Diary Of A Mensan
On 10th August 2004
Tonight ten of us went to the AMF bowling alley in Ilkeston where we had booked a package including a basket meal, shoe hire and two games of bowling. When placing our menu choices I had ordered one vegetarian option. This was the first request the bowling alley had ever received so they had to rummage in their freezer for something suitable! Having declined the scampi (a vegetarian option!?) Nigel opted for a three cheese pizza to accompany his breaded mushrooms, onion rings and salad. The rest of us enjoyed chicken wings and satay chicken instead. Drinks were a particular bargain with a gigantic pitcher of Coca Cola costing only £3.95 and including a free refill! There were two children and eight adults with a mix of bowling abilities. John, who has recently relocated from Guildford to Derby, won the first game. Things were close on the second game but I emerged the winner with a respectable score of 129. A good night was had by all.
On 11th August 2004
The regular host of our '2nd Wednesday of the month' event had been admitted to hospital, so I deputised with an 'at home' event consisting of chat, nibbles and boardgames. I'd provided sandwiches, crisps and Swiss chocolates, Jackie contributed more crisps and dips, and Linda added a huge pack of mini chocolate doughnuts. Mark brought along his new game of Mensa Connections (only launched two weeks previously) so the guys got competitive in the dining area whilst us girls chatted in the lounge whilst devouring the food. The prize for the furthest travelled went to Diane from Doncaster, closely followed by Jackie who had driven over from her new abode in Tamworth. So we had members from the East Midlands, West Midlands and North East at this event!
On 12th August 2004
Rebecca was hosting a pub social near Kegworth and as it was the eve of Paul's 30th birthday we turned it into a celebration. Little did Paul know we had all been signing a birthday card for the past few weeks and that a chocolate cake and birthday banner would be on the table alongside the Mensa logo! The Vintage Inn chain pub was busy, but luckily we had a discrete corner to ourselves so that the management didn't complain when we divided the birthday cake and started eating our own food. We had remembered to bring our own paper plates, napkins and a knife. Topics of conversation included aviation (as the pub was on the flight path to East Midlands airport), fancy dress costume ideas for the forthcoming Mensa Oasis Weekend, the taste of haggis (our Burns Night event is taking place at a hotel near the pub) and much more. What a pity it had been raining and we couldn't sit outside and enjoy the view over the River Soar. Maybe next time...
Maxine Bates