Saturday 1st is Mensa's 65th birthday and to celebrate we're having a party in the function room at Ilkeston Town Football Club. The event is free and includes a buffet, birthday cake, music, dancing and socialising. You will only need to buy any reasonably priced drinks from our private bar. However, you must advise attendance in advance to help catering. Contact Maxine on [Phone Number] or [Email]. The party will run from 7.30pm until midnight. New faces especially welcome.
We start off October with our Mensa Brilliant 'IT Without Tears' event on Saturday 1st at 2.00pm at the Herald Snooker Club in Stacey Bushes, Milton Keynes, - a free workshop for Mensans and their guests, covering:
laying out a newsletter using MS Word
analysing and presenting data using Excel pivot tables and charts
protecting your personal data
Contact me for more details, or to book your place.
Join us for a drink and chat from 8.00pm on Wednesday 5th at the Vat & Fiddle pub on Queensbridge Road. Our usual large table to the left of the bar has disappeared to make way for a door through to a new bar area with viewing window into the adjacent Castle Rock brewery and visitors centre. The new room is set out more like a restaurant than a bar and a while ago there were rumours that food (other than their current filled rolls) would be served. So watch this space! In the meantime find us in this new room with a yellow Mblem on display. New faces of all ages are always welcome.
Our regular First Thursday meeting will be at 8.00pm on the 6th at Jurys Inn Hotel on Midsummer Boulevard. Look out for the Mblem on one of the tables to the right in the foyer.
Regular FThOTM meeting is on 6th from 8.15pm. Join us! We'll be around for our usual mix of lively conversation and a good atmosphere. As always, we're at the Millstream, Cambridge Road, Hitchin. Good food and good beer both available! The pub is about ten minutes' walk from the railway station.
On 6th we head off to the Wig & Pen in St Giles Street, Northampton. Our 1st Thursday meeting kicks off at 9.00pm, where you can catch up with all the gossip.
Our usual venue for our 2SaOTM is changing management and we don't know if it will be open in October. However, we will definitely be meeting somewhere for our chat and coffee, so do email me for details of the venue. It may not be same place but will be same time: Saturday 8th October 12.00-2.00pm
His first event, on the 9th, is 2SuOTM, from 8.00pm for My Favourite Things, a thinly-veiled excuse to get together for a relaxing evening of chat over a glass of wine. Each month you are asked to bring samples (or memories) of your favourite things to share with others - this month the theme is odours! E-mail Mike on [Email] or phone him on [Phone Number] for directions/encouragement/parking hints.
On Monday 10th at 8.00pm at [Address], an evening of conversation and comestibles! I will send out the usual email nearer the date advising the food theme. Please do let me know if you plan to attend as numbers may be limited.
Our "chicks & flicks" event takes place on Wednesday 12th and we meet at 7.00pm prompt inside the doors to the Cornerhouse in the city centre. Then we'll head off to dine at Nando's chicken restaurant (though an increasing amount of vegetarian options too) whilst deciding whether to watch a film at Cineworld later. If timings aren't right or there is no popular choice we either stay chatting over unlimited soft drink refills or head to a nearby pub for a chocolate dessert or hot chocolate drink. Maybe we should rename this event "chicks & chocs"!
Sandy and Janine have kindly offered to host an event at their new home on Mackworth estate from 7.30pm on Thursday 13th. There will be an option to play table tennis or boardgames, or just sit and chat whilst listening to music. An Indian takeaway can be ordered for those wishing to eat. Soft drinks will be provided but you are welcome to BYOB. Please phone Sandy and Janine on [Phone Number] for their address and to say you'll be there.
On Friday 14th we're once again heading to Nottingham Greyhound Stadium in Colwick to take part in the final of a competition held earlier in the year. We'll be allocated a trap and each dog will be scored in a league table depending on their position in that race. Come along and cheer on our dog because if we win we receive a trophy and £250 cash donation to our chosen charity, Cancer Research UK. Over the coming year there will be several events to raise money for this charity. I realise there are hundreds of deserving causes but this is one with whom, unfortunately, most people have an association either directly or indirectly. Nobody will be forced to part with their hard earned cash but most people are quite happy to give a pound or two towards a fun night out. The greyhound tickets cost £5 (normal admission with race card is £6) with all money going to charity and under 18s are free if accompanied by an adult. Why not invite your friends, family or work colleagues on this event? Last time there were 48 of us which created a great atmosphere. Please contact me in advance for tickets.
On Saturday 15th we will be making another visit to the magnificent Wrest Park house and gardens, near Silsoe, Beds. We first visited a few years ago but the gardens have just reopened after a complete renovation, and there is a new Visitor Centre, so we thought it was worth another look. Entrance is £8 for adults, or free to English Heritage members. Meet outside the Visitor Centre at 2.00pm.
