Maxine writes, "On Wednesday 2nd March we're going to watch 'April in Paris' at Derby Playhouse. If you're familiar with the works of John Godber you'll know that this is a hilarious play. The plot concerns a bored couple who win a romantic weekend in Paris. Will the city of l'amour make or break their relationship? It stars Wendi Peters (Cilla Battersby-Brown from Coronation Street) and the performance starts at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced £10-£17." Please contact Maxine ASAP if interested so a group booking can be co-ordinated.
On Thursday 3rd from 8.15pm, our regular first Thursday of the month meeting. Come and join us! We'll be around for our usual mix of lively conversation and a good atmosphere. As always, we're 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.
Yes, the Northants Mensa group is active again and our first meeting since October will be on Thursday 3rd at 9.00pm. We are heading into Northampton Town centre, to the Wig & Pen in St Giles Street. If you haven't been there for a while don't let its past incarnations put you off as it has been revamped recently; don't let its reputation for hauntings put you off either!
Our regular First Thursday meeting is at 8.00pm on 3rd March at Jurys Inn Hotel on Midsummer Boulevard. Look out for the Mblem on one of the tables to the right in the foyer. Parking is a bit busy around Jurys and The Hub, so we usually try and get in across the road and then walk through the underpass.
Don't be home alone on Saturday 5th - come and join us for a drink and chat at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road. The venue is close to the train station and Broad Marsh bus station if you're drinking, or there's free parking outside if you're driving. Look for the yellow Mblem on the table, usually to the left of the bar, from 8.00pm until late. New faces are always welcome.
To kick off March's meetings in Leicestershire, I thought we'd bring the rolling-roadshow of eating-meetings to Leicester and give a try to one of the Wetherspoons pubs in city, so we're off to The Last Plantagenet on Granby Street just down from the station. More details about the place can be found at http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-last-plantagenet, but you can always email Paul Coulson at [Email].
We're meeting at 7.00pm on Wednesday 9th inside the doors to the Cornerhouse in the city centre. From there we'll dine at Nando's before watching a film at Cineworld. There are discounts for Cornerhouse card holders and Orange mobile phone owners so it's possible to have a whole night out for under a tenner. Contact me for further info and cinema listings or just turn up on the night.
Conversation during January's meeting ranged from how do you take your socks off, through knitting, book reviews and ended up with talking about how we thought Camus was more interesting when we were younger! So, for wideranging chat, do join us on Saturday 12th for our regular 2SaOTM in the coffee bar at The Collection, Danes Terrace, LN2 1LP . Some of us have lunch/snack, others just a quick coffee. Usually we're at the far end of the room, spot the yellow Mblem. All very welcome. Please contact me for more details/encouragement.
On Monday 14th at 8.00pm, your favourite music meeting hosted by David Silver. Please bring a CD with your favourite piece of music (no more than 5 minutes please!) followed by 5 minutes of your reason for liking it. We will be bringing the usual nibbles/refreshments. The venue will be advised for those attending. Please contact me if you wish to attend.
On Wednesday 16th at 7.30pm join me and Maxine for the regular Derby 3WOTM Pub/Meal in the Standing Order; a popular Wetherspoons pub in Irongate. Contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or me for info/encouragement. No need to pre book.
The second meeting this month is the Roadshow on Thursday 17th at 8.00pm. Off to the south of the county, but not quite across the border into Bucks. Meet us at the Coffee Pot, High Street, Yardley Gobion. The village is just to the west of the A508, a couple of miles north of the junction with the A5. The last time we went here it was a bit of a disaster as the pub was going downhill, but it was taken over and completely refurbished about a year ago.
We continue our series of 'at home' events and this month will be visiting Iris and Eddie Foweather in Wollaton for an evening of chat and boardgames from 8.00pm on Friday 18th. You're welcome to bring drinks and nibbles and any games you wish to play. For directions and to let them know you'll be there please phone 0115-916-3551 or email iris.foweather@gmail.com. If you would be prepared to host an 'at home' event in the future please do get in touch.
