Our first event of the month won't be to everyone's taste as it's a 12 hour "gymathon" taking place at Greasley Sports Centre (NG16 3QN). A team of us will be endeavouring to keep a bike, rower and cross-trainer in constant motion from 9.00am to 9.00pm and getting sponsored to do so in aid of Cancer Research UK. Please get in touch if you'd like to sign up for one (or more) of the 30 minute stints or go to www.justgiving.com/teams/greasleygymathon to sponsor any of us. Every donation no matter how large or small is very gratefully received.
The American writer Bill Bryson noted that the British like their pleasures small (as opposed to the in-your-face instant gratification demanded by his kinfolk). He knew he was going native the first time he went "Ooh, lovely!" when receiving tea and cake one day. Well, it's time to re-affirm his observations with tea and cakes at 11.00am at Brucciani's cafe on Churchgate in Leicester. Look around for the magazine or yellow Mblem on a table, or just give me a call and go "Where are you?" Note: All nationalities welcome!
Our meetings will be on the first Tuesday of the month. Join us for our now regular get together at The Brache Beefeater, Osborne Road, Luton, LU1 3HJ. The venue is in Osborne Road, opposite the Vauxhall Design building and has free parking. Look for a Mensa Mag on the table on the night or contact me in advance. All welcome!
We shall be aiding our recovery from our gym exertions at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road. Join us any time from 8.00pm. We're usually in the Goldings Room to the left of the bar where a yellow Mblem will be on display. The pub is adjacent to Castle Rock Brewery which is usually illuminated at night.
First Thursday of the month. Scope for some heated discussion on Bonfire Night, perhaps? As ever, we're at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin from 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.
Mark Sandford is hosting a trip to the Wycombe Swan to see Harper Lee's classic set in the Deep South of America: To Kill a Mockingbird. Tickets cost £23-£29, please buy your tickets for the 2.30pm performance from the theatre directly or you can purchase on-line at wycombeswan.co.uk/Online/. Ring Mark on [Phone Number] or e-mail him at [Email] to let him know you are coming. We will go for an informal meal in High Wycombe afterwards.
Our pub discussion returns to the topic of the justice system, this time considering various issues around 'What are prisons for?' Doubtless, there will also be plenty of other topics chatted about. All welcome to join us at the 'Adam and Eve', on Lindum Hill in Lincoln from 12.05pm until we all wander off. Free car park, pub food available, look for the Mblem, we're usually in an alcove.
Sunday breakfast will be at 10.00am at Carluccio's in the Centre:MK. You will probably find us in one of the red booths just in front of the restaurant - look for the Mblem on a table. Come for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink. Contact me for directions and/or encouragement.
I'll be having a pre-CenterParcs get together at the Beekeeper pub/restaurant on Meadow Lane in Beeston. Whether you're coming on my Lakes Party Weekend the following day or not you're welcome to join us for dinner or just a drink any time from 7.30pm. Find us on the first long table beyond the food order point at end of the bar with a yellow Mblem on display.
We continue our Third Monday of the Month quiz outings at The Barge at Woolstone. Meet from 8.30pm in time for the quiz at 9.00pm - the 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 I can reserve a big enough table. We don't always get the same table, so look out for the Mblem. Contact me for directions and/or encouragement.
At 7.00pm, we're off to Wagamama on Brayford Pool for another adventure with their menu. It would be helpful if you could book with me by 14th November.
We'll be at the Standing Order on Irongate in the city centre for our usual get together. Join us from 7.30pm for food and/or drink in the rear section of this Wetherspoon pub.
No need to book, just join me from 10.00am for a morning of informal conversation and coffee. This month we are returning to Jung's Patisserie on the Broadway in Beaconsfield, HP9 2PD. A short walk from the railway station, this patisserie serves delicious coffee and cakes.
Our "eating meeting" returns to Fresh Ground on King Street in Belper at 7.30pm. See www.freshgroundbelper.co.uk for their homemade deli style menu. Please book your place with me by Friday 21st November at the latest as the restaurant is quite small and may require pre-ordering of food. This is an ideal venue for our November event as excellent value when many people have additional expense with Christmas approaching.
Our final event in November should really be a walk or outing, but to brighten up a gloomy month we're going for a sunny Caribbean meal instead! Join us at Turtle Bay in The Hub, CMK, at 7.00pm - see http:/www.turtlebay.co.uk/ for details of menu and location. Please let me know by Monday 24th November if you plan to come, so I can book a table. Contact me for directions and/or encouragement.
Finally from 7.30pm, Michael Rich will kindly be inviting us to his home in Stapleford for a warm up to Christmas. Please bring any spare decorations along - that will be returned in the New Year - so we can decorate the tree/house accompanied by festive nibbles. Contact Michael on 07831-755-737 or [Email] for directions and to say you'll be there.
This happens to be the fourth Thursday, and that seems the ideal date to hold our usual fourth-Thursday get together. We'll be at The Cradock (www.thecradock.co.uk/) from about 8.00pm. It's also Thanksgiving Day in the US, so Stars and Stripes are in order, I think!
If you're free, then come along to a party night in the function rooms of Ilkeston Town Football Club (DE7 8JF). Tickets cost £6 each including buffet and disco with proceeds going to Cancer Research UK. There will also be an optional raffle with some fabulous prizes. Book sooner rather than later as this was a sell out last time. All ages welcome for this fun night out any time from 7.30pm to 12.30am.
Last Friday of the month. As ever, we'll be at the Cowper Arms, Digswell, Herts (by Welwyn North station) from 8.00pm - could it be a bit spooky tonight? 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. This will be our last 'Last Friday' of the year.
Join me at 12 o'clock for a pre-Christmas lunch at Eat Thai, 14-15 Easton Street, High Wycombe, HP11 1NT. This restaurant is very popular and I will need to book, so please contact me by Friday 21st November to let me know you are coming. After we have finished lunch we will walk up to Wycombe Museum for their Christmas Craft Market. Free entry, musical entertainment and mulled wine available as well as a selection of craft stalls. If you are not coming to the meal first, please contact me so that we can arrange to meet.