First Thursday is at our regular venue of Jurys Inn on Midsummer Boulevard, on 4th December, from 8.00pm. Look for the Mblem in either the foyer or the bar - most likely the foyer as it's quieter. Parking is a bit busy around Jurys and The Hub, so we usually try and get in across the road and then walk through the underpass.
Our regular FThOTM meeting at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin, will be on Thursday 4th December at 8.15pm. By this time I expect to be mobile again after my recent accident and confinement to "barracks"! Come and help me celebrate regaining my mobility! 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.
Our first meeting of the month is on Thursday 4th December and you have a second chance to sample the delights of the Malt Shovel in Bridge Street, Northampton.
Just our two regular events earlier in the month as I'm sure everyone will be busy with their own social calendar in the run up to Christmas. Please join Kevin Bamford as he hosts our get together at the Vat & Fiddle pub from 8.00pm on Friday 5th December. We usually sit to the left of the bar although in recent months we have had to take a table round the corner to the right. Just look for the yellow Mblem or call Kev on [Phone Number] for directions. All welcome.
T@3 seems fairly popular with MK folks, so we're going to have a last one of the year on Saturday 6th December at Dobbie's Garden Centre in Fenny Stratford, just south of Milton Keynes. It's easily reached from the A5. We thought it would be a good opportunity to look at their Christmas display and perhaps buy some festive fare from their excellent food hall. Their restaurant may be busy, so look out for the Mblem or call my mobile if you can't find us.
On Saturday 6th December, a tour round the John Taylor Bell Foundry Museum has been arranged for 10.30am. This is now one of only two bell foundries still in production in the UK, and houses the only museum dedicated to the subject. The cost of the tour (including Museum admission) is £7.50 for adults and £3.50 for children from 6 to 16 years old; the tour lasts approximately an hour and a half, and the company emphasise that "strong shoes should be worn and we are not allowed to admit entry to anyone wearing open-toed sandals". We did this tour many, many years ago, and it proved to be very popular. Please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested.
Christine Howells has offered to chair regular First Saturday of the Month meetings at the Lincoln Drill Hall. Join her at noon on Saturday 6th December in the Armoury Bar. This venue offers the chance to eat inexpensively or just have a coffee or drink whilst you talk. For more details please contact me, as below, or Christine at [Email]
All very welcome.
On Wednesday 10th join Paul Henchliffe for our regular "Chicks & Flicks" event. Meet at 7.00pm prompt inside the doors to the Cornerhouse. From there we'll dine on chicken (making a change from the festive turkey!) at Nando's before watching a film at Cineworld. There are free unlimited soft drinks at the restaurant and 2-4-1 tickets at the cinema for Cornerhouse card holders and Orange phone owners. To find out more contact Paul on [Phone Number] or [Email]
Fit in some late night Christmas shopping and then join me for a meal at La Tasca in the Eden Centre at High Wycombe on Thursday 11th December at 7.30pm. Promising an authentic, vibrant taste of Spain, their special three-course Christmas menu at £17.95 per person (drinks extra) includes a selection of tapas dishes. Full details at www.latasca.co.uk. Please let me know if you have any special dietary requirements, e.g. vegetarian. I will need to make a booking for the meal, so please contact me as soon as you can, and definitely by 30th November, to let me know you are coming.
The last Wednesday of December is not possible for most of our members, so please e-mail or phone me for information about our meeting on Monday 15th December.
Happy Christmas, Everyone.
Our Third Wednesday meeting at the Old Beams in Shenley Lodge is on 17th December. If you're definitely planning to come, please let me know as it will help us to grab the right sized table, but don't let that put you off deciding on the spur of the moment - you'll still be welcome. See www.mcmullens.co.uk for location and menu details. You can eat or not, as you wish - their food is quite good and reasonably priced. Look around for the Mblem as we don't always get the same table each time.
And so the countdown begins ... I presume you've all done your cards ready for posting and all the pressies are wrapped? Me neither. To take your mind off it all, why not join us for our 3rd Wednesday meeting at the Standing Order in Derby on the 17th December any time from 7.30pm for a meal or just a drink if you prefer; just look for the yellow Mblem on one of the tables at the back. There's no 'at home' meeting this month as I won't be, at home that is, so please accept my apologies in advance. However, if you want some encouragement to come along to the Standing Order for some festive cheer, advertise a get together of your own or just want to say hello, then please call me at home or email me.
The Roadshow meeting is on Thursday 18th December at 8.00pm and for the first time in nine months it returns to Kettering. The Talbot Inn in Meadow Road is where we'll be and you'll find us in the Lounge.
Our Christmas meal will be at the Brache Beefeater, Osborne Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3HJ , on Saturday 20th December - 7.30pm to eat at 8.30pm. Welcome to an evening of witty chat and repartee. All welcome, although spaces are limited.
Please be aware that I need a £5 deposit by 13th December at latest and they need to know our meal choices in advance. Please contact me right away about the menu please, as I have to let them know ASAP with it being one of busiest nights of year. Sorry for this inconvenience.
Please ring or email to reserve your place, and for the address to send the deposit, as numbers are limited. [Phone Number] ONLY on the night, if you get lost on the way please.