Eurovision Party Review

Picture of the eurovision party goers in their national costumes.

Having decided to go as the UK entry (it was easy to recycle my schoolgirl outfit!) to Maxine's Eurovision party on 20th May, we tried to get into our car without attracting attention. Unfortunately a neighbour was walking past with his dog so we tried to look casual as we drove off in full Eurovision regalia. As we got close to Max's we saw Guy and another man purposefully striding the other way. Surely the party wasn't that bad! There were already about eight people at the party when we arrived including two partygoers in lederhosen, a fully functioning England flag, a French onion seller and our UK entry plus Max in a very fetching belly dancer's outfit. Some guests had chickened out and just come as themselves but as with most Mensa parties almost anything goes! Guy finally turned up with Paul and we settled down to watch the contest.

Europe seems to have expanded to about 900 countries now but someone explained that it was the area that the signals could be beamed which must explain how Israel got in. We all drew sweepstake tickets and hoped our entry was at least half decent. The contest seemed to go on and on and we gave in and left before the winner (Finland's heavy metal entry) was declared. Ginette was a deserving sweepstake winner having driven all the way from Clacton. Andy stripped off (well he kept on swimming trunks!) and went in the hot tub and as usual a good time was had by all. There was plenty of food - Swiss roll, French cheese, Italian pizza, Portuguese dip, Greek pitta, Maltesers, etc - and drink - including appropriate Buck's Fizz - and if the ladies got bored two pairs of men's thighs to admire as well as most of Andy. Now who can we go as next year?

Lesley Gorlov

Win up to £30 of Leisure Vouchers

Send your photographs of East Midlands landmarks to photo.comp@ntlworld.com by the 31st August to win one of our three leisure voucher prizes.

Full details on www.mensa.org.uk/eastmids.

Correction

Last month we stated that the East Midlands Web site was created by Mark Graves. In fact, the site was created by Helen Matthews, prior to it being transferred to Mark's responsibility in 1999. Apologies to all concerned.

Regional News

Having visited the American Adventure theme park in Derbyshire recently I noticed they are holding a character day on Sunday 13th August with a chance to meet Scooby Doo and Wallace & Gromit! So I thought this would make an excellent "Family Fun Day" for Mensans with children who don't get the opportunity to attend our social events. The new look park is now aimed at families with children aged 4-12 years but there's plenty for adults too. To gain group discount of £9.50 per person or £4.99 for a child under 1.04 metres tall please book with me by 29th July. We'll then meet at the park at 11.00 am on the day.

In between my day job, housework, holidays and organising umpteen Mensa events I have been training for the 5 km Race For Life in aid of Cancer Research UK. For those of you who have run marathons I'm sure this distance sounds a doddle, but for me it is proving a challenge to run that far! I will be completing the course around the National Watersports Centre on 30th July with fellow Mensan Helen Dunn. Your sponsorship would be most welcome and you can donate via our web sites at www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/maxinebates or www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/helen42. Many thanks for all your support so far!

Talking of charity fundraising, we will be holding a couple of activities during the Diamond celebrations to raise money for RNIB Talking Books. This will include a raffle at the Friday evening icebreaker for which we aim to obtain 100 prizes. So far we have around half that number including a digibox, puzzles and games, cuddly toys, household gadgets, leather goods, jewellery and more. If you have any unused yet unwanted gifts you would like to donate to this worthwhile cause please contact me on [Phone Number] or [Email]. Thank you!

Maxine Bates

Regional Officer

Spotlight On... YoungM

Shortly after joining Mensa I received a letter from SIGs Officer Neil Matthews saying that the current YoungM SIG Sec was leaving and essentially asking me if I wanted to be involved. I could see a lot of possibilities within the SIG and wanted to see it achieve things. I applied and became the new SIG Sec.

Having become the new SIG Sec it was time to put a lot of what I wanted to do into practice. I realized that it probably wouldn't be worth coming up with a whole load of things that none of the SIG members were interested in, so I decided to take the frame of finding out what different members want from the society and then finding the best, most exciting ways to provide it.

A firm answer to the question 'what is YoungM SIG' all about has proven to be quite elusive. Many people have asked me 'how can any one SIG cater to the diverse range of members who qualify as being a Young Mensan?". I see SIG Sec ship as being an 'ongoing mission' (oh dear, I've just put a Star Trek reference into a Mensa journal) that I want to share with all members of the SIG, to discover what it means to be a member of the community.

