Hello again fluffy bunnies! 

As promised, I've had my ears to the ground (and chatted to some people in the pub – good curry btw!) and here's an update for you!

This Saturday night, Tim is taking us to The Hobbit (Beavois Valley) for the Blues & Ale Festival!  He’ll be there from 8.30pm and we’ve already had loads of interest so come along and join in the fun!  Give Tim a call (07855 252 120) to let him know you’re coming along too! 

It looks as though I was fed some bad information and Shelly will not be taking us to the funfair on the common after all :( Naughty people lying to Princess Phil!  Off with their heads!  However, for those disappointed Easter Chickens amongst you, there is a solution!  If you’d like to go the fun fair, why not post to this group and see if there are any other like-minded bunnies out there who’d like to go too!

The fair is on 1pm to 9.30pm all weekend and 9.30am to 9.30pm on Monday so there’s loads of time to fit it in!  If you’re interested there’s a bit more info at:

http://www.visit-southampton.co.uk/site/home/easter-fun-fair-p209131 

Well that really is all for this week!  Have a great weekend and hope to see you at some point if you’re not all suffering with sugar hangovers!

Princess Phil

Hello there choco-feasters!

Are we all ready for some serious chocolate scoffing this weekend?  Got your Easter Eggs all ready and lined up?  In size order?  Ok, that’s clearly just me then.

Apologies for the lateness of the email – it was prepped and ready to go at midnight last night but was lacking a few details that have taken a while to pin down!  They still haven’t been confirmed so there will be another email sent out once all has been agreed.  If you’re desperate for the latest update, hit reply or give me a call (07793 892 075) and I’ll give you the latest info.

Well, last weekend we had a blast watching the ever so classic “Back to the Future” trilogy back to back!  Kirsty spoiled us by feeding us lots of yummy pancakes :) Favourite fillings were either syrup and lemon, or chocolate spread and banana - but not all at the same time!  And thankfully everyone came fully clothed, in case you were worried about that from last weeks email.

It was a modest turnout in the pub last night, but we had a ball none the less!  Good to see Matt and Julie back in the pub – feels like forever but I’m sure it’s not!

So back to the future events… <groan>

Tonight!  SHQuest are hosting their monthly curry night and of course, we are all invited along to join them!  Be at the Bright Water Inn (Shirley Wetherspoon) at 6.30pm to grab a table, a seat, some cutlery, any sauces you may fancy, a curry and a pint, all for the bargain price of £5.99!  You can’t take the table, seat or cutlery home with you though - unfortunately, that all has to stay in the pub.  We’ll be sat at the back in the non-smoking section, but give Kirsty a ring (07919 286692) if you have trouble tracking us down!

Next, a late change to the calendar:

This Saturday’s Murder Mystery has been postponed to a date (yet to be finalised) when more people will able to come along and join in the fun and have a scream!

So the exciting last minute replacement substitution events off the bench are hopefully as follows:

Details are still a little sketchy, but this Saturday we’re going to the Blues & Ale Festival at The Hobbit (Beavois Valley).  Hope to have more details very soon!

Also, Shelly may have had her arm twisted (good job Tim!) to take us to the funfair on the common this weekend!  Again, still awaiting confirmation but rest assured you’ll be the first to know when I hear anything! 

I’ve got my bunny ears to the ground on this and will update you ASAP!!

Finally, don’t forget to keep on saving those pennies for the Mad Weekend at Milton Keynes!  Also, this years plus holiday (organised by Tom Seddon) has just been announced – they’re going to Turkey for 1 week, flying out on the weekend of 29th/30th September and the price is £330 which includes flights and self-catering accommodation – a bargain!  I went last year to Cyprus with Shelly and we had a fabulous time – well worth investigating!  Hit reply if you’d like to know more or you’ve got any questions about last years holiday, and I’ll forward you on all the info from Tom and tell you all about it!

Well, that’s about all for this week.  If anyone wants me, I’ll be lying in a sugar-induced coma on my lounge floor surrounded by a load of shiny chocolate wrappers.  Although unlike the Vicar of Dibley, I won’t be going for the golden syrup tin too.  That’s too far even for me.

Enjoy your 4-day weekend – make it a good one!

See you soon,

Princess Phil

Good Afternoon all my fellow springboks!

Everybody happily recovered from the shock of losing an hours sleep yet? 

Well I don’t know about you but I’m exhausted just hearing about the weekend away at Brean!  Pirate parties, drinking, bands, Cheddar And Scrumpy Experience, things-you-never-needed-to know rude quiz (way to go big sis!), drinking, films, another quiz, more drinking, parties, even more drinking, caravan parties and I think a little more drinking.  Did anyone sleep?  We all need a rest after hearing about it!

