Please join us on the 1st from 8.00pm for informal First Thursday chat. However, note that we have moved from Jurys to The Old Beams at Shenley Lodge. This was a popular previous venue and we decided we'd missed it enough to decamp back there. We will try to get a table in the small room at the right hand end - look out for the Mblem or mag. For location, menu, etc. see www.mcmullens.co.uk/oldbeams. Feel free to join us for a meal or just a drink
We're ringing the changes with a trip to Thai Sabai, Wigford Way, just round the corner from the Odeon on Thursday 1st at 7.00pm. For info, encouragement or to book contact Jacquie Harrison on [Phone Number] or [Email].
The first 2012 meeting in the County of Spires & Squires is on Thursday 1st and we are going to The Olde England, 118 Kettering Road, Northampton, NN1 4BP . On the corner of Hood Street, this is a new pub situated in a shop that has previously been home to an estate agent, insurance broker and greengrocer (and when I first used it in the 1960s the greengrocer was Mr Bramley!). We'll be there at 9.00pm.
Thursday 1st from 8.15pm. Regular FThOTM meeting, which this year coincides with St David's Day. 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.
I once had a sat-nav that - for some reason - refused to recognise the existence of Coalville. I don't know if this was some kind of existentialism thing or the result of some kind of long-standing family feud (or the fact that it cost about thirty quid when others cost about ten times that), but I have a new one now and I want to test its capabilities by heading to the Charnwood Arms Hotel (http://tinyurl.com/charnwood-arms) for a bit of dinner on Saturday 3rd at 8.00pm. Please come and either help celebrate success, or just help come and find me! Either way, can you give me a call or drop me a line (details below) to let me know you're coming as that'll tell me whether to try and book, or just grab a table when I'm there.
Join Julie Perry for tea, coffee, cakes and conversation on Saturday 3rd at Country Gardens, Dunsbridge Turnpike, nr Shepreth. We'll be in the restaurant from 3.00pm - look for the meerkat on the table. Children welcome (soft play area in cafe). No 26 bus stops outside. Phone Julie on [Phone Number] for directions/encouragement.
Join us at the Vat & Fiddle from 8.00pm on Monday 5th for a drink and chat. Find us in the Golding's Room to the left of the bar. Males, females, young, young-at-heart, all welcome. Pop in briefly or stay for the evening. The pub is on Queensbridge Road close to the railway station. Contact me for directions.
I'm organising a pamper night from 6.00-9.00pm on Wednesday 7th. The venue is Eastwood Comprehensive School ( NG16 3EA) . There will be beauty treatments offered by students at bargain prices such as manicures, mini-facials, massages, reflexology. There will also be stalls selling a range of goods including jewellery, cakes, beauty products, patchwork gifts, accessories (hats, scarves, fascinators, etc.), books and a tombola. Tickets cost £2.00 in advance or £2.50 on the door including glass of wine and nibbles and entry into a prize draw. All proceeds will go to Cancer Research UK. Although aimed at ladies, gentlemen are very welcome too!
Last time Susan Luke and Mark Graves hosted an 'at home' event it was very enjoyable so they are repeating it from 7.00pm on Friday 9th. Come along to their home in Ilkeston to chill out and chat. Take-away can be ordered for those who wish. Indian was popular but other options are available such as Chinese, pizza or fish & chips. Bring whatever you wish to drink. Please phone [Phone Number] for directions and to say you'll be there.
Saturday 10th sees us back at Dobbie's Garden Centre in Fenny Stratford, just south of Milton Keynes, for T@3. 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.
2SaOTM on Saturday 10th from 12.05-2.00pm for our Pub Discussion at the Adam and Eve on Lindum Hill. They don't open until 12.00, so beware of arriving early. Do join us for lunch or just a drink. We start with some chatting and at 12.30ish we will begin a discussion on 'Has sexism reversed?', then finish with more general chat. Contact me for encouragement.
