Pattaya Mail - Friday Dec. 12 - Dec. 18, 2014 (Vol. XXII No. 50)

Established in 1993

VOL.XXII No. 50

Pattaya’s First English Language Newspaper

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12 - DECEMBER 18, 2014

21st Anniversary

30 BAHT

Merriment, merit-making mark celebration of His Majesty the King’s 87th birthday European countries paint the sky for Pattaya International Fireworks Festival

Fireworks from Team England are the perfect addition to a Pattaya Bay panorama.

Story and color photos on page 5

Authorities set to begin removal of drainage, power obstacles to central Pattaya tunnel Story on page 3

The Eastern Seaboard marked HM the King’s 87th birthday with jubilant celebration and a focus on the environment in events ranging from fireworks in Pattaya to planting coral in Sattahip. Shown here, Pattaya students perform a time honored traditional Thai dance paying homage to HM the King. (Full story and more photos on center pages.)

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Central Festival cleans Second Road

Central Group staff don gloves and grab brooms and garbage bags to clean up public spaces around Central Festival Pattaya Beach. general manager Theeraporn Central Festival Chiang Mai, Jetsada Homklin Jitnawa joined employees for Central Plaza Khon Kaen, Central Festival Pattaya the Dec. 1 cleanup of Sec- and Central Festival Hat Yai. The project has been Beach joined forces with ond Road.

Two teams of cleaners held regularly every month Pattaya’s government for Central Group’s Big Clean- went south to Soi 12 and throughout the year by alternating from place to place ing Day to raise awareness north to Central Road.

The project was held to to clean public spaces for about environmental conservation and commemo- campaign for public-space communities to promote a rate HM the King’s 87th cleaning in areas served by good image for the Centhe mall operator. Other tral Group and to raise birthday.

Central Group manager cleanups were held in a w a r e n e s s o f e n v i r o n Kasin Owatsuwan and mall Bangkok at Central World, mental conservation.

Pattaya launches night-time beach patrol

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1,000 release thousands of marine animals for King’s birthday in Sattahip

Hawksbill sea turtles Kalyakorn, 12, and Amornrat, 8, are released into the sea to commemorate HM the King’s 87th birthday.

Adm. Navin Thonnet and were healthy.

Patcharapol Panrak Rear Adm. Jongkol Meesawat The crowd also set free 899 The Royal Thai Navy and of the Air & Coastal Defense baby tortoises and thouabout 1,000 military, govern- Command presided over the sands more juvenile sea turtles into the sea. ment and private-sector repre- Dec. 2 event.

They released endanNavin noted the mass anisentatives released thousands of marine animals into the gered Hawksbill sea turtles mal release takes place each sea to commemorate HM the named Kalyakorn, 12, and year to express loyalty and Amornrat, 8, who were bred dedication to His Majesty for King’s 87th birthday.

Navy executive officer in the nursery until they his Dec. 5 birthday.

Thai Life gives Jomtien beach vendors 3,000 umbrellas

Police and government officials cut the ceremonial ribbon to kick off Pattaya’s new nightly police beach patrols.

Boonlua Chatree Area police and political officials inaugurated Pattaya’s new police beach patrols with cartoon characters, but are assuring tourists its new commitment to safety won’t be comical.

Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai, Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, and Tourist Police commander Pol. Lt. Col. Arun Promphan cut the rib-

bon the new patrol center at Bali Hai Pier Dec. 4.

The start of the new service, aimed at providing services and safety to tourists to enhance Pattaya’s image and build tourist confidence, was heralded with a parade, dancers from Hollywood nightclub, cultural shows put on by Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, a transvestite cabaret from the Alcazar Theatre and appearances from Miss Thailand pageant runners up.

Officials, however, said their nightly patrols have a serious goal to reduce crime and improve safety for tourists on the beachfront.

Pattaya police will patrol the beach in gray shorts and orange short-sleeve shirts to make them both recognizable and more approachable than the normal “boys in brown.”

They will patrol the beachfront on Segways, ATVs, motorcycles, on foot, and even on horseback.

Samran Topao, sales manager for Thai Life Insurance Company, and his management team presents 3,000 umbrellas worth 3 million baht to Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh to distribute to Jomtien Beach vendors.

Jetsada Homklin Thai Life Insurance donated 3 million baht in beach umbrellas to vendors on Jomtien Beach.

Sales manager Samran Topao presented the 3,000 umbrellas displaying both the Thai Life logo and the Pattaya Call Center 1337

number to Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh at the sports stadium on Thepprasit Soi 7 Dec. 4.

Vendors who pre-registered will receive at least nine umbrellas each as an effort to bring order and cleanliness to Jomtien’s beaches.

The donation of umbrellas in Pattaya came as military

and local officials around Thailand have been outlawing and banishing umbrellas from public beaches.

Samran said the donation was aimed at not only advertising the insurance company, but providing service to tourists by publicizing the free call center information line.

Sneaky gator wrangled near go-kart track Jetsada Homklin It took two days, but authorities finally collared a wayward crocodile who took Officials were able to capture this crocodile after it took up residence near Pattaya Kart Speedway off Thepprasit Road.

up residence near Pattaya Kart Speedway off Thepprasit Road.

More than 30 people, including crocodile specialists from the Million Years Stone Park & Crocodile Farm and animal handlers from the Sawang Boriboon Foundation, brought boats and even water pumps to the lake

on Thepprasit Soi 9.

More than 100 people crowded the scene, keeping an eye out for the gator Dec. 2, but it remained allusive.

The lake is larger than a rai of land and filled with vegetation, making it nearly impossible to find the croc.

Authorities blocked off the area and returned the next

day with plans to drain the lake if it didn’t surface.

It never came to that, however. Crews on land and water found the crocodile hiding under a tree in the water. Using water pumps to drain the local area, they wrangled the gator and transported it to the crocodile farm.

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 3

Pattaya commemorates 36th anniversary Jetsada Homklin Pattaya marked the 36th anniversary of the founding of the city with a merit-making ceremony attended by city officials and residents.

The Nov. 29 ceremony began with the presentation of rice and dried food to 60 monks before worshiping the Earth Mother Goddess at the entrance of Pattaya City Hall. Attendees then moved to the King Taksin monument, to honor the founding father of the city.

A wreath was also placed around a bust of Prinya Chawalitthamrong to remember the former deputy interior minister who donated

10 rai of land for Pattaya City Hall’s construction on Nov. 23, 1980. Prinya first came to Pattaya in 1948 and helped develop Pattaya, Naklua, Nongprue and Banglamung as tourist destinations. He passed away in 2005.

Nine monks who chanted and recited Dharma inside Pattaya City Hall then stayed for lunch capped off the ceremony. There also was a presentation of souvenirs to five former mayors of Pattaya and performances by students from Pattaya School No 9.

Pattaya’s current status came into being with the Pattaya City Administration

manage the administration and services to keep pace with its growth. The government issued the Pattaya City Administration Act of 1978, dissolving Naklua Sanitation District and Pattaya City was born.

The city has been administered under a special autonomous system of city Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome (center) presides over the religious ceremony marking the 36th Anniversary of Pattaya City.

Act of 1978. Before that the area was known as Naklua Sanitation District, established in 1956, which was expanded to South Pattaya in 1964 with a manageable

area of 22.2 square kilometers.

As the township grew and became a favorite tourist destination of Thais and foreigners alike, the former sanitation district could not

Authorities set to begin removal of drainage, power obstacles to central Pattaya tunnel Urasin Khantaraphan The Department of Rural Roads is planning to start the removal of obstacles to construction of a traffic-bypass tunnel under Sukhumvit Road.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh presides over a meeting to prepare to remove obstacles to construction of a trafficbypass tunnel under Sukhumvit Road.

Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh presided over a Dec. 3 planning meeting with contractors and city workers to discuss the removal of high-mast electric poles, advertising boards, CCTV cameras, drainage systems, overheard crossing bridges and landscaping.

They also discussed the relocation of telephone, cable television and Internet cables from TOT, CAT Telecom, TT&T and others.

The removal of underground

drainage and sewer pipes will be the most-pressing job, which is slated to begin Jan. 15 and last for 30 days.

Nong Nooch Tropical Garden was charged with the removal and preservation of landscaped trees and flowers.

Napha Kosaang is the lead contractor on the 837.4 billion baht project which is expected to last three years.

Epsilon and Bun Punya Technology Co. has been hired as consultants.

management since November 29, 1978.

The Constitution for the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2540 required that a local administrator and a city council be elected. The Pattaya Regulations for Administration Act B.E. 1979 was adopted on November 30, 1979 as the basis for the current city governance.

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3 foreigners arrested for faking cards, passports

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Russian wanted for steroids smuggling nabbed in Pattaya Boonlua Chatree

Police have arrested two Pakistanis and a South Korean for allegedly using electronic cards and fake passports to rob Pattaya department stores.

Toyota Yaris at North Security personnel at KasiBoonlua Chatree Pattaya’s Tesco Lotus mall kornbank, who reported nuTwo Pakistanis and a Nov. 28. Police found 13 bo- merous charges made by South Korean were arrested gus electronic cards and a copied credit and debit cards for allegedly using elec- counterfeit Japanese pass- at several Pattaya-area stores, had tipped off police to the tronic cards and passports port with them.

Searching the suspects’ suspects. to rob Pattaya department hotel rooms, police uncovAll three were charged with stores.

Kang Youngwon, 45, Ahmad ered another set of fake elec- counterfeiting passports, Rise, 45, and Muhammad tronic cards and passports, producing fake electronic Naveed Anwar, 39, were cap- card-production equipment cards, use of fake passports and immigration charges. tured while sitting in their and printers.

A Russian man facing eight years in jail at home for selling steroids from Thailand was captured hiding out in Jomtien Beach.

Chonburi Immigration Police and soldiers from the 14th Military Circle apprehended Igor Cherkesov, 47, at a gym on Soi Wat Bunkanchanaram Dec. 3.

Officers said he had only a photocopy of his passport on him at the time of his arrest and that it had expired in March 2013. His visa had expired nearly two years ago.

The arrest came after the Russian embassy asked authorities to arrest the accused smuggler wanted on

Igor Cherkesov has been arrested for selling steroids. an Interpol alert. He faces sell back home. He was drug charges carrying an charged with smuggling eight-year term in Russia. muscle-enhancing substances Police said Cherkesov con- and immigration offenses fessed he had bought ste- before being processed for roids from a Thai agent to deportation.

54 Vietnamese fishermen, Donation fund set up as police 7 boats seized off Sattahip search for driver who injured 10 Russian tourists

Teerarak Suthathiwong Pattaya police have set up a fund to cover medical expenses for one of 10 Russian tourists injured in a collision between their baht bus and a pickup truck whose driver became a fugitive after fleeing the scene.

Nattaporn Klinhom, 20, is being sought for crashing his white Chevrolet Colorado into the back of a parked pickup-truck taxi around 10 p.m. Dec. 1 on Sukhumvit Road near the Soi Chaiyapruek intersection. He fled the scene, leaving both his truck and two injured passengers behind.

Police searched his local address and registered home in Ayutthaya, but have yet to locate him.

Baht bus driver Apichai Kwanmuang, 56, said he was waiting at a red light when the Colorado smashed into the back of the songthaew.

Ten Russians he was taking back to the Ambassador City Hotel were hurt, with some thrown from the truck and

Police are looking for Nattaporn Klinhom, 20, for crashing his white Chevrolet Colorado into the back of a parked songthaew around 10 p.m. Dec. 1 on Sukhumvit Road near the Soi Chaiyapruek intersection. one, Mikhail Kuznetsov, 27, nearly losing a leg. He had been standing near the back platform that was destroyed in the crash.

Three Thais, including a motorcyclist, also were injured in the crash.

Kuznetsov’s wife, 27year-old Elena Naydina, went to the Pattaya Police Station with an interpreter and Russian cameraman to put pressure on authorities to capture Nattaporn and provide compensation for the crash.

Naydina said her husband was hospitalized and underwent surgery at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, with medical bills already totaling more than 455,000 baht. She had paid 300,000 baht, but was short the rest. The Interior Ministry’s newly formed Tourist Assistance Foundation had donated only 10,000 baht.

Pattaya police superintendent Pol. Col. Supathee Bungkhrong updated her on the status of the investigation and said police would set up a fund for people to make donations to cover the medical bills.

The Royal Thai Navy arrested 54 Vietnamese fishermen and seized seven boats found operating illegally in Sattahip Bay.

Patcharapol Panrak The Royal Thai Navy arrested 54 Vietnamese fishermen and seized seven boats found operating illegally in Sattahip Bay. Sailors from the HTMS Takbai and HTMS Tor 112 surrounded the boats Nov. 29 about 90 miles from Koh

Chuang. Inspections of the boats’ holds found hundreds of sea snakes in plastic cans and some squid.

The crewmen were charged with violating Thai territorial waters, entering the kingdom illegally and violating fishing treaties.

Navy Capt. Samrerng Janso said 60 Vietnamese boats have

been seized in the area recently, all fishing for sea snakes, which bring 500-1,000 baht each in China. They are valued, he said, for believed medicinal properties including anti-aging, sexual enhancement and treatment of many diseases.

Squid, he added, can be sold for 800-1,000 baht per kilogram.

Woman robbed, left naked in East Pattaya Boonlua Chatree A bargirl was robbed and left naked on an East Pattaya roadside after servicing a customer in the woods.

The unnamed woman sought help and clothes

from a security guard near Aekmhongkhol Village on Soi Chaiyapruek 4 Dec. 1.

She told police she had been on her way to work at a Pattaya bar when a Thai man on a motorbike stopped to proposition her for 1,500 baht. She agreed

and the two went to a secluded location for oral sex.

When they were through, the man shouted that someone was coming, surprising the woman, who jumped for her clothes. The suspect took the opportunity to ride off

with half her garments and her purse, containing 9,000 baht and two smartphones worth about 30,000 baht total.

The security guard said it was not the first time young men had targeted women traveling alone for robbery.

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 5

European countries paint the sky for Pattaya International Fireworks Festival The fireworks not only lit up the night sky, they also lit up Pattaya Bay.