Our regular get together at the Standing Order on Irongate in Derby is on Wednesday 19th. There are usually 15-20 of us and it can be quite an international gathering with regular guests from Austria and France. Join us in the low ceiling area at the rear of the pub from 7.30pm for food or just a drink. Contact Alistair on [Phone Number] for directions or encouragement to come along.
As summer turns to the chills of autumn, I thought we'd once more gather round the campfire at The Craddock Inn on the Third Thursday of the month(note to self: ask landlords permission to setup bonfire in the middle of the bar) to garner wisdom from the tribe elders. Alternatively, we can just do the usual thing and have a drink and a natter! Thursday 20th at 8.00pm . . . but you knew that anyway, didn't you? (http://tinyurl.com/leicsMensaTTOTM)
Now that autumn is here, come and join Mike and Rachel on 20th for 3ThOTM, 4.00-6.00pm, by the fireside at Oaklands for a nice cup of tea and some hot buttered crumpets. E-mail Mike on [Email] or phone him on [Phone Number] for directions/encouragement/parking hints.
The Roadshow meeting is two weeks later on Thursday 20th at the Barley Mow in Paulerspury. Head south from Towcester (or north from Old Stratford) along the Watling Street and turn off west in to the village. Watling Street was a Roman Road that, these days is better known as the A5 - it was also once the approximate boundary of the Danelaw in Northamptonshire. Now that the local history has been covered I can tell you that we will be at the pub from 8.00pm.
It's our annual trip to Ilkeston fair on Friday 21st. Please phone Susan on [Phone Number] or Maxine on [Phone Number] to find out our 8.00pm meeting point as this is likely to depend on who is coming and from which direction. Also phone in case of inclement weather as the event may be cancelled if heavy rain. You are welcome whether you want to try the white knuckle rides, sample the food, or just wander and soak up the atmosphere.
Finally Peak Rail has recently started operating from Matlock Railway Station. Join me for a run from Matlock to the lovely Peak District village of Rowsley on Saturday 22nd where there will be time for a meal at the Grouse and Claret before returning to Matlock at 16.19. Thereafter there will be an opportunity to explore this interesting Derbyshire town. Please contact me by 17th October to let me know that you are coming.
On Monday 24th at 8.00pm a pub meeting at the Essex Arms, Langley Way, Watford, WD17 3EG. Please look for the Magazine on the table.
Our "eating meeting" at 7.30pm on Tuesday 25th will hopefully be third time lucky! We're going to Trattoria Antonio at Trent Bridge. Our attempts at Italian cuisine this year have failed. The restaurant in Heanor closed between the event being advertised and taking place and when I phoned to reserve a table with the restaurant in Shepshed I was told they would be closed the week we wanted to visit. On both occasions we finished up at a nearby Indian alternative and fortunately both were excellent. Fingers crossed we get to sample some pizza, pasta and tiramisu this time! Please reserve your place with me by 21st.
The meeting on Wednesday 26th from 7.45-ish will be at the Old Mill on Berkhamsted High Street (at the end nearest to Hemel Hempstead). There is a car park, but this is popular, so do try to be there early. We meet at the end beyond the bar, where it is usually quieter. Turn right as you come into the pub, and walk to the end, we will be on your right. We are still meeting here as it is a good place but if anyone would like to meet at another place or do something different, please let me know.
We've not had an eating meeting in Leicester for some time, so it's time to rectify that by a meet-up at Wetherspoons in the Corn Exchange. This is the one in the market place with the bridge that's never seen any water! The diary info is Thursday 27th at 8.00pm. Please let me know if you're coming so I know how big a table to grab!
Ian has offered to lead another walk, this time from Hambleden to Henley. He has prepared a gentle, flat walk of approximately four miles, much of it alongside the River Thames. We will set off from Hambleden Mill End car park at 11.00am on Saturday 29th, walk past Hambleden Mill and use the footpath across the weir to reach the South side of the river. The walk then takes us past Temple Island and into Henley itself. We will find somewhere to eat in Henley before using the bus to return to our starting point. There is a half hourly service in both directions between Reading and High Wycombe via Hambleden. (Arriva 800/850)
Please ring or e-mail me if you would like to come so that I know to look out for you.
Meet us at the Cowper Arms, Digswell (near Welwyn village) on 29th from 8.00pm for LFOTM. Good food and good beer available to suit all tastes! The venue is next to Welwyn North railway station (Kings Cross - Cambridge and Peterborough line with trains every 30 minutes). Call me for further details and encouragement for either of these meetings.
Sunday breakfast will be at 10.15am on Sunday 30th, but over the winter months we are moving to Brown's on the front of The Hub - next door to Jurys Inn. We decamped there at Easter when our regular venue was closed, and everyone enjoyed it, so we want to give it another go. Feel free to come for a full breakfast, a snack, or just a drink, but if possible please let me know by Saturday 29th so we have an idea what size table to grab when we arrive.