Nottingham
Mon 5th Jan - 8.00pm
Maxine Bates
5OTM 

If this is your first day back at work after the Christmas and New Year break then cheer yourself up by coming along to the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road from 8.00pm for a friendly chat and to make new friends. We should be in the Goldings Room to the left of the bar. Please phone in advance for directions or encouragement to join us.

 Luton
Tue 6th Jan - 7.30pm
Bob Ford
2TuOTM 

Meeting at 7.30pm at The Brache Beefeater, Osborne Road, Luton LU1 3HJ. The bar is opposite the Vauxhall Design Building. There is free parking at the venue. Contact Bob for directions or encouragement to come along or just turn up on the night for a friendly chat and a drink. Look out for a MENSA magazine on the table. New faces are very welcome.

 Nottingham
Thu 8th Jan - 7.30pm
Maxine Bates
Natter & nosh 

Our "natter & nosh" event falls in the same week as our "5OTM" event. Join us any time from 7.30pm until late at the Beekeeper pub/restaurant on Meadow Lane in Beeston. It's a Hungry Horse venue so good value food and/or drink. Find us on the long table just beyond the food order point at end of the bar. There will be a yellow Mblem on display.

 Hitchin
Thu 8th Jan - 8.15pm
Richard Allen
2ThOTM 

Given that the First Thursday is the 1st, we've moved to the Second Thursday for January so you can get over the back-to-work blues! As ever, we're at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin from 8.15pm. 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.

 High Wycombe
Fri 9th Jan - 10.30am
Val Hinkins
Morning coffee 

No need to book, just join me from 10.30am onwards for a morning of informal conversation, croissants and coffee. This month we are going to try the new branch of Patisserie Valerie which has just opened opposite Starbucks in the Eden Centre, High Wycombe, HP11 2DQ. Friends and family are welcome to join us. Please feel free to bring ideas for any events you would like to see and places you would like to visit in 2015.

 Lincoln
Sat 10th Jan - 12.00pm
Christine Howells
2SaOTM 

I'm bunking off this month so Jacquie is very kindly going to host our usual pub discussion, with Susan as deputy, on a topic dear to their hearts: 'Are jigsaws a waste of time?' This will not be as simple as it seems, talk will range through all sorts of issues like what is the purpose of doing anything, is leisure time just that or should it be uplifting/calming/good-for-you in some way, etc. So, if you would like to explore such issues in a friendly fashion, do join in at the Adam and Eve on Lindum Hill, 12.00pm - 2.00pm ish. There's a free car park and pub food. Details, encouragement, etc: jacquie@johnjacquie.plus.com

 Milton Keynes
Sun 11th Jan - 10.00am
Jo Sidebottom
Sunday breakfast 

Sunday breakfast will be at 10.00am at Carluccio's in the Centre:MK. You will probably find us in one of the red booths just in front of the restaurant - look for the Mblem on a table. Come for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink. Contact me for directions and/or encouragement.

 Lutterworth
Mon 12th Jan - 7.30pm
Paul Coulson
Eating meeting 

Your first chance to help me avoid abject failure is a roadtrip to The Elms Pub in Lutterworth, right next to J20 of the M1. Not only Leicestershireonians, but also the denizens of Northampton, Rugby and Coventry are more than welcome. See you there at about 7.30pm, but just let me know you're coming by 10th January at the latest.

 Langley Mill
Sat 17th Jan - 5.00pm
Maxine Bates
Girls night in 

I'm hosting a "girls night in" at my home in Langley Mill. The cost will be £5.00 per person including a two course Tex Mex buffet with veggie chili, rice, spicy potato wedges, nachos, salsa, guacamole, sour cream plus dessert and complimentary glass of wine. There will also be optional beauty treatments on offer including mini manicure, mini pedicure, mini facial, nail art, head/neck/shoulder massage costing £2.00 - £8.00 and lasting 20-30 minutes each. All proceeds from this event will go to Cancer Research UK. Please let me know if you'd like to come along as that will help catering and ensure we have enough beauticians. You are welcome to arrive any time from 5.00pm and food will be available throughout the evening. Tea, coffee and soft drinks will be available but feel free to bring your own additional wine or other alcoholic beverages.