Urasin Khantaraphan Photos by staff reporters The night sky above Pattaya Bay became a canvas that four European countries painted with exploding rockets and lasers for more than 200,000 people at the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival.

Teams from Germany, Italy, Spain and the United Kingdom dazzled crowds with explosions and pinwheels Nov. 28-29, capping day-long street festivals featuring food, music and entertainment.

Fireworks began around 9 p.m. each day with the show split into three parts and contestants of Thailand’s Got Talent providing the intermission entertainment.

Two teams put on individual shows of 20-25 minutes each night with the other teams

putting on short demonstrations at 10 p.m.

England’s performance focused on the art of experience, enhanced with imagination of color screening and shapes expressing the biological relationship between the Germany’s fireworks burst into 3 flowers.

eyes and mind of the spectators and artists. The highlight was the final explosion meant to depict an explosion of life.

Germany illustrated the power of flowers in a concept called “Art of Life,” highlighting the explosions

and stimulation of excitement leading to ultimate powers of creativity emphasizing natural brightness.

The Italian team wrung out emotions, including excitement, serenity filled with sadness, and happiness, all converging into a sky of bright and hot colors.

Finally, the Spanish lit the sky with unlimited creativity and an expression of love of life, focusing on tones of color.

While the pyrotechnics took center stage, Friday’s festivities actually began at 3:30 p.m. and ran through 11 p.m. while Saturday ran from 5 p.m. until 1 a.m. Beach Road was closed to traffic both days from 3:30-11 p.m. and all side streets from Second Road were blocked to allow sponsor Thai Life Insurance to throw its “Art of Life” street festival.

The day featured a flash-mob dance, game booths and concerts by ETC and Stamp Aphiwat on Friday, and Zeal and J Jetrin on Saturday. Activities along Beach Road also included a “music art carnival,” street art plus food and drinks.

The entire day was free, but VIP seats with food, drinks and

raffle draws were available with proceeds benefiting Thai Life Insurance’s “One Give, Many Receive” charitable campaign.

Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome believes more than 200,000 people saw the fireworks over the two days, generating at least 300 million baht for the city.

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Early detection pushed as Pattaya marks World AIDS Day Jetsada Homklin

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome (center, back) leads officials and guests to celebrate World AIDS Day 2014.

Naklua ‘Walking Street’ opens

Former Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome, Nuntiya Swangvudthitham, director-general of the Department of Cultural Promotion, Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome, Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho, TAT Pattaya Director Suladda Sarutilavan, city council members and community leaders kick off the sixth-annual Naklua “Walking Street” market harkening back to the community’s roots as a small fishing village.

Urasin Khantaraphan Former Culture Minister Sonthaya Kunplome and top area politicians opened the sixth-annual Naklua “Walking Street” market harkening back to the community’s roots as a small fishing village.

Nuntiya Swangvudthitham, director-general of the Department of Cultural Promotion, joined Pattaya Mayor

Itthiphol Kunplome, Banglamung District Chief Sakchai Taengho, TAT Pattaya Director Suladda Sarutilavan, city council members and community leaders at the Nov. 30 kickoff ceremony.

Themed “Sunset at Baan Naklua,” the market’s 4-10 p.m. opening included a performance of “Amazing Suvarnabhumi,” based on the wonders of Thailand and society, plus

a concert from Gybzy of Girly Berry and Film Rattaphum.

Naklua Walking Street will be open each Saturday and Sunday through Jan. 18 and each weekend will have cultural shows sponsored by the Ministry of Culture.

Concerts scheduled include Tai Orathai on Dec. 13, Fon Thanasunthorn on Dec. 20, Ying Thitikarn on Dec. 27, Takkatan Chonlada on Jan. 3, Leew Ajareeya on Jan. 10, Alice Rsiam on Jan. 17 and the Jan. 18 closing ceremony will feature Baitoey Rsiam.

Public officials, educators and health professionals in Pattaya marked World AIDS Day with a parade and free condoms.

Pattaya Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome led a parade from Central and Beach roads to Walking Street. Officials from the Prevention and Control of Diseases Department, Pattaya Public Health Department, Chonburi Public Health Department and many other AIDS originations, activists, health officials and students from Pattaya and Banglamung schools participated, carrying informational signs and handing out free condoms, lubricants and flyers. Over 10,000 condoms were handed out along the route.

Every year the World Health Organization designates Dec. 1 as World AIDS Day for people to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died. This year’s theme was “AIDS is treatable if detected early.” Organizers promoted a message of reducing the number of new HIV infections, AIDS deaths and stigmas associated with carrying the disease.

Official figures show that over half a million people in Thailand are currently HIV positive but the true figure is thought to be much higher as

Baan Souy hosted a World AIDS Day event to raise funds for Heartt2000. many who have contracted the such countries as Haiti, Ghana virus are either unwilling or and most African countries.

Private sectors involved in lacking funds to receive medical assistance or are unaware the tourism industry in Pattaya they have contracted the vi- also held charity functions to rus. According to the Bureau support local HIV groups and of AIDS, approximately 62% of organizations, including the people infected with HIV/ annual Pattaya Pride street party in Boys Town and an enAIDS in Thailand are males.

Thailand ranks 39th in the tertaining function at Baan Souy world in HIV/AIDS, behind to raise funds for Heartt2000.

Kwangtung, aka Ms. Healthy Queen 2014, from the Sister Foundation, leads a group in the World AIDS Days parade.

300 to receive tourism training Surasak Huasoon About 300 people employed in Chonburi’s tourism industry were invited to attend a workshop next week in Pattaya to improve their hospitality skills and safety training.

Chonburi Permanent Secretary Chawalit Saeng-Uthai presided over the Dec. 4 planning meeting for the Dec. 16-17 training seminar at the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel. He said the workshop was organized to raise awareness about ways

Chonburi Permanent Secretary Chawalit Saeng-Uthai presides over a planning meeting to improve the tourism industry’s hospitality and safety skills.

companies can improve their service to tourists and raise the city’s international tourism reputation.

The Royal Thai Navy, Pattaya police and other agencies are expected to participate in the workshop, which will provide practical and theoretical activities to develop tourism personnel.

Attendees also will be educated on public-safety and image campaigns, as well as learn the basics of marine rescue in case of boating accidents in local waters.

YWCA, PBTA donate cash, equipment to poor Jetsada Homklin The YWCA Bangkok-Pattaya Center and Pattaya Business & Tourism Association donated cash and equipment to poor residents of Nongprue sub-district.

YWCA Chairwoman Praichit Jetapai and PBTA President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn presented a 12,000 baht food-selling motorcycle and sidecar to Karnjana Muangpuag and a 9,800 baht sewing machine to the family of Pemika Sangsua as part of the YWCA’s “Making Dreams Come True” project.

After separating with her husband, Karnjana was living alone in a shack built on a piece of land that she rented for 3,000 baht a year until recently when it was pulled down after the land

owners had sold out.

She has no place to stay and is now living with a neighbor. Her sidecar motorcycle that she used for making a living had broken down due to deterioration.

Therefore the organizations got her a new one so she can make a living.

Pemika is an 8-year-old girl with developmental problems. She is living with her parents who are doing general labor and have an unstable income. The two groups gave Pemika’s mother a sewing machine so that she could work at home and take care of her daughter.

In addition, Sinchai handed over 20,000 baht raised at the funeral of a former Pattaya mayor’s mother to the Stop Human Trafficking and Child Abuse Centre.

Pemika Sangsua’s mother is ecstatic to receive a sewing machine as part of the YWCA’s “Making Dreams Come True” project so she can earn an income at home whilst taking care of her disabled child.

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VOL. XXII No. 50

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 9

PATTAYA MAIL

475,000 baht raised at 21st annual PILC Christmas Bazaar Nancy Aly-Hegazy Special Events Chair PILC Thank you to all our members and friends who joined us this year at the Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) 21st Annual Christmas Bazaar. The bazaar is PILC’s largest fundraiser for the year as well as being our most anticipated event and this year the Christmas shopping extravaganza was held on Sunday 23rd November at the Holiday Inn Pattaya.

the bazaar this year and managed to raise 475,000 baht for our charities. Of course this huge success would not have been possible without the generosity of our sponsors and a big thank you must therefore go to the Holiday Inn, Bumrungrad Hospital, Asian Tiger, Tara Court, Fisher & Paykel, Esso, Pattaya Classical Music and many more. Their generous cash and raffle prize donations made a huge contribution to the success

(L to R) Joyce Aldridge, Helle Rantsen, and Catherine Bollee from PILC can do a little Christmas shopping in between helping to run the bazaar.

The event and ribbon cutting this year was opened by members of some of PILC’s favorite charities which include Hand-to-Hand, the Fountain of Life, Northstar Library and Bang-Chang Food Delivery, amongst others.

It was definitely a successful PILC event for fund-raising purposes as we had more than 600 people visit

we had on the day and enabled us to give away more than 40 raffle prizes. Congratulations to our winners who won all sorts of prizes including home wares, restaurant vouchers and even a fridge!

A list of raffle prize winners can be found at http://www. pilc-pattaya.com/christmasbazaar.php

Shoppers this year had a wonderful variety of products to choose from with over 60 vendors present on the day. As well as Christmas ornaments, there was wine, baked goods, jewelry, stationery, home wares, hand-made goods and much more on sale. Once again, the vendors came this year from all over Thailand showcasing their many unique products that are often not available in Pattaya or found in your local shopping centers.

This year we also set up a kids’ corner next to the cafe which focused on ensuring children were also able to get into the Christmas spirit. The kids’ corner housed the ever popular Santa’s grotto, where the children had the opportunity to write Santa a letter and have their photo taken with the big-bellied jolly old man. The kids corner also boasted an icecream vendor, and a craft corner run by Hand-to-Hand as well as several vendors selling kid specific products.

Weary dads and shoppers alike were able to make use of the cafe and the massage room where plenty of lovely foot massages were on offer.

Congratulations also to the PILC Special Events Committee and all the helpers leading up to the event. PILC is able to continue its charitable work and welfare projects with the help of its 200+ members, sponsors, volunteers and other generous

88 ordained in Pattaya for HM the King’s birthday

88 men have their hair shaved in preparation of becoming monks in honor of His Majesty the King.

Urasin Khantaraphan Eighty-eight men took their first steps toward monkhood when they had their heads shaved at the beginning of a multi-day ordination process at city hall.

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome presided over the Dec. 1 ceremony for those looking to

become ordained to honor HM the King on his 87th birthday Dec. 5.

Following the hair-cutting, the novices were presented their monk robes in preparation for the following day’s ceremony at Jittapawan Wittayalai Temple. They were ordained in the afternoon at Phuttiwanaram, Sawang Fah

Pritaram, Nong Yai and Thamsamakkee temples.

Part of the ordination ceremony was sponsored

by Pattaya and part by residents.

All the men were at least 20 years old and they remained monks for a minimum 10 days, with the option to continue.

Mercy Center Pattaya sells gifts to raise money for their charity. contributors from all over our community. It would not have been possible without all the hard work of the many people involved. So thank you once again and we look forward to seeing you at the next PILC event in 2015.

The Fountain of Life Center sells Christmas cards and crackers made by the children at the center, with the proceeds going towards their education.

10 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

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UN: climate change costs to poor underestimated Karl Ritter Lima, Peru (AP) - The cost to poor countries of adjusting to ever-hotter temperatures will be two or even three times higher than previously thought, the U.N.’s environment agency said Friday, Dec. 5 - and that assumes a best-case scenario in which greenhouse gas emissions are dramatically reduced.

“If you don’t cut emissions, we’re just going to have to ask for more money because the damage is going to be worse,” Ronald Jumeau of the Seychelles said at U.N. climate talks.

The report was bound to sharpen disputes in Lima over who pays the bills for the impacts of global warming, whose primary cause is the burning of coal, oil and gas but which also includes deforestation. It has long been the thorniest issue at the U.N. negotiations, now in their 20th round.

Rich countries have pledged to help the developing world convert to clean energy and adapt to shifts in global weather that are already adversely affecting crops, human health and economies.

But poor countries say

they’re not seeing enough cash.

Projecting the annual costs that poor countries will face by 2050 just to adapt, the United Nations Environment Program report deemed the previous estimate of $70 billion to $100 billion “a significant underestimate.” It had been based on 2010 World Bank numbers.

The report says new studies indicate the costs will likely be “two to three times higher,” possibly even as high as $500 billion.

But that’s only if global warming stays below 2 degrees Celsius (3.2 degrees Fahrenheit) compared to preindustrial times, the limit set in the U.N. talks. Scientists say that would require cuts in greenhouse gas emissions that the world is nowhere near on track to accomplish.

“The report provides a powerful reminder that the potential cost of inaction carries a real price tag,” UNEP director Achim Steiner said in a statement.

Climate change impacts, including rising sea levels, shifts in rainfall patterns and more intense heat waves, affect all countries but the latter aren’t well equipped to cope.

Fausta Ortiz, 38, Pastoruri’s glacier guardian, stands guard while carrying her daughter Lisoyun, 2, in Huaraz, Peru, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2014. According to Alejo Cochachin, coordinator of the glaciology unit, the Pastoruri glacier retreated 576 meters between 1980 and 2014. Peru’s glaciers have lost more onefifth of their mass in just three decades, and the 70 percent Peru’s 30 million people who inhabit the country’s Pacific coastal desert depend on glacial runoff for hydropower and to irrigate crops, meaning their electricity and long-term food security could also be in peril. Higher alpine temperatures are killing off plant and animal species in cloud forests and scientists predict Pacific fisheries will suffer. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) They need help to protect their shorelines, crops, and freshwater resources from rising seas, droughts and floods.

“We know what needs to be done. We just need the dollars or euros,” said Jumeau, who is also spokesman for

Eight Chinese rubber processors keen to invest in Thailand Eight Chinese rubber processing entrepreneurs are interested in investing in Thailand, said Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Amnuay Patise.

His remarks were made following a recent visit to China where he had talks with officials and businessmen.

Two rubber operators have already applied for promotional privileges from the Board of Investment (BoI), Amnuay said.