Nidz – that reminds me.  Biggles has passed me your jumper that you left behind at Brean.  If you let me know when you’re next planning on coming along I’ll do my best to make sure it’s there waiting for you!

So what action packed events do we have coming up? 

Well, this Saturday SF-Inn (& SHQ-Inn) will play venue to our “Back to the Future” DVD trilogy night.  A chance for us to sit back, relax, eat lots of yummy food and indulge in some absolutely classic movie gold!  What’s that?  Not sure you can handle it?  You’re not “Chicken” are you?!  Well in that case, you’d better turn up at SF-Inn (67 Pettinger Gardens, SO17 2WL) at 5pm this Saturday with some food, some drink and a firm cushion.  Give our host Kirtsy a ring (07919 286 692) to let her know you’ll be coming along to prove that you’re not chicken…

Also discussed in the pub last night was the chance to spice up DVD night, and invoke a colour theme!  We choose a colour that really captures the essence of the film and you have to come dressed in an item of that colour.  Suggestions put forward for this weekend were silver, red and blue.  As you can tell, we had a bit of trouble on this one, so we’ll settle for you turning up fully clothed! 

On Sunday, our very own Biggles will be standing for the role of Area Development Officer at the Area meeting, so good luck to him!  Kirtsy will also be going along to the meeting and will no doubt provide some good moral support!

Tim is hosting a Murder Mystery evening on Saturday 7th April!  It will cost £8 pp which includes the game and some lovely food to munch on whilst pondering “who dunnit?!”  Give Tim a yell or a scream (its_me_hurray@...) to let him know you’ll be there! 

A couple of up-coming events to watch out for:

The go-karting has been pushed back a few weeks but we have not set a date yet or picked a venue.  GDB and myself will be picking a date and location very soon so if you want to sway us towards your personal preference, bribes of cookies, chocolate, alcohol, jewellery and cash will be considered.  We really need to get an idea of the level of interest so please hit reply and let me know you’re up for it!  Prices range from around £30 up to £50 depending on the venue (all are reasonably close), type of event and number of people we get going so please let us know whether you’re up for smaller and cheaper or bigger and a bit more pricey and we’ll see what we can do!

Amanda – On a similar theme, there’s still one skid mark left – I spotted it last night!  Also, I hope you got on ok with the NUHC possy – we’re a cool crew!  ;)

Finally, rumours abound that National Paintball is coming up soon.  This will be held on Saturday 26^th May and includes a day’s paintballing and disco in the evening.  It’s being held in Abridge, Essex and prices are £40 for painball & disco, or £5 for just the disco!  Publicity is being rattled off the press at the moment and should be available soon.  

Right, I’m off to get some lunch.  It’s Thursday Roast day!

Princess Phil

Good afternoon sweets!

Well we had a great night last night and a big welcome to Nidz!  Please tell me I spelled that right – at least I’m doing better than Biggles who kept calling you “Nits” – bless him!  It was great to meet you and thanks for all the snacks!  I hope you survived being left with Biggles and Adam for a bit - they're lovely really! ;)

This weekend a load of plussers are off to Weston-Super-Mare for Brean!  They’ll be turning up on site from 3pm on Friday and will be chucked out kicking and screaming at 10am Monday morning.  I believe the booking officer, our very own Kirsty, is happy for any really really last minuters to give her a call and she can try to fit you in!  (07919 286 692)

Coming up soon, we have another DVD trilogy night coming up – it’s Back to the Future night on Saturday 31st March!

Also, Tim is organising a murder mystery night on Saturday 7th April.  Give me a shout if you’re interested in coming along and I’ll be sure to register your interest!

Looking further into the future (not going back to it!) we have some big events coming up later in the year – Mad Weekend at Milton Keynes including the National Karting Competition in September and WASH (Weekend at Sunny Hunstanton) in November so it’ll soon be time to raid those piggy banks!

Well, that’s all for today – just a short one this week!

Til next time!

Princess Phil

Good Evening happy campers! 

For those of you who rushed home from the pub to eagerly check your email (I know you do!) you’ll be pleasantly surprised to find this sat in your inbox!  Don’t taunt me….I know you like reading it.

Just a quick one tonight, today, oh whenever it is!

Last weekend we had a blast in Reflex, dancing the night away to anything and everything in your cheesy 80’s record collection!  The birthday girl did retire early due to some quite spectacular hair issues but is planning a public service announcement regarding the dangers of wearing plastic glittery hats in very hot nightclubs and the associated condition known as “sweaty hair-itus”.  Only joking Shelly – we had a fab time and hope you did too!