 High Wycombe
Sun 18th Jan - 12.15pm
Val Hinkins
Lunch 

We will help Mark celebrate his birthday with a lunchtime meal at Wagamama, Denmark Street, Eden, High Wycombe, HP11 2DB. See http://www.wagamama.com/our-menu for details of the food on offer. This Japanese restaurant and noodle bar is usually very busy, so we will meet up outside at 12.15pm and all go in together. Please let me know if you are planning to join us so that we can look out for you.

 Milton Keynes
Mon 19th Jan - 8.30pm
Jo Sidebottom
3MOTM 

Becky is kindly hosting the January quiz at The Barge in Woolstone as we are not available that day. Meet from 8.30pm - the quiz starts at 9.00pm and costs £1 per person. Look out for the Mblem. Please let Becky know if you plan to come so she can bag a large enough table - Rebecca.cave@taxwriter.co.uk, 01908-295-645 or 07941-168-131.

 Derby
Wed 21st Jan - 7.30pm
Maxine Bates
3WOTM 

Just our regular "3rd Wednesday" event this month from 7.30pm. It was lovely to see a few new faces at the end of the year and hopefully there will be more in the coming year. Find us on one of the long tables in the rear section of the Standing Order on Irongate in the city centre. Look for a yellow Mblem on the table and usually a dozen Mensans. You are welcome to arrive/leave when you like and enjoy a meal or just a drink. It's a Wetherspoon venue so very informal!

 Leicester
Thu 22nd Jan - 8:00pm
Paul Coulson
5ThOTM 

Your next chance is at our regular Fourth Thursday at The Cradock Arms in Leicester at 8.00pm. Look out for the magazine or mBlem, or just give me a call!

 Chesham
Sat 24th Jan - 2.00pm
Val Hinkins
Thaatre 

The following weekend Neil Goulder is appearing as Aslan in a performance of The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe at The Elgiva Theatre, St Mary's Way, Chesham, HP5 1HR. Based on the classic C.S. Lewis novel, this timeless tale has been adapted for the stage by Adrian Mitchell with a beautiful score by Shaun Davey. It tells the story of four young evacuees, Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy who leave London to live in the country with Professor Kirk. Exploring his large and empty house they discover a portal in a wardrobe which takes them to the magical winter wonderland of Narnia. There they find adventure with a host of mythical creatures and have to battle with the White Witch. Theresa Goulder will be going to the Saturday matinee performance on 24th January at 2.00pm. Buy your tickets (£15.00 adult, £12.50 concession, £10.00 child) for the show either from"www.elgiva.com/index.php/whats-on-details/the-lion-the-witch-and-the-wardrobe-5142.html or by phoning the box office on 01494- 582-900.

 Ashby-de-la-zouch
Tue 27th Jan - TBA
Paul Coulson
Eating meeting 

Finally, there's an eating meeting hosted by Pen Penny up at The Wong Kwei in Ashby. You'll need to book this directly with Pen on [Phone Number] or [Email] by the 23rd January at the latest.

 Lincoln
Thu 29th Jan - 7.00pm
Christine Howells
Eating meeting 

Not being one to miss a meal, I will be joining in again for our monthly midweek evening eating meeting, Last year, we had a great time at Carluccio's in central Lincoln, so we're returning at 7.00pm. All welcome, but do please book with me by 24th January, thanks.

 Digswell
Fri 30th Jan - 8.00pm
Richard Allen
LFOTM 

Come and mark (almost) the end of January - possibly the most miserable moth of the year! As always, we're at the Cowper Arms, Digswell, which is by Welwyn North railway station, which is served by stopping trains from Kings Cross to Cambridge and Peterborough. Starting at 8.00pm, good food and good beer both available! Call me for more details and encouragement.

 Milton Keynes
Sat 31st Jan - 12.30pm
Jo Sidebottom
Lunch 

Our final get-together is lunch at The Talbot in Loughton at 12.30pm. The pub offers an excellent value carvery, as well as other menu options. Please let me know by Thursday 29th January if you are coming in case I need to book. Contact me for directions and/ or encouragement.