December Delights

December 1st - Port Sunlight Christmas Food Fayre. The best food and drink producers from Cheshire and the North West gather in this historic town, and top chefs demonstrate their tips & tricks in the kitchen.  If you are interesting in going, we will meet at Chester Railway station. For more information, contact Pat Pawson.

December 6th - Charity Cookie Exchange and Raffle. Joanne has kindly offered to host a cookie exchange and raffle at her house in Hoole, all proceeds to benefit Michael's Whatever Appeal. You must bring a batch of home made cookies for the exchange. If you would like to attend, please contact Joanne for directions and time.

UPDATE: Everyone sends their thanks to Joanne for hosting the event. Here are some great snaps of the cookies and those who were lucky enough to sample them. The Cookie Exchange raised approximately £90. As usual for our annual fundraising event, Newcomers will make a donation of the same amount, making a grand total of £180. (I hear there may still be a few recipe books available - don't miss out, get your copy from Debra for only £5 and well worth every penny.)

December 12th - Chester Newcomers Christmas Lunch. 12:30pm at the Cheshire Fields Country Club. It’s a new place, with a lovely view (on a fine day!) on the A56 just outside Chester, so no problems parking. You can choose from the a la carte menu, or from 2 course party menus (£19 or £23).  Turkey & Christmas pud are on the menus but there are plenty more options!! Check out their website: www.thechesterfields.co.uk. Contact Pat for more details.

UPDATE: It was nice to meet up for a special meal before the holidays kicked in, and also to say farewell to Joanne who moved back to the USA with her husband Mike. We wish them all the best for their new life in Connecticut, at at least they will have Colin (the tea cosy) to remind them of their time in Chester.

December  - Overnight Trip Several members have asked if we can do an overnight trip to one of the Christmas Markets in Germany. We have not yet got the details, but if you are interested please contact Sue so we can add you to the list.

November Celebrations

November 5th - Guy Fawkes Night at the Red House. Watch the fireworks from the safety of your dining table, with a view across the Dee towards the town. Cost will be £39.95 per person which includes a 3 course meal and a wonderful Firework display. We have booked at table for 10 (4 are already taken) – so  if you are interest in joining us, let Barbara George know by October 24th  absolute latest please. After that date, call the Red House to book your own table, but be warned that this event fills up very quickly. In either case, a deposit of £10 is needed when you reserve your seat.

November 25th - Christmas Medieval Fayre in Ludlow. The best medieval show in the land - over 100 stalls selling seasonal gifts with a medieval flavour. With more music, minstrels, merriment and mirth than ever before. If we have enough people we can hire a coach for the event. The cost will be approximately £18 per person for the coach, plus £8 entry to the fayre.  Contact Sue Warby for more information.

The following items are listed for those who are interested, but will not be a Newcomer organized event:

November 28th - Michael Buble Night at Croes Howell, Matty Roberts performs hits by Buble, Sinatra, and Martin as well more current songs by The Killers and Cee Lo Green.  The cost is £29.95 per person and includes a three course meal and dancing.

Autumn Activities

Now that we are all back from our various trips around the world, we can get back on track and enjoy ourselves at any or all of the many upcoming events for September, October and November.



September 19th - Film Night at Cheshire Oaks. This month we are going to see the new film Anna Karenina by Tolstoy. The film starts at 7:30, and we are going to meet for a pre-theatre drinks and nibbles at Frankie & Benny's. Meet us there any time after 6:30pm, or at the cinema. If you have Orange on your mobile you can use your Orange Wednesdays to get 2 for 1 tickets.

September 28th - This month we are having Afternoon Tea at Croes Howell, with splendid views over the Cheshire countryside. The cost is £12.95 for two people, which includes finger sandwiches, scone, shortbreads, mini welsh cakes and Bara brith, and a hot beverage of your choice. Meet us there at 2:30pm for a very tasty afternoon.

October 11th - Canonbah Bridge Wine Evening - this is a very special wine tasting event at Mitchell's Wine Bar, Tattenhall. We have booked a table for 10 people, but we can add more if necessary. There will follow a 4 course dinner and coffee, and with each course they will serve a different wine from the Canonbah portfolio. Meet there at 7:30pm for dinner at 8pm. Contact Barbara George to reserve your place at this event.

October 17th - We return to our monthly coffee morning at the Cheshire Cat. Meet us there at 10am. Some members usually stay on for lunch. 

