Maxine in a white wedding dress and Paul in an Elvis outfit

Maxine gets married..

.and divorced and married and divorced and married and divorced.. .all in the same evening!

Locsecs Maxine and Paul in the 'Little White Wedding Chapel' (a.k.a. the toilet!)

 

Editorial

Welcome to the January Edition of Empress. Who would have thought they would have let me loose in the editor's seat. It would be like putting Donald Trump in charge of North America. Like that's ever going to happen...oh. The cover picture comes from the 'Viva Las Vegas' party at the 2016 Lakes Party Weekend held at CenterParcs, near Penrith, a fun annual gathering, organised by Maxine, which happens every year around the beginning of November. There's more information and pictures on pages 6 and 7. Enough from me, time to let the grown-ups speak.

Mark Sloan

Regional News

Happy new year! I hope 2017 brings you all good health and happiness.

As nobody has stepped forward to take over my role as Regional Officer I guess I'm 'it' for a while longer. Although will be doing less as I now have higher priorities in my life. However, thank you to everyone who got in touch after my little rant in November Empress and expressed their gratitude for the time and effort I have put into the role. It was greatly appreciated.

As Maria stated last month unfortunately there will no longer be listings of special (i.e. those ending in 0) birthdays due to increased data protection at the Mensa office. But you are welcome to contact the editor with details of any births, birthdays, engagements, marriages, anniversaries or deaths you would like mentioned in Empress.

Are there any junior members in the Derbys (or even Notts/Leics) area who would be interested in meeting up with a 7 year old member called Nathan who has recently joined? If so please contact me in the first instance and I will put you in touch with that family who are keen to meet other junior members.

I look forward to meeting you at one of our many social events in the coming year. As always you can contact me on [Phone Number] or maxine@marubaevents. com

Maxine Bates

Regional Officer

Events and Meetings

More or Leicester

On Mon 16th Jan at 6:30pm - 3MOTM

"Christmas comes but once a year", so the old saying goes.

If you think about it, it's a bit of an odd expression. I mean, "January 16th comes but once a year" but you don't get any fanfare about that, do you, which is very odd as that's the very date of our very own rescheduled Fourth Monday thing!

So don your Christmas pully (to give us all a good laugh) and join us at The Stamford Arms on the Third (not Fourth) Monday of the month get together. Usual format: Dinner from 6:30pm (if you're over being totally podged out over Christmas) - puds for a quid! - followed by the pub social from 8:00pm.

On Tue 31st Jan at 7:30pm - Italian meal

Also join us at 7:30pm on Tuesday 31st for an Italian meal at Zamani's, Market Street, Ashby De La Zouch, LE65 1AL. Menu at www.zamanis.co.uk. Reserve your place with Pen on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 27th latest please.

Feel free to drop me a line on [Email] or give me a call on [Phone Number] for directions / details / offers of spare mince pies.

Paul Coulson

photo of Christine Howells

Lively Lincs

Firstly, heartfelt thanks to Jacquie for stepping in as LocSec for a few months for me. She's a star and it is that sort of support that makes me so glad that I am part of the Mensa community.

Next, HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone.

On Sat 14th Jan at 12.00pm - Pub discussion

We start off the year on Saturday, 14th January at the Adam and Eve on Lindum Hill, meet from 12.00, discuss from 12.30 'foreign aid': should the State donate, if so, how much, what, to whom and with what safeguards? I am sure there will be many other aspects and diversions to the topic, as always. It's a friendly group where we try to listen to each other, rather than pontificate. Pub food is available, free car park, how better to spend a Saturday lunchtime. Look for the MBlem or magazine.

On TBD at 6.45pm - Eating/quiz meeting

The eating/quiz meeting will be on a Tuesday, EITHER 24th or 31st - the pub had not done next year's diary when I had to write this. It's at the Carpenters, Fiskerton which is just outside Lincoln, meal at 6.45 to give us plenty of time for pudding before the quiz starts at 8.30. You're welcome to come to just the meal or just the quiz but do please let me know you're coming by 18th, if possible.

