Spice West Midlands Spring Newsletter 2014

WEEKENDS HOLIDAYS

LEISURE

ADVENTURE

SOCIAL

Spring 2014

www.spiceuk.com Spice is the UK’s leading adventure, social and leisure group.

Enjoy a jam-packed social life with over 100 events every month to choose from.

All events are arranged for you, all you have to do is book and turn up. ".E2- '-'4-)A!E. EA -*>E@$#-&C C/ $ F#$AA /1 =E&- /) $ 35-AEF&-)0 2/+-- $ =--%7

Be part of it and join today to make friends, meet people, have fun

welcome!

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Dave

k$&f)$I DfSfA"-)$,fA

Steve Dell

Spice East Midlands

Jamie Morris Spice Scotland

Dianne Livingstone Dominic Renshaw Spice London and Spice

Spice Thames Valley & Solent

8)EAC/# : 6$)5E+

Richard Coulter

Spice West Midlands

Lauren Fawkes Spice Manchester & Yorkshire

meet the team Ian Purvis

Holiday Manager

We are excited to put the spotlight on our greatest asset, the members $&5 =E## 4- 1-$C>)E&F C=/ /) C!)-- ;-'4-) B)/D#-A -$2! -5E</&7

Paul Docksey Group: Manchester Member since: May 2013

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Group: Spice Yorkshire Member for: 3 Months

Skye Loudon Group: West Midlands Member for: 2 years

Why did you join Spice V Tf?)" +WMyIT $FMy), fT TA-y)"M $)" 1$v-)R <yAf MfD-$I I-Ty TfA $ vyAW If)R &+y] p-Ty -M )f, $ MfIf $"vy),?Ay Mf V ,1f?R1, V rf?I" R-vy gE-Dy $ D1$)Dy FyTfAy "f-)R Mf+y,1-)R "A$M&D $)" AyIfD$&)R ,f b$)$"$ fA kyr Hy$I$)" TfA $ TAyM1 M,$A,] 61yMy EI$)M $Ay If)R M-)Dy fFMfIy,y]

Why did you join Spice?

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Why did you join Spice?

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What has been your favourite event?

Is it to cheesy to say all of them? It’s rare for me to not have a good '+w^ WU W 1%# ,e S-vy $) $)MryA V M?EEfMy -, rf?I" 1$vy ,f Fy Myy-)R ,1y jy"?Dy" g1$KyMEy$Ay Df+E$)W` Wf? K)fr Mf+y,1-)R -M T?))W r1y) Wf? N$r M&II 1?A,M "$WM $ZyA TAf+ I$?R1-)R Mf +?D1]

What has been your favourite event?

7AD1yAW $M V Rf, $ F?IIXMSyWy] L)IW f)y F?, $, Iy$M, V Rf, ,1$,]

What has been your favourite event? mW T$vf?A-,y yvy), -M GA$Rf) df$, j$D-)R] V, -M $ RAy$, ryyKy)" f?, f) ,1y r$,yA $ZyA $ E$A,W )-R1,]

What has been your most challenging event?

V "f)X, ,y)" ,f "f D1$IIy)R-)R yvy),M F?, ,f M$W ,1y Iy$M, $ AyDy), A$+FIy $Af?)" *y)"Iy \-II r$M B?-,y $ D1$IIy)Ry R-vy) +W AyI$&vyIW Ifr IyvyI fT e,)yMM] V Iy$A), Mf+y,1-)R v$I?$FIy ,1$, "$W` jf" I-yM% Gf )f, FyI-yvy 1-+ r1y) 1y M$WM -,XM $II "fr)1-II TAf+ 1yAy` -, rf)X, Fy% What is your funniest memory in Spice? kf, M?Ay -T -, r$M ,1y "yI-A-?+ fT Mf I-cIy MIyyE F?, ,1y y)&Ay h-),yA by),Ay *$ADM ryyKy)" Ry,$r$W r$M f)y F-R I$?R1] What would be your advice for a new member?

Gf)X, rfAAW% 7) -+EfMM-FIy ,$MK V $+ $r$Ay F?, ,1yAy -M )f )yy"] V, ,$KyM $ MEyD-$I K-)" fT DA$<W ,f Fy -) gE-Dy $)" -, +$KyM yvyAWf)y TA-y)"IW -) r1$, -M $) ?)TA-y)"IW rfAI"] Have you been on a spice holiday?

V ,ffK r1$, -M B?-,y $ A-MK TfA +y $)" ry), f) ,1y h-),yA by),yA *$ADM` $)" "-" )f, AyRAy, -, f)y F-,] !Af+ Fy-)R ?E &II 2 -) ,1y +fA)-)R $, $ AyI$Yy" )f,S$)S$ZyASE$A,W E$A,W` ,f D1-II-)R f?, "?A-)R ,1y "$W Ay$"-)R $ Rff" FffK fA $) f""IW 1-I$A-f?M R$+y fT DA$<W RfIT r1-Iy r$-&)R TfA FA?)D1 f) $ mf)"$W 0+W )yr by),yA *$ADM ,A$"-&f) V ,1-)K. ,1y y)&Ay ryyKy)" r$M M-+EIW $ryMf+ySM$?Dy] 7IAy$"W FffKy" f) ,1y M?++yA ryyKy)" $)" V ,1-)K EyfEIy $Ay Rya)R &Ay" fT +y E?FI-D-M-)R -, Mf +?D1` F?, D$) Wf? FI$+y +y% Have you an embarrassing Spice moment?

V "f)X, K)fr 1fr y+F$AA$MM-)R -, VM` F?, V 1$vy DyA,$-)IW T$IIy) f),f +W F$DKM-"y $ Df?EIy fT &+yM r1-Iy f?, 1-K-)R -) A$,1yA r$,yA Mf$Ky" 1-IIM] d?, V ,1-)K ,1y T$D, ,1$, yvyAWf)y r$M MI-"-)R $II fvyA ,1y EI$Dy +$KyM -, IyMM y+F$AA$MM-)R] What is your life philosophy in one sentence?

61$)KM ,f "y)-$I` VX+ Rf-)R ,f I-vy TfAyvyA% Four people (Dead or Alive) you’d invite to your dream party? !y+$Iy byIyFA-,W E$A,W Q 4y))-TyA p$rAy)Dy` @++$ g,f)y` 7I-Mf) dA-y` j$D1$yI mD7"$+M] m$Iy byIyFA-,W *$A,W Q xfA"f) 4fMyE1 pyv-c` b1A-M,fE1yA kfI$)` @N-fTfA b1-ry,yI` *y,yA 4$DKMf)] V),yIIyD,?$I *$A,W Q 7IFyA, @-)M,y-)` k-KfI$ 6yMI$` *y,yA \-RRM` pyf)$A"f G$ i-)D-] Your favourite movie? kyvyA $MK $ +fv-y T$) M?D1 $ B?yM&f)% h1-D1 xy)Ay# h1$, +ff" $Ay Wf? -)# h1$, +ff" "f Wf? r$), ,f Fy -)# 61y I-M, rf?I" Fy ,f If)R% 61y FyM, eI+ V M$r +fM, AyDy),IW rf?I" 1$vy ,f +y ,1y pyRf mfv-y` >@vyAW,1-)R -M $ryMf+y= Most treasured belonging? p-Ty -,MyIT% 7D,?$IIW` EAfF$FIW +W D$A` -,XM 7ryMf+y g$?Dy

What has been your most challenging event? jyDy),IW Df+EIy,y" $ j$+FIy` gDA$+FIy $)" G$)RIy] \$A" rfAK 0VX+ )f, $M Wf?)R $M V f)Dy r$M. F?, TyI, $ Ay$I My)My fT $D1-yvy+y),` yMEyD-$IIW E?II-)R +WMyIT ?E $ vyAW )$AAfr DI-+F-)R I$""yA f) $ vyA&D$I AfDK T$Dy] L) $) $"vy),?AynT?) MD$Iy ::n:;] What is your funniest memory in Spice? pffM-)R +W Tff&)R f) $FMy-I-)R $)" Mr-)R-)R -) ,1y $-A -M T?))W )fr V ,1-)K $Ff?, -,S r$M)X, $, ,1y &+y% What would be your advice for a new member?

4?+E A-R1, -) $)" FffK $M +$)W yvy),M $M Wf? D$) FyTfAy Wf? D1$)Ry Wf?A +-)"] Jf? rf)X, AyRAy, -,] Have you been on a Spice UK holiday? kf, Wy,` F?, VX+ "ye)-,yIW IffK-)R TfA Mf+y,1-)R -) 9;:5] Have you an embarrassing Spice moment? gf+y EyfEIy +-R1, M$W +W ,y)SE-) FfrI-)R MK-IIM $Ay y+F$AA$MM-)R% What is your life philosophy in one sentence.

Gf)X, r$-, TfA Wf?A I-Ty ,f 1$EEy) ,f Wf?S Rf f?, $)" e)" -,] Four people (alive or dead) you’d invite to your dream dinner party? mW 8 RA$)"E$Ay),M r1f "-y" r1y) V r$M Wf?)R $M V )yvyA Rf, $ D1$)Dy ,f K)fr ,1y+` $)" j?MMyII bAfryS -) +W fE-)-f)` ,1y FyM, $D,fA -) ,1y rfAI"] Your favourite movie? xI$"-$,fAS Myy) -, Mf +$)W &+yM V D$) AyD-,y ,1y MDA-E, F$DKr$A"M] Most treasured belonging? mW pyRf My,M VXvy 1$" M-)Dy D1-I"1ff"] jy$I pyRf` )f, I-Ky )fr r1yAy 1$IT fT -,M F?-I, $IAy$"W%

What has been your most challenging event? mW +fM, D1$IIy)R-)R yvy), 1$M EAfF$FIW Fyy) eAy y$&)R] V, r$M $ RAy$, "$W $)" Mf+y,1-)R V $Ir$WM r$),y" ,f ,AW] L)Dy r$M y)f?R1 ,1f?R1] What is your funniest memory in Spice?

61yAy $Ay r$W ,ff +$)W T?))W +y+fA-yM ,f N?M, Ay+y+FyA f)y] V I$?R1 yvyAW &+y V $+ f?, r-,1 ,1y gE-Dy DAyr] VT V 1$vy ,f D1ffMy f)y -, rf?I"$ EAfF$FIW Fy MEfA,M "$W $, by),yA *$AKM I$M, Wy$A] What would be your advice for a new member? mW $"v-Dy ,f )yr +y+FyAM -M ,f "f If$"M fT yvy),M -) ,1y eAM, Tyr +f),1M] 7)Wf)y Wf? y)NfWy" ,$IK-)R ,f Ry, ,1y-A )?+FyA fA $"" ,1y+ -) !$DyFffK] 6$IK $Ff?, r1$, yvy),M Wf? $Ay "f-)R )yY, $)" F?-I" ?E $ F$)K fT T$+-I-$A T$DyM] 7IMf My, Wf?AMyIT $ D1$IIy)Ry $)" "f Mf+y,1-)R Wf? 1$vy )yvyA "f)y FyTfAy] Have you an embarrassing Spice moment? @+F$AA$MM-)R ##S r1$, 1$EEy)M f) $ gE-Dy yvy), M,$WM f) $ gE-Dy yvy),` RfyM $II fvyA !$DyFffK $)" TfIIfrM Wf? TfA ,1y AyM, fT Wf?A I-Ty] 61yAy $Ay EIy),W fT y+F$AA$MM-)R M,fA-yM F?, EyfEIy r-II )yy" ,f e)" ,1y+ f?, TfA ,1y+MyIvyM ^.

What is your life philosophy in one sentence? p-Ty -M )f, $ Nf?A)yW ,f ,1y RA$vy r-,1 ,1y -),y)&f) fT $AA-v-)R M$TyIW -) $ EAycW $)" ryIISEAyMyAvy" Ff"W] d?, A$,1yA` ,f MK-" -) FAf$"M-"y` ,1fAf?R1IW ?My" ?E`,f,$IIW rfA) f?,` $)" If?"IW EAfDI$-+-)R ]]]] hLh r1$, $ A-"y] Four people (Dead or Alive) you’d invite to your dream party?

V Df?I")X, N?M, 1$vy Tf?A EyfEIy ,f $ "-))yA E$A,W F?, -T V 1$" ,f V rf?I" -)DI?"y LMD$A h-I"y` g,yE1y) !AW` @++$ 61f+EMf) $)" \y$,1 py"RyA] Your favourite movie? mW T$vf?A-,y +fv-y -M 61y /M?$I g?MEyD,M] 61y I$M, MyB?y)Dy -M f?, -T ,1-M rfAI"% Most treasured belonging? +W +fM, ,Ay$M?Ay" FyIf)R-)R -M $ M,?Oy" "yyA D$IIy" \$+-M1 ,1$, +W RA$) +$"y +y $M $ F$FW] V, -M M&II M$Ty "yME-,y Fy-)R +?D1 Ifvy"]

Spice weekends \yAy -M $ M+$II MyIyD&f) fT f?A ?E $)" Df+-)R FAy$KM Q ,1Ayy vyAW "-OyAy), ryyKy)"M r-,1 fE&f)M` F?, ,1yAy $Ay +$)W +fAy Mf "f D1yDK Wf?A IfD$I ryFM-,y]

Center Parcs Sherwood Weekend

WHEN: WHERE: COST: OPTIONAL:

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Center Parcs - It s A Knock Out

National Dragon Boat Racing WHEN: WHERE: COST:

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“

No Spicer should miss a Dragon Boat Day. It really sums up what Spice is all about – fun, friendship, excitement & the chance to try $& $2<@ECG C!$C $&G/&- 2$& -&(/G9

”

Edinburgh Festival Weekend II Bank Holiday WHEN: WHERE: COST:

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spice gallery

Recent Events

Spice gives back

Spicers making pizzas

Building homes for otters

Canadian canoes

Fancy dress party with Spicers

Its time to hula!

Fencing taster session

Tubing on the slopes

Richard’s Roundup Welcome to Spring and all the happy times it will bring us.

Welcome particularly to the many people who have joined us so far this year to make 2014 extra special!

If you see a new face on any of our events, we trust you will give the normal warm Spice welcome.

Over 500 events have gone by since I wrote my January piece and we have had lots and lots of fun in a huge variety of ways. Here are a few of the major highlights: We saw in the year by taking over the Crown Plaza Hotel and turning it into a Magical Mystery Circus!

Also in January, Maggie took a stunning Spice West Midlands Ski Trip to stylish Courchevel 1850.

She was then back in France a week later with Simon Footer MBE and a group of members to discover the WW1 Battlefields in this 100th anniversary year. Simon brought to life the realities of trench warfare.

I understand that many a tear was shed as he read the famous John McCrae war poem “In Flanders Field” with the backdrop of the grave lines.

In March we turned The Copthorne Hotel - Dudley into a little piece of Hollywood.

All the stars were represented in the usual crazy Spice displays of fancy dress!

That weekend I also took 25 of our members to Istanbul - and Spice absolutely rocked the city!

As ever, I tried to achieve the sort of experience we would have as independent travellers rather than doing the “group travel” thing! This meant travelling solely by public transport and trying to include places that tourists wouldn’t usually discover. One example was taking the group to one of my favourite drinking houses on Saturday Night while a riot was taking place in the streets nearby!

The place was packed with trendy young Turks who just loved it when we started dancing on our chairs to the live local music. We bonded with them all and were applauded and cheered throughout.

And finally, in our January Spice Newsletter I set us a challenge.

This was in the form of a photo competition where we were all invited to submit a photo that matched the title “the Beauty of a Tree on its Own”. A theme that I likened to the different ways that the world is perceived by people with autism.

Our response to this challenge brought together a brilliant and eclectic gallery of 115 trees. The interpretations have ranged from the highly creative to the positively zany!

Do take a moment to view the gallery on our Facebook Page.

However, we thought that the collection deserved a little more dignity than an on line gallery. So we have planned very special evening on April 9th where all the pictures will be displayed at Winterbourne House in Edgbaston (see P17). The House is surrounded by a botanical garden, so it may even feel like our trees are “coming home”. Do hope you can join us there.

See you on the events ..

Coming Events April 2014 Monday

7

Spice Book Club* Tamworth & Lichfield Pub Night

14

Darts Night & Buffet Run in the Park

21

Tuesday 1 April

Thursday 3

Run in the Park Ten Pin Bowling (Broadway Plaza)

Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Comedy & Song at the Jam House Inspirational Suppers - (2) Jerry & Lisa

Dinner Shuffle at The Marwood Halesowen & Quinton Pub Night Jogging Evening in Solihull

8

9

10

Preview Evening (Sutton) Solihull Pub Night

15

Drumming Experience for Beginners Kings Heath Pub Night West Side Story*

22

Bromsgrove Pub Night

Run in the Park

28

29

American Pool Night & Buffet Preview Evening (Arden Hotel)

Wednesday 2

Run in the Park

Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Beauty of a Tree Evening Earlswood Ramb & Supper Run in the Park Sutton Pub Nt

16

Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Boudica & Supper at Tutbury Castle

Curry & Quiz Solihull Jogging Evening in Solihull

Friday 4

JCB VIP Visit & Lunch

17

Bradgate Park Ramble Guide Dog Training Centre Madresfield Court Visit* Rock Climbing Terrified Scuba Taster Experience Stand Up Paddle Boarding Toboggan & Fondue Night Vulcan Bomber Restoration Experience Wolf Experience & Walk

Sunday 6

Burlesque/Fan Dance* Camel Riding Experience in Warwickshire Daventry Easy/Moderate Ramble Kayaking Intro on Edgbaston Reservoir Pottery Workshop Upper Arley & Wyre Forest Ramble

Drawing & Watercolour W’end Fly Fishing W’end

11

Barn Dance & Supper with Banjacs* Murder Mystery Evening & Buffet

Outdoor Digital Photography W’end Drop Forge Dinner Shuffle Jogging Evening in Solihull King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys Warwick & Leamington Pub Night

Saturday 5

18

Spice Hits Town at the Jam House Sutton Park Hot Cross Bun Ramble

12

A Female Perspective Dogs Home Visit Guided Canoe Tour of Birmingham Jewellery with Beads Kayak River Adventure Nature for Beginners!

Western Rifle Shooting Windsurfing* Wrekin Ramble

Spring City Break - Cambridge by Canoe

19

Cupcake Easter Decorating Workshop Hippodrome Back Stage Llama & Wolf Experience Pole Dancing with Pure Joy Sewing Class with Jenni from BBC's Sewing Bee

23

24

Jogging Evening in Solihull Thai Brasserie Dinner Shuffle

25

Cinema Night Rubery Zumba For Beginners

26

Berwyn Mountain Ramble Makeover or Boudoir Photography Session Oil Painting in a Day Sculpture for Beginners Symonds Yat Adventure

20

Cinema Night Kinder Southern Edge Ramble New Members Easy Morning Ramble New Members Kababish Sunday Lunch Buffet Sutton Park Discovery Tank Battle Experience Warwick Easter Egg Treasure Hunt

Sailing Easter W'end from Poole * Easter South Wales Walking & Chill Out W’end Easter in the Lakes Walking Breaks New Members Welsh Cottage Easter Break Newcastle Easter Party W’end Newquay & Cornish Coast Easter Walking W’end Pembrokeshire Coastal Walking Break Whitby Easter Walking & Social W’end Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Chinese Meal & Quiz - Sutton Happy Days

13

Balloon Flight Birmingham By Boat Draycot Water Ramble Hopwood & Wast Hills Easy Ramble Stone Carving Temple Guiting Ramble The Big Abseil Zip World - Ultimate Zipline Experience*

27

Ballroom Dance Masterclass - Jive I'm Sorry I haven't a Clue* Kenilworth Ramble Medieval Jousting Motorbike Off Road Experience Sherwood 50km Mt Biking Studley Easy Ramble Wing Walking Experience

Mini Break To Stockholm Lake District Activities Bunk Barn W’end Tennis W’end with Coaching

30

Quiz Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Ice Skating Fun Night Superstars of Soul

Spice Birmingham, 6A Burnett Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 3EJ Tel: 0121 353 6161

Fax: 0121 353 6861 Email: richard@spicebham.com * Denotes event is full – wait list only

Web: www.spicebham.com

Coming Events May 2014 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday 1 May

Curry & Quiz Wolverhampton Halesowen & Quinton Pub Night Jogging Evening in Solihull

Friday 2

Saturday 3

Abseiling for the Terrified Climb Longstone Pinnacle Hangliding - Tandem Kayaking in Edgbaston Microlighting Experience Paragliding - Tandem Paragliding Day Course Quad Bike Intro & Woodland Trek Rally Driving Lesson

Sunday 4

Birmingham City Walk Celebrate the Dawn Chorus Dog Walk amongst the Bluebells at Lickey Hills Helicopter Lesson Lindy Hop Dance Workshop Stand Up Paddle Boarding Stipperstones Day Ramble Warwick Easy Ramble

Adrenaline Cocktail W’end Hadrian's Wall Bank Holiday Walking Break Liverpool & Chester Bank Holiday Social W’end Welsh Camping Long W’end Plymouth, Devon & Cornish Coast Walking Break Quintessential Snowdonia Walking W’end Sailing: Cross Channel Gosport-Cherbourg Peninsula

5

6

Spice Book Club Tamworth & Lichfield Pub Night Warwick VIP Horse Racing Day with Meal & Tour

Bodega South American Dining Run in the Park Spice "Biggest Loser" - The Great Outdoors Ten Pin Bowling (Broadway Plaza)

12

13

Run in the Park

19

Bromsgrove Pub Night Private Evening Garden Tour Run in the Park

26

Yoga & Pilates - Connect with your Core

8

Flamenco Dancing Workshop Girls Roller Skating Lesson Jogging Evening in Solihull La Nonna Italian Dinner Shuffle Quiz - Sound & Vision Quiz in Birmingham

9

Shootout & Party Food at the Kiddies Playcentre!

10

Beekeeping Afternoon Binning The Stress Chaddesley Corbett Easy Bluebell Ramble Colour U Confident Cupcake Making Workshop Discover Nature of Wales Don't Diet - Change the way you Eat Lift Tower Abseil* Max ATV, Off Road Mud Buggies, Blind Driving Polo Outdoor Lesson Rowing for Beginners Secrets of Tissington Walk with Sir Richard

11

Acting for Beginners Workshop Beginners Horse Trek Charity Duck Race Farm Talk & Walk Hayfield Round Intermediate Mountain Bike Ride Indian Head Massage Workshop Lichfield Discovery Walk Mountain Biking for Beginners NLP for Beginners

Brecon Beacons Bunk Barn W’end Buxton's Palace & Peaks Walking W’end Sailing W’end around Malta & Gozo

Death & the Maiden Solihull Pub Night

20

7

Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Balsall Common Ev Ramble Blacksmithing Evening Gliding at Needwood New Members Treasure Hunt Preview Evening (Strathallan)

14

Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Lord of the Flies New Members Easy Ramble Sutton Pub Night

15

Beer & Skittles Indian Fine Dining-Delhi 6 Jogging Ev in Solihull Rounders & Social Night Warwick & Leamington Pub Night

16

17

Back to Backs Bird Handling Course Dragon Boating & Supper Ramble, Scramble & Dangle Rugby School Tour Stained Glass Workshop White Water Rafting Wolf Experience & Walk

18

Bourton on the Water & Slaughters Ramble Branston Easy Ramble Bridge Abseil & Ladder Climb Cinema Night Croquet Party Hoola Hooping Kayaking for Fun Makeup Skills Afternoon

Acrylic Painting W’end Birds of Prey W’end Bucharest & Transylvanian Experience Camping Afloat - Wolverhampton to Penkridge Peak District Inn Way W’end - Stage One Sailing W’end from Poole - Jurassic Coast & Weymouth

Gliding Evening at Stratford Kings Heath Pub Night Middleton Ev Ramble

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Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Everyday Hair/ Makeup Lesson Quiz

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GMFR Meet Jogging Ev in Solihull Jon Richardson Merchants Dinner Shuffle Morris Dancing

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Spice Hits Town at the Jam House

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Digital Photography for Beginners Dinghy Sailing Enamelling for Beginners Itihaas Contemporary Indian Dinner Shuffle Redwings Horse Sanctuary

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Hatton Easy Ramble Horse Riding Fun Day! Multi Water Sports Afternoon Penistone Bike Ride Prodrive V.I.P. Visit The Big Abseil

Beverley Friary W’end Away* Ilkley Moor Yorkshire Walking W’end Jersey Walking & Social W’end* Lynton, North Devon Coast & Exmoor Walking Break Pembrokeshire Coast Walking Break Sailing: Cross Channel Welsh 3000's - The Ultimate Mountain Challenge

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One Man Two Guvnors Owl Walk

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Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Quiz - News Quiz & Supper Bewdley

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Byzantium Tapas Shuffle Jogging Ev in Solihull Mary Queen of Scots at Tutbury Castle

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Cinema Night Rubery Salsa Dance Workshop

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Calke Abbey Easy Ramble Ditton Priors Ramble Horse Archery Trick Horse Riding White Water Kayaks

Dance W’end: Cuban & Latin in Blackpool

Spice Birmingham, 6A Burnett Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 3EJ Tel: 0121 353 6161

Fax: 0121 353 6861 Email: richard@spicebham.com * Denotes event is full – wait list only

Web: www.spicebham.com

Coming Events June 2014 Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday 1 June

Bosworth Moderate Steam Train Ramble Crown Green Bowling Golf - Play in a Day Great Midlands Fun Run* Mountain Biking Six Hills Ramble White Knight - Good Fairy Wing Walking Experience

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Spice Book Club Tamworth & Lichfield Pub Night

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New Members Mix & Mingle Birmingham Ten Pin Bowling (Broadway Plaza)

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Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Breadmaking Workshop at Hindleys Curry & Quiz Sutton C’field

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Barn Dance & Supper Steaming To Victory

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Bat Appreciation Walk Crazy For You Gorge Walking Adventure In Search of Snakes Meet your True Soul Mate National Space Centre Visit Rock Climbing Terrified Scuba Taster Experience StageSide Dinner Shuffle Western Rifle Shooting

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Adventure Trekking Day Clent Easy Ramble Cosford Airshow Golf - Play in a Day Llama & Wolf Experience Segway at Weston Park Ten Things Everyone Should Know About DIY Ukulele for Fun Wake up the Zoo

Eastbourne & South Downs Walking W'end Patterdale Walking W’end Sailing around the Solent Sea Kayaking with Seals

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Inspirational Suppers - (3) Maria Tucker

Indoor Climbing Marco Pierre White Dinner Shuffle Preview Evening (Dudley) Solihull Pub Night

Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA New Members Easy Ramble Quiz - News Quiz & Supper in Chaddesley Corbett Sutton Pub Night

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Bromsgrove Pub Night Westfield Cars Visit

Curry in the Country Kings Heath Pub Night She Stoops to Conquer

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Gliding at Stratford Jogging Ev in Solihull La Fille Mal Gardee Museum Collections Centre Rounders & Social Night Saxon Mill Dinner Shuffle

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Mikado at the Blue Orange Poker Night in Birmingham

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Abseiling for Beginners at Symonds Yat BBC Behind the Scenes Ballroom - Quickstep Bidford on Avon Moderate Ramble & Picnic Caving for the Terrified Finding Your Dreams Flight Simulator Jewellery Making - Beads Wildflower Wander World Cup - England v Italy & Bar Meal

Fun Activity W’end Sailing: Learn to Sail Introductory W’end

Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Drumming Experience for Beginners Le Bistrot Pierre Dining Shenstone Ev Ramble

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Curry & Quiz Find My Past Jogging Ev in Solihull Owl Handling Warwick & Leam Pub Nt Winterbourne House Tour World Cup Match & Meal

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Spice Hits Town at the Jam House

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Big Wild Sleepout Birmingham Art Gallery Pre Raphaelite Tea & Tour Birmingham Central Mosque Visit Ferrari v Lamborghini Blast Monmouth & Offas Dyke Ramble Snowdon Summer Solstice Sleepover White Water Kayaks

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Abseiling for the Terrified Cinema Night Compton Verney Grounds Tour & Tea Coton In The Elms Easy Ramble Incredible Auto Circus Maxstoke Castle Visit & Easy Ramble Navigation - in Four Simple Steps!

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Clifford Chambers Sunday Lunch Ramble Cut Gate Intermediate Mountain Bike Ride How to Make Friends & Influence People

Center Parcs Sherwood Forest Cheddar Gorge & Mendips Walking W’end Sailing Round The Island Yacht Race*

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Hot Yoga for Beginners

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African Buffet at Akamba Forhill Evening Ramble Halesowen & Quinton Pub Night Jogging Ev in Solihull

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Indoor Rifle Shooting Evening World Cup England v Costa Rica & Bar Meal

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Badminton in Coventry & Wolverhampton Badminton NIA Quiz

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Cocktails & Dim Sum Jogging Ev in Solihull Nine Steps to Happiness Race Night & Chip Supper

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Cinema Night Rubery Dancing with Mr Darcy

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Crown Green Bowling Hippodrome Tour Preston Bagott Easy Ramble & Lunch Summer Masked Ball 2014 Upton on Severn Ramble

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Bungee Jump over Water Charity Easy Cycling Tour of Sutton Park Croquet Party Kayak River Adventure Ludlow & Richards Castle Ramble Ryton Pools Easy Ramble

Peak District Inn Way W’end 2 Sailing W’end around Malta & Gozo Scottish Walking Week* Scarborough Heritage Coast Walking W'end

Preview Ev’g

Spice Birmingham, 6A Burnett Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, B74 3EJ Tel: 0121 353 6161

Fax: 0121 353 6861 Email: richard@spicebham.com * Denotes event is full – wait list only

Web: www.spicebham.com

Meals and Party Nights Party Nights are a big part of our programme. Throughout the year we alternate between posh affairs & simple disco’s to try and cater for every taste and pocket.

As some of our party’s have around 500 capacity, they can be a little daunting if you don’t already know a few people and it’s difficult for us all to look after people individually. That’s why we don’t recommend them as good ‘first events’ to go to on your own unless you are very confident and outgoing.

Dining with Spice is always an experience, and we seek to provide you with experiences that are unusual, and, where possible absolutely unique and exclusive to Spice. All our meals are very sociable, so don’t worry if you don’t know many people – most of us are in exactly the same boat - but the group soon develops into one ‘happy family’. If you are brand new to Spice, however, let the office know and we’ll try to introduce you to some new friends on the night.

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Barn Dance & Supper

.. a cracking night in a the barn with Fiddler's Elbow! th

Date: Friday 6 June 2014 (Sorry, April date with Banjacks now full) Place: Wishaw Country Sports, just off the A446 near The Belfry Hotel Easy access from Sutton, Solihull & Tamworth via M42 (B76 9PQ) # Meet: Arrive from 7.30pm, Band 8.00pm to 11.00pm. Food 9.00pm Cost: £20 (£23 Guest) includes hot buffet or bbq supper (depending on weather) We've had so many requests to run this night again, again & again! The same successful formula of great music, an authentic rural location and great food has been arranged.

Music is provided live by 4 piece band Fiddlers Elbow, who bring us the best jigs and country sounds from Irish and Scottish roots. They’ll explain all the moves – which we all get wrong – and it's a great opportunity to mix, as you are never with one partner for long. Don't worry if you can't dance, none of us can … and it’s great fun trying! There are even fine country ales on tap. All in all, it's about as much fun as you can have in a barn with your clothes on!

Toboggan & Fondue Night .. this legendary Spice event is back!

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Date: Saturday 5 April 2014 Place: Swadlincote Ski Centre (DE11 8LP) Meet: 5.30pm for 5.45pm start (food at 8pm) Cost: £19.50 (£22.50 Guest) Incl: 1 hour each of toboggan & tubing followed by fondue meal You don’t have to go away on a ski trip to get that “apres ski” experience! Tonight we have 2 hours of “play time” followed by food & merriment at this centre. We’ll be split into 2 groups and spend an hour on the toboggan run (you should get at least 2 runs in) and 1 hour tubing down the dry ski slope. By 8pm we should have worked up an appetite to spend the rest of the night in The Alpine Lodge where we’ll enjoy a wonderful alpine fondue feast and a well stocked bar till 10.30. It’s a fun, sociable event that you really can’t miss!

The Tobogganing: The Alpine Toboggan Run makes a breath taking 650m descent, winding and twisting its way around and under the ski slope and the only thing in control of your speed is gravity and you!

The Tubing: We hurtle down the ski slope on huge rubber tubes. It’s crazy, it’s out of control .. and you will laugh - lots!

The Fondue: After all this fun, we'll move onto the apres ski. On the tables will be pork, beef and cheese fondues. We can try a little of each. There are also chips, salad, French bread and tasty dips. Dessert of the day is also included.

StageSide Dinner Shuffle

.. a Saturday night stage door dining experience!

Date: Saturday 7th June 2014 Place: StageSide Brasserie. Thorpe Street by Birmingham Hippodrome (B5 4TB) Meet: 7.45pm for 8.00pm Cost: £28 (£30 Guest) includes 3 courses, service & coffees Just over the road from the Hippodrome Theatre stage door on Thorp Street is the StageSide brasserie, a casual dining experience with a lively bar. Tonight we have exclusive use of the restaurant between 8.00pm and 8.30pm. The restaurant will then open to the public. You might even bump into cast members and musicians as it’s a popular post-show haunt.

Menu: We will be taking pre orders when booking, please see the full menu at www.spicebham.com

Itihaas Contemporary Indian Dinner Shuffle .. exquisite Indian cuisine for a Saturday night

Date: Saturday 24th May 2014 Place: 18 Fleet Street, Birmingham (B3 1JL) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £28.50 (£32 Guest) includes 3 course set meal & service charges Itihaas is widely recognised as the pioneer of exquisite Indian cuisine in the Midlands. It has won numerous accolades for its food, service and decor including The Cobra Good Curry Awards for the Best UK Restaurant and The British Curry Awards 2012 for Best Restaurant in the Midlands.

Itihaas is a stunning restaurant where contemporary meets traditional. No expense has been spared in achieving this, and as you step into this £2m restaurant, you will certainly see just that. The decor is clean and crisp with plate glass and slate finished walls. This smart and sophisticated interior is complimented by the 18th and 19th century Indian artefacts, including original paintings, carved stone elephants and 300 year old doors. Downstairs, the Maharaja Suite is luxurious with opulent mood lighting and decorated with more Indian treasures. Behind 300 year old Indian wooden doors is the Tiffin Room which seats 12, complete with a bar, library and your very own dedicated butler!

Cuisine in this fine establishment is created by award winning chefs and staff who come from Indian Five-Star Hotel backgrounds. They have a single aim - to be able to deliver authentic Royal Indian dining with utmost courtesy and hospitality. The menu will take you on a culinary journey through the North of India with a couple of stops through Kenya and vibrant Mumbai. At this royal eatery, indulgence is paramount.

Menu & Parking: please see more details with the online version of this writeup at www.spicebham.com

New Members Kababish Sunday Lunch Buffet .. enjoy an authentic Punjabi buffet with new friends

Sunday 20th April 2014 Jockey Rd, Boldmere, Sutton Coldfield (B73 5XP) 1.30pm £12.50 (£15 Guest). The Spice Package: We have a set 2 course buffet of starters & main courses (usually £9) but we pay £3.50 extra to add popadoms and a first drink (large glass of wine, pint of beer or soft drink) An opportunity for those who have recently joined the group to socialise with other newbies (although all members are also more than welcome to book). This event also ties in with the end of our New Members Ramble so we hope that some of the ramblers will be joining us for lunch. A Spice favourite, The Kababish is a family run restaurant, famous for offering authentic, traditional and contemporary Asian cuisine.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Marco Pierre White Dinner Shuffle .. stylish fine dining at Birmingham's most chic address

Date: Tuesday 10th June 2014 Place: The Cube, Birmingham (B1 1RN) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £33 (£36 Guest) includes 3 course meal, coffees, private room hire & coordinator Extra: Drinks & Tips at your discretion The uber-trendy MPW restaurant crowns the top of the Cube and offers stunning night-time views over the city. The food is beautifully prepared, presented and served. Tonight we have use of their private dining room and a special menu that offers very good value for money for such a special dining experience.

Our package includes a glass of Prosecco on arrival as well as a lovely menu.

Menu: We will be taking pre orders when booking, please see the full menu at www.spicebham.com.

Important Note about Dinner Shuffles Some of our meals are run as “dinner shuffles”. On these occasions we move people around between courses so that we all get to meet and talk to lots of people. It works really well. However, I just wanted to stress that you should only book one of these events if you are prepared to enter into the spirit and move when asked to by the coordinator. These nights will not work otherwise. We do understand that you may be in an interesting conversation or with someone you know. But it spoils the night for everyone if you let this get in the way of the shuffle. If you think this may be a problem, please do not book a meal with “shuffle” in the title.

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Boathouse at Bracebridge

.. exquisite lakeside dining in Sutton Park th

Date: Friday 11 July 2014 Place: Four Oaks Gate, Sutton Park (B74 2YR) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £22.50 (£24 Guest) Inc 3 course meal, teas/coffees &10% service charge This restaurant must have one of the most fantastic settings in our area. We’ll dine overlooking Bracebridge Pool in Sutton Park in a great restaurant that boasts well cooked, well presented modern English food in a simple yet rustic décor. Fish dishes are a speciality and there’s a good wine list and friendly efficient service.

Menu: The March menu has not been finalised, but expect a choice of at least 3 starters, 3 main courses (including, fish, meat and vegetarian options), 3 dessert options and coffees to finish. If you need the exact menu, please call nearer time.

Directions: Please see the detailed directions at our website www.spicebham.com

Drop Forge Dining Experience .. Spice get inside this unusual new restaurant

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Date: Thursday 17 April 2014 Place: 6-10 Hockley St, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham (B18 6BL) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £29 (£31 Guest) incl. 3 course dinner. Extra: Coffees. Tips discretionary We’re delighted to have discovered this historic and unusual restaurant which is housed in a brilliantly converted industrial building. Hot metal has now given way to innovative British cooking with a really characterful backdrop. The Drop Forge is situated in a fascinating area of our Jewellery Quarter. The chef has promised to delight us with a 3 three course meal.

Menu: We will be taking pre orders when booking, please see the full menu at www.spicebham.com

Dining at The Marwood .. fun dining in Worcester

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Date: Thursday 3 April 2014 Place: 40 The Tything, Worcester (WR1 1JL) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £29 (£31 Guest) Includes: three course dinner. Extras: Tips discretionary. Coffees Many of our Worcester members have mentioned this venue to us for it’s great food. So we’re off to sample three courses at this atmospheric and fun restaurant. The Chef really does know how to put some wonderful dishes together using complex and unusual ingredients. Atmosphere is very relaxed and there is a great bar with real ales and ciders.

Menu: We will be taking pre orders when booking, please see the full menu at www.spicebham.com

Thai Brasserie Dinner Shuffle .. sample this new Thai restaurant in Streetly

Date: Thursday 24th April 2014 Place: 52 Thornhill Rd (Corner with Burnett Road) (B74 3EN) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £19.50 (£22 Guest) Includes: includes 2 courses set menu in private room Extra: Take cash for drinks on night and allow approx £2 for tip kitty Spice have exclusively booked the upstairs room at this lovely new restaurant, which overlooks Sutton Park from Streetly Village. This half timbered corner building with its balconies has a homely atmosphere is gaining a good reputation for home cooked Thai food, using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible.

Menu: (no need to order as we get the lot) can be seen at www.spicebham.com

A Spice Newsletter is just a Snapshot in Time We are booking new events into the Spice programme all the time as new opportunities occur.

Please make sure that you also check our schedules on line at www,spicebham.com so you don’t miss a thing.

We also update members on a weekly basis with out “Weekly Bulletin” by email and via our Facebook Page.

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Indian Fine Dining at Delhi 6 .. discover excellent Indian cuisine in Streetly

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Date: Thursday 15 May 2014 Place: Delhi 6, Burnett Road, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield (B74 3EJ) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £21.50 (£23.50 Guest) Incl: 2 courses plus appetizers Delhi 6 is a very different kind of Indian Restaurant – and well worth discovering. They have a deliberately small menu, but each item is designed to be dramatic, innovative and authentic. They use fresh and authentic ingredients that not only taste better but are healthier as well. Of course this costs a little more than a traditional “curry house”, however, we think you will enjoy the difference.

Menu: Please check on line for details. Note: We have not included desserts, but these can be ordered/ paid on night.

Directions: Parking is available on the roadside in Burnett Road and Leslie Road, or in the car park behind Spice.

Bodega South American Dining Experience .. an evening of South American cuisine

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Date: Tuesday 6 May 2014 Place: 12 Bennetts Hill, Birmingham (B2 5RS) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £22 (£24 Guest) Includes: 3 course meal, Service discretionary, tea/coffee extra Bodega is a contemporary cantina bringing fresh, homemade South American inspired cuisine to Birmingham city centre. They also offer one of the best drinks selections in the city, offering mouth watering cocktails, a handpicked range of South American wines and a comprehensive selection of regional bottled beers.

Menu: Please see online and let us know your choices

La Nonna Italian Dinner Shuffle .. enjoy traditional Italian home cooking

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Date: Thursday 8 May 2014 Place: 16 Arden Oak Rd, Sheldon (B26 3LX) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £26 (£29 Guest) Incl: 3 courses, coffees & Spice coordinator. Extra: Tips Since 1969 this family restaurant has been delighting diners with traditional & authentic Italian recipes cooked as they would be in an Italian home. This restaurant has been highly recommended by Spice members.

Menu: We will be taking pre orders when booking, please see the full menu at www.spicebham.com

Merchants Dinner Shuffle

.. enjoy this fun restaurant in Warwick centre nd

Date: Thursday 22 May 2014 Place: Merchants, Swan Street, Warwick (CV34 4BJ) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £29 (£32 Guest) Incl: 3 courses, coffees & Spice coordinator. Extra: Tips At this fun contemporary restaurant, there’s always an excuse for a gathering and by golly they love a good party!

The restaurant serves great local food, cooked with flair and a flavour of “Britishness”. All dishes are freshly prepared using local ingredients wherever possible. This is a “dinner shuffle”, so we will be moving around during courses so that we get to talk to as many people as possible during the evening.

Menu: We will be taking pre orders when booking, please see the full menu at www.spicebham.com

Important Note about Dinner Shuffles Some of our meals are run as “dinner shuffles”. On these occasions we move people around between courses so that we all get to meet and talk to lots of people. It works really well. However, I just wanted to stress that you should only book one of these events if you are prepared to enter into the spirit and move when asked to by the coordinator. These nights will not work otherwise. We do understand that you may be in an interesting conversation or with someone you know. But it spoils the night for everyone if you let this get in the way of the shuffle. If you think this may be a problem, please do not book a meal with “shuffle” in the title.

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Byzantium Tapas Dinner Shuffle .. discover this excellent restaurant with friends

Date: Thursday 29th May 2014 Place: 11 York Road, Kings Heath (B14 7SA) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £20 (£22 Guest) Includes: party menu, service charges & Spice coordinator We recently asked Spice members to recommend their favourite restaurants. We are very grateful to Sally Taylor for introducing us to this one. Byzantium is a small family owned Tapas Restaurant who don't just take inspiration from Spain, but create dishes inspired from across the Mediterranean to give you the opportunity to experience not only a selection of food, but also a selection of cuisines. Tapas is the perfect food for eating with friends, family and loved ones - it's about sharing, talking and trying new things. Tapas gives you the opportunity to have lots of different things.

Menu: We’ve booked a 2 course menu. The menu is on our website but there are no choices to be made – we get the lot laid out on our tables! We have not included dessert, but these can be ordered and paid for separately if you have room!

African Buffet at Akamba

.. dine at an authentic African game lodge!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Thursday 5th June 2014 Meet at Tribe Eatery, Akamba, Tythe Barn Lane, Shirley (B90 1PH) 7.30pm £13.50 (£15 Guest) Includes: 2 course African buffet. We’ve added teas/coffees to the usual package and a place for a Spice Coordinator to run the evening. Extras: Tips Akamba is quite unique. Owner, Chris Canaan has created a little bit of Africa in Shirley and we can’t think of anywhere better to spend a Summers evening! Akamba incorporates a garden centre for exotic plants and displays lots of metal sculptures of African wildlife. It is a great place to wander around. It the centre is The Tribe Eatery. It’s traditional wooden, straw thatched lodge and when the sun is shining you really do feel transported to the heart of Africa.

Our Buffet: We have booked a 2 course buffet of African and Caribbean delights including goat curry, jerk chicken and BBQ chicken plus a range of vegetable accompaniments. We also get a dessert (if you prefer you can substitute a starter for dessert if you tell us in advance). There will also be a vegetarian option. They have also included teas/ coffees for us.

Exploring: We meet at the Tribe Eatery for 7.30pm but the garden centre and gift shop will be open throughout the evening so we can combine our evening with shopping and exploring. More: Visit www.akamba.co.uk

Saxon Mill Dinner Shuffle ..glorious "gastropub" dining by the river!

Date: Thursday 12th June 2014 Place: Guys Cliffe, Warwick (CV34 5YN) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £29.50 (£31.50 Guest) Incl: 3 course meal & 10% service Extra: Tea/Coffee There can’t be a more spectacular location for a pub, as The Saxon Mill. It enjoys unrivalled views over the river and Guys Cliffe. The atmosphere is relaxed, friendly and informal, yet they have put a lot of thought and effort into the complete redesign creating a totally new interior, featuring open kitchens, stone fired ovens and log burning fires, offset by beautifully landscaped decking for alfresco dining. They are busy virtually every night and have a great reputation for imaginative cuisine from the freshest ingredients. Location and menu: See full details at www.spicebham.com

Dinner Shuffle around the World - Moroccan .. discover the wonderful flavours of Arabia

Date: Saturday 26th July 2014 Place: Marston Farm Hotel - directions at www.spicebham.com (B76 9JD) Meet: 7.30pm for 8.00pm Cost: £24 (£27 Guest), Incl: Themed dinner, Spice coordinator This was the most popular in last year’s series of dinner shuffles at the delightfully secluded, historic hotel – so we’ve decided to run it again. The chef at Marston Farm has worked in many fine restaurants around the globe, so he loves the challenge of Spice “dining around the world”. The hotel was formerly a private home of Sir Robert Peel and also has a beautiful courtyard. We will have our own private area to dine and shuffle.

Our Moroccan/ Arabic Menu and directions are on our website at www.spicebham.com 5

Curry in the Country .. discover this unusual Indian!

Date: Tuesday 17th June 2014 Place: Pavilion Cuisine, Blackgreaves Lane Lea Marston (B76 0DA) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £19.50 (£22 Guest) Incl: Poppadoms, any Starter & Main & Tea/Coffee Pavilion Cuisine is an exclusive Indian & Bangladeshi restaurant sited in a restored cricket pavilion near Sutton Coldfield.

The team have worked in some of the finest establishments in the world and offer a seasonal menu that features a vibrant mix of dishes from culinary areas across India. Only the finest and freshest ingredients are used with many of the recipes having been handed down across generations. This evening we will enjoy a delicious meal starting with Poppadoms and followed by a choice of any starters and main course from the menu. This will be followed by tea or coffee. No need to pre order. There is also lots of free parking at the venue.

Le Bistrot Pierre Dining Experience .. enjoy authentic French cuisine in Stratford

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Date: Wednesday 18 June 2014 Place: Swans Nest, Bridgefoot, Stratford on Avon (CV37 7LT) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £23 (£25 Guest) Incl: 3 course meal, tea or coffee. Extra: Service discretionary Le Bistrot Pierre is is one of small independent group of seven French restaurants. They specialise in simple, fresh French cooking and freshly prepare and cure all their ingredients on the premises, including their our own breasola. Much of their fresh French food comes from the Rungis market in Paris. It seeks to be an informal, friendly and lively bistro and is located at the front of the Swan's Nest Hotel in Bridgefoot, with spectacular views overlooking the river Avon.

Car Parking: The restaurant is on the front of The Swans Nest Hotel where there is ample free parking.

Menu: We will be taking pre orders when booking, please see the full menu at www.spicebham.com

Cocktail Masterclass and Dim Sum Evening .. a night of food, fun & fancy liquor!

Date: Thursday 26th June 2014 Place: Chung Ying Central - 126 Colmore Row – by Victoria Square (B3 3AP) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £29 (£34 Guest) Incl: Lots of cocktails, expert instruction and Dim Sum food This trendy, new, contemporary restaurant and bar has recently been opened by the same family who do our big Chinese evenings at Chung Ying Gardens (so they know how to show us a good time!). Today we are going to have lots of fun learning to mix, shake and present cocktails. Their experienced cocktail barman will show us his tricks of the trade in a fun, hands on session where you will end up making and tasting around 6 cocktails. We will be put us into (giggly) groups of 3 to add to the fun and learn how to create great combinations, colours and effects. To achieve perfect presentation you will learn how to frost the glass and decorate it for the client (er .. you!). No doubt you will want to take a camera to snap your masterpeices before they disappear! The cocktails will be accompanied by copious platters of delicious Chinese Dim Sum and these will be explained to you as they come out. Dim Sum is Chinese finger food and it is truly delicious!