An afternoon theatre trip on Saturday 19th. Come to Wycombe Swan at 2:30pm to see Agatha Christie's "Verdict". All tickets £21. See"www.wycombeswan.co.uk for full details. Afterwards we will go for a pizza in the town centre.
"The brilliant Professor Hendryk leads a content and morally upstanding life, but his world is turned upside-down when he is persuaded to take on a new pupil against his better judgement; a spoilt, conniving minx who will stop at nothing to get her way. With murderous intentions afoot, it only remains to be seen what verdict will be delivered..."
Join me for the play, the meal or both. Please buy your own tickets for the Swan, but contact me by Monday 14th March to let me know you are coming.
T@3 makes a welcome return to Dobbie's Garden Centre, Fenny Stratford, at 3.00pm on Saturday 19th. Look for us somewhere in the restaurant. Sadly we had to cancel the December meeting at the last minute because of snow so it will be good to see our T@3 regulars again.
Due to travel commitments, once again the regular Third Thursday of the Month meeting slips a week, and will be taking place at the Old Horse on London Road from 20:00. Please feel free to email Paul Coulson at [Email] or call me on [Phone Number] for more details.
A group of us often meet at the Beekeeper pub on Meadow Lane in Beeston so on Thursday 24th we're making this an 'official' event and inviting you to join us from 7.30pm for either a meal or just a drink. We usually bag table number 24 which is the first long table as you enter the family dining area, but please let me know if you'd like to join us so I can ensure the table is big enough. This won't stop you deciding to join us on the night as the more the merrier and we can always squeeze in another! This is a Hungry Horse pub/restaurant offering a varied and good value menu. The Thursday offer is a free starter or dessert with certain 'big plate' meals and we also have vouchers to claim free tarka daal or onion bharjis if ordering a curry meal.
Come to the Cowper Arms at Digswell (near Welwyn) on Friday 25th from 8.00pm for our Last Friday meeting. Good food and good beer available! The venue is next to Welwyn North railway station (Kings Cross - Cambridge and Peterborough line with trains every 30 minutes). Contact me for further details and encouragement.
Blow away Last Friday's cobwebs with a bracing walk in deepest Herts on Saturday 26th. Gwen and I will start from the Lordship Arms, at the south end of Benington village, at 10.30am for a 5-6 mile circular walk followed by a pub meal. The Lordship is a well-known local real ale pub. Contact me (details below) or Gwen on"[Phone Number] for details and encouragement. Nearest station is Stevenage and pick-ups can be arranged.
We've chosen the location for this Sunday's breakfast meeting in MK: please join us at Carluccio's at Destination Dining (the Centre:MK) from 10.15 am. We will probably be in one of the red booths just outside the restaurant. Feel free to come for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink, but if you can let me know by Saturday it would be helpful, so I know what size table to grab when we arrive.
On Monday 28th at 5.15pm for 5.30pm Jackie and I will be taking a leisurely stroll round Shipley Park near Heanor, a former mining area that has been landscaped, covering 600 acres with 18 miles of footpaths. We won't manage them all! Meet us at the Visitors Centre. Possibility of a drink after the walk. Call/email me to register your interest. This event is weather dependent, phone if in doubt."
On Monday 28th at 8.00pm, a pub meeting at the Essex Arms, Langley Way, Watford. Please look for the Magazine on the table. New members always warmly welcomed.
Our last visit to the Harvester on A512/New Ashby Road proved popular so we're returning at 7.30pm on Tuesday 29th. There's a free unlimited salad bar with every main course and we may have vouchers to claim a free dessert. The restaurant is located on the main road linking M1 J23 to Loughborough centre and there is ample parking. Please book your place by 25th latest with Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] All the best!
On Wednesday 30th at 7.45-ish our meeting will be at the White Horse in Bourne End. There is a car park at the side and back. I hear the food is much improved, and it is reasonable. See you all there I hope.