In China, Amnuay discussed protectionist trade measures imposed indirectly

by Beijing with Chinese officials and businessmen, as China reduced Thai rubber use in manufacturing plastic products to 88 percent from 99 percent earlier.

He urged the Chinese government to return to using the Thai rubber as before.

The success of Chinese rubber processing operators wishing to invest in Thailand followed last month’s BOIorganized seminar with more than 50 Chinese businessmen discussing possible

business cooperation with their Thai counterparts.

Several Chinese tire manufacturers already invest in the business in Thailand, in line with the Thai government’s policy to persuade to invest in the rubber industry so that rubber prices could increase. (MCOT)

Transport ministry expediting train projects The Ministry of Transport is expediting the delayed orange line electric train project while preparing to sign a dual track rail contract with China.

Minister of Transport ACM Prachin Chantong said the ministry had planned to push for the delayed electric train project and would request the Cabinet to approve it in January 2015. The

ministry would also urgently implement three other electric train projects including the Green Line (Mo ChitSaphan Mai-Ku Khot), Yellow Line (Lat Phrao-Bang Kapi-Samrong) and Pink Line (Khae Rai-Min Buri).

They would be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration mid 2015, said the minister.

As for the dual track rail

project, the minister said Thailand and China would sign the contract this year during the Chinese prime minister’s visit to Thailand on 25 December or the Thai premier’s trip to China. The ministry was consulting with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) about an infrastructure fund for the project, he added. (NNT)

small island states. The Seychelles is struggling to protect beaches from eroding, freshwater wells from

drying up and coral reefs from being damaged, he said.

There is concern in Latin America that gains against poverty in the past two decades will be reversed due to climate change.

A World Bank study this year found two degrees of warming would cause crop yields in Brazil to drop by 3070 percent for soy and 50 percent for wheat.

Rich countries have pledged to provide $100 billion by 2020 to help developing reduce their emissions and adapt to climate change.

They are not on track to deliver. Their governments provided about $25 billion in adaptation money to developing countries in 20122013, the UNEP report said.

Jumeau noted that the U.S. Congress approved more than twice as much in a disaster aid package after Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

The talks’ host country, Peru, is one of the most vulnerable to climate change.

Already, it faces diminished highland water supplies from melting glaciers and

global warming has also hurt the fishing industry.

The U.N.’s World Food Program says 3 million Peruvians - or one in 10 - are highly vulnerable to food insecurity and natural disaster risks.

Yet, like most developing nations, what it spends on adapting to climate change, including highlands reservoirs and irrigation projects, will have to compete with other urgent needs, such as improving education, public health and public transport.

“There isn’t enough money and there aren’t resources specifically earmarked to finance adaptation in Peru,” said Lenkiza Angulo, who runs adaptation projects in the Andean nation funded by the Swiss government and valued at $11 million.

One vehicle for funding adaptation - as well as mitigating damages from climate change - is The Green Climate Fund, which nearly reached the $10 billion mark on Friday with a $258 million pledge from Norway.

Thailand reclaims its place as the world’s largest rice exporter Thailand has finally managed to become the world’s largest rice exporter once again, exporting more than 10 million tons so far this year.

Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikalaya said the country is also trying to win back its place as the world’s largest jasmine rice exporter after losing the title to Hong Kong. He added that the stockpiled rice would be sold or exported as quickly as possible as grains are perishable goods.

General Chatchai said the inspection of rice in stock nationwide has been completed. Out of the 17 million tons of rice, only 10 percent are in good condition. The rest are of lower-than-standard quality including 14

million tons which have turned yellow and 700,000 tons which have begun to deteriorate. Authorities are now investigating how another number of 200,000 tons has gone missing.

The Ministry of Commerce will ask the Rice Policy Committee to consider more channels to release the rice in stock.

It is expected that 400,000 tons of rice will be released within this month. (NNT)

UK ambassador discusses investment with Thai deputy PM The British Ambassador to Thailand has met with the Thai deputy Prime Minister on economics to discuss Thailand’s ability to support investments, reports a Thai official.

The British Ambassador to Thailand, H.E. Mark Kent met with the deputy prime minister on economics M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula at Government House to discuss economic matters.

The Thai deputy prime minister said that the two sides discussed investment potential in Thailand, especially the progress of the digital economy project, as

well as the overall economic status of Thailand, without discussing the political situation.

He mentioned the rubber price issue that was troubling southern rubber farmers, saying that the government has been working to stimulate rubber prices since October.

However, each stimulus measure involves many procedures and requires some time to take effect.

Regarding the request from rubber farmers to raise the rubber price to 80 baht per kilogram, the deputy prime minister said that the price raising process is underway

and each step will take some time. He also stressed that the government is sincere about solving the issue.

The deputy prime minister also set an estimate of the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of the 2015 fiscal year at a 3 percent expansion.

The upcoming economic stimulus measures from the government, and the distribution of the fiscal budget, will likely have a positive impact to the economy between December 2014 to February 2015, said the deputy prime minister. (NNT)

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Dusit Thani Pattaya appoints new executive chef Dusit Thani Pattaya GM Chatchawal Supachayanont recently appointed Jens Heier as the new executive chef of the 457room Dusit brand hotel.

A German national, Chef Jens brings with him a wealth of experience of more than 26 years in the culinary profession. In the span of his career, he worked in several Michelin Starred fine dining restaurants in Europe as he ventured out of Germany where he began his culinary passion.

In 2002, he decided to experience the gourmet evolution in Asia where he found his niche and excelled in places such as South Korea, Vietnam, China and Thailand.

In his new role, Chef Jens will oversee all aspects of culinary operations of the hotel’s three restaurants, a gourmet bakery, two pool bars and two lounges. He will also play a major role in its outside catering business providing banquet support for clients and its renowned MICE capability.

Prior to his appointment, Chef Jens worked in the corporate office of the Onyx Hospitality Group as culinary director in charge of corporate operations of all Onyx properties.

Chef Jens’ work has been recognized with two prestigious awards - as Chef of the Year for two consecutive years in Germany for his outstanding contemporary Pan-Asian cuisine and in South Korea in 2003 for his contemporary French cuisine. In addition, he has had the honor of preparing a meal for Queen Silvia of Sweden and celebrities like Madonna, Kate Moss, Jamiroquai and others.

On the 29th of November, the first pool lift in Pattaya was installed at the Diana Garden Resort for the disabled.

Introduced and recommended by Jens Maspphul, this pool lift helps the wheelchair users and also older customers to be able to access the pool without difficulties. It’s indeed a big step to provide a better quality of life to those who otherwise may not have a chance to enjoy a dip or a swim in the pool.

Chef Jens Heier.

Chef Jens believes in using only the freshest and best local products, adding that simplicity is the ultimate challenge. “To be a chef is not just a job; it is a mission to create with passion.

A good chef would need to have interaction with guests to find out new trends in order to create new dishes. Nowadays, it’s a must to meet guest expectations. Menu is just a guideline for the guests and chefs must be able and willing to follow individual food ideas and creations to satisfy them. Being a successful chef means you have to know what your guests would want to eat tomorrow,” adds Chef Jens.

Thumbs up for the new pool lift for wheelchair users at the Diana Garden Resort.

Gov’t moves to make Thailand regional trading hub The government hopes that it could propose a plan to the National Legislative Assembly before year-end to make Thailand a regional trading hub which could help push national economic growth to more than 4 percent annually, said Deputy Prime Minister Pridiyathorn Devakula.

Concerned authorities have already completely amended regulations, while it needs a slight adjustment of tax procedures, Pridiyathorn said, adding that he hoped the plan could be tabled to the Assembly sometime this month.

It is hoped that several foreign private firms would seek to establish trading headquarters in Thailand after the proposal is approved

because the country could manufacture various products for trading, he said.

It would be difficult to see Thailand’s annual economic growth at over 4 percent in the future if the plan to make Thailand the regional trading hub did not materialize, he said.

Investment in the country could not expand much due to high labor costs and labor shortages and they would negatively affect national economic growth.

Pridiyathorn said he is optimistic that economic growth could remain above 4 percent in “just over a year” if Thailand could become a regional trading hub.

The private sector has recently expressed that the

plan, if materialized, could boost several activities, including increasing the number of conferences and boosting tourism in the country.

The cabinet recently approved a proposal to promote the setting up of international headquarters as well as international trading companies in Thailand.

Under the proposal, procedures on applying for promotional privileges offered by the state-run Board of Investment (BoI) would be streamlined along with a reduction of registered capital requirements to not less than Bt10 million, as well as adjusting issuance of visa procedures and work permits in the kingdom. (MCOT)

THAI flies into Pattaya for customer-appreciation event facilitate connections between China and ASEAN member states.

He said that under the memorandum, China would be responsible for the construction and system development and finance the project.

Repayment details have yet to be discussed.

Construction is expected to start in 2016 and the memorandum of understanding overrules any similar agreements reached on the project from 2011 to 2013.

The NLA approved the MoU unanimously by 187 votes with seven abstentions. (MCOT)

Thai Shrimp Association fears EU may ban Thai fisheries products The Thai Shrimp Association urged the Department of Fisheries to tackle illegal fishing; otherwise, the European Union (EU) may ban Thai fishery products.

Somsak Paneetatayasai, association president, said fishing operators expected the EU to issue a “yellow card” to impose a close watch on Thailand for failing to strictly tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing concerning the human rights of fishing laborers.

Unless Thailand makes real progress toward a solution in

Handicapped guests at Diana welcome new pool lift Sue K.

Thai Assembly passes Thailand-China MoU on dual rail development Thailand’s National Legislative Assembly (NLA) has approved the Thai-Chinese Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) agreeing to double track development in Thailand from 2015 to 2022.

China will be responsible for construction and system development.

Transport Minister Prajin Juntong told the assembly that the Chinese government would help develop the first double track project using standard gauge in Thailand.

The project comprises two routes: 734 kilometers from Nong Khai via Nakhon Ratchasima and Kaeng Khoi to the Maptaput port and 133 km from Kaeng Khoi to Bangkok.

The minister said that the project would offer longterm benefits to people and

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 11

six months, the EU can issue a “red card” to ban fishery products from Thailand altogether.

The Thai Shrimp Association president said the Department of Fisheries should amend laws relating to fisheries, enforce them strictly and inform trading partners that Thailand is taking action to develop sustainable fisheries that comply with international laws and principles.

Somsak said that if the EU bans Thai fishery products, frozen fresh shrimp and shrimpbased products would be directly affected. The volume

of Thai shrimp exports has plunged by over 50 percent due to diseases, including early mortality syndrome (EMS), since 2012.

The yield of Thai shrimp dropped from 540,000 tons to 250,000 tons in 2013. The value of shrimp exports fell from US$3.1 billion (about Bt92.25 billion) to US$2.2 billion (about Bt65.07 billion).

From January to August this year, the value of Thai shrimp exports amounted to Bt36.9 billion, dropping from Bt41.8 billion in the same period last year. (MCOT)

(2nd left to 2nd right) Tony Malhotra, Deputy Managing Director of the Pattaya Mail Media Group; Suladda Sarutilavan, director of TAT Pattaya; Kanchit Rienthong, Director of the Indochina route & Thai Smile Corporation; Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome; former Chonburi MP Poramet Ngampichet; Wiwat Piyawiroj, Vice President of Sales and Distributions-Thailand & Indochina; Nopporn Kanchanamanee, Sales Manager of the Thai Airways Pattaya; and Sanpech Supabowornsthian, president of the THA Eastern Thailand pose for a photo during the event.

Marcus Souksi Free flights and promotions were on offer when Thai Airways International touched down in Pattaya for a three-day customer-appreciation event.

Top area political and business leaders assembled at Central Festival Pattaya Beach for the kickoff of the Dec. 1-3 air fair that offered

specially priced airfares and 3,000-mile bonuses for people who signed up for THAI’s Royal Orchid frequent-flyer club.

Wiwat Piyawiroj, vice president of sales and distribution, said Pattaya is home to many airline customers and so the airline wanted to thank businesses and private citizens for using the carrier.

Similar events are planned in

Chiang Mai, Khon Kaen and other cities.

Special drawing prizes were available for Royal Orchid members who purchased tickets worth 15,000 baht or more. They were also given a chance to win one of more than 45 free flights and other prizes at a later drawing. The airline’s Facebook also gave a chance to win more prizes.

12 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

Odds and Ends The Associated Press

When pigs fly? Not on this US Airways plane Windsor Locks, Connecticut (AP) - This was a pig that truly could not fly. The pig was ordered off a U.S. Airways plane at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut on Wednesday after crewmembers determined the animal had become disruptive, Laura Masvidal, a spokeswoman for U.S. Airways parent American Airlines, said. The pig had been brought aboard the flight by a passenger as an emotional support animal, Masvidal said. She said both the pig and its owner left the aircraft before it took off. She had no other details and did not immediately know where the flight was headed. Jonathan Skolnik, a University of Massachusetts professor who was on the flight, said he initially thought the female passenger was carrying a duffel bag.

Then he smelled a stench. “It’s no duffel bag but a rather stout PIG ... on a leash,” he said in an email sent to The Associated Press. “Am I dreaming?” The woman sat next to him and tethered the pig to the armrest, Skolnik said. “Oh no, it gets worse: the pig is incontinent,” he wrote. The passenger scrambled to keep control of the pig while trying to clean up its mess, Skolnik said. Then the pig began running back and forth, he said. Emotional support animals are allowed on commercial flights under U.S. Department of Transportation rules as long as they are not disruptive, Masvidal said.

Passengers in Russia’s Arctic give airliner a push Moscow (AP) - In other countries, you may be asked to give a push to a car stuck in the mud. In Russia, passengers in the Arctic came out of an airliner to the bitter cold to help it move to the runway.

A Russian-made Tu-134 with 74 oil workers and seven crew members onboard was due to fly from the town of Igarka to Krasnoyarsk 800 miles (nearly 1,300 kilometers) to the south when the plane couldn’t move onto the runway.

It was -52 C (-61 F) outside and the passengers seemed desperate to get home.

The plane belonged to a regional division of the major Russia airline UTair, which said ice on the runway surface caused the plane’s pushback tractor to begin slipping, according to the state news agency RIA Novosti.

