Our first meeting in December is on Saturday 1st at Dobbie's Garden Centre in Fenny Stratford, just south of Milton Keynes, for T@3. This is one of our most popular meetings and an ideal one to come along to if you've never joined us before. Not that you wouldn't be welcome at any meeting, but most of us agree that T@3 has a particularly nice atmosphere (and great cakes!).
Three events this month and they all involve food and/or drink so apologies to anyone on a diet! Join us from 8.00pm on Wednesday 5th for our regular evening at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road. Look for a yellow Mblem usually on the first table in the Golding's Room to the left of the bar. New faces always welcome and you can stay as briefly or as long as you like.
Please join us on the 6th from 8.00pm for informal First Thursday chat at The Old Beams at Shenley Lodge. Feel free to join us for a meal or just a drink - look out for the Mblem or mag. See http://www.mcmullens.co.uk/oldbeams for location, menu etc.
On Thursday 6th from 8.15pm FThOTM will be at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin. 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.
On Friday 7th I'd like to support a friend who is organising a Bollywood Night at the Kashmir Centre Kashmir Centre on Carlton Road (NG3 2NR) in aid of Save the Children. Tickets cost a bargain £15 for an Indian meal supplied by the excellent 4550 Miles From Delhi restaurant in the city centre, disco and other entertainment. The evening is from 7.30pm until late. Who fancies a change from turkey dinners!?
We're back to the usual two meetings in December. 2SaOTM falls on Saturday 8th, do join us 12.05-2.00pm in Lincoln for a pub discussion on 'Is creativity necessary for sanity?' Some have lunch, others just pop in for a quick drink and there will be plenty of general chat too.
Only one meeting this month. On Monday 10th at 8.00pm there'll be a Christmas get-together. The usual mince pies, mulled wine and festivities to welcome the Advent season. The venue will be emailed nearer the time.
I will also probably put together another one of my fiendish Christmas puzzles!
At 7.30pm on Thursday 13th our regular event at the Beekeeper pub/restaurant becomes the Nottingham Mensa Christmas meal so pre-booking is essential. The cost is £9.99 for 2 courses or £12.99 for 3 courses. A £5.00 deposit and menu choices are required. There are also soft drink offers for drivers and each diner will receive a booklet of vouchers valid throughout 2013. Please let me know if you would like adding to our ever expanding table!
The Pomeroy Inn at Little Chalfont is highly recommended by one of our members. It is set back from White Lion Road mid-way between Little Chalfont and Amersham. I remember it from years ago as The Pineapple when they held occasional steam engine fairs in the field, but it has clearly changed owners and its name since then. The fixed price lunchtime menu offers a good variety and is £6.50 for 1 course, £8.50 for 2 or £10.50 for 3. If none of these choices appeal there is also a wider menu to choose from. We will meet there for a relaxed lunch on Thursday 13th at 12.00.
White Lion Road is well served by local buses and the stop is still known as "Outside the Pineapple" on their timetables. Alternative bus routes stop at Stanley Hill and/or Blackhorse Bridge, which are not too far away. Train stations at Amersham and Little Chalfont are both a 20-25 minute walk. There is a car park. Post code is HP7 9JY - challenge your satnav to find it!
Please let me know you are coming by Sunday 9th December so I can book a suitable table. For further directions/encouragement please contact me.
As the last Wednesday in December is Boxing Day, I will change the day from our usual one and we will meet instead on Friday 14th.
This meeting will be with some Christmas cheer at my house. Please email if you are coming.
Sunday breakfast will be at 10.15am on 16th, but please remember we have moved to Wetherspoon's on Midsummer Boulevard West, next to Chiquito's and not far up from the railway station (NOT the other Lloyds/Wetherspoons nearer the shopping centre and next to Jurys Inn). Come for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink - look for the Mblem on a table.
After a month's break and avoiding Christmas, Teatime Thinking will be at my house near Alford on Sunday 16th, 3.00-5.00pm. One of the topics will have a bit of a nod to the season with 'Jesus - what influence on society?'. Also 'Justice' is up for discussion over tea and cakes. Do join us for a bit of cerebral activity.
Just one event this month at 7.30pm on Wednesday 19th. It's our usual get together at the Standing Order in Derby city centre but we are having their festive fayre so pre-booking is required. £8.25 for main course with drink (choose from a huge variety including alcoholic, non-alcoholic or hot drinks) plus £2.00 each for a starter or dessert. A table is reserved and deposits paid but let me know if you would like adding to our booking. You are welcome to come along later for just a drink and we'll do our best to squeeze you around our table as I'm expecting the pub to be busy.
Just one meeting in December as we replace our usual Third Thursday of the Month gathering with a Festive Christmas Curry at the Taj Mahal at 8.00pm on Thursday 20th. Everyone will be welcome but booking is essential, so please could you let me know ASAP that you're coming by calling or emailing me. I look forward to seeing you there, but if not then have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
There'll be no Last Friday meeting in December. However, as always, I and a number of others will be attending the Glenn Miller Tribute concert on 30th December and the Viennese New Year's Eve concert on 31st December; both of these are at the Barbican in London. If you'd like to join us, please let me know.