Out and About!

Phil, Jo, Russell, Marianne and Chris have been out enjoying a woodland walk. Hopefully the summer weather will be letting everyone enjoy similar activities this month.

 

Regional News

It has been good to meet up with Mensans from Scotland, Wales and Ireland over the last few months whilst they have been visiting the East Midlands. Mensa run the SIGHT service to put members in touch with one another not only throughout the UK but the world. If you are ever travelling for business or pleasure and want to meet up with locals for a coffee or meal or a little sightseeing or even wanting a bed for the night do contact the Mensa office for more information. I have personally met Mensans in Norway, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and USA and it was great to be shown parts of the city that tourists perhaps don't always see. Just one of the benefits of Mensa membership in our global society!

As always we have a range of events to hopefully tempt you out this month. Contact your LocSec if you have suggestions for future activities. They are always pleased to hear from you. Apologies we currently have nobody covering the Derby, Leicester, Luton or Northampton areas but do get in touch if you may be interested in hosting a one-off event in any of those places.

I'm on [Phone Number] or [Email] and look forward to hearing from you.

Maxine Bates

Regional Officer

Editorial

Welcome to the July Edition of Empress. I'm back in the Editor's chair for another three issues. A big thank you to Maria for the last three months. If you'd like to have a go at it yourself, feel free to get in touch. Or if there's anything you would like to share with other members, any and all contributions are most welcome. Remember this little part of the monthly mailing is just for you, the members of the East Midlands region.

Mark Sloan

Member's profile - Christine Howells

Cake
I love cakes and making novelty ones, this was for my Mum's 90th birthday
Location
Currently, near Alford, Lincolnshire. I've moved around a bit, I was in Worcestershire when I first joined, then Gloucestershire, then Kent. Each of the local groups were very different but all were very friendly and inclusive. I think it's great to be able to move somewhere and find an instant bunch of nice people to socialise with.
Why did I join?
About 35 years ago, I had two children under 2, was a little frazzled and wondered if my brain still worked. So, took the test, passed, joined. It did wonders for my self confidence to know that motherhood had not addled me and I was still quite bright really.
Attending events
I've always attended events, right from the beginning. I used to go to the AGM but can't manage that these days. Now I'm a LocSec, so I'm 'giving back', happily welcoming people to meetings and getting to know them. I've made some great friends who have been extremely supportive through some tough times.
Do you belong to any SIGs?

I belong to the Philosophy Sig. I used to contribute quite a bit but have less time now, so just enjoy reading others' thoughts.

I had to take early retirement due to ill health, many moons ago now. I was working in local government at the time, doing policy stuff, etc. Sort of got into that by mistake but I did meet my husband there, so not too much of an error. Originally, I was a medical statistician, working in the NHS, doing things like trying to make it more efficient, advising on clinical trials. All very interesting, the latter was probably more effective than the mammoth task of the former.

Now I am a philosopher. I did a 10 week online introduction to philosophy course with Oxford University's Department of Continuing Education, loved it, have been hooked ever since. I did several more of their courses and then moved on to a distance MA in Ethics with the University of Wales. I would love to go on and do a PhD but funding is a problem, as is living in far flung Lincolnshire. I want to be able to participate in university life properly, so that is on hold until and if we can move somewhere nearer a suitable university.

We want to move anyway, to be nearer my daughter and grand-daughter. I shall be very sorry to leave Lincolnshire Mensa, will need to return at times to keep in touch, but am sure I will find more great people in another group.

