Paula Mclaren has kindly offered to play host at her home in Beeston from 8.00pm. Please bring a buffet contribution and whatever you wish to drink and we'll have an evening of eating, drinking, fun and laughter. Contact Paula on [Phone Number] or [Email] for directions.
A reminder from last month that it's the St Albans beer festival on Friday 1st; I'll be there from 6.00pm. The venue is the Alban Arena, Civic Centre, in the city centre. Food is available and there is a large range of beers as well! Give me a call for details and encouragement.
Wycombe Swan is presenting Agatha Christie's "Witness for the Prosecution".
"Emily French, an elderly woman who recently left her considerable estate to the charming young Leonard, is found dead. Murdered. Leonard quickly becomes the prime suspect. Will the truth be revealed in time or will Leonard be declared guilty? In a world where everyone seems to be harbouring a dark secret, this gripping courtroom drama will keep you guessing until the final fatal moment."
See http://www.wycombeswan.co.uk/wrtproductions_details.asp?pid=4359 for full details. Please book your theatre tickets for the Saturday 2nd October 2.30pm performance, but let me know you are coming so that we can look out for you (see http://www.wycombeswan.co.uk/wrt-productions.asp)
Afterwards we will go to La Tasca in the Eden Centre for a meal and to discuss the twists and turns of the plot! You are welcome to come just for the meal. I will need to book a table at the restaurant, so please contact me by Monday 28th September to let me know you are coming.
Our regular get together will be at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road from 8.00pm on Tuesday 5th. It's handy for the railway station so we occasionally get members travelling from Loughborough and Leicester to join us. New faces are always welcome and we can usually be found to the left of the bar but a yellow Mblem will be on display wherever we sit.
First of all, the eating-meeting roadshow comes back to north Leicester, and the Hobby Horse at Syston. This will be at 8.00pm on Wednesday 6th, the day after my 25th wedding anniversary (coincidentally, it's my wife's as well!), so we'd be delighted if you could join us to celebrate!
The famous Goose Fair returns to the city and we'll be visiting the site at the Forest Recreation Ground at 8.00pm on Thursday 7th. Please contact me for rendez-vous point or in case of inclement weather. All ages welcome whether you want to be scared on the white knuckle rides, eat minted peas or cocks on sticks, or simply wander round and soak up the atmosphere.
First Thursday is at our regular venue of Jurys Inn Hotel on Midsummer Boulevard, on Thursday 7th from 8.00pm. Look out for the Mblem on one of the tables to the right in the foyer. Parking is a bit busy around Jurys and The Hub, so we usually try and get in across the road and then walk through the underpass.
Our regular first Thursday of the month meeting will be on Thursday 7th from 8.15pm. We'll be around for our usual mix of lively conversation and a good atmosphere and, as always, you'll find us 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 9th at 11.00am join me on a visit to Crich Tramway museum: at least 3 trams running, static displays, mining exhibition, sweet shop, cafe and pub. Meet in car park. Call me by Thursday 7th to register interest.
We'll be at our regular 2SaOTM venue in Lincoln on Saturday 9th from 12.00-2.00pm. So do join us for a chat in the coffee bar at The Collection, Danes Terrace. Some have lunch/snack, others just partake of drinks. Usually we're at the far end of the room, spot the yellow Mblem. All very welcome, please contact me for more details/encouragement.
There is only one Northants event this month and it takes place at 7.30pm on Monday 11th (a week later than was stated in last month's Empress). Join us for "The Last Supper" at the Red Hot Buffet, Sixfields, Northampton. The cost is £12 per person, the drinks are pay as you go. Advance booking is required for this and I need to know numbers by Saturday 2nd October. Cheques should be made payable to me and sent to 33 Argyll Street, Northampton, NN5 5LJ. Phone or e-mail me for details about the venue.
Two pub meetings this month. We will be bringing topics for discussion to these meetings and choose what to discuss on the night. Hopefully this will produce some friendly discussion/debate and is intended to take up maybe an hour of the meeting. So please come along and enjoy! We'll be at the Essex Arms, Langley Way, Watford, at 8.00pm on both Monday 11th and Monday 25th. Please look for the Magazine on the table.
"Chicks & flicks" takes place on Wednesday 13th. Meet inside the doors to the Cornerhouse building at 7.00pm from where we'll head to Nando's to eat and debate which film to watch later. Everyone welcome! This month's eating meeting heads south to Loughborough so please see that section of Empress for details.