Thai Dinner Shuffle at Maekong Thai .. a long awaited return to this Bromsgrove favourite

Date: Thursday 24th July 2014 Place: Maekong Thai, 12 Worcester Rd, Bromsgrove (B61 7AE) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £19 (£22 Guest) Includes: Starters & main courses Extra: Tips The 'Maekong Thai' is a very simple family owned restaurant that has earned a reputation over the last 11 years for good, home cooked Thai food. Between each course we'll move you around, so you get to talk to more people. You don't need to pre-order because there will be a selection of dishes served on each table, but please let us know when booking if you are vegetarian. There is free parking at the Market Hall at the rear of the restaurant

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Rodizio Rico Dining Experience at The Cube .. sociable, brazillian dining

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Thursday 3 July 2014 The Cube, Birmingham (B1 1RS) 7.30pm £27.50 (£29 Guest) includes all you can eat package as described (£23.50) plus 10% Service charge and Spice Coordinator. Extras: Dessert if required Welcome to a truly unique dining experience at Rodizio Rico, Birmingham’s first and only authentic Brazilian Churrascaria (pron. shoe-hass-korea). Here, an extensive selection of grilled meat is served directly from the charcoal grill by experienced passadors (meat carvers) passing from table to table slicing grilled meat from their skewers right into your plate. You choose what you would like from a wide selection of grilled meats, including Leg of lamb, variety of cuts of Beef, from Picanha (Cap of Rump steak), rump steak, ribs, Pork (ribs, leg of pork steak), Chicken (Legs, wings, hearts), homemade pork or chicken Sausages and many more! The waiters will gladly continue to slice up their freshly grilled meats until you can eat no more. A pure carnivore’s delight – all you need is a hearty appetite!

How it works: (1) Take a plate to the gourmet salad and sides bar, enjoy many items from Brazilian street food, to fresh cut vegetables and varied Brazilian side dishes (2) Once back at your table and ready for meat, turn your card green side up, to let the Passadores know you are ready to begin tableside service. Choose from the many different cuts of delicious charcoal fire roasted meats, brought straight to your table, sliced, and served by the Passadores. (3) When you are satisfied or need a break, flip the card to the red side until you are ready for more.

Optional Dessert: We haven’t included dessert, liquors or espresso but you can order these and pay directly on night.

Summer Masked Ball 2014

.. don't miss out on our legendary annual Ball! th

Date: Saturday 28 June 2014 Place: Botanical Gardens, Edgbaston, Birmingham (B15 3TR) Meet: Reception 7pm meal called at 8pm Cost: £49 Member, £55 Guest (Deposit £10) The Spice Summer Ball is a stylish affair in Birmingham’s foremost banqueting venue, with stylish cuisine and fine entertainment. Demand for tickets is always huge and this year will be no exception.

Elegant dining in these unique surroundings is a wonderful experience, set in the midst of some of the most exquisite and beautifully landscaped formal gardens in Britain. You are invited to join us in The Garden Suite, approached through the magnificent Tropical House and Terrace Glasshouses. If it is fine weather, we will meet our fellow Spice guests outside.

Dinner will be called at 8pm.

Theme: This year our Ball is a Masked Ball. You can still wear your beautiful dresses/ best “bib & tucker” but to enter fully into the spirit you just need to add some kind of mask!

Food & Entertainment: We will update this writeup as information comes in. But as a minimum you can expect a beautiful meal and dancing with our DJ. Watch this space for more …

Accommodation: See online version of this writeup for special Spice Rates at Strathallan Hotel, Hagley Road.

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Airborne Adventures A collection of events all connected with flying and flying machines!

Helicopter Lesson .. you've got to try this one!

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Date: Sundays: 4 May or 13 July 2014 Place: Wellesbourne Airfield near Stratford on Avon (CV35 9EU) # Meet: 12.45pm for 1pm Briefing Cost: £99 (£105 Guest) Paid as £9 (£15 Guest) deposit to Spice, plus £90 balance paid on the day This is a classic Spice event - you've just got to fly a helicopter one time in your life! We're just sorry we can't make it cheaper, but helicopters are extraordinarily costly to run! This isn't a pleasure flight, it's a lesson - and real occasion.

Your session starts with a briefing on helicopters in general and the controls of the Robinson R22 you’ll be flying. These machines are touch sensitive and challenging. You’ll be in the air for approx. 15 memorable minutes.

Note: Event is weather dependent and a weather check number will be provided. Weight limit 15½ stone (98kg).

Balloon Flights

.. the altogether more civilised way to fly! th

Date: Sunday 13 April 2014 (other dates can be arranged on request) Place: Choose: ● Tissington, Derbyshire or ● Shugborough Hall, Staffs # Meet: Early morning - to be confirmed with joining details Cost: £145 Member, £149 Guest An experience of a lifetime! You arrive at the launch site. Nothing is happening. A van arrives, towing a huge wicker basket. People gather in groups, look skywards mutter about clouds & met reports. Then suddenly it’s all action with people running everywhere as our pilots decide we're going for it! Checks are made, you hop in and are away, rising majestically, with an eagles view of the fields & hills spread in a tapestry below. Your memorable flight lasts 30-60 mins.

Location: Choose from 2 beautiful locations: Either Staffordshire (Shugborough Hall), or Derbyshire (Tissington Hall).

Please note: flights are weather dependent, so dates cannot be guaranteed. If you’re unable to fly on the date chosen, our supplier Wickers World will offer another date that is mutually convenient. Their special terms & conditions will be sent.

Flight Simulator Experience th

.. could you pilot a 737?

Date: Saturday 14 June 2014 Place: Sywell Aerodrome in Northamptonshire (NN6 0BN) # Meet: Slots from 2pm Cost: £59 (£64 Guest) Here is an ultimate experience that’s on most of our ‘must do’ lists and we have a deal, much less than the public price.

Possibly the ultimate challenge, could you fly a complete circuit of a major airport including take off, climb to height and landing with one of your colleagues sat next to you and the instructor in the back seat?

How does it work? Every session starts with a briefing by one of the qualified pilots, covering in detail cockpit layout, speeds and everything you will need to know to fly the aircraft. Briefing complete and it’s off to the simulator. Those waiting for their session can relax in our airport themed reception with drinks available. Each person will get 15 minutes as captain and 15 minutes as first officer giving everybody 30 minutes at the controls time. At the end of the session your instructor will tot up the results and complete the experience with a presentation. Everybody gets certificates but there is only one first prize. Who will be the Spice Flying Ace? The Simulator. This is not just a pretend aircraft used for experiences but a fully operational professional level 737NG used to train real airline pilots to fly. The simulator is brand new and 1:1 scale, the visuals are the best available and the sounds are sampled directly from the real aircraft. Add background air traffic control, passengers chatting in the cabin and you would be forgiven for thinking the aircraft was fully loaded with passengers waiting for you to deliver them around the world. We have the simulator booked from 2pm to 5pm. Slot times will be arranged nearer the date. Please advise if you prefer an earlier or later time slot (preference will be given to those who book earlier).

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Microlighting Experience Flight .. enjoy a 20 minute flight above Ashbourne!

Sundays: 3 May, 5th July or 6th September 2014 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) # Timeslots to be allocated Total cost is £49 (£54 Guests) PAID AS £5 (£10 Guest) deposit to Spice when booking PLUS a balance of £44 directly to the supplier on arrival.

These flights are with an instructor, in a dual controlled microlight, so you can have a go with the controls if you wish or just sit back and enjoy the experience! We start with a full briefing on safety procedures & equipment. The flight counts as a training flight, so if you want to continue flying by taking up a full course you already have some time which will count towards your full qualification. Unless you state otherwise we book a “flexwing” flight. They do have “3 axis” microlights as well if you prefer, which look more like a conventional aircraft but still have all the benefits of ultra light flight!

Note: Event is weather dependent and a weather check number will be provided. Weight limit 17stone (110kg).

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Paragliding Day Course

.. a perfect days introduction to the sport!

Sundays: 3 May, 5th July or 6th September 2014 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) # 9am to 5pm Total cost is £110 (£115 Guests) but this is paid as £10 (£15 guests) deposit when booking PLUS the balance direct to the supplier on arrival Paragliding is a fabulous experience. This day is designed to provide all the info you need to decide if flying is for you and they are normally able to get students flying low solo flights by the end of the day. This is also the way to start if you’re interested in Paramotoring, as you need to be able to paraglide before you can progress to motors. If this interests you, let the team know and they’ll show you some motor units and let you try them on!

Note: Event is weather dependent and a weather check number will be provided. Weight limit 15 stone (95kg).

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Paragliding - Tandem Experience .. experience a short but dramatic paraglide!

Sundays: 3 May, 5th July or 6th September 2014 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) # Timeslots to be allocated Cost is £55 (£59 Guests) PAID AS £5.50 (£9.50 Guest) deposit to Spice when booking PLUS a balance of £49.50 directly to the supplier on arrival Get the closest feeling to everyone’s dream of truly free flight. Flying with an instructor and towed up by a winch to around 500 -700 feet, you can either help to pilot the paraglider, or just sit back and admire the views of the beautiful Derbyshire countryside. The experience starts with a full briefing then a 5-10 minute flight depending on conditions.

Note: Event is weather dependent and a weather check number will be provided. Weight limit 15 stone (95kg).

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Hangliding - Tandem Experience by Air Tow .. an awesome experience at 3000 feet!

Sundays: 3 May or 5th July 2014 Darley Moor Airfield near Ashbourne (DE6 2ET) # Timeslots to be allocated Cost is £199 (£204 Guests) PAID AS £20 (£25 Guest) deposit to Spice when booking PLUS a balance of £179 directly to the supplier on arrival You’re towed behind a microlight to 3000ft (or cloudbase) in the company of an experienced instructor. Once the towline is jettisoned you’ll glide free and silent in complete awe of the spectacular views overlooking the beautiful Peak District.

You may even take the controls and fly the hang glider yourself or enjoy the thrill of limited aerobatics. As one member said, it’s “rather like flying with Superman”! The hang glider has an undercarriage for easier take-off and landing.

Notes: Cost reflects the need for both a crewed hanglider and a crewed microlight. There is a weight limit of 95kg.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Wing Walking Experience .. a 'once in a lifetime' Spice experience

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Date: Sundays: 27 April, 1st June, 6th July or 3rd August 2014 Place: Damyns Hall Aerodrome, Essex (RM14 2TN) # Meet: Details to be advised Cost: Total cost is £435 (£450 Gsts), paid as £50 (£65 Gsts) deposit to Spice & balance paid on day This is one of the most requested Spice events ever and it is back in the programme! Why not come and take a walk with us on top of a Boeing Stearman Biplane. You will take part in display training, with you as the wing walker, on top of the plane, smiling and waving to your friends below. After a full safety brief and training session you will be strapped into the 5 point safety harness on top of the biplane. You will then be taken skywards on an aerial adventure of a lifetime lasting approximately 10 minutes. You will take part in a display practice including fly pasts at various angles of bank and finish with a zoom climb from 135 mph. You even get a certificate confirming you are a trained wing walker.

Special Notes: Please read the full writeup at www.spicebham.com before booking as there are height/ weight restrictions.

Gliding Evenings at Needwood .. see rural Staffordshire by glider!

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Date: Wednesdays: 7 May or 16th July 2014 Place: Needwood Forest Gliding Club, between Lichfield & Burton # Meet: 6.30pm Cost: £35 (£37 Gst): paid as £5 (£7) deposit plus £30 on arrival by cash/cheque Brilliant, Superb, Tremendous, no one forgets their first flight in a glider! Accelerate from 0 to 60 in 3 seconds as you experience the thrill of being launched by Winch to around 1500’. From there you can gaze down upon the beautiful Staffordshire landscape as the glider gently slips through the air. Your instructor will demonstrate the use of the controls and give you the chance to fly. Alternatively you can just relax and enjoy the view – you choose! If time allows, there may ne time for a second flight at a reduced price if you wish. Due to cockpit restrictions, maximum weight is 16 stone.

Gliding Evenings at Stratford .. see Stratford by glider!

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Date: Tue 20 May, Thu 12 June, Thu 24th July or Tue 12th August 2014 Place: Stratford on Avon Gliding Club, Snitterfield (CV37 0EX) # Meet: From 6.00pm onwards Cost: £35 (£37 Gst): paid as £5 (£7) deposit plus £30 on arrival by cash/cheque Gliding is one of the adventures which Spice members rave about most. Flying gracefully and quietly, you are at one with your environment, following the air currents and thermals which nature provides - quite a contrast to powered flight. The pilot will offer you a go at the controls which provides a great sense of achievement. They also offer a second flight (time permitting) at a reduced price for those who want to get back up again. You can choose to have this second flight as an even more exciting demonstration of what a glider can do! Due to cockpit restrictions, maximum weight is 16 stone.

Tandem Skydive from 12,000ft .. treat yourself to the ultimate adventure!

Date: Sunday 21st September 2014 Place: Hinton Skydive Centre, Oxfordshire/ Northants border (NN13 5NS) # Meet: 12 for 12.30pm Cost: £245 (£249 Guests) inc BPA membership To get the full freefall experience on your very first jump, and with maximum safety, a Tandem Skydive is just the thing!

Following a short pre-jump briefing, you will experience the thrill of freefall and even learn the basics of steering and landing a modern 'square' gliding parachute, while securely attached to a highly experienced Instructor.

Please Note: Your weight must not exceed 95kg. You will need to complete the BPA “Student Tandem Parachutist Declaration of Fitness” (download from online event writeup). If you’re over 40, or suffer from any of the conditions listed, the form will need signing by your GP. Special Cancellation Terms: Payment is required 3 months in advance and after this date we can only refund if we are able to re sell your place. Full details of this event at www.spicebham.com ______________________________ 10

Animal Encounters & Equestrian Lots of fun in the animal kingdom

Beginners Horse Trek

.. a 2 hour beginners trek experience th

Date: Sundays: 11 May or 6th July 2014 Place: Ginny Hole Stables, Shropshire (DY14 8UL) # Meet: 1.30pm – 3.30pm trek Cost: £49 Member, £54 Guest (Optional pub lunch afterwards) A 2 hour trek organised by a quality, family run stables on the Shropshire/Worcestershire Countryside and is designed for beginners or novice riders. This will be a very gentle ride on kind easy horses with fully trained escorts on foot for those that wish. After the ride we will go to the pub for a drink. Absolute beginners are welcome.

Adventure Trekking Day .. a day's trekking for confident riders

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Date: Sunday 8 June 2014 Place: Ginny Hole Stables, Shropshire (DY14 8UL) # Meet: 9.30am for 10am – 3.30pm trek Cost: £95 Member, £99 Guest (pub lunch is extra) A day's trekking organised by a quality, family run stables on the Shropshire/Worcestershire border. This is a fantastic opportunity to ride through herds of wild ponies in the Beautiful South Shropshire Hills across common land and spectacular ridges with magnificent views. We will stop at a pub which serves food (not included) around lunchtime.

This day trek is restricted to confident riders who are prepared to canter and as terrain is sometimes steep.

Polo Outdoor Lesson at Rugby .. another exciting opportunity to learn polo

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Date: Saturday 10 May 2014 Place: Willoughby, Rugby (CV23 8AJ) # Meet: 10.45am for 11am to 12noon Cost: £52 Member, £55 Guest Polo is becoming more and more accessible (which means you don’t have to be related to The Queen to play any more .. although of course it helps!). Be warned though – Spice members tell me it’s highly addictive! Polo demands a different type of skill to any riding you may have tried before and the horses can accommodate any standard of horsemanship. We get a 1 hour lesson at an indoor school by polo professional Philip Baker on easy to ride ponies. The lesson is more suited to those with basic horse riding skills than absolute beginners.

Horse Riding Fun Day!

.. lots of fun for riders of all levels - from beginners to advanced Date: Sundays: 25th May or 13th July 2014 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff (CV34 5YD) – see online Meet: 10.00am to approx 3.30pm Cost: £65 Member, £69 Guest On arrival, we will be assessed and split into separate groups depending on our ability, and then get a varied programme of lessons, hacks, jumping, riding around the grounds etc depending upon what you can achieve.

The afternoon includes fun games such as gymkhanas. There are plenty of opportunities to win rosettes!

You will be entertained for the whole day and should get at around 4 hours on horseback! Just bring a packed lunch.

For All Horse Riding Events Wear footwear with a small heel/ ankle support & gloves as reigns rub your hands. Riding hats are provided and must be worn. Max rider weight: Middleton 13st, Warwick International 20st, Ginny Hole 15st. Rugby not stated.

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Medieval Jousting

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Date: Sunday 27 April or Saturday 16th August 2014 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff (CV34 5YD) # Meet: 9.15am - 5.00pm Cost: £175 Member, £185 Guest A unique opportunity to learn the ultimate medieval art, with The Knights of Middle England. Our day is run by Karl UdeMartinez who has years of experience performing live jousting shows all over Europe. For obvious safety reasons, we’re not allowed to actually hit each other as death often results from that – and such bravery is not deemed culturally appropriate to the modern age! However, they use a quintaine (or dummy) to take the impact. On arrival we’ll be given a safety briefing and your riding will be assessed. You’ll learn basic jousting skills such as hitting the quintaine and learn basic sword and staff fighting. Being a knight also involves being dressed in medieval costume. No real riding experience is needed, but would be an advantage. For safety, if the instructor feels your riding is not strong enough for certain tasks, you’ll make it up in other activities. Reasonable fitness is required as you’ll be in the saddle for most of the day.

Horse Archery

.. learn to fire from horseback!

Date: Saturday 31st May 2014 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff # (CV34 5YD) Meet: Times TBC Cost: £95 Member, £99 Guest For all of you that want to unleash an array of arrows from your horse! This is a half day session including a brief introduction on the ground where you will learn to nock your arrows, blind nocking and get used to firing with the designated horse bows. Then you will move from the ground to your horse and practise firing at the targets but this time from your moving horse. A 100m runway – 3 targets to hit - Try and strike the Gold! No horse riding experience necessary! We’ll be taught by Karl Ude Martinez who is a fully trained and qualified, Equity registered stunt man as well as being a master horseman – one of the Knights of Middle England display team.

Trick Horse Riding

.. you won't meet many people who have tried this!

Date: Saturday 31st May 2014 Place: Warwick International, Guys Cliff (CV34 5YD) # Meet: Times TBC Cost: £95 Member, £99 Guest Equity meets Equine today, as it’s a rare chance to be taught by Karl Ude Martinez who is a fully trained and qualified, Equity registered stunt man as well as being a master horseman – one of the Knights of Middle England display team. You may have seen him or the ‘Knights’ in hit TV series ‘Merlin’ or Russell Crowes’ ‘Robin Hood’. Within the safety of an enclosed arena with specially trained horses on the lunge rein you will learn the basics of classical vaulting techniques performing gymnastic manoeuvres on the back of a moving horse. We’ll then progress on to the authentic Cossack trick riding saddle, learning a variety of basic vaults, tricks and stands. Anyone can do this – No riding experience necessary!

Nature for Beginners!

.. get to know your bluebells from your blue tits th

Date: Saturday 12 April 2014 Place: RSPB Middleton, Nr Tamworth (B78 2AE) Meet: 10.30am - 1.00pm Cost: £12 Member, £14 Guest Get to know your bluebells from your blue tits and your newts from your nuthatches! Wouldn't know a heron if it hit you in the face? This is the morning for you, we'll be seeking out all sorts of wildlife and learning how to use our ears, eyes and even noses to see even more nature that we ever realised was out there!

For All Horse Riding Events

Wear footwear with a small heel/ ankle support & gloves as reigns rub your hands. Riding hats are provided and must be worn. Max rider weight: Middleton 13st, Warwick International 20st, Ginny Hole 15st. Rugby not stated.

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Wolf Experience & Walk

.. exclusive Spice visit with opportunity to feed wolves Dates: Saturdays 5th April, 17th May, 27th July or 27th September 2014 Place: A428 between Bromham & Turvery # Meet: 10.15am (ends 1.30pm) Cost: £47 Member, £52 Guest This event and the introduction to wolves will allay any pre-conceived ideas we may have about these beautiful animals!

We meet the wolves and their handlers at the Anglian Wolf Society which is a private sanctuary for wolves and they support and raise funds for wolf conservation. They are not open to the public but have agreed to allow Spice members to accompany the wolves on their walk and to have a wolf experience where you can help feed them. You will be introduced to the wolves before setting off on the walk. We’ll feed the wolves and have some hands on experience.

Ash End House Farm Experience

.. wake up the animals with a tour, breakfast & lots of extra treats!

Sunday 7th September 2014 Middleton Lane, Tamworth (B78 2BL) 9am start (breakfast at around 10am) £18.50 (£22 Guest) Incl: Guided tour of farm (with animal feed), shire horse experience, falconry experience, tractor ride & their 'big breakfast' in the cafe Here’s a wonderful opportunity to wake up the farm animals at Ash End House Farm!

Arriving at the farm for 9am (before the farm opens at 10am) we get our very own guided tour when we can feed and cuddle their goats, sheep, ducks, rabbits pigs etc. We will hear the history of the farm and lots of interesting facts.

We will visit their Falconry Centre and meet Craig who will chat about the birds followed by a display. If not flying, the birds are on static display, giving you the chance to enjoy the close up beauty and elegance of these wonderful birds.

After feeding the animals we will be getting hungry as well, so we’re off to the café for a full English breakfast (included).

We will then go onto meet the Shires which will include sitting on a shire horse as well as long reining, and helping harness up. Ash End House Shire Horse Centre is a purpose built busy working yard, although it is part of the children's farm it is now becoming popular with visitors in it's own right. For those of you that fancy it we can then enjoy a bumpy tractor trailer tide around their paddock. You are then free to spend the rest of the day at the farm at your leisure.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Wake up the Zoo

.. get behind the scenes of a busy Zoo!

Date: Sunday 8th June 2014 Place: Dudley Zoo, Dudley (DY1 4QB) # Meet: 8.40am start Cost: £26.50 (£29 Guests) includes full English Breakfast Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a major zoo before it can open to visitors each day?

How much food has had to be prepared for every animal and what cleaning jobs have to be completed before the visitors arrive? Well now you can, with a guided tour with a keeper, who will take you behind the scenes and show you what it takes. At the end of a busy morning we will go to the cafe for a full English Breakfast.

After which you are free to explore the zoo at your own pace from the visitors side of the fence this time!

Bird Handling Course

.. fly hawks, falcons & owls at the centre! th

Date: Sunday 17 May 2014 Place: Blakedown, Nr Hagley (DY9 0JB) See directions on our website Meet: 10.15am to 1pm Cost: £59 (Guest £64) The afternoon involves an intensive session within the centre and as we are limited to just 6 people so you get very personal attention. We’ll get an introduction to falconry and learn how to handle, care for a wide range of birds.

There’s Always More On-line!

Much as we try, we can’t cram all our events into our Newsletter. New events are being launched every day.

Watch our Weekly Bulletins, Facebook Page and our website at www,spicebham.com

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Llama & Wolf Experience Day .. a great day out with four legged friends

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Date: Saturday 19 April or Sunday 8th June 2014 Place: A428 between Bromham & Turvey # Meet: 10am to 4pm Cost: £48 (£51 Guest) Incl: wolf experience & talk plus Llama walk, sandwiches and snacks We are joining our friends from the Anglian Wolf Society on a combined day out where you visit the wolf sanctuary with the opportunity to take photographs and ask as many questions as you like. Then there will be talk from a knowledgeable member of staff about the wolves and about the conservation projects that the Anglian Wolf Society are involved with.

The wolves will then be fed and you will soon understand where the saying ‘wolf it down’ comes from! About 1.00p.m. some sandwiches, nibble and refreshments will be served then at 13.45 we will head off for the Llama/Alpaca Walk.

(Times of the itinerary may vary slightly). Llamas and Alpacas are gentle animals who give a sense of relaxation and well being to those who walk with the. They have a natural curiosity and interest in humans making them ideal walking companions. The walk lasts about 1hour 30 mins and is in beautiful countryside. Two people share one Llama/Alpaca and there will be plenty stops for photos along the way.

Celebrate Natures Dawn Chorus .. discover the beauty of the dawn chorus

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Date: Sunday 4 May 2014 Place: Red Lion Pub, Earlswood Lakes, Solihull (B94 6AQ) Meet: 5am (ends 7am) yes, really!

Cost: £13.50 (£16 Guest) Includes: A guided walk, drink and cake While the world is still asleep the birds of our British woodland, parks and meadows put on an amazing concert. We'll be finding out who is singing the sweetest by joining our local expert at Earlswood Lakes. Rounded off with hot drinks and pastries as the chorus fades and the rest of the world begins to wake..what could be better! See more details online.

Discover the Nature of Wales

.. immerse yourself in the stunning landscape of Mid Wales Date: Saturday 10th May 2014 Place: RSPB Dinas, Nr Llandovery, Carmarthenshire (SG20 0PG) # Meet: 10am (ends 4.30pm) Cost: £34 (£39 Guest) includes expert guide and picnic lunch A fabulous day with naturalist Nick Martin. We start with a stroll through the bluebells of Dinas pausing to look for dippers by the tumbling waterfalls on the river Towy. After exploring the oak woodlands seeking out some of the special birds that visit here in the summer, we will head up the road to the world famous Gigrin Farm. Here we will walk over the hills including a light picnic lunch soaking up views across the valleys. Finally we will take our places for the main show as hundreds of red kites, buzzards, herons and more arrive at the farm for the daily feed. A wildlife experience not to be missed! Some parts of the walks could be steep and slippery so wear suitable footwear and clothing fit for the weather.

Also bring binoculars and a camera if you have them.

Owl Walk

.. discover Barn owls and other nightlife Date: Tuesday 27th May 2014 Place: RSPB Reserve, Middleton, Nr Tamworth (B78 2AE) # Meet: 7.00pm (ends 9.00pm) Cost: £13.50 (£16 Guest) Incl: Refreshments, entrance fee & wildlife guide This evening we will be joining the RSPB team on an evening stroll around Middleton Lakes. The reserve is home to breeding barn owls which come out to hunt in the evenings at this time of year. We may also hear tawny owls and encounter a whole host of other wildlife. Topped off with warm drink and piece of cake.

Wear clothes and boots suitable for the weather and possible muddy path.

We will meet in the main RSPB Middleton Lakes Car park. Follow the Middleton Hall drive from the A4091 or the RSPB entrance track from Bodymoor Heath Lane and keep going until you reach the RSPB car park.

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Bat Appreciation Walk at Wolseley .. discover these secret creatures of the night!

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Date: Saturday 7 June 2014 Place: Wolseley Estate A51 near Shugborough (ST17 0WT) Meet: 8.45pm at gatehouse Cost: £2 (£3 Guest) plus a £3 donation on night to Staffordshire Bat Group for loan of Bat Detectors Tonight we’re guests of Ron Rock and the Staffordshire Bat Group who have promised to show us these wonderful animals and help us to understand why they get so excited about them. We’re at the atmospheric setting of the former Wolseley Estate on the edge of Cannock Chase. It comprises 26 acres of former landscape gardens, and for nearly 1000 years this estate was the ancestral home of the Wolseley family. It is the perfect environment to find bats. We will enjoy a walk and talk with Ron and we will be equipped with bat detectors to help us find some. Ron also hopes to bring some captive bats so that everyone sees a bat no matter what. At the end we look for an endangered species of British wildlife as well, all I am saying is, it isn't a bat! I’m sure it will be an enjoyable and enlightening evening!

The full writeup for this event can be found on our website including detailed directions (or call us for more).

Owl Handling Experience

.. intensive small group instruction with these fascinating birds Date: Thursday 19th June 2014 Place: Blakedown, Nr Hagley (DY9 0JB) see detailed directions online Meet: Arrive 4.45pm – ends around 7.00pm Cost: £59 (£64 Guest) An intensive owl encounter at this excellent centre. With a group of no more than 8 we can expect very personal attention. Starting with tea and coffee we will then be introduced to the owls and the centre before learning how to handle, and fly these amazing birds. This is a very "hands on" practical session and you’ll get to know some remarkable birds during your stay including Bruno a Little Owl, Woody an Asian Brown Wood Owl, Grumpy an African Spotted Eagle Owl, Basil a Bengal Eagle Owl, and Cash a Turkmanian Eagle Owl.

In Search of Snakes

.. join a hunt for the shy and elusive grass snake th

Date: Saturday 7 June 2014 Place: RSPB Middleton, Nr Tamworth (B78 2AE) see detailed directions online Meet: 10am (ends 12.30pm) Cost: £13.50 (£16 Guest) includes entrance, expert guiding, drink & cake Naturalist Nick Martin will be leading us on a hunt for the shy and elusive grass snake. We will be wondering the Middleton Lakes Nature reserve in search of these fascinating creatures and learning all about them and the other wildlife that lives there. We also hope to get great views of frogs, toad and newts! Wear stout shoes or wellies. More details online.

Big Wild Sleepout

.. your chance to sleep out with the RSPB Date: Saturday 21st - Sunday 22nd June 2014 Place: RSPB Middleton, Nr Tamworth (B78 2AE) # Meet: 2pm (ends 10.30am Sunday) Cost: £28 (£32 Guest) Incl: Various activities, hot drinks, BBQ & breakfast Tonight we have a wonderful opportunity to camp out overnight at one of the RSPB's Midlands reserves. We will see the reserve by moonlight and wake up to the magical sights, sounds and smells of nature. There will be activities including an evening wetland walk, bat tracking, moth trapping, star gazing, campfire stories and toasting marshmallows.

Important: This is a public event however Spice we will have our own area on the campsite.

You will need to provide your own camping equipment. Full details will be available nearer the time.

A Spice Newsletter is just a Snapshot in Time

We’re busy booking new events all the time so please check our schedules on line at www,spicebham.com so you don’t miss a thing. We also update members on a weekly basis with out “Weekly Bulletin” by email and via our Facebook Page.

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Camel Riding in Warwickshire .. a really unusual morning on the farm!

Date: Sunday 6th April 2014 Place: Idlicote, Warwickshire (CV36 5DN) # Meet: 9.45 for 10am - 1pm Session Cost: £45 Member, £49 Guest If your plans of trekking the deserts of the Middle East in a camel train this winter have been thwarted by political unrest, don’t worry – you’ll find the world’s most wonderful camels waiting for us in Warwickshire!

This event is brought to Spice for the very first time by Joseph's Amazing Camels who are the UK’s only specialist camel company. They were started in 2000 by Joseph and Rebecca Fossett who boast the highest standards of training and animal welfare. Joseph is a member of the country’s oldest circus family and has been training animals for over 35 years including lions, tigers, elephants, bears, horses and of course camels.

Our Amazing Morning: We will meet the team at their farm where we will have a briefing and sign a special disclaimer over tea and biscuits. We will then meet the camels and will learn how to groom and tack them ready for our outing. The camels are then loaded onto their lorry and we will combine into cars for a short drive to the farm where we will walk and ride them. We will have 4 or 5 camels between a group of 12 – 20 Spice members and we will take turns to ride or walk the camels over a distance of around 3 miles. When we have all learned to ride and bond with our new dromedrian friends, we will finish with a debrief over strawberries and hot wine.

This is sure to be a fun and unusual Spice experience that you will remember for a very long time.

Note: Dress with strong footwear and loose, comfortable clothing. Bring waterproofs, although there will be a weather check number to call as event will be postponed if weather is very poor. Riding hats provided (or you can bring your own).

Beekeeping Afternoon .. learn all about bees & honey!

Date: Saturday 10th May 2014 Place: Finchfield, Wolverhampton # (WV3 8EN) Meet: 2pm to approx 4.30pm Cost: £12 Member, £15 Guest Bees are fascinating creatures who inhabit an amazing ‘society’ all of their own – complete with organised labour, nursery system and even their own monarchy! Today you will get a chance to enter that world with Phil, who is a retired lecturer also a keen bee keeper in his own right.

We will meet Phil at his home address (supplied to those who book), just 3 miles from Wolverhampton City Centre where we will have an introductory chat before sharing cars to the hive location about a mile away. You will get to see a busy hive opened up with a full explanation of what it’s all about (and with all necessary safety kit provided!). Exactly what will be covered will depend on what there is to see on the day, but we’re likely to learn the basics of how to build your own hive and how to extract and bottle honey (in case you get hooked and want to take up the hobby!). After that, we return to Phil's house, where he will put the kettle on (and may even treat you to some honey!).

Note: Please avoid wearing makeup (perfumes/ aftershaves in particular) as it effects the behaviour of the bees ______________________________

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Spice Makes a Difference Spice members love supporting the community – either in practical help (like on litter picking walks) or by raising huge amounts of cash for good causes. Our involvement with charities also enables us to offer some absolutely unique experiences – so with these events everyone wins!

As well as these, you will find other events under other categories which promote social awareness and support selected charities, including some of our Behind the Scenes visits.

Spice Book Club

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Dates: Mondays: ● 7 April ● 5th May● 2nd June ● 7th July Place: Meet inside The Spice Office – directions online (B74 3EJ) Meet: 8pm Start (ends around 9.30pm) Cost: FREE, but collection for Book Aid on day.

In order to have a sociable literary evening each month and raise money for Book Aid International (www.bookaid.org) we have a monthly meet up at the Spice office. The idea is that each month we discuss a set book that we have read in preparation. The conversation will be lead by our volunteer, Kate Coulter, but is very informal. Kate will provide teas/ coffees/mineral water and some home baked treats. A voluntary collection will be taken each month which we will send to Book Aid International who send books to schools and libraries in third world countries and are endorsed by celebrity writers such as Michael Palin and their patron is The Duke of Edinburgh. It costs just £2 to send one book to readers in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond so every penny we raise can make a difference.

Preparation: You will need to have read each book beforehand. You can buy or try your local library.

The Books (précis of each book at spicebham.com): ● April 2014: Breathe: A Ghost Story – Cliff McNish ● May 2014: Natural Causes – James Oswald ● June 2014: The Woman in Black: Angel of Death (Hammer) – Martyn Waites ● July 2014: TBA (Check online)

Beauty of a Tree on its own Gallery Evening .. join us on this very special evening

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Date: Wednesday 9 April 2014 Place: Winterbourne House and Garden, Edgbaston (B15 2RT) Meet: 7.30pm - 9.30pm at the main house Cost: £3 (£5 Guest) Charity Donation In January and February this year we invited people to enter photographs for a Photo Competition under the title “The Beauty of a Tree on its Own” and by so doing support the work of Autism West Midlands (see description below).

It was more successful than we had ever imagined and as a result we have a gallery of around 120 pictures of all types within this theme. They have been displayed on two Spice galleries on line (Facebook & Flickr) but people have also asked for the opportunity to see the pictures on displayed on paper. For one night only we have the exclusive use of a stately property called Winterbourne House overlooking its botanical gardens – now part of The University of Birmingham. It is a lovely property and is in an environment where trees can feel very much at home!

What to Expect: The photographs will be displayed around the house (unframed), so that we can wander around enjoying the house and the pictures. We hope that a representative from Autism West Midlands will also be there to meet you. The café will be open for you to buy refreshments and we hope that many of those who photographed the trees will be able to come along and might even have the opportunity to share the story of their photo.

About the House: One of Birmingham's hidden gems, Winterbourne House & Garden was built in 1904 by the Nettlefold family and is now owned by the University of Birmingham. Built in the Arts and Craft style, the house boasts many interesting features and beautiful furniture. Free Parking is available outside the house.

About the competition (by Richard): My 12 year old son has autism. When we walk in the country, he sees the world slightly differently. One image that particularly appeals to him is the stark beauty of the tree on its own - like that on the logo for BBC’s “Who Do You Think You Are”. We have had fun photographing a few examples together.

Perhaps this image somehow relates to the life of people with autism. The tree being in its own separate world away from the “forests” of other trees. Being different from the crowd can also hold a special beauty.

This is why we thought we would use this competition to raise money for Autism West Midlands.

Directions: Winterbourne House is on Edgbaston Park Road. Look for signs for Winterbourne Gardens. Free Parking.

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Charity Duck Race

.. sponsor a duck .. you know you want to!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Sunday 11 May 2014 New Hall Valley Country Park (B76 1QT) see directions on line 10.30am (1) Nothing to watch or help (2) £5 to sponsor a duck (3) Walk is FREE to book but donations on day In our attempt to find unusual ways to raise money for local charities (that are also lots of fun!) we have our 3rd annual Duck Race. We are supporting the work of The Cancer Center who serve people with cancer and their families from all over the West Midlands. This is our third Duck Race and our first at a great new venue.

The Event: We will meet at the entrance to the park (by Bishop Walsh School who are kindly allowing us to park in their car park as the park car park is small) and walk together upstream (5 mins walk) to the start line where we release hundreds of numbered rubber ducks. Our plucky ducks will swim to a finish line and we can follow them cheering all the way home! The first ducks home will win prizes for their sponsors. Afterwards, there will be an optional guided walk of around 90 mins duration to discover a little more of this wonderful park.

How you can be involved: 1) Sponsor a duck for £5. It could win you a prize. No need to attend in person as we’ll inform you if you win.

2) Attend the Guided Walk. There is no charge to book this, but a collection will be taken for the Cancer Centre.

3) Help with the Duck Race. We need some “marshals” with wellies and sticks to follow the ducks and prod any that become stuck (as we have to ensure that we leave the stream as we find it and return all the ducks to safety!).

Dog Walk amongst the Bluebells at Lickey Hills .. a gentle walk with our dogs!

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Date: Sunday 4 May 2014 Place: Warren Lane Car Park & Visitor Centre (B45 8ER) see online Meet: 10.45 for 11am Start Cost: FREE but collection on day for Cancer Support Centre Our Dog Walks are always popular, and we’re hoping that this one will also coincide with a wonderful display of bluebells at Licky Hills. We’ll meet by the Visitor Centre and take a walk for around 1½ hours at the pace of the slowest canine.

There will be gentle hills and varied terrain. Richard will give a few bits of info along the way if his 2 naughty Yorkies let him share his attention! There is a dog friendly cafe or pub at the end. As we have dogs with us we will need to use outside tables. If you want to come along without a dog you are also welcome. Please pre book so we know you are coming.

Warning: This event could be quite chaotic – so bring a sense of humour!

Charity Easy Cycling Tour of Sutton Park .. see all the pools at a leisurely pace with Richard

Date: Sunday 29th June 2014 Place: Meet inside The Spice Office, 6a Burnett Road, Streetly (B74 3EJ) Meet: 11am Start (Meet from 10.30am for drink & biscuits at the Spice Office) Cost: No charge to book, but collection for Cancer Support Centre on the day Some cycling for softies today – all in a good cause! Ideal for those who like to take it easy, or haven’t cycled for some time. We will stop frequently to group, enjoy the views and have a few words from Richard on points of interest. We will also stop for drinks/ snacks (not included) at The Bistro by Blackroot Pool. We will only use roads (many of which are car free) and possibly short sections on good tracks, so you do not need an off road bike.

The ride is lead by Richard (Spice Coordinator) who is not a qualified cycle leader, just an enthusiastic amateur. So please do not expect anything more than a leisurely ride with friends.

Sutton Cancer Centre: There will be a collection for Sutton Cancer Centre, who do brilliant work with cancer sufferers and their families. They have been a tremendous help to many Spice members over the years who have diagnosed (or had a family member diagnosed) with cancer.

Important: Please bring a bike (anything serviceable is fine) and a cycle helmet. Helmets must be worn.

Weather Check: If the weather looks really bad. Please call 07788 950109 to check the ride is still on or watch your mobile phone/ email for a message around 9am if there is a problem.

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Great Midlands Fun Run .. support or help our team on the day

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Date: Sunday 1 June 2014 Place: Sutton Coldfield Meet: Marshalls 9am (to be confirmed). Spectate from 10.30am - 2pm.

Spice are very involved in this excellent day. We are sponsors of the event, we put in a team, we provide marshalls. If you want to be involved in the great atmosphere of the day, here are some ways: Runners: Our team is full and registration has closed but put yourself on the wait list as we often have drop outs.

Marshals: The Fun Run organisers are very grateful to anyone who could help with marshalling on the day. The more volunteers that can be used, the more money can be sent to charities, so it would be great if you can help. You will also get to enjoy the atmosphere of the day and see all the runners through including the Spice runners. We have a team of marshals who will work together on a stretch of road and we would love you to join them.

Spectators & Sponsors: Please come and cheer on the Spice Team. Also, we are raising money for the Young Persons Ward (teenagers with cancer) at the QE Hospital so please sponsor our team. Call or donate on line at spicebham.com.

Film for Thought Evening - Wadjda .. discuss a thought provoking film over tea & cake

Date: Monday 14th July 2014 Place: Meet inside Spice Office, 6a Burnett Rd, Streetly (B74 3EJ) Meet: 7.15pm Start (ends around 9.30pm) Cost: FREE but collection taken for Bookaid. Incl: Drinks & cakes Note: This is a straight repeat of our evening in February, as many were unable to make it first time around and the film was very much enjoyed.

The idea of these evenings is that we show a DVD of a film that we believe to be particularly thought provoking on the big screen in the Spice meeting room. After this, Richard will lead a group discussion, picking out some of the most challenging questions raised by the film and also find out what we thought of it generally. This film is 90 minutes long and we will start as soon as everyone is settled with a drink (approx. 7.15pm) and discussion should take us through to 9.30pm.

Like our popular Spice Book Club we will provide teas/ coffees/mineral water and some home baked treats. Also as with Book Club, a voluntary collection will be taken each month which we will send to Book Aid International who send books to schools and libraries in third world countries.

The Film: Wadjda is a real eye opener to what life is like as a woman growing up in Saudi Arabia and the limited choices that such a society offers compared to our own. It’s the story of a Saudi girl who wants to have her own bike (something girls are not permitted). It's the first feature length film to be directed in Saudi Arabia by a female, Waifaa Al-Mansour.

Colour Run 2014 (Runners & Volunteers) .. join Team Spice for this brilliant day

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Date: Saturday 16 August 2014 Place: NEC, Birmingham (B40 1NT) # Meet: Morning, times TBC Cost: (1) Volunteers £5 (2) Runners £27.99 registration - follow process online About the Run: Vibrant, colourful and incredible! You can’t miss this opportunity to get involved with “the happiest 5k on the planet! Sponsored by Dulux, This 5k run is about making a positive difference by livening up dull places with colour which also promotes “healthiness, happiness, individuality, and giving back to the community.” So it’s a run like no other! It’s animated, spirited and full of colour. Runners are splashed in coloured powder by volunteers as they go.

The run finishes with a massive “Colour Festival” after the finish line with music and even more coloured powder, crazy!

We’ll be sharing a euphoric atmosphere with thousands of glowing faces! See www.thecolorrun.co.uk/gallery Runners: How to join the Spice team: Book the event with Spice on line and follow the instructions to register.

Volunteers: As volunteers, we will be staffing a colour zone where we cover thousands of passing runners head to toe in coloured powder. Moreover, the organisers give us £20 a head for expenses which we donate to register to our nominated charity “QE Hospital Young Persons Unit”. Volunteers pay a £5 registration fee but get a free T Shirt and lunch. Please advise T Shirt size at the time of booking (S, M, L, XL, XXL ) More: Sponsored by Dulux, The Color Run is about making a positive difference by livening up dull places with colour which also promotes “healthiness, happiness, individuality, and giving back to the community.” So it’s a run like no other!

It’s animated, spirited and full of colour. Runners are splashed in colours that we are throwing at them. A Spice team did this last year at the Manchester Run and had a great time! ______________________________ 19

Cycling & Mountain Biking Biking is great fun and our instructors, will ensure you have fun whether you're peddling along a country lane, or trying to reach the summit of a craggy peak! The rides are lead by experienced guides (unless otherwise stated) who also act as bike doctors should anybody's bike fall poorly.

If you use your own bike it must be in reasonable condition and suitable for the type of event described.

Also, you MUST bring & wear a helmet (usually provided with hire bikes, but check).

Sherwood 50km Mountain Bike Ride .. enjoy the challenge of a 50k ride

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Date: Sunday 27 April 2014 Place: Sherwood Pines, Notts # (NG21 9JL) # Meet: 10am Cost: £16 (£18 Guest) Incl: Professional instruction, guiding & support Extra: If you don't have a bike, you can hire one from Sherwood Pines cycles, call 01623 822 855 Grade: 3; Distance: 50km (31miles) This is not too technical but it is a very long ride.

More Details: See full writeup at www.spicebham.com. If you still have questions call Jez on 07974 967209.

Mountain Biking for Beginners

.. get basic skills plus a taste of the "Follow the Dog" trail Date: Sunday 11th May 2014 Date: Sunday 27th July 2014 Place: Birches Valley, Cannock Chase (WS15 2UQ) # Meet: 10.00am Cost: £12 (£15 Guest) Bring a bike & helmet or arrange to hire one (Swinnerton Cycles 01889 575170) Discover just how much fun Mountain Biking can be by joining Simon (son of Mark Fenton and leader of our Coast to Coast Rides) at one of the UK’s foremost off road cycle trails. Simon is a qualified and experienced Mountain Bike Instructor and very patient and skilled at helping people improve their riding techniques to get the very best out of their biking whilst staying safe. Our morning will be spent learning lots of vital skills together. After this, Simon will take us on the famous “Follow the Dog” mountain bike trail under his close supervision.

Bikes: You will need a “proper” mountain bike. Hire bikes can be pre ordered (see above) but must be booked in advance.

Mountain Biking - Follow the Dog Trail .. a ride for those with some off road experience

Date: Sunday 1st June 2014 Place: Birches Valley, Cannock Chase (WS15 2UQ) # Meet: 10.00am Cost: £12 (£15 Guest) Bring a bike & helmet or arrange to hire one (Swinnerton Cycles 01889 575170) Simon has received brilliant feedback from his “Beginners” events, so we’ve asked him to run an “Improvers” ride this time. We’re looking to conquer one of the UK’s foremost off road cycle trails. Simon is a qualified and experienced Instructor and will help you improve your riding technique and to get the very best out of your biking whilst staying safe.

Bikes: You will need a “proper” mountain bike. Hire bikes can be pre ordered (see above) but must be booked in advance.

Cut Gate Intermediate Mountain Bike Ride .. one of the classic Peak District rides

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Date: Sunday 22 June 2014 Place: Ladybower, Peak District (S33 0AQ) # Meet: 10.30am Cost: £16 (£18 Guest) Bring bike or hire one from Derwent Cycle Hire, 01433 651261 This is a stunning ride over the moors with fabulous views and the feeling of being out in the great outdoors. The route is an out and back ride from Ladybower round Langsett and return along the same route. There are tough climbs at either end but you have the satisfaction of riding down what what you have had to struggle up. This can only be described as a must do Peak District classic. Please do a beginners ride before booking this one. Any questions give Jez a call on 07974967209 Bikes: You will need a “proper” mountain bike. Hire bikes can be pre ordered (see above) but must be booked in advance. ______________________________ 20

Shooting & Target Sports Whether you want to be John Wayne or William Tell, we’ll show you how!

Clay Pigeon Shooting

.. a traditional morning from a country shooting lodge

Date: Sunday 13th July 2014 Place: Tardebigge, nr. Redditch (B97 6RB) # Meet: 9.30am to 1.00pm Cost: £47 (£49 Guest) includes teas/ coffees and all instruction & equipment A fabulous morning in the heart of the Worcestershire countryside learning this wonderful country sport. The friendly team of instructors claim they can get most of our Spice beginners up to a score rate of 70% on their first attempt! And as they use high tech' low recoil cartridges, anyone can do it. The shooting ground is “state of the art” with electronic clay pigeon traps and competition “over and under” shotguns. You will encounter targets simulating flights of pheasant, duck and pigeon and even a bolting rabbit. Instructors are on hand at all times, so you'll soon find your aim improving! There’s a beautiful hunting lodge, for us to use once the shotguns are safely back in the cabinets. Here we also start the day with coffee while our instructors brief us before we set out as a 'shooting party'.

Western Style Rifle Shooting Afternoon .. fire "the real thing" with the experts

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Saturdays: 12 April or 7th June or 2nd August 2014 Birmingham Shooting Centre, Hockley (B18 7RL) – see directions see online Choose time when booking (4 slots each at: 1.45pm, 2.45pm or 3.45pm) £29 – PAID AS - £4 deposit to Spice to book. Balance of £25 to club on arrival (no credit cards) Members only (no guests) for security and due to limited numbers. Incl. approx 50 rounds of ammo. Bring photo ID With extremely tight firearms laws, it is rare to find opportunities for our members to fire live ammunition. However, under close expert supervision, here’s an opportunity to fire Western Style Lever Action Rifles (like John Wayne used!).

They are 357 Magnum Calibre, but recoil is similar to that of a full power spring action air rifle, so you don’t need to be built like a cowboy! After booking in (bring photo ID such as passport or driving licence), we will have a safety talk including range rules and weapon handling safety and etiquette. We’ll then be introduced to our weapons and have time honing our skills on the range. Rules dictate that tuition has to be 1:1 when you are using this class of rifle. Depending on what is going on on the day, we should be able to meet other club members and learn about their firearms.