Events and Meetings

photo of Christine Howells

Lively Lincs

On Sat 1st Jul at 12:00pm - FSaOTM

Listen up folks, we're still doing FIRST Saturday for July. So, Saturday 1 July 12:00 at the 'Adam and Eve' on Lindum Hill, to ask ourselves, from about 12.30, "In a democracy, are you responsible for what your Government does?". Hopefully, we will be in the garden, if not look in the alcove, MBlem on the table. Food available, free parking. [Email]

On Tue 18th Jul at 6:45pm - Eating meeting

Now, I am writing this months in advance, so I don't know whether it will be a quiz night but we will go to The Carpenters at Fiskerton, (the Fiskerton that is east of Lincoln, please don't go to the wrong one, you'll be many miles away and we will miss you) on Tuesday 18th July at 18:45. If there is a quiz, we will stay for it, if not, then we'll probably stay chatting all evening instead. As usual, all welcome, so feel free to bring partner/friend/et al, but please book with me by 13th if possible, thanks. [Email] Christine

Christine Howells

Contact [Email] for details

photo of Maxine Bates

Notts News

On Wed 5th Jul at 8:00pm - Alphabet Event - S is for Sheep Racing

Alphabet Event - S is for Sheep Racing Our "5th of the month" get together features sheep racing from 8.00pm on Wednesday 5th. We have the Goldings Room at the Vat & Fiddle pub for exclusive use. Pay £2.50 for a wad of sheepy money then bet on six battery operated Shaun The Sheep in racing silks staggering and bleating their way to the finish line. It's hilarious fun and ewe would be baarmy to miss it! All money will go to Cancer Research UK with a prize hamper for the winner at the end of the night. If you want to arrive earlier and make a whole evening out then the pub serve food until 8.00pm so please order at the bar and dine in the Goldings Room.

On Thu 13th Jul at 7:30pm - Natter & Nosh

On Thursday 13th we meet at The Cadland pub/restaurant on High Street in Chilwell. Come along from 7.30pm for a meal (we often get discount offers by signing up to their email list) or later for just a drink. Look for yellow Mblem on tables 20-24 pushed together at the far side of the bar. There's ample free parking at the venue.

On Sat 15th Jul at 1.00pm - Relay For Life

From 1.00pm Saturday 15th to 1.00pm Sunday 16th a Mensa team will be taking part in Cancer Research UK's Relay For Life at Harvey Hadden Stadium in Bilborough. We'll be taking it in turns to walk around the track for the duration of the event to signify that cancer never sleeps. The event will be opened by cancer survivors walking the first lap before they head off to a tea party. So if you or anyone you know has ever had a cancer diagnosis, please get in touch if you'd like to come along as a special guest. There will be themed fancy dress laps and as darkness falls a 'candle of hope' ceremony. All this against a backdrop of live music, demonstrations, food stalls, fundraising activities and more. It's free entry so pop along and find us in the Cocktail Crew marquee at the front of the stage selling fruity cocktails!

On Tue 25th Jul at 7:30pm - Eating meeting

It's a couple of years since we dined at Emilio's Greek restaurant on High Street in Arnold so we're returning at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25th. Choose from their a la carte or mezze menus or opt for their midweek special of 2 courses for £13.95 or 3 courses for £16.95. Menu is available on their website www.emiliosgreekrestaurant.co.uk but book your place with me by 21st please.

Contact me for further information on any of these events please.

Ciao for now!

Maxine Bates

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

In Northampton

TWO meetings for July!!!

On Sun 9th Jul at 10:30am - Brunch

Our usual breakfast/brunch meeting will be at the Rendezvous Coffee Shop in Northampton town centre on Sunday 9 July at 10:30. Attendees will be invited to recite one or two of their favourite limericks - all the better if self-penned. Polite refusals will be tolerated. Contact Marianne on [Phone Number] or email: [Email] for extra encouragement.

On Sat 22nd Jul at 2:00pm - Historic tour

Join us on Saturday 22 July at 14:00 for a visit to the largest English Saxon church, All Saints at Brixworth, NN6 9DF and other heritage sites in the village. There is plenty of parking adjacent to the church. If the weather's awful, we can judiciously adjourn to the Coach & Horses! Friends and partners welcome. Contact Marianne on [Phone Number] or email: [Email] for more information.

Marianne Kendall

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

photo of Richard Allen

Hertfordshire Happenings

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

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 28th Jul 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

On Wed 5th Jul at 11:00am - Canal Art Walk

Our first July meeting is a canalside art walk and lunch on Wednesday 5th. We will meet at 11.00am at the north end of the Peace Pagoda car park on the eastern side of Brickhill St (V10), and cross over to the canal. The walk will take us between Portway and Monks Way and back, taking in various artworks on the way, and we'll finish up at Camphill Café for lunch. Look out for the Mblem, or let me know you're coming so we can look out for you.

