C
NTACT
THE MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH WOMEN’S GROUP BANGKOK
November 2019
BRITISH WOMEN’S GROUP The aim of the Group is to enable its members to meet socially, to welcome its new members and associate members to Bangkok and to establish a programme of social, welfare and cultural activities.
Contents
Directory Page 2
Chairman and Editor’s message Page 3
Diary Page 4
Triple Whammy Page 8-9
Book Club Report Page 16
November Activity Page 17
Operation Smile Page 22
November Coffee Page 23
War Poem Page 24
Gift of Happiness Page 25
November Lunch Page 26
Editor contact@bwgbangkok.org Advertising advertising@bwgbangkok.org Please note that the deadline for advertisements is the 5th of the month prior to issue. Please contact advertising@bwgbangkok for more information. PLEASE NOTE : Contact is published as a service to our members to keep them informed of news and events within BWG. The accuracy of other information cannot be guaranteed and is not an endorsement by the group. This also applies to advertisements that are included in Contact in order to cover some of the production costs. Every effort is made to produce Contact in good time to reach members before the first scheduled meeting, but the editor cannot be held responsible for unavoidable delays caused by circumstance beyond their control. It is the members’ own responsibility to know when meetings are scheduled and to contact someone to check if any changes have been made. Members are also asked to bear in mind when booking actives that most venues are not deemed suitable for children over six months of age and to make appropriate child minding arrangements.
Chairman’s Message The month of November always conjures up memories of bonfire night, multi coloured leaves and the onset of winter. A far cry from the hot sunny days of winter in Bangkok. However we still have fireworks on Sunday 3rd November at The British Club followed by Remembrance Day, the first to be held at the British Club, on November 10th. While we are also able to join in the Loy Krathong festivals locally.
Another big date, 30th November, is Ploenchit Fair, at Patana School. BWG will be running The Bacon Buttie stall again this year and we have a number of volunteers already but many hands make light work, so if any of you can give an hour of your time it would be much appreciated, just email me.
Ailsa Kneath Apart from our regular coffee, lunch and activities, all details are listed in the magazine, there is the Melbourne Cup 5th November; Last Night of the Proms 7th November; SILC Bazaar on 8th November and The Scottish Ball 23rd November. To mention just a few.
Our very own Christmas Lunch is on Monday 2nd December at the Pullman, Asok and Christmas Coffee on Wednesday 11th December at The British Club and these dates will be here before you know it, so reserve your places now!
Looking forward to seeing you at our November events.
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH.
‘Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference’
Winston Churchill.
Welcome to the November issue of Contact magazine. As Ailsa has already mentioned, November is packed with many exciting events so be sure to add these to your diary so you don’t miss any of these opportunities to socialise and meet up with friends old and new. November is going to be an exciting month in our family for different reasons - arrival of our first grandchild - so we are completely thrilled!!! Happy reading and enjoy all that is on offer this month.
www.bwgbangkok.org
info@bwgbangkok.org
British Women’s Group Bangkok
Contact November 2019
November Diary SUN
MON
TUE
3 Bonfire Night at the British Club
4 Mah-jong
5 Bridge Golf Melbourne Cup
10
11 Mah-jong
17
24
WED
6
THU
FRI
SAT
1
2
7 Last Night of the Proms
8 SILC Bazaar
9
Mah-jong Art Group
12 Bridge Golf
13 Mah-jong Art Group
14 Coffee Morning
15
16
18 Mah-jong
19 Bridge Golf
20 Mah-jong Art Group
21 November Lunch
22
23 St Andrews Ball
25 Mah-jong
26 Bridge Golf
27 November Activity
28
29
30 UNWC Gala Dinner. Ploenchit Fair
Weekly/Monthly Activities You are invited to join these groups, but final approval is at the discretion of individual group leaders
Monday Mah-jong - (beginners welcome) (10am - 1pm) Tuesday Bridge - Audrie Sill Beginners/Intermediate Golf - (morning) Ann McKinnon Golf - (morning) Sheona Jackson Bookworms - 1st Tuesday (10am) Jane Upperton Scottish Dancing - 1st Tuesday (7:30pm) Karen Burr Wednesday Mah-jong - (beginners welcome) (1pm - 4pm) Art Group - Bistro 33 Sukhumvit Soi 33 (10am -12:30pm) Karin Worthington
Saturday 30 November 2019 at 19:00 hrs Ballroom, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit Gourmet Dinner, Raffle, Live Music Donation THB 2,500 per person Funds raised for UNWC Charities Dress Semi-Formal Info & tickets - unwctha@gmail.com
Fast
t
n Convenie
behind a e d i Clinic. t e n h t a t s s i t n I a Th PD d’s new O a r g n u r Bum It is perfect for minor illnesses, prescription refills, preventive care including vaccinations, or a doctor’s note. Instead of waiting for hours on end you can see a doctor, settle the bill, receive your prescription and be on your way in under an hour. Simply scan the QR code to learn more about the new OPD Instant Clinic.