And community is a fundamental part of what the the group is about. The 16-30 age group is one that starts from when people are just starting to explore adult life and continues to the age where people (presumably) have a good idea what they want to do with their lives. Consequently it's a great time of growth and experience, where a huge amount of energy and wisdom can be shared.

Of course, like most SIGs YoungM isn't exclusive to Mensa members of any particular age group. All that is asked for is an interest in youth (which, after all, still seems to be one of the biggest obsessions in the west). After all, older members also have much to contribute to the age group (just don't start complaining about how youngsters these days don't respect their elders enough). It's also possible that the occasional younger member will be interested in what's in store for them when they hit 16.

The main provision for the society at the moment is the mixture of an open community, which aims to enable each and every member to contribute to the group in whatever way they wish, and a magazine of which I aim to bring out a new edition every couple of months (although I did fall a little short of that last year, averaging just over one edition every three months since taking over in April).

There are also plans under way for the launch of a SIG website as well as integration with the new Mensa website set for release shortly.

Mike Davies

Events and Meetings

Notts News

On Wed 5th Jul at 8:00pm - 5OTM

Mark Sloan will be hosting this month's get together at the Vat & Fiddle pub from 8.00 pm on Wednesday 5th as I will be on holiday. Do pop along and say hello and see how the refurbishment is progressing! Just look for the Mensa Magazine on the table.

On Wed 12th Jul at 7:00pm - Chicks & Flicks

As usual Andy Farrell will be hosting our "chicks & flicks" event on Wednesday 12th. Meet at 7.00 pm prompt inside the doors to the Cornerhouse complex in the city centre. We go for an informal meal at Nando's chicken restaurant followed by a film at Cineworld. With 10% discount at Nando's and 2-4-1 cinema tickets this is a cheap night out!

On Tue 25th Jul at 7:30pm - Postcode Pubcrawl

Our venture to visit a hostelry in each NG postcode takes place on Tuesday 25th and we're visiting the Inn On The Green, Main Street, Coddington near Newark. Join us for a meal from 7.30 pm and/or later for their general knowledge quiz. And pick up another stamp for your collector card giving you a chance to win prizes at the end of our series of "Postcode Pubcrawl"events.

On Fri 28th Jul at 7:30pm - European Meal

Following the success of our last two meals at the Bridge Centre in Langley Mill we're returning to their function suite on Friday 28th for their "tour of Europe" meal. This comprises iced tomato and basil soup with warm crostini followed by grilled sardines drizzled in olive oil and side salad, Basque style chicken with crispy potato balls and asparagus spears, profiteroles with chocolate sauce, a selection of English cheeses and coffee. The cost is £15.95 per person. Please book with me on [Phone Number] or [Email].

On Sat 29th Jul at 11:00am - Theatre Tour

On Saturday 29th the Theatre Royal are holding an open day with free backstage tours, foyer performers, live music and competitions. Meet near the columns outside at 11.00 am and we'll take part as a group. Maybe lunch too?

Ciao for now!

Maxine Bates

Peak District

On Sun 16th Jul at 10:30am - Country walk

Join me for a 5 mile walk starting at Tideswell Dale car park (SK154742) and taking in Miller's Dale, Monk's Dale, Wormhill and Chee Tor. Some ascents and descents involved, so good walking boots and a walking pole recommended, as well as waterproofs. Refreshments at Miller's Dale and Wormhill. There is also the optional extra of walking to the 'cathedral town' of Tideswell.

Mark Sloan

Lincoln

On Sun 23rd Jul at 2:30pm - Lunch and Jazz

Our meeting returns to Lincoln this month and the SoHo/Lloyds bar on the Brayford, near the Odeon. There is live background jazz with Sunday lunch so join us at 2.30pm Sunday 23rd July for eats and chats. If it gets too noisy, hopefully the weather will be good and we can sit outside. For encouragement please telephone me on [Phone Number] or look for the mag on the day. Guests welcome.

Jacquie Harrison

Derbyshire

On Wed 19th Jul at 7:30pm - 3WOTM

Our monthly meeting at the usual place, the Standing Order on Irongate in Derby city centre. Hopefully, we may see one or two new faces from the Derby test day in May. More info on [Phone Number] or [Email]

Bernard Briggs

Leicestershire

On Sat 22nd Jul at 7:30pm - Pub Social

Join us for drinks at The Hunting Lodge in Barrow upon Soar on Saturday 22nd July at 7.30pm. If it's nice weather look for us in the gardens, the magazine will be on the table. New and old faces welcome! For directions email [Email] or phone [Phone Number].

