C NTACT THE MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH WOMEN’S GROUP BANGKOK
April 2020
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
Book Club Page 6
Welfare Pages 8-9
Poolside party Pages 14-15
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 Never before has last month’s thought for the month been more apposite. (life is 10% what happens and 90% how you react). I do hope that you are all fit, well, and where you want to be. I know it is hard being so far from family and friends at this time, thank goodness for technology, although that does not ease the pain of being apart. The magazine this month is obviously a little thin on content, but, thanks to Becky’s hard work, she has managed to put together a little something. The next few months may also see us in a continued state of flux, so we were wondering if any of you have anything that you could send in to amuse or interest us all, now would be a good time to do so. It can be on any topic, past or present. As soon as we can get up and running again, we will let you know. I am also sure that we will need a jolly good party to start normal life again. Please keep in touch through email, WhatsApp , Facebook, Messenger or good old fashioned phone calls. We are all still here and more than Ailsa Kneath happy to spend virtual time with you. If anyone would like a message sent out to all members, please email me and I will see that it is sent out on our mailerlite. My email is aokneath@gmail.com. Another way to cheer us all up is if you have any funnies you can post on the BWG Facebook page. We are being asked to save lives by changing the way we live, and it is the biggest and most important thing we’ve ever been tasked to do, and for many it will come with heartbreak that a lifetime of fresh air walks won’t cure. Be kind, keep safe and healthy in these unpredictable times. There will be an end to it, and hopefully the world will be a better place after this wake up call. Sending you love and hugs, Ailsa. Thought for the month. Try to be a rainbow in someone else’s cloud - Maya Angelou.
Welcome to the April issue of Contact Magazine and I hope you all are well and safe during these very difficult and challenging times. It is hard being separated from family and friends who we rely on for love and support, certainly when we have no clear idea when life will return to normal again. The way that we live our lives has changed radically and so I wondered whether any of you would like to contribute to the magazine by sending photographs accompanied by a small amount of text explaining what you are doing - maybe learning a new hobby or skill or maybe engaging in activities that you normally don’t have time for - I’m working my way through a 1000 piece jigsaw at the moment! Thank you in anticipation of your contributions. Please send to - becky.adderley@btinternet.com www.bwgbangkok.org
info@bwgbangkok.org
British Women’s Group Bangkok
Contact April 2020
April Diary SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
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3
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6 MAHJONG
7 Bridge Golf
8 Mah-jong Art Group
9 Monthly coffee
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11
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13 Mah-jong
14 Bridge Golf
15 Mah-jong Art Group
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17
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19
20 Mah-jong
21 Bridge Golf
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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
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
Bookworms - April A long walk home by Judith Tebbutt This is a story told by Judith Tebbutt who tells the story of her kidnap, a six month nightmare of being held hostage by Somali pirates after an idyllic holiday with her husband David in the Masai Mara game park in Kenya. It’s a story of a couple very much in love who left the game park to finish their holiday on the Kenyan coast. Warning bells sounded early for Judith when they arrived at the resort with accommodation consisting of ten bandas (huts ) with no windows and doors and ostensibly few staff. The resort was North of Lamu island and just 40km south of Somalia. I believe stories of Somali pirates were not unknown at that time and one wonders why the couple chose a resort in such a location. On their first night Somali pirates arrived at the resort. Initially they went to another room but the guests had moved to another banda so, not finding them, the pirates moved to the banda of David and Judith. They snatched Judith barefoot and in pyjamas and manhandled her along the beach to their boat and took her on a long journey to Somalia. David was murdered but it was many months before Judith’s son Ollie told her this and in those many months she expected that David would be making arrangements to rescue her. She tells how she survived - six months in filthy cramped rooms , starvation rations of potato and rice, insulted, humiliated and occasionally threatened when no progress was being made with ransom negotiations she somehow managed to walk to keep fit and built a rapport with her captors. Somehow she never lost hope and was determined to keep her identity. She managed to somehow cope with the death of David and depend on their son Ollie who was helped by British authorities to negotiate for her release. She wrote the book to tell others who found themselves in a hostage situation to not give up hope and know that they were not forgotten. So what did we think. We all declared respect for Judith Tebbut’s strength and agreed with surprise at how clearly Judith recalled everything about her captivity in detail . It was remarked that the story lacked emotion but maybe she couldn’t have told the story if she was distressed at every memory. There were parts of the book which most of us found a bit boring and repetitive but then we felt a bit of guilt to criticise anything about this very brave lady. Yes it’s a good read but maybe expect to skip a few pages whilst going through the book. Scores - 3/10 -1 person; 5/10 -1 person; 7/10 -5 people Future book clubs and picks: April 7th - All that remains - Sue Black May 5th- The taxidermist’s daughter - Kate Moss June 2nd - Father of Lions - Louise Callaghan July 7th - Lady in Waiting - Anne Glenconner We have sadly lost two members Ann, who is leaving shortly, and Teresa so we wish them well and I have to say we will miss their very excellent contributions. We will be welcoming new membersSusan, Lindsey, Maria Luisa and Tina. Message to new members: The bookclub normally happens on the first Tuesday of the month between 10 am and 12 noon. Venue is normally 28/06, Urbana, 55 Lang Suan, Pathumwan 10330. Nearest BTS is Chitlom. Follow signs to Mercuryville and leave to Lang Suan through the doors near to Box. Walk down Lang Suan towards Lumpini Park on left side of the road. Urbana is just past Hotel Muse. 28/06 is in the tower behind the reception desk. You need to ask reception or one of the porters to let you into the lift. At the 28th floor turn left out of the lift . Coffee, tea and biscuits and water is on offer. My phone number is - 0819467364
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.
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Spread the word! The BWG monthly Coffee Morning from now on will be held at The Living Room, Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit, every second Thursday of the month! We hope this venue is convenient being accessible from Sukhumvit Road or directly from Asoke BTS. The cost is THB 200 net/person for your choice of hot coffee and a piece of house cake. Additional discount of 30% on additional drink. Please RSVP as the hotel requires an idea of numbers attending each month. Everyone welcome!
Poolside Party We had a Poolside Party on Saturday 22nd February, kindly hosted by Sylvia and Martin Knoss. It was a wonderful location with a lovely breeze. It was a small intimate party with only 21 members signing up for the event but we all had a lovely time. The food was catered by I'm Tasty and everyone agreed that it really was very tasty especially the pies. Sylvia and Martin kindly donated some alcohol that their lovely daughter, Pia and Paula turned into wonderful cocktails, with the proceeds going to the BWG welfare fund, well done girls!
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
JOAN BARTLETT’S BIRTHDAY BWG Monday Mahjong - 9th March, 2020
At the beginning of the year Ann McKinnon suggested that it may might be a nice idea to celebrate the birthday of the member whose birthday fell on a Monday. It so happened that mine was the first. So this week there were six ladies present for Mahjong, namely Jane Rodgers (who was standing in for Ann), Rebecca Adderley, Amelia Deely, Catherine Bowers, Carole Ann Eastgate, myself and my three guests, Sheila Buchannen, Lynn Pound and Sian Fredericks. We had a private room and I was treated to a lovely birthday. There were cards and gifts. We were rather noisy but I for one had a lovely time. I have not had a birthday like it for years.
So thank you ladies and Ann for the suggestion.
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