www.bumrungrad.com Contact Center: 0 2066 8888
nsive
e Compreh
TRIPLE WHAMMY – origin and latest - by Gale Bailey MBE BWG used to have a ‘volunteering opportunities’ coffee morning each year but when I noticed there was going to be a Macmillan Giant Coffee morning, I suggested we had one in Bangkok then someone suggested we combine it with the volunteering one which happened to be the same year that Angela Stafford’s Knitathon was the rave of Bangkok! TRIPLE WHAMMY WAS BORN! This year’s Triple Whammy was held at the Foreign Correspondents’ Club Thailand which was a great venue as we had 30 members plus speakers from different organisations. FCCT staff were very accommodating and extremely helpful especially as so many ladies brought cakes – the table was heaving under the weight! From the sale of cakes and raffle combined with donations, this year we raised the most ever - 12,000 Baht so Jane Rodgers very kindly paid £320 into the Macmillan coffers. THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS TO THIS VERY WORTHY CAUSE! We learnt about some of the volunteering work our members do – prison and IDC visiting, fund raising for Operation Smile, knitting squares to make into blankets, teaching English. One excellent way of getting to know people and to find out what is going on is to JOIN THE BWG COMMITTEE!! The following organisations were represented and if you require further information, please contact welfare@bwgbangkok.org CCD – Christian Care Development for Disabled Children – www.ccdthailand.org Gift of Happiness Foundation www.gohappiness.org Human Development Foundation (Mercy Centre) - www.mercycentre.org Operation Smile – www.operationsmile.org.th
The Triple Whammy Coffee Morning
nspiring ndividuals At KIS International School all students can shine. The midsize, caring community allows KIS students to be confident and to be appreciated as an individual, with unique dreams and strengths. The school is a full IB school, offering the International Baccalaureate Programmes for all age groups (IB Primary Years Programme, IB Middle Years Programme and IB Diploma), ensuring an academically rigorous curriculum that not only prepares students to be successful at university, but also teaches important life skills. KIS, it’s all about Knowledge, Inspiration and Spirit. Check out the students’ videos to learn more about their passion www.kis.ac.th
Tel: +66 (0) 2274 3444 Email: admissions@kis.ac.th
“With the power of imagination, characters can actually fly off the page” Jun, Grade 11.
Celebrating 60 Years A proud tradition of learning excellence
We oer a British-style education for an international community, from Nursery through to Graduation. Find out how our approach to learning and outstanding teaching sta develop global citizens who shape their world through independence, empathy, creativity and critical thinking. Contact us at admissions@patana.ac.th www.patana.ac.th | +66 (0) 2785 2200 | 643 Lasalle Road, Bangkok 10260
Bangkok Patana is a not-for-profit, IB World School, accredited by CIS and NEASC
PLOENCHIT FAIR Newcomers to Bangkok and the BWG often ask ‘What on earth is the Ploenchit Fair and what is it to do with us?’ So named because it was, for many years, held in the grounds of the British Embassy on Ploenchit Road, the Fair is possibly the largest of its kind in Asia. It is a Fun Fair for everyone, packed full of fun rides and entertainment for the kids, shopping for the Mums, live music for the Dads and of course, plenty to eat and drink for all. These days the many wonderful volunteers that work together on the Fair come from all over the world, creating a truly international feel. Although the first Ploenchit Fair was held in 1957, in 1968 the United Kingdom Committee for Thai Charities (UKCTC) was formed to organise and run the Fair and then disperse the monies raised to deserving and needy Thai charities. It was, and still is, a voluntary committee made up of representatives from the BWG, The British Embassy and British commercial firms. In 1999 the UKCTC was granted Foundation status under the name BCTFN (British Community in Thailand Foundation for the Needy). The BWG have always been involved with the Fair and had a representative on the BCTFN committee. This year the BWG will be organising a Transport Café, selling Bacon Butties and mugs of hot tea.
