C NTACT THE MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH WOMEN’S GROUP BANGKOK
February 2022
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’s message Page 3
Diary Page 4
Book Club Pages 6-7
January Coffee Pages 10-14
Wanchai Thanksgiving Home Pages 16-19
Birthdays Page 21
Tessa Sreesangkom Pages 22-26
Walking Tour Pages 28-38
Year End Lunch 40-41
Lucille Bond Page 42
Editor
becky.adderley@btinternet.com
British Women’s Group.
bwgbangkok@gmail.com
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 Kung Hei Fat Choy! January almost felt like life was back to normal. I attended book club, a committee meeting, a welfare meeting, a coffee morning and a lunch. Numbers are picking up and I certainly won’t be planning another “pay your own bill” lunch. It doesn’t work with 25 people. We are at 70 paid up members and 35 honourary members of whom around a dozen are active. We need more committee members to organise our activities. Please consider joining our team at our AGM on 10th March. If you are interested, please contact me and we can discuss positions available. Liz 1st February: Book Club discussing “The House by the Sea”. Next book is “How to Murder your Family by Bella Mackie”. 3rd February: Chinese New Year coffee morning at Liz’s home. 10.30am. B300. 10th February: Afternoon Tea at Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel. 2pm. B1150. 17th February: Lunch tbc
Hi Ladies and I hope that you are all well wherever you are in the world. If you have any articles to share for the magazine, maybe related to what you all have been up to over the past few months (holidays, baking, new hobbies etc), then please email your contributions to me at becky.adderley@btinternet.com All contributions will be be very gratefully received and these will really help to preserve and strengthen our links as a BWG community. www.bwgbangkok.org
info@bwgbangkok.org
Contact April 2021
February Diary SUN
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
1 Book Club
2
3 Chinese New Year Coffee
4
5
6
7 Mahjong
8 Bridge Golf
9 Mah-jong Art Group
10 Afternoon Tea
11
12
13
14 Mah-jong
15 Bridge Golf
16 Mah-jong Art Group
17 February Lunch
18
19
22 Bridge Golf
23 Mah-jong Art Group
24
25
26
Jackie Reynold’s games afternoon at Bistro 33 20
21 Mah-jong
27
28 Mah-jong
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) Contact Jane Rogers Tuesday Bridge - Audrie Sill Golf - (morning) Ami 0971851834 Book Club - 1st Tuesday (10am) Lynne Smith 0957024638 Scottish Dancing - 1st Tuesday (7:30pm) Karen Burr Wednesday Mah-jong - (beginners welcome) (10am - 1pm) Contact Elizabeth Bryans Art Group - Bistro 33 Sukhumvit Soi 33 (10am -12:30pm) Julie. juliehedge4@gmail.com
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.
This month’s Book Club Book was - A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles. ‘Imagine Lockdown for 32 years’ The book is set in the beginning of 20th century Russia and follows the story of Count Alexander Ilyich Rostov and his life in the Hotel Metropol, where he is under house arrest for thirty-two years. He has ‘the run’ of the hotel and can visit the barber shop and restaurants within the hotel but finds his circumstances constantly being eroded. His original suite is taken and he is given a small room on the top floor, he is no longer allowed to be called ‘your excellency’ and he eventually becomes (a very good) waiter at the hotel. He remains surprisingly upbeat as he navigates his way through challenging circumstances with good cheer. The 20th century was a turbulent time in Russia. Old political systems were deemed obsolete and people wanted change and rights for all, not just for the wealthy. In the Russian Empire ‘old and new’ clashed in blood, violence, and death. Being noble was not popular and Communists slowly gained more trust from the people. Since their agenda blamed several groups of people for every misfortune that happened, being a Count became very dangerous. Filled with historical segments and events of the time, A Gentleman in Moscow is more than just a story of one man, it’s a story of survival and uncertainty in dire times. At the start of January, due to overseas absences and Omicron, a very reduced group of 3 met at Delina’s to discuss the book, with feedback E mailed in by many more members. All loved the main character and his stoic (but calculating and patient) way of dealing with his circumstances in a humerous and engaging manner. Many liked the historical angle of the book and the unusual location of The Metropol Hotel, as well as the way the story unfolded in a reflection of life at that time.
