Who's For Scuba?
With trepidation I started my Sunday afternoon on the 1st of February at Nando's in Nottingham with some of the other daredevils I was to share the next eight hours with. Daredevils not just because we were spreading hot chilli sauce over chicken for lunch like there was no tomorrow, but because of what was to follow.
We started the afternoon with some less than adventurous touring of the caves which criss-cross Nottingham (no, I didn't realise that they were there either). This underground feat completed, we intrepid few were ready for a greater challenge. Step up ten Mensans who like to take a walk on the wild side. Or should that be swim.
Nottingham member, Frank Price, had kindly organised his first Mensa event, an afternoon to introduce scuba diving at Keyworth Leisure Centre. In two groups, ten of us donned the appropriate gear, learnt the sign language and descended into the water to inspect, and in my case become intimate with, the bottom of the pool. I'm sure the adding of weights to our jackets was wholly unnecessary and I for one bobbed up and down like a yo-yo as I tried to find equal buoyancy. Ten went down, and ten eventually resurfaced none the worse for the ordeal. Some enthused about scuba; others are less convinced about now possessing the ability to play underwater Frisbee and inspect discarded corn plasters. Either way it was something new for all, and the evening was finished off with conversation and curry at Indian Nights.
Surely enough excitement for the moment you might think. Yet you would be wrong! The following night there were less Mensans, but no less enthusiasm. Five of us charged around playing Quasar for an hour in an all against all frenzy of predatory hunting and territorially defensive warfare. Foolishly I was wearing a bright white jumper, and yes, I was glowing like a beacon. All that was missing was a large flashing neon sign above my heading reading "She's here". I was shot to pieces, literally. I'm not sure that there were any tactics involved, but my tactics certainly weren't to run repeatedly into walls while attempting to escape Maxine. Bowling swiftly ensued, a good chance for everyone to show off their prowess, ha ha, and unwind after working up a sweat. The scores were less than impressive, but that doesn't matter, I was just proud of myself for playing without the gutter guards. More firsts!! Hopefully this will be the start of many more interesting and exciting times to come for me in Mensa; Party SIG beckons!
Jackie Goss