Important Notes: This event must be approached with respect and in line with firearm legislation. Anyone who is not judged to be of sound mind or is suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol will not be allowed to take part. If you think that anything in your past might prevent you taking part (eg ex offenders) then please check your eligibility under section 21 of the Firearms Act. By law, we will need to pass your name and address to the Club at least 48 hours before the event. Despite all this regulation, be assured that our hosts are friendly and you’ll have a great time!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Indoor Rifle Shooting Evening

.. learn to shoot air rifles at this world class centre th

Date: Tuesday 24 June 2014 Place: National Indoor Shooting Centre, Aldersley Stadium, Wolverhampton (WV6 9NW) Meet: 7.45 for 8pm start Cost: £12 (£15 Guest) including all ammunition, equipment & instruction Did you know that the top indoor shooting facility, where our Olympic teams train is here in the West Midlands? Air rifle shooting is great fun and after learning the basics everyone should be able to hit the target. A team of qualified instructors will take you through the basics. The evening will start with a safety talk and demonstration before you'll be divided into small groups. We then have a chance to put theory into practice on the ten metre range, firing rifles at fixed and moving targets. Cost includes everything you need and the range is indoors, heated and well lit.

More details: detailed directions and further information can be found online at www.spicebham.com ______________________________

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Dance Workshops VENUES : ● Midlands Arts Centre, Cannon Hill Park, Edgbaston B12 9QH ● Pole Dancing: 156 - 157 Warstone Centre, Warstone Lane, (B18 6NZ) ● Lichfield Golf & Country Club, Seedy Mill Lane, Rugeley, (WS13 8HE) ● Morris: Jubilee Scout Hall, High Holborn, Sedgley - rear of Coop ● Royal Hotel, High Street, Sutton Coldfield (B72 1UD) You don't need any experience to enjoy these fun events. If the dance involves partners, we'll pair you up on the night - and as we change partners frequently you get to tread on everyone's toes!

Pole Dancing with Pure Joy

Lindy Hop Dance Workshop .. let's all do the hop!

.. a fun introduction anyone can try!

Date: Sunday 4th May 2014 Place: Midlands Art Centre - English Studio Meet: 12.45 for 1pm - 4pm Cost: £15.50 Member, £17.50 Guest Lindyhop is the original style of jive, out of which all other styles – including rock ‘n roll, swing jive, ceroc and modern jive - have since grown. With its roots in Black Harlem of the 1920s it was named in honour of Charles Lindbergh, who became America’s greatest hero after flying non-stop across the Atlantic for the first time. It took a war to export it from America to the rest of the world, via the Gi’s. Sheena doesn’t want to waste their effort so she’s put together a routine to give Spicers a taste of the real thing. It’s energetic, fun, and will have you giggling for a long time to come! Please note: this is a partner dance so you will be dancing/moving around/changing partners throughout. No need to come with a partner, but gents come and find out why ladies love a man who can dance!

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Date: Saturday April 2014 Place: 156-157 Warstone Centre B18 6NZ Meet: Arrive 1.20pm for 1.30pm - 4.00pm Cost: £20 (£23 Guest) incl. refreshments & snacks Join us today in a purpose built studio, fitted with 6 poles, in the heart of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter. Pole dancing has become one of the most exciting and empowering forms of exercise that you can encounter. This experience is for ladies and gentlemen who can think of nothing worse than slaving away in the gym and for all shapes, sizes and ages. The great thing about the experience is that it is fun! See fuller details of this event at www.spicebham.com

Zumba For Beginners

.. discover just how much fun a workout can be!

Date: Friday 25th April 2014 Place: Royal Hotel, Sutton Coldfield (B72 1UD) Meet: 7.15 for 7.30 - 8.30pm Cost: £5 (£6.50 Guest) Julia who runs our Hoola Hooping event is now coming to show us all how to Zumba! Men and women of Spice. Are you ready to get into shape? That's exactly what the Zumba programme is all about! We've laid on a taster session for all ages and abilities to experience zumba and get an exhilarating 1 hour experience described as a “Latin inspired calorie burning party”.

Flamenco Dancing Workshop

.. discover the dance with attitude!

Date: Thursday 8th May 2014 Place: Midlands Art Centre - English Studio Meet: 7.15pm for 7.30pm - 9.00pm Cost: £12 Member, £14.50 Guest You’ve asked for Flemenco Dancing so here it is! You should wear shoes or boots with a cuban heel no higher than 2". Please absolutely no flat shoes, trainers or bare feet. You should wear comfortable clothing as you would do for any other dance or exercise class. The ladies could bring a long wide skirt if they wish, it is not essential! The price is higher than our usual dance workshops as this has to reflect the fact that Flemenco dancers are rare and command a premium rate!

Ballroom Masterclass - Jive .. learn the Jive just like the celebrities!

Date: Sunday 27th April 2014 Place: Midlands Art Centre - English Studio Meet: 11.45am for 12noon - 2.00pm Cost: £9.50 Member, £10.50 Guest Have you ever envied the celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing being taught by top professional dancers and wished you could have a go too? Have you always wanted to have a go at Latin/ballroom dancing but didn’t know whether you’d like it enough to commit to a course? Today we will be learning the Jive - A fun, free and lively dance. As usual there’s no need to bring a partner (unless you have one handy!) as we’ll pair off at random within the group when necessary which always adds to the fun and social nature of these lessons. This is aimed at complete beginners, but beginners/improvers are most welcome too….

Morris Dancing for Beginners

.. have fun keeping an eccentric tradition alive!

Date: Thursday 22nd May 2014 Place: High Holborn, Sedgley (DY3 1SS) Meet: 8.00pm to 10.00pm Cost: £12 Member, £14.50 Guest First Sedgley Morris Men have put together this intro to their art for budding morris men and morris girls! Despite Stephen Fry’s famous advice that “you should try everything once…except incest and morris dancing”, we're going to give it a go (well the dancing anyway!) We can look forward to: ● 2 display dances by First Sedgley ● Teaching of a handkerchief dance ● Talk on the history of the morris ● Teaching of a stick dance ● (most important!) a drink with the morris men at a local hostelry. Wear any comfortable clothing which allows movement and bring two large handkerchiefs. Footwear should be trainers or similar. One thing is for certain, this evening will be full of fun, and never to be forgotten Spice experiences - so bring a camera and a sense of humour!

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Salsa Dance Workshop

Dancing with Mr Darcy

Date: Friday 30th May 2014 Place: Midlands Art Centre - English Studio Meet: 7.15pm for 7.30pm- 9.30pm Cost: £9.50 Member, £10.50 Guest Quite a few members have been asking for more Salsa classes, Linda (partner to Steve) is a great teacher, so why not come along and learn some cool Salsa moves. We get great feedback for these special Spice Nights as the classes are fun and easy to follow, so come on lets give it a go!

Date: Friday 27th June 2014 Place: Lichfield Golf & Country Club Meet: 7.30pm for 7.45pm - 9.45pm Cost: £8 Member, £10 Guest Enjoy this wonderful evening of learning some dances from the Regency period. When Jane Austen wrote “Pride & Prejudice” she described the elegant Balls she attended. She loved dancing and even risked being gossiped about when she accepted a third dance with the charming Thomas Lefroy. We’ll learn dances from the Regency period and be introduced to the social etiquette. Dance Master Andrew Rawe has worked on a number of films for the BBC and will guide us through the grace & romance of the period.

.. latin magic for beginners & improvers

.. romance is alive in Lichfield

Ballroom Masterclass - Quickstep .. learn the Quickstep just like the celebrities!

Burlesque/Fan Dance Afternoon!

Date: Saturday 14th June 2014 Place: Midlands Art Centre- English Studio Meet: 10.45am for 11.00am- 1pm session Cost: £9.50 Member, £10.50 Guest Have you ever envied the celebrities on Strictly Come Dancing being taught by top professional dancers and wished you could have a go too? Have you always wanted to have a go at Latin/ballroom dancing but didn’t know whether you’d like it enough to commit to a course? We’ll be dancing with Christopher and his dance partner Vicky. They are both amazing dancers and teachers, very patient and making the whole experience a lot of fun.As usual there’s no need to bring a partner (unless you have one handy!) as we’ll pair off at random within the group when necessary which always adds to the fun and social nature of these lessons. This is aimed at complete beginners, but beginners/improvers are most welcome too, Take along a drink and some spare cash for the café afterwards.

.. your chance to become a sexy starlet!

Date: Sunday 10th August 2014 (Sorry, April now full) Place: Midlands Art Centre - Randle Studio Meet: 1.45pm for 2pm - 4pm Cost: £18.50 Member, £22 Guest At previous Burlesque workshops, Becky has ‘teased’ us with her ‘feathery fans’ so this time we’ll incorporate them into the routine! We’ll work with 2 ostrich feather fans each, learning how to ‘hide and reveal’, ‘teasing’ with the fans, and focusing attention on illusions of exposure. We all have the ability to be sexy, no matter what our shape, age or size and this session will fill us full of all the tips and treats we need to let our ‘inner goddess’ glow.

Be prepared to laugh, flirt, dance and dress up as your inner burlesque starlet blossoms. Becky promises a truly indulgent girlie experience that will have us laughing endlessly and strutting.

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Ian Jelf's England Ian is a legend within Spice. He’s a Blue Badge Guide who’s really entertaining.

His tours are very different from what you might expect, with lots of offbeat observations and crazy stories that he has researched for us! Allow a couple of hours - more if you get him talking about busses, phone boxes or 2CV’s .. or accept his invitation to the pub afterwards!

Birmingham by Boat

Lichfield Discovery Walk

Date: Sunday 13th April 2014 Place: Gas Street Basin off Broad St. (B1 2JT) Meet: 2.30pm departure (meet 2.15pm please) Cost: £12.50 Member, £15 Guest After so many walks and coach trips it’s time to take to the water by chartering our very own canal boat for a cruise around Birmingham! Birmingham's history, as well as its present and future are very much tied up with its famous canal network and yes, we do have more canals than Venice! Ian will give an entertaining commentary, as Birmingham glides slowly by.

This trip includes the main canal loops that many will have seen with Ian in previous years but will start with a special detour onto the Birmingham Fazeley Canal to enjoy the history of Farmers Bridge Locks, Cambrian Wharf and the Tindal Bridge area. It is a fascinating area, steeped in history. *Venice (pron.vε nis) is a North Italian City that claims to have almost as many canals as Birmingham!

Meet: Detailed directions are given at www.spicebham.com

Date: Sunday 11th May 2014 Place: Outside Garrick Theatre (WS13 6HR) Meet: 10.30am Cost: £8.50 Member, £10.50 Guest Over 9 years of Ian’s town walks, this has consistently proved to be our most popular walk outside of Birmingham itself. Virtually on our doorstep (depending which part of the West Mids you’re coming from), we have one of the loveliest Cathedral Cities in England, with spires reflected in water, literary connections, a tale of the sea (!) and juicy tales of monks, warfare and even prostitution! Anyway, there’s far more to see than we can describe here, so hop on a Cross City Line train, or take a short drive and come and find out for yourself. Like all Ian’s walks, it lasts a couple of hours and people often head off to socialise after, so allow extra parking time.

Meet: Detailed directions are given at www.spicebham.com

.. discover the Venice* of the North!

.. Ian's three spired stroll!

Moseley Village Evening Walk …a walk that could be 'Hobbit' forming!

Sutton Park Discovery Walk

Date: Wednesday 2nd July 2014 Place: The Green in middle of Moseley Village (B13 8HW) Meet: 7.00pm Cost: £8.50 Member, £10.50 Guest This is one of Ian's most-requested tours! Sylvan Moseley is a place apart with a village atmosphere and is to Birmingham what Hampstead is to North London. With its connections with the author J.R.R. Tolkien, Moseley has been in the limelight more than ever since the "Lord of the Rings" films. But we find that there's much more to this elegant suburb, which boats hidden houses (large and small) an ancient church, and even an example of Anglo-Saxon humour.

Meet: Detailed directions are given at www.spicebham.com

.. history, mystery & mud!

Date: Sunday 20th April 2014 Place: Town Gate of Sutton Park (B74 2YT) Meet: 10.30am Cost: £8.50 Member, £10.50 Guest A new departure for our walks with Ian and we've persuaded him to get some walking boots and venture off-road to reveal some of the offbeat, fascinating and downright odd facts about places in our area that we may think we already know (think again!).

Sutton Park, the largest urban park in the UK isn't just teeming with wildlife: it's full of history, legend and facts, too. On our stroll (a couple of hours) we're promised tales of bishops, kings, ancient Britons, Druids and corruption! And as if that isn’t enough, Ian tells us that this is only the first part of two walks in the park (the other will be later in the year).

Now we do stress that although not a ramble (this is Ian, after all!), you'll need to dress for some off-road walking (boots and not your best trousers!) and waterproofs etc.

Meet: Detailed directions are given at www.spicebham.com

Birmingham Sculpture Trail .. discover the secrets of our street art!

Date: Sunday 6th July 2014 Place: By Victoria in Victoria Square (B3 3DH) Meet: 10.30am Cost: £8.50 Member, £10.50 Guest This is a chance to look in more details about some of the public sculptures, statues and mosaics that have become such a feature of Birmingham in recent years. From the old to the new, each of the pieces we’ll look at tells a story and there are bound to be a few surprises. From “Why a Wattelisk?” to “What’s Priestley holding?”, from Hebe to Gormley, it’s all here.

Meet: Detailed directions are given at www.spicebham.com

Birmingham City Walk

.. think you know Birmingham .. think again!

Date: Sunday 4th May 2014

Place: By Victoria in Victoria Square (B3 3DH) Meet: 10.30am Cost: £8.50 Member, £10.50 Guest This is the ultimate introduction to one of the world's most surprising cities, a voyage through time from mediaeval field lines to a 21st Century redevelopment to match anything else in the world. En route we hear of Georgian gentry, Victorian social reformers, and postwar planners. Not to be missed! This is still regarded as the "definitive Ian walk” So if you've not had the chance yet, book on this one and prepare to be very surprised about our own City.)

Meet: Detailed directions are given at www.spicebham.com

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Stratford as you've never seen it b4!

Cambridge Day by Coach

.. a fun filled walk & talk around this famous town!

.. A different punt of view (sorry!)

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Date: Sunday July 2014 Place: Coach pick ups 7.30am/ 8.00am & 8.30am # Meet: returning around 7-8pm Cost: £29 Member, £35 Guest Pickups are: ● Sutton Parade 0730 – Outside Macdonalds ● Colmore Row 0800 – bus stops on Colmore Row by Cathedral ● Birmingham International/ NEC 0830 After lots of walks in Oxford, we thought it only fair to take a look at “the other place”!

Nestling on the banks of the Granta (or Cam), Cambridge is dominated by its University, consisting of more than 30 colleges.

The centre of the City is largely traffic free, so a walk is really the best way to discover it, together with some famous churches and the incredibly picturesque "Backs" where it's possible to go "punting" (for those who dare).

Our day includes pick ups in the west Midlands, a walking tour with Ian and then free time to get refreshments and do some independent sightseeing before we return to the West Midlands.

Date: Sunday 27th July 2014 Place: Outside Stratford BR Station (CV37 6PL) Meet: 11.40am (to meet those arriving by Steam Cost: £8.50 Member, £10.50 Guest Extra: Arrive by Steam Train, see separate event Note – you can combine this visit with our Steam to Stratford event and arrive/ depart in style!

It's amazing isn't it that millions of people from all over the world flock to Stratford-upon-Avon every year, and for the rest of us it's somewhere we "always mean to visit"! Well wait no longer, just join Ian Jelf today for an entertaining walk around this famous town. As well as the “sensible” sights we’ll discover those things most visitors never have time to hear about, including an actress' ashes, an extra-marital pregnancy and the chance to discover Stratford's mediaeval red light district, an illegal dung heap and even Shakespeare's son-in-law's haemorrhoids!

Our meet point: As many people will be joining this walk by arriving on the Shakespeare Express steamtrain, Ian will meet everyone outside the Station Exit. (Station is on Station Road).

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Our last trip to Cambridge with Ian Thanks to Pam Painting for the pictures

What’s is a “Guest”?

Some events have a separate price that applies if you want to bring a “guest” along to an event.

The “guest” option is there for members to use to introduce new people to the group and for friends/ family for whom membership is not practical (eg visiting from another area). The Guest arrangements are offered at our discretion and cannot be used to avoid membership (eg by lapsed members).

A “guest” must come along to the event with you (unless specifically agreed otherwise) and you are responsible for their good conduct. A “Guest” may accompany you at up to 3 events – after which we consider it fair to expect them to join themselves.

Motor Sport Lots of crazy driving experiences to try!

Rally Driving Lesson

.. spend half a day at the London Rally School rd

Date: Saturday 3 May 2014 (Check for further dates online) Place: Bicester Oxfordshire (OX27 9AJ) # Meet: 9.30am (half day course) Cost: £145 (£150 Guest) Have a go at one of the most exciting sports in the world! No previous experience needed!

Top skilled and experienced competition drivers will be passing on their knowledge and expertise to YOU! All the behind-the-wheel tuition takes place in rally specification Ford Escort Rs2000’s unrestricted in speed, revs or gears. The event starts with coffee and a talk on the techniques of handling rally cars. It is then time to put this to test on the circuit set in the heart of the Oxfordshire countryside. Take away some improved and advanced driving skills.

Quad Bike Intro & Woodland Trek .. a trek on woodland trails in Sutton Coldfield

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Date: Saturday 3 May 2014 Place: Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield (B75 5SA) Meet: 9.30am for 10am – 11am session Cost: £35 (£39 Guest) Situated in the heart of the beautiful countryside at Bassetts Pole, Sutton Coldfield, the huge NPF adventure site has opened its woodland trails for quad bike trekking. Under expert instruction, we will develop our riding skills and take part in a trek throughout undiscovered trails in over 120 acres of beautiful woodland on 150cc KYMCO quad bikes. This 1 hour experience starts with a full safety briefing and training session with an instructor, teaching us how to ride and control the Quad safely. As soon as we have successfully completed this compulsory safety training our Quad trek will begin. The experience includes all kit and equipment including coveralls and helmets and a full 30 minutes riding the quad bike.

Forest Segway on Cannock Chase .. trek by Segway on a forest trail

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Date: Sunday 20 July 2014 Place: Birches Valley Forest Ctr nr Rugeley (WS15 2UQ) # Meet: Around midday to be confirmed Cost: £35 Member, £38 Guest Get off the beaten track and experience an hour of fun on these amazing machines.

We’re off exploring the forest on the latest in green technology – self-balancing electric Segways. It’s a totally unique way to tackle the trails in the forest. Our experience with us lasts an hour, and that includes a brief bit of safety and instruction before we head out with an instructor. You’ll need to weigh between 7 and 19½ stone but other than that, virtually anyone can do it. This experience is run by Go Ape who also run the popular “treetop experience”.

Max ATV, Off Road Mud Buggies, Blind Driving .. get some serious fun in the mud!

Date: Saturday 10th May 2014 Place: Wokefield Park, Berkshire (RG7 3AH) Meet: 10.45am Prompt at Reception Cost: £70 Member, £79 Guest Calling all Spice petrol-heads! This is a must-do event for you to push the pedal to the metal on this truly fabulous day out! We’ve teamed up with our supplier to provide you with another Spice exclusive fun-filled event with 3 awesome activities for you to try. Read details on line at www.spicebham.com

Are you officially Amazing?

You could be once you have completed 10 challenging events. What better talking point for your CV! See your member handbook or visit www.spiceuk.com/amazing.asp or call us for details.

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Motorbike Off Road Experience .. a fantastic introduction to scrambling/ motocross

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Sunday 27th April 2014 Frank F Harrison Motor X Track, Walsall (WS2 7NR) 9.30am for 10am - 3pm session £89 (£95 Guest) Includes: all equipment & instruction, specialist clothing including boots, jackets & helmets. Also drinks & burger at lunch Due to a special relationship with a long served Spice member we have exclusive access to a fabulous off road facility in Walsall. If you have any doubts about the scale of this track, just put WS2 7NR into Google Earth and see it “from Space”!

They have great equipment and brilliant instructors to teach you how to get the best from it. This fantastic introduction will get you riding in ways and on surfaces that you wouldn't believe! There is no better feeling of exhilaration, than riding a motorcycle over off road terrain. The day cater for all levels of experience from complete novice (including would-be riders who have never even sat on a motorcycle before), to experienced road and off-road riders. Your day starts with a safety briefing and introduction. After which you will receive some basic off road riding instruction and assessment. Your instructors will then take you out to the course to build and develop your skills and confidence in a hands-on situation.

Most people can get the hang of the skills pretty quickly. However, if the instructors do not feel you can handle a motorbike (or you are not happy on a bike) there is the opportunity to swap to one of their quad bikes instead.

Important Notes: ● You will need to complete a special disclaimer that will be sent out upon booking ● You must be alcohol and not taking any drugs/ medication that could affect your judgement ● If the instructors believe you are a danger to yourself, other people or the equipment, you will be taken off the event.

Tank Battle Experience

.. challenge your fellow teams to a tank paintball battle!

Date: Sunday 20th April 2014 Place: Lutterworth, Leicestershire (LE17 6NW) # Meet: Session runs 10am – 12noon Cost: £95 Member, £99 Guest This event has had great feedback. We have booked 4 tanks, each of which take a crew of 3 Spice members who will be with their tank throughout (so no waiting around on this one!)

We start with a practice session, where we put the tank through it’s paces on the 1 mile track and firing range. We will alternate the 3 positions in the tank so that each person gets a chance to drive, a chance to load the gun and a chance to fire. The gun is adapted to fire paintball ammunition, and can be fired with the hatch up or down. In battle, of course the hatch has to be down and aimed by periscope. After the practice, the four tanks will do battle, with each tank attempting to out manoeuvre and “knock out” the others with their huge, paintball firing guns. For this part, teams will not be able to switch positions, so you will need to decide between you or toss a coin to decide who will drive, who will load and who will fire.

Extra notes: The organisers sell a disc of photos for an additional £15 (sent by post). There is a Kiosk that sells a small range of hot food (burgers etc) and tea, coffee, coke etc

Segway Rally at Weston Park

.. discover the fun of Segway at this lovely venue Date: Sunday 8th June 2014 Place: Weston Park, Shropshire (TF11 8LE) # Meet: Afternoon time slots TBC Cost: £39 Member, £42 Guest This is a great venue to discover Segway. It’s an impressive location with a variety of terrains for you to test your new found skills Segway’s are easy to use, with a steering handle and the slightest shift in weight determining your speed and direction. They are fantastic fun and highly addictive!

What happens on the day? Once you have arrived and registered, we’ll be kitted up with safety equipment which includes a helmet, elbow pads and knee pads. We then get a brief introduction to the Segway before taking our first steps on to the machine under close supervision. To help us familiarise ourselves with our machines, we’ll take part in a few games aimed at improving both our skill and confidence. We’ll then be taken around the Segway Rally track where an instructor will identify any obstacles that we need to avoid before we are set free to test our skills on the rally track!

Restrictions: To ride a Segway you need to be over 134cm tall and weigh over 45kg.

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Ferrari v Lamborghini Blast

.. the event you petrol heads have been waiting for!

Date: Saturday 21st June 2014 Place: Prestwold Driving Centre, Loughborough (LE12 5SQ) # Meet: 9.00am for 10.00am Cost: £99 Member, £110 Guest Drive and compare two of your favourite Supercars on the same day! Ever wanted to drive both a Ferrari and a Lamborghini well here goes! Experience a Lamborghini - drive one of these most exclusive of Italian supercars. With a price tag of over £130,000, the outrageously fast Lamborghini is normally reserved for Premiership footballers. Now you can slip into the leather seat, engage the first of six gears and start to work the Italian 500hp V10 engine that sings as sweetly as any opera diva. With an expert instructor by your side you will be able to enjoy unrivalled performance and handling. Now you can slip into the leather seat, engage the first of six gears and start to work the Italian 500hp V10 or 400hp V8 Ferrari engine that sing as sweetly as any opera divas. You will be able to enjoy unrivalled performance and handling with an expert instructor by your side. Which will be your favourite?

Incredible Auto Circus

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Date: Sunday 15 June 2014 Place: Northampton Raceway (NN7 2BA) # Meet: 1.45pm for 2pm - 6pm session Cost: £99 Member, £149 Guest (at public price) Roll Up, Roll Up! ... be the star in the greatest Auto Show in town! What better event for the car-mad person than a day full of the maddest Cars imaginable! Forget run-of-the-mill driving experiences , this is totally unique – six of the funniest and most exciting motor racing events ever – on one colourful and memorable day. Race “Double Decker Cars”, drift the amazing “Shopping Trolley Caster Cars”, you can even rally Reliant Robins … completely car-racingly bonkers!

Our itinerary: ● 11am light refreshments / race overall fitting / programmes ● 11.15am drivers briefing presented by our auto circus steward ● 11.30am our 6 motorsport experiences ● 3.30am prizes & certificates ● 4pm departure (Bar open!)

The Activities: You will drive and compete in some of the craziest cars imaginable: ● Castor Cars Drift Extreme The latest craze that is sweeping the Auto Circus World! Purpose-built cars with Casters on the back instead of tyres – the ultimate drift machine! Hysterical! ●The Double Decker Showdown Forget Buses: imagine two cars, one on the roof of the other! Driver in the top car controls the steering, driver in the bottom controls the pedals – the maddest race ever ... as seen on TV, and totally barking! ● The Del Boy Rally Rally your Reliant Robin through a totally bonkers dirt/asphalt course .. this is what Robins were built for! Wobble-tastic! ● Reverse Steer Head Exploder The car that will not obey! Try and race this beast, through tears of laughter! ● The Clown Car of Doom Can you tame the wackiest car around … you will never take your road car for granted again! ● Ultimate Race-a-Wreck Just you, a dirt oval, and a pro-built British Banger car. The most fun you can have on a race track?

Limitations: Drivers must be reasonably fit. Max height 6ft 5” & min 4ft 11”. Max 20 stone. Must hold driving licence. ______________________________

Give an old newsletter a trip to the Doctors!

One of the most valuable ways you can help spread the word about Spice is to leave an old newsletter in a waiting room. We get calls from intrigued people who have started reading about us in all sorts of places!

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Outdoor Pursuits What Spice are most famous for!

Abseiling for the Terrified .. a great way to get started

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Dates: Saturday 3 May, Sunday 15th June or Saturday 12th July 2014 Place: Black Rocks, Matlock, Derbyshire # Meet: 10.00am Cost: £29 Member, £32 Guest Many members would love to do an abseil, but are too petrified to book the ones we normally offer.

After seeing Mark Fenton's ability to gently coax even the most frightened, or physically disadvantaged people into achieving brilliant outdoor feats, I started these special sessions which have proved extremely popular! You just need to bring a little faith, and the will to succeed! The feeling you’ll get from your success is well worth it all. Mark will get you to overcome any fears by building up your confidence gradually. First we get used to the equipment and how to use it on a few very short descents, before tackling some bigger abseils if you feel able. You’ll not be forced to do anything you are uncomfortable with, or feel stupid if you back out of any stage. So go on…you’ve nothing to lose but your fears!

Indoor Climbing at Redpoint .. try this excellent new centre!

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Date: Tuesday 10 June 2014 Place: Redpoint Climbing, 77 Cecil St, Birmingham (B19 3SU) – see directions online Meet: 7.00pm for 7.15pm to 9.15pm session Cost: £20 Member, £22 Guest Climbing is one of the fastest growing sports. It's great fun and anybody can do it. It's a really exciting way to improve physical fitness combining strength, balance, flexibility and concentration. It’s the ideal place to learn about this sport, with an opportunity to develop your skills under expert tuition. Your instructors are S.P.S.A. qualified or equivalent and the emphasis is, as always, on safety. This new venue also works to a ratio of 6:1 instructor, which is the ideal set up for maximum climbing. You will need to wear cool, loose (but not baggy) clothing and training shoes. There are also refreshments and full changing facilities available. The huge main wall is the first thing you'll see ..but don't worry, there are a variety of other faces for beginners to develop their skills on. Sessions begin with a warm up on the bouldering wall, then we can tackle something bigger. For more details, photos and location maps visit www.redpointclimbingcentre.co.uk

Canadian Canoe Adventure .. enjoy a day out in 'canoe country'

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Date: Saturday 9 August 2014 Place: Symonds Yat, Forest of Dean (HR9 5QT) # Meet: 10.00am to approx 3.30pm Cost: £52 Member, £59 Guest The team from Forest Adventure have come up with a varied route for Canadian style open canoes - enjoyable for absolute beginners and practiced paddlers alike. They have planned out for us, one of the most scenic, most photographed, stretches of the Wye, from Kerne Bridge to Huntsmans Bridge taking in views of Symonds Yat as we go. Having allowed four and a half hours for the trip, it should be a leisurely day and will include a stop for coffee and a stop at a pub! The open canoes minimise our chance of getting wet, which is just as well at this time of year! All specialist equipment is provided.

Caving for the Terrified .. a great way to get started

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Date: Saturday 14 June 2014 Place: Matlock Bath, Matlock, Derbyshire # Meet: 10am to approx 1.30pm Cost: £35 (£39 Guest) Another of Mark's brilliant events for those who really want to conquer an outdoor pursuit, but need some extra 'loving care' to help them in their ambition. This day is an ideal introduction in an interesting cave system, but one where you have the peace of mind that you could quickly be brought to the surface if the experience proves too much!

More: Read more about this experience at www.spicebham.com

Symonds Yat Adventure Mission .. a fab multi activity day wrapped up in a journey!

Date: Saturdays: 26th April or 2nd August 2014 Place: Forest of Dean # Meet: 10am to approx 4pm Cost: £49 Member, £55 Guest Have you ever been on a walk through the forest that starts with you being kitted out with harness and helmet? If not, you've never been on one which starts with a 100 foot abseil down the Buttress at the Yat! Fuelled on adrenaline we then slide down to the river and walk along the disused railway line to a wire suspension bridge where we cross the Wye. We then ramble to Pancake Caves, which we enter by being lowered on a rope through a hole in the roof - wow! Our ramble then takes us onto King Arthur's Cave, an ancient dwelling place, and on to the Seven Sisters, a rock outcrop. Brilliant!

Scuba Taster Morning Experience .. a fun introduction to scuba diving!

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Date: Saturdays: 5 April, 7th June or 2nd August 2014 Place: Aquasport Dive Centre, 50 Lincoln Rd, Olton, Solihull (B27 6PA) Meet: 10.15am for 10.30am – 12.30pm session Cost: £14 Member, £16 Guest If you’ve always wanted an easy taster of what scuba is all about, this is for you. You will learn all the basic skills required to enjoy this exciting sport and be able to judge if scuba is for you. There will be a full briefing & film before pool session, which takes place in an excellent new diving pool on within the centre. Just bring a tee shirt to wear in the baths as well as your swimming costume. In line with PADI regulations, you need to complete a simple medical declaration in order to take part in the pool session. This can be downloaded from the link on the on line version of this writeup or posted to you.

Directions: The Centre is at 50 Lincoln Rd, Olton. For full directions, check the on line write up at www.spicebham.com.

Indoor Bouldering Taster Session .. indoor climbing without ropes!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Tuesday 8 July 2014 Boulder Central - Richmond Street South, West Bromwich (B70 0DG) 7.00pm for 7.15pm to 9.15pm session but we can stay to 10pm £14 (£20 Guest at public price) Incl: rock shoes, chalk & instructor Also, the Spice arrangement allows us to stay on to 10pm if we wish This is a brilliant Spice opportunity to try a new sport at a new centre (opened in May 2012). Bouldering is the same as climbing, but is all carried out at a much lower level and if you fall you will land on thick crashmats. This means it’s less scary (if you don’t like heights) and you have much more sense of freedom without having to use harnesses and ropes.

Bouldering is not only fun but is a great activity to build your strength and fitness. This special Spice taster session allows our group of first timers to learn the techniques with a qualified instructor. The session will last 90 minutes and includes: 1) A 30 minute group lesson giving important tips about the fundamentals of climbing; 2) 45 minutes of going through all the aspects needed to get you signed off as a competent climber. The majority of this session will be practical learning with most of the time being spent climbing. 3) 15 minutes of a free climbing session with instructors taking questions as you put your new skills into practice. Also, we have agreed with the Centre that Spice members can stay on after the session (centre closes 10pm) to continue bouldering and enjoying the facilities so long as we have passed the initial assessment.

Location: For detailed directions including public transport options see the online version of this writeup.

Kayak River Adventure Day .. enjoy a day out in 'canoe country'

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Date: Saturdays: 12 April, 29th June or 30th August 2014 Place: Symonds Yat, Forest of Dean (HR9 5QT) # Meet: 10.00am to approx 4.00pm Cost: £52 Member, £59 Guest This area really is canoe country! The team from Forest Adventure have come up with a varied route for single seat kayaks - enjoyable for absolute beginners and practiced paddlers alike. They have planned out for us, one of the most scenic, most photographed, stretches of the Wye, from Kerne Bridge to Huntsmans Bridge taking in views of Symonds Yat as we go.

It’s a leisurely day and a great first timers event, but will also be fun for those of you who have some experience.

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Zip World - Ultimate Zipline Experience .. fly for 1 mile at nearly 100mph & 500 feet up!

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Date: Sunday 27 July 2014 (Sorry, April date now full) Place: Penrhyn Quarry, Bethesda (LL57 4YG) # Meet: 1.30pm for 2pm (ends by 5pm) Cost: £49 (£55 Guest) Includes: 2 x Zipwires, flying suit, goggles, quarry tour by truck This is an unbelievable event! You may have seen it on The One Show, BBC News or Blue Peter (if not click the links at www.zipworld.co.uk to watch them via YouTube!)

So why should you travel to Wales for this one? Well, Zip World has the longest zip line in Europe and is claimed to be “the nearest thing to flying like Superman”. The Zip World site contains two specially constructed and spectacular zip lines, the first will take you down to the bottom of the quarry where you will pick up your specialised vehicle for a magnificent quarry tour, before zip lining back (one mile!) to the start. You will be going at speeds of around 100mph and you will be travelling 500ft above the mountain lake so be ready for a ride of a lifetime!

How does our afternoon work: We will meet up for briefing and for kitting up with flying suits, helmets and goggles.

We then get to experience “Little Zipper”, a mere 500 meters of fun that will whet our appetites for what is to come. At the base of “Little Zipper” we join our trucks (15 per truck) that take us on a guided tour of the quarry, ending at the very top.

This is an exciting trip, using vertiginous quarry tracks from the days when hundreds of men worked quarried slate at Penrhyn. The views are dramatic. We eventually reach the summit and the mighty “Big Zipper”. This we descend one after another at approx 2 minute intervals. Be prepared to be terrified, invigorated and awed .. all at the same time!

Book Early: We have held 30 places but will need to confirm well in advance and hand back any unsold places. So don’t delay if you want to secure a place on this one.

Notes: Max weight 120kg (min 30kg); Max height 2 meters (min 120cm). If you have any health concerns or disabilities, please clear with Spice in advance. The joining details will include a weather check number to call before setting out.

Go Ape in Cannock Chase

.. discover the thrill of aerial trekking high above the forest floor Date: Sunday 20th July 2014 Place: Birches Valley Forest Centre near Rugeley (WS15 2UQ) # Meet: 12noon (to be confirmed with details) Cost: £30 Member, £35 Guest Go-Ape provides a truly exhilarating, adrenalin pumped experience in the tree tops. It’s an awardwinning high wire forest adventure course of rope bridges, Tarzan Swings and zip slides up to 40 feet up in the trees. We are fitted with a climbing harness, given instructions, and then trek from tree to tree high above the forest floor. Safety is paramount and all participants wear safety harnesses with which to attach themselves to the safety system. Everyone receives a safety briefing from a trained instructor at the start.

Participants will then be responsible for attaching themselves to the safety system as they move around the course.

The course normally takes a very enjoyable (and perhaps a little scary) 2 - 3 hours to complete.

Bungee Jump - 160ft over Water .. the essential adrenaline experience

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Date: Sunday 29 June 2014 Place: Dosthill, Tamworth (see below) (B78 2DL) Meet: Time slots TBC Cost: £60 Member, £65 Guest Life shouldn’t be measured by the breaths you take but by those moments that take your breath away! One of the most thrilling adrenaline events is the bungee jump and it’s one that’s on most people’s lists. Here’s the chance to tick it off!

The basics: This is a 160ft Jump from a crane over water at the lovely scenic location of West Midlands Water Ski Centre near Tamworth. This site offers great views and you will jump above the watersports lake. There’s a restaurant and bar.

What happens on the day? When you arrive you will register and complete a registration form. You will then be weighed and allocated the appropriate jump chord before entering the jump site. Here you will be harnessed by a professional jump crew where a number of double checks take place of your weight, jump chord selection and waist harness. Once in the hot seat with your ankle harnesses fitted you will be passed to the jumpmaster who will double check everything again before taking you up in the jump cage and talking you through your jump.

Once at the top you will hear the famous countdown “3, 2, 1, bungee” and then……..it’s up to you!

This is an edited writeup. For fuller details including restrictions, see the full details at www.spicebham.com 31

Dinghy Sailing

.. learn how on Edgbaston Reservoir Date: Saturdays: 24th May or 19th July 2014 Place: Edgbaston Reservoir, Icknield Port Road (B16 0AA) – directions online Meet: 10am to 12noon session Cost: £20 (£22 Guest) Dinghy sailing is a great sport, and an ideal introduction to sailing for any kind of craft. You will have intensive instruction, and by the end of the session, even a complete novice will have grasped the basics of sailing. The team provide buoyancy aids, but the greatest danger of all with sailing is that you may get addicted! You just need to take a complete change of clothes, a towel and waterproof gear - a simple cagoule is a great help on windy days. Take old footwear to sail in (eg. an old pair of trainers). If weather is very cold, the supplier may issue wetsuits, so take swimwear for underneath.

Abseiling for Beginners at Symonds Yat .. try some easy abseils in a beautiful setting!

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Date: Saturday 14 June 2014 Place: Symonds Yat area of Forest of Dean # Meet: 11.45am for 12noon - 3pm session Cost: £39 Member, £45 Guest The team from Forest Adventure have designed a rock session in this area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Abseils vary from a sheltered 40 ft to an exposed 110 ft depending on how you wish to progress. No one is made to do anything, progress at your own pace in an encouraging environment or enjoy the view and support your fellow Spicers.

The instructors are confident that anyone can conquer these cliffs with a little encouragement. “Our most senior lady this year from the local WI was 87 – so I’m sure no one from Spice should find it difficult!” some rudimentary skills to get you started.

Bridge Abseil & Ladder Climb .. it'll scare you to death - but you'll love it!

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Date: Sunday 18 May 2014 Place: Millers Dale, Peak District # Meet: 10.00am Cost: £35 Member, £39 Guest Ever fancied the idea of a freefall abseil (like the SAS do out of a helicopter!) from a precipitous 80' viaduct to the river bank below .. and then climbing back up using a metal caving ladder which swings and sways! We thought you might!

Once you've plucked up the courage to do it once, there will be no stopping you. It's a great confidence booster. This day is run by Mark Fenton so you can be sure that there will be lots of fun, a relaxed atmosphere where absolute beginners will find lots of nurturing and encouragement and a totally commitment to your safety at all stages.

This is a brilliant first or second abseil experience. It is also an ideal training for anyone wishing to do our more advanced caving trips as you will be able to learn some of the techniques above ground rather than under!

New Members - Intro to Adventure in Streetly .. an easy multi activity day at Woodlands

Date: Sunday 20th July 2014 Place: Woodlands Camp, Streetly, Sutton Coldfield (WS9 0SH) # Meet: 10am to approx 4pm Cost: £35 Member, £39 Guest Activities for this visit: Assault Course, Zipwire, Raftbuilding & Team Games This event is particularly aimed at members who have joined us recently and want to try a range of easy adventure activities. However, longer served members who also want to join in are also equally welcome to take part.

Woodlands is a great, purpose designed outdoors centre with its own small lake (with a zipwire over it!), an easy assault course, and a great team of instructors. Because this centre deal with school groups in the week, you will find immaculate safety standards, and a range of challenges that are easily accomplished by an adult.

We think these are perfect for those looking for a relaxed day of challenges, or who need extra TLC in order to get started with adventure activities. Just bring outdoor clothing, a packed lunch and a sense of adventure!

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Kayaking Intro on Edgbaston Reservoir .. learn the basics on calm water

Date: Sunday 6th April, Saturday 3rd May or Saturday 26th July 2014 Place: Edgbaston Reservoir, Icknield Port Road (B16 0AA) – directions online Meet: 10.00am - 12.00 midday Cost: £20 Member, £22 Guest Kayaking is a great sport, and an ideal introduction is to start the still water of a lake. You will have intensive instruction, so that by the end of the session, even a complete novice will have grasped the basics. The team provide buoyancy aids, but the greatest danger of all is that you may get addicted! You just need to take a complete change of clothes, a towel and waterproof gear - a simple cagoule is a great help on windy days. If there is sufficient interest this will be a Spice exclusive group. Otherwise we may have to share the trip with other clients.

The Big Abseil - 200 Feet Straight Down .. oh yes, the big one is back again!

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Date: Sundays: 13 April or 25th May 2014 Place: The Avon Gorge, Bristol # Meet: 1pm at layby on The Portway Cost: £35 Member, £37 Guest Go ahead and impress your family and friends with this classic Spice event. We start off with full instruction on the techniques needed before our instructor builds our confidence and calms our nerves for an impressive 200-foot descent.

Rowing for Beginners

.. learn how on Edgbaston Reservoir th

Date: Saturday 10 May or Sunday 20th July 2014 Place: Edgbaston Reservoir, Icknield Port Road (B16 0AA) – directions online Meet: 1.00pm - 3.00pm Cost: £15 Member, £18 Guest Whether you fancy trying something new or whether you are an aspiring Redgrave, Pinsent or could team up someone to be the next Glover & Stanning; come and give rowing a go! Rowing at Edgbaston Reservoir has a long history and they are proud to be chosen as one of a handful of UK outdoor centres to receive funding and support from British Rowing to widen accessibility. This 2 hour session will get you out on the water to learn some rudimentary skills to get you started.

Ramble, Scramble & Dangle .. a great day out with Mark

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Date: Saturday 17 May 2014 Place: White Peak area of Derbyshire # Meet: 10.00am Cost: £29 Member, £35 Guest We get the most brilliant feedback from these days out with Mark Fenton! Meeting in the White Peak, we embark on a 7 mile hike but along the way we encounter and overcome various obstacles! It could be a climb, a river crossing, an abseil or it could be all three. You might be asked to disarm a bomb, climb a tree or ascend a steep embankment using jumars (fixed rope ascenders) you could even be asked to find your own way back to the cars using “Marks’ special maps”.

Kayaking for Fun

.. an afternoon of fun on the water Date: Sunday 18th May 2014 Place: Top Barn Activity Centre, Nr Droitwich # (WR6 6NH) Meet: 12.30pm for 1pm to 4pm session Cost: £22 Member, £25 Guest This afternoon we can try our hand at kayaking on their purpose built lake which is perfect for beginners.

The qualified instructors will guide you through and improve your ability whatever your level.

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Gorge Walking Adventure .. a fabulous multi activity journey!

Date: Saturdays 7th June or 6th September 2014 Place: Abergavenny, Monmouthshire # Meet: 10am to approx 4pm Cost: £52 (£59 Guest) Incl: Waterproof overalls, buoyancy aids & helmets This is a really fun experience that provides the opportunity for scrambling, climbing and abseiling in order to travel up a beautiful gorge. It sounds a challenge – and it is – but anyone of reasonable fitness who is prepared for anything (including getting wet) should be able to enjoy this wonderful day with our instructor from Forest Adventure. We will be kitted out with waterproof overalls, buoyancy aids & helmets before entering the gorge with a thrilling viaduct abseil. We then walk to the base of the gorge and then navigate a section by following the stream up hill. Along the way we will master such obstacles as a waterfall, beautiful pools and even a natural tunnel. Where necessary we will be roped together for safety.

All in all, it is a wonderful opportunity to get really intimate with the environment is a stunning location. Don’t miss it!

Dragon Boat Afternoon & Supper .. a special opportunity to learn the skills!

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Date: Saturday 17 May 2014 Place: Pershore, Worcestershire (WR10 1AF) # Meet: 3.00pm (Finish around 6.30pm) Cost: £17 (£20 Guest) Extra: Pay supplier on day for Fish & Chips (if required) Get ready for our National Dragon Boating Weekend or just join us for some fun on the water. Dragon Boat Racing caters for all ages, male and female, in one crew and requires no experience. It's great fun and totally unlike any other kind of canoeing with team work being the key, not strength. Get the start right and you can feel the boat lift out of the water and start to plane to give you a fast racing start, it's amazing how fast a 18 person canoe can travel!

White Water Kayaks

.. learn how to set your skills against moving water Date: Saturdays: 31st May or 21st June or 26th July 2014 Place: Symonds Yat (HR9 6EG) # Meet: 10am to approx 4.30pm Cost: £52 Member, £59 Guest Todays session is run by the team from Forest Adventure and is an excellent opportunity for anyone wanting to experience the thrill of white water kayaking. Whether you're a total novice or have done this before, you'll have loads of fun developing your basic skills, and getting used to the feel of the moving water. If you've kayaked in a pool or on 'flat water' before you'll find this quite different as the movement of the water makes your paddle stokes and turns more interesting. If you're up to it, you'll get a chance on the rapids where you'll have the chance to ' play ' the river - or is it playing with you! Under the expert guidance you'll soon be using the eddies to your advantage and discovering how to manoeuvre round all sorts of obstacles. All necessary equipment is provided.

White Water Rafting

.. an adrenaline charged adventure experience!

Dates: Saturdays: 17th May or 19th July 2014 Place: Nene White Water Centre (NN4 7AA) # Meet: 12noon for 12.30pm Cost: £45 Member, £49 Guest An exhilarating session on the UK's first purpose built 'pumped' white water course on the River Nene. If you've never been rafting before, you'll love it! We hurtle down the course in large inflatable rubber rafts paddling like mad to avoid capsizing - it's terrific fun. Then we just lift out the raft, carry it back up the hill then back in the river for another go.

The team are extremely safety conscious and give you a great time. As the course is controlled by a 'monster' pumping system, the difficulty/ skill level of the runs can be altered for optimum fun. Bouyancy aids and helmets are included. Just bring a swimming cossie and old pair of trainers (they’ll get wet!) Safety regulations also dictate that you need to be able to swim 50m to take part and weigh less than 18st. Once finished there’s a hot shower and hot drinks to warm you up too.

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Multi Water Sports Afternoon .. try a range of fun water activities

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Date: Sunday 25 May 2014 Place: Top Barn Activity Centre, Nr Worcester (WR6 6NH) # Meet: 12.30pm for 1pm until 4pm Cost: £22 Member, £25 Guest Top Barn Activity Centre is situated close to the River Severn with a large lake for plenty of water based activities.

This afternoon we will have the opportunity to experience a variety of water sports, activities could include sailing, windsurfing, canoeing, kayaking and raft building, find out which one floats your boat!

Navigation - in Four Simple Steps! .. a fun basic map reading day with Alan Roberts

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Date: Sunday 15 June 2014 Place: Cannock Chase, Nr Cannock (WS15 2UQ) # Meet: 10am for 10.30am start Cost: £12 Member, £15 Guest The aim of the day with Alan is to introduce members to the concept of using a compass, reading a map and understanding what can be described as basic map reading and navigation. There will be four parts to the exercise; setting direction using map and compass, calculating distance, calculating time and understanding the importance of recall.

Summer in the Forest

.. venture off the tracks with a guide! th

Date: Saturday 5 July 2014 Place: Wyre Forest Discovery Centre (DY14 9XQ) – see directions online Meet: 2pm Cost: £6 Member, £8.50 Guest Come and enjoy the sights, smells and sounds of Summer in the Wyre Forest. Our experienced guide will provide explanations, show you a few secrets the Forest has in store, and generally help you appreciate this wonderful Season when life of many kinds flourishes in the countryside.

Climbing at the Roaches

..a full day of classic climbing with Mark th

Date: Sunday 13 July 2014 Place: Peak District # Meet: 9.45am Cost: £45 Member, £49 Guest Mark Fenton has quite a reputation for coaxing newcomers and the nervous to achieve great things in the outdoors. Today is an introduction to his favourite Peak District pastime, rock climbing. The day is ideal for people new to Gritstone, or who may have had some experience on an indoor wall. But capable beginners are also welcome. See full details online

Rock Climbing for the Terrified .. a beginners day of climbing & scrambling

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Date: Saturdays: 5 April or 7th June 2014 Place: Black Rocks nr Matlock # Meet: 10.00am Cost: £35 Member, £39 Guest A fun opportunity for people who never thought they could be rock climbers to have a go at various rock skills within a very supportive group. Mark Fenton, runs our legendary “Abseiling for the Terrified” days with fantastic feedback and results. As usual, anyone can have a go, as you don't have to be superfit, and all equipment is provided. You are in safe hands with our excellent instructors who will encourage you yet promise not to put you in any situation that you are uncomfortable. Climbing brings out the child in all of us. It is an enormous sense of achievement to reach the top.