While for some this was their ‘favourite book’ and others were inspired to go back and read again, not all loved it, with some finding this was not the book for them! There is an excellent final section where the count ‘escapes’ Russia and many incidents previously encountered in the book are pulled together. However, it would have been interesting to know what happened to the Count and Anna afterwards? What happened to Nina, and also Sophie? Should the book have had an epilogue to tie up a few loose ends? The novel was very well received and enjoyed. An average score of 8/10 but with a few giving 9/10 and comments on the unique and brilliant writing style of the author. Next month - ‘The House by the Sea’ by Louise Douglas for discussion on Tuesday 1st February.
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t
n Convenie
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www.bumrungrad.com Contact Center: 0 2066 8888
nsive
e Compreh
January Coffee Morning by Yvonne Ziegler Coffee Morning on 13th January, was a special occasion for me, as it was my first visit to Bangkok in two years! 16 Ladies gathered at Steps Community, at The Commons, Thonglor, for delicious coffee and cakes. We enjoyed some very animated conversation, laughter and a fun raffle. I hope others will visit Steps Community as they have great food and are very family friendly with a safe play room and spacious dining area, as well as the cosy coffee shop. I look forward to joining other BWG events as health regulations relax soon.
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The Wanchai Maetim Thanksgiving Home By Gale Bailey MBE
The Wanchai Maetim Thanksgiving Home which takes care of disabled children and poor folk in the Pakkred community has just received foundation status and is now known as Thanksgiving Home Foundation. BWG have supported them over the years with small donations and they were one of the recipients of 5,000 Baht given for treats at Christmas.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! We would like to wish a really happy birthday to: Daphne Colwell - 2nd February Rosamunde Cummings - 8th February Irene Gray - 12 February Irene Sangkhanond - 21st February Sue Williams - 27th February
Have a wonderful day and we are all thinking of you.
A very special Happy Birthday to Tessa Sreesangkom who who is 100 on the 12th February and is the oldest member of the BWG. I 2006, on the occasion of Tessa’s 84th birthday, Gale Bailey MBE, wrote an article on Tessa and her family for the Contact Magazine. We have included it in this month’s magazine so that you are all able to read it. Happy Birthday Tessa and have the most wonderful day with your friends and family.
Celebrating 60 Years A proud tradition of learning excellence
We offer a British-style education for an international community, from Nursery through to Graduation. Find out how our approach to learning and outstanding teaching staff 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
Walking Tour – Chit Lom to Golden Mount and Giant Swing Fancy a small adventure and a walking tour on your doorstep? Try this for a nice half day trip out roaming some of the City’s landmarks. Start at the top of Chitlom Road (sometimes called Chitlom Alley), at the junction with Sukhumvit (just off Chit Lom BTS). Walk away from Sukhumvit on the left-hand side. Cross the bridge over the klong and come back on yourself to the klong and the station/deck. When the boat arrives get on and pay 11B for a ticket. Go only one stop and then change boats (this is the end of one line and everyone gets off anyway) and then get on the next boat that is usually waiting (follow the crowd!) – your 11B fare is valid for this part of the trip too. You may recognise some of the buildings en route. It goes past the back of the House of Jim Thompson (Stop 1 if you wanted to go there). Stay on the boat until the end of the line (when everyone gets off) and you will be in front of a white bridge. Come out of the ferry deck/station and turn left to walk over the white bridge and the klong, and Golden Mount will be 20m on your left.