Rebecca Mawby

Northants NNotes

On Thu 13th Jul at 9:00pm - Pub

Regular as clockwork, our 2nd Thursday meeting will be at the Dusty Fox in Harlestone. If you've been before what more is there to say? If you haven't been before why not join us on what hopefully will be a nice warm evening.

On Thu 27th Jul at 8:00pm - Pub

Back to Higham Ferrers for this month's Roadshow meeting and the venue is the Griffin in the High Street. If we're lucky there will be some good news about the sale of Anna's house this time.

The Mensa Mag will mark our presence at both meetings, First time visitors can contact me for further information on [Phone Number] or [Email].

Ian Sargent

Milton Keynes & Bedford

Picture of "Mrs Box", an elderly lady sitting in her chair. Painted by Dora Carrington, a member of the Bloomsbury Group, in 1919
Be influenced by "The Bloomsbury Effect", the exhibition on at the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery when Jo hosts a visit there on the 30th.

On Thu 6th Jul at 8:00pm - FTh: Movable Feast

Jo & Chris are on their hols so Colin is hosting at Ye Olde Swan in Woughton-on-the-Green. Please note this is dinner in their restaurant, not the informal meetings we used to have in their bar, where eating was optional. Meet just before 8pm. Booking essential by Tuesday 4th - contact Colin at [Email] / [Phone Number] / [Phone Number] for directions/ encouragement.

On Wed 19th Jul at 8:00pm - 3WOTM

Join us at Wetherspoon's in Midsummer Boulevard, CMK (the one next to Chiquito's, NOT the Secklow Hundred). Look for Mblem, probably in non-smoking area left of entrance. Contact Jo for directions / encouragement, [Email], or [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].

On Sun 30th Jul at 2:00pm - Art gallery & museum

I grew up in Bedford and I've never been to the Art Gallery or Museum! Join me in correcting this omission. Meet just outside the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, off Castle Lane, at 2pm - look for Mblem. Admission free. Bedford members especially welcome. Contact Jo for directions/encouragement, [Email], or [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].

On Sat 6th Aug at 8:00pm - Jools Holland

We're planning to go and see Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra in Bedford Park - gates open/optional picnic 6 pm, concert starts at 8. See http://www.easternbreeze.co.uk/events.asp?EventId=12 to book yourself a ticket, then let us know if you fancy going in a group. Contact Jo at [Email], or [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].

Jo Sidebottom & Chris Lonsbrough

Luton & Dunstable

On Sat 22nd Jul at 8:00pm - T is for Thai

Join me for "T is for Thai" at The Lumpini a wonderful Thai restaurant in High Street South. Contact me on [Phone Number] or [Email] to book your place by 17th July and for directions. New members warmly welcomed to this friendly, ever growing group. Never too late to collect a sticker!

On TBD August - U is for U choose

"U is for U choose" which means that now it's your turn. Email us at [Email] or call us on [Phone Number] (by 30th July) with your ideas for August and dates you will not be free. I will then notify everybody with the most popular date and theme on August 1st!! Everyone who comes up with an idea will get entered into the draw when we reach Z and everyone who attends will get a sticker for their passport. There's just one rule; it must be within the LU postcodes. So wait no longer contact us today - we look forward to hearing from you !

Tara Morgan

Hertfordshire

On Thu 6th Jul at 8:00pm - FThOTM

Regular first Thursday of the month meeting at the Old Bull, High Street, Royston. Good food and good beer both available! Call Dan on [Phone Number] or Richard on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement. The pub is about ten minutes' walk from the railway station and is also handy for local bus routes.

Dan Ormsby

On Tue 11th Jul at 7:30pm - Pub meal

Pub meal at the Rising Sun, Halls Green, about four miles south of Baldock and two miles north of Stevenage. This one's not on any bus routes, so you'll have to get your bike out! Good food available! Pre-booking is vital as the pub gets very popular; ring Helen on [Phone Number] for further details and encouragement.

On Every Friday at Evening - Cinema

I go to the cinema (Cineworld) in Stevenage Leisure Park (16 screen) on Friday evenings; if you wish to join me please call me on [Phone Number] or [Phone Number]. There is usually plenty of choice! Stevenage Leisure Centre is next to Stevenage station, which is also served by local bus services.

I'm planning a couple of days out to historic homes and gardens during July; if you're interested in joining me, or there's anywhere you want to visit, please call me on [Phone Number] or [Phone Number].