So, coming up:

This Friday, Matt P is taking us to Jongleurs for a night of comedy!  Thank goodness for that or we’d be staying at home for, oh, a night of comedy.

On Saturday, an additional item to the calendar, Amanda is opening her door (ok, Tim’s door) to us all and has invited us round for a Fast and the Furious DVD trilogy night!  We’ll be watching all three high-octane films back to back so bring yourselves, some food, drinks and nibbles to share and sit back as we hopefully get to see the popcorn maker in action!  Be at Amanda’s (25 Andover Road, SO15 3AZ) for 6pm and be warned – parking round there is interesting at best so abandon (neatly) your cars wherever you can!  Give Amanda a shout to let her know you’ll be there!  (07832 119 985)

No badminton this week or next week I’m afraid, but our experts will be back out on the court after Brean, so watch this space!

Don’t forget – start saving up for the 2^nd Annual Mad Weekend at Milton Keynes!  It’s on the 1st & 2nd September - further details coming soon!

Well, this Princess is off for some well-needed beauty sleep and a vodka and tonic.

That’s that for now – until next time,

Princess Phil

Good Morning/Afternoon All!

Hope you’re all well today!  Well, last night we had a good ol’ turn out and a damn good natter about anything and everything – it feels like we put the worlds to right!  We had a stranger by the name of “Paula” turn up – does anyone know her?!  Only joking!   A big welcome back to you, it was great to see you again!

We saw a shifting of the powers as Dastardly Dave fobbed off, er, I mean handed over, the folder of power to our new Chairman for the next six months, Rich, aka Duck Ed!  Duck Ed would like to invite you all to his pond meeting next Wednesday (14^th) night at 7:30pm.

So, what has everyone been up to?

Last Thursday South Hampshire Quest enjoyed their very first curry night and had such a good time that they’re going to continue their “curry crawl” around Southampton over the coming months.  Watch out for further notices or see the calendar!

On Saturday evening lots of people came along (despite my failed email!) to see “Hot Fuzz” but luckily no-one was arrested! 

On Sunday evening, Ian took us to the “Circus of Horrors” in Salisbury - unfortunately none of the cast got arrested although some of them really could’ve done with being locked up.  We indulged in a spot of dinner, a nice bottle of wine and a couple of pints (ok, ok, and an ice cream…) before heading off to the show.  Ian’s favourite performance of the night can be summed up by his succinct comment that:

“there was this little midget guy who shoved a firework up his ass!”

Other notable performances of the evening included a girl walking up a staircase of knives, a guy in a giant hamster wheel, a man with really stretchy skin, far too many nails through various body parts, the eating of a light bulb and a half naked rather plump girl in a glass jar (eiwh!).

So, what exciting events can we follow all that up with?!

Well, this Saturday night Shelly is taking us all out for her “Birthday Bash” to celebrate that she is now 31 years young!  We’re starting off the night in the Lizard Lounge in Bedford Place at 8:30pm for drinks and the plan is to end the night in Reflex, that oh so cool 80’s bar!  If you need any further info give Shelly a ring (07881 534 254) or hit reply now!  For the more observant among you, you will note that this Saturday was down as a “Back to the Future Night” DVD night – fear not Foxy lovers!  This has been pushed back a few weeks (to 31^st March) so you won’t be missing out on any “eighty eight miles an hour!” action.  Watch this space for further details!

Get your sports gear out, your head bands on and take a firm grasp of your rackets, as this Sunday morning Rod is inviting you along to Badminton.  So far Rod, Ali and Hugh will be out on the court and they’d love to see you there too!  Please give Rod a bell (07773 106 405) and he’ll serve you up a treat! (groan….)

Another date for your diary, Saturday 28^th April, we’ll be heading off with Amanda to The Joiners to see “Sponge” – I’m reliably informed that this is some form of band but Rich and Amanda lost me with their obscure band knowledge last night so if you’ve got any questions refer them to Amanda (07832 119 985) as I’ll be no help!

Now it brings me very great pleasure to announce that due to the success of last years’ event, back with a vengeance, for the second year running, Southampton Friends is proud to present the “Mad Weekend at Milton Keynes!”  Whah!!!! The crowd goes wild!!!! 

Oh yes, this years event will be on the first weekend in September (that’s the 1^st and 2^nd September) and promises to be every bit as exciting and excellent as last year.  There are a couple of changes from last years programme - one event has been swapped for something else and the local A&E has asked that Ian S be banned from the indoor skydiving.

The fabulous events on offer are: Karting, Indoor Skydiving, a choice of Snowboarding, Skiing or Indoor Rock Climbing and to round it all off an Aerial Extreme session (think “go ape”).  The price for this super-dooper line up is £165 which includes all four events and a night’s stay over, and there is also the option to “Pick ‘n’ Mix” the activities you fancy.  A full price list will be headed your way soon so start saving up those pennies - it’s well worth it!