On Mon 17th Jul at 8:15pm - 3MOTM Quiz

Our regular Third Monday visit to the Barge in Woolstone for the quiz is on Monday 17th. Meet from 8.15 - the quiz starts at 8.30pm (note the earlier start time) and costs £1 per person. Please let me know beforehand if you're coming - the maximum team size is 6 people so it helps to know whether we'll be one team or two, or somewhere in between.

On Sun 23rd Jul at 10:00am - Sunday breakfast

Sunday breakfast returns to Carluccio's in the Centre:MK. Join us from 10am on Sunday 23rd for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink. We will probably be in one of the red booths in front of the restaurant.

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

photo of Val Hinkins

Mid Bucks

On Mon 24th Jul at 8:00pm - Indoor 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 24th July. Please contact Dave on mensagames@ divenal.plus.com or [Phone Number] for directions and to let him know which games you would like to play.

On Sat 29th Jul at 2:05pm - Saturday Stroll

On Saturday 29th July, join me for a relaxed stroll from Aylesbury Vale Parkway Station along the River Thame and then into the town centre. There we can indulge in an ice cream if it is sunny or warm up with a hot drink if the weather is less clement, before catching a train back to our starting point. We will meet outside Parkway station just after 2pm, when the train from London arrives. This riverside pathway is well surfaced and suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs. We will see if we can identify any of the rare black poplar trees which grow along the banks. Total walking distance is about three and a half miles.

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 19th Jul at 7:30pm - 3WOTM

Just one event in the county this month at the Standing Order on Iron Gate in the city centre from 7.30pm until late on Wednesday 19th. Find us on a long table in the rear section of this Wetherspoon pub with a yellow Mblem on display. We had a record turn out in May with a new family, a former LocSec and a visiting member from Swansea joining us on top of all the regular faces. Why not give us a try?

If anyone would be interested in a get together one Sunday afternoon to play boardgames (particularly Chess, Scrabble, Monopoly) with both adults and children please get in touch as I have members expressing interest in such an event.

Maxine Bates

Contact [Email] or [Phone Number] for details

Potential Plus celebrating 50 years

As a young member of Mensa, our daughter Kerensa has been entitled to free associate membership of Potential Plus, which we have found to be incredibly useful. We haven't needed to take advantage of PP's assessment services but we've thoroughly enjoyed some of their Big Family Weekends or special days and have got together with some families in neighbouring counties to ours. It's been lovely to see all these bright kids playing together and very useful to chat to the other parents about their experiences of bringing up High Learning Potential children.

Given how much we've got from them, in quite a short period of time, we thought it would be nice to celebrate their 50th Anniversary celebrations with an event of our own and have come up with 50 Clues for 50 Years. It's a treasure hunt round the historic village of Welwyn in Hertfordshire (NOT Welwyn Garden City!), with differentiated questions so that both younger children and older ones will have things to do or look for. Some of the questions for the older ones might be quite challenging!

It takes place on Saturday 8th July from 2 pm. After the hunt is complete, we'll repair to our house for some 50th birthday cake. If the weather is kind to us, we'll be out in the garden, but the event will go ahead whatever the weather.

If you have children or grandchildren (or even if you just fancy coming along yourself!), please do come and join us. Contact Rowena Love or Mark Lawrence on rowenamlove@gmail.com or [Phone Number].

History SIG

SIG Sec Phil Sealey at Garway Church,
an intriguing Knights Templar church in Herefordshire

From the dawn of time itself to yesterday (or today, if you're reading this tomorrow), from the rise and fall of mighty empires to the history of where you live: the History SIG covers it all. Well, clearly I wouldn't have space in a 30-odd page newsletter for everything, but nothing is off-limits, and with a subject this wide then no one can be an expert on everything. On the other hand, almost everyone is an expert on some aspect of history. Even if, like me, you're not a professional historian, the chances are you have an interesting story to tell. Perhaps you've witnessed an extraordinary event, or have an memory of an interesting job or career. Perhaps you've read a book which awoke your interest in a period or person. If you're interested, then the chances are others will be too.

