, and you can bring a guest. Pub food, decent beers, car park. I need to book our table, so please contact me to confirm by Friday 10th on [Email] or [Phone Number].
On Sun 19th Feb at 12:00pm - Cafe lunch
Join us for a light lunch at the CaféBar in The Hub arts centre in Sleaford. New faces especially welcome, and you can bring a guest. After lunch there is the opportunity to view an exhibition of art ceramics - details in separate listing. Please contact me by Saturday 11th so I can book a table. You can reach me on [Email] or [Phone Number].
On Sun 19th Feb at 1:45pm - Ceramics exhibition
Join us to view a touring exhibition at The Hub arts centre in Sleaford. 'Welcome to My World - Ceramics with Narrative' features work by several studio artists. NB: Some work contains strong language and adult themes. All welcome, and you can bring a guest. If you let me know you're coming along, I will look out for you. I can be contacted on [Email] or [Phone Number].
Jacquie Harrison
Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] / [Mobile Number] for details
In Luton
Mid Bucks
On Sun 5th Feb at 2:00pm - Games Afternoon
Join Dave and Alison online for a relaxed and informal Sunday afternoon of on-line board games and chat. All members and friends are welcome. We play most Sunday afternoons using www.boardgamearena.com and Jitsi for chat. Further details are on the main Mensa web site. Contact: [Phone Number] or [Email]
On Sat 11st Feb at 2:30pm - Theatre
Join me at Wycombe Swan for a new stage adaptation of Agatha Christie's The Mirror Crack'd Full details at https://wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/tickets-the-mirror-crackd-wycombe-2023 Prices from £18 to £37 depending on choice of seat. Please book your own tickets for the performance, but let me know you are coming. We may go for an informal meal afterwards. Contact: [Phone Number] or [Email]
On Fri 17th Feb at 10:30am - Coffee & Chat
Join me for coffee and chat at Tone Coffee Shop in DESBOX Unit 1, Baker Street, High Wycombe, Bucks HP11 2NP We always get a warm welcome here. Further details at https://www.tonecoffeeshop.co.uk/ No need to book, but if you want me to look out for you, please let me know you are coming. Contact: [Phone Number] or [Email]
For further details or encouragement contact me on [Phone Number] or e-mail me at [Email]
Val Hinkins
Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details
Mensans in MK & Bedford
On Thu 16th Feb at 7:30pm - Book Group
Book group has a new regular date of 3ThotM. Join us in the foyer of Leonardo's Hotel on Midsummer Boulevard as we discuss the next book in our series. Contact me for details of our current book - [Phone Number] or [Email].
On Sun 26th Feb at 10:00am - Sunday breakfast
Join us for a full breakfast, a snack, or just coffee in the lounge of The Swan Revived in Newport Pagnell. If you can let me know in advance if you're coming, it will help with the table reservation - [Phone Number] or [Email].
Just a reminder about our M-MK & Bedford Facebook group - if you would like to join please search for the group and send me a request. I also keep an email distribution list for meeting reminders and any last-minute changes, so if you would like to be added to this please let me know.
We hope to see as many of you as possible at one or other of our events this month. Do remember that you're welcome to bring a guest with you, so if you've never been to a Mensa event and are a little nervous about coming along on your own, just bring a friend.
Jo Sidebottom
Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] / [Mobile Number] for details
News from Northampton
On Sat 11st Feb at 10:30am - Pub Walk
Braunston & Wolfmancote. Jurassic Way, farm track, foothpath to ancient church of Wolfmancote. Canal towpath. Meet at 'The Admiral Nelson', Dark Lane, Little Braunston. Rugby. NN11 7HJ OS 222 (549 659) 5.5km (1 hr 45 mins) Drink afterwards at 12.30pm. For help or encouragement [Phone Number] or [Email]
On Sun 12th Feb at 10:30am - Breakfast Meeting
Back to our regular Northampton monthly breakfast meeting, after January's diversion, at: Zapato Lounge, Welsh House, Market Square, NN1 2EB. Join us for a light snack or the full Lounge Breakfast! Look for the Mblem on one of the tables at the front of the café. (Contact [Phone Number] or [Email])
Notts News
On Thu 2nd Feb at 7:30pm - Theatre
Fisherman's Friends The Musical comes to the Theatre Royal. The feel good true story of Cornish fishermen who become singing sensations leading to the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury. Show lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Tickets £25-£49. Discount for groups of 10+. Contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] to express interest.
On Sat 4th Feb at 1:30pm - Treasure Trail
Meet at the left lion of the Council House in the Market Square for a treasure trail from historical city centre architecture to the beautiful arboretum and back. 2.2 miles walking in around 2 hours. Suitable for all ages and wheelchairs/pushchairs. Please confirm attendance with Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 3rd so enough packs available. Take part alone or in teams. Optional hostelry for food and/or drink afterwards.