30 November 2019 10 am - 9 pm AT BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL
Childrens’ Games and Rides, Raffle Shopping Bazaar, Food and Drinks Meet Father Christmas
Adults THB300 Children Under 12 years THB150 ALL PROCEEDS TO SUPPORT THAI CHARITIES UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF BCTFN
รายไดทั้งหมดเพื่อสนับสนุนองคกรการกุศลไทย
(BRITISH COMMUNITY IN THAILAND FOUNDATION FOR THE NEEDY)
www.bctfn.org www.ploenchitfair.org
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Bookworms - November Book pick - The Girl from Aleppo. -Nujeen Mustafa and Christina Lamb
Nine of us sat down to share our thoughts about this book. It was an easy read -I always think that books are an easy read when journalists have had an input ie Christina Lamb shared the writing with Nujeen Mustafa whose experience of leaving Syria with, at one stage 19 family members, are documented .We felt some sympathy for Nugeen’s sister who pushed Nugeen in her wheelchair through 9 countries which is a truly amazing feat. We all learned something - one member commented that she didn’t know much about refugees and it left her with a different view. It was clear from the story that the journey taken by refugees is not cheap and they have to have money to make the trip -with smugglers getting wealthy along the way by means of ripping off the travellers. However it was very clear that the smugglers played an important role in assisting people to do the journey. Yes they provided some substandard gear at times but also provided invaluable help in moving people in the directions they wanted to go. Overwhelmingly, the movement is to Germany following the call of Merkel and also to Sweden who are known to be generous with benefits. Sadly with cash as king there were drownings along the way. There was some discussion and concern about how receiving countries coped with providing for the sheer number of people arriving and also how the cultures of the receiving countries might change. Some changes happening were mentioned with concern - in the UK there are apparently movements to change long-standing traditions like ‘Happy Christmas ‘to ‘Happy Holiday’ and no more Easter eggs lest some migrants are offended - ‘Chocolate eggs’ are the order of the day. Finland was highlighted as a country trying to address such issues by providing cultural lectures eg about different ways women are to be treated. Germany apparently spread the refugees right across the country into different towns and cities. One member of our group who comes from Holland said a mosque was built next to a school which ended up with 95% of children of Bangladeshi origin. One of our members told us about her work in Australia with asylum seekers and how they are helped there. This is a book that that invoked a great deal of discussion and is regarded as a must read.
Scores: 5/10-2; 7/10-2; 8/10-3; 9/10-1.
Next meetings: 12/11/19 ‘My Sister the serial killer’ by Oyinkan Braithwaite.This meeting to be at the loft at 7th floor Central Chitlom. 7/01/20 ‘Miss Pettigrew lives for the day’ by Winifred Watson. 4/2/20 ‘Tin Man’ by Sarah Winman
NOVEMBER ACTIVITY ***CHANGE OF DATE*** WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER For our November Activity we will be visiting the Bangkok Christmas Decoration Export. This will be a great opportunity to renew your tired Christmas Decorations or add to your collection, all whilst supporting a Thai Business Date:
WEDNESDAY 27TH NOVEMBER
Venue:
218 Petchkasem 16 Road, Taphra, Bangkok, 10600
Pick up:
Emporium Suites, (BTS Phrom Pong) @ 9.30am
Time:
9.30 to noon(ish)
Cost:
To be confirmed when we have numbers for the mini buses
RSVP:
By Thursday 14th November please to activities@bwgbangkok.org
Any questions please feel free to call Sally Fisken on 09 4416 9153 Sally and Sue.
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MISSION OPERATION SMILE THAILAND (Part 1) by Jackie Reynolds
Firstly I would like to give you the background leading up to my volunteering with the Operation Smile organisation in my retirement; it started out initially with a personal connection with cleft palates/lips. I find this is often the case of why people are drawn to particular organisations. There are so many worthy causes out there it is often difficult to decide which one to choose, then when something hits close to home it brings it into "much clearer" focus. My cousin’s granddaughter was born with a cleft palette & it was only then I realised the serious consequences of this malformation. It would take 3 hours every time to feed her daughter with the constant fear of the milk being aspirated into her lungs. I cannot imagine the stress she was under before she was able to get the initial operation to close it and fortunately for her available for free on the National Health Service. Prior to this my only experience with this medical problem had been a boy at my secondary school with a cleft lip & I recall thinking at the time “Oh well, he can always grow a moustache to cover that.” Doubt I even knew what it was. The 1st thing I did was inform my friends that Christmas gifts would be slightly different from now on and not to expect anything in the mail! They all took it very well & happily are “still” my close friends. PHEW! I also put an Operation Smile collection box on my desk at the dental clinic where I worked. This lead to an absolutely amazing result when it came time to close the clinic in August this year, but more about that next time. Have I got you hooked???
November Coffee and Newcomers Coffee November Newcomers Coffee will be combined with the monthly Coffee Morning. All members and friends are very welcome to attend and newcomers are especially welcome.