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National Dragon Boat Racing ..because nothing beats the atmosphere of when Spice race the dragon!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Sunday 13th July 2014 Pershore, Worcestershire (WR10 1AF) # 9.30am £29 Member, £32 Guest

“No Spicer should miss a Dragon Boat Day. It really sums up what Spice is all about – fun, friendship, excitement & the chance to try an activity that anyone can enjoy!” MEMBER QUOTE These are great days out - Enter the Dragon! Up to 18 people sitting side by side in a 40 foot long boat, with a carved dragon's head and tail attached. A drummer in the prow beating time, a helmsman in the stern keeping the boat on course with a giant paddle, the crew, ten each side speeding the boat down the river to the finish line! The atmosphere is brilliant, which is why this is one of the essential events in the Spice calendar! Today we’ll be racing for fun with other Spice groups from all over the UK. We have our own trophies and medals to go for, and the races will be run on a timed basis over the day. Don't worry if you've never been in a Dragon Boat or anything similar before, as we'll have plenty of time to practice before the racing begins in earnest (and as this is Spice, it’s all just for fun anyway!).

For colour, spectacle and excitement Dragon Boat Racing has it all and is also rapidly becoming the mass participation sport on water. If you want to know what a great day out this is ask any of the members who've attended previous events.

Dragon Boat Racing caters for all ages, male and female, in one crew and requires no experience. It's great fun and totally unlike any other kind of canoeing with team work being the key, not strength. Get the start right and you can feel the boat lift out of the water and start to plane to give you a fast racing start, it's amazing how fast a 18 person canoe can travel!

Each boat is provided with an expert helmsman to keep you on the right track, and with the help of your drummer beating out the time of the strokes you are sure to get the rhythm right...well that's the theory anyway!

The venue for this years event is the river Avon at Pershore, on the northern edge of the Cotswolds. This is a beautiful setting in one of Englands' most picturesque areas so you may want to make a weekend of it. Changing facilities are available and there will also be food for sale during the day. Parking is available on site and a transport list with directions will be sent out to all those who book.

No experience is necessary but you must be able to swim at least 50 metres in light clothing.

Dragon Boat Camping

Date: Friday 11th and/or Saturday 12th July 2014 Place: Pershore Rugby Club, Wyre Piddle (WR10 2JE) Cost: £8 (£9 Guest) per person per night Piddle Park is the home to Pershore Rugby Club – and due to restrictions put on our previous venue this year it’s home to Spice as well! The facilities are very good, and we just ask that members respect the rules laid down by their licence, such as rules regarding fires, and no music to be played (except live musical instruments) after 11pm. We have use of a lovely club house and facilities. There will be a Spice staff member or volunteer on site to ensure things go smoothly.

Dragon Boat Party Date: Saturday 12th July 2014 Place: Pershore Working Mens Club, 55- 57 High Street, Pershore (WR10 1EU) # Time: 8.00pm to 11.30pm Cost: £12 (£15 Guests) including venue, DJ & fish & chip supper A lot of people (rowers and spectators) traditionally stay over the night before to make a weekend of our Dragon Boating.

Some camp at Pershore Rugby Club (see above) and others find accommodation nearby. The atmosphere is always great on Saturday night, with a DJ and bar, for a very special Spice exclusive party with fish & chips (served the proper way – out of the paper!).We can take around 150 people, but I suspect that the tickets will go fast! For those camping, the Rugby Club is around 2 miles up the road, there will be an optional minibus transfer at 7.45pm and 11.45pm at £1 each way.

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Lift Tower Abseil - Our Biggest Ever!

.. at 418 feet, it's the tallest permanent abseil tower in the world!

Date: Saturday 5th July 2014 (Sorry, May date now full) Place: Northampton Lift Tower (NN5 5FH) Meet: Around 12 noon – exact timeslot for Spice will be notified when final numbers known Cost: £95 Member, £105 Guest (Deposit £20) Includes: All instruction and equipment We are pleased to be able to offer another “ultimate Spice experience”. This is one that all you adrenaline addicts will want to cross off the list! At 418 feet (127m), this incredible tower that was built by the Express Lift Company in the 1970’s to test lifts, is also the tallest permanent abseil tower in the world. Located in Northampton, this unique venue is easily accessible by rail and road so attracts adventurous people from all over the UK and beyond. With a highly experienced staff, they offer both external and internal abseils but we have booked to descent the outside of the tower. To see some pictures from past abseils have a look on their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/NationalAbseilCentre.

This day is also shared with other groups and individuals but we will have our own time slot.

Notes: Please note that you travel to the top floor by lift but there is then a ladder (inside!) to get onto the roof (so you must be capable of climbing a ladder). Max weight 136kg (21st 5lb). In the event of bad weather such as high winds they would move the activity indoors (ie down the lift shaft). It is hard work, so a reasonable level of fitness will make it a lot easier and more fun. Risks: there is a small risk that if the wind picks up while you are abseiling you could be blown away from the building and hit it on the way back in, possibly resulting in bruising and other injuries. Please also read the suppliers special terms and conditions (link given with the on line version of this website).

Stand Up Paddle Boarding .. get a loada "SUP for the soul"

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Date: Saturday 5 April, Sunday 4th May or Saturday 5th July 2014 Place: Edgbaston Reservoir, Icknield Port Road (B16 0AA) – directions online Meet: 10.00am - 12.00 midday Cost: £20 Member, £22 Guest Want to try one of the fastest growing water sports in the world? Then why not give stand up paddle boarding a go - It's easy to learn and fun to do. Stand up Paddling, or SUP's is similar to surfing except the paddler uses a longer canoe type paddle to move through the water while standing on an large style surfboard. Contrary to surfing however, stand up paddling doesn't require an ocean or waves. Stand Up Paddle Surfing isn't that hard to learn as unlike normal surfing you can learn to do it on almost any type of water. To start with you will find standing up on the board and paddling will be the trickiest part. If you already surf then the wave riding part should be pretty familiar, except that you will be riding for longer and more often! SUP's is for all outdoors or water sport fan, looking for something different. If there is sufficient interest this will be a Spice exclusive group. Otherwise we may have to share the trip with other clients.

Guided Canoe Tour of Birmingham .. discover the Birmingham canals by canoe

Date: Saturday 12th April 2014 Place: Edgbaston Reservoir, Icknield Port Road (B16 0AA) – directions online Meet: 1.00pm - 4.00pm Cost: £32 (£36 Guest) Incl: All equipment, wetsuit & qualified instructors This is your chance to get a water's eye view of the city centre. The trip will be led by qualified canoe and kayak coaches will take you through the quiet back waters into the hustle and bustle of Brindley place, returning to Edgbaston. The surrounding buildings are rich in history and the water provides ideal views for the newer buildings. We meet at Edgbaston Watersports where we will issue equipment, we will then proceed to the canal at the Icknield Port loop. If there is sufficient interest this will be a Spice exclusive group. Otherwise we may have to share the trip with other clients.

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Windsurfing

.. learn how on Edgbaston Reservoir Date: Saturday 12th July 2014 Place: Edgbaston Reservoir, Icknield Port Road (B16 0AA) – directions online Meet: 10.00am - 12.00 midday Cost: £20 Member, £22 Guest A water sport guaranteed to give you lots of fun. This is an ideal introduction to the sport for beginners, as you'll start your session on a dry land simulator. Once you've all got the hang of this there's fun and games on a real board and rig to see just how good your sense of balance is (this is where you start to get wet!). By the end of this instructed three hour session you should be able to sail and turn the board. The emphasis is on fun. Sometimes a video is taken of your progress, which is a great laugh at the end of the session! Hot drinks will be available as well as a bar. All equipment; including wetsuit and buoyancy, is provided. If there is sufficient interest this will be a Spice exclusive group. Otherwise we may have to share the trip with other clients. More details & weather check number given with online version of this writeup.

Climbing the Longstone Pinnacle .. learn how to climb this amazing outcrop!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Saturdays: 3 May or 19th July 2014 Symonds Yat, Forest of Dean # 10.00am – 4.30pm £52 Member, £59 Guest

Climbing is one of the fastest growing sports. Its great fun and anybody can do it. It’s a really exciting way to improve physical fitness combining strength, balance, flexibility and mental stimulation.

On your arrival at 'Symonds Yat Rock' you will be met by a member of Forest Adventure’s team of highly qualified climbing instructors, who will give you a full safety brief and kit you out with your harness and helmet. Learning as a group and in pairs all the skills needed to enjoy this great sport will be taught in a relaxed way and at an easy pace. You will need to wear loose comfortable outdoor clothing and pumps or rock shoes. (the thinner the sole the better). Take waterproofs and snacks, we will break for lunch at a local café (to be paid separately). In the morning you will learn the techniques of rock climbing and Abseiling around rock faces at Symonds Yat, we will then break for lunch, after lunch we shall further challenge ourselves culminating in climbing up the Longstone Pinnacle which is a pillar of Rock 110ft on one side and 50ft on the other standing on its own, from the top you can reward yourself with a magnificent view overlooking the Wye Valley, But the fun doesn't stop there! You then abseil down the pillar back to ground level.

This is an excellent day for beginners and intermediates to learn/fine tune your climbing and abseiling skills, with the final climb of the day up The Longstone Pinnacle.

Important: It is not possible to guarantee the Longstone Pinnacle climb on the day, as poor weather or the presence of other climbers can make the climb unsafe. Please be assured, however, that the instructor will do his very best to ensure that you get this experience.

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Are you officially Amazing?

You could be once you have completed 10 challenging events. What better talking point for your CV! See your member handbook or visit www.spiceuk.com/amazing.asp or call us for details.

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Previews & Pub Nights Unlike the other events in this newsletter, most of these events (except Spice Hits Town) are offered on an informal 'just turn up' basis.

Preview Evenings!

.. presentations aimed at those looking to join, just joined, or introducing a friend to the group Dudley

Edgbaston

Dates: Tues 10 June 2014 Place: Copthorne Hotel, The Waterfront, Merry Hill Dudley DY5 1UR Time: 8.00pm Cost: Free

Dates: Wed 7 May 2014 Place: Strathallan Hotel 225 Hagley Road Edgbaston Birmingham B16 9RY Time: 8.00pm Cost: Free

Sutton Coldfield

Solihull/ NEC Date: Mon 28 April 2014 or Mon 30 June 2014 Place: The Arden Hotel Coventry Road Bickenhill B92 0EH Time: 8.00pm Cost: Free

Date: Tues 8 April 2014 Place: Ramada Hotel Penns Lane Walmley Sutton Coldfield B76 1LH Time: 8.00pm Cost : Free

You don’t have to come to a Preview Night in order to join Spice, but if you can, it’s a great way to make your start with us and the easiest way of meeting a few people and finding out how it all works. Richard, Maggie and other team members and volunteers will be there to welcome everybody. We’ll show the Spice Video, talk through the basics of membership, give you more info' on the programme, and explain how it all works.

It's very casual and everyone is welcome; those thinking of joining who want to find out more, and existing members who might like to come along with any curious friends. It's very informal, and many members have joined after attending one of these as it's a great opportunity to meet other new members who also want to add some SPICE to life!

Those who can’t wait to get started will also have the opportunity to book any events they'd like try.

We’ve chosen venues with good free parking areas immediately outside. Once in the venue just ask at reception which room we’re in. All venues have a bar, and you can bring a drink into the room.

Hope you can make it - no need to book, just turn up on the night and we'll see you there.

Spice Hits Town at The Jam House! .. a great free Spice get together with live music!

Dates: Fridays: ● 18 April ● 23 May ● 20 June ● 18 July 2014 Place: The Jam House, St Pauls Square, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham (B3 1QU) Meet: From 7.30pm (arrive by 8.30pm LATEST or you’ll be charged). Meet upstairs Cost: Free (but you have to book this event). Members Only – No Guests Incl: Spice exclusive area & discounted bar to 9pm Live entertainment: ● 18/4 – Urban Intro (hits from Rihanna/Justin Timberlake to classics from Chaka Khan, Whitney Houston & Peniston) ● 23/5 - The Subterraneans (Massive Rock Anthems from the likes of U2, the Stones, Queen & Kaiser Chiefs) ● 20/6 – Up4 The Downstroke (RnB faves from the likes of Beyonce, Timberlake, Rhianna and more) ● 18/7 – Solid Soul (classic James Brown, Motown, and even Hendrix & Kravitz) Our monthly night out now offers more! We have our own area from 7.30pm to 9pm and if numbers permit, the venue will provide a simple buffet (crisps/ sandwiches) free of charge at 8pm (so don’t arrive late!). The bar that serves our area will also have a Spice discount in place for our exclusive time, so go straight to our area on arrival!

Booking: There is no charge if you arrive before 8.30pm, but your place has to be booked in advance so that your name is on the list for security to allow you into our private area. Please dress night club wise (ie no trainers, jeans etc).

If you haven’t been to a Spice Hits Town before, you’ll find it a great opportunity to renew acquaintances with other Spice Members who you’ve met on events, and generally mingle in an informal but busy environment.

New Members Note: Whilst everyone is welcome to attend if they wish, it is easier when you know a few people in the group. We only say this because it is a busy, loud, unstructured meet up with minimal coordination, so it can be difficult for members to spot or look after people who are new. Once you have been to a few events, and know some faces, however, you’ll find SHT a great way to renew friendships and get into the social life of our group.

Our Regional Pub Nights – an Important Explanation Don’t worry, Spice has not become (nor ever will be!) a group who meet up in pubs! In fact, many people join Spice as an antidote to spending their time in pubs. Spice is all about the events and the fun we have on them. That said, a network of pub nights have developed, aimed at enabling members to get to know other members in their area over a drink (or three!) each month.

These nights are run “by the members - for the members” and have no other purpose other than providing a corner of a pub for Spice friends to drink and chat together. The reason I mention this, is that I keep getting reports of new members and people interested in joining, turning up at these nights expecting something more - such as a “meeting”, “an opportunity to join”, “the chance to book events” or “the chance to see what Spice is like” etc. Also, those who go along not knowing any faces and walk straight out again before any introductions can be made. I don’t mean to put you off, as these nights are a great resource for people who have been in the group for some time and who know a few faces to look out for. However, they are not really designed for people who are brand new to the group. They work best as a form of reunion for people who have already met on events. They are certainly no substitute for our organised events or the Preview Nights that we put on for those who want to find out more about the Group or to join us.

These are busy pubs (not closed to the public) and can be difficult if you don’t already know some faces to look out for. Sorry to be a little negative, but we would hate for you to judge Spice based on your experience of an informal night at a pub!

Tamworth & Lichf’d Pub Night

Sutton Pub Night

Date: Mon: 7 Apr, 5 May, 2 Jun or 7 Jul Place: The Silk Kite - Weatherspoons (B79 7DF) Meet: 8.00pm onwards Members only This popular night has a new home, a new day and new hosts!

Tove and Jayne will be there to welcome you at this popular town centre pub and they will have a reserved area by the windows at the front. There are regular guest ales and good food at competitive prices. Any questions Contact Tove: tsalkvist@yahoo.co.uk or call 07967 540697. ● Please read notes above before attending a pub night.

Directions: The Silk Kite is at 59-60 Church St, Tamworth

Date: Weds: 9 Apr, 14 May, 11 June or 9 July Place: The Bottle of Sack, Bham Rd (B72 1QG) Meet: 8.00pm onwards Members only David and Rob are your volunteer contacts for this night for members who live in Sutton. David will be near the bar and (to help you spot him) will be drinking out of a pewter tankard (also note his arty sideburns!).

Any questions, call Dave on 0121 329 3663. ● Please read notes above before attending a pub night.

Directions: See online writeup for full details.

Bromsgrove Pub Night

Solihull Pub Night

Date: Mon: 21 Apr, 19 May, 16 Jun or 21 Jul Place: Crown at Wychbold, nr M5 J5 (WR9 7PF) Meet: 8.00pm onwards Members only Meet & socialise with members from Worcestershire. John Matchett will be there to meet and greet everyone. Any questions, call John 07833 327483 or john.matchett@reynaers.com.

There’s a big car park and food is available. Enter through side door by car park. John will be wearing a Spice T Shirt. ● Please read notes above before attending a pub night.

Directions: See online writeup for full details.

Date: Tues: 8 Apr, 13 May, 10 Jun or 8 Jul Place: The Woodmans Rest, Union Road (B90 3DB) Meet: 8.00pm onwards Members only This pub meet for members in the Solihull area has a new home. It is run by local Spicer Mark Thursfield. He will be looking out for you in the bar from 8pm, or you can get there earlier if you want to eat first. It's an informal opportunity to meet up with other people in your area. Any questions, please contact Mark on 07943 944514 or email mark.thursfield@btinternet.com ● Please read notes above before attending a pub night

Halesowen/Quinton Pub Night

Kings Heath Pub Night

Date: Thur: 3 Apr, 1 May, 5 Jun or 3 Jul Place: Amber Tavern, Hagley Rd West, (B32 2AL) Meet: 8pm onwards Members only Come and have a drink and a laugh, in a friendly atmosphere with a few Spice friends from your area. There’s food available if you wish. Hosts are Fiona & John. Fiona can be contacted on 07929 357 880 with any queries. Full directions at www.spicebham.com ● Please read notes above before attending a pub night

Date: Tues: 15 Apr, 20 May, 17 Jun or 15 Jul Place: Red Lion, Vicarage Rd, Kings Heath (B14 7LY) Meet: 8.00pm onwards Members only Dave & Nicki are our friendly hosts at this spacious pub with it's own parking/ on the no11 bus route! There’s also a good menu if you want to eat. If you have any questions or are nervous about attending, why not call them on 07789 002109 or 07748 976496 ● Please read notes above before attending a pub night

Warwick/ Leamington Pub

Date: Thur: 17 Apr, 15 May, 19 Jun or 17 Jul Place: The Lounge, Leamington Spa (CV32 4AG) Meet: 7.30pm onwards Members only Mike Bedwell and Richard Harris are the new hosts for this friendly, informal get together where you can meet people in your area, socialise and find people going on the same events as you. Mike and/or Richard will be looking out for you in the bar from 7.30pm. Look out for their Spice T Shirts and/or Spice Banner. Questions: Contact ● Mike 07846 578747 or aldrin1969@btopenworld.com ● Richard 07751 135360 or limegarden1@hotmail.co.uk. The new venue (since October 2013) is The Lounge, which is pretty central on Leamington High Street (address is 130 The Parade). ● Please read notes above before attending a pub night

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Quiz Nights Come to our fun Quiz nights. It's a good way of getting to know people, as we randomly arrange teams on the night.

There’s a bar and prizes are awarded to winners & runners up. Losers may get a surprise too! Our quizzes are written specially for us and it’s all just for fun - so please don’t book if you’re too serious about winning!

Quiz Night

(Birmingham)

.. our fun, general knowledge quiz with Richard 30th

Date: Wednesdays: ● April ● 21st May ● 25th June ● 23rd July 2014 Place: The Old Royal, 53 Church Street (B3 3DP) Meet: 7.30pm for prompt 7.45pm start Cost: £3 (Guests £5) A fun general knowledge quiz written for us by Pete with so many categories that we hope everyone will know something!

This is usually presented by Richard, but we also have “guest presenters” from time to time.

Curry & Quiz

(Harborne/ Solihull/ Sutton & Wolverhampton)

.. a great social evening with Steve Dell

19th

Dates: ● Thur June - Bangla Lounge, 152a High St, Harborne (B17 9PN) ● Thur 10th Apr or Wed 9th July - Shades of Raj 52, Station Road, Solihull (B91 3RX) ● Thur 1st May - Purbani Tandoori, 41 Birch St, Wolverhampton (WV1 4JW) ● Wed 4th June - Bollywood, 28 Birmingham Rd Sutton Coldfield (B72 1QG) Meet: 7.00pm Cost: £5 (£7 Guest) plus cost of food on the night (see each deal below) Great nights with Steve Dell, combining two favourites; a curry and a quiz! There will be all the usual rounds such as general knowledge, music etc. These are great events to meet fellow spicers and not taken too.seriously – this is Spice! ●Bollywood: We have a special deal for £11: A popadom (with onion salad, dips etc), a starter, a main and rice or naan. This restaurant isn’t licensed so you need to bring your own alcoholic drinks. ●Purbani Tandoori: We have a great deal; A popadom (with the onion salad, dips etc), a starter, a main and rice or naan – all for just £9.95. There is some free street parking by the restaurant but it is limited. ● Shades of Raj: A contemporary Indian Restaurant. Our deal is £10.95: Popadom (with onion salad, dips etc), a starter, a main and rice or naan. There’s limited street car parking nearby or several multi story car parks including Touchwood. ●Bangla Lounge: We have a great deal for £9.95: Popadom (with onion salad, dips etc), a starter, a main and rice or naan. There is a limited amount of street car parking near the restaurant or a public car park behind the High Street.

Chinese & Quiz (Sutton Coldfield) .. another gastro-quiz from Steve Dell

Date: Wednesday 23rd April 2014 at Lee Garden, Birmingham Rd, Sutton Coldfield (B72 1QF) Meet: 7.00pm Cost: £5 (£7 Guest) plus cost of food (£17.50) on the night Today, Steve will run one of his quizzes whilst we enjoy a varied Chinese Meal. There will be all the usual rounds such as general knowledge, music etc. A set meal has been booked (vegetarian on request) – see menu on line at spicebham.com

Sound & Vision Quiz (Lichfield & Birmingham) .. enjoy this “quiz with a difference”

Date:

8th

(1) Thurs May 2014 at Copthorne Hotel, Paradise Circus, B'ham (B3 3HJ) (2) Thurs 17th July 2014 at The Kings Head, Bird St, Lichfield (WS13 6PW) Meet: (1) 7.15pm in function room (2) 7.15pm Chamberlain Room Cost: £5 (£7 Guest) This is a quiz with a difference. There will be the usual rounds like music and general knowledge and new rounds with film clips on a big screen and observation so there will be something for everyone. The pub does food if you wish to eat.

News Quiz & Supper (Bewdley, Stourbridge & Chaddesley Corbett) .. the alternative quiz night with Alan Roberts

Wednesday 28th May - Cock & Magpie, 1 Severnside North, Bewdley (DY12 2EE) Wednesday 11th June - The Talbot, Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs (DY10 4SA) Wednesday 9th July 2014 The Bell, Belbroughton, Stourbridge (DY9 9XU) Meet: 7.15pm for 7.30pm Cost: £5 (£7 Guest) plus meal on night – see event writeups online for details As the title suggests this is something slightly different from a normal quiz night albeit that will part of the night's entertainment. The theme for the evening will be topics that have arisen in the news during the past month, so a completely random series of questions covering every aspect of recent news. In addition there will also be an opportunity to add to the fun with a section where each team has the opportunity to 'hit the headlines' with a fun game of charades. Alan will invite members to form into teams of five to six.

Date:

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Spice Rambles Dress to suit all weathers and avoid jeans as they hinder you once wet.

You'll need boots, spare clothing, waterproofs and a drink. Our guides are experienced leaders and qualified first aiders so you'll be in good hands. We'll send directions including a mobile number to call if the weather is extreme or if you cannot attend - so we don't hang around waiting.

Rambles set off promptly at the time given.

Bradgate Park Easy Ramble & Lunch

Wrekin Ramble

Date: Saturday 5th April 2014 Place: Newtown Lindford, Leicestershire # Meet: 11.15am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day A lovely 5 mile ramble from a great pub with Steve Dell finishing with a lunch at The Grey Lady Kitchen and Deli in Newtown Lindford. The walk goes into Bradgate Country Park and explores part of this lovely area. There are some great views of the Country Park, the surrounding area and nearby Cropthorn Reservoir. There are some gradients as the park isn’t flat but this creates the wonderful views. After the walk we go to the Deli for lunch!

Date: Saturday 12th April 2014 Place: Wrekin, Shropshire # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This 8 mile walk with Alan is a gentle stroll around and up the Wrekin and Ercall Hills, both well known Shropshire Landmarks.

There are a number of steep ascents. We start at the foot of the Wrekin and navigate our way round to the north side, before climbing our way to the top of the hill. Once at the summit, we’ll see stunning views across Shropshire to Wales, the Malverns and back toward Birmingham and the Black Country. You may even hear the story of the Shropshire Giant, and you can't miss the chance to try and squeeze through the needles eye! Then it's back down, and across to Ercall Hill for a gentler climb to the top to see views back to the Wrekin and walk through the local wildlife park.

Daventry Easy/ Moderate Ramble

Date: Sunday 6th April 2014 Place: Daventry Reservoir, near Braunston # Meet: 12noon Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day A new 7 mile ramble taking in the pretty Daventry Reservoir and Grand Union Canal with Steve Dell and introducing Rob Smith as a ramble leader. Rob is working with Steve to lead some existing and develop some new rambles. The ramble will include the shores of Daventry Reservoir, uses open access land, parts of the Grand Union Canal and the village of Welton with its pretty church. There are no significant hills and we even have a half way pub stop at a lovely canal side pub reputed to be the home of the brightly decorated jugs known as Buckby cans. After the walk we can reward ourselves with a Sunday Lunch or a just drink.

Draycot Water Moderate Ramble

Date: Sunday 13th April 2014 Place: Draycot Water # Meet: 10.30am Start.

Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This is a walk of around 9 miles, with Hamish, includes a circumnavigation of Draycot reservoir (3.5 miles) and explores some of the off shoots from this pretty stretch of water. A good deal of flat walking some of it on smooth paths.

Hopwood & Wast Hills Easy Ramble

Upper Arley & Wyre Forest Ramble

Date: Sunday 13th April 2014 Place: Hopwood, near Alvechurch # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) A lovely new 5 mile ramble with Rob Smith who works with Steve Dell leading rambles so the pace and style will be the same.

The ramble uses sections of the Worcester & Birmingham canal and passes the entrance of the impressive Wast Hills tunnel (one of the longest in the UK). There are also great views of the area from Wast Hills. Although there are some inclines (which gives us the great views!) there isn't anything too strenuous and we will take our time. The route uses some of the North Worcestershire Path and field paths through local farmland.

Earlswood Twilight Ramble & Supper

Date: Sunday 13th April 2014 Place: Cotswolds # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Aimed at regular walkers with a good level of fitness this 11 mile walk with Alan has several ascent's. They are not steep but are long. This walk takes us from the Pretty Cotswold village of Temple Guiting through Guiting Forest and across country following the Windrush path, past the historic Sudeley Castle to the town of Winchcombe where we can stop for lunch. We continue across country to join the Cotswold Way past the remains of a Cistercian Abbey at Hailes, before returning. This walk is a mixture of woodlands, open countryside, country lanes, tracks and paths with some tremendous views.

Date: Sunday 6th April 2014 Place: Upper Arley, Bewdley # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This 12 mile walk, aimed at regular walkers with a good level of fitness starts in Bewdley following the Severn Way North alongside the River Severn to Upper Arley, where we can stop at the local pub. After lunch we cross the river and continue alongside for a short while, before heading west across country following tracks and lanes, eventually entering the Wyre Forest.

We then follow the course of Dowles Brook which meanders all the way back down through the forest to the River Severn, its then back down into Bewdley to enjoyone of its many riverside pubs.

Temple Guiting Ramble

Date: Wednesday 9th April 2014 Place: Earlswood, near Solihull # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day Enjoy an easy 3½ mile ramble with Steve Dell on good paths around Earlswood Lakes and Woods. Twilight rambles start in the light but finish in the dark. The woods and the lakes are quite atmospheric in the dark so make the ramble quite interesting. You really do experience the countryside and it’s natural habitats in a very different way when night is falling. Back at the pub we will have an area reserved for us whilst we enjoy our pre-ordered food.

Don’t forget your torch!

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Kenilworth Explorer Ramble

Sutton Park Hot Cross Bun Ramble

Date: Friday 18th April 2014 Place: Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £12.50 (£15 Guest) Inc. Buns & tea/coffee In Good Friday tradition we have an event with some Hot Cross buns. Enjoy a 4½ mile ramble around Sutton Park with Cecilia, followed by Hot Cross Buns with butter & jam, and tea & coffee.

The ramble around the park will take in both open and wooded areas using good paths. Although in Birmingham most of the park still has a rural feel about it. Back at the pub we will have an area reserved for us to enjoy our Hot Cross Buns. For those that want to eat after the ramble the pub will be doing food.

Date: Sunday 27th April 2014 Place: Kenilworth, Warwickshire # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Today we are going to be exploring the area around the lovely historic town of Kenilwoth with its famous castle. This 10 -12 mile ramble with Alan is aimed at walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. Heading out towards the west of the town we will be take in parts of the millennium way and the pretty villages of Baddesley Clinton and Wroxhall.

Kinder Southern Edge Ramble

Date: Sunday 27th April 2014 Place: Studley, near Redditch # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This is a pretty flat ramble with Cecilia of around 5 miles. From Studley we walk towards the river arrow and past the remains of a 12th century priory. We then use fieldpaths through farmland as we go through the countryside and some woodland to Spernall and Moreton Common. On the way back we visit Studley’s Church of the Blessed Virgin. Back in Studley we’ll no doubt find a pub.

Studley Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 20th April 2014 Place: Edale, Peak District # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This is 10 mile ramble with Mick Cornfield starts from Edale village following the old Pennine Way route along Grindsbrook. A good steady climb to start then a steep rocky climb to the Kinder Plateau, turning east to follow the path along the edge past Ringing Roger to the Druid Stone, all this edge has superb views across the valley to the Lose hill ridge, on to the trig point and a aircraft wreck site to return to the edge and Madwoman's Stones before descending via Crookstone Knoll and Jaggers Clough, with views of Win hill, joining footpath on the lower slopes before passing the youth hostel and Ollerbrook Booth on our return.

Stipperstones Day Ramble

Date: Sunday 4th May 2014 Place: Stipperstones Nature Reserve, Shropshire # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Todays walk with Alan is aimed at regular walkers with a good level of fitness. There are two steep ascents and the distance - 11 miles.The walk will start at the Stipperstones National Nature Reserve Car Park. We will make out from the car park up onto the Ridge and then go north along the ridge, before descending down toward Bridges and the Horseshoes Inn, where we can stop for lunch. From Bridges we will then make our way across country, following some of the lesser used routes, rejoining the southerly most point of the Ridge, to return to the car park. The route, includes tremendous views of the Stipperstones, Long Mynd Hills, the Marches and out toward Wales

New Members Easy Morning Ramble

Date: Sunday 20th April 2014 Place: Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £3 (£5 Guests) Want to try a ramble with Spice but not sure what it involves?

This is an ideal opportunity to join Richard for a couple of hours (3 to 4 miles) gentle rambling in Sutton Park. We will aim to see some of the lakes and different habitats in this lovely urban park.

There are no hills of note and we will take it very easy. Richard will explain a bit about what rambling involves in Spice, kit issues etc. Just bring strong shoes/boots and a waterproof just in case.

Sunday Lunch Buffet Option: This walk is timed to end in time for those also booked on our New Members Sunday Lunch at The Kabbabish to carry on afterwards. It’s only a short walk or 2 min drive from our ramble start & end point. Book this separately.

Warwick Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 4th May 2014 Place: Warwick # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Cecilia will lead us on this 5 mile easy ramble in Warwick. This ramble is pretty flat and is largely following water - from the banks of the river Avon to the Grand Union Canal - with views of a Castle thrown in! We start by following the Avon as it skirts around Warwick. Then we join the canal as it cuts though the town, passing both residential and industrial areas. Around half way we will stop at a lovely canal side pub. Leaving the canal we wander through the racecourse and finally past the castle grounds.

Berwyn Mountain Ramble

Date: Saturday 26th April 2014 Place: Llangynog, between Oswestry & Bala # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Today's 12 mile walk with Alan is a real tough walk aimed at regular Walkers with a very good level of fitness. There are three very long steep ascents. We begin from the village of Llangynog in the Tanat Valley and make a long ascent up to Moel Mawn at 574m. From this point we will be able to see all round views of the Berwyn Mountains and Tnat Valley and the route we will be taking for the remainder of the day. From here we descend all the way back down into the valley to see the famous waterfalls at Pistyll Rhaeadr, where we can sit beneath the Waterfalls and have lunch. After lunch it's a long climb up to Cadair Berwyn at 827 metres above sea level. After a short rest it's back down the mountain back past the waterfall and back up onto Y Clogydd, another steep climb! To complete the figure of eight walk and return to Llangynog for a very well earned rest and a drink or two!

Balsall Common Evening Ramble

Date: Wednesday 7th May 2014 Place: Balsall Common, Nr Solihull/Coventry # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day Steve Dell will lead us on this easy 4 mile ramble. The route uses field paths through farmland as we go to the Heart of England Way, passing a disused railway track and Beechwood tunnel on the Bham to Coventry line. We follow the Heart of England Way for a while before returning to the village. Back at the pub we can have a drink and an option to eat. The pub does great food.

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Chaddesley Corbett Bluebell Ramble

Middleton Evening Ramble

Date: Saturday 10th May 2014 Place: Chaddesley Corbett, nr Kidderminster # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) We return to this popular area and great pub for an easy 5 mile ramble with Steve Dell. The ramble starts off through farmland and Chaddesley Woods Nature Reserve. The return skirts around the woods and then follows a stream. There are some gradients but we’ll take our time. Back at the pub we can have a drink.

Date: Tuesday 20th May 2014 Place: Middleton between Sutton and Tamworth # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day This easy evening ramble of about 4 miles is with Steve Dell. We start in the lovely village of Middleton and walk through farmland towards and then through New Park Wood. Then we go towards Wishaw, through the tiny hamlet of Stoke End. Returning to the village (and pub), again using field paths through farmland and quiet country lanes. Back at the pub we can eat if we wish.

Farm Talk & Walk

Hatton Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 11th May 2014 Place: Moor Lane, Coleorton, Coalville, Leics # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £4 (£5 Guest) Farmers Alan & Brian Webster have kindly invited us to have a look around their farm, go for a walk with Steve Dell and then come back for tea and cakes. We get a look around their farm buildings and toys (err tractors). Alan and Brian will give us an informal talk about the farm and how some of the things run. After that we will have a walk of 4 to 5 miles around the wider farm and local area. This time we will have the option of visiting the nearby windmill. Back at the farm we will have tea and cakes.

Date: Sunday 25th May 2014 Place: Hatton, Near Warwick # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day We return to this popular canal side pub and ramble. It is an easy 4½ mile ramble led by Cecilia who works with Steve Dell so the pace and standard will be the same as with Steve. The ramble uses farmland and bridleways as we skirt around Hatton and a short road section takes us to the Grand Union canal. The return is along the canal with the last stretch passing the famous Hatton flight of 21 locks! The pub does great food and serves all day.

New Members Easy Ramb/Pub Night

Calke Abbey & Staunton Easy Ramble

Date: Wednesday 14th May 2014 Place: Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £3 (£5 Guest) Want to try a ramble with Spice but not sure what it involves?

This is an ideal opportunity to join Richard for a couple of hours gentle rambling in Sutton Park. We will aim to see some of the lakes and different habitats in this lovely urban park. There are no hills of note and we will take it very easy. Richard will explain a bit about what rambling involves in Spice, kit issues etc. Just bring strong shoes/boots and a waterproof just in case.

Pub Night: After the ramble those who wish can move on to the Sutton Pub Night at The Bottle of Sack in Sutton town centre.

Date: Saturday 31st May 2014 Place: Staunton Harold, nr Ashby & Melbourne # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Another 5 mile ramble with Steve Dell taking in three remarkable features. Calke Abbey is an impressive National Trust property, which is within Calke Park, a 300 hectare beautiful parkland and National Nature Reserve and Staunton Harold, a lovely reservoir near to Ashby De La Zouch. The walk starts from the reservoir visitor’s car park and initially follows the shore line. Some lovely countryside takes us to the Calke Abbey estate and nature reserve where fallow deer are often spotted grazing. We walk through the estate and may even stop for a coffee at the National Trust shop!

The return explores some more of the estate before returning.

Bourton & Slaughters Ramble

Ditton Priors & Brown Clee Hill Ram

Date: Sunday 18th May 2014 Place: Guiting Power, Cotswolds # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Due to the distance and two ascents this 14 mile walk with Alan is aimed at regular walkers with a good level of fitness. We start in the pretty Cotswold village of Guiting Power. From the village we join the Windrush Way alongside the River Windrush. We will pass by the sites of the medieval villages of Aylworth and Lower Barford, eventually reaching Bourton-on-the Water where we can stop for lunch. We join the Wardens way passing through the pretty Cotswold villages of Upper and Lower Slaughter. We will then continue across country back to the village of Guiting Power.

Date: Saturday 31st May 2014 Place: Ditton Priors, Nr Bridgenorth # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) A 9 mile walk with Alan Roberts aimed at walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. Generally, moderate but with one long steep ascent. The walk will start in pretty Shropshire village of Ditton Priors. From the village we will head off across country where we get tremendous views of the beautiful Corvedale Valley.

After stopping for lunch we will make the ascent up onto the top of the Brown Clee Hill where we will get all round views.

Six Hills Ramble

Branston Water Park Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 1st June 2014 Place: Breidden Hill, Shropshire # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) As the title suggests, there are a number of steep ascents over this 8 mile walk with Alan, so is suited to regular walkers with a very good level of fitness. We start at the foot of Breidden Hill where we make our way across country to follow a circular route that takes in; Bausley Hill; Kempter's Hill; Bulthy Hill; Middletown Hill; Old Mills Hill and finally to the top of the Breidden Hill and Rodney's Pillar. It's up and down all the way. But there are all round views towards Wales and the surrounding Countryside.

Date: Sunday 18th May 2014 Place: Branston, between Burton & Lichfield # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day We return to this area for this popular ramble of around 5½ miles with Steve Dell. The ramble takes in the lovely Branston Water Park, which is a 40-acre lake surrounded by woodland, wetland and meadows that supports a wide range of wildlife. We also visit the pretty Bass Millennium Woods, and the village of Tatenhill.

There are a couple of gradients but nothing too serious and as usual we will take our time. We have the option of Sunday Lunch.

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Bosworth Steam Train Ramble

Bidford on Avon Ramble/Picnic

Date: Sunday 1st June 2014 Place: Market Bosworth, Leicestershire # Meet: 11am (for the 11:15 train - TBC) Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Extra: Train ticket around £6 - £7 Here is a unique ramble with Steve Dell. We catch the steam train on The Battlefield Line Heritage Railway and walk back. The walk is around 7 miles is fairly flat with a couple of gentle gradients. This moderate ramble is at the request of many regulars; the pace will be the same but we will be going a little further. We start at Shackerstone and catch the train to Shenton. From there we use the Leicestershire Round over the battlefield site and on to Sutton Cheney (the church here is where Richard III reputedly had his last mass before the battle). Then we go Market Bosworth Country Park (a landscaped 35-hectare park which was formerly part of Bosworth Hall deer parkland. There are fine, mature trees, a lake, a planted arboretum with exotic species, a wildflower meadow and community woodland) and then to the market town itself. And finally continuing along the Leicestershire Round through the village of Carlton and back to Shackerstone. Steve will find a pub at the end for a drink and bite to eat.

Date: Saturday 14th June 2014 Place: Bidford on Avon, nr Alcester/Stratford # Meet: 11.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) At the request of several members Steve Dell is running some moderate rambles. The pace and style will be the same but the ramble will be a little further than usual. Today we will walk from the lovely Warwickshire village of Bidford and finish off with a picnic by the river. The ramble is around 6½ miles and is relatively flat. We start following the river along the Heart of England Way to the village of Barton and then through farmland to Dorsington Manor. The return follows the picturesque Avon Valley footpath as it follows the banks of the river back to Bidford. Bring whatever you like with your picnic - either something simple or more extravagant like bubbly or strawberries & cream. Plus your table & chair or just a picnic blanket.

Coton in the Elms Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 15th June 2014 Place: Rosliston, nr Burton on Trent/Tamworth # Meet: 12noon Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day A lovely ramble within the National Forest with Steve Dell – this time starting from Rosliston Forestry Centre. As well as taking in some of the forestry centre we will go through the lovely village of Coton in the Elms. The ramble is around 4½ miles, is mostly flat with a couple of gentle gradients and as well as woodland we will use field paths though farmland. After the ramble we can either go to the café or drive a short distance to a lovely pun in nearby Walton on Trent for a carvery!

Note: the earlier start time so we can get back for lunch

Forhill Evening Ramble

Date: Thursday 5th June 2014 Place: Forhill, near Alvechurch # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) A lovely evening ramble with Steve Dell from the Peacock Inn on the old Icknield Street with its great ales and food. There are a couple of gradients but nothing too strenuous and as usual we will take our time. This is a 4 mile ramble using field paths, bridleways and short sections of country lanes and even skirts around Kings Norton Golf Club. Back at the pub we can have a well-deserved drink (the pub does do food but there’s often a wait).

Maxstoke Castle Visit & Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 15th June 2014 Place: Maxstoke, nr Coleshill # Meet: 11am for Castle or 12noon for Ramble Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Extra: Castle entry (if required) usually approx £7 Maxstoke Castle, just 3 miles outside Coleshill, is a fine example of a C14th moated and fortified manor house, commissioned by Sir William de Clinton; the licence to crenellate dates from February 1345. The house, which is surrounded by four acres of mixed formal and informal gardens, has been in the continuous ownership of the Dilke (later Fetherston-Dilke) families for over 400 years. The house is private and not open to the public but, once a year – today - the house and gardens are opened in support of local charities. Teas, plant and other stalls are provided.

So we offer the chance to visit the Castle (if you wish) and then enjoy an easy ramble with Richard. The ramble will be around 5 miles and will use some of the Heart of England Way, visit Shustoke reservoir and the village of Shustoke all linked by lovely farmland and quiet country lanes. We’ll visit the castle first and then the ramble. Castle visit is optional but recommended.

Clent Easy/Moderate Ramble

Date: Sunday 8th June 2014 Place: Clent, Worcestershire # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day We return to this lovely area for another ramble with Steve Dell.

The ramble is 5 miles and the grade is easy to moderate as it has more gradients than usual, but we will take our time and the ramble will be at Steve’s usual pace. The ramble is within the capabilities of most of the ‘short ramble’ regulars. The ramble is mostly within the Clent Hills Country Park and takes in both the Clent and Walton hills with their superb views; it also uses part of the North Worcestershire Path and the pretty village of Clent. At the end we have tables booked in our own room for a Sunday Lunch if desired. The lunch here was lovely last time.

New Members Easy Ramb/Pub Night

Date: Wednesday 11th June 2014 Place: Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £3 (£5 Guest) Want to try a ramble with Spice but not sure what it involves?

This is an ideal opportunity to join Richard for a couple of hours gentle rambling in Sutton Park. We will aim to see some of the lakes and different habitats in this lovely urban park. There are no hills of note and we will take it very easy. Richard will explain a bit about what rambling involves in Spice, kit issues etc.

Pub Night: After the ramble those who wish can move on to the Sutton Pub Night at The Bottle of Sack in Sutton town centre.

Shenstone Evening Ramble

Date: Wednesday 18th June 2014 Place: Shenstone, nr Lichfield # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day A new evening ramble with Steve Dell. The ramble is an easy 4 miles and explores the area around Shenstone and Footherley. It is fairly flat and uses farmland and quiet road sections as well as some of the village. Back at the pub we have the option of replacing any lost fluids and a meal if desired.

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Ludlow & Richards Castle Ramble

Monmouth & Offas Dyke Ramble 21st

Date: Sunday 29th June 2014 Place: Ludlow, Shropshire # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This 10 mile walk with Alan Roberts is aimed at regular Walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. Although may also be suitable for walkers who have completed some beginner walking. The walk will start in the Historic Market Town of Ludlow. From the town we will pass the impressive Ludlow Castle before joining the Mortimer Way, which we follow through the Mortimer Forest.

Occasionally we will deviate off normal routes in the hope of seeing wild deer, of which there are many in the Forest. We will make our way to Richards Castle where we can stop for lunch.

This 11th century castle really is unique, as it is in the middle of nowhere and untouched by any restoration project so far.

Date: Saturday June 2014 Place: Monmouth, Forest of Dean area # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Enjoy 10 miles with Alan aimed at regular walkers with 2 steep ascents. We start in the pretty market town of Monmouth, heading south alongside the the River Wye following the Wye Valley footpath. At Lower Redbrook will join a section of the Offa’s Dyke footpath and the heading off across country to the village of Newland where we can stop for lunch at the Ostrich Inn. Toward the end we ascend to the Naval Temple overlooking Monmouth.

From this point there are tremendous views over Monmouth and the Black Mountains in the distance. We then descend into Monmouth to find a pub for a well earned rest and a pint or two!

Clifford Chambers Sun Lunch Ramb

Ryton Pools Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 22nd June 2014 Place: Clifford Chambers, nr Stratford # Meet: 11:30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) plus meal (if required) on day A revised ramble with Cecilia followed by an optional Sunday Lunch Carvery which are always popular as they are a very civilised way to end a ramble! The Carvery at the New Inn has always received great feedback. Clifford Chambers is a small village just south of Stratford, with a 16th century church and a lovely Inn. The ramble is about 4½ miles, is fairly flat and mostly uses field paths through farmland. We start heading south to the hamlet of Atherstone on Stour, then through Alscot Park and on to Preston on Stour. A short quiet road section takes us to the return route which uses farmland and past woodland back into Clifford Chambers. If time allows we will walk by the river Stour and loop back into Clifford Chambers where we can enjoy our Carvery.

Date: Sunday 29th June 2014 Place: Ryton Pools Country Park, Nr Coventry # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) A new ramble with Steve Dell, exploring the lovely Ryton Pools Country Park and nearby villages. This 6 mile ramble is a little longer than usual with Steve but comes at the request of many members to walk a little bit further, the relaxed pace will be the same though. The ramble will include views of the many pools and woodland in the country park. We will also discover the villages of Wappenbury and Bubbenhall, all linked with farmland and bridleways. Steve will find a pub for a drink or lunch after.

Foxton Locks Mod Ramble/ Lunch

Date: Sunday 6th July 2014 Place: Foxton Locks, Leicestershire # Meet: 11.15am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) add £10 if Sunday Lunch requ’d A new ramble from Steve Dell; starting at the picturesque and interesting Foxton Locks (ten locks consisting of two "staircases" each of five locks on the Grand Union Canal). It is a 6 mile ramble with the option of a Sunday Lunch after. We start by exploring the flight of locks and the Inclined Plane (used to move larger barges that wouldn’t fit into the locks) admiring the stunning views over the surrounding countryside before going along the canal to the village of Foxton. Then we make our way towards Gumley and around the woods. We skirt around Smeeton Hill and then through the village. Finally we make our way back to Foxton Locks.

Preston Bagott Easy Ramble/Lunch

Date: Saturday 28th June 2014 Place: Preston Bagot, near Henley # Meet: 11am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) We return to the lovely Crabmill pub for another ramble with Steve Dell who will lead us on this ramble of around 4 miles, which is mostly flat with some gentle gradients. We initially head towards Henley and then join the Heart of England Way as we go through farmland using field paths. The last section is along the pretty Stratford upon Avon canal towpath. After the ramble we can enjoy the pub and eat there if we wish.

Stroll The Severn Way

Upton on Severn Ramble

Date: Saturday 28th June 2014 Place: Upton on Severn, Worcestershire # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This 10 mile walk with Alan is aimed at those who may want to step up from the shorter ½ day walks. The majority of the walk can be described as flat land walking. From Upton we follow the river Severn toward Tewkesbury where we can see the river boats and working barges navigate the river. We then join the Worcester Way heading across country through the pretty villages of Bushley Green and Longdon. This part of the walk gives lovely views of the Malvern Hills in the distance. Its then back across country for a well earned drink in one of the river side inns.

Date: Sunday 6th July 2014 Place: Much Wenlock # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This 10 mile ramble is aimed at regular walkers with a reasonable level of fitness. It’s a moderate walk with one steep ascent. The route will start in the lovely town of Much Wenlock, initially following the Olympian Way, made famous by William Penny Brookes, the originator of today's modern Olympic Games. We then join the Severn way, passing alongside Buildwas Abbey and following the river Severn onto Ironbridge, where we can stop for lunch. After lunch we join the Shropshire way, which takes us back past Benthall Hall, before returning to Much Wenlock.

