Saturday 4^th July   7.30pm    Saturday Dining Out - £10 Meal Deal        £10

A special meal deal at this central Norwich venue - any main course plus a drink for £10. I have a table booked, and the voucher, so let's enjoy some good company plus decent straightforwards food at a reasonable price. A perfect venue to mark the American Day of Independence!

Sunday 5^th July   2pm         Open Gardens                 £3

Hosted by group member Elaine. Meet her at the entrance to this garden in Wymondham, which is new to Open Gardens this year. A 1 acre lawned garden with specimen trees, parterre, terrace, large pond and kitchen garden. Hemerocallis, roses and the extensive herbaceous border should be at their best. Entrance £3. Home made teas available.

Sunday 5^th July    Noon till 8pm?  Music Day                    Free

Up to 8 hours of free music at this large, free, one-day music event in the East of England. Terrific entertainment offered on no less than six separate stages in the park. Craft stalls, a children's fairground and food concessions complement the best in local music talent, as all come to perform in the perfect park surroundings. With every musical taste catered for, explore the park, find something you like and relax, listening to the best of jazz, soul, blues, rock, classical, punk, dance, rap ..... Liftshares available from Norwich.

Tuesday 7^th July    7.15pm for 8pm Quiz and Curry     £1p / £6

Our perennial favourite and a chance to experience landlady Dawn’s approach to quizzes at this local pub. Teams of up to 6, £1pp. If you want the takeout curry (around £6) arrive at 7.15pm. Quiz starts around 8pm, though timings can and do slip.

Wednesday 8^th July  7.30pm    Book Buddies            Free

Book Buddies is a monthly book reading group meeting on the second Wednesday of each month. The feeling is that the discussions work best if capped at 12 participants. We are currently at this level, so there will be a waiting list going forward.

Copies of books can, of course, be obtained privately, but we have a group library ticket which is co-ordinated by Tina. Ordinarily, copies of the next book will be ordered in advance and be available at the monthly meeting prior to the date of discussion. If you are unable to attend to collect the book, please contact Tina directly. For discussion at this meeting is: “The Suspicions of Mr Whicher, or, The Murder at Road Hill House” by Kate Summerscale.

Thursday 9^th July  7.30pm for 8pm   Live Jazz: Norwich Jazz Collective   £4

A new monthly jazz night featuring the best in Norwich jazz talent. Opens with the John Whitehead Trio, swinging jazz inspired by the likes of Ahmed Jamal, Oscar Peterson and Bill Evans. With Jazz DJ 'Lord Jazz'. £4. Meet in the bar from 7.30pm for an 8pm start.

Saturday 11^th July  11am   Scarecrow Festival                  £1

This village south of Norwich has an annual Scarecrow Festival, with a different theme each year. There's a scarecrow trail with scarecrows (this year with a work, rest and play theme) hiding around the village, competition to count the buildings made by Bob the Builder plus trips up the church tower, stalls, BBQ and more.

Once more scarecrows will be popping up to catch people unawares. This is the 4th year they have run the festival and it is popular with locals and tourists alike. Scarecrows made by local organisations will be located along the high street, in the churchyard and in the church. Visitors get to vote for their favourite scarecrow. Programmes and maps cost £1 on the Church Plain. Liftshares available from Norwich.

Saturday 11^th July   TBA    Film: Ice Age 3 (hopefully in 3D)            Around £7

By special request (you know who you are!): Ice Age 3. Produced in 3D, so hopefully we can get to see a 3D performance. Modern 3D is stunning, and even the 3D glasses are like cool sunglasses these days.

Times and venue will be confirmed when this week's schedules are released.

Sunday 12^th July  12.30 for 1pm    Sunday carvery lunch for £2.99         £2.99....!

Yes, honestly, £2.99 for a carvery lunch.  Why not join me, group member Julie for the cheapest Sunday roast anywhere.  This is the same menu choice that was previously offered for £8.99 - which I personally felt was over-priced, but this is certainly value for money.  I have been several times, and usually on Sundays there are 3 different meats, 2 different sorts of potato, 2 or 3 different veg, stuffing balls and Yorkshires, and a selection of sauces. They also do a salad bar for the same price, with a selection of quiches and salad items.  They have a desert selection for £2.99 too!

We can meet at this venue in Wymondham at 12.30 for lunch at 1.00 and then, if the weather is reasonable, those that wish to could visit the abbey or take a look around the pretty town of Wymondham. 

Tuesday 14^th July   7.30pm for 8pm Quiz Night in the Golden Triangle     £1

This friendly back street local has a quiz night - well worth a try. Arrive from 8pm for an 8.30/8.45 pm start. £1pp, teams of 6.

