Saturday 1st at 2.00pm: Watton-at-Stone Snowdrop Walk - it's a bit early to tiptoe through the tulips, so we'll stroll around the snowdrops instead. Join us at Benington Lordship, renowned for its winter flowers for a gentle meander. See http://www.beningtonlordship.co.uk for more details about the property. Why not join us for our pancakes afterwards?
Saturday 1st at 6.00pm: Welwyn Pancake Party - Ash Wednesday is almost upon us, so Lent's celebrate with a bang. We'll make the pancakes - you bring something sweet or savoury to put on them and we'll have a scrummy Saturday instead of a Mardi Gras.
As usual on Wednesday 5th we'll be having a get together at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road in Nottingham city centre. Although central there is free parking right outside and the pub is also close to Nottingham railway station and Broad Marsh bus station. Come along any time from 8.00pm for an alcoholic or non-alcoholic drink and chat. The conversation will depend on you and could be silly chit chat or serious debate. A yellow Mblem will be on display, usually in the Golding's Room to left of the bar.
Thursday 6th from 8.15pm. FThOTM. Celebrate the arrival of spring! As ever, 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.
On Saturday 8th our pub discussion in part follows on from last month's consideration of ethical behaviour, this time the topic is 'Justice v Truth'. If that interests you, do join us at the Adam and Eve on Lindum Hill from about 12ish. Doubtless some of us will still be there well past 2. Pub lunches and free car park are available.
Our first get-together this month is T@3 at Dobbie's Garden Centre restaurant on Saturday 8th. Dobbie's is in Fenny Stratford, just south of Milton Keynes. We will probably be in the conservatory out behind the restaurant, so look for the Mblem on a table.
No need to book, just join me from 10.30am onwards on Tuesday 11th for a morning of informal conversation and coffee. This month we are trying out a new venue, The Lido on The Rye in High Wycombe, HP11 1QX. Approached from the A40 via Bassetsbury Lane, this café does a range of food and a very good cappuccino. There is a public car park right outside, parking charges apply. Alternatively it is a pleasant walk along Easton Street past Pann Mill and across the Rye from the centre of High Wycombe. For information on the venue see http://www.fusion-lifestyle.com/centres/Wycombe_Rye_Lido/facility/Cafe. The outdoor swimming pool may be open by March, so bring your costume if you fancy a dip. I'll watch from the warmth of the café!
Spring is in the air; a time for celebration and enjoyment! We'll start off our month by celebrating both St David's and St Patrick's days with a leek pie* and Guinness** at the "Corn Exchange" Wetherspoons restaurant (http://tinyurl.com/CelticDinner) in the Market Place in Leicester on Wed 12th at 8:00pm. (*Possibly, if they sell it. **Definitely!)
On Monday 17th we continue our Third Monday of the Month quiz meetings at The Barge at Woolstone. We meet from 8.30pm in time for the quiz at 9.00pm - cost is £1 per person. See www.vintageinn.co.uk/thebargewoolstone/ for location and, if possible, let me know beforehand if you're coming so we can reserve a big enough table.
Monday 17th is St Patrick's Day so Michael Rich has kindly offered to host an Irish themed evening from 7.30pm at his home in Stapleford. There will be food (possibly Irish stew and colcannon) and music and a quiz and you are invited to wear green! Please contact Michael on [Phone Number] or [Email] for directions and to say you'll be there to help our catering.
Our midweek eating meetings continue with another visit to one of our favourite haunts, La Trattoria on West Parade, Lincoln, on Tuesday 18th at 7.00pm. All very welcome but please do book with me by 15th.
Our first of two visits this month to the Standing Order takes place from 7.30pm on Wednesday 19th. Join us in the low-ceiling section at the rear of the pub for a meal or just a drink at any time during the evening. There will no doubt be interesting conversation too. It's been nice to see new faces over the last few months at this well-attended event.
Teatime Thinking at my house near Alford on Sunday 23rd, 3.00-5.00pm, will encompass more cerebral journeying, this time to Scandinavia. No woolly hats required, plenty of tea and cake available to sustain us on our mental travels.
Zing Vaa Chinese restaurant on Burton Road in Littleover comes highly recommended and has all excellent reviews on Tripadvisor so we're going to try it for ourselves at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25th. They have an 'eat as much as you like' offer for £14.90, all freshly made and served to the table, or select from their a la carte menu at www.zingvaa.com. Please book your place with me by 21st so I can reserve a table.
which leads us nicely onto.
Thursday 27th, we'll be at our usual venue - The Craddock - for our usual FTotM get together at the usual time - 8:00pm. I note that this date is "World Theatre Day"
Thursday 27th: Our regular meeting at The Old Mill, London Rd Berkhamsted. Have a drink or eat with us. Pub does good meals. New members, partners etc. always welcome. Free Car Parking.
Friday 28th from 8.00pm. As well as Last Friday of March, it's the last Friday before the clocks go forward! We'll be 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.
Aylesbury Museum, Church Street, Aylesbury, HP20 2QP, has a free exhibition on Ancient Egypt promising jewellery, statuettes and mummified animals. Meet me in the Museum entrance at 11.00am on Saturday 29th and we will explore what they have to show us. Afterwards we will go for a meal at the Greek Taverna, 23a Walton Street, Aylesbury. See http://greek-taverna.co.uk/ for menu details and map. If you don't fancy the exhibition, please join us at the restaurant by 12.45 for lunch. I will need to book a table, so let me know by Monday 24th if you want to eat with us.
On Saturday 29th I'm hosting a supper and quiz night at Strelley Hall (NG8 6PE). Originally built as a castle circa 1200 AD it was significantly modified in the 19th century and is now a listed building used as a conference centre and wedding venue. The owners are very kindly letting me use their Georgian Panelled Room for free as this will be a charity event raising money for Cancer Research UK. Tickets cost £7 and include baked potatoes with various toppings and salad plus gateaux with cream served from 7.00pm followed by a general knowledge quiz starting at 8.30pm. Play individually or in a team of up to four people. Prize for the winner(s). There is no bar so bring whatever you wish to drink and glasses will be provided. The evening will end no later than 11.00pm. Please contact me to purchase tickets on a first come first served basis as the room is limited to a maximum capacity of 50 people. There is ample parking at this lovely venue.
On Saturday 29th we have not one but two events in the city centre and you are welcome to do one or both. Meet outside Derby Cathedral on Irongate at 10.30am to begin a treasure trail. The route is approx. 2 miles and suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. In the process of solving 22 clues you'll get a little exercise and learn some unusual and historical facts about the city. This is a professionally set treasure trail which I enjoyed whilst testing it myself. Please do phone in case of heavy rain though as this event may need to be postponed. The trail should take around 2 hours to complete and when finished please hand your answers to me in the Standing Order (Wetherspoon) on Irongate where you are welcome to stay for lunch or a coffee whilst marking takes place and prizes awarded. I realise this will be our second visit to the Standing Order this month but it is very near the end of the treasure trail and guests can arrive at varying times with no problem unlike trying to book a restaurant with the need to be seated together. Both these events are ideally suited to younger as well as older members so why not bring the family? An idea of numbers would be helpful so we have enough treasure trail packs and prizes.
Finally, please join us for breakfast at 10.30am on Sunday 30th at Wetherspoons on Midsummer Boulevard West, next to Chiquito's and not far up from the railway station (NOT the other Lloyds/Wetherspoons nearer the shopping centre and next to Jurys Inn). Come for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink - look for the Mblem on a table.