Phew!  One final thing – if you would like join us for Brean (Fri 23^th March – Mon 26^th March) we’re down to the wire, but get your £59.95 to us and we’ll see that you get booked in for an absolute blast!

Think that’s all for today – hopefully the email will get through ok this week!

Check in with you all soon!

Princess Phil

Good Morning All!

I hope everyone is bright and happy this lovely shiny morning!

Well, last night we were due to see two (yes not one, but two!) shifting of the powers, but alas my pre-prepared fanfare of an opening to today’s “Thursday Email” will go unused – for this week at least.

So it looks like Dastardly Dave will have to hang onto “that” folder for another week before he is able to pass the torch onto our new Chairman Duck Ed, (aka Rich for all those out there who are getting confused by all these nicknames) who has kindly agreed, with no arm twisting at all, to take the helm and steer us safely through the next six months.

Our second scheduled shifting of the powers is a little closer to home, well for me at least.  As part of the launch of Southampshire Quest, our General DB (aka Kirtsy) has handed over writing the “Thursday Email” to me so that she can concentrate her literacy brilliance on writing Quest’s “Wednesday Weekly”.   I’m not sure if that’s the official name of the email, but it seems like a good thing to call it for now.  So this being my first attempt I’m a little scared as I have some very big shoes to fill.  Kirsty does an absolutely fantastic (or should that be “fabtastic”?) job of the email and manages to get it all in pretty colours (which I thought I’d failed miserably to do this time but I think I may have got it!), so I’d welcome your feedback as to how I’m doing!  Please be kind, I’m quite a sensitive soul ;)

Other news from last night:

We officially have a new member who signed themselves over to us last night (whah ha hah) so a warm welcome to our newest addition to the crew, Amanda!  Also, Matt (aka Gary) is on the verge of putting pen to paper and joining our ranks so let’s hope he fills out the form and takes the plunge.

We have a busy time coming up with lots of events, so don’t sit back and relax, get yourselves signed up and we’ll see you at the following:

Tonight (Thursday), Southampshire Quest are taking us to The Giddy Bridge in London Road for their monthly curry night (every first Thursday of the month).  It’s £5 for a curry and a pint but be there early to avoid disappointment as they have a habit of running out of the popular food pretty quickly!  We’re meeting by 7pm at the latest so give Kirsty a bell (07919 286692) and she’ll keep an eye out for you.

If you fancy a bit of comedy, Matt P is booking us into Jongleurs Comedy Night on Friday 16^th March.  Tickets cost £15.50 and he needs to know TODAY so he can add you to the booking.  He’s going to place a £1.50 non-refundable deposit for each person and we need the full £15.50 paid to us next Wednesday at the latest.  Give him a bell on 07749 829 632 to let him know that you want to come.

This Saturday night we’re going to the cinema!  We’re hoping to see “Hot Fuzz” at the Odeon in Leisure World as we’ve heard brilliant reports (about the film that is….) and we’ll be aiming for the 8pm showing, so meet you all in Frankie & Benny’s at 7.30pm so we can go and get tickets.  Give me a bell to let me know you’ll be joining me (07793 892 075) or hit reply and I’ll keep a look out for you!

Also, this Saturday is the Southern Area Hedge hop.  Biggles is interested in going so if you fancy going it may be worth giving him a shout to see what you can arrange.

This Sunday, we’re going with Ian to the Circus of Horrors in Salisbury and will be at his house around 5pm to sort out some food before the event!

Next Tuesday, we are all invited to attend the Grand Opening Night of Southampshire Quest at the Quayside pub!  It is hoped that we will have the non-smoking section of the pub all to ourselves and people will be there from 8.30pm, so why not come along and show support for our more mature citizens!

Finally, if you are booked into Brean final payment is due next Wednesday so please bring that along to secure your place.  If you’re not booked in, we have some people from our group going and there’s still space to join the masses, so bring £59.95 with you next week and we’ll sign you up for a great weekend! (Friday 23^rd March - Monday 26^th March).

Well, I don’t want to overwhelm you with any more events – this email is getting far too long!  So just a couple of brief things to mention:  Hugh is looking at going to see Vanity Fair at Chesil Theatre (Thurs 29^th March) £7.50, and Charlie’s Aunt at the Mayflower (Thurs 15^th March).  If you’re interested please give him a ring to let him know (07766 380 561) by next Wednesday.  

Right, well I think that’s all for this week – after all that I need a lie down to prepare for the next email writing session!

That’s all for now!  Catch you later!

Princess Phil (eagerly awaiting your feedback about my first attempt!)