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THE MAGAZINE OF THE BRITISH WOMEN’S GROUP BANGKOK MAY 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
Editors message Page 3
Diary Page 4
May Coffee Page 6
Welfare News Pages 7, 8 and 9
Go Snoop Activity Pages 11 and 12
Combined Ladies Lunch Page 14
Varuna Yacht Club Trip Pages 15 and 16
Coffee at the FCC Page 18
Book Club report Page 19
SIB Flower Power event Page 21
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.
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Chairman’s Message May is here already, and it is a huge month for the BWG as we approach our 50th Anniversary which we are combining with hosting the Combined Women’s Lunch at The Kempinski Hotel on 29th May. The actual day of our conception 50 years ago. I do so hope as many of you who can, will be joining us for a what we hope will be a great day. There will be an opportunity to shop at our vendors market of local entrepreneurs and our charity stalls, entertainment by a talented table magician and an opportunity to put on your dancing shoes and bop to the disco, along with great photographic opportunities with the Houses of Parliament as a back drop, Queen Elizabeth 2nd and James Bond all whilst astride
Ailsa Kneath
a fabulous Triumph motorbike!
A great deal of work has gone into organising this lunch, with all the BKK ladies groups and our Ambassador joining us, to enjoy the sumptuous lunch with 2 complimentary bottles of wine per table, no corkage on BYO and very reasonable wine sold per glass and bottle. Please support us, as it is so important for us to be able to continue our contributions to our chosen charities.
“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” Dennis P. Kimbro
Welcome to the May issue of Contact, and my first issue as Editor. I’m really thrilled to be able to do this and would like to give a very special thank you to Claire who has provided me with all of necessary information, help and support to enable me to take over the role. I’m know that you will all want to wish her the very best with the move of country and hope that Claire and her family enjoy the new experience. In this month’s issue you can find all the photos from the trip to the Royal Varuna Yacht Club and the ‘Go Snoop’ activity in April. Also find details of a variety of other exciting events which are happening this month including the Combined Women’s Lunch, May Coffee and the SIB Flower Power event. Happy reading!!
Becky Adderley www.bwgbangkok.org
info@bwgbangkok.org
British Women’s Group Bangkok
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April Diary SUN
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8 Mah-jong
9 Bridge Golf
10 Mah-jong Art Group
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May Coffee@ Jamie’s Italian
Newcomers Coffee @ Bistro 33
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15 Mah-jong
16 Bridge Golf
17 Mah-jong Art Group
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23 Bridge Golf
24 Mah-jong Art Group
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CWL@ Siam Kampinski Hotel
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
Save the Date Combined Women’s Lunch hosted by BWG for our 50th Anniversary Wednesday 29th May @ Siam Kempinski Hotel
Wednesday Mah-jong - (beginners welcome) (1pm - 4pm) Art Group - Bistro 33 Sukhumvit Soi 33 (10am -12:30pm) Melissa Preston
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May Coffee Date : Thursday 9th May Time : 10:15am - 12noon Venue : Jamie’s Italian restaurant, ground floor, Siam Discovery Cost : Complimentary pastries and special BWG pay as you go menu RSVP : to coffee@bwgbangkok.org by Monday 6th May
May Welfare News By Liz Dobson
Two Trips up North with THEP Last July I went up to Chiang Mai with the THEP (Thailand Hilltribe Education Projects) people and began to sponsor a 13-year-old girl from a remote village. I was so lucky, I got to meet the girl, Antika, her mother and some other children from her village. I gave them a bag of stationery items for their school. I also met one of the student nurses sponsored by a fund raised in memory of Edith Stewart MBE, one of our members and both of the university students sponsored by the BWG. At one remote school we were greeted by the head teacher who was a previous THEP recipient and I got chatting to a young teacher who had travelled to meet the THEP people in order to give a donation as she too had previously been sponsored. It was a life changing trip, these people are so poor and it is possible to make such a difference with a small input. THEP www.thepthailand.com was started 27 years ago. They have undertaken more than 100 mission trips, have had over 400 scholarship recipients and built numerous school projects (usually dormitories, water supplies or canteens in remote schools). They provide education opportunities and empowerment to Hilltribe students and their communities