EMPRESS

I go to the cinema (Cineworld) in Stevenage Leisure Park (16 screen) on Friday evenings; if you wish to join me please call me on [Phone Number] or [Phone Number]. There is usually plenty of choice! Stevenage Leisure Centre is next to Stevenage station, which is also served by local bus services.

Mark Sloan will be hosting this month's get together at the Vat & Fiddle pub from 8.00 pm on Wednesday 5th as I will be on holiday. Do pop along and say hello and see how the refurbishment is progressing! Just look for the Mensa Magazine on the table.

Jo & Chris are on their hols so Colin is hosting at Ye Olde Swan in Woughton-on-the-Green. Please note this is dinner in their restaurant, not the informal meetings we used to have in their bar, where eating was optional. Meet just before 8pm. Booking essential by Tuesday 4th - contact Colin at [Email] / [Phone Number] / [Phone Number] for directions/ encouragement.

Regular first Thursday of the month meeting at the Old Bull, High Street, Royston. Good food and good beer both available! Call Dan on [Phone Number] or Richard on [Phone Number] for more details and encouragement. The pub is about ten minutes' walk from the railway station and is also handy for local bus routes.

Pub meal at the Rising Sun, Halls Green, about four miles south of Baldock and two miles north of Stevenage. This one's not on any bus routes, so you'll have to get your bike out! Good food available! Pre-booking is vital as the pub gets very popular; ring Helen on [Phone Number] for further details and encouragement.

As usual Andy Farrell will be hosting our "chicks & flicks" event on Wednesday 12th. Meet at 7.00 pm prompt inside the doors to the Cornerhouse complex in the city centre. We go for an informal meal at Nando's chicken restaurant followed by a film at Cineworld. With 10% discount at Nando's and 2-4-1 cinema tickets this is a cheap night out!

We've been competing at the monthly quiz at the Plume of Feathers, Little Wymondley, semi-regularly (and doing pretty well!), so why not come and join the fun? Food also available. The pub is in Little Wymondley village and is served by bus 101 (Luton - Hitchin - Stevenage). Ring me on [Phone Number] for further details and encouragement!

Regular as clockwork, our 2nd Thursday meeting will be at the Dusty Fox in Harlestone. If you've been before what more is there to say? If you haven't been before why not join us on what hopefully will be a nice warm evening.

I am very pleased that a local member has managed to negotiate a private visit to Amersham's award winning museum on Thu 13 July. The museum is situated in a 500 year old timber framed building in the High Street. The museum even has its own Herb Garden! After absorbing the local culture and history we'll take a short walk to the excellent Peking Empire restaurant which offers a choice of Cantonese, Szechuan and Peking cuisine for good food and conversation.

Join me for a 5 mile walk starting at Tideswell Dale car park (SK154742) and taking in Miller's Dale, Monk's Dale, Wormhill and Chee Tor. Some ascents and descents involved, so good walking boots and a walking pole recommended, as well as waterproofs. Refreshments at Miller's Dale and Wormhill. There is also the optional extra of walking to the 'cathedral town' of Tideswell.

Our monthly meeting at the usual place, the Standing Order on Irongate in Derby city centre. Hopefully, we may see one or two new faces from the Derby test day in May. More info on [Phone Number] or [Email]

Join us at Wetherspoon's in Midsummer Boulevard, CMK (the one next to Chiquito's, NOT the Secklow Hundred). Look for Mblem, probably in non-smoking area left of entrance. Contact Jo for directions / encouragement, [Email], or [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].

Join us for drinks at The Hunting Lodge in Barrow upon Soar on Saturday 22nd July at 7.30pm. If it's nice weather look for us in the gardens, the magazine will be on the table. New and old faces welcome! For directions email [Email] or phone [Phone Number].

Join me for "T is for Thai" at The Lumpini a wonderful Thai restaurant in High Street South. Contact me on [Phone Number] or [Email] to book your place by 17th July and for directions. New members warmly welcomed to this friendly, ever growing group. Never too late to collect a sticker!

Our meeting returns to Lincoln this month and the SoHo/Lloyds bar on the Brayford, near the Odeon. There is live background jazz with Sunday lunch so join us at 2.30pm Sunday 23rd July for eats and chats. If it gets too noisy, hopefully the weather will be good and we can sit outside. For encouragement please telephone me on [Phone Number] or look for the mag on the day. Guests welcome.

Our venture to visit a hostelry in each NG postcode takes place on Tuesday 25th and we're visiting the Inn On The Green, Main Street, Coddington near Newark. Join us for a meal from 7.30 pm and/or later for their general knowledge quiz. And pick up another stamp for your collector card giving you a chance to win prizes at the end of our series of "Postcode Pubcrawl"events.

Do come and chat, drink, or eat and be merry. We hope to meet sitting in the garden at The White Horse Pub Bourne End, on the Hemel Hempstead Road (the old A41) half way between Hemel and Berkhamsted.

Back to Higham Ferrers for this month's Roadshow meeting and the venue is the Griffin in the High Street. If we're lucky there will be some good news about the sale of Anna's house this time.

A couple of weeks later we will be paying a return visit to Ask. This is probably High Wycombe's largest Pizza / Pasta restaurant and accordingly should be able to accommodate the larger attendances that meetings have been enjoying of late.

Following the success of our last two meals at the Bridge Centre in Langley Mill we're returning to their function suite on Friday 28th for their "tour of Europe" meal. This comprises iced tomato and basil soup with warm crostini followed by grilled sardines drizzled in olive oil and side salad, Basque style chicken with crispy potato balls and asparagus spears, profiteroles with chocolate sauce, a selection of English cheeses and coffee. The cost is £15.95 per person. Please book with me on [Phone Number] or [Email].

Join us in the lounge of the White Horse to chill out at the end of the month. The mag will be on the table. Ring Gwen on [Phone Number] or Richard on [Phone Number] for directions/encouragement. The hotel is about 20 minutes' walk from Hertford North station or alternatively bus 724 (Harlow - Hertford - Hatfield) stops outside. Meals are available. We are considering changing the location of our venue to somewhere more easily reached by public transport, so if you have any suggestions, please do come along.

On Saturday 29th the Theatre Royal are holding an open day with free backstage tours, foyer performers, live music and competitions. Meet near the columns outside at 11.00 am and we'll take part as a group. Maybe lunch too?

I grew up in Bedford and I've never been to the Art Gallery or Museum! Join me in correcting this omission. Meet just outside the Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, off Castle Lane, at 2pm - look for Mblem. Admission free. Bedford members especially welcome. Contact Jo for directions/encouragement, [Email], or [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].

"U is for U choose" which means that now it's your turn. Email us at [Email] or call us on [Phone Number] (by 30th July) with your ideas for August and dates you will not be free. I will then notify everybody with the most popular date and theme on August 1st!! Everyone who comes up with an idea will get entered into the draw when we reach Z and everyone who attends will get a sticker for their passport. There's just one rule; it must be within the LU postcodes. So wait no longer contact us today - we look forward to hearing from you !

We're planning to go and see Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra in Bedford Park - gates open/optional picnic 6 pm, concert starts at 8. See http://www.easternbreeze.co.uk/events.asp?EventId=12 to book yourself a ticket, then let us know if you fancy going in a group. Contact Jo at [Email], or [Phone Number] / [Phone Number].