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Baddesley Clinton Evening Ramble

Ironbridge Gorge Ramble

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Date: Sunday 20th July 2014 Place: Ironbridge # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) This 9 mile walk with Alan requires a good level of fitness as there a number of ascents, albeit not to steep it’s an up and down type of ramble. It’s a good days ramble around Ironbridge Gorge and Coalbrookdale, an area of outstanding natural beauty and recognised as one of the key historical sites in Britain. The walk will take us to Coalbrookdale, past the Blists Hill Museum site, down past the Great Hay Incline Plain and on past the Coalport China Museum, before returning along the meandering River Severn to Ironbridge. Along the route, we will see the foundry where the famous Ironbridge was cast, the homes and resting places of the Darby family, a Victorian Museum connected to the river Severn by a giant incline plane, and the furnaces where the world famous Coalport China was crafted. The aim of the walk is to show you the varied sites of interest in the Ironbridge Gorge, whilst getting some exercise, and hopefully whet your appetite, so that you want to return another time. Unfortunately we will not have time to visit sites as we walk around.

Date: Thursday July 2014 Place: Baddesley Clinton, Near Lapworth # Meet: 7pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Enjoy an easy 4½ mile evening ramble with Steve Dell from the lovely Navigation Inn near Lapworth. The ramble is fairly flat and uses field paths and bridleways through farmland and finally the Grand Union Canal. We start using the Heart of England Way to the National Trust house at Baddesley Clinton and then onto Rowington. Back at the pub you can eat if you wish.

Elmley Castle & Bredon Hill Ramble

Date: Saturday 12th July 2014 Place: Elmley Castle near Pershore / Evesham # Meet: 11am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) A new ramble with Steve Dell. We start from the lovely village of Elmley Castle with its quaint pub and church. The terrain and view are varied; from low level walking between two lovely villages and higher up in the Bredon Hills. Although there are some inclines we will take our time and the views are worth it.

The ramble is around 6 miles so a little further than usual with Steve but the pace will be the same. The route starts in Elmley Castle and heads up Castle Hill (part of the Bredon Hills range).

We stay in the hills as we make our way down to the village of Ashton Under Hill. We return at the lower level. After the walk we will have a drink at the local pub to replace lost fluids. This is an ideal event if you are doing the Dragon Boat Racing weekend.

Alrewas & Fradley Evening Ramble

Date: Wednesday 23rd July 2014 Place: Alrewas, Nr Lichfield # Meet: 7pm start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) A slightly revised pleasant 4½ mile evening ramble with Steve Dell which is flat as it is largely along canal towpaths - the Trent & Mersey and the Coventry canals. The canals meet at Fradley Junction, which is described as one of the most picturesque canalside locations in the Midlands. Away from the canals we will walk through the old town of Alrewas and the village of Fradley. At the end of the ramble Steve will no doubt find a pub for a drink.

Mickleton Ramble

Date: Sunday 13th July 2014 Place: Mickleton, Cotswolds # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Aimed at regular Walkers with a good level of fitness this 10 mile ramble with Alan has one ascent of particular note. The rest of the walk is rolling countryside. The start point for this walk is the pretty Cotswold village of Mickleton. We begin by following the Heart of England Way to the Village of Upper Quinton. From here we then head East across country to Ilmington, where we will stop for lunch. After lunch we ascend to the top of Knowlands Hill where we get all round views of the countryside. We then continue west back toward Mickleton where we can find a pub.

Cannock Chase/Shugborough Ramble Date: Saturday 26th July 2014 Place: Milford Common, Cannock Chase # Meet: 12noon Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) At the request of many regulars here is another easy to moderate ramble with Steve Dell. The pace will be the same but we will be going a little further, around 7 miles. This ramble takes some of the best bits of two existing rambles and then adds some more; making a lovely revised ramble partially in the Milford Common part of Cannock Chase and Shugborough Hall linked by the Trent and Mersey Canal. During our time in the Chase we will take in the famous stepping stones, parts of Sherbrook and Abrahams Valleys. The return will take us past Shugborough Hall.

Caer Carodoc Ramble

Date: Saturday 19th July 2014 Place: Church Stretton, Shropshire # Meet: 10.30am Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) Aimed at regular Walkers with a good level of fitness this 10 mile walk with Alan Roberts is generally, moderate but with two steep ascents. This time the walk is going to be around and up the Caer Caradoc area of Church Stretton. The walk will start from the Hotel, and heading out toward Caer Carodoc where we will ascend the hill at a nice steady pace. At the top you will see tremendous views of Church Stretton and the Long Mynd Hills.

After a rest we will descend the hill and head north toward All Stretton where we can stop for a drink and lunch. After we will head up one of the many valleys of the Long Mynd eventually returning to Church Stretton for more drinks and a rest.

Alvechurch Easy Ramble

Date: Sunday 27th July 2014 Place: Alvechurch, Near Redditch # Meet: 1pm Start Cost: £6 (£7 Guests) A revised easy ramble with Cecilia from this popular pub in Alvechurch, away from the Bank Holiday Crowds. The route goes through farm land and a wood to the hamlet of Rowney Green and then Lower Rowney Green. The return follows a little brook and then Bridleways as we make our way back to the village and pub!

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Social Pursuits You don’t have to jump out of planes to enjoy Spice!

This is the category where you find all manner of strange, sociable ways to have fun as a group. Enjoy!

Ten Pin Bowling (Broadway Plaza) .. another new bowling venue to enjoy!

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Dates: Tuesdays: ● 1 April ● 6th May ● 3rd Jun ● 1 Jul ● 5 Aug 2014 Place: Broadway Plaza, Ladywood Middleway - directions online Meet: 8.00pm meet for 8.30pm start Cost: £10 (£12 Guest) Here’s an impressive new bowling alley next door to the AMC Cinema. This alley is run

by Bowltech and has all the computerised gizmo’s you would expect. There’s food & drink available on site plus a video games area. We form fairly random teams of 6 and have two games during the evening. Don’t worry if you can’t bowl – we’ll just have fun trying!

Adventure Golf at Star City! .. it's crazy golf .. but not as you know it!

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Date: Monday 14 July 2014 Place: Tiki Café, Adventure Island Mini Golf, Star City, Nechells, Birmingham (B7 5SB) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £10 (£12 Guest) for 2 games (one on each course) with a bar break in between This is a fantastic new facility for us to enjoy. Adventure Island Mini Golf is England’s first Indoor Adventure Golf Complex featuring 2 brand-new themed 18-hole courses! They are located on their our own lush tropical ‘adventure island’ at Star City Leisure complex. They also have their own bar for us to enjoy. The courses have been built across 3 levels and wind past palm trees and volcanoes, through caves, behind waterfalls and through Tiki Villages providing a fantastic experience. Obviously you don’t need any skills as it is all just for fun! See also www.adventureminigolf.co.uk We’ll assemble in Tiki Café and put people into teams of 4 and send them out to one of the two 18 hole courses.

New Members Mix and Mingle .. a great way to get started with Spice!

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Date: Tuesday 3 June 2014 Place: Strathallan Hotel, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston (B16 9RY) Meet: 7.30pm (allow approx 2 hours) Cost: £5 Member, £6 Guest The Spice Team have got together with Roy Martin (an expert in the field of personal awareness & development to develop a sociable evening of fun and games – designed to help you get to know as many likeminded people as possible in a short time. You may never have to attend another Spice event without knowing someone again! With lots of games and sharing you will be taken on a journey of meeting new people. You will also have the opportunity to share contact details so you can either arrange to meet others on future Spice events, socially or just keep in touch. All in all, it’s a great way to ‘get into’ the club. The heart of Spice is the spirit of fun & friendship, which members get from experiencing events together. Breaking the ice is no problem with Spice – particularly when you know how!

Ice Skating Fun Night

.. an evening of learning, laughing & larking around!

Date: Wednesday 30th April 2014 Place: The Leisurebox, Pershore St, Bham (B5 4RW) – see directions online Meet: 6.45pm Cost: £9 (£12 Guest) Incl: Group coaching, Spice coordinator, admission to 10pm If you've always wanted an easy taster of what ice skating is all about, this is for you. We'll learn the basics of ice skating with a professional ice skating coach who will brief us and teach the basics of skating before being “set free” to ice skate together for the rest of the evening. Refreshments are available downstairs when we need a break.

Itinerary: ● Arrive 6.45- 7pm for kit up ● 7 -7.30pm Coaching Session ● 7.30-10pm Skating free session 48

American Pool Night & Buffet .. try our special knockout competition & buffet

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Date: Monday 28 April 2014 Place: Rileys, 21-22 Essex St, Birmingham (B5 4TR) Meet: 7.45pm to 9.45pm Cost: £12 Member, £14 Guest Here’s a fun social event that everyone can enjoy whether you’ve played before or are new to the game.

We’ve put together a special opportunity to try pool and enter a knockout competition. This evening includes a fun tournament with 16 other members who will compete for our very own Spice trophy. There will be an opportunity to learn and practice on the tables for up to 30 minutes beforehand with a practice partner before being drawn against your opponent on a one game knockout format. Can you make it to the end and be our winner?

Darts Night & Buffet

.. a fun evening for players of all abilities th

Date: Monday 14 April 2014 Place: Rileys, 21-22 Essex St, Birmingham (B5 4TR) Meet: 7.45pm Start (ends 9.45pm) Cost: £8.50 (£12 Guest) Includes: Buffet, trophy & coordinator We've arranged a great night out in a private room playing darts on 3 hockey's. Mark will be hosting the evening and will arrange you into teams to have a fun filled sociable evening. We will play many more different varieties of dart games including “around the clock”. An evening buffet will also be provided and a trophy on hand for the evenings winner

Warwick Easter Egg Treasure Hunt .. a seasonal social "hatched" by Steve!

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Date: Sunday 20 April 2014 Place: Warwick # Meet: 12.45pm for 1.00pm start Cost: £10 Member, £12 Guest (includes egg!) Extra: Bring a pen What better way to spend Easter Sunday. An afternoon treasure hunt in the lovely town of Warwick finishing with a mini quiz and a late afternoon “lunch”. The Treasure Hunt and Quiz are written by Steve Dell, many of you will know his weird and wonderful sense of humour from previous Treasure Hunts. As usual the clues will range from straight forward observations to some a little more cryptic and twisted, but they are designed so everyone has fun. You will be organised you into teams of four together with a route around the town and set of clues to solve. Please bring a pen.

These are very social events and a great way to meet other Spicers as they are team activities. The hunt ends up back at the pub where there will be a mini quiz, while you relax and enjoy your meal. Both will go towards your teams score.

Food: The pub we will use does food all day. You can order your food before you go on the Treasure hunt and have it when you get back, which should be around 4pm. Everyone gets an Easter Egg but the winners will get bigger ones!

PS .. the picture is for scene setting purposes only! We wouldn’t make Steve dress up in a bunny suit would we?

Shootout & Party Food at the Kiddies Playcentre! .. laser weapons .. 'soft play' & sausage rolls! (what more could a big kid wish for?)

Date: Friday 9th May 2014 Place: Adventureland, Walsall Wood/ Aldridge (WS9 9AA) – directions online Meet: 7pm for 7.15pm prompt start (finishes around 9pm) Cost: £17.50 (£20 Guest) Incl: Buffet of sandwiches, sausage rolls, soft drinks Adventure Land is all the things kids love – but tonight, all under 18’s have been turfed out and are safely tucked up in bed so that Spice members can be big kidz instead! The lights will be dimmed, we will be armed with laser weapons and set free on the 3 stories of soft play equipment with its obstacles, bridges, nets, balls etc. We’ll jump, crawl, slide, climb and bounce our way through whilst shooting each other as we go! The computer keeps score, but it’s not to be taken seriously. It’s just a fun and different event that anyone can do - designed to give us the sort of fun we haven’t had since we were 5 years old!

There’s a café for drinks/ crisps and jugs of squash provided. A kiddies party buffet will include all we need to “eat, drink and be messy...” The centre is licensed to serve alcohol to 9pm, but alcohol can only be consumed once you have finished on the equipment and we tend to go to the pub afterwards for this type of fun,. Expect a fun and sociable night!

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Murder Mystery Evening & Buffet .. a sociable evening of murder & intrigue!

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Date: Friday 11 April 2014 Place: Walsall Leather Museum (WS2 8EQ) Meet: 7.15pm for 7.30pm prompt start Cost: £25 (£27.50 Guest) Incl: Teas/ coffees, buffet & entertainment (can bring own alcoholic drinks) We’re back in the atmospheric surroundings of Walsall’s Leather Museum for a fun evening of murder mystery with a team of actors. We’ll pit our wits against the players as a drama of mysterious deaths unfolds around us. The aim is to see who can unmask the killer at the end of the evening! The evening will begin at 7.30pm prompt and will finish at around 10.15pm. A buffet will be served during the evening. Tea, coffee and soft drinks are included. There is no bar, but we are welcome to bring our own wine etc if we wish. These are popular and sociable evenings, so please book early!

Race Night with Fish & Chips .. enjoy a Night at the Races!

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Date: Thursday 26 June 2014 Place: The Arden Hotel, Coventry Road (by NEC) (B92 0EH) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £14 (£16 Guest) includes fish & chip supper A great evening event – a night at the races but with no financial risk – just loads of fun! We won’t be using real money as it is run as a social event – but there will be a prize for the most successful player on the night! We will also have a fish & chip supper. Race nights are great fun as you can enjoy the thrills and spills of a night at the races without the chance of loosing your shirt! Each person will be given an amount of ‘money’ to bet on the races. You will have a Race Card with horses and odds. There will be several races selected at random and run on a big screen throughout the evening which will create a great atmosphere. In between each race you can collect your winnings and place any bets on the next race.

Boudica & Supper at Tutbury Castle .. an evening with the Warrior Queen!

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Date: Wednesday 16 April 2014 Place: Tutbury Castle, near Burton on Trent (DE13 9JF) # Meet: 7.15pm (ends 10.30pm) Cost: £19 (£22 Guest) includes light supper A wonderful evening at one of the UK’s most historic (and most haunted!) castles. The castle was established in 1066 by William the Conqueror and visited by Richard the Lionheart, Margaret D'Anjou, The Black Prince, Charles 1st (when the castle was under siege in the Civil War), Henry 4th (who was declared King there), Edward 1st , Mary Queen of Scots (as prisoner 3 times), Prince Rupert and Eleanor of Aquitaine. There will also be a light supper before the evening starts.

Boudica will be created for us by curator Lesley Smith, who some of you will also know from TV’s Most Haunted programmes. The story of Boudica, although much of it is cloaked in poor detail is still absolutely amazing. Britain was a remote outpost of the Roman Empire and here in the part we now know as Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Leicester was a woman, Boudica, Queen of the Iceni tribe who frightened the hell out of the Roman Empire. With over 100,00 barbarians (as described by the Romans) she swept down the country with her red hair flying dressed in brilliant colours and ripped apart one Roman legion after another. This inspiring and mighty queen was on a mission of revenge for the rape of her daughters and an absolute determination to teach the Romans - a sharp lesson. She succeeded and is never to be forgotten.

Poker Night in Edgbaston .. and the BIG PRIZE is back!

Date: Friday 13th June 2014 Place: Strathallan Hotel, Hagley Rd, Edgbaston (B16 9RY) Meet: 7.30pm for a prompt start with training session Cost: £10 Member, £12 Guest A fun night starting off with a training session aimed at absolute beginners. We’ll find out how to bid, what is a good hand and what isn’t, what is bluffing and other secrets of success. Then you get a chance to try out your new-found skills in a competition. We’ll be playing for chips, not money, so you don’t need to worry about losing your house and car! At the end prizes will be awarded to the most successful (and least successful!) players. There is a bar close by where we can get drinks throughout the evening. The big prize will be a £100 voucher towards a Spice West Midlands weekend break.

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Warwick VIP Race Day with Meal & Tour .. a very special experience at the races

Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2014 Warwick Races, Hampton St, Warwick (B13 8HW) # 11am £55 (£59 Guest) Incl. use of Private bar & box facility, Private Balcony, lunch & personal behind the scenes tour by the Managing Director This special event has been put together specially for Spice by Warwick Racecourse. We will be treated to a behind the scenes tour from racecourse Managing Director Huw Williams to allow access into areas that become restricted once racing commences (first race scheduled for 2.10pm). This will include a walk out onto track and a 'history of Warwick' talk, visit to Weighing Room, stable yard tour (they have Stables to hold 120 horses pre race), visit to Commentators Box and Parade Ring access. There may even be a few Jockeys to meet. We have our own box facility with private bar and balcony where we will enjoy lunch and enjoy the racing from a priviledged vantage point! See lunch menu online.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

New Members Treasure Hunt at Ironbridge .. a simple, sociable night exploring Ironbridge

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Date: Wednesday 7 May 2014 Place: Swan Hotel, by Museum of the Gorge, Ironbridge (TF8 7NH) # Meet: 7pm Cost: £6 (£7 Guest) A great opportunity for new members (and old) to mix, mingle, socialise and have a few hours exploring the historic town of Ironbridge which was at the heart of the Industrial Revolution in the 1700s. The treasure hunt has been designed to be simple and fun, encouraging you to go and look and seek out some fascinating insights into the history of Ironbridge. The hunt should take approximately two hours to complete.

Beer & Skittles Night in Tamworth th

.. a great social night with Steve Dell

Date: Thursday 15 May 2014 Place: The Globe Inn, Lower Gungate, Tamworth (B79 7AT) Meet: 7.15pm Cost: £7 (£9 Guest) plus cost of meal if required Spice beer and skittles evenings are always fun and with all the usual ingredients as well as a great bunch of Spice members it's bound to be a memorable night! Steve Dell will bring along his full size alley and organise us into teams and run the evening. There's also a bar where you will be able to purchase the 'beer' part of the event and you can order a bar meal if you wish. For directions, see online version of this writeup.

Mary Queen of Scots at Tutbury Castle .. a fabulous evening of costumed entertainment!

Date: Thursday 29th May 2014 Place: Tutbury Castle near Burton on Trent (DE13 9JF) # Meet: 7.15pm for 7.30pm Cost: £23.50 (£26 Guest) Includes: Buffet meal Tonight we will be in the company of Mary Queen Of Scots for a wonderful evening at one of the countries most historic (and most haunted!) castles, yet an easy drive out from Birmingham. The castle is owned by The Queen and has a remarkable résumé having been established in 1066 by William the Conqueror, and visited by Richard the Lionheart, Margaret D’Anjou (who lived there), The Black Prince, Charles 1st (during the Civil War, when the Castle held siege for 6 weeks), Henry 4th (who was declared King there), Edward 1st , Prince Rupert and Eleanor of Aquitaine.

Mary Queen of Scots is recreated tonight by Lesley Smith who is the curator of Tutbury Castle and one of the presenters on TV’s “Most Haunted”. Mary was held prisoner at Tutbury Castle on four occasions and it was her first English prison.

She left Tutbury for the last time in 1585 when she was moved to Chartley. From there she was sent to Fotheringhay Castle in Northamptonshire where she was executed in 1586. Here is a chance to meet Mary Queen of Scots, in full authentic costume, during her imprisonment at Tutbury where she spent a lot of time reading, writing letters and doing embroidery. Learn about Mary’s three marriages and about life in general in Tudor times.

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Crown Green Bowling

.. a civilised event on a famous green! st

Date: Sunday 1 June, Saturday 28th June or Saturday 2nd August 2014 Place: The Green, Kings Norton (Behind The Bull Pub) (B38 8RU) Meet: 2.00pm for 2.30pm start Cost: £9 Member, £10.50 Guest Kings Norton Club was founded well over 100 years ago, the first Green was at the 'Knob' in Kings Heath.

The club is now situated behind the Bull Public house off their car park on Kings Norton Green, a friendly club who don't bowl in any leagues. We will be divided into small groups for basic instruction and of course experience a game.

Directions: The club is behind The Bull, which is on a road called The Green, just off the Pershore Road/ Redditch Road.

Croquet Party

enjoy the a summer afternoon playing croquet th

Date: Sundays: 18 May, 29th June, 3rd August or 14th September 2014 Place: Edgbaston Croquet Club, Richmond Hill Rd (B15 3SA) # Meet: 2pm to 5pm Cost: £12.50 (£15 Guest) includes instructor, equipment & glass of wine Edgbaston Croquet Club has been on its current site in this leafy area of Birmingham since 1915.

The club has three excellent full-size lawns and its own clubhouse. We will be guided through the basics of a simple form of croquet and suggest some devious tactics to outwit your opponents. Games can be arranged to suit everyone's wishes and we may even have a mini tournament. You can choose to play as much or as little as you wish. Please dress as you like but players must wear flat-soled shoes. Ladies you want to keep pace with the guys, suggest you wear slacks or shorts it's not easy to play in a long or tight skirt! we will celebrate our afternoon with a glass of sparkling wine.

Firework Championships

.. firework companies compete for most spectacular nd

Date: Saturday 2 August 2014 Place: Stanford Hall, Lutterworth (LE17 6DH) # Meet: from 6pm (but you can enter site from 5pm) Cost: £19 (£20.50 Guest) Includes: ticket, £1.50 booking fee, Gazebo, Coordinator Camping Option: Add £10 to above ticket costs ● 4 professional firework companies ● 4 spectacular shows choreographed to music ● One winner!

This fabulous pyrotechnic spectacular has been recommended by Spice members who go every year and tell us it is a brilliant night. It’s a summer evening in the grounds of one of England’s finest stately homes, with some of the best fireworks displays you will ever see! For the companies concerned, being the best, most creative and most technologically advanced is a serious business. They have to delight you as at the end, the spectators will cast their votes

by SMS (normal text rates apply and only one vote accepted from each phone number so it is fair).

Arrival: Gates open at 5pm, but the Spice coordinator will be ready to meet you from 6pm (you can come later, but the roads in will get pretty congested by 7pm). Bring picnic and chair and we will relax in the grounds & soak up the unique atmosphere. Preshow attractions include the opportunity to learn how music shows are produced and hear interviews with the teams. Food and drink can also be purchased on site if you prefer. We hope to have a Spice gazebo as a focal point.

Demonstration: When it’s dark the real fun begins. There will be a demonstration show at 9pm where we learn about the different fireworks as the experts fire a selection of effects with voice commentary explaining how it works.

Displays: At 9.30pm the 3 competing teams fire a 10 minute display set to music with 5 minute intervals between shows.

Text voting opens once the 3rd show has finished. There’s is a closing (4th) display by the previous champions as a finale!

Camping Option: New for 2014, you can camp overnight if you wish. This costs an extra £10 per person and just choose the “with camping” option when you book.

If you are camping you just need to bring a tent and can get on site from 4pm (1 hour early) to set up.

What’s the # ?

If a location is followed by the # symbol it’s a secret Spice code that means you are going to receive further joining details by post or email such as tickets, maps, directions, emergency numbers etc

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Steaming to Victory

.. a nostalgic trip to Gloucester under steam Date: Friday 6th June 2014 Place: Tysley or Moor Street Station, Birmingham (B11 2HL) # Meet: 3.45pm or 4.15pm Cost: £65 (£75 Guest) Includes: Standard class return rail ticket and booking fees Join us aboard this very special train from Birmingham to Gloucester and back, for a steamy evening of memories and commemoration of the 70th D-Day Anniversary. The contribution of the railways was absolutely critical to the war effort, to D-Day and the 11 month long liberation of Europe. D-Day remains to this day one of the biggest and most intense logistics operations ever conducted by mankind. A huge number died, and we will remember them, but this is a train of celebration and we hope, like the Berliner, it will be marked by a lot of mini-reunions and a lot of laughter too.

This is a very special event and please wear suitable style smart casual or 1940s civilian dress.

It is planned to have a choice of activities including: ● Private museum viewing of the Soldiers of Gloucestershire ● Presentation by Michael Williams in Gloucester Guildhall (author of Steaming To Victory) ● Book signing onboard by Michael Williams ● 1940s entertainment by Kitten von Mew Our train will depart from Vintage Trains' Tyseley Warwick Road station at approximately 4:00pm with additional stops at Birmingham Moor Street and Snow Hill stations, before we steam through Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter and out into the Worcestershire through Kidderminster. Overlooked by Broadway to the East and the Malvern Hills to our West, we steam down through the Vale of Evesham and into the Northern Cotswolds, through Cheltenham Spa and onwards to our destination of Gloucester. Later we retrace our outward journey up Old Hill Bank and back to Birmingham.

KeyHunter Live Escape Game Evening .. work as a team to escape the rooms!

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Date: Saturday 19 July 2014 Place: 149 Sherlock St, Birmingham (B5 6NE) Meet: 7.15pm for 7.30 - 9pm session Cost: £14.50 (£16 Guest) Includes: Exclusive booking of whole centre for Spice KeyHunter is the first live escape game located in Birmingham. There are 3 themed rooms, each designed for a group of up to 7 people, where we’ll find hints and clues, solve puzzles, and make progress as you race against time in order to escape within an hour! If you remember the Crystal Maze you will have some idea what to expect!

If not, visit their website at www.keyhunter.co.uk or find them on facebook for a taste of the fun. We have booked the whole centre for 1½ hours just for Spice, after which we can de stress in the bars of the Arcadian Centre.

How will it work: On arrival we will get a 15 minute briefing and will be issued with UV Lights and “Walkie Talkies”.

We will split randomly into teams of 7 and each team will be given a room to challenge them.

World Cup - England Matches & Bar Meal .. see England on the big screen with the Spice crowd!

(1) Saturday 14th June 2014 – England v Italy (2) Thursday 19th June 2014 – England v Uruguay (3) Tuesday 24th June 2014 – England v Costa Rica Place: Copthorne, Paradise Circus, Birmingham (B3 3HJ) Meet: (1) Arrive from 9pm (food served 10pm) Kick off 11pm (2) Arrive from 7pm (food served 7.30pm) Kick off 8pm (3) Arrive from 4pm (food served 4.30pm) Kick Off 5pm Cost: £7 (£8.50 Guest) for each date Incl: Big screen, exclusive area and Sausage or Bacon Rolls & Chips.

If you can't make it to Brazil this year, here is the next best way to enjoy the excitement. It's much more fun to watch football in a crowd and these first 3 matches that will decide whether England go through to the quarter finals!

We have a private area, big screen, bar and supper which will be a platter of bacon and sausage baps with chips.

Date:

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Compton Verney Grounds Tour & Tea .. a tour of 120 acres of Capability Brown parkland

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Sunday 15th June 2014 Compton Verney, near Stratford on Avon (CV35 9HZ) # 2.45pm for 3pm Tour £22.50 (£25 Guest) Incl: Entrance to permanent collections & grounds, guided tour of the grounds & afternoon tea. Extra: Moore Rodin exhibition

Join Gary Webb, Head of Landscape and Gardens, on a tour of park at Compton Verney.

Find out more about the historical development of the grounds, its features and how a small team looks after 120 acres of beautiful Capability Brown parkland. You may prefer to make more of a day of your visit and view the Compton Verney Collection and the eleven sculptures by Moore and Rodin which are in the grounds before the tour. Amongst these amazing pieces is one of Rodin’s most famous works, Monument to the Burghers of Calais (usually on display outside the Houses of Parliament), Moore’s magnificent monumental Three Piece Sculpture: Vertebrae and The Arch. If you would like to see the Moore Rodin exhibition in the galleries you can upgrade your ticket which is an additional £6. After the tour of the park we will enjoy tea.

Steam Train to Stratford

.. enjoy the sights, sounds & senses of steam Date: Sunday 27th July 2014 Place: Snow Hill Station, Birmingham (B3 2BJ) # Meet: 9.45am for 10.23am train Cost: £21.50 (£23 Guest) Includes: standard class return rail ticket and booking fees Extras: Ian Jelf "Stratford as You've Never Seen It" Walk - Book separately Why not also book Ian’s “Stratford as you’ve never seen it” Walk. Ian is meeting the train and his walk lasts around 2 hours (allowing free time before returning).

Sit back, relax and enjoy the sights, sounds and senses of main line steam rail travel as it was in the 'good old days'. Travel along the Shakespeare Line between Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon, steeped in culture, history and natural beauty.

The journey from Birmingham to Stratford-upon-Avon is through beautiful countryside, the steam locomotives often work up to speeds of 60mph and even 75mph! Through the carriage windows you will see an ever changing landscape, from Birmingham's fascinating industrial past to Warwickshire's beautiful countryside with its working farms, stylish villages and stations, plus glimpses of waterways and other features that make up Shakespeare's County.

An immaculate steam locomotive will pull the train of Vintage Trains traditional rail carriages, all restored authentically to their former glory. There will then be an opportunity to spend 4hours in Stratford Upon Avon before returning to Snowhill station on the 16.10 steam train. If you also book Ian Jelf’s walk, you will have around 2 hours free time.

WW1 Centenary Charity Ball Cosford

.. a fabulous evening in support of the RAF Benevolent Fund Saturday 30th August 2014 RAF Cosford (TF11 8UP) # 7.00pm £70 Member, £75 Guest (Deposit £20) Welcome Drink, Five Course Meal, Celebrity Speaker, Spitfire Flypast, Swing Band of RAF, RAF Cosford & Shawbury Military Wives Choir. Dancing This is a special opportunity to experience a very special anniversary ball.We are delighted to have been allocated Spice tables by the RAF Benevolent Fund for this special fundraising evening. The Ball is in the unique setting of the War Plane Hanger at RAF Cosford Museum where we will dine and dance amongst real aircraft from the First World War. This fabulous Black Tie evening includes a welcome drink reception followed by a moving Sunset Ceremony, a Spitfire flypast, superb five course meal, a celebrity speaker, music provided by the Swing Band of the RAF Central Band, the RAF Cosford and Shawbury Military Wives Choirs with dancing to finish.

Please note: All money taken will be passed in full by Spice to RAFBF to help with their vital work in support of service personnel and their families. No charges are made by Spice for putting this event on.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost: Incl:

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White Knight & Good Fairy Fortnight absolutely fantastic fun - just read the feedback below!

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Sun 1 to Monday 16th June 2014 Anywhere in the bounds of your imagination Final meal at The Arden Hotel on Monday 16th June at 7.30pm £22.50

Good Fairies (& White Knights) still exist - at least in Spice and your very own Good Fairy is out there somewhere.

As the longer days arrive they could be conjuring up all sorts of magical and surprises for you. Your Good Fairy will put a little magic into day to day living, turning you into a VIP for a fortnight. There is an added twist to the fun ... you will have no idea who is sending your gifts and surprises. Our finale meal is great fun as this is when all is revealed, and you discover who's been making your life pleasant and exciting for the last 14 days.

We all love to give as well as receive, and while you're getting all this attention you'll have the chance to be a 'Good Fairy' too! This is your opportunity to "make someone's day" - or evening, or morning by leaving an unexpected little message, or a simple gift, turning them into a VIP with your surprises and good deeds. It’s a fantastic fortnight of fun, with everyone creating some 'magic' with a bit of imagination and a sense of commitment. The event works very simply - when you book this event you'll become a Good Fairy (or White Knight) to one other person. This person is your VIP for the fortnight and it's up to you to come up with some nice surprises for him..or her. You in turn will have nice things done for you by your Good Fairy, who is a completely different person taking part in the event i.e....'A' is Good Fairy to 'B'....who is GF to 'C'...who is GF to 'D'...etc. Everyone is both a VIP and a Good Fairy/White Knight, giving and receiving surprises. It's important to remember that your good deeds and special surprises needn't cost a lot if anything, in fact you should keep expenditure to a pound or two... it's not the amount of money you spend but the thought that goes into it. Eg, an old roll of wallpaper makes a great banner to felt tip a message on! One word of warning, you should not do anything to embarrass or offend or that is illegal! It should be nice surprises! It needn't take lots of time, but you should be prepared to think of at least 4 surprises, and to have one ready for the start of the fortnight so your VIP gets a surprise straight away.

What surprises you come up with are up to you - treats, favours, entertainment - anything which will bring a bit of fun and frivolity into your VIP's life - make them feel someone is thinking of them and wishing them well. (Meanwhile your Good Fairy will be doing the same for you!) It could be decorating their car, having a cake delivered, leaving a nice message on the answering machine, writing a poem, finding out what Spice events they are booked on and surprising them.....?

You'll need to let us know a bit about yourself to help your Good Fairy or White Knight give you surprises that you'll like, your VIP will also send us information to help you give them lots of fun and surprises that they'll appreciate.

When you register for this event you must send in a note giving us the following details which will be passed on to your Knight/ Fairy: ● Your name and address and any telephone numbers where it’s ok to call you ● A photo, so your Good Fairy can identify you! ● Your approx age ● Favourite Music, Food, Colour, Drink. ● Names of any friends who would be willing to help your Knight/ Fairy. ● If you own a car the make, colour and registration. ● Any other likes, dislikes or relevant information.

THESE DETAILS SHOULD REACH THE OFFICE BY FRIDAY 23rd May. When we have everyone's details all the participants will be sorted into areas, there will be a lucky dip and you'll be given the name and details of the person who'll be your VIP. And of course, although it is better to give than receive, your details will be passed onto your Good Fairy who will think up nice surprises for you!

With everything you send or do you should send a message which indicates that it is from their "Good Fairy", while also doing everything possible to preserve your anonymity, and the game works best if the VIP does not try to find out who their GF is. You may well be playing GF to someone you don't know, so you'll have to find out who their friends are (the SPICE office will help where possible) and then get more information about them so that you can materialise little things which they will really appreciate - maybe they have a passion for Mars bars or Maltesers! You may also get helpers to deliver treats to your VIP to preserve your cover. As the game goes on, everyone gets to hear of the hilarious situations that occur, the surprises that get sprung and the fun the game creates.

Maybe you can use other Spice events to surprise your VIP - the office will help where possible.

The game ends with a meal in our own room at The Arden Hotel. At an appointed hour, after the coffees & chocolates (around 10.00pm) we will gradually reveal everyone’s identities and swap stories of what has been going on over the action packed fortnight.

Is your imagination running riot? Can you bear to wait until we start? Are you already thinking up all sorts of schemes and surprises?

What a brilliant idea this is! But before you get too carried away here are a few ground rules........

1. If you decide to join in the fun we ask you to agree to do at least 4 favours, surprises, or good deeds for your VIP, though you can obviously do more...as many as your imagination/time allows. You should also do something as soon after the start as possible.

2. You must agree to come to the meal. It's a major disappointment if you don't show up and leave your VIP guessing, and your Benefactor has no one to surprise. If absence becomes unavoidable please tell the office so we can do the honours for you.

3. Please don’t spend much money - people will be embarrassed by expensive gifts and it’s much nicer to get inexpensive but fun presents such as a bunch of balloons, a home-made cake, a card, a message left on a desk or an answerphone etc. Use imagination.

4. Respect the law, and private property. Try to think of silly or fun things, but don't do anything too zany before thinking of possible repercussions - we don't want anyone getting the sack because a kissogram is sent to them in the middle of a business meeting.!

Richard’s Comments: Every year that we run this event it gets better and better, with everyone having a great time. Many people have told me that it is the best event they have ever done, and many have made long term friendships. It’s not only the fun of giving surprises, but the fun Good Fairies have in avoiding discovery when delivering! At the meal we swap stories about the chocolate cake delivery, or the balloons tied to the garden gate in the middle of the night just before the police arrived! So don't hesitate - jump in the deep end and give it all you've got, you don't need much time and once the game starts you'll hear about loads of 'magic' you can copy....wallpaper banners, balloons, nice cards in the post, goodies, chocolates, cakes left on doorsteps - with friends etc., phone messages, cars mystically washed...announcements in supermarkets…anything can happen during the fortnight - watch this space!

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Spice Go Behind the Scenes Spicer’s always want to know that bit more about things, so here’s a series of opportunities to go ‘behind the scenes’ and ask questions at some interesting places.

If you have any ideas or inside leads into interesting places (where you work for instance?) do please let us know - and we'll see if we can come to visit.

BBC Birmingham Behind the Scenes .. enjoy a tour of BBC Birmingham's home in The Mailbox

Date: Saturday 14th June 2014 Place: BBC, The Mailbox, Birmingham (B1 1RF) Meet: 11.45am for 12noon tour. Meet in BBC reception Cost: £10 (£12 guest) (includes booking fees & Spice coordinator) BBC Birmingham has thrown open its doors, offering you the chance to go inside the state-of-the-art studios situated in The Mailbox. Take a peek behind the scenes of programmes which are made here and try your hand at some interactive fun! During the tour there is always the chance of bumping into a favourite presenter or radio DJ, hearing some trade secrets or being party to some juicy gossip while passing the actors' green room... They'll take you inside as many studios as business allows but please remember that BBC Birmingham is a working building and no two tours are the same.

Vulcan Bomber Restoration Experience .. enjoy this awesome aircraft

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Date: Saturday 5 April 2014 Place: Wellesbourne, nr Stratford upon Avon (CV35 9EU) # Meet: 10.00am Cost: No cost to book but donate at least £8 to the restoration society on day Avro Vulcan XM655 (pictured right with its crew & fire crew) was one of the last v-bombers produced for the RAF, and part of the UK's nuclear deterrent force throughout the 60s & 70s.

XM655 is one of the few Vulcans remaining in ground running condition and The 655 Maintenance and Preservation Society aim to keep it running for as long possible. Today we join up with the restoration group which is run entirely by volunteers. There will be a short talk about the work of the team on arrival before we split into groups of 4 to spend some time in the cockpit. A video will also be shown about the aircraft and there will be an opportunity to ask questions to some of the dedicated volunteers. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available.

Hippodrome Back Stage Tour .. get inside this famous theatre!

Date: Saturdays: 19th April or 28th June 2014 Place: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street (B5 4TB) # Meet: 9.50am for 10.00am tour Cost: £12 (£15 Guest) includes booking fees, coordinator & refreshments afterwards Take a peek behind the scenes of a leading theatre which has recently been renovated to one of the finest you will find anywhere in the world. This is your chance to stand on the same stage as our most famous actors and actresses and have some of the magic explaining such as scene changes, costumes and “is that real blood?”. The secrets of sound and light are also revealed. All and more is covered in this stimulating 1.5 hour tour.

Guide Dog Training Centre Visit

.. how can a dog become the eyes & ears of a human?

Date: Saturday 5th April 2014 Place: Edmondscote Manor, Leamington Spa (CV32 6AH) # Meet: 9.45am for 10.00am to 12.00pm tour Cost: FREE to book, but please make a donation of at least £3.00 on the day This wonderful organisation provides guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services that meet the needs of blind and partially sighted people. They breed 1000 puppies a year nationally, which makes them the largest breeder of working dogs in the world. The really interesting bit though is how they transform these pups into highly trained adults who you could trust your life to on the busy roads of Birmingham. 130 dogs are taught to this standard each year in Leamington.

Our visit starts with a talk & video, before we’re off to meet the dogs on a guided tour.

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Birmingham Art Gallery Tea & Tour .. an afternoon with the Pre Raphaelites

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Date: Saturday 21 June 2014 Place: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (B3 3DH) Meet: 1.00pm Cost: £12 (£14 Guest) incl themed tour “The Pre Raphaelites” and tea & cake Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery's collection of Pre-Raphaelite works is particularly rich in early works from the 'Brotherhood' period. The creation of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood in 1848, the social and creative relationships which accompanied it, as well as a range of exquisite Pre-Raphaelite paintings will form the basis for this tour. We continue discussions over tea and cake in the beautiful Edwardian Tea Room..

Museum Collections Centre Experience .. tour on the theme “Modes of Transport”

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Date: Thursday 12 June 2014 Place: 25, Dollman St, Nechells, Birmingham (B7 4RQ) Meet: 10.45am for 11.00am - 12.45pm tour Cost: £9.50 (£11.50 Guests) Includes guide and teas & coffees If you’ve seen the movie “Night at the Museum”, you have some idea of what this event is about.

Hundreds of stuffed animals peer at you from packing cases ... African spears poke out menacingly from the baskets ... yesterdays cars park silently ... You really could believe that the exhibits come alive once your back is turned! Yes, we’re exploring behind the scenes at one of the country's biggest museum stores, with the curators. Around every corner there is a different kind of treasure from Birmingham and the West Midlands, from a Sinclair C5 to a bread slicing machine, an Austin Atlantic, motorbikes, sewing machine, lathes, sculpture, or even an eighteenth century shoe! It’s a rare journey of memory and imagination that few people have the priviledge to take. The Centre houses a huge number and variety of objects for Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery. Some are priceless, others just fascinating! The unique and vast range of stored collections at really does have something for everyone - from cars and motorbikes, to sculptures and sewing machines!

Our tour theme: we will journey through modes of transport - from Victorian to late twentieth century, a horse-drawn fire engine as well as a bubble car, chopper bike.and Sinclair C5; dream of journeying in a so-stylish Armstrong Siddley or a Route 66 Harley; impress on a steam-roller or in a surely unique bread delivery cart! All tastes catered for!

Dogs Home Visit

.. discover how stray dogs are rescued, reunited & re-homed!

Date: Saturday 12th Apr 2014 Place: Birmingham Dogs Home, New Bartholomew St, Digbeth, Birmingham (B5 5QS) Meet: 11.30am (session ends around 1pm) Cost: No charge, but must booked as numbers very limited. Donations welcome on day Birmingham Dogs Home was founded in 1892 on land made available by the late Sir Alfred Gooch Bart, in New Canal Street, Birmingham. In 1987 they moved to New Bartholomew Street, with a grand opening by the Duchess of York.

Since then a purpose-built building has provided shelter and protection for the stray dogs of the West Midlands. Able to house over 150 stray dogs in comfortable kennel blocks with adjacent facilities, the Home has its own vets’ clinic, puppy unit and isolation unit. They are a registered charity and for over 100 years have stated a mission to rescue, reunite and rehome stray, neglected and unwanted dogs from all over the West Midlands area. This vital work is only possible through the very generous support of the local community. The visit will start with an overview of the work of the dogs home and their aims. This will be followed by a guided walk around the kennels veterinary rooms and other facilities.

Note: Please donate at least £5. They are also grateful for tins of dog food, old towels, sheets, blankets and duvets

Can you help?

Most of our best behind the scenes visits have come about by the personal contacts of Spice members.

If you could help arrange a visit, please get in touch – whatever it may be!

In recent years we have enjoyed finding out about: 17 factories, 3 public utilities, 7 theatres, 3 art galleries, 1 prison, 3 undertakers, 7 places of worship, 2 fire stations, 1 coal mine, 3 breweries, 2 newspapers, 1 master thatcher and many, many others!

But, the Spice appetite is insatiable so please call 0121 353 6161 if you’ve any good contacts to pass on!

Back to Backs

.. spend time in Birmingham's fascinating past!

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Saturday 17 May 2014

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Place: 55 - 60 Hurst Street, Birmingham (B5 4TE) Meet: Choose start time 10.15am, 10.30am or 10.45am (tours last 1 hour) Cost: £10 (Members & Guests) includes booking fees & Spice coordinator Opened just a few years ago in Hurst Street is something you wouldn’t perhaps expect. It’s an open museum from The National Trust! They have carefully restored 19th-century courtyard of working people’s houses. Birmingham’s last surviving court of back to back housing has now been fully restored by the Birmingham Conservation Trust and the National Trust. Thousands of houses like these were built, literally back to back, around courtyards, for the rapidly increasing population of Britain’s expanding industrial towns. The story of the site is told through the experiences of the people who lived and worked here. Visitors move through four different periods, from 1840 to 1977. The design of each interior reflects the varied cultures, religions and professions of the families who made their homes here.

Tours last around an hour and we have booked 4 tours starting at 15 minute intervals. There are steep stairs and there isn't much room – so please leave your rucksack behind for this one!

Stately Secrets of Tissington with Sir Richard .. walk the Tissington Estate with Sir Richard Fitzherbert

Date: Saturday 10th May 2014 Place: Tissington near Ashbourne (DE6 1RA) # Meet: 10am for 10.15am Cost: £15 (£18.50 Guest) We’ve enjoyed quite a series of special tours of the Stately Homes of England by the people who own them. Lord Cobham has shown us Hagley Hall, James Hervey Bathurst welcomed us to Eastnor and Charles Berkley to Berkley Castle. This time we are back at the beautiful Tissington Estate for a walk and talk with the ever entertaining Sir Richard Fitzherbert. Tissington Hall was built by Francis Fitzherbert in 1609 and has served as family home for nearly 400 yrs. Today Sir Richard Fitzherbert will meet us with complimentary teas/ coffees at Herberts Tea Rooms. He will then lead us on a guided tour of the estate including the surrounding villages and give us an insight into its history as well as how a historic estate is organized today.

Expect a couple of hours wandering with Sir Richard afterwards we can perhaps find somewhere nice for lunch together.

Rugby School Tour

.. discover the rich history of this iconic school Date: Saturday 17th May 2014 Place: Rugby, Warwickshire (CV22 5DP) # Meet: 1.45pm for 2pm - 3.30pm tour Cost: £11 (£12.50 Guest) Incl: Special private group tour arrangements, Spice Coordinator This 1½ hour tour will take us on a fascinating discovery of one of Britain’s most famous public schools (and the only one that gives its name to an entire sport!). We’ll discover over 4 centuries of history as we stroll through the beautiful buildings with an expert guide. There will also be an opportunity to visit the Rugby museum.

Rugby School was founded in 1567 and despite a troubled start, by 1621, the school had achieved a good reputation and its pupils were successfully continuing on to university. In 1750 the school moved to its present site and was extended to include new schools and rooms for boarders. Many well-known and influential people have been educated at Rugby School. Amongst them are Lewis Carroll, Neville Chamberlain, Lord Waddington, Sir Anthony Quayle, Sir Arthur Bliss and John Gillespie Magee. There have also been three archbishops and six members of parliament educated at the school.

Rugby School is where the game of rugby football began, when in 1823, William Webb Ellis famously picked up a football and ran with it. Unsurprisingly, with this heritage the school takes the sport very seriously and excels in the game.

Amongst the past pupils, 63 have gone on to play internationally for England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and South Africa.

Give an old newsletter a trip to the Doctors!

Spice Birmingham would not operate without the generous efforts of keen volunteers. This keeps costs down, numbers up, and ensures that other members are ‘bonded’ into the group as quickly as possible. There are lots of simple things that members do to help their group. One of the most valuable ways you can help spread the word about Spice is to leave an old newsletter in a waiting room. We get calls from intrigued people who have started reading about us in a Doctors, Hairdressers, Takeaways, MOT Centres or .. just about anywhere!

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Prodrive VIP Visit

.. discover one of the world’s largest motorsport facilities Date: Sunday 25th May 2014 Place: Banbury, Oxfordshire (OX16 3ER) # Meet: 10.45am for 11am tour Cost: £27 (£29 Guest) One sector where the UK really rules the world is motorsport design, manufacture and consultance. Prodrive is one of the world's leading motorsport businesses. For more than 25 years, they have been running race and rallying programmes for some of the biggest names in the sport, including Aston Martin, Subaru, Ford, Porsche, Honda and BMW. At the same time they provide race and rally cars for private teams. Today you will be shown behind the scenes where you can see how they engineer and assemble the new Mini World Rally Cars and the Aston Martin racing cars. During the detailed tour we cover every part of Prodrive’s operation and give a unique insight to the workings of the business. The tour includes: ● Coffee and welcome in the Prodrive heritage centre where you can view race and rally cars from Prodrive’s 25 years in world motorsport; ● The workshops where they build the MINI John Cooper Works WRC and the Aston Martin AMR-One cars; ● Rally car transmission and engine build and engine dynos; ● Advanced manufacturing facilities where they fabricate and machine all the parts which go into their competition cars; ● An opportunity to visit their shop, to buy the merchandise that is produced on behalf of Aston Martin Racing as well as Prodrive performance wheels and parts and special items of memorabilia not available anywhere else. All these are available at specially discounted prices to guests.

Private Evening Garden Tour

.. discover Birmingham's other Botanical Gardens th

Date: Monday 19 May 2014 Place: Winterbourne House and Garden, Edgbaston (B15 2RT) – directions online Meet: 7pm for 7.15pm start at the main house Cost: £18 (£19.50 Guest) Incl: Private tour & drinks on terrace A late spring tour through one of Birmingham's hidden gems. Winterbourne House & Garden, built in 1904 by the Nettlefold family is now the botanic garden for the University of Birmingham. Join the Garden Supervisor for a private evening tour of the plant collections and learn about the history such a beautiful and diverse site. The gardens will be looking at their best in Spring. We will finish with complimentary drinks on the house terrace overlooking the garden.

Please wear sensible footwear as the tour will still go ahead whatever the weather.

Cosford Airshow with an Insider! .. this year with coach travel included!

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Date: Sunday 8 June 2014 Place: Coach from Solihull (7.30am), City (8pm) or Sutton (8.30am) # Cost: £34 (£39 Guest) Incl: Coach Travel, Entrance ticket and talk/ tour with Simon Footer Extra: Simon is making no charge for his services but may take a collection for RAF Benevolent Fund The Cosford Airshow is an amazing event and this year promises to be better than ever. This year, Spice have gone one better. We have secured time with one of the organisers (and former Special Forces Pilot), Simon Footer who will explain the show to us and introduce us to people, pilots and places that the general public don’t see.

How the day will work: The flying displays usually start at around 12 noon but we have been advised to getting in well before this as the traffic will get heavier and heavier as the morning goes on. We meet as a group at 2pm (location to be confirmed). After our talk & tour, we have free time to enjoy the airshow either individually or as a group.