Helen Rees

On Wed 12th Jul at 8:30pm - Pub quiz

We've been competing at the monthly quiz at the Plume of Feathers, Little Wymondley, semi-regularly (and doing pretty well!), so why not come and join the fun? Food also available. The pub is in Little Wymondley village and is served by bus 101 (Luton - Hitchin - Stevenage). Ring me on [Phone Number] for further details and encouragement!

On Fri 28th Jul at 7:30pm - LFOTM

Join us in the lounge of the White Horse to chill out at the end of the month. The mag will be on the table. Ring Gwen on [Phone Number] or Richard on [Phone Number] for directions/encouragement. The hotel is about 20 minutes' walk from Hertford North station or alternatively bus 724 (Harlow - Hertford - Hatfield) stops outside. Meals are available. We are considering changing the location of our venue to somewhere more easily reached by public transport, so if you have any suggestions, please do come along.

Richard Allen

On Thu 13th Jul at 7:00pm - Museum visit & Chinese Meal

I am very pleased that a local member has managed to negotiate a private visit to Amersham's award winning museum on Thu 13 July. The museum is situated in a 500 year old timber framed building in the High Street. The museum even has its own Herb Garden! After absorbing the local culture and history we'll take a short walk to the excellent Peking Empire restaurant which offers a choice of Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking cuisine for good food and conversation.

Call Alistair for directions and encouragement on [Phone Number].

On Thu 27th Jul at 7:45pm - Pizza/Pasta Meal

A couple of weeks later we will be paying a return visit to Ask. This is probably High Wycombe's largest Pizza / Pasta restaurant and accordingly should be able to accommodate the larger attendances that meetings have been enjoying of late.

Looking further ahead a walk has been requested and I am currently reading up on my local walk books and hope to arrange something for August. It would of course be helpful if you could let me know if you intend to come to either of the above events.

Alistair Blackett

Berkhamsted

On Wed 26th Jul at 7:45pm - LWOTM

Do come and chat, drink, or eat and be merry. We hope to meet sitting in the garden at The White Horse Pub Bourne End, on the Hemel Hempstead Road (the old A41) half way between Hemel and Berkhamsted.

Jenny Habib

20 Questions (No. 58)

Some of you do admit to being fans of the Eurovision Song Contest! Andy Cole of Cleethorpes, Roger Plant of Nottingham, Tony Dodd of Belvoir, Helene Parry of Brentford, Elaine Yates of Rickmansworth, Michael Warren of Derby and Richard Pecout of Hertfordshire entered our May competition and the winner was Helene. The answers were Sandie Shaw, Switzerland, 6, Lynsey de Paul and Mike Moran, 7, Norway, green, 2nd, The Wombles, a hydro-electric power station, 1980 & 1987, Jay Aston, guitar, 13, Javine, Paco Rabanne, duo, Ruslana, Switzerland and Olympic Stadium Basketball Hall.

Thanks to Jo Sidebottom for compiling this month's quiz about opera. Please send your answers by 20th July to '20 Questions (No. 58)', [Address] for your chance to win a Diamond logo mug.