Golden Mount Wat Saket or Srakesa Temple open 7-30 to 19-00 – 50B entry fee (free for Thai’s). NB – no short skirts or exposed shoulders. Has lots of steps but not steep. Good for sunset photos too. This is an old burial mount with amazing bells, waterfalls, gongs and steeped in history. It has great views from the top over the city and many golden Buddha’s. There is a coffee shop half way up which is worth a look as on the wall there is a timeline in Thai and English (also good toilets at the coffee shop. NB If you use the toilets at the base of the mount, they ask you to take off your shoes. Although there is a maid there regularly cleaning, it may not be something you want to do but the toilet in the coffee shop is a regular toilet!). Make sure you get right to the top – it’s worth it for the views and to get your bearings. Exit Golden Mount by the main gate, cross the road and turn left. This will take you past wood turning, door carving and wooden coving shop area. The smell is divine of newly turned wood and you can pick up small pieces of carved/turned wood at bargain prices or huge doors for your mansion if you have one! (Top Tip – small round carved pieces that can be stained or painted and hung on ribbon for Christmas decorations – very cheap (25B?) and fun to do and uniquely Thai) Keep walking straight along this road until your reach a junction with a white bridge on the right to take you over the klong. However, before you turn right, on this corner is:-
‘Monk’s Alms Bowl Village’ (Soi Ban Baat) Here alms bowls are manufactured by hand in the traditional way, for monks to use to gather offerings. Once an order is placed by a monk, using traditional tools and methods, a team will start an assembly line of nine different steps. Definitely worth a stop if they are at work.
After the alms bowls village turn right over the klong and walk straight, in the distance you will see the Royal Swing, painted red and keep walking straight as you head towards it.
Royal Swing Dating back to 1784 this is a religious structure over 21m (69’) high which had a swing boat attached in the middle. It was used by the Brahmans to show daring and to swing as high as they could in hopes of reaching a bag of gold coins hung at around 15m (50’). If they succeeded they kept the treasure, but this was cancelled in 1935 after several accidents and deaths. Since then it has been remodelled a few times and this construction is from 2007. The Royal Swing is at the entrance to Wat Suthat
Wat Suthat – open 8:30 to 9:00pm – Entry 100B (free for Thais) NB – no short skirts or exposed shoulders. Wat Suthat has the enshrined monument, ashes and bones of Rama 8. This Wat has many areas of interest although at the moment is still undergoing renovations. However, it still has a spectacular array of golden and black Buddha’s (including the biggest bronze Buddha in Thailand), amazing murals and paintings, stone carvings and wood panelled doors. It’s definitely worth a look despite the 2 tier pricing…. (I’m not sure if you have your passport/work permit/residency with you if this would give free entry or not?) If you’ve got this far it’s now worth looking for lunch or drinks. We exited Wat Suthat by a side gate (next to Thai Herbal Drinks, but didn’t stop there so can’t comment/recommend) and then turned right and walked straight on from there (past all the gun shops!), crossing the road and heading towards China Town. We ate at ‘Punjab Sweets’ (if you have maps on your phone) which was a little tricky to find down small alleyways but well worth it, a local basic eatery with delicious foods for sharing – we sat upstairs. However, there are loads of places to eat, in malls, on the streets, small local places selling lots of Indian and Thai goodies. After this we headed back with a short walk to Sampheng Road and China Town and on to the MRT/BTS system. Alternatively, from Wat Suthat area you could retrace your steps and get the klong boat back. However, from here it’s only a 10 min walk to The Temple of Emerald Buddha and 15 min walk to the Grand Palace if you wanted to extend your walking tour further. NB - ‘Currently Klong ferries are not running on Sundays. They definitely run regularly Monday to Friday but not sure about Saturday.’
Year End Lunch by Gale Bailey MBE
Once again Liz Dobson rallied the troops for a year end lunch to bring together a few ladies who were in town. It was pay as you go at the Royal Oak and 13 BWG ladies were joined by my Thai friend, Nan Field (thanks for the photos, Nan) who I first met 25 years ago when we came for a look-see before coming to Thailand! Nan was back in Thailand with her husband and daughter, visiting family she had not seen for 2 years due to Covid (that virus has a lot to answer for)! The decibel level soared as folk caught up on Christmas happenings as well as the forthcoming new year. Sue Jones, back with her husband, Norman, the interim vicar of Christ Church once again, was attaining the big 70 birthday so flowers were presented and a round of Happy Birthday was sung to her. The BWG Second Hand Book box was emptied and so pleased to report that 4,400 was made for welfare since the Royal Oak had been allowed to re-open. A very pleasant lunch and I would like to recommend the Krapow Gai which is one of my favourites! Thanks again Liz,