October 21st - Join us for Sunday Lunch at the Egerton Arms, a great character pub in the heart of the Cheshire plains. Food ranges from toad in the hole or steak & kidney pie to Lobster Thermidor. Meet us there at 1:00pm.

October 25th - Motown Night at Croes Howell, the evening includes a three course meal and dancing to Motown music provided by A-KAY.  The cost is £29.95 per person.


We are also looking for ideas for walks and hikes. If you are planning a walk this month and would like company along the way, please let us know.

August Activities

Since many of our members are away on holiday or visiting families in other parts of the world, we have not planned many activities for August.

August 15th - Please note that the monthly meeting will not be the usual coffee morning at the Cheshire Cat, instead we will meet at the Red Lion in Doddleston for lunch. Meet us there at 12pm.

August 21st - Pub Night at Pant Yr Ochain, Gresford Nr Wrexham. Meet us there at 7:00pm.

We have a lot of exciting things planned for September, so once they are confirmed we will email you to let you know what they are. We will also post them here on the blog, so watch this space! Don't forget you can have updates to our blog sent directly to your email address, just scroll down to the bottom of this page, enter your email address, and click Submit. It is that easy, and we will be able to notify you every time we add activities to the blog.

Summer events

Here are the events for June and July, let us know if you are interested in attending any of them.


16 June - 8pm  "War Horse" Open House Cinema, Chester Amphitheatre
Viewings of classic films in the open air. Meet at the amphitheatre just before the show. Check their website for other films and times. If by any chance it's stopped raining and you'd like to go, let us know. 

19June - 4:30pm  "Breakfast at Tiffany's" Open House Cinema, Chester Amphitheatre
Viewings of classic films in the open air. Meet at the amphitheatre just before the show. Check their website for other films and times. If by any chance it's stopped raining and you'd like to go, let us know.

1 July - 1:00pm  Sunday Lunch, 1539 Restaurant, Chester

Cost is £14.50 for two courses. Meet at the restaurant (at Chester Racecourse) at 12:45. Please let us know if you would like to join us because we have to reserve a table and let them know what we would like off the menu.

3 July - 7:30pm  American Exchange Concert, Eaton Hall

Exchange students from across the USA will be playing. Contact Betty for tickets (£8 adults, £4 children).

6 July - 8pm  Liverpool Philharmonic and Chester Festival Chorus, Chester Cathedral
For more information and to o reserve your seat go to the Festival website. Pat and Jacqui will be going, so contact them if you would like to meet before the concert. The brass section of the Liverpool Philharmonic will also be playing on Saturday 7 July from 11am at Chester Town Hall. Tickets are £5 on the door.

14 July - 7:30pm  Farewell to Heather and Greg, Croes Howell, Llay, nr Wrexham

Come and join us as we say a sad goodbye to Heather and Greg, and wish them well in their time in India. Check their website for details, location, and menu.

19 July - 10:30am  RHS Flower Show, Tatton Park

We will meet in Chester and car share to the event.

22 July - 7:30pm  Summer Pop Concert, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall

Will will meet earlier for a meal in Liverpool. See www.liverpoolphil.com for info, there are still a few tickets left in the  Mid and Rear Circle priced at £21 and £16, you need to book soon.

25 July - 11am  Nantwich Agricutural and Cheese Show
See www.nantwichshow.co.uk for details and tickets - it is a bit cheaper to buy tickets in advance than on the day. The No. 84 bus leaves every 1/2 hour from Chester Town Hall and drops you at the ground, or you can drive there and park in the nearby field (could be muddy if it is raining). Jim, Barbara, Betty and Len will be getting the no. 84 bus at 10.25 from Chester Bus Station, so you can meet them at the bus station or at the event. The return bus fare is £4.60.

May events

Here are the events for May, let us know if you are interested in attending any of them.


4 May - 7: 30pm Film Night, Theatre Clwyd, Mold
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, meet at 7.30pm in the bar at theatre.

19 May- 10:30am  Circular walk and lunch, Cholmondely Arms

Meet in the car park of Cholmondely Arms, Cholmondely (parking space limited - so carpool if you can) for a 5 mile circular walk followed by lunch at Cholmondely Arms.


25 May - 10am Dorothy Clive Gardens and Wollerton Old Hall Gardens, Market Drayton

Visit to both gardens with Afternoon Tea somewhere.  Meet in the Cheshire Cat car park (to be confirmed), and we will car share with contribution towards petrol. 



25 May - 7:30pm Musical Evening at St Werburgh's Church, Chester

A fundraising event for Michael's Whatever appeal. All kinds of music to suite everyone. £5 on the door and raffles. 