On Sat 4th Feb at 5:00pm - Light Night
The 14th year of light installations, music and activities on the streets of Nottingham. Free to attend. Family friendly. Meet at the left lion of the Council House in the Market Square. Further info from Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email]. Please check event still happening in case of bad weather.
On Thu 9th Feb at 7:30pm - 2ThOTM
Join us for food or just a drink at The Cadland on High Road in Chilwell. We have a large table reserved near the window at far side of bar from car park entrance. Menu at www.emberinns.co.uk. Discount available for Blue Light Card holders. Contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] for encouargement to come along if needed.
On Wed 22nd Feb at 8:00pm - Pub Quiz
General knowledge quiz at The Great Northern pub, Derby Road, Langley Mill, NG16 4AA. £1 per person to enter. Optional game of sticky 13s. Cash and drinks vouchers to be won! Free sandwiches and chips during interval! An idea of numbers would help bagging of tables. Contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email]. Evening usually finishes around 10pm.
On Tue 28th Feb at 7:30pm - Eating Meeting
A Greek meal at the new Yia Yia G's restaurant, 914 Woodborough Road, Mapperley, NG3 5QR. Gyros, mousaka, souvlaki, baklava and more. Menu at www.yiayiags.co.uk. Reserve your place with Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 24th please.
Ciao for now!
Maxine Bates
Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details
The Lighter Side of Life
by The Redundant Engineer
Artificial Denseness
I find some companies try so hard to appear intelligent they come across as dense.
More and more companies are jumping on the bandwagon of emailing receipts for your purchase. Of course, the real reason companies want your email address is so they can send you advertisements. In just less than two weeks after buying an item I received 9 adverts from the company. Yet I never received the receipt. When I discovered the item was faulty I had a fun time proving I had bought it. Luckily I had paid using my debit card and eventually the assistant managed to track my details on their computer.
Next on my list are those companies that try to be helpful. A good example is the delivery company that sent a mail saying the chicken feed my wife ordered would arrive between 12:42 and 13:42. In the mail was a link so if this was a problem my wife could make comments or change the date. As we were meeting one of our daughters for lunch she clicked on the link. She typed in a message asking the delivery man to drop the feed over the gate to our field at the far end of our drive. When she hit the submit button she was told she had to select a date. Could she select that day? Of course not. In the end she exited the browser. When we arrived home the feed was blocking the steps leading to our front door.
Then there are companies like Amazon and eBay. I often buy things for my mother who is in a nursing home. Admittedly some of them could be things you regularly buy but most are one-offs. I often get mail advertising many of the one-offs I have bought. Why would I want to buy any more?
My TV service provider is next. We record a lot of programmes to watch at a more convenient time. At the end of a series the system claims it will record the next series when it starts. Suppose you watched the first series of 'Fantastic Show' last year. You know the second series is about to start but you don't set things up to record because you are naively happy it will start automatically. Unfortunately, somebody has unwittingly put in a problem. To stress the series is new the company has put 'New:' at the start of the name. The result of this unhelpful act is the system does not record the first few episodes of the series. You see, 'Fantastic Show' is different to 'New: Fantastic Show' as far as names go. About halfway through the series the 'New: ' is dropped and then the recordings begin.
Fortunately, the system allows me to download episodes we have missed. However, it would be far better if we hadn't missed them in the first place.
I expect more and more innovations to appear. Unfortunately, I also expect them to show more and more examples of sheer denseness.
20 Questions (No. 256)
The answers to our Christmas quiz were Nativity, Carol Singing, Decorations, Christmas Pudding, Chestnuts, Christmas Tree, Three Wise Men, Mulled Wine, Advent Calendar, Father Christmas, Frankincense, Snowballs, Rudolph The Reindeer, North Pole, Christmas Stocking, Boxing Day, Stollen Cake, Mistletoe, Angel Gabriel and Winter Wonderland. A bumper crop of entries this time but David Ribbans of Bedfordshire was first out of Santa?s hat to win the £10 One4All gift card.
Something a little different this month. Can you find the word that fits after the first but before the second? Send your entries to arrive by 20th February to '20 Questions (No. 256)', [Address] or [Email] remembering to include your name and address in case you win.
1. Shelf _____ Style
2. Roof _____ City
3. People _____ Pigeon
4. Rubber _____ Collector
5. Sliding _____ Model
6. Fancy _____ Fall
7. Blood _____ Dog
8. Push _____ Take
9. Loom _____ Print
10. Table _____ Court
11. Eleven _____ Sign
12. After _____ Worm
13. Rag _____ Zone
14. Water _____ Lift
15. Hold _____ Clear
16. Clerical _____ Message
17. Idle _____ Column
18. Police _____ Master
19. Television _____ Aside
20. Olive _____ Belt