Simon’s Talk & Tour: Exactly what Simon Footer can do with us will depend on the demands of the day. However, he has promised us an insight into how he briefs the fast jet pilots for the show and some background to how the show is set up and run. He also hopes to arrange for us to access to the aircrew enclosure where we can meet the pilots and relax.

The Airshow: The 2014 Air Show brings together a wide variety of aircraft including the Royal Air Force, aerobatic displays, vintage aircraft and many more. Enjoy expanded interactive aircraft and military displays, arena demonstrations, visit the fair ground and shopping areas for craft and memorabilia.

Our Host, Simon Footer MBE: Simon is now regional director of RAF Benevolent Fund following 33 years of RAF service, predominantly as a special forces Hercules pilot and latterly as a flying instructor. He commanded LXX Squadron based at RAF Lyneham during the build up of the Afghanistan operation and continues to fly on an occasional basis as a reservist instructor at RAF Cosford. He is on the organising committee for Cosford Airshow and other large RAF Events.

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Westfield Cars Visit

one of the the UK's leading hand built sports car Date: Monday 16th June 2014 Place: Westfield Sportscars, Kingswinford (DY6 8XF) # Meet: 9.45am for 10am tour Cost: Admin fee of £2 Westfield Sportscars are one of the the UK's leading hand built sports car manufacturers that still is British owned and family run. The cars are either self assembly or factory built sports cars. Westfield have sold over 8500 cars world wide since 1983 and currently produce over 400 cars a year for driving enthusiasts the world over. In an age dominated by imports Westfield are proud to boast high quality British craftsmanship in every aspect of production. They build them right here in the heart of the UK. Today we have an opportunity for just 10 Spice members to visit the factory to see the production of these unique cars.

Redwings Horse Sanctuary Visit .. meet the lovely rescue ponies, donkeys & horses

Date: Saturday 24th May 2014 Place: Oxhill, 10 miles south of Stratford upon Avon (CV35 0RP) – directions online Meet: 11.50am for 12noon tour Cost: FREE. But please make a donation of at least £5 to the charity on the day Redwings is the largest horse sanctuary in the UK and has over 1300 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules in its direct care.

They also have around 500 horses and ponies living out in Guardian homes and re-home over 70 more every year. Over 100 volunteers investigate cases of cruelty and neglect around the UK. They have nine centres around the UK, including this excellent base in Warwickshire. This lovely visitor centre is home to adoption equines Major, Rumpel, Dylan, The Oxhill Donkeys and dinky pony Wensley along with more than 50 rescued horses, ponies and donkeys who are just yearning to meet us! We have arranged a guided tour of the centre and if we get sufficient numbers we hope to get a demonstration of horse care from the equine centre staff - as well as the chance to cuddle the residents of course!

The centre also has a gift shop, information centre and café on site, serving soups, sandwiches, toasties and delicious cake

Winterbourne House Private Evening Tour .. visit this special stately property in Edgbaston!

Date: Thursday 19th June 2014 Place: Winterbourne House and Garden, Edgbaston (B15 2RT) directions online Meet: 7pm for 7.15pm start at the main house Cost: £18 (£19.50 Guest) Incl: Private tour & drinks on the terrace Join the Collections Supervisor for a fascinating tour through one of Birmingham's hidden gems.

Winterbourne House & Garden, built in 1904 by the Nettlefold family is now owned by the University of Birmingham.

Built in the Arts and Craft style, the house boasts many interesting features and beautiful furniture. Learn about the families that lived there and the recent restoration. Includes complimentary drinks on arrival.

Birmingham Central Mosque Visit .. meet our vibrant Islamic community

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Date: Saturday 21 June 2014 Place: 180 Belgrave Middleway (B12 0XS) Meet: 11.15 for 11.30am outside main entrance Cost: No Charge We have been invited to visit the centre of worship for Birmingham’s Islamic community. Birmingham Central Mosque was the second purpose built mosque in the UK. Built in 1969, it is one of the most recognised religious buildings in the city. Much of the media focus is on the mosque’s involvement in national and international human rights and political issues as well as the mosque’s inter-faith alliances. The mosque has 3 floors. On the 1st is a large Main Hall for prayers which can easily accommodate around 2,800 worshippers. The ground floor provides offices, a community hall, an extensive Islamic library, educational classrooms and a large school hall area used for prayers and other activities. On special days like Eid, spaces are combined to allow 5,000 to worship at once and 20,000 to attend across the day.

Dress Customs & Further Information: A guide to visiting the Mosque is available as a PDF download on the on line version of this writeup. The key is to dress modestly (covering arms & legs) and wear shoes that are quick to take on/ off.

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Morgan Motors Visit

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Date: Monday 7 July 2014 Place: Morgan Motor Works, Malvern Link, Worc (WR14 2LL) # Meet: 10.30am for 11am tour Cost: £14 (£16 Guest) includes booking fee & Spice coordinator The Pickersleigh Road Morgan Factory is a unique 'time capsule' where little seems to have changed since it opened in 1918! And that is probably the reason why the cars are still in such demand (the waiting list is 5 years plus!). The chasis is still made of seasoned wood and the metalwork is cut, beaten and polished by (loving) hand. We can only visit in working hours, so I'm afraid these times will not suit everyone, but if you love classic English sports cars, we figured a few of you might find a way to get there. On arrival we will be met by our guide who for the tour around this 'holy ground' and enjoy the opportunity to tour the new visitor centre that has been built to celebrate 100 years of The Morgan.

Elisabeth Svendsen Trust Visit

.. find how donkeys provide special therapy for children Date: Saturday 12th July 2014 Place: EST Centre, Sutton Park - see directions online (B74 2YT) Meet: 11.00am Cost: FREE to book – but please make a voluntary donation on the day The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust for Children and Donkeys (EST), is a charity dedicated to providing riding therapy with donkeys to children with special needs and disabilities. The aim is to bring enjoyment and pleasure into the lives of children with special needs and disabilities and to give them the satisfaction that comes with the achievement of learning riding skills. It also enables Elisabeth’s work of rescuing donkeys to have purpose.

Riding skills are taught by qualified riding instructors using the donkey because of its placid nature. In addition, children are encouraged to groom and care for the donkeys. The children who attend the centers have a wide range of disabilities; some may have learning difficulties, others are physically disabled or have behavioral problems, brain damage or sensory impairment. Every week up to 150 children attend each centre. Their ages range from 1 year to young adults and those over 8st and too heavy to ride the donkeys, are taught to drive a small cart.

Confessions of a Tour Guide .. you'll be amazed at what goes on!

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Date: Tuesday 22 July 2014 “Don’t you come near my Place: Copthorne Hotel, Paradise Circus (B3 3HJ) Meet: 7.30pm hotel room young man” Cost: £8 (£10 Guest) This popular talk is back! For more than 15 years Ian Jelf has been a full time professional tour guide and has amassed a veritable repertoire of funny, improbably and downright bizarre stories of the things people have (or haven’t) done on his tours. Without giving too much away, these have included everything from simple misunderstandings to arson, artificial limbs, people missing for days or weeks and much, much more! It’s a long time since we’ve invited Ian to come and tell us more of these stories and in the meantime he’s - needless to say – had some new ones! So come along and hear what happens when the Great British (or American, French, etc.) Public go “on tour”…

Directions: Full details are given with the on line version of this write up.

“I laughed and laughed and laughed again. Ian makes real life funnier than fiction! The best night’s entertainment I’ve had in ages!” Member quote taken from feedback from last time. _____________________________

What’s is a “Guest”?

Some events have a separate price that applies if you want to bring a “guest” along to an event.

The “guest” option is there for members to use to introduce new people to the group and for friends/ family for whom membership is not practical (eg visiting from another area). The Guest arrangements are offered at our discretion and cannot be used to avoid membership (eg by lapsed members).

A “guest” must come along to the event with you (unless specifically agreed otherwise) and you are responsible for their good conduct. A “Guest” may accompany you at up to 3 events – after which we consider it fair to expect them to join themselves.

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Sport & Fitness Try a new sport or rediscover an old one! It’s a great way to get fit, make friends and socialize. With Spice, it’s all just for fun. All ages & abilities take part and no skill is expected

Hoola Hooping

.. have a workout with a Hoola Celebrity th

Date: Sunday: 18 May 2014 Place: Midland Arts Centre, Edgbaston - Performance Studio (B12 9QH) Meet: 10.45am for 11am – 12noon session Cost: £7 (£9 Guest) includes equipment & tuition Ever fancied trying Hoola Hooping properly – and learning how to have fun and tone up at the same time? Well Spice men & women - here’s your chance! We've arranged a beginner’s class where you can improve your self confidence, body tone and most of all do a team activity that will make you friends and learn everything you need to know about this fantastic new fitness craze. Julia will be looking after you for this exciting session where she in the past has performed at Glastonbury Festival and many public events across the world showcasing her wonderful talent. She’s an expert in her field and will show you all sorts of tricks and techniques, then progress into music and a fitness experience.

Golf - Learn to Play in a Day .. learn at a choice of two locations

Date: Sundays: ● 8th June (at Lea Marston) or ● 1st June or 27th July (at The Warwickshire) Place: ● Lea Marston Hotel, nr J9 of M42 (B76 0BY) ● Warwickshire Golf & Country Club (CV35 7QT) Meet: ● Lea Marston: 10am – 3.30pm ● The Warwickshire: 9am to 3pm Cost: ● Lea Marston: £30 (£32 Guest) ● Warwickshire: £35 (£39 Guest) Includes: tuition, teas/ coffees & light lunch We have been given the opportunity to broaden our introduction to golf sessions at 2 great locations. Both provide us with an opportunity for complete beginners or relative newcomers to have a day of golf coaching with an experienced PGA Professionals on all major aspects of the game. The packages include light lunch and refreshments (full details online).

Badminton at the NIA

.. a sociable evening & a great workout!

Dates: Every Wednesday through April, May, June & July Meet: 7 to 9pm (2 hour session) Book 4 Sport dates at Place: NIA (Community Hall) St Vincent St. (B1 2AA) NIA & get a 5th free Cost: £6 (Guests £7) including all equipment A fun evening of badminton, with nothing taken too seriously and the chance to play with a whole new bunch of players.

You just need a basic grasp of the game to play. Players rotate to give everyone a Variety of games.

Badminton for Fun

.. regular sessions at Coventry, Wolverhampton & Worcester Date: ● Coventry: Every Weds ● Worcester: Every Mon ● Wolverhampton: Every Weds Place: ● Coventry: Alan Higgs Centre, Allard Way, Coventry CV3 1HW ● Worcester: Perdiswell Leisure Centre Bilford Rd, Worcester WR3 8DX ● Wolverhampton: Aldersley Leisure Village, Aldersley Rd, WV6 9NW All sessions FREE during Meet: 1 hour session at each venue: 8.00pm to 9.00pm Spring & Summer 2014 Cost: All sessions are currently FREE but must be pre booked We have a number of regional badminton venues. At each one, you’ll find a fun evening, with nothing taken too seriously and the chance to play with a whole new bunch of players. You just need a basic grasp of the game to play.

A Spice Newsletter is just a Snapshot in Time

We’re busy booking new events all the time so please check our schedules on line at www,spicebham.com so you don’t miss a thing. We also update members on a weekly basis with out “Weekly Bulletin” by email and via our Facebook Page.

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Rounders & Social Night .. a fun evening of sport and sociability!

Date: Thursdays: 15th May, 12th June, 10th July & 14th August 2014 Place: ErinGoBragh Sports/Social Club, Holly Lane, Erdington (B24 9LH) Meet: 7pm prompt start Cost: £5 (£6.50 Guest) Includes: all equipment & instruction Spice Rounders nights are great. They’re all about getting out in the light nights and acting like kids again! Everyone can have fun playing, even if you don't know how to hold a bat! Clare & Lisa are Spice members who are also in the local Mixed Rounders League and put together these fun evenings. They act as umpires, sort us into teams, tell us the rules and make sure everyone has a great night. As the light fades we retire to the social club bar where we can quench our thirst!

Weather: Rounders will go ahead in virtually all weathers. The ground at Holly Lane is well drained and rarely waterlogged, so as long as it doesn’t rain all evening, we’ll be going ahead. If the weather looks really bad, please ring the office after 4pm to check also, if we have a mobile number for you we will text out if anything changes.

Girls Roller Skating Lesson .. a great opportunity to discover skating

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Date: Thursday 8 May 2014 Place: Doug Ellis Sports Centre, Perry Barr (B42 2SY) Meet: 6.45pm for 7pm to 9pm session Cost: £12 (£15 Guest) Includes: Skates, pads, helmets and full instruction Another great opportunity to find out about Roller Skating with Central City Rollergirls who are a feisty bunch of enthusiastic skaters who are keen to pass on their love of the Sport. We've put on a taster session where you will learn to indoor skate around a velodrome. You will be shown all the tricks of the trade on indoor roller skates from basic to the more advanced overtaking moves. Our instructors compete in a full contact sport, but we will not be doing this today! You will however be taught to skate around the track and have lots of fun.

Important: This session is for girls only sorry. You must give your shoe size when booking so that skates can

Spice "Biggest Loser" - The Great Outdoors .. have fun getting in shape for Spring

Date: Every Tuesday evening from 6th May - 24th Jun 2014 Place: Rectory Park, Rectory Rd, Sutton Coldfield (B75 7RS) Meet: 7pm to 8pm every Tuesday for 8 weeks Cost: £39 (£49 Guest) Includes: Professional instruction for 8 weeks, Extra: Assault course session, £15.99 to be paid on week one Following on from the success of the Biggest Loser Course we are delighted to announce a brand new 8 week course which will take place in the great outdoors at Rectory Park, Sutton Coldfield. The course will involve outdoor training with equipment, fun, games to get you in great shape for Spring. There will be a regular weigh in, team competitions with outdoor bodyweight training which includes sports, jogging, kettle bells, harness power and power walking. An 8 week structured diet plan will also be provided. This event will be open to all ages and abilities and be adapted if necessary to all newcomers. You will finish your 8 week training course with a two hour assault course based at Woodlands in Streetly, Sutton Coldfield, the "Biggest Loser Assault Challenge”. This assault course will be tailored to the training we have undertaken throughout the eight weeks. There will be time to reward ourselves with a well-earned drink after each session.

The assault course will be a separate charge payable to The Weight Guru of £15.99. This will need to be booked and paid for on first week of the course. Informal enquiries about this programme and whether it’s for you call Mark 07765 138475 This event is organized and supplied by Mark Phillips t/a The Weight Guru , whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom Spice act as agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with Mark Phillips t/a The Weight Guru. For availability and bookings contact Spice.

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Run in the Park

.. some easy excercise in the evening!

Dates: ● Tue 1 Apr ● *Wed 9 Apr ● Mon 14 Apr ● Tue 22 Apr ● Tue 29 Apr ● Tue 6 May ● Mon 12 May ● Mon 19 May 2014 Place: Meet inside The Spice Office, 6a Burnett Road, Streetly (B74 3EJ) Meet: 7pm Start (ends around 8pm) *On 9 Apr meet at Streetly Gate Cost: Free, but please book so we can contact you if anything changes Incl: Drinks & biscuits at the Spice Office An opportunity to get fit for the Great Midlands Fun Run, or just join us anyway to enjoy an easy run, jog or fast walk with us in the evening. We meet at the Spice Office before walking to the Streetly Gate entrance to Sutton Park (just 2 mins). After some advise on stretching, we will set off on a route of around 45 mins duration. So that everyone can go at their own pace, we intend to use a simple “easy to follow” route on the quiet roads towards Powells Pool and back and we put a faster runner at the front and someone slow (probably Richard!) at the back who will move at the pace of the slowest runner or walker. These evenings are appropriate to anyone who wants to increase their fitness in a sociable group. As a minimum, you should be capable of a fast walk as this is probably what the “back marker” will be doing.

The evenings are free, but there will be a voluntary collection for our 2014 Fun Run Charity.

Jogging Evening in Solihull .. some easy excercise in the evening!

Date: Evert Thursday in April, May & June Place: Brueton Park car park, Warwick Road (B91 3HG) Meet: 7pm Start (ends around 8pm) Cost: Free*, but please book so we can contact you if anything changes An opportunity to get fit for the Great Midlands Fun Run, or just join us anyway to enjoy an easy run, jog or fast walk with us in the evening. We already run these types of event in Sutton Park, but here is an opportunity for our Southern members to have their run as well! We are indebted to Mark Thursfield who has offered to run these evenings as a volunteer.

So that everyone can go at their own pace, we intend to use a simple “easy to follow” route on quiet roads.

NB. Our 2014 Fun Run Charity is the These evenings are appropriate to anyone who wants to increase their fitness in a sociable group.

Young Persons *The evenings are free, but there will be a collection for our 2014 Fun Run Charity if you wish to donate.

(Cancer) Unit at The QE Hospital Any questions, please contact Mark on 07943 944514 mark.thursfield@btinternet.com

Yoga and Pilates - Connect with your Core .. discover the difference it can make to your mind & body

Date: Monday 26th May 2014 Place: Bliss Yoga, 26-27 Anchor Parade Aldridge (WS9 8QT) – Directions online Meet: 10.15am for 10.30am to 12noon session Cost: £12 Member, £14 Guest We have created a unique session workshop where you will experience Yoga and Pilates in two sessions combined. The event will be based on working and flattening the abdominals and toning up while using breathing techniques and relaxation. This is a wonderful opportunity to tone up, improve flexibility and experience both arts and discover what they can do for you. Anyone can do it and it is aimed at absolute beginners. Yoga mats are provided.

Each session is 45 minutes with a break between the two.

Hot Yoga for Beginners .. relax and detox with Michelle

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Date: Monday 23 June 2014 Place: Bliss Yoga, 26-27 Anchor Parade Aldridge (WS9 8QT) – Directions online Meet: 7.15pm for 7.30pm to 8.30pm session Cost: £8.50 Member, £10 Guest This is a wonderful introduction to this popular new way to enjoy yoga. We’ll experience all the classic yoga moves, breathing and relaxation in a studio that is heated to 28-32 degrees. The heat enables us to work at a deeper level, achieve better flexibility and is also great for detoxification. Unlike some studios that operate at 40 degrees, the Bliss studio offers a more comfortable Hot Yoga experience! Read more details online. ______________________________ 64

Theatre, Comedy & Concerts We have good relations with all the venues in our region, and try to secure good seats for a wide range of shows. Often we are holding tickets for a very limited period, and with the most popular shows, tickets are finalised months in advance of the performance. We post out tickets around a week before the event, including a meet up point (generally the bar!).

Important: as we have to purchase your ticket well in advance, these types of event are non refundable unless we can resell your seat to someone else. Sorry.

Social Note: By it’s very nature, (you sit quietly in the dark!) these types of event are not particularly sociable.

There will be a volunteer coordinator who’ll do their best to “meet & greet” and to get people together in the interval. However, please don’t book these events for a social evening as you may be disappointed.

Concert Nights at the Jam House .. see famous acts at this intimate venue

Place: Jam House, St. Pauls Square, Birmingham (B3 1QU) Meet: Bands due on around 9pm but you can arrive any time These music nights are a rare opportunity to see musical icons in the intimate setting of The Jam House.

These are public events, but our friends at The Jam House have arranged special rates for Spice members (but please note that non members have to pay the public price including booking fees so we dont compete with their public pricing). ● King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys - Thursday 17th April Cost to Spice Members £3 (guests at public price of £5) 60 TV appearances, two barnstorming decades on the road and eleven red hot CDs have established King Pleasure & the Biscuit Boys as today's greatest swing band. Boogie-woogie piano at 9.30pm, followed by King Pleasure after 10pm ● Superstars of Soul (Geno Washington, Jaki Graham & The Foundations) - Wednesday 30th April Cost to Spice Members £5 (guests at public price of £12) Three UK Soul performers that have bludgeoned the Charts in the '60s, '70s, '80s and '90s, come together in one show of non-stop soul hits featuring The Foundations ("Build Me Up Buttercup", "Baby, Now That I've Found You","In the Bad Bad Old Days"), Jaki Graham ("Round and Around" ,"Could It Be I'm Falling in Love", "Set Me Free"), and "Hand Clappin, Foot Stompin, Funky-Butt" Geno Washington. The Show will begin from 8.30pm ● Omar - Thursday 3rd July Cost to Spice Members £3 (guests at public price of £5) Regarded as the founder of the British Neo-Soul movement, Omar is well known for such Urban hits as "There's Nothing Like This", "Say Nothin'", and "Keep Steppin'", as well as many significant collaborations with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Angie Stone, and Carleen Anderson. A successful actor as well as singer songwriter. ● Toploader - Thursday 17th July Cost to Spice Members £5 (guests at public price of £10) Toploader are an alternative rock band from Eastbourne who formed in 1997, with over two million album sales to their name and a string of top 20 hits both home and abroad. ● The Christians - Thursday 21st August Cost to Spice Members £4 (guests at public price of £8) The funky chart-toppers, take the stage with the full range of their hits from the '80’s & 90’s including Forgotten Town, Hooverville, Ideal World, and Born Again, and their versions of Harvest for the World, and Ferry 'Cross the Mersey ● Roachford - Thursday 11th September Cost to Spice Members £5 (guests at public price of £10) Roachford stormed the charts in the late ‘80’s with the classic “Cuddly Toy”, followed by successes such as “Family Man”, “Get Ready”, “Only to be With You” & “The Way I Feel”. Solo success & with Mike and the Mechanics. ● The Real Thing - Thursday 18th September Cost to Spice Members £5 (guests at public price of £10) A major influence in the British soul scene in the ‘70s & ‘80s, Liverpool trio, The Real Thing, shot to recognition with the chart success of “You to Me are Everything” in the UK and US. Arrival: You can arrive any time, but we do not plan to have a Spice Coordinator at all of these events, so there will not be the usual “Spice social vibe” I’m afraid. However, we will get Spice members together if we can (but bear in mind that there will be several hundred members of the public there as well, so this may not be easy). As you are pre booked, you can ignore any queue and go straight to the entrance where your name will be on a list (there are no tickets).

Dress: Smart dress - no trainers or ripped denim. Shirts for gentlemen please.

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Cinema Nights - Birmingham .. informal get togethers for film lovers

Date: Sundays: 20th April, 18th May, 15th June, 20th July & 17th Aug 2014 Place: Cineworld, Broad Street (corner of Broad St & Bishopsgate St) (B15 1DA) Meet: Meet Sean 5.50pm in foyer Extra: No cost to book, but you buy your film ticket on the night.

This is an informal opportunity for film lovers to get together each month at Birmingham’s prime multiplex cinema.

Most of the films have screenings starting between 5.45 & 6.30pm, so we will meet the coordinator in the Foyer and decide which films we want to see. We expect that most people will join the coordinator at a film that they recommend, however, you can see a different film if you wish and we can split into smaller groups so no one needs to sit alone. Once we’ve bought our tickets we have access to the cafe bar upstairs which we’ll use as our base before and after the films.

After our film, we can enjoy discussing what we’ve seen as a group of “Spice Critics”.

More details: directions and link the cinema programme can all be found in the online version of this writeup.

Cinema Nights - Rubery

.. an informal get together for film lovers th

Date: Fridays: 25 April, 30th May, 27th June, 25th July & 29th Aug 2014 Place: Empire Cinema, Great Park (B45 9FP) – see directions online Meet: Meet 7.30pm in foyer (Volunteer coordinator Rachel Reeve - 07530 721431) Extra: Pay for film ticket on the night This is an informal opportunity for film lovers in the Rubery area to get together each month at this excellent multiplex cinema. Most of the films have screenings starting around 8pm (or half an hour either way, so we will meet our coordinator, Rachel in the Foyer and decide which film to see. We expect that most people will join the coordinator at a film that she recommends, however, you can see a different film if you wish. If there is time, before and after the film we can use the nearby pub as our base and discuss our films together.

Battle of the Proms at Ragley Hall .. with Spitfire Flypast, Fireworks & Cavalry/ Infantry

Date: Saturday 16th August 2014 Place: Ragley Hall, Alcester (B49 5NJ) # Meet: From 4.30pm Cost: £32 Member, £37 Guest Enjoy the ultimate proms in the park: an exceptional celebration of soul-stirring classical music with breath-taking displays, picnics and an electric atmosphere with flag waving and singing under the stars!

4.30pm Gates Open: Before the entertainment begins, unpack the hampers and champers and take in the sights and sounds. Visit the Napoleonic re-enactors at their encampment, get in the party spirit as the warm-up act take to the stage.

5.50pm: Historical Cavalry Display: There’s a thundering of hooves as the mounted cavalry take you back in time demonstrating battlefield skill-at-arms with lances, pistols and superb horsemanship. This year the cavalry will be in First World War regalia to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the start of WW1.

6.30pm:The Rockabellas Take To the Stage: Billed as The Andrew’s sisters of today, The Rockabellas perform a range of music, from 40’s favourites to hits of today, in their distinct velvety tones.

7.25pm:The Evening Gun Salute: The gunners of the English Field Artillery Company herald the commencement of the evening’s musical programme with a volley of shots from an authentic WW1 field gun.

7.30pm until 10.30pm: The Musical Programme: The evening continues with an uplifting and inspiring celebration of soul-stirring classical favourites, performed by the New English Concert Orchestra, conducted by Douglas hosted by popular BBC presenter Coombes and Pam Rhodes.

The historic and unmistakable sound of the Spitfire engine rumbles overhead in accompaniment to the concert’s opening piece. This meticulously choreographed and tear-jerking aerial display is performed in the skies above the arena by Carolyn Grace in the legendary Grace Spitfire.

Our ‘first half’ finale is the rousing 1812 Overture by Tchaikovsky, performed in true Battle Proms style with a groundshaking percussion of cannon fire, serving as a pyrotechnical warm up to our signature piece: Beethoven’s ‘Battle Symphony’. We also get the traditional sing-along, flag-waving proms finale, including favourites Jerusalem, Rule Britannia, God Save the Queen and Land of Hope and Glory, culminating in a dazzling firework spectacular.

Cancellation Terms – Ticketed Events Please remember when booking any ticketed events in this section, that refunds on cancellations can only be offered if we resell

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A Female Perspective

.. 3 plays with Spices’ Di Pritchard in her professional debut!

Date: Saturday 12th April 2014 Place: Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Gt Hampton St (B18 6AD) Meet: 7.15pm to collect tickets for 7.45pm Cost: £8 Member, £10 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Death and the Maiden

.. a powerful drama - is Roberto innocent or guilty?

Date: Tuesday 13th May 2014 Place: Highbury Theatre, Sutton Coldfield (B73 5HD) Meet: 7pm to collect tickets for 7.30pm Cost: £12 Member, £14 Guest includes booking fees & Spice Coordinator Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Lord of the Flies (Matthew Bourne) .. a chilling, beautiful & hugely entertaining ballet

Date: Wednesday 14th May 2014 Place: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street (B5 4TB) # Meet: 7.00pm for 7.30pm Cost: £36.50 Member, £38 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Jon Richardson: Nidiot

.. enjoy the sublime comedy of this rising superstar Date: Thursday 22nd May 2014 Place: Warwick Arts Centre, Coventry (CV4 7AL) # Meet: 7.30pm for 8pm Cost: £23 (£25 Guest) Includes booking fees & Spice Coordinator Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

One Man Two Guvnors

.. experience the National Theatre production th

Date: Tuesday 27 May 2014 Place: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street (B5 4TB) # Meet: 7.00pm for 7.30pm Cost: £34 Member, £36 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

La Fille Mal Gardee

.. funny, tender & true. A lovely ballet th

Date: Thursday 12 June 2014 Place: Birmingham Hippodrome (B5 4TB) # Meet: 7.00pm for 7.30pm 'curtain up' Cost: £42.50 Member, £44.50 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Cancellation Terms – Ticketed Events Please remember when booking any ticketed events in this section, that refunds on cancellations can only be offered if we resell

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Crazy For You

.. the high energy Gershwin musical Date: Saturday 7th June 2014 Place: Crescent Theatre, Birmingham (B1 2JA) Meet: 7pm in bar to collect tickets for 7.30pm Cost: £16 Member, £18 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Mikado at the Blue Orange ..by Gilbert and Sullivan

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Date: Friday 13 June 2014 Place: Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Gt Hampton St (B18 6AD) Meet: 7.15pm to collect tickets for 7.45pm Cost: £10 Member, £12 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

She Stoops to Conquer .. oliver Goldsmith's classic comedy

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Date: Tuesday 17 June 2014 Place: Highbury Theatre, Sutton Coldfield (B73 5HD) Meet: 7pm to collect tickets for 7.30pm Cost: £12 Member, £14 Guest includes booking fees & Spice Coordinator Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Show Boat

.. Cape Town Opera come to Birmingham th

Date: Friday 4 July 2014 Place: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street # (B5 4TB) Meet: 7.00pm for 7.30pm.

Cost: £34 Member, £36 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Wicked

.. an unforgettable, enchanting experience th

Date: Wednesday 16 July 2014 Place: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street (B5 4TB) # Meet: 7.00pm for 7.30pm Cost: £55 Member, £57 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

Cats

.. one purrfect musical! th

Date: Tuesday 16 September 2014 Place: Birmingham Hippodrome, Hurst Street (B5 4TB) # Meet: 7.00pm - 7.30pm.

Cost: £42 Member, £45 Guest Please find details of this and other 2014 productions on our website www.spicebham.com

**See further ahead online & book now for Jersey Boys, Paul Hollywood & Jimmy Carr** ______________________________ 68

Workshops & Talks Whether it is serious self development or serious fun that you’re after, here are a diverse range of opportunities to learn new skills.

Colour U Confident Workshop .. discover what you should be wearing!

Saturdays: 10 May or 12th July 2014 Rowden Drive, Solihull (B91 1UQ) # 9.30am for 9.45am - 1.00pm £60 (£65 Guest) PAID AS £10 (£15 Guests) deposit paid to Spice when you book, plus the balance of £50 paid on the day (Credit cards at a £2 supp. sorry) Do you want to know which colours make you look younger, healthier and slimmer? Then this workshop is for you.

Lesley Cox, Colour Me Beautiful consultant, will answer these questions and more. During this colour and make up session you'll discover why certain shades complement your unique colouring more than others and how to combine the colours that suit you in different ways. Each person attending will be individually analysed and made up with Colour Me Beautiful cosmetics. By the end of the workshop you'll have a wallet containing 30 fabric swatches to use as a guide when you shop, your own personalised make up prescription, listing your best cosmetic shades....and loads of confidence.

Shopping mistakes will become a thing of the past! Sounds like too good an opportunity to miss.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Drumming Experience for Beginners .. Spice help you realise another childhood ambition

Dates: Tuesday 15th April or Wednesday 18th June 2014 Place: Drum School, Lawley Middleway, Birmingham (B4 7XX) Meet: 7pm to 9pm session Cost: £19 Member, £21 Guest Do you ever find yourself bashing your table top with a couple of pencils as your favourite tune blasts out of your radio?

Maybe you’ve thought about playing the drums but never really pursued the idea… Well this is your chance to have a go in a small friendly group led by one of the Midland’s most experienced instructors. There has never been a better time to learn than now, with a wide range of cheap acoustic kits and realistic electric kits that can be played with headphones that don’t send the neighbours crazy! For this session however, you needn’t buy anything as all the equipment is provided.

Your instructor will guide you through the workings of the kit, how to sit at a drum kit and hold the sticks for ease of playing and then the fun begins as you learn to play your first rock beat! This session is a fun, hands on introduction. No experience is needed but a reasonable amount of fitness is required, also flat soled shoes are advisable.

Directions: The school is located near to the House of Drums at Professional Music Technology, only a 15-minute walk from both the Bullring shopping centre and Moor Street Station. There’s ample parking.

Breadmaking Workshop at Hindleys .. learn from Britain's award winning TV bakers

Wednesday 4th June 2014 10 Tamworth Street, Lichfield (WS13 6JJ) – Directions online 6.45pm for 7pm start (Ends around 10pm) £55 (£59 Guest) Includes: 3 hours hands on practical with demonstration from Duncan Hindley, All ingredients & equipment including aprons and hats Your delicious bread creations to take away. Full instruction & recipe cards Exclusive out of hours group arrangements for Spice Hindley’s Bakery is quite an institution and has been in the centre of historic Lichfield since 1893! Some of you may have seen them on TV last year taking the title of ‘Best Bakery in the West Midlands’ (Britain's Best Bakery - ITV). So we think we’ve found the very best people to teach us how to bake perfect bread!

We have arranged to be taught by Duncan Hindley himself, who is the fourth generation of Hindley Bakers and he has agreed to run a special, exclusive evening course just for Spice! We will learn basic bread making skills within an informal and friendly environment. The course lasts 3 hours and is suitable for beginners. They supply all ingredients & equipment, apron, hat and refreshments afterwards (tea or coffee).

The best bit!: Of course you take home 2 bags of your own bread, extra yeast, flour and instruction sheet!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Ukulele for Fun

.. have fun learning this popular instrument! th

Date: Sunday 8 June 2014 Place: Midlands Arts Centre (MAC), Performance Studio, Edgbaston (B12 9QH) Meet: 4pm to 6pm Cost: £18 (£20 Guest) includes ukuleles & instruction Ukelele playing is easy when you know how and very trendy at the moment due to the cult popularity of The Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain! It is also an instrument that is cheap, simple and a lot more portable than a guitar. So why not have some fun discovering what it’s all about with a fun group of Spice friends? Today we’ll have a go at playing the ukulele in an entirely unintimidating atmosphere. The session will start by explaining how to hold and strum the ukulele and then working on some simple chords. We can then play some tunes together. You don't need to be musical in any way or to be able to read music as you will be shown how it is done. A fun event that will make everyone smile.

Nine Steps to Happiness

.. another evening with "the happiest lady in the Midlands" Date: Thursday 26th June 2014 Place: Copthorne Hotel, Paradise Circus, Bham (B3 3HJ) – directions on website Meet: 7.30pm (ends 9.30pm) Cost: £8 Member, £12 Guest After an interview on BBC radio, Jules Mitchell was quoted as ‘The happiest woman in the Midlands!’

She’s now taken on the enviable task of spreading this happiness across the Midlands and is ready to empower us with her unique Happiness Formula. On the face of it, happiness might appear a bit of an odd subject for a Spice workshop, however, if you had to define the most important thing in life, I would guess that happiness would be at the top. So learning how to be happy is a pretty key life skill! Jules is now well known for her specialism in Laughter Therapy and how this can be combined with “Intentional Mindful Habits” to provide individuals with a regular “Blissapline”: a discipline of happiness. Jules introduces herself as a Director of Happiness; she is an experienced Happiness Coach, Laughter Therapist and trainer of Optimism & Positivity. She will be sharing with us her ‘9 Steps to Happiness’™ which is a unique program that is packed full of specific research and education on the new and evolving ‘Science of Happiness’ and Positive Psychology. This 1½ hour funshop provides exceptional optimism training that will guide participants through the many obstacles to happiness by providing them with a range of simple and easy processes that can be incorporated into daily life. A key aspect of Jules’ training is the understanding of how positive and negative emotions affect us and how we can use this knowledge to not only reduce the risk of stress, but also to raise our energetic vibrations.

There will, of course, be bucket loads of fun, laughter and inspiration that will ensure that the evening is one that you will be talking about for months to come! As Jules is a fully trained Laughter Yoga Leader and an Advanced Energy Practitioner, she will be sharing how these two modalities can be linked to raise our spirits on a daily basis.

Meeting your True Soul Mate

..a fun day learning how to find & attract someone special!

Date: Saturday 7th June 2014 Place: Arden Hotel, Coventry Road, by NEC (B92 0EH) – more details online Meet: 10.30am Cost: £49 (£55 Guest) includes teas/coffees & light lunch Candy Jannetta (pictured right), life and business coach will share her proven techniques developed over 5 years to “meet your true soul mate”. She has a very honest, lively and humorous presentation style which puts everyone at ease. She’s also gets positive feedback on her own true-life stories. She’s now very happily engaged but had been single for 13½ out of 17 of her adult years – so claims to have enough material to write a whole series of Sex & the City!”

Who should book? Today is aimed at men and women who: ● Haven’t yet met their soul mate and want to ● Are not willing to settle for second best ● Are driven by inspiration not desperation What will you get out of the day? ● An opportunity to meet and network with like-minded people ● Increased certainty and motivation to meet your soul mate ● New strategies for meeting and dating potential soul mates ● A fresh new outlook on relationships ● An action plan to follow through with ● Booklet and booklist What does the programme cover? ● Understanding what kind of soul mate you are ● Defining what you really want ● Overcoming barriers to meeting your soul mate ● Who you are currently attracting and why ● New strategies to attract your soul mate ● Handling rejection ● Creating an action plan to meet your soul mate 70

Fire Eating Workshop .. this one you've got to try!

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Date: Sunday 3 August 2014 Place: Woodlands Camp, Streetly, Sutton C'fld (WS9 0SH) # Meet: 10.30am for 11am start - Note later time Cost: £39 (£45 Guest). Extras: Just bring packed lunch, a towel and milk Bob the Fire Eater pioneered this classic event for Spice and taught a whole generation the joys of eating and breathing fire over a period spanning around 25 years of Spice history. Sadly Bob died in 2012 but his legacy remains in the happy faces of those members who have conquered this unique and dramatic skill. In memory of Bob we have created a new Fire Eating workshop with Blair, a performer who we believe to be the only person teaching the same techniques as Bob. Fire Eating & Breathing: This has got to be one of the Spice Classic Events. Go on, It Must Be On Your List of "Got to do's". If you are not sure about doing it then ask around and find out what a great day it is! Over 2000 Spice members have faced the challenge and swallowed fire - and the feedback forms tell us it's crazy - thrilling - adrenaline pumping and more - fire eating is one of our Classic Events that sets Spice and its members far above the mundane and gives you the chance to leave mediocrity behind and become extra-ordinary.

The morning session comprises a thorough programme of games and exercises done as a group, designed to boost confidence and team spirit, and to prepare members for the challenge of safely learning this dangerous and esoteric skill.

It's lots of fun but never the less taken seriously as danger is ever present, so no messing about on this one.

The day culminates in the incredible sight of all the team swallowing firebrands and for the grand finale - a team photo of everyone flame throwing! Are we mad - not when you know how!

The day doesn't just teach you a new party trick, but gives a mega boost to your confidence and self esteem, which lasts long after the event. A great event for new members to meet and 'bond' with others, and discover what Spice is all about.

Bob is also justifiably proud that he achieves an almost 100% success rate with members young and old! Because a lot of Spicers make Fire Eating their party piece, firebrands are for sale at a modest extra cost, so bring some cash!

You will need to wear loose old clothing with few buttons and buckles as possible, and not flimsy or flowing of course.

There is a lot of rolling around too (!) so old clothes you do not mind getting dirty or smelly. Also, bring along warm outdoor clothing/waterproofs just in case its bad weather when we are outside.

Each member must bring along the following: ● a full size bottle of white spirit or turps substitute ● a large old Towel ● a bottle of full fat milk (or flavoured milk) ● headbands if you have long hair ● packed lunch/ drinks ● a camera to record our achievements!

Please be aware that there are dangers/ hazards associated with this event. There’s a special disclaimer to sign on the day.

Makeover or Boudoir Photography Session .. don't you deserve a fantastic image?

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Saturday 26 April 2014 (Check for future dates online) Theo Georgio, Gracechurch Centre, Sutton (B72 1PH) 2 hour timeslot to be arranged with you £19 (£25 Guest) Includes: Make up, hair styling 1 print (further prints can be purchased) Extras: Studio will ask for a £20 security deposit when they call to confirm your timeslot. This is returnable & just to ensure you don’t miss the appointments Whether you want a fabulously flattering picture for your wall, your Facebook account, or for family and friends, this is a great way to boost your confidence by discovering just how beautiful you really are with the help of experts.

We are very pleased with this special Spice arrangement with our friends at Theo Georgio. The photographer is a very talented and creative lady who will work with you to get exactly what you want from the day.

For a very modest price, you get all of the following: ● Bucks fizz on arrival ● Session with make up artist ● Session with hair stylist (not washed or cut) ● Selection of studio portraits with 3/4 changes of clothing & backgrounds ● One free print and the opportunity to buy others that you like.

How it works: Once you have booked your date with Spice, we will pass your contact details to the studio who will call you to arrange the most convenient time. Sessions are 2 hours in total (1 hour makeover & 1 hour photography) and Spice timeslots start 1 per hour. The studio will also discuss what type of look you want to achieve. At the end of your shoot the studio will arrange a mutually convenient time for you to come back and view your pictures. At the viewing appointment your £20 viewing deposit is returned (or you might wish to put it towards buying extra pictures).

On the day: Just turn up with your favourite outfits and accessories, be this lingerie, nightwear, bags, boots, jewellery etc.

Other Spice members will be made up as you are being photographed (and vice versa) but you may not come into contact with the others – this is a treat for you rather than a group activity.

Note: In booking this event you agree to us passing your contact details directly to the studio.

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Pottery Workshop

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Date: Sunday 6 April 2014 Place: Liz Monk Studio Pottery, Nr Bromsgrove (B61 0QG) – directions online Meet: 11.00am (ends 4pm) Cost: £45 (£49 Guest) includes materials, firing, tea & cake Liz Monk Studio Pottery & Gallery is situated on a picturesque traditional farm courtyard, set in the north Worcestershire countryside. Manor Farm is a working farm, where the Monk family have lived and made their livelihood for the past 35 years. The traditional farm buildings have been sympathetically converted into a pottery studio and gallery, to accommodate the next generation of the Monk family’s passion for contemporary British Crafts.

Liz has worked in the craft pottery sector since she graduated in 1996 with a ceramic design degree. During this time she has trained with some of the leading names in ceramics today, both from the UK and Japan. This has included completing a four and a half year pottery apprenticeship. In 2002 she was awarded the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship for her achievements in the craft sector. The entire pottery production process is carried out on the farm by Liz, from making the clay body to firing the finished pieces in her large gas kiln. Join in one of the pottery workshops, where Liz will teach us a range of pottery techniques, including throwing on the potter's wheel and hand-building skills, such as slabbing and coiling. Sessions are tailored to the individual needs and requirements of the group, whether you are an absolute beginner or if you wish to build on existing skills. The cost includes pottery materials and the firing of items made on the course, ready for collection at a later date – as well as a refreshing tea break and yummy home-made cake!

Keep Calm & Carry On with Sheila

.. overcome the obstacles to a happy & successful future!

Date: Sunday 20th July 2014 Place: The Arden Hotel, Coventry Rd by NEC (B92 0EH) Meet: 10.30am start (Finish around 4.30pm) Cost: £45 (£49 Guest) includes coffees/teas & light buffet lunch As time moves on there’s more pressure than ever from the outside world. The reality is you can’t change things that are out of your control but you can change how you feel about them and how they affect you. This workshop is all about maintaining your Mental Health regardless of what is going on around you!

This workshop will give you tips and techniques towards: • Handling stress • Developing Self confidence • Managing your thoughts (C.B.T. Techniques) • Work/ Life Balance • .. and of course – Having Fun! For those have been on a Mind Management Workshop with Sheila this workshop has new tools and techniques to help you achieve and maintain the life you want.

Sheila is a Qualified Counsellor with 4 and half years of training. She has a private practice in Birmingham. During her counselling training she realized that the only thing stopping her from achieving her goals was her own negative thoughts.

She has broken through this cycle and is ready to pass on her techniques to others who want to make changes to their life.

She runs Personal development Workshops and Courses all over the UK. She is also a stand-up Comedienne and performs in her own one woman shows. She is very passionate about people achieving their goals and breaking through their own limitations. She believes no matter what age you are, who you are, you have the potential to feel fantastic about yourself and to live an amazing life.

For Further details and to see Sheila being interviewed on ITV feel free to check out www.mindmanagementforyou.com

Ten Things Everyone Should Know about DIY .. an enlightening look at DIY that could save you a fortune!

Date: Sunday 8th June 2014 Place: The Arden Hotel, Coventry Road (by NEC) (B92 0EH) – see directions online Meet: 10.30am to approx 1.30pm Cost: £10 Member, £12 Guest Martin Grogan is a TV DIY personality, FreeIndex’s most highly rated handyman and the founder of the UK Guild of Handymen. This morning he will cover the DIY basics in a hands-on and informal session he will expose the mystical trade talk used by professionals in their attempts to justify big bills. He'll explain in layman's terms what goes where and why in the home and aim to make all DIY things idiot-proof even for the most enterprising. There will be demos, time to figure out how items work and an opportunity to have a go. There will also be a time for Q&A 72

Stained Glass Workshop

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Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Saturday 17 May 2014 Rock, Nr Kidderminster (DY14 9TH) # 10am to 4.30pm £95 (£100 Guest) PAID AS £15 (£20 Guest) deposit to Spice to book PLUS balance of £80 to supplier on the day. Incl: instruction, materials, drinks & a masterpiece to take home We’ve linked up with The Stained Glass Academy who offer leaded glass tuition and workshop courses, teaching beginners and intermediates the art of leaded glass. Under expert guidance you will create your own beautiful object in stained and leaded glass. You will learn how to cut glass, with straight lines, fun curves and shapes before designing your masterpiece. We will be making beautiful light catchers, so you can choose the shapes and colours yourself. Next you will make a pattern, which can be your own design. Then it's time to choose the glass with its various colours and textures and cut the glass to your pattern before fixing it all together. The medium that we will be using is Copper foil, this is used for more intricate work such as Tiffany lamps and panels and is ideal for the delicate light catchers. You will be shown how to wrap each piece of your glass in Copper foil and place them over your pattern. You are now ready to be taught the art of soldering and be shown how to solder all the pieces together. Finally, with a bit of antiquing and buffing your masterpiece will be complete. This beautiful and individual piece of Artwork is then yours to take home.

Tea, coffee and biscuits are included in the day however you will need to bring a packed lunch.

Don't Diet - Change the way you Eat .. discover the best food for fitness & health

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Date: Saturday 10 May 2014 Place: The Arden Hotel, Coventry Road by NEC (B92 0EH) Meet: 10.30am to approx 3.30pm workshop Cost: £49 (£55 Guest) for max 12 people.

Incl: Light sandwich lunch & 2 x coffees and a one to one follow up call with Bev Would you like to lose weight and keep it off? ● Do you find yourself on a diet every few months, and then regain what you’ve lost? ● Or do you feel tired, and lack energy most days? ● Would you like to feel great by improving your eating?

If you said yes to either of the above then this workshop is for you. The focus will be on healthy eating, not dieting. The aim is for you to make sustainable changes to what, where, when & how you eat. By making the changes you will feel fitter, be healthier, have more energy and lose some weight! Bev Brammer, a qualified nutritionist doesn’t believe in diets – she believes in developing a healthy relationship with food to enable you to have increased energy levels and to feel fantastic! Bev has had great success in helping her clients achieve their goals, and will inspire you to make healthy changes to your every day diet. Most people don’t understand why they eat what they eat, and why they make the choices they do. Others are confused by the amount of conflicting information out there – the diet industry bombards us every day with new ideas. On the day Bev will help you to understand: ● Why diets don’t work long term ● What foods cause weight gain/cravings ● What is healthy eating ● How to achieve the changes – turning bad habits in to good ones ● Setting your goals ● How to PLAN for success – one of the main keys to achieving your goals More Info: This is an edited writeup, for the full writeup and for directions to the hotel, see the online version.

Makeup Skills Lesson with Esther Marie .. be more confident when you apply your makeup

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Date: Sunday 18 May 2014 Place: Spice Office, 6A Burnett Rd, Streetly (B74 3EJ) – see details online Meet: 3pm to 7pm (note later start this time) Cost: £26 Member, £29 Guest includes teas/ coffees & biscuits Do you dread the thought of applying your own makeup? Feel uncomfortable going in to the cosmetics department to ask for help? Unsure where to start and what colours to use? Have lots of questions but not sure who to ask...?

In a relaxed and small group learn the basic makeup skills that will get you feeling confident on how to apply your own make up and look your best. Esther Marie has over 24 years in the makeup industry and knows the simple make up application the techniques to get you started. In the 4 hour workshop you will apply your own make up as well as having Esther to follow and help at any point you feel you need it. Included in the workshop you will learn: How to choose the correct foundation shade; The importance of “less is more!”; Changing your look from natural daytime to evening; working with features and face shape to enhance your best features; how to correct mistakes without removing it all.

A wide range of makeup and skincare products will be provided from a wide range of top cosmetic companies. However please bring your makeup bag if you would like advice on the products you are currently using.

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Everyday Hairstyling & Makeup Lesson .. achieve that just stepped out of the salon look at home

Date: Wednesday 21st May 2014 Place: Shear Success Clarence Rd, Sutton Coldfield (B74 4LT) Meet: 7pm for 7.15pm Cost: £5 Member, £8 Guest You know the feeling you bounce out of the hair salon feeling wonderful, two days later you wash and dry your hair yourself and it looks nothing like it did two days ago when you left the salon.