Eager to help, several dozen men were seen in an amateur video pushing the plane by leaning on both wings. However, the video also showed a tow bar attached to the front landinggear, suggesting the tractor was doing much of the work.

“The plane was towed, of course, because it would be physically impossible for people (to move it),” Oksana Gorbunova, an aide to the regional transportation prosecutor, was quoted as saying by the state news agency Tass.

“Most likely, the passengers of the plane decided to make some kind of selfie,” airport director Maxim Aksenov was quoted as saying by Tass.

Russian authorities, however, weren’t amused by the incident, and prosecutors launched an investigation into a possible breach of safety regulations.

“It would be funny if it didn’t pose a horrendous threat.

People could have damaged the aircraft skin and the flaps,” said Gorbunova.

Gorbunova said the passengers were asked to leave the plane when it got stuck. When a tractor began towing the airliner, some of the passengers left a bus and tried to help move it.

Cuban couple keeps rodents called hutias as pets Bainoa, Cuba (AP) - Some people keep guinea pigs or hamsters as pets. But in Cuba, where a larger, more exotic rodent runs wild, Ana Pedraza and her husband prefer the hutia. With a rope-like tail and long front teeth, the hutia looks like a giant rat, only cuter, some would say. They live in Cuba and other Caribbean islands where they are sometimes hunted for food. But Pedraza and her husband Rafael Lopez say they only want to protect and take care of the animals, which measure nearly a foot long (about 30 centimeters), with the largest ones weighing in bigger than a small dog. The couple began collecting hutias about five years ago when they found one languishing on a roadside and named her Congui. They found her a mate and now have more than a half-dozen hutias in their home about 25 miles (40 kilometers) east of the capital, Havana. Congui and her brood like to drink sweetened coffee and munch on crackers and vegetables. Her son Pancho enjoys an occasional nip of rum.

Congui, a domesticated hutia, rides on the front door of an American classic car driven by its owner Rafael Lopez, in Bainoa, Cuba. (AP Photo/ Ramon Espinosa)

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NOAA: Globe sets 5th hottest-month record of 2014 Seth Borenstein Washington (AP) - Despite a bitter U.S. cold snap, the globe is rushing hell-bent toward its warmest year on record with October setting the fifth monthly heat record of the year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday, Nov. 20 that last month was the hottest October on record worldwide. The 58.43 degrees Fahrenheit (14.74 Celsius) beat out October 2003.

“It is becoming pretty clear that 2014 will end up as the warmest year on record,” said Deke Arndt, climate monitoring chief for NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center in Asheville, North Carolina.

“The remaining question is: How much?”

With only two months left in the year, 2014 has now surged ahead as the globe’s warmest year so far, beating 2010 and 1998. So far this year, the world is averaging 58.62 degrees (14.78 degrees Celsius). If the last two months of the year are only average for the 21st century, it will still be the warmest year ever, Arndt said.

He said this year’s heat is what scientists expect from man-made global warming.

Scientists say the burning of coal, oil and gas traps heats, changing the climate.

This heat is being driven by incredible warmth in the world’s oceans, Arndt said.

The six warmest months on record for the world ocean

In this July 17, 2014, file photo, people cool down in a fountain beside Manzanares river in Madrid, Spain. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014, that October this year was the hottest October on record worldwide, setting the fifth monthly heat record of year. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File) temperatures have been the last six months. Because oceans are big and slow to change that makes it more likely the world will set a yearly temperature record, he said.

Pennsylvania State University climate scientist Michael Mann said in an email he hopes the new data will put to rest “the silly ongoing claims that global warming has ‘stopped’ or that there is a ‘hiatus’ in global warming.”

The world is approaching the warmest year “in spite of the U.S. being pretty cold,” Arndt said. That’s because the United States is only 2 percent of the world’s area and the part that’s unusually cold is about 1.5 percent of

the entire globe, he said.

It has been so hot in California that there is no way the year will end up not breaking the record for heat in the state, said NOAA climate scientist Jake Crouch.

This year October, September, August, June and May set global monthly heat records.

April 2014 was the second hottest on record. January, March and July were fourth. February was the 21st warmest.

NASA, Japan’s weather agency and the University of Alabama Huntsville satellite measuring system which climate skeptics usually use - also called it the hottest October on record.

The globe has broken 37 monthly high temperature

records since January 1997, including five this year, according to NOAA. The last cold monthly temperature record broken was in December 1916.

Texas Tech climate scientist Katharine Hayhoe said the issue isn’t so much about record highs, but trends over multiple decades. Seeing the 38th consecutive October that is warmer than the 20th century average “is climate change, and we are seeing it in spades.” It is also the 356th month in a row the world’s temperature has been warmer than the 20th century average.

Online: NOAA: http://www.ncdc. noaa.gov/sotc/global/2014/10

Space station’s 3-D printer pops out 1st creation Marcia Dunn Cape Canaveral, Florida (AP) - The first 3-D printer in space has popped out its first creation.

The 3-D printer delivered to the International Space Station two months ago made a sample part for itself this week.

It churned out a faceplate for the print head casing.

Space station commander Butch Wilmore removed the small plastic creation from the printer Tuesday, Nov. 25 for eventual return to Earth.

About 20 objects will be printed in the next few weeks for analysis back home, NASA said. The space agency hopes to one day use 3-D printing to make parts for broken equipment in space.

Made in Space, the California company that supplied the space station’s 3-D printer, called it “a transformative moment.”

The newly created, rectangular faceplate - considered functional by the company

International Space Station Commander Barry “Butch” Wilmore holds up the first object made in space with additive manufacturing or 3-D printing. Wilmore installed the printer on Nov. 17, 2014, and helped crews on the ground with the first print on Nov. 25, 2014. (AP Photo/NASA) - includes the Made in Space name, as well as NASA’s.

“When the first human fashioned a tool from a rock, it couldn’t have been conceived that one day we’d be replicating the same fundamental idea in space,” Aaron

Kemmer, chief executive officer, said in a statement.

Similar 3-D items will be duplicated at the company’s offices for comparison.

The company will replace the orbiting demo machine with a much bigger commercial printer next year. The

European Space Agency, meanwhile, plans to fly its own 3-D printer in 2015.

Online: NASA: http://www.nasa .gov/mission_pages/station/main/index.html Made in Space: http:// www.madeinspace.us/

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Jurors to hear Steve Jobs testimony at Apple trial Brandon Bailey San Francisco (AP) - A billion-dollar class-action lawsuit over Apple’s iPod music players headed to trial on Tuesday, Dec. 2, in a California federal court after nearly a decade in legal wrangling.

Attorneys for consumers and electronics retailers claim Apple Inc. used software in its iTunes store that forced would-be song buyers to use iPods instead of cheaper music players made by rivals. The software is no longer used, but the plaintiffs argue that it inflated the prices of millions of iPods sold between 2006 and 2009 - to the tune of $350 million.

Under federal antitrust law, the tech giant could be ordered to pay three times that amount if the jury agrees with the estimate and finds the damages resulted from anti-competitive behavior.

Underscoring the case’s hoary origins - it was filed in January 2005, which is eons ago by Silicon Valley standards - one of the key witnesses will be legendary Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who died in 2011 but will be heard in a videotaped deposition.

“The fact that this case is still going 10 years later is a sign that technology often outpaces law,” said Mark Lemley, a Stanford law professor.

U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers will preside.

The case harkens back to the early days of digital music and portable devices, when Apple quickly became the world’s biggest legal seller of downloaded songs after launching its iTunes store in 2003. By agreement with major record companies, which were wary of unauthorized copying and file-sharing services like Napster and Kazaa, Apple encoded the songs sold through iTunes with “digital rights management” software that prevented unauthorized copying. The same software, known as FairPlay, was also built into iPods.

But Apple’s FairPlay was incompatible with anti-copying code used by other online music sellers, such as the RealPlayer Music Store operated by RealNetworks, an Internet streaming company based in Seattle. As a result, songs from rival online stores could not be played on iPods, and songs purchased on iTunes could not be played on competing portable devices, including Microsoft’s Zune and Diamond Multimedia’s Rio music player.

Music fans chafed at the restrictions. RealNetworks soon introduced coding that allowed songs purchased from its store to be played on iPods and other devices. But Apple blocked the RealNetworks code, known as Harmony, when it released an update to the iTunes program in 2004.

In this Aug. 4, 2005 file photo, Apple CEO Steve Jobs speaks during a launch event for Apple’s music download service, iTunes, in Tokyo. A billion-dollar class-action lawsuit over Apple’s iPod music players went to trial in a California federal court Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2014, in an antitrust case where the legal wrangling has lasted far longer than the technology that sparked the complaint.

(AP Photo/Shizuo Kambayashi, File) Real tried again with a new version of Harmony, but it was blocked by another iTunes update in September 2006.

The plaintiffs contend that music lovers were effectively locked into using iPod players, because they could not easily switch their music collections to other portable devices. This prevented

competition that would have driven down iPod prices, plaintiffs say. Apple sold iPods at prices ranging from $79 to $349 in 2006. It would sell nearly 150 million of the devices over the next two and a half years, during the period covered by the lawsuit.

Apple stopped using the restrictive FairPlay code in early

2009, after record companies shifted strategy to embrace the growing popularity of digital music. More recently, the music industry has moved toward a streaming-focused business model rather than selling copies of songs for individual download.

But attorneys for the plaintiffs maintain that iPod

buyers are still entitled to compensation for past harm.

Although iPod prices have fallen - models that come with more memory now retail for $49 to $299 - plaintiffs’ attorney Bonny Sweeney said in an interview: “Prices always go down in the tech market. But the prices were still higher than they should have been.”

If their attorneys prevail, the class of plaintiffs who would be eligible for damages include consumers and some retailers who bought iPods between Sept. 12, 2006 and March 31, 2009.

Apple declined comment outside court, but its attorneys have argued that Apple competed fairly by designing its iTunes updates to provide legitimate security protection and a host of other features desired by consumers. Apple lawyers William Isaacson and Karen Dunn also contend in court papers that the plaintiffs’ economic expert used flawed assumptions to conclude that the software inflated iPod prices.

The Cupertino, California company has said it paid no attention to online rivals when it set the price of iPods. Sweeney, however, said Apple was “furious” with RealNetworks when it released the Harmony software. She said Jobs’ testimony will show Apple’s reaction.

Gift Guide: Dragons, aliens, heroes for the gamer Lou Kesten Sony’s PlayStation 4 videogame console has built an impressive lead over its competitors. That’s good news for holiday shoppers because it has driven Microsoft and Nintendo to offer more budget-friendly holiday deals on their consoles.

Microsoft Corp.’s $350 Xbox One packages have jettisoned the Kinect motion-sensing device, which some gamers didn’t find appealing because it gave them more exercise than they would have liked. Instead, you get a copy of either “Assassin’s Creed Unity” or “Sunset Overdrive.”

Meanwhile, Nintendo has a $300 Wii U package with “Super Mario 3D World.”

Sony Corp.’s console still costs $400, but you can get “Grand Theft Auto V,” updated with better graphics, free with one PS4 Black Friday bundle.

Of course, your gaming loved one probably already has the latest console. In that case, here are some new games to feed the machine. Be sure to find out which console your loved one owns, or there’s bound to be disappointment.

For Adults - “Dragon Age: Inquisition” (Electronic Arts Inc.,

This product image provided by Disney Interactive shows the “Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes” starter kit. The kit comes with figures of Thor, Iron Man and Black Widow. (AP Photo/Disney Interactive) for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $59.99): Anyone who’s into “Game of Thrones” or “The Lord of the Rings” will adore this sword-and-sorcery epic from the role-playing masters at BioWare. It offers more than 100 hours of adventure as you build an army of humans, elves, dwarves and more to prevent demons from destroying a sprawling, gorgeous fantasy world.

- “Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor” (Warner Bros., for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $59.99): In this action-focused take on J.R.R. Tolkien’s world, a sword-wielding ranger takes on a series of orc warlords,

one by one. No two duels are the same, and victory requires a satisfying blend of strategy and reflexes.

- “Titanfall” (Electronic Arts, for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $59.99) or “Destiny” (Activision, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, $59.99): Gamers who love to go online and shoot other gamers got two fresh arenas this year.

“Titanfall” adds giant robots to the mayhem, while “Destiny” delivers a wider variety of intense cooperative battles.

- “Wolfenstein: The New Order” (Bethesda Softworks, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $59.99): Some trigger-happy gamers prefer a good story to the chaos of

online play. For them, I recommend this chilling alternate history, in which a plucky resistance fighter tries to take down the Nazi regime that has overrun all of Europe.

- “Alien: Isolation” (Sega, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, $59.95): The toothsome alien stalking this space station can’t be killed, so anyone who goes in with guns blazing is likely to get eaten. It’s almost as nerveracking as the original “Alien” movie from 1979.

For Everyone - amiibo (Nintendo, Wii U, $12.99): The “toys-to-life” category - figurines that interact with video games - has been the hottest thing in toy stores for the past few years.

Nintendo Co. is finally joining the fray. Want to team up with Mario in “Super

Smash Bros. for Wii U” ($59.99)? Place his character on the Wii U’s GamePad, and you can teach him new fighting styles. The amiibo models include favorites such as Donkey Kong, Pikachu and Kirby. They are also compatible with “Mario Kart 8,” ‘’Hyrule Warriors” and more games to come.

- “Disney Infinity 2.0: Marvel Super Heroes” (Disney, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, $74.99): The Walt Disney Co., meanwhile, has expanded its line of playable figurines by calling on the Avengers to assemble.

The starter kit includes Iron Man, Thor and Black Widow, all starring in a goofy, kidfriendly adventure in Marvel’s Manhattan. Additional heroes like Spider-Man and Groot cost $15 apiece.

This file image released by Activision shows a scene from the video game “Destiny.” (AP Photo/ Activision, File)

- “Skylanders Trap Team” (Activision, for the PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Xbox 360, Wii U, $74.99): Activision started the whole toys-to-life trend with this blockbuster franchise, and this year’s model is as clever as ever. The new Trap Team Skylanders can capture villains in shells made of “traptanium” (known to the rest of us as plastic). Switching traps allows you to play as different bad guys.