Join me for a drink and possibly food at the Standing Order pub in Derby at 7.30pm on Wednesday 20th. The Standing Order is a comfortable Wetherspoon's pub serving a wide range of tasty food. We will probably be towards the back of the pub beyond the bar. Please call me for directions and encouragement.
Next up, the third third-Thursday of the month meeting is back on the third Thursday after the second third-Thursday meeting was on the fourth Thursday (look, you're in Mensa! Do try and keep up, will you?), and back to The Old Horse on London Road in Leicester. Discussion topic of the day is "Do you think there's anyone actually in that coffin???" (Maybe we should have held this meeting on halloween! Anyway, come along on Thursday 21st and you'll see why the question!). Drop me a line or give me a call for either of the above so I'll know how big a table to grab.
If you missed the famous Goose Fair in Nottingham earlier this month then on Friday 22nd a group of us will be visiting the Ilkeston Charter Fair. Its history dates back to 1252 but I guess the rides and attractions have changed somewhat in the intervening years! Meet at 8.00pm outside the Scala cinema near the market place but please phone Maxine on [Phone Number] in advance in case of bad weather or if requiring directions or parking suggestions.
As T@3 is usually a popular meeting, we've decided to try holding it monthly, but moving around the MK/Bedford area. One T@3 per quarter will still be at Dobbie's in Fenny Stratford, so for our regulars that won't change. However, tea and cakes fans further afield will now be able to enjoy T@3 more locally. In October we will be at Willington Garden Centre on Saturday 23rd - we've chosen this one because we know it, and it has a decent café. It's on the A603, about midway between Bedford and Sandy.
For future T@3 meetings, we need your help! Do you have a tea-shop, or Garden Centre with café near you, within the MK postcodes, that would make a suitable venue? We'd rather take people's recommendations than just try pot luck, though we will resort to the latter if necessary! Please contact me with suggestions.
At 7.30pm on Tuesday 26th Maxine is hosting an eating meeting at Out Of India, Ashby Road, Shepshed. The restaurant serves very reasonably priced traditional Indian cuisine in a stylish setting. Menu can be found at www.outofindia.co.uk. Please book your place by 22nd - contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email] so a table can be reserved.
On Wednesday 27th at 7.30pm we are going to the Dragon Boat Chinese restaurant near the Centre:MK - just round the corner from Lloyds Court and the horse sculpture. The address is Secklow Gate West, postcode MK9 3AT . We've been there a number of times and it's normally very good. There is a banquet menu or a la carte. Please let me know by Monday 25th if you plan to come as I may need to book a table.
On Wednesday 27th at 7.45-ish we will meet at the upper room in the "Eat Fish" restaurant on Berkhamsted High Street. All members young as well as adult very welcome, you do not have to eat, just have a glass of juice or any other drink and enjoy the chat. However the food is good and reasonable if you are hungry. Having a room to ourselves helps the conversation, so do come and join in! Don't forget you can park across the road behind Tesco's store. Parking is free after 6.00pm.
Hoping to see you on the night.
On Friday 29th from 8.00pm join us at the Cowper Arms, Digswell (near Welwyn village) for Last Friday. Good food and good beer to suit all tastes! The venue is next to Welwyn North railway station (Kings Cross - Cambridge and Peterborough line with trains every 30 minutes). Contact me for further details and encouragement.
Finally I'm hosting a Halloween party at my home in Langley Mill from 7.30pm on Saturday 30th. Buffet provided but please BYOB. Scary costumes are encouraged but not compulsory. Please contact me for directions and to let me know you'll be there.
Finally, Sue Watford is hosting an eating meeting at the Sugar Loaf at Ab Kettleby (A606, 4 miles north of Melton Mowbray) on Saturday 30th at 7:30pm. Please let her know numbers at [Email], or on [Phone Number] by the 25th.
Jacquie will be hosting another of her excellent 'Tea and Birds' meetings at Gibraltar Point nature reserve, Skegness, on Sunday 31st at 2.00pm. Join her for coffee and conversation in the visitors' centre cafe. If you are interested in seeing any winter birds' arrivals, then we can try a gentle walk before dark. Everyone welcome and it's suitable for families. For further information/encouragement, please contact Jacquie on [Phone Number].