Christine Howells

Contact [Email] for details

photo of Maxine Bates

Notts News

On Thu 5th Jan at 8:00pm - 5OTM

We start the year with our get together at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road from 8.00pm on Thursday 5th. We're usually on the first table in the Goldings Room to the left of the bar with a yellow Mblem on display. Come along for a pint of real ale from the adjacent Castle Rock Brewery - you can see into the brewery from our usual table - or a soft drink or coffee. There's free parking in bays right outside the pub or it's a short walk to the railway station or Broad Marsh bus station. If you've never been to one of our social events, why not give it a try?

On Thu 12th Jan at 7.30pm - Eating meeting

On Thursday 12th we're at the Cadland, High Road, Chilwell. Join us for a meal from 7.30pm or later for just a drink. We reserve table numbers 20-24 which are at the far side of the bar from the car park entrance. See menu at www.emberinns.co.uk in case that whets your appetite to join us.

On Tue 17th Jan at 7.00pm - Movie Night

We haven't been to the cinema for a while so Tuesday 17th will be movie night! Contact me in advance to find out the film listings for Showcase cinema in Lenton and to cast your vote on what to watch. You should be able to use your 'meerkat movies' 2-4-1 voucher if you have one so bring a friend! Depending on film choice the meeting time of 7.00pm may need altering slightly. Maybe we can go for a meal beforehand (Nando's, Chiquito's or Frankie & Benny's nearby) or a drink afterwards?

On Sat 21st Jan at All day - Charity Collection

As you may know, I fundraise for Cancer Research UK and on Saturday 21st a team of Mensans - with one flying in especially from Dublin! - will be doing a bucket collection all day at Tesco in Toton. We were at the store last January and raised a staggering £900 in 8 hours! Would you like to try to help us achieve that again? If you can spare an hour or more please get in touch. CRUK T-shirts and buckets provided. It's more interesting than it sounds and we will more than likely be going out for dinner and drinks afterwards to celebrate our efforts.

Finally our 'eating meeting' will be an Italian meal in Ashby De La Zouch at 7.30pm on Tuesday 31st. See the Leics section for full details.

Ciao for now!

Maxine Bates

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

photo of Richard Allen

Hertfordshire Happenings

On Thu 5th Jan at 8:00pm - FThOTM

Time to get over the post-New Year blues! As ever, we are at the Three Magnets, Leys Avenue, Letchworth. Thursday nights are curry nights but other food (standard Wetherspoons' fare) is available as well. Leys Avenue is the main shopping street in Letchworth and is a few minutes' walk from the station (Kings Cross to Cambridge line). Call me on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement.

On Fri 27th Jan at 8:00pm - LFOTM

Last Friday is at our usual venue of the Cowper Arms, Digswell. The pub is next to Welwyn North station and is served by stopping trains from Kings Cross to Peterborough and Cambridge. Good food, beer and conversation guaranteed! Please call me on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement.

Richard Allen

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

photo of Jo Sidebottom

Mensans in MK & Bedford

Look out for a yellow Mblem on the table at our events.

On Thu 5th Jan at 7:00pm - Turkish meal

Our first event in January is a rescheduled meal at the new(ish) Antep Turkish restaurant in Wolverton at 7.00pm on Thursday 5th. Unfortunately we had to postpone our initial attempt in November. We've tried it a couple of times and enjoyed it - see www.antepkitchen.co.uk for more details. I will reserve a table as it may be busy, so please let me know by Monday 2nd if you plan to come.

On Mon 16th Jan at 8:30pm - 3MOTM Quiz

Our monthly visit to the Barge in Woolstone for the quiz is on Monday 16th. Meet from 8.30 - the quiz starts at 9pm and costs £1 per person. Please let me know beforehand if you're coming so I can bag a large enough table.