There are now hundreds of Skylander characters available, costing $5 to $16 apiece.

Surely the collector in your family is missing a few.

“Fantasia: Music Evolved” (Disney, for the Xbox One, Xbox 360, $59.99): Players become conductors in Disney’s reimagining of the classic film, rearranging tunes from a playlist that goes from Mozart to Elton John to Nicki Minaj. Like most rhythm games, it’s good fun for family gatherings. (Be advised: It does require Kinect.)

- “Sid Meier’s Civilization: Beyond Earth” (2K Games, for the PC, $49.99): The stargazer on your list will dig the latest “Civ” simulator, which adds all kinds of crazy technology, from nanorobotics to neural uploading, to the classic formula.

Why settle for conquering Earth when there are whole new planets out there? (AP)

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Doctor will be with you in a moment!

For someone lying on a stretcher, that “moment” could feel like hours. I know I wasn’t prepared to wait many “moments” when I broke my heel bone (called the ‘Os Calcis’ for those who want this column to be precise and correct).

Now imagine what it is like to wait 35 hours to be seen.

All I hope is that someone gave the poor devil some anesthetic during that day and a half wait. That figure of 35 hours was revealed at an investigation into a hospital in Kent in the UK. British Health watchdogs are about to issue a damning report warning of major failings by Medway NHS foundation trust, in Kent - now branded the worst hospital in the country - as it admitted to repeated cases of patients waiting more than 24 hours in Accident and Emergency (EMS in Thailand).

In recent weeks, at least nine hospitals in Britain have closed their A&E units to only the most urgent cases. The pressures came as hundreds of thousands of NHS workers went on a four hour strike, in protest over their pay.

Having worked in the UK hospital system myself, albeit many years ago now, it would, however, seem as if the same old problems of public hospitals overcrowding, under-staffed, under-paid and generally just not up to the job, has continued.

Inspectors have said that the Kent hospital is in a “state

of crisis” with patients “stacked” waiting to be treated, including children left without assessment, and patients with potentially dangerous heart conditions left unmonitored.

It follows national statistics showing a doubling in the number of patients forced to endure long trolley waits since last year, which triggered warnings that the NHS is entering a crisis, even before the expected increases during the cold season.

The hospital’s death rates were 17 percent higher than would be expected in 2013/14.

The new report follows a catalogue of failings, which in September was responsible for almost one quarter of England’s long trolley waits.

In the same month, five patients suffered from “serious incidents,” trust documents reveal, including a patient left with a needle in them for two months after undergoing surgery.

Such lapses are so basic they are defined by the NHS as “never events”.

In another case, a female patient placed in a side-room without a call bell, broke her hip after falling when she was unable to get help to go to the toilet.

The nursing side gets the flak in these sorts of situations, but I can assure you that the nurses are not slacking. When questioned, staff were saying they felt “under siege” as 16 ambulances queued outside. These kinds of work loads just cannot be endured.

But the patients are also suffering, as well as waiting in silence, one presumes. Like all enterprises there are targets to be met. Try this one for size - Latest figures show the Kent hospital is also missing national targets to treat urgent referrals for suspected cancer within two weeks.

So just what can be done? The government approach has always been the same - throw money at it, but even though figures of around an extra £1.5bn in funding are being mooted, it will be nowhere near enough.

A most senior doctor in the UK has urged patients to turn to pharmacies, to relieve strain on the country’s A&E units.

The simple truth is that the socialist health care model just does not work financially. In saying that, you have to compare it with the private hospital system. While it may sound like I am just blowing a horn for my hospital’s healthcare system, you will never hear of patients left on stretchers for 35 hours at any private hospital in Thailand.

The times between referral and being seen for cancer patients can be measured in hours, not weeks!

The majority of your blood test results are available in 45 minutes, though some can take an hour.

The time between having your X-Ray and it being reviewed by the referring doctor is measured in seconds.

So you pay for it, but if you are from the UK, you never had it so good!

Lab-coated Muggles use Harry Potter to study brain Lauran Neergaard Washington (AP) - Harry Potter swoops around on his broom, faces the bully Malfoy and later runs into a threeheaded dog. For scientists studying brain activity while reading, it’s the perfect excerpt from the young wizard’s many adventures to give their subjects.

Reading that section of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” activates some of the same regions in the brain that people use to perceive real people’s actions and intentions. Scientists then map what a healthy brain does as it reads.

The research reported Wednesday, Nov. 27 has implications for studying reading disorders or recovery from a stroke. The team from Carnegie Mellon University was pleasantly surprised that the

experiment actually worked.

Most neuroscientists painstakingly have tracked how the brain processes a single word or sentence, looking for clues to language development or dyslexia by focusing on one aspect of reading at a time. But reading a story requires multiple systems working at once: recognizing how letters form a word, knowing the definitions and grammar, keeping up with the characters’ relationships and the plot twists.

Measuring all that activity is remarkable, said Georgetown University neuroscientist Guinevere Eden, who helped pioneer brain-scanning studies of dyslexia but wasn’t involved in the new work.

“It offers a much richer way of thinking about the reading brain,” Eden said, calling

the project “very clever and very exciting.”

No turning pages inside a brain-scanning MRI machine; you have to lie still.

So at Carnegie Mellon, eight adult volunteers watched for nearly 45 minutes as each word of Chapter 9 of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was flashed for half a second onto a screen inside the scanner.

Why that chapter? It has plenty of action and emotion, but there’s not too much going on for scientists to track, said lead researcher Leila Wehbe, a Ph.D. student.

The research team analyzed the scans, second by second, and created a computerized model of brain activity involved with different reading processes. The research was published by the journal PLoS One. “For the first time in history, we can do things like have you read a story and watch where in your brain the neural activity is happening,” said senior author Tom

Leila Wehbe, a Ph.D. student at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, talks about an experiment that used brain scans made in this brain-scanning MRI machine on campus, Wednesday, Nov. 26.

Volunteers were scanned as each word of a chapter of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was flashed for half a second onto a screen inside the machine. Images showing combinations of data and graphics were collected. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) Mitchell, director of Carnegie Mellon’s Machine Learning Department. “Not just where are the neurons firing, but what information is being coded by those different neurons.”

Wehbe had the idea to study reading a story rather than just words or phrases.

But parsing the brain activity took extraordinary effort.

For every word the researchers identified features - the number of letters, the part of speech, whether it was associated with a character or action or emotion or conversation. Then they used computer programming to analyze brain patterns associated with those features in every four-word stretch.

They spotted some complex interactions.

For example, the brain region that processes the characters’ point of view is the one we use to perceive intentions behind real people’s actions, Wehbe said. A region that we use to visually interpret other people’s emotions helps decipher characters’ emotions.

That suggests we’re using pretty high-level brain functions, not just the semantic concepts but our previous experiences, as we get lost in the story, she said.

A related study using faster brain-scanning techniques shows that much of the neural activity is about the history of the story up to that point, rather than deciphering the current word, Mitchell added.

The team’s computer model can distinguish with 74 percent accuracy which of two text passages matches a pattern of neural activity, he said, calling it a first step as researchers tease apart what the brain does when someone reads.

Ebola vaccine seems safe in first-stage testing Lauran Neergaard Washington (AP) - An experimental Ebola vaccine appears safe and triggered signs of immune protection in the first 20 volunteers to test it, U.S. researchers reported Wednesday, Nov. 26.

The vaccine is designed to spur the immune system’s production of anti-Ebola antibodies, and people developed them within four weeks of getting the shots at the National Institutes of Health.

Half of the test group received a higher-dose shot, and those people produced more antibodies, said the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Some people also developed a different set of virus-fighting immune cells, named T cells, the study found. That may be important in fending off Ebola, as prior research found that monkeys protected by the vaccine also had that combination response.

Stimulating both types of immune response is “a promising factor,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of NIH’s National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, whose employees led the work.

The researchers reported no serious side effects. But two people who received the higher-dose vaccine briefly spiked fevers, one above 103 degrees Fahrenheit (39

Celsius), which disappeared within a day.

Earlier this month, Fauci told Congress this first-stage testing was promising enough that the U.S. planned much larger studies in West Africa, starting in Liberia in early January, to try to prove whether the vaccine really works.

Scientists are racing to develop ways to prevent or treat the virus that has killed more than 5,600 people in West Africa, most of them in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

Wednesday’s publication offered scientific details about the initial testing of the vaccine candidate furthest along, one being developed

by NIH and GlaxoSmithKline.

Additional safety studies are underway here and abroad.

A different Canadian-made vaccine also has begun small safety studies.

Many questions remain as larger studies are being designed, including the best dose and how soon protection may begin, cautioned Dr. Daniel Bausch, a Tulane University Ebola specialist who wasn’t involved in the study. Plus, monkey research suggests a booster shot will be needed for longterm protection.

“The road is still long and there are many challenges but we are nevertheless one step closer to a solution,” he wrote in an accompanying editorial.

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Shapes, patterns and contrasts are eye-catchers

How do you get eye-catching photographs? Even in camera clubs there are more dull photographs than eyecatchers. So what is the secret?

Amazingly, sometimes the commonest or simplest items can produce eye-catching photographs. No difficult shots, no special effects, no exotic lenses, just great shots by the simple technique of keeping one’s eyes open for good results.

The secret to all this is to remember repetitive shapes, contrasting shapes, contrasting colors and shadows. In other words, these types of images rely totally on vision and composition.

Remembering that the ‘rules’ of composition are merely there to be broken, very often a dramatic shot comes from trying something different.

The secret of great photography is not just in correct

exposure and placement in the frame. You will get plenty of photographs that are perfectly exposed with the subject at the intersection of thirds, but dull. You need to remember contrast!

Contrast in photographic composition is an effective means of directing the viewer’s attention to the subject of interest. When I speak of contrast, I am referring to both tonal contrast, as in black-and-white photography, and color contrast as it relates to color photography.

In B&W photography, contrast is the difference in subject tones from white-to-gray-toblack or from the lightest tone to the darkest tone. In color photography different colors create the contrast.

Tonal contrast is generally expressed as high contrast which has extreme black and whites, or low contrast which has nothing but graduated greys.

Now you can wander around all day looking for a girl in a white swimsuit on a white sandy beach, or you can manipulate a photograph to produce that image. If you have an advanced digital camera, you can program it to record black and white only and then go from there,

Dear Hillary, Please help me here. I have been here for a few years and I thought I knew the ropes. One night I took my brother to a few of the bars when he was up on holidays. I warned him about bar girls that can latch onto a good looking young fellow like him and I gave up worrying when he seemed able to handle them all pretty well. He did, but elder brother found himself chatting to the one girl all night, taking her from bar to bar and she’s still with me one week later. OK it was a bit of fun to start with, but I want to do something about this before it gets too serious.

She seems like a nice person with the usual two kids being looked after by her mother, husband done a runner like they do. I’m not really ready for a serious live-in girl; I’ve been on my own for the past five years, so I can look after myself. So where do I go from here, Hillary?

Jonny Dear Jonny, Obviously, this girl struck a nerve with you, or perhaps even a “need” with you. As you say, my Petal, you’ve been here for a few years, living on your own, and now suddenly a bar girl has walked into your life. Was this the right girl at the right time, or the wrong girl at the right time, or the right girl at the wrong time? Without wishing to be too critical we are talking about a bar girl here. A lady who makes her living by getting men to donate to the cause her! Some of you may dance up and down at that, but that is

but if not, no fear, your software will allow you to do this post camera. First convert the color shot to grey scale, then play with the brightness and contrast, and you will very quickly produce a high contrast shot.

Now high contrast should not be confused with high key.

A high key black and white shot is one where the photo shows mostly light tones.

Conversely, a low key shot is one that has mainly dark tones.

Low key and high key pictures convey mood and atmosphere. Low key suggests seriousness and mystery and is wonderful for Halloween photographs. However, high key creates a feeling of delicacy and lightness. A portrait of a blonde in white against a white background is an example of high key.

High contrast gives very black blacks and very white whites, and usually with nothing in between. Low contrast, on the other hand, still has blacks and whites, but everything is predominantly grey, giving a flat scene which still has tones, but in which highlights and shadows have very little difference in densities. In

the real situation. She is fishing for gold. You are a “catch” Jonny. Time you wriggled out of the net. Pack up her toothbrush for her and show her the door.

Dear Hillary, A couple of weeks ago you had one guy writing in about buying his new GF a motorbike. You suggested he buy it on HP and keep it in his name. Not such a good idea, Hillary, as he becomes liable all the time. Sure, pay the deposit, but let her be responsible for everything else, including the accidents. If it was me I’d give her a push bike and that’s all.

Pushy Peter Dear Pushy Peter, You’re all heart, aren’t you, but I can understand your motives, very much like the situation with Jonny in the letter above yours. The girl is making the most of the situation, while she can. Another one with a big fishing net, and not afraid to cast it out.

Jump out now, Pushy Peter, before it is too late.

Dear Hillary, I have been visiting Pattaya regulary (sic) for the past 12 years and love the place. Regretably (sic) the many financial crisises (sic) have deleted my funds and I can not afford to live in the palatial rooms I was accustomed to in your fair city. I was wondering if you have space in your penthouse for a respectable Aussie gentleman? I can not pay much rent but am willing to provide any services you may require.

Yours hopefully Dear Hopefully, Don’t hold your breath, my Petal. Don’t they teach

other words, all tones within the scene are very similar in appearance. However, remember that if you are shooting in automatic mode, the camera will be set to deliver 18 percent grey, and not black.

Now to contrast in color.

This is where an artist’s color wheel comes in handy. By picking colors from opposite sides on the wheel, you immediately have stunning contrasts. Blue and yellow is a classic example. Another is bright red against a luminescent green background.

Cold colors (bluish) and warm colors (reddish) almost always contrast. Cold colors recede, while warm colors advance. Light colors contrast against dark ones, and a bold color offsets a weak color.