Date : Thursday 14th November Time : 10am - 12 noon Venue : The Living Room, Sheraton Grande Hotel (1st Floor), Sukhumvit Road Cost : Members 220 TB, non-members 250 TB. Newcomers are complimentary. Price includes one cup of tea or coffee and a slice of cake. RSVP : to coffee@bwgbangkok.org by Monday 11th November
WILFRED MERRILL (BILL) 1910 – 1995
Father of Gale Bailey (nee Merrill)
My mother, Doris (who my dad always called Janie) was pregnant with my sister, Patricia Anne, when war was declared in September 1939. My father was amongst the first to volunteer to defend his country and was sent off to training camp. Pat was born in February 1940 and my father managed to see her twice as a baby but in 1941, he was captured in Crete and taken to Stalag 18 where he spent the remainder of the war. Like all others during that time, he was never sure of the future and wrote frequently to my mother but this poignant poem to my sister, in case he never made it to see her grow up, is as relevant today as it was then. Incidentally, my father never bore any animosity towards his captors, he always told me, 'Love, it was war time and those people were not so different to us'. Of course, he was not referring to the fanatics but to the everyday folk who all suffered.
War Poems – Bill Merrill (P.O.W. 1941 – 1945) Closing paragraph to his young daughter, Patricia (born 1940)
Remember, each and everyone, who in this world meets you Is rightfully entitled to hold a different view So do not be conceited but always strive to earn The friendship of all people and then I know you’ll learn That though wealth may be useful; and power and prestige too, In life they are but symbols, of might, held by a few. So do not covet money but count your wealth in deeds, Of kindly thoughtful actions which answer someone’s needs. In this you’ll find a pleasure which brings with it a glow Of human understanding and then, My Dear, you’ll know That the ‘Milk of human kindness’, which comes from ‘One above’ Is the kindly disposition, the quality of love. While I’m away, my Darling, be at your Mother’s side, Courageously awaiting, the ‘turning of the tide’ And so until it’s ended, this war we hate and loathe, My love is yours forever, God Bless and keep you both.
Gift of Happiness visit to the Fatima Centre By Gale Bailey MBE I had not long returned from UK when Eddie, Director and Founder of Gift of Happiness Foundation told me he was going to perform a clown show – CLOWN ECKIE – at the Fatima Centre, Din Daeng. I used to travel up country with him a good deal but have not done so for a while but do like to show my support for him whenever I can so despite jet lag, off I went. This was a special show for the young children but the older children are invited too. Eddie does this for free every few years and is always well received. Eddie Haworth donned his clown face and outfit to the delight of the children (and grown ups) LET THE FUN BEGIN! I have seen his basic routine so many times but it still makes me laugh and the children love it – a real buffoon! Eddie tries to engage as many of them as possible by including them in his act and then most of them end up as members of the ‘orchestra’ – loud and out of tune but great fun! It was good to see Eddie and also Sally Voravarn, another supporter of Gift of Happiness and the feel good factor helped a great deal with jet lag and my return into Bangkok life! HERE WE GO AGAIN!
November Lunch Drop in lunch at - Wine Connection Date - Thursday 21st November
Time - 12 noon - 2pm
Location - Wine Connection, Rain Hill, 777 Rain Hill Project, Ground Floor Unit L1 - 12, Soi Sukhumvit 47
RSVP to lunch@bwgbangkok.org by Monday 18th November
Food and prices - 199 TB They are offering a special set lunch which includes any pasta or pizza, a side garden salad and any soft drink.
Everyone is very welcome for lunch or just a drink.
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WRITTEN IN 2004
"ODE TO MENOPAUSE” by Jackie Reynolds
OURS IS NOT TO REASON WHY. OURS IS JUST TO SWEAT, SCRATCH AND SIGH THERE I WAS, FEELING YOUNG AND HAPPY. NOW I'M FEELING OLD AND CRAPPY MEMORIES GONE, WHERE DO I BELONG. WHERE'S MY KEYS? WHAT'S HAPPENED TO MY KNEES? BONES TURNING CHALKY. TIME FOR A WALKY. HORMONES ROARING. WHO THE HELL'S THAT SNORING.
FEELING BLOATED. DULY NOTED! HRT THAT'S NOT FOR ME. OOPS TIME AGAIN FOR ANOTHER PEE. ENERGY LEVELS ZERO. TIME TO CALL ON MY INNER HERO. COULD BE WORSE, AT LEAST I DON'T HAVE "THE CURSE" I AM WOMAN, I AM STRONG, I CAN HANDLE THIS, "BRING IT ON" LOOK TO THE FUTURE. IT'S NOT TIME TO SHOOT YA.