On Sun 22nd Jan at 10:00am - Sunday breakfast

We return to Brown's, next to Jury's Inn on Midsummer Boulevard, for breakfast on Sunday 22nd. Join us from 10am for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink.

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 in January. 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. Go on - make it a new year's resolution!

I'd like to wish all our local members a very Happy New Year.

Jo Sidebottom

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

photo of Val Hinkins

Mid Bucks

On Sun 8th Jan at 2:00pm - Alphabet Event - M is for Museum

Alphabet Event - M is for Museum

All ages welcome between 2pm and 4pm on Sunday 8th January at Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, HP13 6PX for an afternoon of board games in the café. Bring your own favourite games if you wish or join in with the ones provided. Please let me know you are coming on [Phone Number] or email me at [Email]

On Mon 23rd Jan at 8:00pm - Board games

Join Dave and Alison at their home in Flackwell Heath for a relaxed evening of indoor board games. Arrive for an 8pm start on Monday 23rd January. Please contact Dave on [Email] or [Phone Number] for directions and to let him know which games you would like to play.

On Fri 27th Jan at 10:30am - Coffee & Chat

Meet me from 10:30am onwards on Friday 27th January for a morning of informal conversation and coffee. This month we are going to Costa in the Next superstore on Crest Road, adjacent to Junction 4 of the M40, HP11 1UA. For further information on the venue see http://www.next.co.uk/stores/ There is plenty of free parking on site.

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

Derby Diary

On Wed 18th Jan at 7:30pm - 3WOTM

Just our regular get together this month whilst waiting for a volunteer to take over the role of Derby LocSec. We'll be at the Standing Order (Wetherspoon) on Irongate in the city centre from 7.30pm until late on Wednesday 18th. Come along for a meal/light bite/drink and some interesting conversation. Look for a yellow Mblem on a long table in the low ceiling rear section of the pub. New faces always welcome!

Maxine Bates

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

Member Profile

Tony, standing, hand on chin in a doorway
Name?
Tony Dodd.
Location?
I'm fortunate to live in the grounds of Belvoir Castle with a view across the Vale of Belvoir of about ten miles. I'm originally from the Lake District.
When did you join Mensa?
I joined in 1984. My four digit membership number puts me within the first ten thousand to join, I'm quite pleased about that.
Why did you join?
Honest answer? To improve my CV and as a personal challenge.
Have you attended any events?
I attended quite a few events in the early days, mainly going to people's houses in Lincoln. I went to an AGM once, incredibly boring. However, that day was preceded by a trip on a barge along canals in Birmingham, we managed to drink them out of Guinness.
Do you belong to any SIGs?
I'm trying to start a Horse Racing SIG...
Occupation?
I'm retired now but was in the RAF for 18 years. I've travelled to and worked in Singapore (Changi), Aden (South Yemen) and Berlin, along with a variety of other nondescript places around the world.
Hobbies and interests?
As a retired bookmaker I have a passion for horse racing, I went racing on average once a week last year. The amazing thing is that my pocket is holding up as well. I play badminton three times a week and try to do an eight/ten mile walk once a week. And of course, I enjoy pub quizzes. I played rugby for 22 years and support the Scarlets (Llanelli). I'm also an avid Liverpool supporter.
Anything else you'd like to share?
My profound statement on life 'If, every day, I can make one person smile, I have done my duty as a human being'. So, I was watching the London marathon and saw one person dressed as a chicken and another dressed as an egg, I thought 'this could be interesting'.

Not the usual holiday picture…

This is a picture of your editor standing not too far away from the Chernobyl No.4 reactor, which failed so dramatically on 26 April 1986. Some friends and I travelled to Kiev in April 2012 specially to make the day trip to visit the Chernobyl plant and the nearby town of Prypyat, which was literally abandoned overnight. If this picture had any sound it would the beeping of radiation alarms!

Do you have any unusual holiday pictures which you would like to share? Feel free to submit them to the editor along with details about where and when they were taken.