Color contrast is an effective compositional element in color photography, just as tone is in black-and-white photography. Colors with opposite characteristics contrast strongly when placed together. Each color accentuates the qualities of the other and makes the color images stand out dramatically. Color contrast is enhanced when you create the contrast of detail against mass. An example is a single, bright, red flower in a clear, glass vase photographed against a bright, green background.

The photograph used this week is an example of very high color contrast, so much so that only two colors matter. This was designed to be a photograph that hits you between the eyes.

English in Australia? Your spellings seem to come from Ethiopia. And “deleted your funds” or was that supposed to be “depleted your funds”? Goodness me, Hillary is a lady of letters, and if we were sharing my penthouse I could see me all day correcting your English. Now, why are your funds so low, after 12 years? Do you think you might come and spend mine - is that it? I am also a little worried as you describe yourself as a “respectable Aussie gentleman.”

My friends tell me that the person you describe does not exist, but is a dream. You sound far too much of a risk for me, Platypus Petal. Sorry, I must decline your kind offer of “services”, whatever they might (have) been.

Dear Hillary, The cost of living in Thailand has been going up alarmingly. Compared to when I was in Thailand 12 months ago, it seems as if everything has gone up at least 50 percent, and some items even more. Little roadside stalls that used to sell a decent plate of food for 20-25 baht are now charging 35-40 baht for the same dish. Even the items in the local fresh market are becoming expensive.

How do you see this going when the AEC comes into being at the end of 2015?

Kevin Dear Kevin, I do agree with you, Kevin, but there’s nothing you and I can do about it. Every country seems to be going in the same direction. Rents are up, cost of houses is up, gasoline and diesel is up, bus fares are up. As far as the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) is concerned, will it really happen? I don’t know, my Petal, I really don’t know, but I am the wrong one to ask. Speak to someone in the Chambers of Commerce!

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Relieve pain using your own blood Relieve pain using your own blood. When you have pain from damaged cartilages in your knees, or arthritic knees, or tears in other ligaments and tendons, there is a treatment that may bring you relief that does not involve surgery or medicines.

It is called platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and it was the topic of a presentation by Dr. Peter Lewis, MD and colleagues at the Sunday, November 30 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC).

Dr Peter Lewis is an Australian sports medicine doctor. He was one of the first clinicians in Australia to offer PRP treatment, and is now one of the most experienced in this field. For more information on the PRP treatments provided by Surecell, see www.surecell.com.

PRP is a process whereby the patients’ own healing cells (platelets) are used to heal injuries in joints, cartilages, ligaments and tendons. A small amount of blood is taken from the patient and then put through a centrifuge device to extract only the blood’s platelets and plasma. These are photo activated with light and then

numerous studies have confirmed the benefits of PRP therapy in reducing pain.

In addition, PRP is used to treat osteoarthritis, bursitis and muscle tears. It also has cosmetic uses, such as regenerating skin. Dr. Peter described PRP as an easy, quick, low-risk and non-surgical and natural procedure to shorten healing processes. He provides PRP and stem cell therapy through a network of nine clinics in Australia and Thailand operated by Surecell Medical Co. Ltd. There is one clinic in Thailand, located in Pattaya.

Dr. Peter explained that PRP therapy is one of the fastest growing areas of medicine with an annual growth rate of 200%. The number of patients per month in his clinics has gone from 50 two years ago to over 600 in each of the last three months.

Therapeutic PRP is one area in the field of regenerative medicine. Regenerative medicine involves the use of innovative medical therapies to enable the body to repair, replace, restore and regenerate damaged or diseased cells, tissues and organs.

process evolved, PRP began to be used in sports medicine. Today, it is an accepted procedure in most fields of medicine.

Dr. Peter cautioned that PRP does not work for everyone. For some people, the damage to the cartilage or tendon, etc., is simply too severe. But, in his clinics he said the treatment has helped about 78% of patients. Between 60-70% of his patients had been told they would need surgery; Peter said that following PRP treatment 67% of them no longer needed surgery. PRP can be used in place of cortisone or Synvisc injections, which can have unwelcome side effects.

Radchada (Toy) Chomjinda from the Pattaya Orphanage invites PCEC members and guests to attend the orphanage’s annual Christmas Dinner and Party.

Dr. Peter Lewis after his presentation to the PCEC is interviewed by Paul Strachan with Pattaya Mail TV on the porch of the Amari’s Tavern by the Sea Restaurant.

Dr. Peter Lewis explains to the PCEC what PlateletRich-Plasma therapy is and its benefits in relieving pain without surgery for various conditions such as osteoarthritis, bursitis and muscle tears. injected into the area of injury. The platelets and plasma directly assist in the healing process and also release some of the body’s natural growth factors which would otherwise not be released (to further help with the healing). Treatment usually involves a series of four injections. Peter said that

Other areas of regenerative medicine include stem cell treatment; the use of supplements, hormones and peptides; lifestyle changes, exercise and diet.

PRP has been around since the early 1990s. Before that, injections of whole blood were tried Dr. Peter explained, but did not work well. As the

Peter introduced Fred Jackson, one of his patients.

Fred, who is 66 years old, described himself as a “basket case” with very limited mobility caused by shoulder and back injuries. He said that he could not lift his left hand above his shoulder. His back injury had resulted in three discs being removed.

Fred said that he had been a professional golfer but found that he could no longer golf.

There were days, he said, when he couldn’t get out of bed, which caused him to miss at least one or two days of work each month. Following PRP treatment, Fred said, he has complete mobility in his arm and he hasn’t missed a day of work in six months.

Dr. Peter said that by far the most common injuries treated

by PRP involve the knee. He

PCEC member (and chairman) Roy Albiston invites members and guests to join the Open Forum portion of the PCEC meeting by asking any questions they may have about expat living in Pattaya or providing recommendations for restaurants, good movies now playing, etc. cited one study which showed that before treatment, the largest number of patients reported a pain level of 8 on a scale of 1-10. After treatment, almost half of the patients reported pain levels of 0, 1 or 2. Females reported slightly better results than males. People in all age groups reported similar benefits.

Further, that sometimes stem cell treatment is combined with PRP treatment, especially for patients for which PRP is not effective.

One advantage of stem cell therapy is that it helps rebuild the degenerated tissues. PRP therapy alone just stops the degeneration.

During the Question &Answer session, Dr. Peter explained that PRP is not usually used on children because they have enough natural growth cells to deal with injuries to cartilages, tendons, etc.

One of Peter’s colleagues said that the cost of PRP treatment will vary depending on the patient, but that on average the cost for four injections is about 100,000 baht. When stem cell therapy is combined with PRP, the average cost rises to about 275,000 baht.

After the presentation, Dr. Peter was interviewed by Paul Strachan for Pattaya Mail television. To view the You Tube Video, visit https:/ /www.youtube.com/embed/ tiHyVZHjZF4.

To conclude the program, MC Richard Silverberg updated everyone on Club activities and upcoming events and then called on Roy Albiston to conduct the Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand, especially Pattaya.

For more information on the PCEC’s many activities, visit their website at www.pcecclub.org.

Long-time Expats Club member Rubenstein celebrates 75 years

David Rubenstein and his lovely wife Alex host members of the Pattaya City Expats Club for David’s 75th birthday party.

Urasin Khantaraphan Long-time Pattaya City Expats Club member David Rubenstein celebrated his birthday with more than 30 club members and a sky full of fireworks.

Former club president Richard Smith and his wife Janet organized the Nov. 29 soiree at the 24th floor condominium at the Mark Land Beach View in North Pattaya he has shared with his wife Alex for the past quarter-century.

The spacious end unit afforded all the gusts a

three-sided panorama view of the Pattaya International Fireworks Festival staged that night.

There was a buffet of food and beverages set up in the living room for guests to enjoy while viewing the fireworks. And of course guests brought a birthday cake.

Rubenstein said he loves Thailand and all its rich culture and traditions.

“I think it is a rare culture, but as the country develops, society and culture are gradually changing,” he noted. “In Pattaya, where

many westerners live, Thai people gradually merge into western culture, while also maintaining their Thai culture. However, I still love Thailand and like to stay in Pattaya.”

Rubenstein said he bought his condo 25 years ago and appreciates HM the King and the government for allowing him to live here so long. He had many friends in the Expats Club and loves to be near the sea.

“This place is very suitable for us,” he said. “I am very proud to be here.”

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Bangkok Hospital Pattaya hosts Christmas charity bazaar

Juthathip Bowler, Head of the International Marketing Department at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and Dr. Iain Rotary Pattaya sells Christmas gift bags, with proceeds Corness emcee the fun during the bazaar. being distributed to various children’s orphanages. Santa Claus gives presents to all the good little boys and girls.

Urasin Khantaraphan Bangkok Hospital Pattaya welcomed Santa Claus to its annual Christmas charity bazaar benefitting children from area orphanages and shelters.

Proceeds from the Nov. 29 sale and party in the lobby of the hospital’s E building went toward child-welfare foundations.

The event featured games, lucky draws, dance shows, a magic show from Father Ray Foundation, a choral

performance from the International School of Chonburi, and shows by numerous organizations. Those taking to the stage included Dance Studio Pattaya, Seven Flowers Kindergarten, the International Russian School of Ballet Rosinka Pattaya, Mercy Center, St. Nicholas Church, Pattaya Christian Church and more.

There were also product booths from many organizations and foundations including the Mercy Center, Ban Jing Jai orphanage,

Young angels sing Christmas carols.

Father Ray Foundation, Fountain of Life Center, Jesters Care for Kids, the German-Speaking Ladies Club, Sparrow Home of Children, Take Care Kids Thailand Foundation, Rotary and Lions clubs, the Pattaya Marriott Resort & Spa, Camillian Social Center, North Star Library, and Banglamung Home for the Elderly.

Raffle tickets were available to win prize from various sponsors, including hotel stays, appliances, restaurant vouchers and more.

Students from the Redemptorist Blind School bring the house down with their beautiful singing voices.

Young stars of the stage perform a perfectly choreographed traditional Thai dance.

Young carolers sing brilliantly, much to the delight of their parents.

Residents at Plutaluang Dog Shelter receive much needed help Neo LongThum It all started one year ago, in November 2013, when Neo the founder of the Pattaya Animal Coalition (PAC) went to see the dog shelter in Plutaluang. PAC found 1,000 malnourished dogs in very bad condition and have worked closely with Pattaya City Hall since then to improve the conditions.

With the help of the Soi Dog Foundation they secured food donations of 300,000 baht. Neo then undertook a fundraising run of 999 km from North Thailand back to Pattaya to secure more food. Along with other local animal charities and I love Thai Dogs in Bangsaen, PAC and the 999 km run, they managed to get another 500,000 baht worth of dog food.

When the food was secured, PAC successfully petitioned Pattaya City Hall to increase the food rations and improve the conditions for the dogs. However, dogs were still dying from viruses and sickness and with 1,000 unvaccinated dogs there is always a risk that one dog

Chollada Mekratri poses with the veterinarian students from Chula University from Bangkok. could infect 1,000 with distemper or Parvo virus.

With the help of the musical brothers ‘Beer’ (Soranut Masayavanich) and ‘Fluke’ (Krikphol Masayavanich) they got in contact with Chollada Mekratri and the Voice Foundation in Bangkok. On the 22nd of November, The Voice Foundation organized a big sterilizations campaign. Together with PAC, Chulalongkorn Veterinary Students and

volunteers, they vaccinated 1,000 dogs in one of the biggest animal rescue operations in Thailand.

The Dog Nation, SOS, and the Thailand Adopter Club also helped organize the event and made sure kittens and puppies found a new home. Many animals were also adopted and received medical treatment for various illnesses.

There were about 100 people present with many media

and press on location to document this big event.

There will be an Animal Charity meeting in Bangkok with many foundations and after that, in about three weeks, there will be another event to give the second round of vaccinations.

If you want to adopt any dogs or cats, please contact PAC, as we can help you arrange the adoption. The animals at the shelter do not need more food at the

(L to R) Soranut “Beer” Masayavanich, Neo and Wisut Thamviritkul deliver the food. moment, but they do need vaccine, medical care and to get adopted.

Please help us to finance this second event - it is very important that the animals get another booster injection and

medical care. If you want to help out on the day or help with food, water or your company wants to sponsor the event please contact PAC at <http://www. gofundme.com/ Thailandogrescue>

18 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

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VOL. XXII No. 50

Bromsgrove students place well at World Scholar’s Cup Suwanit Poolcharoen Six students from Bromsgrove International School Thailand have just returned from the Tournament of Champions, the prestigious global final of the World Scholar’s Cup. Competing against the 300 finalists in the Junior Division (11-15) from around the world, Bromsgrove’s two teams (Jeana Lee, Thomas Savage and Surabhi Vanalia; Daisy Savage, Devi Vanalia and Joon Ho Byun) enjoyed a life-changing experience.

After a whistle-stop tour of Manhattan, including visits

to the Empire State Building and the 9/11 memorial, shopping in Macy’s and catching a sunset glimpse of the Statue of Liberty from Battery Park, the teams made their way up to New Haven, Connecticut, and Yale University, where the competition took place.

Whether in the debating or collaborative writing rounds, or amid the rigour of the Scholar’s Challenge exam or the Scholar ’s Bowl team quiz, Bromsgrove’s students punched way above their weight, and proved a force to be reckoned with. One team - Jeana, Thomas and

Surabhi - were placed 6th for debating, and were placed on the Honour Roll overall; and Surabhi featured individually on the Honour Roll in the Science component of the Scholar’s Challenge.

contest which sees the very best teenage minds on the planet compete against each other, such stellar achievements are even more remarkable.

Whilst in the USA, Bromsgrove’s teams also en-

(Above) Bromsgrove’s two teams enjoyed a lifechanging experience.

Bromsgrove’s students proved a force to be reckoned with.

The dynamic six thoroughly enjoyed their tour of Harvard University.

Most impressive of all, Thomas Savage brought home a glittering array of prizes, placing 6th overall for the Scholar ’s Challenge (and on the Honour Roll for the Arts, Literature and Science), 1st in the world for debating and an amazing 2nd in the world across the entire competition. In a

joyed tours of Ivy League colleges Yale, Harvard and, recently rated Number 1 in the world, MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). This was a rare opportunity for these world-beating scholars to have a window into some of the institutions in which they may even study themselves in a few years time.