Join the Shear Success team for a relaxed evening where we will discuss the perfect hairstyle to suit your faceshape and show you hints and tips to enable you to get the most from your particular haircut. If you have long hair they can show you easy ways to achieve an 'up do' for both day and night. Bring along the tools you currently use or can't use! To perfect your look the make up artists will then show you how to apply make up for a perfect daytime finish.

Pamper Evening at Shear Salon & Spa .. a night of pampering

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Date: Wednesday 16 July 2014 Place: Shear Success Clarence Rd, Sutton Coldfield (B74 4LT) Meet: 7pm for 7.15pm Cost: £5 (£8 Guest) Incl: canapés, glass of bubbly, and two mini pampering treatments Join the Shear Success team for a night of pampering, enjoy canapés and a glass of bubbly, then choose two of the following mini pampering treatments, mini facial, mini massage, mini manicure, mini pedicure, threading, spray tan, head shoulder and neck massage, hand and arm massage, hair style or colour consultation, hair styling including a hair styling lesson, make up lesson. Take home a goody bag of mini products including money off vouchers.

Find My Past - Family History Evening .. an evening with the Mormon experts

Date: Thursday 19th June 2014 Place: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Coulter Family in the 1930’s (and no .. I’m not on it!)

Penns Lane, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield (B76 1JU) Meet: 7.30pm to approx 9pm Cost: Free The Mormons (or to be correct, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints) are the undisputed experts when it comes to tracing our ancestors. At our recent "Behind the Scenes" at the church, a lot of people expressed interest in knowing more about this area of their work and the billions (yes, literally) of records that they hold. So we have persuaded Keri to put on a very special evening for us. There are vast resources as the church runs the website www.familysearch.org and shares information in partnership with www.ancestry.co.uk This evening we have an opportunity for you to bring some family history information with you and to let the volunteers help you to find your ancestors. We have a variety of resources including FamilySearch, Ancestry and Find My Past.st: Important: This is a free event, but you must be pre booked in order to attend. Arranging this type of event is very dependent on goodwill. Therefore, we ask that if you book you do turn up on the day (or let us know in good time if you can't make it) and that you are respectful to our hosts and their traditions (whether or not you agree with them).

More: On the online version of this writeup you will find directions and also a link to a fascinating video.

Wildflower Wander

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Date: Saturday 14 June 2014 Place: RSPB Middleton, Nr Tamworth (B78 2AE) – directions online Meet: 10.30am (Ends 12.30pm) Cost: £13.50 (£16 Guest) Incl: refreshments, specialist guide & entrance fee Enjoying beautiful British meadows, woodlands and wetlands we'll be joining naturalists to search out and identify many of the different varieties of wildflowers found at this time of year. Wear clothes and boots suitable for muddy paths.

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Just let us know and we’ll send you a VAT receipt so you can claim it back

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Blacksmithing Evening .. learn a new skill with friends

Wednesdays: 7th May or 2nd July 2014 (We also have a stage 2 workshop in August for those who want to learn more – see online Place: Ashbrook House, Lichfield (WS14 9QJ) – directions with on line writeup Meet: Choose 6.30pm or 8.30pm Slot Cost: £12 (£14 guests) PAID AS £2 (£4) deposit to Spice to book PLUS balance of £10 to supplier on the day. Incl: equipment & materials. Your masterpiece to take home This is a simple, fun evening with a Blacksmith around his country forge where he manufactures a range of beautiful objects such as iron gates, decorative ironwork and even the candlesticks for Lichfield Cathedral! Each small group of Spice members will be issued with safety equipment including leather aprons before a full safety briefing. We will then be taught how to work hot metal with hammer and tongues on the anvil. There will be demonstrations before we get to make an item ourselves. Each session lasts a couple of hours, after which there’s the Shoulder of Mutton just across the road!

Time Slots: We can only take 6 around the forge at a time (you can’t have too many irons in the fire as they say!), so have planned 2 groups of 6 people. Please choose 6.30pm or 8.30pm when you book.

Date:

Oil Paint in a Day

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Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Saturday 26 April 2014 Friends Meeting House, Sandhills Road, Barnt Green (B45 8NR) # 9.45 to 4pm £55 (£60 guests) PAID AS £7 (£12 Guests) deposit to Spice PLUS £48 directly to supplier on day (by cash or cheque). Includes all materials Josephine Lloyd is a qualified Bob Ross Oil Painting Instructor running one day painting workshops that give absolute beginners the opportunity to learn new skills and have fun creating a fantastic picture in their very first class. If you’ve always wanted to paint in Oils but did not know where to begin this is a great way to start. This time the subject is “Painting the Autumn Landscape”. Workshops have a maximum of 8 students so everyone is guaranteed individual attention and all materials and equipment are provided - all you need to bring is a lunch and the desire to paint! You’ll go home with a finished picture that is ready to hang on the wall! We will all be painting the same landscape.

Acting for Beginners Workshop .. the first stage on the way to your Oscar!

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Date: Sunday 11 May 2014 Place: Blue Orange Theatre, 118 Gt Hampton Street, Jewellery Quarter (B18 6AD) Meet: 11.00am (ends approx 3pm) Cost: £39 Member, £42 Guest Always wanted to know what it's like to be an actor? Wanted to try it but were just a little nervous? Want to have fun, build confidence and make new friends? Hosted by Acting Coach Tracey Street, this beginner's workshop will cover anything from basic acting technique to character creation to ensemble work, in a supportive, relaxed environment.

The Blue Orange Theatre: For detailed driving and public transport details, see the on line version of this write up.

Cupcake Easter Decorating Workshop .. join the cupcake revolution!

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Date: Saturday 19 April 2014 Place: Middleton Hall, between Sutton Coldfield & Tamworth (B78 2AE) Meet: 10.45 for 11am start (finish at 1.30pm) Cost: £39 (£42 Guest). Includes tea/coffee & cakes to take home Under close instruction from Sarah, we decorate 12 cupcakes to perfection that we can take away and show off to our friends! Sarah will make the cakes for you before hand and you don't need to take anything with you as she supplies it all. This Easter themed workshop is suitable for complete beginners or those with some cake decorating experience. You’ll decorate 12 cupcakes with Easter themed designs.

What’s the # ?

If a location is followed by an # it’s secret Spice code that means you are going to receive further joining details nearer the time.

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Mosaic Making Day

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Date: Sunday 20 July 2014 Place: Bank Gallery, Kenilworth (CV8 1LY) # Meet: 10.00am - 4.30pm Cost: £60 paid as £5 deposit to Spice when booking & £55 direct to Helen on the day Incl: All materials, close instruction, tea, coffee & biscuits Join a talented local artist for a fantastic day learning the skills of the mosaic maker with Helen Clues. To see some examples of work visit the gallery at her website at www.Helenclues-artist.co.uk We’ll spend the day exploring this amazing craft, and be warned it is highly addictive and absorbing! All materials are included. Lots of different projects for you to choose from and a beautiful array of tiles and mixed materials. Cost includes all drinks and cake! Numbers are limited to ensure you get the most out of your day. We’ll be working in the beautiful setting of the Old Bank Gallery, High street, Kenilworth. Ample free all day parking, pubs and restaurants.

Inspirational Suppers

.. meet amazing people who have followed their dreams Place: The Arden Hotel, Coventry Road (by NEC) (B92 0EH) Meet: 7.30pm Cost: £15 (£18 Guest) includes meal, speaker & Spice coordinator In the course of running a Spice Group we come into contact with some amazingly inspirational people. People who have shunned the mundane and ordinary to follow their greatest dreams. We have decided to showcase some of our favourites in a series of sociable evenings that include a talk, a meal and time to mix with other positive minded Spice members who want to say “yes” to all that life has to offer.

Supper 2 – Jerry Kent & Lisa Holyhead “1 Land Rover, 2 Spice Members, 3 Years & 70,000 Miles around Africa” Date: Wednesday 2nd April 2014 Meal: Thai Curry Note: Cost includes donation to Nyika-Vwaza Trust, where Jerry & Lisa worked in Malawi Many of us remember Jerry and Lisa as Spice members before they decided to leave us for an incredible journey. This is the presentation they have given at The Royal Geographical Society in London and are now sharing with us.

Have you ever dreamed about packing in your job and heading off to explore remote and exotic places? What was planned as a short career break, turned into an epic three year journey by Land Rover including a year managing a huge, mountainous and remote national park in northern Malawi. They also spent many months photographing the wildlife, people and scenery of Africa and the Middle East as they slowly made their way home to the UK in their trusty old Land Rover. Whether you want practical advice on how to plan your own adventure, are looking for tips on planning a safari or photographing animals in the African bush or just want to enjoy some stunning pictures and fascinating stories from two intrepid Spice members and their three years on the road, this should be an amazing evening.

Supper 3 – Maria Tucker: The Truth in Me “they said she would never walk again and never have children .. Maria knew different!”

Date: Monday 9th June 2014 Meal: Fish & Chips In the course of running a Spice Group we come into contact with some amazingly inspirational people. People who have shunned the mundane and ordinary to follow their greatest dreams. We have decided to showcase some of our favourites in a series of sociable evenings that include a talk, a meal and time to mix with other positive minded Spice members who want to say “yes” to all that life has to offer.

Having struggled through what most of us could only describe as a very unfortunate series of events, Maria Tucker knows a thing or two about what it takes to turn things around and live the kind of fulfilled life that we all want and deserve. After suffering a life-jolting and debilitating injury, Maria was forced to find the resilience to rebuild her body and her life to raise her young daughter alone. On her journey she came to find the truth about who she really was and discover her purpose in life. She now helps others to find their own truth and purpose, to feel enlightened and to grow as human beings.

Maria loves to share her Truth so that others can see theirs too.

Maria has inspired many with her story and hopes to write it as a book one day! We hope that Maria will inspire you with strategies of visualization that will help you find your success in any area of your life.

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Jewellery Making with Beads

.. create unique earrings, bracelets and necklaces to take away!

Date: Saturdays: 12th April or 14th June 2014 Place: Hylton Street, Jewellery Quarter (B18 6HN) – directions on website Meet: 10.30am - 1.30pm Cost: £29 Member, £32 Guest Another special Spice opportunity to get creative with an expert! You may want to make unique presents, but then again, you might decide to keep them for yourself!

This is a great training studio with one of the most enthusiastic instructors (Estelle) we’ve ever discovered! We get all the equipment we need (including thousands of beads!) plus expert tuition and style advice. We will have time to create 2 items to take home from a selection of necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Our special price includes 3 hours tuition, materials and light refreshments. All you need to bring is your enthusiasm and willingness to let your creativity run riot! We have max 8 places, so if you want to try something creative, therapeutic and fun… get your booking in quick!

Sewing Class with Jenni from BBC's Sewing Bee .. experience the joy of needlework with a sewing star!

Saturday 19th April 2014 DC Nutt Sewing Machines, 55 Park Rd, Bloxwich, Walsall (WS3 3SS) 10am (finish around 4pm) £35 (£38 Guests) paid as £4 (£7 Guests) deposit to Spice to book plus balance of £31 to Jenni in cash on the day.

Spice are in contact with Jenni Taylor who is currently (at time of writing) on TV in BBC’s Great British Sewing Bee with regard to her running Spice Workshops in the future. To see what her workshops are like and test the interest in needlecraft, we have taken just 2 places on this workshop which is shared with public bookings.

The Workshop: The title for today is “Upcycle / Recycle - Tablet or Ipad cover”. As well as having fun and learning new skills, you will end up with an original and one of a kind, up-cycled gift or a little something for yourself! Sewing machines and full instruction is provided.

What to bring:. No experience necessary, just remember to bring your rags! Suggested items to bring are clean old jeans, t-shirts, bed sheets and pillow cases, curtains etc, along with any bits and bobs like buttons, ribbon or anything that you wish to add. Remember to take measurements of your tablet or Ipad, or bring it along to the session Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Introduction to Sculpture .. learn a new skill

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Date: Saturday 26 April 2014 Place: Kairos Sculpture, Stourbridge # (DY8 4HF) Meet: 10.00am - 1.00pm Cost: £40 (£42 Guest) paid as deposit of £5 (£7 Guest) PLUS £35 balance on the day Incl: All materials, tools, equipment. tuition and instruction.

Have fun and learn a new skill through stone carving with Philip Potter, on this introductory half day taster session. The workshop will be hosted at the Kairos Sculpture studio situated behind the New Ruskin Glass Centre. Philip will host a hands on class beginning with the basic tool skills needed for letter-cutting, leading to pattern-making and 3D sculpture.

No previous experience is required. You will be taught techniques in carving from start to finish. Sessions can be tailored to each participant's entry level of skill and needs from the very beginning. During the session, Philip will introduce the materials and tools with a brief history of the local stone reserves in the area. Individuals are presented with a block of Portland limestone (half the size of a breeze block or 6 - 7 Kg's) on a bench. We start with letter-cutting, progressing on to relief carving. You will be asked to produce your own designs and creative input is encouraged. For half day taster sessions, letter cutting will enable you to get the feel for the tools and the material. You will also have the opportunity to proceed to relief carving. By the end of the session, you will have created your own sculpture to take home and enjoy.

Please wear strong boots with hard toe caps (walking boots are acceptable) - aprons, masks, goggles will be provided.

You are welcome to bring along any images or sketches and so forth for ideas and inspiration.

A Spice Newsletter is just a Snapshot in Time

We’re busy booking new events all the time so please check our schedules on line at www,spicebham.com so you don’t miss a thing. We also update members on a weekly basis with out “Weekly Bulletin” by email and via our Facebook Page.

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Binning the Stress .. and getting your life back

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Date: Saturday 10 May 2014 Place: Arden Hotel, Coventry Road, by NEC (B92 0EH) Meet: 9.45am for 10am to approx 4.30pm Cost: £49 (£55 Guest) Includes: teas/ coffees & light buffet lunch The aim of this day is to gain an understanding of stress and learn how to manage or clear its effects with Energy Psychology and other techniques. We are told the less stressed we are the better we tend to perform in our lives, the happier we are and the easier life will treat us. However, we live in a world with high expectation, let alone the one's we put upon yourselves, that have us running around at a million miles an hour. Busy lives and these high expectations can reap havoc upon us and consequently our stress levels. We experience stress in lots of areas from work, relationships, bringing up children, finding a jobs to dealing with life's every day challenges. Sadly, the more we stay in stressful experiences, the more it can have an effect on the body and ultimately our health. One effective method to reduce the symptoms of stress and its effects is to use energy psychology. It is an extremely effective therapeutic technique to clear the emotions that affect us and it is simple to learn and easy to use, where ever you are!

During this event we’ll: ● Learn the triggers to stress and its effects on your mind, body & behaviours ● Identify some of your stress triggers and what you can do to clear or reduce them ● Understand how our thinking and beliefs can trigger a stress response ● Gain an understanding of our energetic connections to the world & life ● Learn about energy psychology and how it works ● Experience how to reduce or clear stress symptoms with Energy Psychology ● Have some fun!

This is an experiential day with a combination of talks and group exercises. You will have the opportunity to look at some of your stress triggers and use the Energy Psychology techniques to either dissolve them or reduce their effects. The aim is to make this a fun event and give you the tools to be more able to deal with your daily stress triggers. Bring with you an open mind and a pen and pad, also four or five areas, situations or activities that you find stressful and would like not too!

Your Facilitator: Roy Martin MBE has worked in the field of Personal and Business Development for many years. He is an inspirational speaker and facilitator whose approach helps people gain a deeper understanding of their innate abilities, potentials and motivations. His gentle style comes from a deep and compassionate understanding of humanity.

Indian Head Massage Workshop .. make yourself a very popular person!

Date: Sunday 11th May 2014 Place: Arden Hotel, Coventry Road, by NEC (B92 0EH) – directions on our website Meet: 10.30am to 4.00pm Cost: £39 (£42 Guest) includes teas/coffees & sandwich lunch This is a real treat. The aim of the workshop is to introduce you to the basic skills of this ancient therapy in a practical manner (practicing on each other), and give you the chance to familiarise yourself with some of these skills. You should finish the day feeling a whole lot better! You don't need any prior experience, but any of you who have attended a massage workshop before will know you're in for a real indulgence. It is a simple, highly beneficial therapy which is popular throughout the Indian sub-continent. Massage of the scalp, face, neck and shoulders soothes, comforts and rebalances the energy flow to produce a feeling of peace, well being and tranquillity. It not only relieves stress, but also stimulates the scalp, helps eliminate muscular tension and is incredibly relaxing. As this massage can be done fully clothed, with or without oils and in a sitting position it is an excellent form of massage for those who do not like oils, or are unable to lie down, and what's more it can be done anywhere anytime! The idea is that you have lots of fun, and an enjoyable day learning, receiving and giving this relaxing style of massage. You'll also be ready to try out your new found skills on your friends, family and work colleagues, which should make you extremely popular! Just bring a small pillow or cushion, an old towel and hairbrush to repair your hair after! We suggest non-restrictive clothing, preferably a short sleeved/vest top.

Medical Notes: Please check the listing on the event writeup on our website at www.spicebham.com if you think you might have a medical condition or situation that could prevent you taking part.

Ruth Hickinbotham is our expert for today. A fully qualified Advanced Reflexologist and Remedial Massage Therapist.

Booking a Workshop for Business?

Just let us know and we’ll send you a VAT receipt so you can claim it back

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NLP for Beginners

.. what you can achieve with Neuro Linguistic Programming?

Date: Sunday 11th May 2014 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off the A4097 between Kingsbury and J9 of M42 (B76 0BY) Meet: 10.30am Cost: £49 Member, £55 Guest includes coffee’s/ teas & light sandwich lunch What a great way to develop your communication skills! Ever wanted to achieve rapport really, really quickly....then go onto to influence them? Well NLP gives you the skills to improve the way you talk, behave and use your body language to interact with others successfully. You've heard the name - you may have seen the results in someone you know, now is your chance to feel what its like! NLP is about modeling excellence, about understanding how to integrate whatever you want to into your life. Come with a characteristic or behaviour of someone that you admire to play with and model during the day. The results can be truly amazing!  You will learn all about controlling your state (positive vs negative)  Use physical state modelling(using body language to influence)  Use emotional state modelling(changing the way you feel to get energized)  Learn what the right type of questions are that get results(for yourself & others)  Get a chance to try out the principles in real-time(fun exercises to do) This is one of a series of self development workshops designed exclusively for Spice by Richard Bisiker (pictured), a management trainer, manager, coach and author of the book “More of What You Want”. His wide experience is the culmination of working with people in a wide variety of businesses over the last ten years.

Digital Photography for Beginners .. learn the secrets of success!

Date: Saturday 24th May 2014 Place: Fotofilia Studio, Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham (B1 3NS) Meet: 10am to 3pm Cost: £29 Member, £35 Guest As it “says on the tin”, this is a back-to-basics introduction to digital photography, with top professional photographer, David Rann. Whether you’ve just bought your first digital camera and find yourself baffled by all the buttons and the unintelligible manual, or you’re someone with a grounding in photography looking to improve or refresh your skills, this 5 hour workshop combines classroom-based introductions and practical assignments, with guidance always on hand if needed. Any digital camera will be fine for today although the more manual control your camera allows, the better.

As well as the studio based sessions, we will go out into the Jewellery Quarter which has lots of great location possibilities including an atmospheric graveyard. There will be a half an hour for a lunch break (lunch not provided) One model will be provided per eight participants. For more information on David visit www.davidrannphoto.com Directions: Fotofilia’s new premises is in Regent Parade, off Caroline Street, just uphill from St. Paul’s Square.

Enamelling for Beginners

.. make yourself a unique piece of jewellery th

Date: Saturday 24 May 2014 Place: Honeycomb Crafts, Curborough Hall Farm, Watery Lane, Lichfield (WS13 8ES) Meet: 2pm - 4.30pm Cost: £35 (£40 Guest) paid as deposit of £5 (£10 Guests) PLUS £30 balance on the day Incl: All materials, and close instruction. Tea/Coffee & Biscuits and your work to take home The ancient craft of enamelling hasn’t changed much since it was first used around the time of the ancient Egyptians.

Today many metals can be enamelled including copper, silver and gold. Copper is still the cheaper of the metals and is a good starting base for the first time enameller. We will be taught how to clean the metal ready for enamelling and how to lay the enamel powder onto the metal ready for firing. Many techniques can be used once the enamel has reached the melting stage. We will learn some of the best so we can acheive beautiful designs.

You will leave with a beautiful piece of jewellery to take away and wear with pride.

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Finding Your Dreams .. so what's yours?

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Date: Saturday 14 June 2014 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off A4097 nr Coleshill (B76 0BY) Meet: 9.45am - 10.00am until 4.30pm Cost: £49 (£55 Guest) Incl: Light snack at lunch and 2 x Teas/ Coffees during the day The aim today is to help you get clarity around your dreams and design a plan of action so you can work towards them.

Dreams come in all shapes and sizes but they come down to two types. Ones that usually want to solve a problem or situation and include things we want to have - extrinsic dreams. The others are how we want to be or something we would like to achieve in our life. These can be associated with strong urges, desires as if they really want to be in our lives intrinsic dreams. The intrinsic dreams are the ones which when acted upon tend to really change lives and the magic happens, everything seems to just fall into place when we begin to act upon the urges…as if they are fulfilling a real purpose in our lives. W will explore your dreams that seem to be calling you whatever they are, whether it's winning the lottery, running a business, changing career, helping people, creating a project or lying on 'your' island beach in the sun!

During the day we will: ● Explore what your dreams are and what they mean for you ● Get clarity and deeper understanding on one of your big dreams ● Gain an understand of what the impact of having and living this dream would be ● Look at the dream stealers and learn ways to stop them ● Create actions steps to work towards achieving your dream ● Develop a buddy group to help and support you on the dream journey ● Be inspired and Have some fun!

This is an experiential day with a mixture of talks, group and individual exercises. Bring with you an open mind; pen and pad, and a list of our dreams/things you would like to do, have or be!

Roy Martin MBE has worked in the field of Personal and Business Development for many years. He is an inspirational speaker and facilitator whose approach helps people gain a deeper understanding of their innate abilities, potentials and motivations. His style is both humorous and gentle and comes from a deep and compassionate understanding of humanity.

How to Make Friends & Influence People .. discover the secrets of a happy & productive life

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Date: Sunday 22 June 2014 Place: Lea Marston Hotel, just off A4097 nr M42 (B76 0BY) Meet: 10.30am - 4.30pm Cost: £49 (£55 Guest) including refreshments & light sandwich lunch An exciting day of discovery and fun, whilst improving your communication skills ten-fold.

This workshop with Richard Bisiker is a practical day with lots of group exercises so you’ll get to meet And learn about other Spicers. It is relaxed with lots of discussions and fun exercises. This is not a convenient way to categorise people, it is a discovery of how real people like you and me value what is around us, and what motivates us.

Knowing this, or even an educated insight gives you the ability to choose the best response to get the result you want.

We will cover: ● How to get out of sticky confrontation situations & turn it into collaboration; ● Understanding what motivates you and others at work, leisure, & home; ● An in-depth personality questionnaire ● How to get people to say “Yes” to your ideas; ● How to deal with difficult personalities ● Discover your own personality strengths and weaknesses & then how to develop them ● How to communicate with people who just don’t seem to be on your wave length

Chocolate Experience

.. become a chocolatier for the morning th

Date: Saturday 5 July 2014 Place: Strathallan Hotel, Hagley Rd, Birmingham (B16 9RY) Meet: 10.45 for 11am - 12.30pm Cost: £35 (£39 Guest) includes your very own chocolates to take home!

How does a morning or afternoon immersed in the delicious world of chocolate sound? Throughout this exclusive morning with a premier chocolate maker we will learn everything to know about chocolate with a little tasting along the way! This will be a hands on workshop creating Belgian truffles to take home. We will learn professional skills and techniques of chocolate work in an informal, fun way, including finishing and decorating your chocolates, wrapping and bagging them too. There will be an indulgent chocolate fountain to enjoy throughout. The techniques can then be carried over to kitchen work at home afterwards. All materials and protective aprons are supplied. Wear casual clothes – you will get chocolaty! ______________________________ 80

Weekends & Holidays

The following pages contain selected weekends & trips offered to our members.

Spice UK overseas trips are listed separately in the colour section of this Newsletter.

Bucharest & Transylvanian Experience .. an amazing trip including Dracula's Castle!

Friday 16 to Monday 19th May 2014 Bucharest, Romania # Gatwick Airport (Time TBA) £499 (£519 Guest) sharing twin. We can arrange shares or we have a few single rooms at £80 supplement (Deposit £140) Incl: Return flights from London Gatwick on a low cost airline, return transfers hotel, 3 nights with breakfast at the Novotel Bucharest City Centre Hotel, half day city coach tour of Bucharest including entrance into the Peoples Palace and full day coach excursion with guide to Transylvania to include visits to Peles Palace & Bran Castle. Spice Coordinator.

This is the very first Spice West Midlands trip to Romania and we know it will be popular. We have included a tour of Bucharest and also a day in Transylvania.

Bucharest itself holds lots of history and fascination. Known for its wide, tree-lined boulevards, glorious Belle Époque buildings and a reputation for the high life (which in the 1900s earned its nickname of "Little Paris"), Bucharest, Romania's largest city and capital, is today a bustling metropolis.

Amongst the places we will explore is The People’s Palace. Built by Communist Party leader, Nicolae Ceausescu, this is the second largest administrative building in the world after the Pentagon. It took 20,000 workers and 700 architects to build. The palace boasts 12 stories, 1,100 rooms, a 328-ft-long lobby and four underground levels, including an enormous nuclear bunker. You might remember watching BBC’s Top Gear racing around it’s underground tunnels!

Transylvania: We will spend one day exploring Transylvania on a coach trip. This area is home to some of Europe’s bestpreserved medieval towns and stunning castles. We will visit the incredibly atmospheric Bran Castle, near Brasov, - a Gothic fairy-tale structure, often associated with 15th century Walachian Prince Vlad Tepes and the inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula. While the connection with Vlad is tenuous, the deep bond of local villagers with the legend is not.

We will also visit Peles Palace located in Sinaia and considered by many one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe. It was the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs including King Carol I, who died here in 1914.

Exploring Together: Although much of our time is already planned, the coordinator will always have group options for the times in between. There’s also the opportunity to eat together as a group (there are great restaurants for us to discover).

The Hotel: Novotel Bucharest City Center is ideally located right in the heart of the city. The 4-star hotel is a striking architectuaral achievement in its own right! It offers lovely bars and terraces, a Wellness Centre with pool and free WIFI. Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Austrian Tyrol all-Inclusive Break .. a gloriously relaxing break in the mountains

Friday 19 - Monday 22nd September 2014 Kroneck Hotel, Kirchberg, Austria # **Please check online (flights are changing as we go to press and will alter costs, timings and possibly departure point** Flights, transfers, 3 nights' all inclusive accommodation; buffet breakfasts, packed lunches or Soup & salad buffet each day; 3 course dinners; speciality buffet or grill one night; afternoon tea & coffee with cake between each day; Unlimited house wine, beer and soft drinks between 10.00 - 22.00 each day; Free use of leisure facilities at the hotel (outdoor heated pool, sauna, whirlpool, Finnish sauna and steam bath); Full day guided coach excursion to Innsbruck which includes entrance to Tratzberg Castle; Services of Spice Coordinator throughout Extras: Travel insurance (available from Spice UK - visit www.spiceuk.com), Single room option £50 Nestling in the idyllic Austrian Tyrol, this is a beautiful place to relax and wander. It is a walker’s paradise if you wish, and as there is a network of lifts to take the strain, the mountains are accessible to all. Our hotel has a relaxing spa as well, so you may not want to leave – particularly as our “all inclusive” package includes foodand drink throughout our stay! We have a full day tour by the coach to the delightful town of Innsbruck. Other times we may wish to stay at Kirchberg to relax in the spa or make use of the lifts to discover the mountains. There is also the option of a visit Kitzbuhel by bus.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost: Incl:

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Hidden Italy - the Cinque Terre & Lucca .. experience this enchanting area of Italy!

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Date: Friday 3 - Monday 6th October 2014 Place: Palace Hotel, Viareggio, Italy # Meet: East Midlands Airport (Time TBA) Cost: £499 (£519 Guest) sharing or a few single rooms at £30 supp (Deposit £150) Incl: Flights, transfers, Dinner & Breakfast, welcome drink & Spice Coordinator Extra: Train: Day pass for Cinque Terre approx €10. Return Lucca/ Pisa approx €12 Precis: We have been keen to offer trip to The Cinque Terre for a very long time as it is a series of 5 seaside towns that are absolutely stunning. Just pop “Cinque Terre” into Google and take a look at some pictures if you don’t already know what I am talking about. We are based in an excellent hotel with a famous roof terrace. The package also includes dinner together each night. We explore each day using the train as the Cinque Terra can only be explored by boat, train or on foot.

Coach is not an option. The Spice Coordinator will also lead a trip to Lucca by train on another day.

The Cinque Terre National Park: (Pronunciation: Cheenkway - Tearr-ay) is a rugged portion of coast on the Italian Riviera in the Liguria region of Italy, to the west of the city of La Spezia. "The Five Lands" is composed of five villages: Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola, and Riomaggiore. The coastline, the five villages, and the surrounding hillsides are all part of the Cinque Terre National Park and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Over the centuries, people have carefully built terraces on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the sea. Small beaches, thousands of miles of dry-stone walls enclosing the terraces where vineyards are cultivated, the characteristic rural buildings, the medieval quarters, the sanctuaries, the panoramic trails over the sea and the slopes. If you consider the precious Ligurian wines, the fresh fish, the cuisine, and the traditional craftsmanship, you will appreciate the value of exploring this spectacular area. Hiking trails, trains and boats connect the villages. Cars cannot reach them.

Exploring Together: In the 2 full days we have we expect that most people will want to explore Cinque Terre for one day and Lucca for the other. In both cased we would use the train and the Spice Coordinator will accompany this “group option”.. However, if people want to spend 2 days exploring the Cinque Terre, perhaps hike the Cinque Terre rather than use the train, or substitute Pisa or even Florence for the Lucca day then all these things are possible either individually or within a smaller sub group. Train travel is cheap and efficient in Italy.

The Hotel: We’re delighted to be spending 3 nights with dinner and breakfast at the stunning Palace Hotel. It is a really atmospheric and stylish riviera hotel. It’s roof trerrace is particularly well known and is a great place to watch the sun set.

Notes: Holiday Insurance is compulsary: If you do not have your own policy, Spice UK can offer a policy to cover you.

Visit: www.spiceuk.com. Balance: Is due 12 weeks before departure. Deposit is non refundable upon cancellation. After balance due date, cancellations operate on a sliding scale provided in the Success Tours Terms & Conditions.

The tour operator we are using is Success Tours. We act as their agents and their terms and conditions apply This package is also ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority (ATOL 5114) Spice further protect your payments through our own Trust Accounts.

Krakow Discovery Break

.. enjoy the atmosphere of this incredible city! th

Date: Saturday 8 - Tuesday 11th November 2014 Place: Krakow, Poland # Meet: Birmingham Airport Cost: £439 (£459 Guest) sharing (Deposit £149) Includes: Flights from Birmingham, transfers to/from hotel, services of Spice Coordinator, 3 nights bed and breakfast in a 4 star centrally located hotel. Extras: Travel Insurance (if you do not have your own, Spice UK can offer this – visit www.spiceuk.com), meals (except breakfast). Single room option £80 (otherwise we will link twin shares). Any optional activities such as Auschwitz or Salt Mines excursions.

Krakow: The city survived the ravages of the last war, so its walled Old Town boasts some of the finest medieval buildings in Europe. For the greatest views of Krakow, we’ll no doubt stroll up Kosciuszki Mound in Salwator, a manmade mound built as tombs or pagan temples in the seventh century. Also, essential is Krakow's cathedral and fortified castle on Wawel Hill. Beautifully lit at night, they overlook the Wisla River on one side and the town on the other.

Exploring: The Spice Coordinator will arrange a programme of group options. There is no shortage of things to do, so you can opt in and out of the organised programme as you choose. We have not included any entry fees, travel fares or professional guiding (except for a guided walking tour on arrival). Within the city itself, there is lots to see: ● The synagogues of the Jewish Quarter and remnants of Krakow’s Ghetto; ● The magnificent town square (Europe’s largest!) including such Gothic and Renaissance treasures as the Church of St Mary, St Adalburts Chapel, The Cloth Hall and Christopher Palace ● The Cathedral and Castle on Wawel Hill and many other sights.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request 82

Belgian Beer Weekend

.. discover Brussels, Brugge & over 250 Beers! th

Date: Friday 5 Sep 2014 - Sun 7th Sep 2014 Place: Thon Hotel Brussels, Belgium # Meet: Coach - Sutton, City or NEC Cost: £199 (£219 Guest) Includes: Executive coach travel throughout; crossings by Eurotunnel from Folkestone to Calais, 2 nights accommodation with buffet style breakfast each morning. Visit to Brugge. Services of a Spice Coordinator throughout. Extra: Add £70 if you prefer a single room, otherwise we link shares. Meals other than breakfast. Travel Insurance (if you don’t have your own, Spice UK can offer this – visit www.spiceuk.com), meals (except breakfast).

Precis: A great social opportunity to join us and discover two atmospheric medieval cities and the most famous beer (and chocolate!) in the world. We are using executive coach and Eurotunnel crossings to make travel as easy as possible and are staying at a luxurious city centre hotel with a rooftop sauna!

Belgium Beer Weekend, Grand Place, Brussels: This is a fantastic festival and the location only makes it even better.

The exquisite Grand Place in Brussels has beer stands set up around the perimeter for the whole weekend. The weekend is organized by the Belgian Brewers and the Knighthood of the Brewers’ Mashstaff. The festival features over 225 beers from numerous regional brewers as well as many of the National brewers. Beer lovers gather from 6pm to 10pm on Friday and from 11am until 10pm on both Saturday and Sunday. Entry is free and beer tokens are sold at a rate of €3 for 4 tokens with beers costing 2, 3 or 4 tokens each (depending on the beer). Most stands are tended by the owners, brewers or employees of the respective stand. This allows for questions as to how the specific beers are brewed.

Excursions by Coach: During our stay, the coach is at our disposal although we do not expect to need it during our time is Brussels as everything is very walkable and we also have a Metro station outside our hotel. On Sunday we plan to use the coach for a visit to Brugge before continuing home.

Exploring: The Spice Coordinator will arrange a group itinerary that takes in an opportunity to explore the highlights of Brussels together and enjoy the beer festival. There is no shortage of things to do, so you can opt in and out of the organised programme as you choose.

Our Hotel: Thon Hotel EU is a four star hotel with 405 comfortable, modern, well equipped rooms.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Center Parcs Sherwood Forest W’end .. 2 parties .. sports .. dance classes & It's a Knockout!

Friday 20th - Monday 23rd June 2014 Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire (NG22 9DN) # Friday (check in from 3pm) £149 Sharing Twin/Dbl, £109 Sharing Bunk Room or £224 Sing Occ of Dbl Guest supplement £25. Deposit £50 Balance due 1/5/14 It’s a Knockout £25 (book separately) Our unmissable Summer Center Parcs Weekend is now a Spice institution - a brilliant weekend break with 2 great exclusive parties and as much sport or relaxation as you can cope with! Special this year is the return of It’s A Knockout on the Sunday, adding another brilliant fun event into the weekend. The sub tropical paradise is the centre of attraction with giant waves, water chutes, Jacuzzi’s, flumes, a thrilling wild water rapids ride, and much more. You can spend all day in the tropically heated 'dome', or move outdoors - tennis, squash, sailing, bikes, canoeing, gym, badminton, bowls, archery, - the list is endless...(you pay extra for these). There a few extra Spice Events organised by your local Spice Group like our Welcome Drinks Reception, BBQs, Badminton and Volleyball group sessions, ten pin bowling games, etc, to provide some great group focal points during the weekend. Or you can just choose to chill! Full details in your joining pack. We also have a fantastic Friday Night Welcome Disco to get the party started.

The Saturday has free Dance Classes– great for mixing and meeting people –this year we are running with 2 sessions each learning the dance steps of a different dance ready for your group ‘performance’ at the Disco in the evening. Sheena Brabazon is a regular dance leader for Spice and she will be showing you the moves for some wonderful great group sessions (no partner needed), including a Copa Cabana dance ready for an evening Flash Mob at the disco! Go along to just one or all and laughs are guaranteed! Numbers are limited to max 100 per session and will be on a first come basis.

On Sunday we have a very special optional event with our own Carnival themed It’s a Knockout – starting at 1200am at the Golf Driving Range. Massive bouncy inflatables, dressing up, bubbles, foam, water fights, races all in a thrilling atmosphere. Our supplier for this is ‘Knockout Challenge’, check out their website at http://www.itsaknockout.org.

Due to the additional cost (£5k!) to bring in this event, there is an additional cost of £25 per person to take part. Book it separately. Limited slots at 200, first come first served. This is only available to those who have booked the weekend!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost: Extra:

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request 83

Outdoor Digital Photography Weekend .. see what you can acheive with professional help!

Friday 11 - Sunday 13th April 2014 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £177 (£197 Guest) Deposit £35. Includes: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet/picnic lunches, 4 course evening dinner party and all instruction) Do you own a digital camera? Do you look at the pictures on the screen and your prints and think they’re ok, but they’re not really as you remember when you took the shot. Maybe you’re unsure about manual settings and prefer to leave it on the automatic setting rather than really knowing how to make the most of your camera and the location you’re in? This weekend aims to change all that. Amist beautiful scenery, we’ll get to grips with how your digital camera really works.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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New Members Welsh Cottage Easter Break .. a long weekend of classic Welsh walking & hospitality

Friday 18th - Monday 21st April 2014 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £169 (£189 Guest) Deposit £35. Includes: 3 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, And special 5 course Easter dinner with cheese & port. Extra: Lunches & pub meal on Sat OK, so you’ve joined Spice and now fancy booking a weekend but feel a bit nervous about it. This relaxed and welcoming break is for any one who’s new to Spice and feels a little daunted attending their first Spice weekend away, or other members looking for the cosy friendly atmosphere that Lluest Fach is renown for. This Easter break takes place at a secluded 16th Century stone farmhouse in the heart of the Welsh countryside with breathtaking views over the Cambrian mountains. This popular retreat is run by Sonya and Barry who are aware of how apprehensive anyone can be about spending a whole weekend with people they have never met. They have been looking after Spice members for over twenty years and are very experienced at making you welcome and putting you at ease.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Welsh Camping Long Weekend

.. a sociable party & activity weekend under canvas nd

Date: Friday 2 - Mon 5th May 2014 Place: Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # Meet: 5pm onwards Cost: £69 (£89 Guest), inc. Party with BBQ, Barrel of beer/ cider Extra: £16.00 for dormitory accom if preferred, otherwise bring your own tent Escape from the city this Bank Holiday for an outdoor camping experience with a difference.

These weekends are always great fun; with many activities available in the area, and the price includes a huge BBQ/buffet Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Acrylic Painting Weekend .. discover your creative potential!

Friday 16 - Sunday 18th May 2014 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £144 (£164 Guest) Deposit £30. Includes: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet lunches, 4 course evening meal and all instruction Extras: A small charge is made at the end for consumables used Another fun filled painting experience from the brush of experienced artist and instructor Julie Hyde. Acrylic paints are perhaps the most versatile and fun media to use, and you don’t have to be a budding Monet or Piccasso to enjoy this stress free, fun weekend. Julie will breakdown the mystique of acrylic painting into simple methodical steps, which anyone can follow whether you’re a complete beginner, or have some experience.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Birds of Prey Weekend

.. learn to work with these wonderful creatures!

Friday 16 - Sunday 18th May 2014 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £211 (£231 Guest) Deposit £40. Includes: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet lunches, 4 course evening meal and all instruction Extras: Transport from the venue to the locations will be in members’ cars to limit costs Birds of prey can be admired at a distance and enjoyed at open air displays, but if you’ve ever wondered how great it would be to get really close to these birds, now's your chance. You’ll discover more about them, and experience them up close and personal on this unique birds of prey and falconry weekend. You will be part of a small group spending time in the heart of the beautiful Welsh countryside, learning all about raptors and everything involved in the keeping and flying of these amazing birds. During the weekend you will be guided through the world of falconry, and trained in the handling of birds of prey, getting the chance to fly owls and buzzards from your own gloved hand!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Fun Activity Weekend .. an easy intro to outdoor pursuits!

Friday 13 - Sunday 15th June 2014 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £157 (£177 Guest) Deposit £30. Incl: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet/picnic lunches, 4 course evening dinner party, all activity equipment & instruction This fun weekend is based in the secluded heart of Mid Wales and is a great way to escape all the stresses and hastle of city life. Our activities take place at the unsurpassable location of Lake Vyrnwy, a beautiful reservoir headed by a magnificent Victorian dam. Surrounded by tree clad slopes, and teeming with wild life, it’s an unspoilt nature and RSPB reserve. This fun packed weekend gives you the chance to meet up with other members who may be a little apprehensive about trying outdoor activities and to have a go if you feel up to it. It’s designed to give the absolute beginner a taste of climbing and abseiling without taking you out of your “comfort zone” and without making you feel awkward if you can’t manage it. Barry Smith, ex Spice co-ordinator, is well used to seeing people achieve more than they thought they were capable of. He and the other instructors will introduce you to the equipment and take you through it’s use slowly, taking away any anxiety you may have and building your confidence gradually. You’ll not be asked to do anything you are uncomfortable with and the instructors will help and encourage you to achieve your own personal goals, you may even surprise yourself! After enjoying the climbing on Saturday morning we’ll have a picnic lunch on the shores of the lake and, in the afternoon, we’ll have a go at some fun raft building, at the end of which we may even set sail in them if they’re up to it! On Sunday we’ll return to the lake, this time to enjoy a scenic walk with spectacular views.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Welsh Ridge Walking W'end .. this time The Rhinogs & Cadair Idris

Friday 15 - Sunday 17th August 2014 Lluest Fach, Welshpool Area (SY21 OPB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £135 (£155 Guest) Deposit £35. Incl: Friday evening supper, 2 nights B&B, packed lunches 4 course evening dinner party and ML guided walks The ridges on our Welsh Ridge Walking are always wide and far from scary so you can concentrate on the views rather than the drops. The Rhinogs include some of the most remote and exhilarating ridge walking available in southern Snowdonia. You won’t find any well trodden paths or signposts here, this is real wild country. The walk on Saturday will be a full day being about 12 miles in length and rising to a height of 2500 feet at the summit of Y Liethr, which is the highest peak in the Rhinog range. From here we will have spectacular views of the coastline up to the Lleyn Peninsular and some of the more well known peaks of North Wales. This is a superb ridge walk through a National Nature Reserve that has only recently been opened thanks to an access agreement negotiated by the national park. On Sunday we plan to tackle the magnificent Cadair Idris returning via the north east ridge which, at just shy of 3000 feet, is higher than Saturdays climb but is a shorter 6 miles. Transport from the venue to the walks will be in members cars to limit costs.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

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Serenity Weekend .. tune in to your inner self

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Friday 5 - Sunday 7 September 2014 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £155 (£175 Guest) Deposit £25. Includes: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet lunches, 4 course evening meal and all instruction This is a weekend of gentle personal exploration for those intrigued by alternative spiritual and holistic practices. The holistic approach deals with the mind, body and spirit as an interactive whole and can help deal with the stresses and pressure of modern day living. Through the use of healing touch, energy therapies, chakra work, sound, dowsing, movement and meditation you will discover and explore hidden elements of yourself. Learning to connect with your hidden self can help promote greater self confidence which can lead to a more balanced and harmonious lifestyle.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Watercolour/ Pen & Wash Weekend .. discover the artist within you

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Friday 26 - Sunday 28 September 2014 Lluest Fach Farm, Mid Wales (SY21 0PB) # from 6pm (buffet at 8.30pm) £144 (£164 Guest) Deposit £30 Incl: 2 nights B&B, Friday buffet supper, 2 buffet/ picnic lunches, 4 course evening dinner party, all activity equipment and instruction Extras: There is a small charge made for consumables (such as paint & paper used) If they told you at school that you couldn’t draw then this weekend break will prove them wrong. You don’t have to be a budding Monet or Picasso to enjoy this weekend, which takes the complete beginner or dabbler through the basics of drawing and painting. Julie Hyde, an accomplished artist, and experienced tutor, has put together a relaxed, fun programme to draw out all your latent artistic talents. Julie will dispel the mystique of drawing and painting into simple steps which anyone can follow. Demonstrating various techniques using pencil, watercolour and other media, she will show you how easily you can create sketches and finished works that you’ll be delighted to display. On Saturday we'll begin by getting a feel for sketching and how to 'see' things to paint. For those of you who are new to watercolours or have done this weekend before Julie will also show you some pen and wash techniques which is the easy way of doing watercolors. Julie will still show you the many ways to use watercolour, and by Sunday you'll be using your newly acquired skills and techniques to put the final touches to your finished piece of work. Previous members that have been on this weekend have been amazed by what they were capable of creating!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request.

Sailing Weekend around the Solent .. excellent sailing on a modern cruiser/ racer

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● Fri 6- Sun 8 Jun ● Fri 4 - Sun 6 Jul ● Fri 18 - Sun 20 Jul ● Fri 5 - Sun 7 Sep Haslar Marina, Gosport (PO12 INU) # 8pm Friday evening £238 (£258 Guest) Deposit £50. Incl: diesel, wet weather gear, life harnesses, breakfasts, lunches & teas. Extras: Marina charges are not included and are shared between the group. Nor are evening meals which we take ashore The Solent is an ideal location for a weekend sailing cruise. It’s sheltered and there’s so much to see, the beautiful Isle of Wight, many boats and ships passing by and many historic harbours from which to choose our Saturday night stop.

Special Cancellation Terms: Please note that we need 6 weeks notice to cancel. Deposit is non refundable.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Lots & Lots of Sailing Breaks!

We have 25 sailing breaks listed at www.spicebham.com To see them all just search our events listing on the word “Sailing” to see them all.

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Newquay/ Cornish Coast Easter Walking W’end .. enjoy exploring the Cornish Coastline

Friday 18 - Monday 21st April 2014 The Beresford Hotel, Newquay (TR7 2PR) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £235 (£255 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £49). Single supp £60 otherwise we link shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: The North Cornish coast around Newquay is some of the wildest and most beautiful around Britain. It is open to the Atlantic with its big rollers which make it very attractive to surfers but also creates the stunning coastal scenery.

There are wide open sandy beaches, sheltered coves, hidden bays and some delightful fishing villages. We plan to walk each of the 3 days along a separate stretch of coastline. Each day varys as we visit various attractive seaside towns like Padstow, Perranporth, Porthcothan and Newquay. Needless to say the coastline is always dramatic with towering cliffs and sea stacks at Trevose Head and Pentire peninsular, then there is the legendary Bedruthan Steps not to mention some of the finest beaches in the world. Our base for this trip will be the Beresford Hotel, ideally located on the seafront.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Pembrokeshire Coastal Walking Break .. discover this spectacular area from a hotel with spa

Friday 18 - Monday 21st April 2014 The Cliff Hotel, Cardigan Bay (SA43 1PP) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £239 (£259 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £49). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: Cardigan Bay and the North Pembrokeshire Coast is a perfect WalkWise escape. It’s a quieter part of the world and there are no crowds to escape from here-even on a bank holiday!! Yet we will visit some of the most dramatic stretches of coastline in the country and its isolation means that there is a plethora of adorable wildlife too, seals, dolphins, razorbills and a plethora of seabirds, especially at this time of year. Our hotel is perched on the top of towering sea cliffs overlooking a sandy bay. It offers comfortable accommodation and there’s a relaxing spa, pool, sauna & Jacuzzi too!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Hadrian's Wall Bank Holiday Walking Break .. walk in the footsteps of Roman soldiers

Friday 2 - Monday 5th May 2014 Gilsland Spa, Gilsland on Hadrian (CA8 7AR) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £239 (£259 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £45). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: Hadrian’s Wall stretches 73 miles from coast to coast and was begun in AD122 under the command of Emperor Hadrian to mark the northern limit of the mighty Roman Empire. It is not just a wall, there are numerous forts, mile castles, bridges, roads, towns, dwellings and temples. The best preserved sections of the wall lie between Lanercost Priory in the West and Chesters Cavalry Fort in the East and it is no coincidence that this also happens to encompass the wildest, most inaccessible and arguably the most beautiful landscape with dramatic ridges, open moors, long escarpments, lochs and deep river valleys. The walking programme of 6 walks concentrates on the very finest sections.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 87

Plymouth, Devon & Cornish Coast Break .. a new 3 night break exploring our beautiful south west coastline

Friday 2nd - Monday 5th May 2014 Duke of Cornwall Hotel, Plymouth (PL1 3LG) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £239 (£259 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £45). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: The stunningly South Cornish Coast and the beautiful South Devon coastline are some of Englands’ finest, and this alone is more than enough reason to visit! Towering cliffs and rugged headlands are all lapped by inviting Mediterranean blue waters, and in between are secluded sandy bays and quaint fishing hamlets. Deep estuaries dramatically cut their way inland, carving beautiful isolated peninsulas. Local ferrys and buses will drop us onto these remote and peaceful headlands thereby allowing us to accessing some thoroughly enjoyable walks. Along the way we will call into picturesque villages and enjoy the hospitality of the inviting cafes or welcoming country inns.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Quintessential Snowdonia Walking Weekend .. a long weekend enjoying the stunning Snowdonian National Park

Friday 2nd - Monday 5th May 2014 Royal Victoria Hotel, Llanberis (LL55 4TY) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £249 (£269 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £45). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: Superb, safe and sociable walking that typifies the stunning Snowdonia National Park from Llanberis.

