Letchworth
Thu 4th Jan - 8:00pm
Richard Allen
FThOTM 

As ever, we are at the Three Magnets, Leys Avenue, Letchworth, so come and join us and banish those post- Christmas blues! Thursday nights are curry nights but other food is available as well. Leys Avenue is the main shopping street in Letchworth and is a few minutes' walk from the station (Kings Cross to Cambridge line). Call me on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement.

 Nottingham
Fri 5th Jan - 8:00pm
Maxine Bates
5OTM 

We start the year with a new members event from 8.00pm on Friday 5th in the Goldings Room of the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road (NG2 1NB). Come and find out what you've been missing and suggest some future events. Regular faces are, of course, still welcome. Look for a yellow Mblem on the table on the night or contact Maxine beforehand if needing directions or encouragement to come along. We don't bite!

 Aylesbury
Fri 5th Jan - 10:30am
Val Hinkins
Coffee & Cavalry 

Meet me at the entrance of Bucks County Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP at 10:30am on Friday 5th January to view the centenary exhibition of the Charge of El Mughar. Described as the last British cavalry charge, it involved the Royal Bucks. Hussars, Dorset Yeomanry and Berkshire Yeomanry. Beadle's painting of the famous charge has never previously been exhibited outside London. Dugdale's rendering of the same event is also in the exhibition together with various other related artefacts and images.

Stay afterwards for relaxed conversation, cake and coffee in the Museum café. There is a Christmas Toy Box exhibition and games available to play which may bring back some memories too! For further information, see: http://www.buckscountymuseum.org/museum/events/508/the-last-charge-centenaryexhibition-of-the-charge-at-el-mughar/

 Milton Keynes
Sat 6th Jan - 2:00pm
Jo Sidebottom
Walk 

We start with a walk to blow away any remaining holiday cobwebs. Meet at 2pm on Saturday 6th in the south west car park at the Open University to wander around their sculpture trail. We may finish up with tea or at a pub afterwards. As the OU will only let in small parties on a walk-up basis (larger parties have to pre-book), it's essential you let me know in advance if you plan to come, so that I can contact them or, if necessary, let you know of any alternative arrangements.

 Flackwell Heath
Mon 8th Jan - 8:00pm
Dave Denholm
Indoor board games 

Join Dave and Alison at their home in Flackwell Heath, near High Wycombe, for a relaxed evening of indoor board games. Arrive for an 8pm start on Monday 8th January. Please contact Dave on [Email] or [Phone Number] for directions and to let him know which games you would like to play.

 Nottingham
Thu 11th Jan - 7:30pm
Maxine Bates
Natter & Nosh 

On Thursday 11th we're at the Cadland on High Road in Chilwell. This is an Ember Inn (menu at www.emberinns.co.uk) and you are welcome to join us for a meal from 7.30pm or later for just a drink. We have tables 20-24 reserved at the far side of the bar and there will be a yellow Mblem on display. There are usually a dozen of us and a good variety of conversation.

 Lincoln
Sat 13th Jan - 12:00pm
Jacquie Harrison
Pub discussion 

Our regular second Saturday meeting is on the 13th. Join us in the Adam & Eve Tavern at 25 Lindum Road for a discussion around two related questions: "What is the most useful thing you own? And what is the most useless thing you keep holding on to?" Look for the magazine in the alcove from 12.00 noon. We usually move onto the topic at 12.30 pm. There is food available and the parking is free. For more details, please contact Jacquie on [Phone Number] or [Email]. All welcome.

 Northampton
Sun 14th Jan - 10:30am
Marianne Kendall
Breakfast/brunch 

Our usual breakfast/brunch meeting will be on Sunday 14 Jan at the Rendezvous Coffee Shop in Market Walk, Northampton Town Centre at 10:30 where we'll be entertained by attendees relating "The silliest thing I ever did was . . . . ." Contact Marianne on [Phone Number] or email: [Email] for extra encouragement.

 Leicester
Mon 15th Jan - 8:00pm
Haydn Starkie
3MOTM 

On Monday 15th January at 8:00 pm we shall banish those post Christmas blues by resuming our usual jolly third Monday gathering at the Cradock Arms, 201 Knighton Road, Leicester, LE2 3TT. I shall be waiting for you in the lower part towards the rear of the bar. Look out for the Magazine. If you need any directions or encouragement, please contact me via phone [Phone Number] or email [Email]

 Milton Keynes
Mon 15th Jan - 8:15pm
Jo Sidebottom
3MOTM & Quiz 

Our regular Third Monday visit to the Barge in Woolstone for the quiz is on Monday 15th. Meet from 8.15 - the quiz starts at 8.30pm and costs £1 per person. Please let me know beforehand if you're coming - the maximum team size is 6 people so it helps to know whether we'll be one team or two, or somewhere in between.

 Woodhall Spa
Tue 16th Jan - 7:00pm
Jacquie Harrison
Opera 

Then it's off to Woodhall Spa to the lovely, quirky, and comparatively inexpensive, Kinema in the Woods for a National Opera House Live screening of "Rigoletto"(12A) on Tuesday 16th, meeting in the foyer at 7pm, or earlier in The Mall if people wish to have a drink/coffee/food first. Please contact Jacquie as above asap for more details, so she knows to look out for you.