Thomas Savage brought home a glittering array of prizes.

This year, Bromsgrove has 24 students enrolled on the World Scholar’s Cup programme, so they are all hopeful there may be Bromsgrove teams at the Tournament of Champions at Yale next year too.

Please visit website www. bromsgrove.ac.th For more information on the World Scholar’s Cup, visit www.scholarscup.org

Christmas fun at GIS

Primary students put on a Christmas performance.

Some neat moves from the Primary dancers. Secondary singers provided a festive feel.

Parents, students and staff from Garden International School (GIS) had fun at an action-packed Christmas Fun Day. The day featured festive songs and dances from Primary

students who performed in their Houses (Cobra, Gecko, Tiger and Eagle) and Christmas songs from our Secondary students, including a version of the new Band Aid 30 song.

Teachers arranged various activities and games, including a coconut shy, a chance to make your own Christmas

card and the opportunity to throw wet sponges at teachers and students!

Friends of Garden PTA arranged for some great food and drinks for the November 29 event. There was also a raffle, which offered a range of great prizes. GIS is based in Ban Chang, near Pattaya.

A Year 11 drummer at the Christmas Fun Day.

A bouncy castle was a popular draw at the GIS event.

A student prepares for the GIS Christmas Fun Day.

Mark Beales Photos by Robert Edwards

Father Christmas had a special grotto where young visitors were able to collect presents from him.

VOL. XXII No. 50

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 19

PATTAYA MAIL

E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com

Fax: 038-427596

ATTENTION! Public Service Announcements in our Community Happenings pages are FREE! All Commercial promotions will be charged at a very reasonable rate of 10 Baht per word.

Please send your Community Happenings to:

comhaps@pattayamail.com, DEADLINE: Saturday 5:00 PM Please contact us by E-mail for any information that you may require.

Events The next meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be on Sunday, December 14. Everyone is warmly welcome. The PCEC will be presenting their Christmas Program with the Pattaya Orphanage Children’s Choir singing carols and receiving some bags of goodies from Santa Claus. The Club meets every Sunday morning at The Tavern by the Sea Restaurant located on the north end of Beach Road (part of the Amari Orchid Resort). The program starts at 10:30 a.m. with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m.

The 8th annual Bangsaen Thailand Speed Festival will be held from December 10-14 on a road circuit at Bangsaen Laemtan and Khao Sam-muk with over 300 participating vehicles. The event highlight will be the final round of the 2014 Thailand Super Car racing series. Entrance is free to all spectators.

The Queen’s Cup Pink Polo tournament is scheduled for Dec 14 at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya to help raise funds for the Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer at Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Thai Red Cross Society. The tournament features an allwomen cast, with the players turning up for the matches

dressed in pink, while the venue itself will be adorned in matching decor. The day’s events begin at 12 noon and include show jumping, a fashion show on horseback, kids’ polo, Pink Polo final with divot stomping & high tea, fireworks Assado & dancing. Entrance costs 1000 baht as a donation to the Queen Sirikit Center. For more information, call Kh. Surapol on 081 617 4744 or check website: www.thaipolo-club.com.

TFI (Thai-Farang Initiative) will be holding its second Jolly Kids Xmas Party at Jameson’s Irish Pub & Restaurant on Sunday, Dec. 14 from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. Bring the kids as Santa will give every child a Christmas gift. The kids’ buffet will include chicken nuggets, fish fingers, mini burgers, French fries, jelly and ice cream plus soft drinks. Magic shows will be performed by Doc Penguin and there will also be face painting & a bouncy castle plus a Grand Raffle with a fantastic selection of prizes available. Admission is free for all children. Also, order any Jameson’s Sunday roast dinner and 50% of the price shall be donated to the TFI charity fund. For more information, email info @tfi-events.com or visit facebook.com/ funcharityevents.

The Wonderfruit music & art festival is to be held for 3 days from December 19-21 on over 200 rai of land at the entrance to Siam Country Club. The festival will be focused on the beauty of nature with over 100 hours of shows and entertainment and aims to attract those who love music and have a passion for art. 3-day pass/ camping tickets cost 5,000 baht for adults, 3,500 baht for teens (12-19) and children (011) have free admittance. For more information, go to website: wonderfruitfestival.com.

Horseshoe Point Riding School is offering three special Christmas themed Ranch Days on December 18, 22 & 29. The fun packed days for children of all ages include a Treasure Hunt on horseback, Christmas party games, dressing up your pony for a Christmas Parade competition, fabulous prizes and much more. The events are open to all children 5 years and up, beginner riders or experienced. The cost for each day is 2,000 baht per participant. Proceeds from the event will go to support the Able the Disabled Foundation. For more information and booking, call Sandra on 086 848 3684.

Pattaya City has scheduled the Pattaya Countdown celebration for 7 days and 7 nights from December 25-31 at South Pattaya (Bali Hai) Pier. This year’s Pattaya Countdown 2014 is planned to be bigger than ever, with popular music artists from in

An easy Thai Larb Larb is a very well known Thai dish. This recipe is easy to follow and you can substitute chicken or beef in place of pork. The ingredients are easily sourced at any local market.

Cooking Method

Ingredients Serves 4 Peanut oil 1 tbspn Heat half the oil in a wok over high heat until just smoking. Add half the pork Pork mince lean 500 g mince, lemon grass and chilli and stir-fry, Lemon grass finely chopped 1 stem breaking up any lumps, for 3-4 minutes Long green chilli1 fresh, finely chopped or until pork changes color. Transfer to a Fresh lime juice 60 ml heatproof bowl. Repeat with the remainFish sauce (Tiparos) 1 tbspn ing oil, pork, lemon grass and chilli, reSweet chilli sauce 1 tbspn heating the wok between batches. Set Finely grated lime rind 1 tspn aside for 15 minutes to cool slightly.

Small red onion, thinly sliced ½ Now whisk together the lime juice, fish Fresh coriander leaves 1/3 cup sauce, sweet chilli sauce and lime rind in Torn fresh mint 2 tbspns a small bowl until well combined. Drizzle the dressing over the pork mixture. Add the onion, coriander and mint and stir to combine. Spoon the pork mixture among lettuce leaves and sprinkle with peanuts to serve.

and out of the country performing nightly and booths offering a wide variety of products and food to give tourists, both domestic and foreign, a traditional Thailand New Year to remember.

Naklua Walking Street is open every Saturday and Sunday evening from 18:00 onwards at the Old Naklua Market. There will be a variety of traditional activities from communities in Pattaya, handcrafted products, traditional food and fresh seafood to offer at very special prices. There will also be shows performed by students from the local Pattaya schools. The Walking Street festival is being held until January 18, 2015.

Christmas & New Year Events Christmas Eve Dinner at Amari Pattaya: Wednesday, Dec. 24 from 7.30 p.m. onwards at the Garden Lounge.

Treat your family to a wonderful night out, with carol singers and a live band to make it a memorable celebration. Santa and his helpers will be on hand with gifts for the children: Adult THB 1,999 net/person (children 612 years old THB 999/person, children under 6 years old eat free). For reservations and information, call 038 418 418 or email fbreservation. pattaya@amari.com.

Christmas Eve Dinner & Christmas Day Lunch at Holiday Inn Pattaya: Wednesday, December 24, 6pm - 10pm at East Coast Kitchen, Executive Tower, enjoy traditional Christmas fare together with carol singers and a surprise visit from Santa and Santarina with gifts for the children: THB 1,400 net/person including welcome drink and unlimited soft drinks, wines (THB 700 net for kids 7-12 years old, kids below 6 years old eat free). Thursday, December 25, 12p.m. - 2p.m. at Café G, Bay Tower, traditional festive buffet feast with Christmas songs and magic shows throughout the day: THB 1,200 net/person exclude beverage (THB 600 net kids 7-12 years old, kids below 6 years old eat free).

For reservation, call 038 725 555 or email info@ holidayinn-pattaya.com.

Christmas Eve buffet at the Captain’s Corner Restaurant in South Pattaya on Dec. 24 from 7 p.m. onwards.

Enjoy a live performance by Asia’s top Elvis impersonator, Elvis Arthur, while

Santa brings gifts for the children: Price THB 950 for adults and THB 450 for children (under age 10). For information and reservations, call 038 364 314 or 086 307 1991.

Hard Rock Café Pattaya is celebrating New Year’s Eve on December 31 in “Flower Power” style, with peace, love and a rockin’ café atmosphere. Resident band Nu Color will be performing live while fireworks illuminate the Moon Deck. Choose a 3course dinner from the menu at THB 6,500 net per person.

Party only, without dinner for THB 500 including 1 house drink. Bottle packages are available. Dress code: Hippie, 60-70’s Glam Rock. Dress cool and receive a complimentary welcome drink. The party gets started at 9:30 p.m. and goes until 3 a.m. For more information call 038 426 635 or email hrcpr.pty@hardrockhotels.net.

Dining As well as the excellent European food for which it is very well known in Pattaya (including some very rare Dutch items), Mata Hari restaurant also has a complete range of Thai cuisine, including Thai Isaan on request from Chef Jackie, herself coming from Isaan. Mata Hari restaurant is located at the top of the hill on Thappraya Road, and for reservations (strongly recommended) phone 038 259 799 or email louismatahari@gmail.com or go through the website at: www.mataharipattaya.com.

Thai Garden Resort chef merrily cutting away at the roast pig. hours and offers a wide variety of soups, salads, bread, cold cuts, smoked salmon, choices of hot food dishes, live cooking stations and of course a home-made desserts selection. All this for just 399 baht net for adults and 199 baht net for children under 12 years old. What you see is what you pay, no additional service charges or VAT. For reservations call 038 370 614 or make your booking at www.thaigarden.com under “buffet reservation”. Thai Garden Resort is located on North Pattaya Road, 200 meters from the Dolphin roundabout and 200 meters before Tesco Lotus.

Saturday Night BBQ Buffet at The Bay Restaurant: Dine al fresco and enjoy a fantastic selection of meat and seafood BBQ items as well as international cuisine in the Saturday Night BBQ Buffet. Open from 6:30 p.m. 10 p.m. at The Bay Restaurant of Dusit Thani Pattaya.

Buffet price is THB 1,490++

Enjoy delicious Thai and International cuisine at Mata Hari restaurant.

The Thai Garden Resort offers nightly dining presentations with different themed buffets! Happy Hours are from 17:00 - 18:00 with most drinks at 50% discount. The “All You Can Eat Buffet” starts at 18:00 until 21:00

per person (food only) - add a free flow of wine, beer, juice and soft drinks at an additional THB 599++ per person. For reservations, call 038 425 611-7 Ext 2149-50.

Continued on page 20

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VOL. XXII No. 50

E-mail: comhaps@pattayamail.com From page 19 Havana Bar & Terrazzo at Holiday Inn Pattaya offers the following on a weekly basis: Monday - signature cocktail at just THB 180 net per glass; Tuesday - enjoy all traditional and signature pizzas at only THB 279; Wednesday - local draft beer at THB 119 net per glass; Thursday - enjoy a selection of pasta dishes with a glass of house wine or beer at only THB 450 net/person; Friday - enjoy a BBQ seafood platter with a variety of local seafood. Price starts from THB 1,200 net; Saturday - enjoy one of the best Mojitos in town at THB 159 net all night; Sunday - lucky draw, a chance to get 50% discount off your bill. Hi Club membership gets 10% discount. For more information or reservations, call 038 725 555 or email to: info@ holidayinn-pattaya.com.

Surf & Turf at Elements restaurant - Sheraton Pattaya Resort: Grilled Australian tenderloin, lobster & pumpkin hash, red wine sauce: THB 950++; Sautéed snow fish, braised beef cheek & mushroom ragout: THB 600++; Wok fried Szechuan lamb with sea scallops, Thai kale & Shaoxing wine: THB 450++; Tenderloin Carpaccio & crispy oysters, horseradish aioli: THB 425++; Crispy pork belly, blue crab & apple salad: THB 425++. For more information call 038 259 888 or email: info.pattaya@ sheraton.com.

Louis Restaurant is offering a new weekly set dinner menu alongside the regular a la carte menu items. The set menu includes a choice of starters, main courses and desserts. Louis Restaurant also offers a set lunch menu for THB 250-290. Louis is

located on Naklua Soi 31 or North Pattaya Road Soi 6.

For reservations contact Vichai on mobile 081 001 3298 or email: alois.pattaya @gmail.com.

Ruffino Restaurant offers Monday to Wednesday from 7-9 p.m. a homemade pizza “buy 1 get 1 free” promotion and Chef Luca has created a delicious rustic 3-course set dinner perfectly paired with a carafe of red or white wine for THB 888 net per person, only available on Thursday’s from 6 to 10 p.m. At Oceana Restaurant from 6:30 to 10

Fax: 038-427596 bookings call 038 306 337 or email: supparatchpi@chr.co.th.

Halal international buffet dinner @ Harbour - only THB 420 net per person. The buffet dinner includes halal food, an international buffet line and many selections of dessert. The food is certified and cooked by a halal chef with 40 years experience.

Both indoor and outdoor dining options are available.

Harbour restaurant is located at the A-One Royal Cruise Hotel on Pattaya Beach Road (Soi 3), Open daily 6.00 pm - 10.00 pm. For

Monday Curry Night at Tavern by the Sea. p.m. daily enjoy a 4-course Royal Thai Cuisine set dinner for THB 777 net, including a glass of red or white wine. A superb mid-week buffet featuring tasty European favourites is also available every Wednesday from 6.30 p.m. - 9.30 p.m. priced at THB 599 per person (add THB 400 for a free flow of beer). Afternoon Tea is also available daily from 3-5 p.m. at the Espresso Bar for THB 700++ per set for 2 persons, including scones and clotted cream, freshly made sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee or try one of the 17 wines available starting at 190 baht per glass with a complimentary snack. All outlets are located at the Centara Grand Phratamnak Pattaya on Pratamnak Road, Soi 5. For more information and

more information, call 038 259 555 Ext 4236.