Snowdonia is all about impressive open views, craggy ridges, small upland LLyn’s (lakes) with excellent footpaths enabling us to take on superb mountain walking in the great outdoors. This year we are going to walk through three distinct and impressive areas of Snowdonia! We will start locally with the ridge which sits astride LLanberis and Nant y Betws. The middle day will spent between LLanberis and Llyn Ogwen. The last day we will take on the striking Moel Siabod in the Betsy Coed area. As always our comfort will be taken care of by the Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Buxton's Palace & Peaks Walking Weekend .. enjoy magical scenery & relax in the 'palace of the peaks' hotel!

Friday 9th - Sunday 11th May 2014 The Palace Hotel, Buxton (SK17 6AG) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: The spa town of Buxton is at the heart of the Peak District. Famed for its Opera house and the health properties of its mineral water, the area also offers stunning scenery. By staying at the beautiful Palace hotel we are admittedly a little spoilt, not only as it is situated at the centre of Buxton for the night life but also we can enjoy the leisure facilities on offer such as the indoor pool, fitness suite, sauna and steam rooms. In terms of the mighty impressive walking we shall experience two very contrasting days. One over the Gritstone tors, escarpments and moorland that typify the amazing Roaches and then another along, under and through the deepest dales sheltered by the fascinating limestone cliffs.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 88

Ilkley Moor Yorkshire Walking Weekend .. explore the wild moorlands & Yorkshire Dales National Park

Friday 23rd - Monday 26th May 2014 Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley, W. Yorks (LS29 8RQ) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £245 (£265 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £50). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: This charming programme see’s us combine a grand, warm and friendly Victorian hotel with the traditional historic spa town of Ilkley. The Craigland’s hotel sits close to one of the finest walking areas in the country, the Yorkshire Dales National Park. However, just behind the hotel lies the famous Ilkley Moor and the gritstone hills of the South Pennines. Our weekend will get away from it all by walking in three contrasting areas including on the famous and majestic Ilkley Moor itself, the beautiful dales and the dramatic Bronte country of Wuthering Heights.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

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Lynton, North Devon Coast & Exmoor Break .. discover "little Switzerland" with friends!

Friday 23 - Monday 26th May 2014 Valley of Rocks Hotel, Lynton, North Dev (EX35 6HS) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £219 (£239 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £50). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: The North Devon coast and Exmoor region around Lynton offers an undisturbed tranquillity and timeless charm that is so hard to find! These areas each offer something unique, with tremendous sea-scapes and plunging cliffs to one side and on the other, stunning heather moorland and deep cut river valleys that typify the Exmoor National Park. You are surrounded by hidden haunts, ancient and knarled woodland and sparkling rivers dotted with medieval towns, an abundance of wild life including the Exmoor wild ponies and red deer set around picture-postcard villages with exquisite cream teas! We’ve visited the area many times but this year we’ve put together some new exciting walks! Our hotel, nestles high up on lively Lynton’s west cliff and its nearby country pub is also a very handy attraction.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Pembrokeshire Coast Walking Break .. excellent coastal walking in this spectacular area

Friday 23 - Monday 26th May 2014 Clarence House Hotel, Tenby (SA70 7DU) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £210 (£230 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 1 dinner (first night) & 3 guided walks (Deposit £50). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: Few people would dispute that the Pembrokeshire coast is one of the finest in the country so it will come as no surprise that on all three days we’ll be walking beside or close to the sea! Whether you are looking for longer or shorter walks, the area is a sheer delight. You will feel invigorated walking above the rugged and spectacular limestone and sandstone cliffs that typify the area. Pembrokeshire’s national park boasts beautiful sandy beaches, wonderful headlands, medieval cliff top castles and early Christian sites. Add this to lively pubs and a superb hotel location with happy hour bar!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 89

Welsh 3000's - Ultimate Mountain Challenge .. take on all 15 3000's in a tough Bank Holiday challenge!

Friday 23rd - Monday 26th May 2014 Legacy Royal Victoria Hotel Llanberis (LL55 4TY) # From 4pm Friday (Dinner 8pm) £249 (£269 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £45). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts Overview: An Ultimate Mountain Challenge completing all 15 Welsh 3000’s from Llanberis Snowdonia.

Staying in the ideally situated 3 star Quality Snowdon hotel at the foot of Snowdon itself we aim to tackle all 15 famous summits of the Welsh Mountains. This is some of the best high level walking in the country, taking in the three mountain ranges of the Carneddau, the Glyders and Snowdon massif itself. The beauty of doing this walking over 3 days is that all summits can be achieved during daylight so we get all the views and we get a great hotel to base our challenge from!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

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Eastbourne & South Downs Walking W'end .. walk the Sussex Heritage Coast

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Friday 6 - Sunday 8 June 2014 Best Western Lansdowne Hotel Eastbourne (BN21 4EE) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: From a walking perspective Eastbourne has the enviable position of being situated on the Sussex Heritage Coast at the edge of the South Downs National Park. This is where the Mediterranenean like blue sea yields to the towering 280 hectares of white chalk cliffs on one of Britain's finest unspoilt coastlines. There are broad estuaries, shingle beaches great winding creeks and meandering river valleys and also peaceful picturesque villages with quaint thatched country inns. Then beyond the open chalk grasslands and seamlessly morph into the beautiful rolling hills of the South Downs. Our hotel occupies a stunning position on the seafront and their blend of relaxed comfort makes it an ideal venue.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Patterdale Lakes Walking Weekend .. discover a lovely corner of the Lake District

Friday 6 - Sunday 8th June 2014 The Patterdale Hotel, Lake District (CA11 0NN) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). £10pp supp for upgraded room Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: Patterdale is one of our most popular Weekends and for good reasons: it is away from the madding crowd, it’s a lovely hotel and set in a lovely peaceful village in the beautiful Ullswater valley! The Patterdale hotel is all en suite, with lots of space to socialise in the evenings and what’s more the head chef and his team consistently pull out all the stops making the finest food using as much fresh local produce as possible. On top of this it’s just 2 minutes away from the White Lion, the local Lakeland pub, Oh and the walking’s some of the best in England! This really is a destination where you are spoilt for choice, as all around the hotel are stunning Lakes and beautiful Tarns, lush green valleys, traditional Lakeland villages all enclosed by towering ridges that reach up to some the true Lakeland giants.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 90

Cheddar Gorge & Mendips Walking W’end .. fabulous walking from a glorious hotel!

Friday 20 - Sunday 22nd June 2014 Webbington Hotel & Country Club Somerset (BS26 2HU) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: Situated prominently on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills, the Webbington Hotel and Spa is easy to get to and offers comfortable accommodation and a comprehensive fitness, wellness and beauty facilities. You can relax and enjoy the best of both comfort and cuisine in beautiful surroundings. From a walkers perspective its location is perfect to explore the splendour of the surrounding region. To the west the Mendips stretch out and the early summer date, all the chalk escarpments will be adorned with a blooming carpet of flowers. Our aim this weekend is to explore the Mendips to the full, from Wells to Loxton via the spectacular deep Cheddar Gorge, the wonderful Wookey Hole and the delightful Ebbor Gorge. So whether you simply wish to catch up with your friends and have a relaxing weekend away or if you like getting out in the fresh air and having some excellent walks and exercise then this is an ideal weekend for you.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Scarborough Heritage Coast Walking W'end .. exploring the National Park & Heritage Coast from a top hotel

Friday 27th - Sunday 29th June 2014 The Royal Hotel, Scarborough (YO11 2HE) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks and the Oasis leisure facilities (Deposit £30).

Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: We’ve done very well to get the Royal Hotel; arguably the best accommodation in Scarborough in the middle of Summer! Individually designed bedrooms, Michelin Guide ‘Recommended’ restaurants and the Oasis Leisure Club ensure that you will be exceedingly well looked after! Combine this with superb walking, dramatic seascapes, open heather moors, delightful dales, enchanting escarpments and wooded glades and it really is time to get away from it all!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Latimer & the Chilterns Walking Weekend .. excellent accommodation in the heart of rolling hills

Friday 4 - Sunday 6th July 2014 Latimer Place & Mew, Chesham, Bucks (HP5 1UG) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used. Optional extra night - book separately Overview: We’re at the excellent Deveres Latimer Place and Mews hotel in the heart of the stunning Chilterns. The hotel occupies an elevated and imposing position where it commands an excellent vista across the meres and estates of the lovely Chess Valley. We will wine and dine at the hotel, we can relax in its own pool and leisure centre and wander around the extensive grounds and gardens. The walking is a real treat too and we will enjoy panoramic views over this fine rolling countryside and sample the tasty delights of quaint country inns and cosy cafes.

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Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 91

Kings Lynn & Norfolk Coast Walking W'end .. discover the beautiful Norfolk coast

Friday 11 - Sunday 13th July 2014 Quality Hotel, Kings Lynn (PE30 4NB) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £165 (£185 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used WalkWise Overview: The Norfolk Coast has long been on the WalkWise wish list and this year you are finally going to be able to explore it. True there are no real hills here, but its beauty and wildlife value are well known. Indeed the North Norfolk coast is designated an area of outstanding natural beauty and includes numerous nature reserves of international importance, stunning villages, picturesque seaside towns, regal country estates, stunning beaches, huge expansive saltmarshes and dune complexes which are all networked through a complex maze of footpaths! We will be based in the easy to get to Ramada Kings Lynn Hotel just 95 minutes from Kings Cross-by train!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Langdales Ultimate Challenge Walking Weekend .. the perfect venue for those who like hard mountain walking

Friday 11th - Sunday 13th July 2014 Brathay Hall, Ambleside (LA22 0HP) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: This event is for fit experienced walkers who want the ultimate challenging and fast long walks. The scene is set around the most deeply impressive glacially carved U shaped valley, itself adorned by countless hanging valleys and heavily defended by granite rock citadels. Our objective is to tackle the skyline of this roofless cathedral which has more than enough to challenge us. To enable us to succeed we have split it into two days; the first monumental day defines it!

Classic Lakeland favourites and giants such as Crinkle Crags, Bowfell and Esk Pike form our initial day on the southern flanks of the valley while the Pavey Ark and Sergeant Man shape our final day which concentrates on the northern side of the valley. Our Outward Bound style accommodation makes a perfect base for hearty walkers challenge.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Llandudno - Coast & Mountains Walking W’end .. enjoy the delights of seaside & dramatic mountains

Friday 11 - Sunday 13th July 2014 Ambassador Hotel, Llandudno # (LL30 2NR) Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: Our visits to Llandudno allow us to recount the many tales of our times in this lively resort. It is situated where the Conwy valley and the sea meet the Cambrian Mountains on the northern edge of Snowdonia National Park.

This makes for a wonderful variety of walking, from under the old giants of Snowdonia, including many ancient henges, to the wonderful bastion of the Great Orme itself and the quiet coastal sands that where the inspiration of ‘Alice in Wonderland’. Add to this no shortage of venues for anyone looking for a lively night on the town on Friday & Saturday!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 92

Chilterns, Goring & Thames Path W'end .. varied walking from a wonderful Georgian venue

Friday 25 - Sunday 27th July 2014 The Milton Hill House Hotel, Abingdon (OX13 6AF) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: The Milton Hill House Hotel is a wonderful venue set it its 22acres of secluded sublime parkland just south of Oxford. This charming whitewashed Georgian country house simply oozes charm and character, it also offers quality cuisine, service, a lovely swimming pool and quality leisure facilities. In fact this is quite simply, just a great place to get away for a weekend. But the location is also superb for us walker, in that it provides us with easy access to a wide variety of walking country, from the Thames Path to Goring and Streatley, the beautiful Berkshire Downs, the rolling Chilterns and the Vale of the White Horse. Oh and its easy to get to with easy access to the M4 and M40!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Peak District - Dark Peak Walking Weekend .. explore the Western Peak District known as the 'Dark Peak'

Friday 1st - Sunday 3rd August 2014 Hollin Hall Country House Hotel (SK10 5BG) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: This weekend we’re exploring the extreme western edge of the Peak District National Park which accentuates the exciting and beautiful scenery of what is known as the ‘Dark Peak’ area. This fascinating area is typified by a large area of sparsely settled undulating high grit-stone plateaus and edges rising to nearly 2000ft . These edges, in turn give way to transitional habitats such as scrub and rush pastures which form mosaics connecting the open moors to steep-sided wooded clough’s lined with oak-birch woodland down to the valleys and farmland. Our walks will provide a great insight into this region and allow you to leave feeling better acquainted with this endearing National Park.

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Newton Abbott, S. Devon & Dartmoor W'end .. brilliant walking from this luxurious hotel in Newton Abbot

Friday 8th - Sunday 10th August 2014 The Luxurious Passage House Hotel (TQ12 3QH) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: The stunningly rugged and beautiful South Devon coastline is some of Englands’ finest and this alone is more than enough reason to visit. Hidden along the coast are secluded sandy bays, rocky headlands, quaint fishing hamlets, towering cliffs all lapped by the inviting Mediterranean blue waters. We will visit picturesque villages, enjoy the hospitality of the inviting cafes and country inns. We may add further variety by exploring the dramatic rocky tors and blooming heather moors of Dartmoor. Add to this the lovely Passage House hotel with its irresistible riverside setting, scrumptious food, relaxing leisure facilities and a traditional country inn with real ale right next door!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 93

Snowdon Summit & Satellite Walking Weekend .. classic mountain walking in the heart of Snowdonia

Friday 8 - Sunday 10th August 2014 Royal Goat Hotel, Beddgelert (LL55 4YE) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £169 (£189 Guest) sharing. Incl: 2 b’fasts, 2 picnic lunches, 2 dinner & 2 guided walks (Deposit £30). Single supp £40 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: The Royal Goat, a cracking hotel, located in the charming village of Beddgelert and set in the heart of Snowdonia! The chef has a super menu of tasty and filling meals and there are real ales in the bar and also there are two or three charming country pubs within a short reach of the hotel. Add to this the superb walking that literally surrounds this centre, with the high lofty ridges of Snowdon, Moel Hebog, Nantle Ridge and Cnicht. But you don’t have to climb these mighty peaks, it’s just as wonderful to gaze up at them from a peaceful lakes, or to wander over the heather clad moors, stroll by the tumbling rivers or wander through the secluded woodland. All of which makes this weekend’s event a very attractive and interesting walking weekend, see you out on the hills!

Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

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Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request

Gloucester & the Cotswolds Walking Break .. enjoy some of the Cotswold's most beautiful countryside

Friday 22nd - Monday 25th August 2014 The Holiday Inn, Gloucester (GL4 3RX) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £235 (£255 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £45). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: The Cotswolds Way stretches from Bath in the south to Chipping Campden in the north and the Holiday Inn in Gloucester is ideally placed to allow us to access the central section of this long distance path. Our walks will concentrate on the area north of Stroud and South of Leckhampton. This part of the walk includes some of the most diverse and beautiful countryside in the whole of the Cotswold’s. There is so much to enjoy in its sleepy vales, rolling downlands, hills crowned with ancient hill forts that command enviable views over the surrounding valleys, with enchanting glades, not to mention picture perfect villages with welcoming traditional Inns!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

Gower Peninsula Walking Break Break .. spectacular walking from a luxurious base

Friday 22 - Monday 25th August 2014 The Diplomat Hotel, Llanelli (SA15 3PJ) # Anytime from 4pm (meal at 8pm) £235 (£255 Guest) sharing. Incl: 3 b’fasts, 3 picnic lunches, 3 dinner & 3 guided walks (Deposit £45). Single supp £60 otherwise we link twin shares Extras: Transport to walk starts if used Overview: The spectacular Gower Peninsula has some of the finest coastal scenery in Britain. Indeed the Gower itself is designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and with magnificent sandy bays and dramatic rocky headlands it’s easy to see why. Needless to say we will be walking along this stunning coastline and exploring its many bays, villages and headlands, and if this is not enough we will, be based at the luxurious Diplomat Hotel, with excellent food, friendly staff, well appointed rooms and leisure facilities! The hotel owner is well known for his hospitality and after our previous trips he has offered to bring in a singer / band for the evening so we can enjoy the evenings too!

Edited details - full writeup for this break can be found at www.spicebham.com or sent on request Date: Place: Meet: Cost:

nd

For All 3 Walkwise Breaks above: These are edited write-ups, before booking, please read the full details find the full write up at www.spicebham.com or call 0121 353 6161 and we’ll send you a copy.

All 3 events are organized and supplied by WalkWise UK Ltd, whose terms and conditions apply, obtainable on request and for whom your local SPICE group acts as an agent. Those booking enter into a contract directly with WalkWise UK. 94

Events Index A Female Perspective .............................. 67 Abseiling for Beginners Symonds Yat .... 32 Abseiling for the Terrified ....................... 29 Acrylic Painting Weekend....................... 84 Acting for Beginners Workshop.............. 75 Adventure Golf at Star City!.................... 48 Adventure Trekking Day ......................... 11 African Buffet at Akamba ......................... 5 Alrewas and Fradley Evening Ramble .... 47 Alvechurch Easy Ramble ........................ 47 American Pool Night and Buffet ............. 49 Ash End House Farm Experience............ 13 Austrian Tyrol all Inclusive Break .......... 81 Back Stage Hippodrome .......................... 56 Back to Backs .......................................... 57 Baddesley Clinton Evening Ramble........ 47 Badminton................................................ 62 Balloon Flight ............................................ 8 Ballroom Dance - Jive ............................. 22 Ballroom Dance - Quickstep ................... 23 Balsall Common Evening Ramble .......... 43 Barn Dance & Supper ................................ 1 Bat Appreciation Walk at Wolseley ........ 15 Battle Of The Proms at Ragley Hall........ 66 BBC Behind the Scenes........................... 56 Beauty of a Tree .. Gallery Evening ........ 17 Beekeeping Afternoon ............................. 16 Beer & Skittles in Tamworth................... 51 Beginners Horse Trek .............................. 11 Belgian Beer Weekend ............................ 83 Berwyn Mountain Ramble....................... 43 Bidford on Avon Ramble & Picnic ......... 45 Big Wild Sleepout.................................... 15 Binning The Stress................................... 78 Bird Handling Course/Falconry Day....... 13 Birds of Prey Weekend............................ 85 Birmingham By Boat ............................... 24 Birmingham Central Mosque Visit ......... 60 Birmingham City Walk............................ 24 Birmingham Museum Tea and Tour ....... 57 Birmingham Sculpture Trail .................... 24 Blacksmithing Evening............................ 75 Boathouse at Bracebridge .......................... 3 Bodega South American Dining Exp ........ 4 Bosworth Mod Steam Train Ramble ....... 45 Boudica and Supper at Tutbury Castle.... 50 Bourton on Water & Slaughters Ramble. 44 Bradgate Park Easy Ramble & Lunch..... 42 Branston Water Park Easy Ramble ......... 44 Breadmaking Workshop at Hindleys....... 69 Bridge Abseil & Ladder Climb ............... 32 Bucharest & Transylvanian Experience .. 81 Bungee Jump - 160ft over Water............. 31 Burlesque/Fan Dance Afternoon!............ 23 Buxton's Palace & Peaks Weekend ......... 88 Byzantium Tapas Dinner Shuffle .............. 5 Caer Carodoc Ramble.............................. 47 Calke Abbey and Staunton Easy Ramble 44 Cambridge Day by Coach........................ 25 Camel Experience in Warwickshire ........ 16 Canadian Canoe Adventure ..................... 29 Cannock Chase/Shugborough Ramble .... 47 Cats........................................................... 68 Caving for the Terrified ........................... 29 Celebrate Natures Dawn Chorus ............. 14 Center Parcs Sherwood Forest................. 83 Chaddesley Corbett Bluebell Ramble ..... 44 Charity Duck Race................................... 18 Charity Easy Cycling Tour Sutton Park .. 18 Cheddar Gorge & Mendips Weekend ..... 91 Chilterns, Goring & Thames W'end ........ 93 Chocolate Experience .............................. 80 Cinema Nights ......................................... 66 Clay Pigeon Shoot ................................... 21 Clent Easy/Moderate Ramble .................. 45 Clifford Chambers Sun Lunch Ramble ... 46

Climbing at the Roaches.......................... 35 Climbing the Longstone Pinnacle ........... 38 Cocktail Masterclass and Dim Sum Ev'g .. 6 Colour Run 2014...................................... 19 Colour U Confident Workshop ............... 69 Compton Verney Grounds Tour & Tea... 54 Concert Nights at the Jam House ............ 65 Confessions of a Tour Guide ................... 61 Cosford Airshow with an Insider! ........... 59 Coton In The Elms Easy Ramble ............ 45 Crazy For You ......................................... 68 Croquet Party ........................................... 52 Crown Green Bowling Evening .............. 52 Cupcake Decorating Workshop............... 75 Curry and Quiz - Solihull ........................ 41 Curry in the Country.................................. 6 Cut Gate Mountain Bike Ride ................. 20 Dancing with Mr Darcy ........................... 23 Darts Night and Buffet ............................ 49 Daventry Easy/Moderate Ramble............ 42 Death and the Maiden.............................. 67 Digital Photography for Beginners.......... 79 Dinghy Sailing ......................................... 32 Dining at the Drop Forge........................... 3 Dining at the Marwood.............................. 3 Dinner Shuffle - Moroccan........................ 5 Discover The Nature of Wales ................ 14 Ditton Priors & Clee Hill Ramble ........... 44 Dog Walk at Lickey Hills ........................ 18 Don't Diet - Change the way you Eat ...... 73 Dragon Boat Afternoon and Supper ........ 34 Draycot Water Moderate Ramble............ 42 Drumming Experience for Beginners...... 69 Earlswood Twilight Ramble & Supper ... 42 Eastbourne Walking W'end ..................... 90 Elisabeth Svendsen Trust Visit................ 61 Elmley Castle and Bredon Hill Ramble .. 47 Enamelling for Beginners........................ 79 Everyday Hairstyling & Makeup Lesson 74 Farm Talk and Walk ................................ 44 Ferrari v Lamborghini Blast .................... 28 Film for Thought Evening - Wadjda ....... 19 Find My Past Ev'g with the Mormons..... 74 Finding Your Dreams .............................. 80 Fire Eating Workshop.............................. 71 Firework Championships......................... 52 Flamenco Dancing Workshop ................. 22 Flight Simulator Experience...................... 8 Forest Segway on Cannock Chase .......... 26 Forhill Evening Ramble........................... 45 Foxton Locks Mod Ramble/ Lunch......... 46 Fun Activity Weekend............................. 85 Girls Roller Skating Lesson..................... 63 Gliding Evening at Needwood ................ 10 Gliding Evening at Stratford.................... 10 Gloucester & Cotswolds Walking Break 94 Go Ape in Cannock ................................. 31 Golf - Learn to Play in a Day .................. 62 Gorge Walking Adventure....................... 34 Gower Peninsula Walking Break Break.. 94 Great Midlands Fun Run ......................... 19 Guide Dog Training Centre Visit ............ 56 Guided Canoe Tour of Birmingham........ 37 Hadrian's Wall Bank Holiday Break ....... 87 Hangliding - Tandem by Air Tow ............. 9 Hatton Easy Ramble ................................ 44 Helicopter Lesson ...................................... 8 Hidden Italy - Cinque Terre and Lucca... 82 Hoola Hooping......................................... 62 Hopwood and Wast Hills Easy Ramble .. 42 Horse Archery.......................................... 12 Horse Riding Fun Day!............................ 11 Hot Yoga for Beginners........................... 64 How to Make Friends & Influence.......... 80 Ice Skating Fun Night.............................. 48 Ilkley Moor Walking Weekend ............... 89

95

In Search of Snakes ................................. 15 Incredible Auto Circus............................. 28 Indian Fine Dining at Delhi 6.................... 4 Indian Head Massage Workshop............. 78 Indoor Bouldering Taster Session ........... 30 Indoor Climbing at Redpoint Centre ....... 29 Indoor Shooting ....................................... 21 Inspirational Speaker and Supper............ 76 Introduction to NLP................................. 79 Introduction to Sculpture......................... 77 Ironbridge Gorge Ramble........................ 47 Itihaas Contemporary Indian Dinner......... 2 Jewellery Making with Beads ................. 77 Jogging Evening in Solihull .................... 64 Jon Richardson Nidiot ............................. 67 Kayak River Adventure ........................... 30 Kayaking for Fun..................................... 33 Kayaking Intro Edgbaston Reservoir ...... 33 Keep Calm and Carry On with Sheila ..... 72 Kenilworth Explorer Ramble .................. 43 KeyHunter Live Escape Game Evening.. 53 Kinder Southern Edge Ramble................ 43 Kings Lynn and Norfolk Coast W'end .... 92 Krakow Discovery Break ........................ 82 La Fille Mal Gardee................................. 67 La Nonna Italian Dinner Shuffle ............... 4 Langdales Ultimate Challenge W'end ..... 92 Latimer and Chilterns Walking W'end.... 91 Le Bistrot Pierre Dining Experience ......... 6 Lichfield Discovery Walk ....................... 24 Lift Tower Abseil - Our Biggest Ever! ... 37 Lindy Hop Dance Workshop................... 22 Llama & Wolf Experience Day............... 14 Llandudno Walking Weekend................. 92 Ludlow and Richards Castle Ramble ...... 46 Lynton and Exmoor Walking Break ....... 89 Makeover/Boudoir Photo Session ........... 71 Makeup Skills Lesson - Esther Marie ..... 73 Marco Pierre White Dinner Shuffle .......... 2 Mary Queen of Scots - Tutbury Castle.... 51 Max ATV, Off Road Mud Buggies ........ 26 Maxstoke Castle Visit & Easy Ramble ... 45 Medieval Jousting.................................... 12 Meeting your True Soul Mate ................. 70 Merchants Dinner Shuffle ......................... 4 Mickleton Ramble ................................... 47 Microlighting Experience Flight ............... 9 Middleton Evening Ramble..................... 44 Mikado at the Blue Orange...................... 68 Monmouth and Offas Dyke Ramble ....... 46 Morgan Motors Visit ............................... 61 Morris Dancing for Beginners! ............... 22 Mosaic Making Day ................................ 76 Moseley Village Evening Walk .............. 24 Motorbike Off Road Experience ............. 27 Mountain Biking - Follow the Dog ......... 20 Mountain Biking for Beginners............... 20 Multi Water Sports Afternoon................. 35 Murder Mystery Evening and Buffet ...... 50 Museum Collections Centre Experience . 57 Nature for Beginners! .............................. 12 Navigation - in Four Simple Steps!......... 35 New Members - Intro to Adventure ........ 32 New Members Easy Morning Ramble .... 43 New Members Ramble & Pub Night 44, 45 New Members Kababish Sunday Lunch... 2 New Members Mix and Mingle .............. 48 New Members Treasure Hunt ................. 51 New Members Welsh Cottage Easter...... 84 Newquay & Cornish Coast Easter W'e ... 87 Newton Abbott, Devon Walking W'end . 93 Nine Steps to Happiness .......................... 70 Oil Painting in a Day ............................... 75 One Man Two Guvnors ........................... 67 Outdoor Digital Photo Weekend ............. 84 Owl Handling Experience ....................... 15

Owl Walk ................................................. 14 Pamper Evening at Shear Salon & Spa ... 74 Paragliding - Tandem Experience ............. 9 Paragliding Day Course............................. 9 Patterdale Lakes Walking Weekend........ 90 Peak District Dark Peak Walking W'nd .. 93 Pembrokeshire Coast Walking Break...... 89 Pembrokeshire Coastal Walking Break... 87 Plymouth/ Devon Walking Break............ 88 Poker Night .............................................. 50 Pole Dancing with Pure Joy..................... 22 Polo Lesson at Rugby .............................. 11 Pottery Workshop .................................... 72 Preston Bagott Easy Ramble/ Lunch ....... 46 Preview Evenings .................................... 39 Private Evening Garden Tour .................. 59 Prodrive V.I.P. Visit ................................ 59 Quad Bike Woodland Trek...................... 26 Quintessential Snowdonia W'end ............ 88 Quiz Page ................................................. 41 Race Night with Fish & Chips................. 50 Rally Driving Lesson ............................... 26 Ramble, Scramble and Dangle ................ 33 Redwings Horse Sanctuary Visit............. 60 Rock Climbing for the Terrified .............. 35 Rodizio Rico Dining at The Cube ............. 7 Rounders and Social Night ...................... 63 Rowing for Beginners.............................. 33 Rugby School Tour.................................. 58 Run in the Park ........................................ 64 Ryton Pools Easy Ramble ....................... 46 Sailing Weekend around the Solent......... 86 Salsa Dance Workshop ............................ 23 Saxon Mill Dinner Shuffle......................... 5 Scarborough Heritage Coast W'end......... 91

Scuba Taster Morning Experience .......... 30 Segway Rally at Weston Park ................. 27 Serenity Weekend .................................... 86 Sewing Class with Jenni (Sewing Bee)... 77 She Stoops to Conquer ............................ 68 Shenstone Evening Ramble ..................... 45 Sherwood 50km Mountain Bike Ride ..... 20 Shootout at the Kiddies Playcentre! ........ 49 Show Boat................................................ 68 Six Hills Ramble...................................... 44 Snowdon Summit Walking Weekend ..... 94 Spice Book Club ...................................... 17 Spice Hits Town ...................................... 39 Spice News Quiz and Supper .................. 41 Stageside Dinner Shuffle ........................... 1 Stained Glass Workshop.......................... 73 Stand Up Paddle Boarding ...................... 37 Stately Secrets of Tissington Walk.......... 58 Steam Train to Stratford .......................... 54 Steaming To Victory................................ 53 Stipperstones Day Ramble....................... 43 Stratford as you've never seen it before... 25 Stroll The Severn Way ............................ 46 Studley Easy Ramble............................... 43 Summer in the Forest............................... 35 Summer Masked Ball 2014 ....................... 7 Sutton Park Discovery Walk ................... 24 Sutton Park Hot Cross Bun Ramble ........ 43 Symonds Yat Adventure Mission............ 30 Talk Sport Evening with Buffet .............. 62 Tandem Skydive from 12,000ft............... 10 Tank Battle Experience............................ 27 Temple Guiting Ramble .......................... 42 Ten Pin Bowling ...................................... 48 Ten things you should know about DIY . 72

Here comes Summer!

Spice West Midlands members learn to surf For latest dates, check online

96

Thai Brasserie Dinner Shuffle ................... 3 Thai Dinner Shuffle at Maekong Thai ...... 6 The Big Abseil......................................... 33 The Lord Of The Flies ............................. 67 Tobogan and Fondue Night ....................... 1 Trick Horse Riding .................................. 12 Ukulele for Fun........................................ 70 Upper Arley and Wyre Forest Ramble.... 42 Upton on Severn Ramble......................... 46 Vulcan Bomber Restoration Experience . 56 Wake up the Zoo...................................... 13 Warwick Easter Egg Treasure Hunt........ 49 Warwick Easy Ramble ............................ 43 Warwick VIP Race Day with Meal/Tour 51 Watercolour/ Pen and Wash Weekend.... 86 Welsh 3000's - Mountain Challenge ....... 90 Welsh Camping Long Weekend.............. 84 Welsh Ridge Walking W'end .................. 85 Western Style Rifle Shooting Afternoon 21 Westfield Cars Visit................................. 60 White Knight and Good Fairy Fortnight . 55 White Water Kayaks................................ 34 White Water Rafting................................ 34 Wicked ..................................................... 68 Wildflower Wander ................................. 74 Windsurfing ............................................. 38 Wing Walking Experience ...................... 10 Winterbourne House Private Tour .......... 60 Wolf Experience & Walk ........................ 13 World Cup - England Matches & Meal... 53 Wrekin Ramble........................................ 42 WW1 Centenary Charity Ball Cosford ... 54 Yoga & Pilates......................................... 64 Zip World - Ultimate Zipline 31 Zumba For Beginners .............................. 22

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Finding events in your local area

Spice International Holiday Programme

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2014/2015

Winter Holidays lidays

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Date

Nights Spice Trip

Deposit

Price from

20/12/14

7

Ski Christmas

£130

£889

27/12/14

7

Ski New Year

£130

£999

11/01/15

7

Ski Courmayeur

£150

£669

18/01/15

7

Ski Meribel

£150

£714

31/01/15

7

fL- W,%IX T aeA')%

£130

£669

08/03/15

7

Ski Courcheval

£150

£970

21/03/15

7

Ski Val Thorens

£130

£719

22/03/15

7

fL- h%I GYWOwAw

£150

£945

03/15

4

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TBC

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Date

Nights Spice Trip

10/04/14

3

24/04/14

3

02/05/14

3

18/05/14

7

07/06/14

7

07/06/14

14

09/06/14

7

14/06/14

7

06/06/14

Deposit

Price

Rome Mini Break

n/a

£479

Stockholm – Mini Break

n/a

£499

vA%)%#% V ,1w "wO't%I eU aAeOOwO R k-)- cAw%L

n/a

£495

Cultural Andalusia

n/a

£849

@)PeX % O1eA, FAw%L %p%X ,e ,1-O pe)#wAU?I D-,X& 7 IetwIX pwwLw)# FAw%L R w)PeX 6%E%O V ,1w 7I1%+FA%& 7 IetwIX pwwLw)# FAw%L R w)PeX 6%E%O V ,1w 7I1%+FA%& @)PeX ,1w D?I,?A%I #wI-S1,O eU fE%-)&

Mark Warner 5* Watersports (1st week)

k%AL g%A)wAOY )wpwO, AwOeA, e) i1e#wO^ vAw%, O%-I-)S %)# p-)#O?Ad)S De)#-'e)O UeA %II IwtwIO_ EI?O I%)# %D't-'wO

Mark Warner 5* Watersports (2 weeks)

£150

£745

k%AL g%A)wAOY )wpwO, AwOeA, e) i1e#wO^ vAw%, O%-I-)S %)# p-)#O?Ad)S De)#-'e)O UeA %II IwtwIO_ EI?O I%)# %D't-'wO

£150

£1195

Turkish Blue Coast Cruise

£150

£795

k%AL g%A)wAOY )wpwO, AwOeA, e) i1e#wO^ vAw%, O%-I-)S %)# p-)#O?Ad)S De)#-'e)O UeA %II IwtwIO_ EI?O I%)# %D't-'wO

£150

£745

3

]-##w) vw+O eU c%ADwIe)%

£150

£469

17/06/14

12

cwO, eU ,1w c%I'DO aA?-Ow

£150

£1099

22/06/14

7

H?+F% fEwD,%D?I%A&

£150

£639

23/06/14

7

Walking the Turquoise Coast

£150

£699

26/06/14

9

Sicily – Myths & Legends

£150

£1199

27/06/14

3

cwAI-) ce)%)<%

£150

£399

26/07/14

7

g%IL-)S ,1w W,%I-%) GeIe+-,wO

£150

£869

02/08/14

20

Best of the West

£270

£2685

18/08/14

7

Turkish Blue Coast Cruise

£150

£1095

21/08/14

7

Walking in Tuscany

£200

£899

24/08/14

4

]-L-)S V c-L-)S -) 7?O,A-%

£150

TBC

09/09/14

13

vA%)# a%)Xe) i%[-)S @ZEwA-w)Dw

£1450

£2899

12/09/14

14

]-S1I-S1,O eU a1-)%

£210

£2099

14/09/14

6

£150

£979

21/09/14

7

Costa Blanca Chillout

£150

£599

29/09/14

7

Turkey Autumn Chillout

£150

£565

04/10/14

9

*w,A% V g%#- i?+ FX F-Lw

£150

£1349

06/10/14

14

Borneo Adventure

£290

£2895

06/10/14

7

Turkish Blue Coast Cruise

£150

£795

08/10/14

5

Lake Garda Autumn Special

£150

£499

23/10/14

11

Cuba – Sun & Fun

£170

£1749

A wonderful 7 night gulet cruise along Turkey’s Blue Coast

Mark Warner 5* Watersports (2nd week)

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The Italian Lakes

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aXDIw ,1Ae?S1 OEwD,%D?I%A #wOwA, ODw)wAX V t-O-, *w,A%& A stunning trip of discovery A wonderful 7 night gulet cruise along Turkey’s Blue Coast

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Highlighted Holidays GRANADA & THE FESTIVAL OF CROSSES

4 days, Fri 2 May 2014 from £495 Flights from London Gatwick, Manchester & East Midlands 3 7 ,A%#-'e)%I fE%)-O1 UwO't%I %,+eOE1wAw 3 NE'e)%I t-O-, ,e ,1w 7I1%+FA% *%I%Dw This weekend takes place during “Las Cruces de Mayo”, vA%)%#%YO F-SSwO, O,Aww, UwO't%I^ G?A-)S >aA?DwO= ,1w O,Aww,O eU vA%)%#% %Aw %p%O1 p-,1 wI%FeA%,w qepwAT adorned crosses, celebrated with dancing, street food %)# f%)SA-% -),e ,1w w%AIX 1e?AO^ n%O aA?DwO #w k%Xe DwIwFA%,wO ,1w ,A-?+E1 eU I-Uw etwA #w%,1^ @%D1 OB?%Aw 1%O %+EI-dw# +?O-D UeA #%)D-)S %)# wtwAX DeA)wA eU ,1w ,ep) -O dIIw# p-,1 \%IwSAl%Y pwII -),e ,1w O+%II 1e?AO -) ,A?w -)-+-,%FIw 7)#%I?D-%) O,XIw^ n%O aA?DwO #w k%Xe d)%Iw ,%LwO EI%Dw wtwAX Xw%A e) ,1w 8A# k%X&

MARK WARNER 5* WATERSPORTS - RHODES 8 days, Wed 4/Sat 7 June 2014 from £745 8 days, Wed 11/Sat 14 June 2014 from £745 15 days, Wed 4/Sat 7 June 2014 from £1195 Flights from London Heathrow & Manchester 3 7 O?EwAF 2! AwOeA, 3 iw,?A)-)S %[wA % 1?SwIX O?DDwOOU?I ,A-E -) 9;:8

7[wA O?EwAF Uww#F%DL ,1-O Xw%A pw %Aw #wI-S1,w# ,e revisit Mark Warners’ new Levante Beach Resort as our p%,wAOEeA,O #wO')%'e) UeA 9;:5^ This 5* resort is located on one of the longest sandy beaches on the eastern coast of Rhodes, in the resort of 7U%)#e?_ 9;L+O UAe+ i1e#wO 6ep)^ i1e#wO -O %) -OI%)# O,wwEw# -) 1-O,eAX_ #ebw# p-,1 E-D,?AwOB?w I-bIw t-II%SwO_ heavenly scented pine and cypress forests and miles upon +-IwO eU SeI#w) O%)#X Fw%D1wO^

ZUMBA® SPECTACULAR

7 days, Mon 22 June 2014 from £639 Flights from London Gatwick, Manchester & Glasgow 3 7 dAO, UeA fE-Dw 3 NCD-%I /s H?+F%M W)O,A?D,eAO fe+w,1-)S )wp UeA fE-Dw %)# % I-bIw F-, #-QwAw),& gwYtw #e)w % JeS% 1eI-#%X Oe p1X )e, ,AX % H?+F%M ,A-E p-,1 Spice?

"-,)wOO p-,1 H?+F%M -) ,1w O,?))-)S AwOeA, eU a%IEw^ 7 U%),%O'D eEEeA,?)-,X ,e OEw)# % Awt-,%I-O-)S pwwL -++wAOw# -) % U?II EAeSA%++w eU d,)wOO %)# pwIITFw-)S -)DI?#-)S H?+F%M -) ,1w fE%)-O1 O?)O1-)w^ gw eQwA % 1-S1T w)wASX #%-IX OD1w#?Iw eU DI%OOwO p-,1 vweASw k%A')- %)# UA-w)#O_ -)DI?#-)S H?+F%M_ 7B?% H?+F%_ k%O%I% c1%)SA%_ cee-%L% %)# +eAw %O pwII %O '+w ,e w)PeX ,1w IeD%I beaches, sample the cuisine and dance the night away in a I-LwT+-)#w# OeD-%I SAe?E^

SICILY – MYTHS & LEGENDS

10 days, Thu 26 June 2014 from £1149 Flights from London Gatwick only 3 ]e+w eU ke?), @,)% 3 7 pe)#wAU?I ,A-E eU #-ODetwAX

W) ,1w Dw),A%I kw#-,wAA%)w%) P?O, eQ ,1w \,ewY eU W,%IX_ f-D-IX -O % pe)#wAU?I -OI%)# ,e wZEIeAw^ ]e+w ,e ke?), @,)%_ ,1w ,%IIwO, %D'tw teID%)e -) @?AeEw %)# e)w eU ,1w +eO, %D'tw in the world, our 10 day discovery uncovers the truths and +XO,wA-wO Fw1-)# ,1-O -OI%)#O \kX,1O V nwSw)#OY^ fe p1X )e, Pe-) fE-Dw e) ,1-O O?EwA ,A-E&

BERLIN BONANZA

TURKEY COAST CRUISE

8 days, Mon 9 June 2014 from £795 8 days, Mon 18 August 2014 from £1095 8 days, Mon 6 October 2014 from £795 Flights from London Gatwick & Manchester 3 7 #%,w UeA ,1w ,w%D1wAO& 3 WU Xe? p%), ,e AwI%Z ,1w) IeeL )e U?A,1wA Sailing from Marmaris in the clear turquoise waters of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas you will discover ,1w #wI-S1,O eU ,1w 6?AL-O1 ae%O,^ 61w a%E,%-) %)# DAwp wZEwA,IX 1%)#Iw ,1w ,A%#-'e)%I O%-I-)S S?Iw,_ @%O, kww,O West leaving you free to explore the secluded coves and F%XO^ Je?YII 1%tw )e peAA-wO %Fe?, DeeL-)S +w%IO_ O%-I-)S eA #AeEE-)S %)D1eA^

4 days, Fri 27 June 2014 from £399 Flights from London Gatwick & Liverpool 3 7 O?EwAF pwwLw)# #wO')%'e) 3 fe +?D1 1-O,eAX ,e ?)DetwA

6pw),X Xw%AO %[wA -,O EeO,Tg%II AwF-A,1_ cwAI-) -O % ODw)wT stealing combo of glamour and grit, teeming with top museums and galleries, grand opera and guerrilla clubs, Se?A+w, ,w+EIwO %)# w,1)-D O)%DL O1%DLO^ cwAI-) O,%Sw# % AwteI?'e)_ p%O 1w%#B?%A,wAw# FX U%OD-O,O_ Fe+Fw# ,e F-,O_ A-EEw# -) 1%IU %)# d)%IIX Aw?)-,w# R %)# ,1%, p%O P?O, -) ,1w 9;,1 Dw),?AX& "%+e?O I%)#+%ALO such as the Reichstag, the Brandenburg Gate, Checkpoint a1%AI-w %)# p1%,YO Iw[ eU ,1w cwAI-) g%II %Aw I-Lw % t-A,?%I 8TG ,wZ,FeeL -) % D-,X p1wAw Xe?YII d)# 1-O,eAX O,%A-)S Xe? -) ,1w U%Dw wtwAX '+w Xe? ,?A) % DeA)wA

WALKING: THE ITALIAN DOLOMITES

8 days, Sat 26 July 2014 from £869 Departs London Gatwick, Manchester & Birmingham 3 g%ILp-Ow Aw,?A) %[wA 5 Xw%AO 3 f?EwAF p%IL-)S -) ,1w GeIe+-,wO

aeO,% cI%)D%_ IeD%,w# e) ,1w Dw),A%I @%O,wA) De%O,I-)w_ -O % EeE?I%A #wO')%'e) UeA ,e?A-O,O p1e %AA-tw wtwAX O?++wA to take advantage of the warm climate, sun-drenched Fw%D1wO_ I%-#TF%DL I-UwO,XIw %)# I-twIX wtw)-)S D?I,?Aw^ a%IEwYO ,pe +%-) Fw%D1wO_ ,1w a%),%I ie-S %)# ,1w *I%X% 7Aw)%I_ %Aw Aw)ep)w# UeA ,1w-A Ie)S O,Aw,D1wO eU d)w O%)# and clear waters, perfect for swimming and also popular p-,1 O?AUwAO^ *Ae,wD'e) UAe+ ,1w p-)# FX O?AAe?)#-)S mountains means that the town’s beaches generally Aw+%-) p%A+ %)# ,1w Ow% D%I+^

TURKEY CHILLOUT

8 days, Mon 23 September 2014 from £649 Departs London Gatwick & Manchester 3 7Ip%XO % EeE?I%A fE-Dw 1eI-#%X 3 s-DL F%DL %)# AwI%Z 61-O ,A-E 1%O Fww) % EeE?I%A 7?,?+) %##-'e) ,e e?A 1eI-#%X EAeSA%++w %)# -, %Ip%XO Sw,O SAw%, Uww#F%DL& 6%+%A-OL cw%D1 ]e,wI -) NA,%Lw), -O ,1w EwAUwD, 1eI-#%X IeD%'e) %)# pw O1e?I# L)ep %O pwYtw Fww) ,1wAw UeA ,1w E%O, r Xw%AO& 7 AwI%Zw# %)# UA-w)#IX %,+eOE1wAw_ EIw),X eU %D't-'wO ,e LwwE Xe? F?OX %)# % Fw%D1 O1%#w# FX Tamarisk trees on which to relax and watch the world go FX^

CUBA – SUN & FUN

With excellent feedback from WalkWise’s many previous W),wA)%'e)%I g%IL-)S ]eI-#%XO ,e fp-,<wAI%)#_ 7?O,A-%_ n%Lw ae+e_ ,1w fE%)-O1 *XAw)wwO_ %)# +%)X +%)X +eAw_ WalkWise have responded to your requests to return to ,1w O?EwAF 1e,wI -) 7A%FF% -) ,1w W,%I-%) GeIe+-,wO^ W,YO Ue?A Xw%AO O-)Dw pw t-O-,w# ,1w #wI-S1(?I ]e,wI 7IEw)AeOw in the picturesque village of Arabba in the heart of the W,%I-%) GeIe+-,wO^ 7, %) %I',?#w eU :u;9+_ e?A F%Ow -O %, ,1w Uee, eU ,1w +%S)-dDw), fwII% k%OO-U %)# Xe? %Aw -++w#-%,wIX D%E't%,w# FX ,1w +eO, OwAw)w %)# D1%A+-)S eU )%,?A%I I%)#OD%EwO^ W) wtwAX #-AwD'e) ,1wAw %Aw EwAUwD, panoramas of peaceful lakes and blossoming meadows, which are corralled by towering jagged peaks that form a O,?))-)S F%DL#AeE^

COSTA BLANCA CHILLOUT 8 days, Sat 21 September 2014 from £599 Departs London Gatwick & Manchester 3 jwp D1-IIe?, #wO')%'e) 3 W)DI?#wO % t-O-, ,e % p%,wAE%AL

7)e,1wA fE-Dw a1--Ie?, UeA Oe+w I%,w O?++wA O?)& fE%-)YO

12 days, Thu 23 October 2014 from £1749 Departs London Gatwick direct 3 jwp fE-Dw 1eI-#%X 3 @)PeX ,1w #wI-S1,O eU ]%t%)% FwUeAw D1-II-)S -) %) all inclusive beach resort Join us on a wonderful Caribbean break to the historic -OI%)# eU a?F%& vw, %p%X UAe+ -, %II ,1-O %?,?+) %)# w)PeX Oe+w U?) -) ,1w a%A-FFw%) O?) p-,1 fE-Dw&

This 11-night break to the Caribbean’s largest island, famed for its rum, salsa, vibrant culture and stunning Fw%D1wO p-II Fw %+%<-)S^ fEw)# % Uwp #%XO -) ,1w 1%EEw)-)S D%E-,%I ]%t%)% %)# -++wAOw Xe?AOwIU -) #wD%#wO of history intertwined with a hot salsa beat and plenty of rum cocktails before transferring to quieter Varadero for 7 )-S1,OY 7II W)DI?O-tw AwI%Z%'e) e) ,1w Fw%D1^

To book visit www.spiceuk.com or call Spice UK on 0161 873 8788

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Only 27,375 days in the average lifetime What did you really want to do today?

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With always something to do and something to look forward to, life will never be boring again!