 Newark
Tue 16th Jan - 7:00pm
Maxine Bates
3TuOTM 

Many thanks to Pete Gault for suggesting and hosting a get together in Newark at the end of November. This was a late notice event advertised on the East Midlands Mensa Facebook page with an email being sent to local members. Despite the wind and rain there was a good turn out and it was a most enjoyable evening. We met at The Ram on Castle Gate. Some ate and some had only a drink but we got through a whole variety of interesting conversations from Mensa to jobs to travel to philosophers. Members swapped contact details to keep in touch and it was decided to try hosting a regular event in Newark and the "3rd Tuesday" seemed to suit the majority. Hence you are invited along to The Ram again from 7.00pm on Tuesday 16th January. We should be sitting on tables to the right as you enter the front door with a yellow Mblem on display. For further information contact Pete on 07885-642430 or petergault @gmail.com or just turn up on the night. All welcome and you can bring a guest.

 Derby
Wed 17th Jan - 7:30pm
Susan Graves
3WOTM 

Hello! This is my first contribution for Derby Diary as I've taken over as Derby Local Officer. I'm married to Mark, the Regional Treasurer and I used to be Local Officer in Leeds. I'm looking forward to meeting as many local members as possible. Don't worry though, the regular third Wednesday event at the Standing Order on Iron Gate will carry on. The next one is on 17th. Come along any time from 7.30pm. Some people choose to eat, some just have a drink. In the short term, Maxine will carry on hosting this. Look for a yellow Mblem on a long table in the rear section of the pub.

 Ilkeston
Fri 19th Jan - 7:30pm
Susan Graves
At Home 

I'm thinking of trying to have an event in each of the 25 DE postcode districts over the next 2 years or so. It would be great to hear your thoughts. The first one will be a relaxed evening at our home in DE7 (Ilkeston), on Friday 19th at 7:30pm. Mark will cook a pot of something with a veggie alternative. We can then chat and perhaps discuss what other events you'd like to see in the DE postcode area. Contact Susan or Mark on [Phone Number] or [Email] if you would like to join us.

 Nottingham
Sun 21st Jan - 2:00pm
Maxine Bates
Alphabet Event - Y is for Young Mensans 

Alphabet Event - Y is for Young Mensans

After a little opinion poll on our East Midlands Mensa Facebook group we're trying an activity afternoon on Sunday 21st aimed at Young Mensans aged 18-35 although anyone interested is welcome to attend. The venue will be Tenpin Nottingham on Clifton Boulevard (NG7 2UW) which has ample free parking. I propose their package of two games of bowling with burger meal for £16 per person (correct at time of writing) with a choice of beef burger, cheese burger, chicken burger or bean burger plus fries. There is also the option to take part in a team game of laser combat if there are enough of us interested which is £6 per game. Plus we can have a game of UK or American pool for £1.50 per person (hopefully with the current Mensa Games pool champion in attendance to show us the ropes!) and/or table tennis for £3 per person or get competitive on the new NAMCO arcade games. Lots of variety plus chance to socialise and have a drink or two if you wish. I suggest booking bowling lanes for 2.00pm so meeting just prior to that and the event can continue as long as you wish. Some of this will need pre-booking so contact Maxine to express interest by 14th latest please.

 Milton Keynes
Sun 21st Jan - 10:00am
Jo Sidebottom
Sunday breakfast 

Sunday breakfast, is Sunday 21st, when we visit Brown's, next to Jury's Inn on Midsummer Boulevard (West), for breakfast. Join us from 10am for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink.

 Digswell
Fri 26th Jan - 8:00pm
Richard Allen
LFOTM 

Last Friday is at our usual venue of the Cowper Arms, Digswell. The pub is next to Welwyn North station and is served by stopping trains from Kings Cross to Peterborough and Cambridge. Good food, beer and conversation guaranteed! Please call me on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement.

 Syston
Sat 27th Jan - 7:00pm
Sue Watford
Eating meeting 

This month we are meeting at 7:00pm on Saturday 27th for a meal at the Gate Hangs Well (an Everards pub) at Lewin Bridge, Fosse Way in Syston, Leicester, LE7 1NH. We hope you will come and join us but you need to contact Sue ("[Phone Number]) or [Email] by Mon Jan 22nd to let her know you are coming so that she can reserve a place for you.

 Northampton
Sat 27th Jan - 12:00pm
Jo Pogson
Game 

A new venture! Meet at 24 Connaught St NN1 3BP at noon on Saturday 27 Jan for an "Escape Room" challenge. The cost will depend on how many people come but the maximum would be £28 each (hopefully less!). Parking 5 minutes away. It should last about an hour and there is a suitable hostelry nearby in which to recover. Contact Jo Pogson ([Email]) for more information.

 High Wycombe
Sat 27th Jan - 5:45pm
Val Hinkins
Tosca 

Puccini's thrilling opera Tosca is a story of love, terror, the abuse of power, and the unquenchable longing for freedom. This live HD broadcast from the New York MET starts at 5:45pm on Saturday 27th January in the Cineworld Cinema in the Eden Centre, High Wycombe. Tickets (adults £2100, some concessions) are available at: https://www.cineworld.co.uk/films/met-opera-2018-tosca#/buy-tickets-by-film?in-cinema=8061&at=2018-01-27&for-movie=ho00004724&view-mode=list Please buy your own tickets for the cinema, but let me know you are coming so we can look out for you. If you would like to eat with us before the performance, please contact me a week or so ahead to decide where to go.

 Castle Donington
Tue 30th Jan - 7:30pm
Maxine Bates
Eating meeting 

Our roving 'eating meeting' will take place in Castle Donington at 7.30pm on Tuesday 30th. We return to Gandhi Indian restaurant on Borough Street where we've visted several times previously but not recently. We have always received a warm welcome and excellent food. See menu at www.gandhicastle.co.uk and reserve your place with Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 26th please.