Mike Hargreave Mawson continues to host meetings at his home in Bedford this month, with "My Favourite Things" on Sunday 11th at 8.00pm. This month's theme for My Favourite Things is "years", so bring along some memories to share with others.
Monday 12th 8.00pm: 'A favourite piece of music'. Hosted by Margaret Etall. Spaces are limited, so please advise if you would like to attend. I can supply Margaret's address nearer the time. Usual drinks and nibbles.
Mike's second meeting of the month is Tea and Buns on Thursday 15th at 4.00pm.
Mike's address is [Address]. He strongly advises contacting him for directions and parking hints if it's your first visit - phone [Phone Number] or email [Email].
Following on from that, we're back at the Craddock in Leicester on Thursday 15th at 8.00pm for our ThThOTM get together (actually on the Third Thursday? I'm just one crazy wild party animal, me!). It's been getting a bit busy in there of late, so look out for the magazine or yellow mBlem. Please get in touch to say "Hi", ask for directions, let me have ideas for things you wouldn't mind doing or if you're one of my sister's old boyfriends. (It happens! You'll just have to come along to find out the details, won't you??) It'd be lovely to hear from you.
Join me for a relaxed afternoon tea and lively conversation at the Van Hage Garden Centre in Chenies, just east of Amersham/Little Chalfont on the A404 at 3.00pm on Saturday 17th. See www.vanhage.co.uk/index for details. The centre has a good café offering jacket potatoes, quiche, etc. if you want to resist their delicious scones and cakes. As well as a wide range of items for the garden, including plants, ornaments, fountains, paving, statues, tools, they also offer homeware, clothing, gifts and a food hall and delicatessen selling local produce.
Ring or e-mail me (details below) if you need help with transport or want to let me know you are coming. Or just turn up and look for us in the café.
Sunday breakfast will be at 10.15am on Sunday 18th, but please contact me to confirm the venue. Come for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink, but if possible please let me know by Saturday 17th so we have an idea what size table to grab.
Sunday 18th from 3.00-5.00pm, continuing our Teatime Thinking: general discussion at my house over tea and cakes. Using the ideas of the main philosophers as a starting point but no previous knowledge required, anyone can join in. This month: Confuscius thought that after fulfilling filial duties, reading literature was the most important thing. What do we think are the important things to spend time on? Contact me for directions, encouragement.
We will be at the Standing Order on Irongate from 7.30pm on Wednesday 21st. Look for the yellow Mblem on a long table in the low ceiling area at the rear of the pub. It's a Wetherspoon venue so prices are reasonable and you may eat and/or drink so join us at whatever time is convenient for you. There are usually 12-16 of us and new faces are always welcome.
Our Third Thursday meeting is on Thursday 22nd and it's in the south of the county. The Coffee Pot, High Street, Yardley Gobion, NN12 7TN , is where we are heading for 8.00pm. The village is just off the A508, close to that road's junction with the A5.
A copy of the Mensa magazine, or another Mensa symbol, will show you who we are. If you need any further information contact me. If you don't like walking into a strange venue by yourself feel free to bring along a friend or family member.
Monday 26th 8.00pm: Pub meeting at the Essex Arms, Langley Way, Watford. WD17 3EG Please look for the Magazine on the table. New members always warmly welcomed.
Our "eating meeting" will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday 27th at Jasmine Garden in Long Eaton. This eat-as-much-as-you-like Chinese buffet restaurant comes highly recommended. There is a set price of £10.30 (or £7.90 for seniors) with over 40 dishes to choose from. Let me know by 23rd if you would like to join us so I can reserve a table. New faces welcome!
Friday 30th from 8.00pm. LFOTM. We end the month in the usual way with good food and drink at the Cowper Arms, Digswell, Herts (by Welwyn North station). Call me for more details and encouragement. The pub is next to the railway station, which is served by stopping trains from Kings Cross to Cambridge and Peterborough.