We have four events for you this month starting on Sunday 1st with a fashion show at the Victory Club in Eastwood. Doors open at 7.00pm with the show starting at 7.30pm. This will feature new lines from all major high street clothing stores with chance to try and buy afterwards at heavily discounted prices. There will also be a raffle, a few stalls and cash bar. Tickets cost £5 including admission, the show, entry into a prize draw and edible festive treats served by Santa! All proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK. I'm overwhelmed by all the help and support from my Mensa friends and local businesses with this event. Bring the girls for this fun night out in aid of a very worthwhile charity. Men welcome too!
No need to book, just join me from 10.30am on Thursday 5th for a morning of informal conversation and coffee. This month we are going to the café at Chenies Garden Centre near Little Chalfont, WD3 6EN. An opportunity to scour their shop for Christmas gifts, decorations, kitchen gadgets and unusual food items as well as gardening and plant ideas.See http://www.vanhage.co.uk/garden-centres/chenies/ for further information and an idea of the goods on offer.
From 8.00pm until late on Thursday 5th find us in the Golding's Room of the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road. Partake of real ale brewed next door at Castle Rock Brewery, one of their 70+ whiskies, one of their popular ciders, a glass of wine, soft drink or coffee. New faces always welcome! Bring your suggestions for events you'd like to do in 2014.
Thursday 5th FThOTM at the Millstream, Hitchin from 8.15pm.
Our first meeting in December is Sunday breakfast, at 10.30am on Sunday 8th at Wetherspoons 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.
As Christmas rather interferes with our late month spot, we've moved Teatime Thinking at my house near Alford to Sunday 8th, usual time 3.00-5.00pm. To mark the season there will be mince pies and mulled wine to aid our thought processes as we finish off our romp through philosophers by choosing our own favourites with initials U-Z.
Michael Rich invites us to his home in Stapleford from 7.30pm on Tuesday 10th for a decorating party. Don't worry, it doesn't involve paint and wallpaper! We're going to help Michael decorate his Christmas tree and festoon his lounge with baubles and tinsel. Please bring along any spare decorations that you may have (that can be returned in the New Year). In return Michael will provide mince pies and other festive food as well as mulled wine. Phone [Phone Number] or [Email] for directions and to say you'll be there.
Our regular event at the Beekeeper in Beeston on Thursday 12th will be a Christmas meal. £9.99 for two courses or £12.99 for three courses. This does require booking and payment in advance. Please contact me for menu or to book. Dinner will be served at 7.30pm prompt. If you'd like to join us for just a drink later then find us on the very long table in the family dining area at the rear of the pub. It's the only place they can accommodate all of us together!
We have something different for you this month as Mensan Audrie Norris invites you to a murder mystery evening at Wirksworth Town Hall from 7.30pm on Thursday 12th. Watch her drama group in action then work out who done it! There will be a good prize for the winning team.Tickets cost £5 each and include nibbles but please BYOB as there is no bar. Please contact Audrie on [Phone Number] or [Email] for tickets or further information.
Saturday 14th sees us back at Dobbie's Garden Centre in Fenny Stratford, just south of Milton Keynes, for T@3. It will be all decorated for Christmas so come along and get into the festive spirit! 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!).
Fortunately, 2SaOTM avoids the Christmas Market, so we will be at the Adam and Eve on Lindum Hill as usual on Saturday 14th 12.05pm until our batteries run down 2 or 3 hours later. This month's topic: 'Is Eastern diplomacy better than Western Muscle?' There's a free car park, and pub food available for those who want it; we're usually in the alcove, with Mblem on the table. Do feel free to join us for as long as suits you, listening or participating.
Join me for a pre-Christmas event at Hughenden Manor on Sunday 15th. Either meet me at the house entrance at 1.30pm, or join me later in the tea room at 3.00pm for tea, mince pies and Christmas cake. Admission charges apply for entry to the manor and formal gardens, but the tea room, small second hand bookshop, plant stall and NT gift shop are all accessible from the park without paying to go into the house.
Hughenden Manor is a National Trust property which lies on the outskirts of High Wycombe. Every December the house is specially decorated ready for a Victorian Christmas. Musicians perform carols, seasonal readings and talks take place, and Father Christmas is rumoured to attend at weekends!
Formerly best known as the country home of Benjamin Disraeli, since 2004 Hughenden's more recent role as the base for "Operation Hillside" during World War II has been revealed. A team of Royal Engineers worked from pre-war road atlases and aerial photographs to produce target maps used in RAF bombing raids over Germany. A special display in the basement tells the story of some of those involved and includes examples of reconnaissance photographs and the maps developed from them. In the grounds the old Ice House has been set up to show how the maps were photographed ready for copying and distribution.
This autumn three rooms in the manor's attics were opened to the public for the first time. They provide good views across the park and woods to the Disraeli monument. In addition displays highlighting Disraeli's literary interests, publications and library are housed here.
Further details at http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hughenden/visitor-information/ No need to book, but if you want me to look out for you, please let me know you are coming.
On Monday 16th our final meeting of 2013 is our Third Monday of the Month quiz meeting at The Barge at Woolstone. From 8.30pm in time for the quiz at 9.00pm - cost is £1 per person. See www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebargewoolstone/ for location. Please do check with me or look out for announcements nearer the time, just in case the Barge decides to alter their quiz schedule in the run-up to Christmas.
A chance for Northants Mensans to get together and celebrate Christmas in style . . . well . . .in a pub, anyway! Why not pop along to The Windhover on Brampton Road on Tuesday 17th at 7.30pm where there's food available, beer available, and new people to meet (Me!)! The conversation will go where it wants in a relaxed, informal atmosphere, and family and friends are more than welcome. Please let me know beforehand if you're coming so I can let you know if the event gets moved or cancelled for whatever reason.
See you there!
At 7.30pm on Wednesday 18th we'll be at the Standing Order in Derby city centre for our festive meal. The cost is £8.75 for main course including drink then £2.10 extra for a starter or dessert. This must be booked in advance but you are welcome to join us later in the evening for just a drink. Please contact me for menu choices or to book.
December: The traditional time for a Yule-tide curry. Korma with a cracker? We've got it sorted! Paper hat and poppadom? Box ticked! Free Christmas cake all round? Don't push it!!! We'll be meeting up at our traditional* Christmas Curry location, the Taj Mahal on Highfield Street on Thursday 19th. Early booking is essential (and I need to know you're coming in case there's a change of venue / date / time / etc.), so please email/call me to confirm ASAP, and definitely by 30th November. See you there!
(*We went there last year)