On Saturday 1st November we visit Snozzcumbers & Frobscottle! A free exhibition of original artwork drawn by Quentin Blake for 16 of Roald Dahl's books. Examples start in 1978 with their earliest collaboration, The Enormous Crocodile. Over 80 drawings include material from The Witches, The BFG and Matilda. This is the last day of the exhibition, which is at Aylesbury Museum. See www.buckscc.gov.uk for further details. Meet at the Museum entrance at 3.00pm.
Afterwards we will eat at Carlos's Portuguese Restaurant, near the Museum in Temple Street. The menu includes a wide range of sea food and a good selection of vegetarian options as well as more conventional meat and fish dishes. I will need to make a booking for the meal, so please let me know by Sunday 26th October if you are coming.
This month all our local events fall midweek so apologies if Tuesdays or Wednesdays are not convenient for you to socialise with us. Forget the bonfires and fireworks and join us from 8.00pm on Wednesday 5th November for our usual evening putting the world to rights at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road. Look for the yellow Mblem on the table, usually to the left of the bar, or phone me on [Phone Number] beforehand for directions. We tend to range in age from 20s to 60s so everyone is welcome.
First Thursday is at our regular venue of Jury's Inn on Midsummer Boulevard, on 6th November, from 8.00pm. Look out for the Mblem in either the foyer or the bar - most likely the foyer as it's quieter. Parking is a bit busy around Jury's and The Hub, so we usually try and get in across the road and then walk through the underpass.
Our regular FThOTM meeting at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin, will be on Thursday 6th November at 8.15pm. 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.
Our First Thursday meeting changes venue this month, so don't go to Harlestone. Instead we will be in the centre of Northampton, at the Malt Shovel in Bridge Street. Make a note of Thursday 6th November in your diary and join us from 9.00pm. I can't tell you where we will be sitting so you will need to look out for a copy of the Mensa mag on one of the tables.
As the days are so short at this time of year, I thought it may be better to meet for a late Sunday lunch and conversation. So please join us at ASK on the Brayford Pool at 4.00pm on Sunday 9th November for Italian-style food. Please contact me for more details/encouragement and by the 6th so I can book a table. All welcome.
The following week on Wednesday 12th November we have our regular 'chicks & flicks' event. Meet us at 7.00pm prompt inside the doors to the Cornerhouse complex. From there we go to dine at Nando's chicken restaurant before watching a film at Cineworld. You are welcome to join us for one or both parts of the evening. Contact Paul on [Phone Number] or [Email] to help table reservation and for film options. There are usually 6-12 of us so sometimes we split into two groups to see different films.
On Saturday 15th November, meet at The New Greyhound Pub, 191-199 High Street South, Dunstable, Beds LU6 3SS at 7.30pm for a drink & chat before we move on to The Curry Cottage Restaurant at 45 Lowther Road to eat about 8.30pm. All welcome, but please book by Saturday 8th November. Email or call me as above, or Andy ONLY if you get lost on the night, on [Phone Number]. We look forward to seeing you.
On Monday the 17th I'll be having my usual 'at home' down here in Golden Valley so please join us for food, drink and a bit of birthday cake along with excellent company with the usual chat and the option of board games.
Our Third Wednesday meeting at the Old Beams in Shenley Lodge is on 19th November. If you're definitely planning to come, please let me know as it will help us to grab the right sized table, but don't let that put you off deciding on the spur of the moment - you'll still be welcome. See www.mcmullens.co.uk for location and menu details. You can eat or not, as you wish - their food is quite good and reasonably priced. Look around for the Mblem as we don't always get the same table each time.
The '3rd Wednesday' meeting at the Standing Order in Derby falls on the 19th so why not come along any time from 7.30pm for a meal or just a drink if you prefer; just look for the yellow Mblem on one of the tables at the back or for all the tables pushed together, that'll probably be us. As always, if you want some encouragement to attend one of these meetings, advertise one of your own or just want to say hello, then please call me at home as above.
The Friends of High Wycombe Library organise a series of lectures each year. Non-members are welcome to attend for a fee of £2.00. Usually this includes a soft drink and a few light snacks. This season is the first to be held in the new library at the Eden Centre. Wednesday 19th November's "lighthearted and interactive talk" on "Memories of the 20th Century" will cover life at the beginning of the 20th century, Edwardian times, WWII and the 1950s. For further details see http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/fohwl/events.htm. Meet at the Library entrance at 7.20pm. I will probably go straight from work, so we could meet up earlier before the talk if you let me know you are coming.
The Roadshow meeting is on Thursday 20th November at 8.00pm. We are going to the Bricklayers Arms in Creaton, which is on the A5199 between Northampton and Welford. This is our third attempt to meet at this pub. The first two were called off for different reasons so fingers crossed this time around. Once again, look for the Mensa mag to find us.
As the weather turns colder, indoor activities are a safer bet. On Sunday 23rd November we'll meet at 12.30pm for lunch at La Tasca in Xscape, and then will attempt to reach agreement about which film to go on and see at Cineworld afterwards. Call me on my mobile after about 1.15pm if you just want to come along to the film.
Our last Tuesday 'eating meeting' is combined with an early festive feast at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25th November and takes place at the Horse & Groom pub in Moorgreen ( NG16 2FE ) where we have a private function room. The three course meal costs just £12.99 and there are a couple of drinks offers for those not driving too. Pre-booking is essential so please contact me to check availability and for menu choices.
Please note change of venue. We will meet back at the Eat Fish Restaurant on Berkhamsted High Street, in the upper room, on Wednesday 26th November at 7.45pm-ish. As before, the room is free provided some of us order food, then the others can just have a drink if they wish. The food is good, and our young members can come. This is our last meeting before Christmas, so please do come. The venue is easy to access, and warm enough. Car parking is in the public car park behind Tesco off the High Street opposite to Eat Fish, or in the Waitrose car park off Lower King's Road, which usually has plenty of spaces. Do come and drink, eat or just join us for a chat. All members welcome, young members can join us in the restaurant, so come if you can.
We're back at our former haunt, the White Horse, on Friday 28th November from 8.00pm. A warm welcome and stimulating conversation guaranteed! Look for the Mag/Mblem. Hertingfordbury is about 20 minutes' walk from Hertford North station. Contact me for further details and encouragement. I shall be hosting "solo" this month as my co-host, Gwen Jones, is away.
This month we've chosen The Star at Thrussington for a meal and a chat on the last Saturday, 29th November, at 7.30pm. Thrussington because it's reasonably close to Leicester (just off the A46), and hopefully also a reasonably attractive venue for those who live in and around the city. We'd love to see you there. Please let me know if you intend coming, so I can be fairly accurate with numbers when booking.