Photos, reviews of books/films/museums, articles and comments on previous articles are always welcome. I aim to publish our newsletter, "Past Historic" 5 - 6 times a year. On the Mensa website, you can find some of the most recent issues - why not have a look at some? If you like what you see, you can join the SIG through the Mensa website. (As a Mensa member you can request as many SIG newsletters by email as you like). You will be very welcome.

Review

The alphabet series reached O in March, for (St Albans) Organ Theatre. For those of you who have never been, this is a fascinating collection of mechanical music, ranging from musical boxes to large fairground organs. Our group was treated to a variety of recitals from the various machines, including the Radetzky March and the theme from Thunderbirds!We had last visited the theatre about seven years ago and since then, a number of new machines have been added to the collection. We definitely agreed that it was an afternoon to remember and that we'd be back some time soon!

20 Questions (No. 189)

Did you guess the songs from the May issue? They were The Lady Is A Tramp, Oh What A Beautiful Morning, (I Did It) My Way, When I'm 64, I Can't Help Falling In Love, Dancing Queen, Blue Suede Shoes, You Were Always On My Mind, New York New York, You'll Never Walk Alone, In Dreams, Que Sera Sera, Someone Like You, Banks Of The Ohio, Gentle On My Mind, Light My Fire, I Get A Kick Out Of You, Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue, I'll Be Your Baby Tonight and Closest Thing To Crazy. Lots of entries this time but Mick Coates of Spilsby wins the £10 book token.

This month's quiz is once again compiled by Patrick Cavanagh and the subject is famous women. Send your answers to arrive by 20th July to '20 Questions (No. 189)', [Address] or [Email] remembering to include your name and address.

1. My name is Vigdis Finbogadóttir and in 1980 I was the first ever woman to be democratically elected president. Which country did I represent?

2. I was born in Poland, married a French man and was the first woman to win the Nobel Prize, and the only person to win it twice.

3. I was born in Wales, and became the only woman to become Australian Prime Minister.

4. I was the last female pharaoh of Egypt and had an affair with Julius Caesar around 40BC.

5. I acted in over 70 films including National Velvet and Cat On A Hot Tin Roof.

6. I was born in Lincolnshire in 1925, first trained as a chemist, then as a barrister but was elected to parliament in 1959. I retired from the Commons after a career that made me a household name.

7. I was born in Orléans, France circa 1412 and as a teenager led French resistance to English rule during the Hundred Years' War. I was burnt at the stake age 19 and later was canonised as a saint.

8. I was born in Albania as Anjeze Gonxhe Bojaxiu in 1910 and became a Roman Catholic religious sister and missionary. I spent almost my entire life looking after the poor. I died in 1997.

9. I am an Australian woman who has won more tennis grand slam tournaments (24 in total) than anyone else. I hold at least 192 career titles.

10. I am the English queen with the 2nd longest reign.

11. I am the lady credited with making the remarks such as "men don't make passes at girls who wear glasses".

12. My name is Valentina Tereschova and I achieved which first in 1963?

13. My name is Anne Hathaway and I was the wife of which famous English playwright?

14. I am a singer using the name Lys Assia (birth name Rosa Mina Shärer) and I won the first ever Eurovision Song Contest in 1958. Which country did I represent?

15. My name is Ada Lovelace, a daughter of the poet Lord Byron. I lived just 37 years in the early 19th century but I'm better known for my pioneering work on which type of machine now in everyday use?

16. I was the first woman to be ordained bishop in the Church of England.

17. What was the subject of the book written circa 1374 by Giovanni Boccaccio called De Mullieribus Claris?

18. What was Jesus Christ's mother's first name?

19. Who is the first woman mentioned in the Old Testament?

20. Tia Maria was originally a Jamaican liqueur using what kind of beans?