Every Thursday a growing group of us learn Ballroom and Latin American dancing with qualified instructors at Memorial Hall, High Road, Chilwell. The class is from 8.30-9.30pm and costs £4 per person. Even those with two left feet are welcome to learn the basic steps of waltz, cha cha, tango, samba and more! Afterwards we go for refreshment at the nearby pub. It's a cheap, sociable and a healthy night out. For further info please contact me.
With winter well and truly upon us, beat the gloom (and forget about shopping) and join me at my place in Letchworth on Sunday 2nd December for a light buffet lunch and board games. Arrive from 1.30pm. Food provided but BYOB. Ring me for further details and encouragement. (I'm about ten minutes' walk from the railway station.)
Do join us for our regular get together at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road near Nottingham railway station from 8.00pm on Wednesday 5th December for a drink - either alcoholic or non-alcoholic - and chat. Tell us what's on your wish list from Santa this year! Just look for the yellow Mblem to left of the bar or call me in advance for directions.
Our regular first Thursday of the month meeting at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin, will be on Thursday 6th December at 8.00pm. Good food and good beer both available! Call me for more details and encouragement. The pub is about ten minutes' walk from the railway station and is also handy for local bus routes.
We're back at the Fox & Hounds in Harlestone for our regular FThOTM meeting on 6th December at 9.00pm. This month we will be celebrating the birthday of Henry VI. Born in 1421, he first came to the throne in 1422 (bet he didn't know much about it at the time though). What else can you find out about him in time for the meeting?
Just a couple of events this month, with everyone busy in the run up to Christmas. Our Moveable Feast eating meeting at 8.00pm on Thursday 6th December takes us to Mulino's at Wolverton Mill, which is popularly considered MK's most upmarket Italian restaurant. Do check www.mulino.co.uk for location and menu details - be warned that some main courses are quite pricey, although pasta and pizza are more reasonable. In order to book a table, I will need to know numbers by Tuesday 4th December so please contact me to let me know you are coming. This is likely to be our last Moveable Feast for the foreseeable future, as we are planning to return to a regular pub/restaurant meeting next year - see January's Empress for further details.
Please come and introduce yourself at one of the meetings so we can get to know each other. For the moment we'll usually advertise one meeting on the last Saturday of the month for a pub meal. Because of Christmas, this month's will be on the first Thursday, 6th December, at 7.30pm, at The Sugar Loaf, Ab Kettleby (about 3 miles up the A606 out of Melton Mowbray). If you know of any brilliant pubs (friendly, cheap, good food) you'd like to meet in, please come along and suggest them for future meetings. Also it would be nice if a Young Mensan (or several Young Mensans) could arrange something occasionally to fill the gap left by Becky. Again, any offers, please get in touch.
Join us for our Christmas meal at the Cross Keys, 13 High Street, Pulloxhill, Beds. MK45 5HB on Saturday 8th December at 7.30pm. Meet in the bar and probably move into the restaurant about 8.30pm. Ring me by Tuesday 4th at the very latest, as they need a list of people's meal choices by Wednesday 5th - they get very busy. Lady is sending the menu. All welcome, but I do need to know ASAP please, numbers are limited though can be increased with good notice. Email me to let me know of your intentions and I'll get a copy of the menu to you. Call [Phone Number] if you need to contact me on the night.
It is hard to believe that another year has almost come to an end. There will be just the one event in December as I know that diaries can get rather busy. On Friday 8th December at 8.00pm we pay a return visit to the excellent Santorini Greek Restaurant in Market Parade, Hazlemere, that I know many of you are familiar with. No Turkey but our Christmas lunch will be traditional Greek fayre. Please contact me by 12th December, ideally sooner, to reserve your place. See you there.
The following week on Wednesday 12th we have our "Chicks & Flicks" event. Meet at 7.00pm prompt inside the doors to the Cornerhouse in the city centre. From there we'll dine at Nando's chicken restaurant whilst debating which film to watch at Cineworld afterwards. Current offers include free unlimited soft drinks at Nando's and 2-4-1 cinema tickets. To find out how contact Paul on [Phone Number] or [Email]
On Wednesday 19th December we have our Third Wednesday meeting at Starbucks in Borders Bookshop by the Hockey Stadium (Portway/Grafton St roundabout). We normally try to get the comfy chairs round the right hand corner so don't forget to check there for the Mblem if you don't see us straight away. We meet from 7.00pm onwards for a couple of hours of informal and friendly conversation. The coffee shop closes at 9.00pm, after which we usually make a leisurely exit through the book shop looking for bargains.
The 3WOTM meeting on 19th December at 7.30pm will be hosted this month by Helen Krasner. Join her for food and drink at the Standing Order on Irongate, a Wetherspoon venue so good value. It's usually a very international turnout with guests of all ages from Germany, France, Austria and USA regularly attending. Obviously they live in the East Midlands and don't visit purely for the pub! Contact Helen on [Phone Number] or [Email].
Kettering is the recipient of our Roadshow largesse for the last Northants meeting of the year on Thursday 20th December at 8.00pm. Come to the Alexandra Arms in Victoria Street - Northants CAMRA pub of the year for 2007 with its own brewery. We may even get a go on the skittles table.