1. Which country is Kiri Te Kanawa from?

2. What are the Christian names of the original three tenors?

3. Which German composer's only opera was "Fidelio"?

4. Which Gilbert & Sullivan operetta is set in the Tower of London?

5. Which East Anglian composer wrote the opera "Peter Grimes"?

6. How did Lehar describe the Widow in his operetta?

7. Which opera does "Nessun Dorma" come from?

8. Who wrote "Madam Butterfly" and "La Boheme"?

9. Which work did The Who call a rock opera?

10. Where was the Barber from in the title of Rossini's opera?

11. How is Kurt Weill's "Die Dreigroschenoper" better known?

12. What does an operetta have that an opera usually doesn't?

13. What is the religious equivalent of opera without costumes and scenery?

14. Which Italian composer's English name would be Joseph Green?

15. What is Lesley Garrett's home county?

16. Who wrote the operas "Eugene Onegin" and "The Queen of Spades"?

17. What are the three most common types of male operatic voice?

18. How are the operas Das Rheingold, Die Walküre, Siegfried and Götterdämmerung collectively known?

19. What name is shared by John Major's wife and an opera by Bellini?

20. What is the name of Milan's famous opera house?

New Event In Loughborough

New host Crystal Abel has proved that Mensa is alive in the Leicestershire town of Loughborough. Without any arm-twisting at all Crystal took her own initiative and advertised a get together at The Priory pub on Thursday 11th May. The start time of 7.00 pm was a little early for some of us who regularly go salsa dancing, but we zipped down the motorway after our class to say hello. There we found the Mensa group moving from the outside seating to the no smoking area indoors. And with the sudden increase in numbers we did our usual trick of re-arranging the furniture so we could all sit together! We joined Loughborough lads Jan Plitko and John Salmon plus Derby member John Whiteman who wanted to show the Mensa scene to his brother visiting from New Zealand. Crystal had advertised a theme of holidays and she and her friend Laura shared their stories and photos from a recent tour of Australia, New Zealand and Singapore with us. Other people told of their trips to Turkey and India. But we also discussed other topics besides travel tales! A total of 13 members attended this event. Possibly due to the pleasant venue and easy accessibility from both the town and motorway as well as wanting to support a new host. Well done Crystal and we hope to see you again soon!

Maxine Bates

Meet Mike

Picture of Mike Davies

Mike Davies lives in Corby and runs YoungM SIG, as featured on Page 2.

Why did you join?

I guess I really have been aware of Mensa for about eleven or twelve years. At that time I was just starting my senior school education and for some reason my parents and I were invited to see the headmaster. He mentioned that he had looked over my test scores and suggested that I might like to take some kind of IQ test. Following that, my parents wrote off to Mensa to apply for one of their (our?) home tests. After completing the test I sent it off and received a letter confirming that I appeared to among the top two percent of the population. For various reasons I didn't take it any further or apply for a proper test (partly because I wasn't sure what Mensa could offer me at that point). A couple of times over the next few years I thought about taking the test but never really did anything about it.

As I was going through my degree it started becoming obvious that I wasn't really engaging much with my course and that it didn't really stimulate me, so halfway through the third year I started looking around for other things that would catch my attention and began thinking again about taking the Mensa test.

Anyway I took a bit more of a look into what Mensa is and how it started. After learning that the organization started in Oxford, I decided to take the test there. As well as the fact that it seemed quite fitting, it meant that I would be able to take some time to have a look around the city.

Being that I was about to move house at university I decided to give my parents address for Mensa to send any correspondence to. So it was that a couple of months later they received a letter containing my test results. If up to that point I had had any reservations about joining, that would have been the fatal flaw. After reading my results there would have been no way that I could have gotten away with not joining!

Do you belong to any SIGs?
So anyway, I joined and did the usual thing of joining half a dozen SIGs just to vibe out what's going on. These included Enigma SIG, Mind Explorers SIG, Lingua SIG and, of course YoungM SIG. Many of these I lapsed in as I became busy around the time of sitting my finals. I'm just taking a bit of time to catch my breath before I rejoin.
Have you attended any events?

I also tried (unsuccessfully) to join a couple of local meetings. It seems that sometimes we're a little too good at melting into the background. Being the sort of person who wants to experience a lot of things, I was a little frustrated as I wanted to become more involved.

Happily, I had the opportunity later on to attend the AGM in Newcastle, and get my first glimpse of what a real Mensan looks like. I was intrigued to see that in general, they have the same number of eyes and ears as normal people, although their skin does seems to have a slight green tint to it. Then again, that might just have been the lighting...

Do you have any hobbies/interests?
At the moment I just feel like exploring what this world has to offer. Like many people of my age life has been pretty much linear up till now, go to school, go to university and study. Everything else is basically a distraction. Now I'm finished with that (for the present) and I'm given my first view of how big a place the world can be. Fortunately, as a recent computer graduate, there is a certain level of demand for what I can do. Money (and the lack thereof) is increasingly becoming an issue for me and it'd be good some point soon if I could get a job that I can settle into. Until then, I'll just carry on dabbling in a little of everything.

Family Fun Day

Sunday 13th August 2006

We're going to the American Adventure theme park in Ilkeston, Derbyshire (easily accessible from M1 J26) meeting at 11.00 am.

The new look park is now aimed at families with children aged 4-12 years, but there's plenty for adults too! Ride Europe's tallest Skycoaster (small additional charge), experience the 4D Motion Master, get wet on the Rocky Mountain Rapids, ride backwards on the Twin Looper rollercoaster, watch live shows and more. For younger children there are mini-rides and an indoor play area. See www.americanadventure.co.uk

On 13th August there is also chance to meet Scooby Doo and Wallace & Gromit! And both adults and children can add to the fun by dressing as your favourite cartoon character! All the staff will be in costume that day.

To gain our group discount of £9.50 per adult or £4.99 per child under 1.04 metres tall please contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 29th July latest.