Thursday 16^th July 8pm-9pm   Open Pub Meet     Free

Our monthly meet, open to members and non-members. This month’s destination is the Whalebone on Magdelen Road.

Saturday 18^th July  1.45-2.15pm approx Textiles Exhibition: Wedding Dresses Revealed  Free

A small, free exhibition by the Costume & Textiles Association. Stunning wedding gowns from 1870-1970 will be displayed. Plus a display of lace designs by the 'bishy barney bee' group of lace makers.

Saturday 18^th July   2.30pm-3.30pm   Open Cafe Meet     Free

Our monthly open meet, for members and non-members. Meet in the Theatre Royal cafe.

Saturday 18^th July   6.30pm  Proms in the Park, plus picnic & fireworks      £15

Arrive at this west of Norwich venue around 6.30pm to find our pitch and have an al fresco picnic before the music starts at 7.30pm, ends around 10.40pm. Bring chair / rugs / food and drink. A barbeque and bar will be available and the Concert Shop will sell programmes, flags and hats! Tickets £15.

Sunday 19^th July   11am  North Norfolk Art Exhibitions         Free

One of the key events on the Norfolk art map, this exhibition features 50 leading contemporary artists with a Norfolk connection. This year's theme is 'Salt of the Earth'. Meet at 11am (liftshare from Norwich available). If we fancy, we can also pop along to this small second exhibition on our way back.

Sunday 19^th July    7.30-9.30pm   Sunday Bridge Buddies       Free

Bridge – but possibly not as we know it! For those of us who can already play a little, even if very rusty.

Monday 20^th July  7.30pm for 8pm  Monday Night Alternative      £5

A lively evening of words and stand up poetry. Main guest is slam champion Byron Vincent, whose subversive brand of barking doggeral has taken the UK poetry scene by storm and, apparently, ‘kicked it until it's handed over its wallet’. Meet in the bar from 7.30pm, event starts at 8pm, cost £5.

Tuesday 21^st July  7.30-9.30pm    Tuesday Bridge Buddies             Free

The weekday Bridge Buddies, for those of us who can already play, even if very rusty.

Saturday 25^th July  7.30pm (TBA)   Film: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince    Around £7

Harry Potter's 6th year at Hogwarts turns out to be quite the exciting year. First off is the arrival of a new teacher at Hogwarts, Horace Slughorn, who is a bit more useful to Harry than he realises. Next, Harry obtains a Potions book which used to belong to the very mysterious Half-Blood Prince. Harry finds that the Half-Blood Prince's ancient scribbles are written along the margins of almost every page, giving Harry advice on how to improve on his Potions work, and also teaching him a few helpful (and dangerous) spells along the way.  Time and venue details to be finalised when this week's schedules are released.

Sunday 26^th July   2pm (TBA)    Film Buddies    Around £6

This is a monthly activity hosted by group member Jo. If you like nothing better than watching a good film on a Sunday afternoon, this is for you.  (Particularly of interest are less mainstream films - less blockbusters, more cine-enthusiast type movies, maybe foreign, art-house, black and white etc).

Suggested meeting time 2pm, depending on what time films are on - it would be great to have a coffee and a chat afterwards too. Jo will post some options up beforehand and see what interest we get, then take a vote. Approx price £6.00.

Monday 27^th July   7.30pm for 8pm  Live Indie Folk Rock Music - Emiliana Torrini    £9

Indie folk rock artist Emiliana Torrini is touring with her new set of songs from 'Me and Armini'. This hugely ambitious and aspirational record puts Emiliana's soaring voice centre stage, bolstered by a rich gamut of musical styles. Tickets £9 from 01603 660352. Meet in the bar from 7.30pm, show starts at 8pm.

Tuesday 28^th July  6pm for 6.15pm   Film: Pink Floyd The Wall plus Live Music after        £7

This central Norwich venue are holding a summer of music, where they show a music film followed by live music in the bar. Meet in the foyer at 6pm, Pink Floyd: The Wall starts at 6.15pm. The film by director Alan Parker is based on the music - details here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd_The_Wall_(film)  .  Live music: Iain Lowery from 8.30pm.

Thursday 30^th July   6pm / 7pm    Meal and Wine Tasting        £10 / £15

An evening to remember (so long as you don't drink so much you can't). Start with a meal at 6pm at this central Norwich venue (approx £8-10 for mains), then the Wine Tasting starts there at 7-9pm. The wine tasting now costs £15, to allow for a greater price range of wines to be sampled, offset by a special 20% discount off any wines bought. (They’ll send an email about this after the event).

Get a cab or bus home, as driving back is seriously unwise.