When we went to the Potteries....

Last November some of our members went on a trip to the potteries. It was a cold and wet day outside but we were in a comfortable and dry mini-bus that transported us quickly to our first venue: the Emma Bridgewater factory. We had an excellent tour guide who knew all the people at each of the stations we visited and who could answer any and all questions. For those of you who are not familiar with the company, Emma Bridgewater is a real person who started the company in 1985 (originally to make a teacup and saucer for her Mother's birthday present!), and she has been designing and making homestyle crockery ever since. It is one of the few potteries remaining that make everything by hand, from pouring the slip into moulds, to "jollying" plates, to decorating and glazing the finished products.

After the tour we had a very tasty lunch in the factory cafe where they made delicious homemade sandwiches and soups. After a hearty meal we had the stamina to go around the factory store and the factory outlets centre, and had a good time choosing some beautiful pieces to give out as Christmas presents!

We learned a lot about the making of ceramics, here are just a few of the things we saw (you can click on an image to see a larger version):

April Events

Here are the events for April, let us know if you are interested in attending any of them.


7-9 April - Food Fayre, Chester Racecourse
If anyone is interested we could meet at the gate and enjoy the food samples together.

11 April - 11am - 2pm Cookery Demonstration and Workshop with Paul Baxter

At Pat Pawson's house. The price depends on numbers but will be no more than £20, which includes tasters of the food prepared.


20 April - 7:30pm Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, The Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester

Cost: £6.  7pm meet at The Forum Studio Theatre, Hamilton Place, Chester (up past the Crowne Plaza Hotel, near the bus station. If you'd like to join us, our seat numbers are D13 & 14 and there are seats available in row D - you can book online at www.chestertheatre.co.uk or phone the Box office on 01244 341 296 (open 10 a.m to 1p.m). We'll meet in the foyer about 7 p.m.
 

March Merriment

Here are the events for March, let us know if you are interested in attending any of them.
3 March - 10-12 am Pottery Workshop, Great Sutton

Cost: £15 with refreshments (some part will go to Debra’s Whatever appeal). Places are limited to 6 but we will make a reserve list for any future dates. 

10 March - 7:30pm Alan Ayckbourne's "Relatively Speaking" at The Little Theatre, Chester Little Theatre
Contact Meghan for more details.


21 March - Hulme Hall, Port Sunlight, Fashion Show
Tickets £10 available from Pat Pawson.


22 March - 6:30pm Film Night, The Artist, Vue Cinemas, Cheshire Oaks
Meet at Frankie and Benny's from 6pm.


29 March - 12pm Pot Luck Lunch
At Debra's house.

What's happening in February

Here are the events for this month, let us know if you are interested in attending any of them.
15 February - 10-12 am Monthly Meeting at the Cheshire Cat, Christleton
Come and join us for a coffee and catch up with our members.
17 February - 6:30pm Pot Luck Supper at Heather and Gregs
Heather and Greg have kindly offered their house for our Pot Luck Supper. Please let Heather know if you would like to attend and what you will bring.
25 February - 7:30pm As You Like It, Theatre Clwyd, Mold
If you are interesting in attending this performance, please contact Jacqui Seddon by Friday 17th February - she will then book a block of tickets so we can all sit together. The cost is £16.50 full price or £14.50 over 60's. Please send her a cheque, or you can book your own seat at http://www.clwyd-theatr-cymru.co.uk. We can also meet at the Glasfryn for dinner before the performance.
29 February - 7:30pm A Street Car Named Desire, The Playhouse, Liverpool
Barbara Shapton has reserved 6 seats for the above in the rear stalls - £15 full price or £12 over 60's. These tickets will be held till Monday 13th February, so you need to let Barbara know by this SUNDAY 12th if you'd like to go. You can pay her at the monthly meeting, or send her a cheque.
See www.everymanplayhouse.com for more details. Tickets are going pretty fast.
 

Happy New Year! And what a year it's starting to be, it couldn't be more different from 2011, not a snowflake in sight! We hope that we will be seeing a lot of you in 2012 and are starting with walks, music and lunch (of course, we are, after all, Newcomers...). One of the activities this year is walking Offa's Dyke, so that should get us on the right track for a healthy new year. Let's see what our members can come up with, the more suggestions the better! The Murder Mystery evening was a great success and for once, the murderer didn't get away with it, unlike the first time we had a go at it ...

Anyway, we're back at the Cheshire Cat on wednesday, 18 Jan from 10 - 12 noon, so we hope to see you there!