March is here and so - hopefully - is spring! As ever, we are at the Three Magnets, Leys Avenue, Letchworth. Thursday nights are curry nights but other food (standard Wetherspoons' fare) 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.
Our first event in March is a return to Dobbie's Garden Centre in Fenny Stratford (just south of MK) on Saturday 4th for tea, coffee & cakes from 3pm in their restaurant. All members welcome as usual - we will probably be in the conservatory area at the back.
On Saturday 4th we're trying something totally different and visiting Oxygen Freejumping at Pride Park. The venue has 150 connecting trampolines, obstacle course, foam pit, dodgeball, jumping runway and giant airbag. A one hour session costs £9.45 per person. For safety reasons all jumpers must wear trampoline socks that can be purchased for £2 per pair when booking online or from reception upon arrival or bring your own if you already have them. This activity is suitable for all ages so ideal for families. Age 5+ can jump without supervision but younger visitors must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Under 16s will need an adult to sign the waiver form on their behalf. We will be doing the 11am-12 noon session and will need to meet around 10.30am to be ready to enter on time. There is a café overlooking the trampoline park if parents would like to bring their children but not jump themselves. Please contact me for further information and to book. There will be an optional lunch afterwards for anyone wishing to stay and socialise.
Round off the weekend with a drink and chat in the Goldings Room at the Vat & Fiddle from 8.00pm on Sunday 5th. The pub is on Queensbridge Road (close to Nottingham railway station and adjacent to Castle Rock Brewery) and has free parking right outside. Contact me in advance if you need directions or some encouragement to come along and say hello.
On Thursday 9th we're at the Cadland pub/restaurant in Chilwell. Join us from 7.30pm for a meal or later for a drink. We have tables 20-24 reserved that we push together at the far side of the bar. Menu at www.emberinns.co.uk. There are usually a dozen of us and new faces welcome.
If you enjoyed the comedy at the Leicester Comedy Festival in February, the jollity continues in March as we head off the Loughborough Town Hall on Friday 10th for the Just The Tonic Comedy Club. If you've never been to one before, the format's simple: The compare (a comedian/enne) will open with a short set before introducing three other acts in turn. It's usually terrific fun for just a tenner although I'd recommend not sitting anywhere near the stage!! We go there very early last time, so we plan to meet up at 9:00pm in the foyer.
We are returning to The Cape on Station Road in Beaconsfield on Friday 10th March for informal conversation, coffee and maybe a cake or two. Meet me there any time after 10:30am. If you can, please let me know you are coming on [Phone Number] or e-mail me at [Email] You will be still be welcome if you just turn up on the day.
Saturday 11th February, Jacquie is very kindly hosting this month's Saturday lunchtime pub discussion on "Do we make eccentrics or are they born?" We meet from 12.00 at 'Adam and Eve' on Lindum Hill, we're usually in the alcove, MBlem or magazine on table, topic starts at around 12.30, food available, free parking. [Email]
Alphabet Event - O is for Organ Museum
Come and join us on a visit to the Organ Theatre on Sun 12th March at 1.45pm for an afternoon of all manner of mechanical music from musical boxes to fairground organs! Doors open at 1.45 with the afternoon's recital starting at 2.0 pm. The address is 320 Camp Road St Albans AL1 5PE and I can arrange pickups at St Albans or Hatfield stations
All ages welcome between 2pm and 4pm on Sunday 12th March at Wycombe Museum, Priory Avenue, HP13 6PX for an afternoon of board games in the café. Bring your own favourite games if you wish or join in with the ones provided. Please contact Dave on [Email] or [Phone Number] for directions and to let him know which games you would like to play.
After all that exertion we're back to normality with our get together at the Standing Order on Irongate in the city centre on Wednesday 15th. Come along any time from 7.30pm until late for food and/or drink. There is usually a good turn out at this event and we swap seats to chat to different people during the evening.
My previous 'girls night in' proved popular so we're doing it again on Friday 17th. Come along to my home in Langley Mill from 7.30pm where a glass of Bailey's awaits to celebrate St Patrick's Day! Then Anne-Marie will showcase her lovely range of Tropic beauty products. There will be chance to try and buy and a couple of guests may receive a mini-treatment. There will also be an optional raffle with some nice prizes up for grabs and I'll be selling chick lit for £1 per book. All money raised from the raffle and book sale will go to Cancer Research UK. Why not have a night of girlie fun, make new friends, be pampered and help raise a little money for charity? Soft/hot drinks and nibbles provided or bring whatever else you would like to drink. Let me know if you'll be there or need directions.
Join me at 12 noon on Saturday 18th March for a concert by Cambiata at Bucks County Museum in Aylesbury, HP20 2QP. They will perform works by Tallis, Telemann, Purcell and Bach together with contemporary music that has inspired the artist Jane Muir. Afterwards there will be a discussion led by the artist and an opportunity to view her exhibition "Beyond Description". Please buy your own concert tickets at £5.00 each through the museum, on 01296 331441 or online at http://www. buckscountymuseum.org/museum/events/365/ concert-by-cambiata-trio/. After the concert and exhibition we will adjourn to La Salute, an excellent Italian restaurant a short walk from the Museum in Kingsbury, Aylesbury. Please let me know you are coming so that I can book a table on [Phone Number] or e-mail me at [Email]. If you are not coming to the concert and exhibition first, please check with me a few days before to confirm the time to meet at the restaurant.
Northants members are invited to a meet and greet in the upstairs function room of the Thomas A Becket pub, 2 St James Road, Northampton. NN5 5HY on Sunday 19th March at 5:00pm. Come along and say hello any time from 5pm. A free meal of chilli, rice or chips and nachos will be served at 6pm for anyone booking with Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] by 12th March. Subject to capacity of the room so book soon! The pub has a car park and is a 10 minute walk from the railway station. Do join us!
Our monthly visit to the Barge in Woolstone for the quiz is on Monday 20th. Meet from 8.30 - the quiz starts at 9pm and costs £1 per person. Please let me know beforehand if you're coming so I can bag a large enough table.
Then on Tuesday, 21st March, we are back to Fiskerton, [the one near Lincoln], to the Carpenter's Arms for a meal at 18.45 followed by a quiz at 20.30. Anyone is welcome to join us just for the meal or just the quiz or both but please book with me by 18th if possible, thanks. [Email]
We return to Brown's, next to Jury's Inn on Midsummer Boulevard, for breakfast on Sunday 26th. Join us from 10am for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink.
We're then back at The Stamford Arms in even though they hadn't got any hot chocolate fudge cake on their "puds for a quid" range! Contrary to popular belief, I didn't take that omission too badly at all, although - at the time of writing - I haven't been able to confirm what's going to be on the NEW menu. I'm watching you, Stamford Arms.......! Meet up for 6:30 on Monday 27th if you're eatin', 8:00pm if you're drinking. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU'RE COMING on [Email]/ [Phone Number] if you're planning to eat as getting a big enough table without pre-booking is tricky sometimes!!!
Join Dave and Alison at their home in Flackwell Heath for a relaxed evening of indoor board games. Arrive for an 8pm start on Monday 27th March. Please contact Dave on [Email] or [Phone Number] for directions and to let him know which games you would like to play. For further details or encouragement contact me on [Phone Number] or e-mail me at Val.midbucks@ btinternet.com
This month's 'eating meeting' makes a welcome return to Ania's restaurant on Mansfield Road in at 7.30pm on Tuesday 28th where we have previously enjoyed good size portions of traditional Polish cuisine at reasonable prices. As the venue is popular I've already reserved a table but please let me know by 24th if you'd like to join us in case numbers need adjusting.
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.