Lakes Party Weekend 2016

Over 70 guests descended on Whinfell Forest CenterParcs in November for a weekend of partying, swimming, walking, quizzing, board games, whisky tasting, a firework display and much more. There's a packed programme of activities but you can join in as much or as little as you like and make the weekend as active or as relaxing as you wish. We stay in lovely two storey lodges in a forest setting with all mod cons and adjacent to each other so there is a very short distance to walk to the parties each evening.

The Friday icebreaker is chance to make new friends - one third of guests were first-timers last year - and catch up with old friends with supper and a help-yourself bar included. The Saturday and Sunday parties have themes where fancy dress is encouraged though not compulsory. During the daytime catch the bus to the nearby pretty market town of Penrith, have a drive out into the beautiful Lake District for a hike or just a pub lunch, take advantage of all the activities offered by CenterParcs, or just chill out in our communal lodge with a hot chocolate in front of the log fire. We usually visit the sub-tropical swimming paradise as a group to play in the spa pools, wave machine, flume rides, outdoor pool and lazy river together. Throw in some buffet meals and a 'cocktail of the day' on top of the helpyourself bar and it's a great formula for a weekend away. All ages welcome!

The next event will be Friday 3rd to Monday 6th November 2017. Package price starts from £150 with supplements for sole occupancy, en suite or executive rooms. Please contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] for full details.

20 Questions (No. 183)

The confectionery answers from November were Mars Bar, Roses, All Gold, Jelly Babies, Wine Gums, Opal Fruit, Minstrel, Skittles, Polo, Twirl, Dolly Mixtures, Black Magic, Drifter, Mint Imperials, Matchmakers, Quality Street, Milk Tray, Chocolate Buttons, Dime Bar and Smarties. Lots of entries this time but the winner of the £10 book token was Alex Foster of Derby.

This month the questions all describe a winter festival, tradition or celebration. You need to identify for questions 1-10 the specific country/place involved and for questions 11-20 the various religions or groups of people associated with that festival or celebration. Many thanks to Andy Kemp for compiling it. Send your answers to arrive by 20th January by post to '20 Questions (No. 183)', [Address] or by email to [Email] remembering to include your name and address

1. People here use basil to ward off the killantzaroi.

2. The festival of Yalda is held on the longest, darkest night of the year to celebrate light and the dawn, with red fruit particularly significant.

3. In this country on 21st December, Christians celebrate St Thomas's day whilst indigenous peoples honour the sun god with a ritual flying pole dance.

4. Here the solstice was celebrated by sharing food and showing forgiveness in a festival prior to Christianity, nowadays a Christmas Eve meal of fish is traditional.

5. Chaomos is a 7 day festival of ritual bathing, singing, dancing and feasting.

6. On Santa Lucia Day, 13th December, girls dress in white and red and wear crowns of green leaves adorned with candles.

7. Here Hogswatch is a winter celebration that includes a sleigh pulled by boar and is held on 36th (sic) of December.

8. Here a rice pudding containing one almond is eaten on Christmas Eve.

9. A festival that translates as the "arrival of winter" is held around the winter solstice featuring the gathering together of family and feasting on rice or dumplings.

10. In this country New Year's Eve features televised singing contests, feasting and drinking.

11. Newtonmass is celebrated on 25th December by these people.

12. Soyal on 21st December marks the beginning of "the wheel of the year" for these peoples.

13. Saturnalia involved 7 days of parties, carnivals, gifts and debauchery of many kinds.

14. Bodhi day in December is marked by tea, cake, readings and acts of kindness by these people.

15. Zamenhof day is celebrated in December as it marks the creator's birthday.

16. The longest night is traditionally observed on the night before the solstice to honour these people.

17. St Anastasia's feast is celebrated on 22nd December.

18. Kwanzaa from 26th December to 1st January in some countries celebrates people from this background.

19. Yule has been celebrated from November to January by people with these beliefs for centuries.

20. The return of the Wandering Goddess was marked here around the solstice after the feast of the Celestial Cow.