in northern Thailand. Every baht donated to THEP goes to the students. They are able to finish high school, graduate and continue to tertiary education thus improving the lives of themselves, their families and communities. Sponsorship improves the education and wellbeing of entire villages. This March I was invited to join another THEP trip north, this time also getting to visit one of the villages. I happened to have one of my sisters visiting me so took her and her husband along. We started with the opening ceremony of a large canteen at Song Kwae School. This was built with the funds raised by ANZWG’s Melbourne Cup event only last November. (Around B500.000). We were entertained to dances by different Hilltribe groups and a band. We were also given a delicious lunch and encouraged to shop in the market where pupils were selling the produce of their villages. I got some lovely earrings. We then travelled to Mae Sariang for an overnight stay in a hotel and up early for our trip up into the hills to Ban Mae Ook Neua village. We saw a lot of charred fields and forest and the air must have been awful, but it didn’t feel bad. In the village THEP are overseeing the building of a small canteen at the village school. My civil engineer brother-in-law was called on for advice and recommendations. The villagers were so welcoming and took us to see someone weaving cloth and another sorting rice from chaff. After lunch we headed for Chiang Mai. Next day we were interviewing students at Wat Chedi Luang. Each THEP student is interviewed at least once per year to check on progress and grades. I met up with both of Edith’s girls this time, they are starting on their last year of studies. I also met one of the BWG girls. I have decided to sponsor another girl, Keerataya from the same village as Antika and my sister will sponsor the third girl that I met last year. They will be coming down to Chiang Mai to be interviewed on the next THEP trip in late June/early July. I am planning to be there. I cannot commend this organisation highly enough. Please check their website www.thepthailand.com and consider changing someone’s life.
Liz Dobson handing over stationery items for the village school of THEP students. This photograph was taken last year when Liz began to sponsor the girl on the far right of the picture. Liz now also sponsors the girl second on the right and her sister sponsors the girl on her left. The small boy is sponsored by Gale Bailey MBE’s daughter. Their village is very remote and they come from very poor families.
Ban Mae Ook Neua is high in the hills above Mar Sariang in Mae Hong Son province. THEP are sponsoring the building of a small canteen at the school here.
These three students are sponsored by the BWG. The girl on the left of the photograph is at university in Lampang and the two on the right of the photograph are trainee nurses sponsored by the Edith Stewart MBE fund.
If you went to ANZWG’s Melbourne Cup, this is where the money went. That quick! The money that was raised was used to build a very large canteen/study room plus the purchase of furniture at Song Kwae School. This school is not far from Chiang Mai and it takes children from many different hilltribes around as boarders.
Different tribal dress.
Another student who is being sponsored by the BWG.
LONG LIVE THE KING
The British Women's Group convey their felicitations to His Majesty on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty's Royal Coronation.
Go Snoop - March Activity
By Karen Wanliss
The GoSnoop Mission is advertised as a “2-3 hours outdoor detective game that will take you to wonderful places and even some secret locations…” On 28th March 6 budding detectives took up the challenge to follow the route and worked together to crack the code (or did they?)
The mission, which we chose to accept, commenced at the Sapan Hua Chang boat stop and the outward boat journey ended at Phanfa Leelard Pier next to the bridge that leads onto the old Rattanakosin island.
The teams collected numbers and codes en-route as they worked to establish what might have happened to a missing family. Following a game guide & map the first port of call was into Wat Saket (The Golden Mountain.) The walk up around Wat Saket does not involve removing any shoes but it does require a shawl (maybe borrowed) for shoulders.
Following the route around the Rattanakosin roads and back streets we came across establishments housing communities that make their living producing hand made alms bowls, intricate woodwork, temple supplies, and a “dizzying array of statues depicting every conceivable posture of the Buddha.” And true to the BWG style silver crossed palms with the ladies out shopping! Following the route, and each other, the group came across The Giant Swing. The Brahman’s attempt to catch the bag of gold or silver by mouth no longer takes places. In the 1930s the ceremony was abandoned, too many were hurt apparently.
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Wat Suthat, sometimes overlooked, but one of the oldest and largest temples in Bangkok, was the next stop with a warm welcome from the temple keeper, encouraging us into the Ordination Hall, well worth a visit. Following directions, and the traffic, the group came across the secret location of an ancient Ice Cream shop. On a corner in the Phraeng Phuton Road Community this is found by entering a small passage next to the Yi Lao Tang Jua Lee restaurant. This walk could be taken just for the ice cream, it really is worth it! Sitting within a restored heritage community with the locals getting government support to paint and bring their buildings back to life “this is probably the best preserved heritage neighbourhood in Bangkok.” So, having collected all the clues, as well as nearing the recommended 10,000 steps, we completed the mission in an air-conditioned Printing House Poshtel coffee shop. The missing family was found, the culprit identified and some of the clues missed by a whisker.
I for one will be heading out on the new GoSnoop mission when it is published. I doubt I would have found this walk without Elizabeth’s time, patience and effort in putting this excellent morning out together for us at BWG. It would be in breach of copyright (and unfair) to reproduce the map en-masse, here are directions for the first boat trip if you wish to re-trace our steps. Google maps works quite well following the key markers. To get to Sapan Hua Chang boat stop: Take BTS to National Stadium, exit at 3, follow the pavement with the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre on the left. Before you come to the road bridge follow the pavement left and drop under the bridge area more lefts (we met at the bananas…). The fare for the khlong boat is 9bht but get on and off at your own peril (seriously, this is not for the feint hearted!) Extra Tip – if you come back via this boat exit left across the road bridge and you will come across the Jim Thomson House Museum, call in for a well earned drink, you only need to pay if you go around the house. Enormous thanks to Elizabeth Bryans for finding this mission and going to great lengths with her risk assessment visits prior to us meeting, on time and in the right place!
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.
The BWG will donate proceeds raised from the charity lunch to; Gift of Happiness Foundation in Thailand and Steps with Theera
Duo of Cold Steamed Atlantic Lobster Salad and Tartar ***** Oven Baked Tiger Prawn and Scallops “Pot au Feu� OR Natural Grass Fed Beef Tenderloin ***** Non-classic Banoffi Sphere, Coconut ice cream. ***** Vegetarian Option available. ***** 2 bottles of complimentary wine per table of 10
Welcome drink, Shopping, Free corkage (feel free to BYO) & Disco
Outing to the Royal Varuna Yacht Club Pattaya VIVACIOUS , VOLUBLE LADIES VISIT VERUNA By Ailsa Kneath
11 bright eyed and bushy tailed ladies gathered at 8am outside Emporium Suites on Wednesday 24th April ready for an adventure. The first bus left to pick up Gale “en route” while our bus was going to go via Central Mega Bangna to pick up Liz and Jane. We clearly were on the right bus as Jane came prepared with the bottles of fizz whilst Liz had a plentiful supply of freshly made bacon butties. Were we happy? Yes we were! After an easy drive we arrived at 10.30am to be greeted by Baz and his staff who quickly showed us to our rooms from which we all emerged 15 minutes latter as beach babes! Straight into the pool for splash and swim. It was agreed that we could not believe we had so quickly been transferred to a complete paradise. Clear sky, blue sea palm trees, fresh air and total calm. After lunch everyone relaxed on the beach and waited for our sailing lessons, brave ladies took to the catamaran, whist the not so brave had a gentle bob in a dingy, where all we had to do was duck or grouse as the boom came over now and then as we tacked (note nautical terms!). We were a little concerned that our gorgeous sailing instructor who had been there for only two days asked us, “Are you the infamous ladies that drank Baz dry last year?” However Jane saved the day by proving herself to be a natural sailor.
I had a go at paddle boarding, managing to get onto my feet but unable to let go of the sides, although I received great technique guidance from Karen and was encouraged by positive comments from the other water babies. 5:30 pm was the magic hour for us all to meet to watch the sun go down aided by plentiful supplies of “bubbles”. We were also joined by Jenny and her family who were staying at the hotel next door and one of our Pattaya members Joanne and her friend Sharon. A sumptuous BBQ was then eaten and enjoyed by us all, with rhubarb crumble pudding to round it off.
A great raffle was held, with a 2 night stay at Veruna as the main prize , an umbrella and book. All donated by Baz, to whom we would like to say a massive thank you as our Welfare coffers were swelled by a wonderful 6,500 Bht.
Needless to say the hard core kept our reputation going by karaoke antics well into the night. Thursday was another glorious day, with a gentle repeat of the previous day. It was agreed by everyone that that the two days had felt like a week away and that the venue was perfect, with wonderful food and a fantastically relaxed atmosphere. Roll on next year’s trip! A huge thank you to Sue for organising the event with such expertise and aplomb, everything ran like clock work. I am sure she could run a company called “BKK Trips Are Us”.
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
April Coffee at the FCC By Ailsa Kneath
On Thursday April 11th, we were very honoured to be invited to the Foreign Correspondents Club BKK to listen to a talk given by the world renowned journalist Dominic Faulder, on a wonderful past Prime Minister Khun Anand Panyarachun who steered Thailand through many interesting and troubling years from BKK and as an American Ambassador. Dominic gave us a riveting insight into many of the past political issues through the years, explaining the historical facts in layman's language, which enabled us to appreciate and understand the complex issues which we have already lived through and how these impact on what we are about to experience. Not only did we have a stimulating talk but we were able to share a very special birthday with our very own wonderful Shirley Kennedy who was celebrating being 90 years young. We gave her a bottle of bubbly and an enormous helium number 90. Which I might add was great fun trying to get them into a taxi. A wonderful morning was had by one and all, and a big thank you to Gale for organising, Liz for coordinating and to the staff who were so accommodating and thoughtful.
Contact December 2018
Bookworms - April Two books were reviewed by four of the Bookworms at their April meeting. ‘Where the Crawdads sing’ by Delia 0wens (review written by Theresa Rayfield). ‘Where the Crawdads Sing’ follows the life of Kya Clark from her early life, when she is deserted by her family (starting with some older siblings, then her mother and finally her abusive drunk father), to her later life when she is accused and tried for the murder of popular town local Chase Andrews. Her story is well written, focuses on her love of the natural beauty around her and her struggle but determination to survive without relying on anyone. It was loved by all who read it and is definitely worth reading. Thoroughly recommended, you won’t be disappointed. Jane Upperton also commented that anyone who reads this book shouldn’t give away a certain part of it and also that this lovely book comes from a talented researcher and protector of nature. The author normally concentrates her work in Africa but this book is focussed on the marshes and it’s peoples in North Carolina . Scores 1-8/10, 1-9/10, 3-10/10 10/10 is an exceptional score - its a winner.
‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee (review written by Frances Luns). ‘Pachinko’ is set in Korea and Japan and spans four generations of a family. It was agreed that the authors style was not beautiful and in part frustrating as the story jumped about in time and at the end it suddenly finished ‘as though it just had to finish somewhere’ . Despite these comments it was loved especially in the way it gave insight into the complicated relationship between Korean and Japanese people. One person commented that she loved it because it taught so much particularly the way that the Japanese looked down on the Koreans. Apparently some Koreans pretended to be Japanese as a way of surviving. It was described as a compelling book because the author tried to pack too much into the story but then this came at the expense of developing characters and stories.
Scores 2-8/10, 2-9/10
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Greetings from Soroptimist International Bangkok! At the Inter Women's Club meeting our President Niru announced our fundraising event FLOWER POWER, which will be held Saturday June 8th at the Sheraton Grande Hotel. Please see the advertising flyer below. Don't miss out on this fun event of Beatles, BeeGee's and Elvis music performed by the Cora Band and Khun Chatri! It will bring back the Flower Power era! We will have a delicious buffet will all choices of food and there will be great wines for sale at discounted prizes. Put some flowers in your hair and dance into the night! We have lots of lucky draw prizes too! And this is all for a great cause! The proceeds of our Fundraiser will go to our Sustainable Projects: 1. Prayao Nursing Scholarship – educating student nurses 2. Tree Planting & Plastic Free SIB A Climate Change Initiative 3. Funding Nannies @ Pakkred Baan Fueng Fah Orphanage 4. Prevention of Gender-Based Violence Advocacy and Education 5. Give Women a Second Chance, Prison Project - teaching skills towards making a living Ticket prize is 2200 THB. For ticket orders or table reservations you can contact Cecilia Weber (contact details are on the flyer). Please support us by joining our event!
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