Sugar Hut Restaurant is open for lunch with set menu prices from 240 to 350 baht net/set. Menu items include chili fried rice, pork soup with tofu, noodles, fresh spring rolls, salad, fruit, desserts and more. For inquiries and reservations, call 038 364 186, 038 251 686.

Marco Polo Chinese Restaurant is famous for its authentic Shanghainese and Szechuan cuisines prepared to perfection by master Chinese chefs. Enjoy a dim sum lunch daily from 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and dinner from 6.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m. daily.

The Verandah Coffee Shop is also serving an international seafood BBQ buffet dinner every Saturday from 6.30 p.m. - 10.00 p.m. Price THB 995 net for adults and THB 550 net for children.

Also make sure to call in at the Montien Bakery Shop for freshly made cakes, pastries and breads plus a range of Thai desserts. Open daily from 9.00 a.m. - 7.00 p.m. (Every day). For more information, call the Montien Hotel, Pattaya, tel. 038 428 155, 038 361 340 ext. 1620, 1621, or email pattaya@montien.com.

Edge restaurant at Hilton Hotel Pattaya offers a Monday “Post weekend BBQ” featuring freshly grilled sausages, Korean style pork cuts and chorizo burritos while Tuesday’s “Mediterranean Fare” includes Middle Eastern dips and salads, pizza and pasta. On Wednesday, Edge presents “Burgers, Salads and Gourmet Sandwiches” where guests can create their perfect burger, toss a fresh salad or grab a gourmet sandwich. The tastes of Southeast Asia, India, China and Japan come together for Thursday’s “Extended Asia” followed by Friday’s

“Seafood Pattaya” where the crystal waters offer up fresh local prawns, crabs and lobsters served on ice or grilled. Saturday’s “Classics & Confectionaries” presents timeless favorites such as Greek salad, oven-baked whole salmon, green curry and bouillabaisse and margherita pizza. In addition, guests will be able to indulge in traditional Thai desserts with a modern twist. Every Sunday, the chefs pull out all the stops and offer the hotel’s famous “Sunday Brunch” that brings together a wide selection from around the globe. Bookings are absolutely essential for this very popular event. Monday to Thursday @ THB 480 net; Friday and Saturday @ THB 540 net, Sunday Brunch @ THB 1400 net; Wine Buffet @ THB 1100 net. “Seven Days, Seven Themes” is available from Mondays to Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 2.30 p.m. and from 12 p.m. to 3.30 p.m. on Sundays. An International Buffet Dinner is also available 7 days a week priced at THB 920 net on Monday - Thursday and Saturday & Sunday, and

and seafood, grilled to perfection on the fire and freshly skewered for you on the churrasco pens at the Tavern. All complemented by a full buffet of starters, side dishes and desserts.

Only THB 749 net per person. Every buffet is open from 18.30 - 22.00 hrs. There is also a daily happy hour from 11 am - 6 pm. Watch all the premier live sports on one of the many widescreen TV’s or on the big projector screen (Sports hotline 038 418 419). Amari Pattaya, Beach Road, North Pattaya, Tel 038 418418.

Eat to the New Beat at Starz Diner located at the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya between 2nd Road and Beach Road, Central Pattaya: A selection of Pan Asian and continental flavors, from the griddle, BBQ char-grill, pan, fryer, steamer, wok, and tandoori oven, as well as some really delicious desserts. Sat: THB 850++, SunFri: THB 750++ food only.

Sat: THB 1,080++, Sun-Fri: THB 980++ including free flow drinks. Children under 11 years of age eat for free.

Show time for live music is

Friday night Thai buffet at Ginger & Lime.

THB 1100 net on Friday.

Edge restaurant is located on the 14th floor of the Hilton Hotel Pattaya. For bookings, please dial +66 (0)38 253 000.

The Tavern by the Sea Restaurant introduces the following daily promotions: Monday Curry Night features the tastiest curries, naan bread and salad buffet for just THB 499 net per person. Wednesday is Ribs & Wings evening: finger licking good ribs and 6 different kinds of wings - all you can eat for THB 449 net per person. Thirsty Thursday Beer Buffet offers a Free Flow of all local draught beer including Chang, Tiger, Heineken and San Miguel. Price 699 THB net per person, starts from 18:00 - 21:00. Friday & Saturday Churrasco Nights offer prime meats

from 6:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. For more information call 038 428 755-9 or go to http:// pattaya.hardrockhotels.net.

Ginger & Lime presents a “Friday Night Thai Buffet” showcasing a wide variety of Thai cuisine, lots of live cooking stations and includes a vegetable carving show, flower arrangement demonstration, silver jewelry hand craft stall, fun games and traditional Thai live shows every Friday night from 6 p.m. - 11 p.m.

Price: THB 799++ (subject to 10% service charge and 7% VAT) per person. Ginger & Lime Restaurant is located at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya. For more information and reservations, call 038 714 981.

Throughout the entire month of December 2014,

Oasis Restaurant invites you to come and enjoy “Festive Turkey” dishes including turkey club, turkey steak, turkey schnitzel and turkey skewers with spicy coconut green curry. Prices start at only THB 200++.

Oasis Restaurant is located at the lower Main Lobby near the water park at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya. Open daily from 06.00-23.00 hrs. For reservations call 038 714 981.

Promotions To welcome the upcoming year-end festivities, Amari Pattaya is providing special hampers to celebrate and share this holiday season.

Chose from three different styles of hampers, all containing a variety of goodies such as Christmas cookies, chocolate praline, AC fresh juice, jam, tea, Christmas teddy bears and much more.

Prices are 1,600, 3,500 and 6,000 THB and hampers are available from 15 December 2014 until 5 January 2015.

Place advance orders by contacting Essence Restaurant at 038 418 418 or email to chanokchon.t@amari.com. eforea spa at Hilton Pattaya has announced its new special promotion package, “Relax, Renew and Emerge Brighter”. Guests can book the package for only THB 3,500 and receive a 90-minute meditation massage, inspired by traditional Australian Aboriginal techniques, which focuses on instilling a deep sense of mental and physical relaxation. A choice of native aromatic oils is prescribed to suit your individual needs to rejuvenate, harmonize or detoxify. For an additional THB 500 guests can enjoy a 30-minute body scrub and receive an eforea music CD, which features soothing tunes that they can relax to in their own home.

For more information, call 038 253 000, email pattaya .info@hilton.com or visit eforeaspa.com.

Tea Tree Spa at Holiday Inn Pattaya is currently offering a special promotion for every two regular treatments purchased, receive 20% discount from normal price (terms and conditions apply). For more information and reservations, call 038 725 555 ext. 3902 or email: spa.reception@Holidayinnpattaya.com.

Spa Cenvaree at Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort, Pattaya is offering a “Heavenly Care Spa Membership” for an annual 12 month fee of THB 10,000 net, which enables each member to enjoy spa treatments up to the value of 35,000 baht. Membership also includes unlimited use of other spa facilities including the sauna for general Continued on page 21

VOL. XXII No. 50

From page 20 detoxification, weight loss and stress relief, herbal steam room, cold & hot plunge pools, lap pool in front of the Fitness Center, spa lockers and Relaxation Lounge complete with juice and snacks. For more information, contact Spa Cenvaree on 038 301 234 ext. 4333 or email: spacenvareecmbr@ chr.co.th.

Now at Café Kantary Sriracha visitors can enjoy a happy hour, featuring savings on a host of refreshing beverages. Every Wednesday from 1pm to 3pm, every visitor who purchases a beverage will receive a free beverage of equal or less value. The offer is limited to 2 free beverages per visitor, and excludes alcoholic beverages. For more information, please contact Café Kantary, Sriracha: Tel. 03831-410, or visit www. cafekantary.com.

PATTAYA MAIL

open auditions for the offBroadway musical, ‘Pageant’ on Monday, 15 December, starting at 6 p.m. at Creative Industries, M-Theater, 2884/ 2 New Petchaburi Road in Bangkok. All actors should be able to sing moderately well, move fluidly and possess strong comedy skills.

Performances are set for 1928 March in Bangkok. Email: info@bangkokcommunity theatre.com for more information.

Hard Rock Cafe Pattaya presents ‘Mix Tape’ every Friday night from 9 p.m. till 2 a.m. at the Moon Deck. A roster of four guest DJs play

For more information, call 081 575 4854 or email wan_nujan@yahoo.com Come and enjoy live music at the Jazz Pit Pub. Listen to great music by Thomas Reimer, one of the most famous European Jazz guitarists, playing live on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 7.00 p.m. - 11.00 p.m. The Jazz Pit is located on Soi 5 off Pattaya Beach and 2nd Road. Tel: 038 428 374. And you can also catch Thomas performing on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday from 7 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the Sugar Hut restaurant on Thappraya Road, call 038 364 186 for details.

Entertainment Ripley’s Pattaya will organize a fun run at the U-Tapao Naval Air Base on Saturday, December 13. The race will be organized into 3 race distances - 5km, 10.5km and 21km - and participants will have to overcome various obstacles set up by the organizers, featuring famous movie characters. For more information, call 02 236 2931-2 or to register send an email to info1@goadventureasia.com.

The ZHdK String Orchestra from Switzerland will be performing a concert at the Siam Bayshore Resort on Monday, December 15 at 7 p.m. The evening program will include works by Mozart, Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Elgar and Grieg. Tickets are priced at 600 baht at the door and are available to book in advance for early bird at 500 baht. For more information, send email to mongkol chayasirisobhon@gmail.com or call Mr. Mongkol 081 682 8000.

The Bangkok Community Theatre (BCT) will hold

Turkey treats at Oasis in December. soulful funky sounds, deep house, tech and all manners of groovy tunes laced with rock & roll. For more information and/or reservations, call 038 426635, send e-mail to hrcpr.pty@hardrockhotels .net or go to www.facebook .com/HardRockCafePattaya.

The North Star Library on Sukhumvit Road, north Pattaya holds regular Thai language classes Mon - Fri from 10.30 till 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. Cost of admission is 100 baht per session for library members and 200 baht for non-members.

Private lessons are also available for 200 baht per hour. In addition, the library also holds Yoga training every Tuesday from 1 - 2 p.m. at the Father Ray Foundation. Cost is 1200 baht for 6 sessions (first session free).

Groups & Associations Al-Anon Family Group: Are you bothered by someone else’s drinking? Maybe we can help. Sunday meeting at 2 p.m., Pattaya, Satree Pattaya Center, 519/56 Pattaya 2nd Road, Soi Skaw Beach near the Skaw Beach Hotel, next door to Scandalia Restaurant. Thursday meeting is at 10:30 a.m. on the 4th floor of Jomtien Plaza Condotel.

For more information, call the Helpline 092 674 4109 or Richard 084 867 4138.

Alcoholics Anonymous meetings in Pattaya: The Pattaya Group meets Wednesday and Thursday at noon (open); Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 5 p.m. (closed) and Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30

p.m. (closed) at the Satree Pattana Center, Soi Skaw Beach (2nd Rd): contact Mick on 087 994 6224, Bob 087 939 2463 or Joe 082 715 2082. The Good Morning Pattaya Group meets 9 a.m. every morning. All meetings are ‘open’: contact 084 564 8479. The Jomtien Group meets every day at noon at Jomtien Long Stay Hotel: contact: Warren on 086 158 9688, Andy 080 570 1404 or Henk 086 070 6684, Thai contact: Somchai 081 445 3302. The Scandinavian Group meets on Tuesdays and Fridays 6 p.m. at the Norwegian Seaman’s Church, Thappraya Road Soi 7: contact Hans 085 135 7755 or Rune (Rayong) 089 754 9515.

10.30 a.m. meetings every day at Satree Pattana Centre on Soi Skaw Beach off Second Road.

Call 084 564 8479.

For the past 28 years the Samaritans of Thailand have been providing confidential crisis intervention services over the telephone.

The English-speaking unit, Samaritans English Help Line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to provide support to the expatriate community. English-speaking staff, trained in crisis intervention will provide active, non-judgmental and empathetic listening services on the phone. All calls will be handled on an anonymous basis and are free of charge.

Please call (02) 713-6791 (24hrs a day, 7 days a week).

Overeaters Anonymous meetings in Pattaya/Jomtien - The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays at 9:3010:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road. Call Steve at 038-364207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information.

Narcotics Anonymous Hotline: 082 811 2686. There are 3 English speaking meetings in Pattaya near Central Festival and 2 more in Jomtien each week. Also regular Thai speaking meetings at 12 Midday every Sunday and Persian Farsi speaking meetings at 5.30 pm on Thursdays. Please call the Hotline for details.

Monsters to ‘motivate’ runners in Saturday’s U-Tapao-Ripley’s Run Thanachot Anuwan Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is giving unmotivated runners all the incentive they need by having 150 “monsters” chase participants in Saturday’s UTapao-Ripley’s Run. Ripley’s Deputy Managing Director Somporn Naksuetrong announced the unique race concept at Royal Garden Plaza Dec. 3. Staged in cooperation Ripley’s Deputy Managing Director Somporn Naksuetrong (center) announces the upcoming U-Tapao-Ripley’s Run.

with the Royal Thai Naval Air Division, the event will include a 21-kilometer halfmarathon, 10.5 km. mini marathon and 5 km. walk-run.

The races start at the end of the Ban Pai canal at UTapao-Pattaya International Airport in Rayong. Gates open at 8 a.m. and the runners will depart along the “haunted” route at 1 p.m.

More than 2,000 people have already registered for the races. For more information call 086-785-9678.

Proceeds from the event will be used to build a children’s playground at U-Tapao.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 21

22 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXII No. 50

by Colin Kaye

Contrasting Whites The other day a friend told me that I don’t write enough about Australian wines, despite the fact that I wrote about them only some weeks ago. Honestly, some people are never satisfied. Anyway, ever eager to please, here’s some news about two more. But first, let me set the historical perspective. Now if the mention of such a thing causes your eyes to glaze over, you can skip all this and jump to the reviews.

In fact, if you’re going to take that attitude, you can skip the whole column. It’s no skin off my nose. Just don’t be surprised if I ignore you in the street, that’s all.

In January 1830, the infant Thomas Hardy first saw the light of day in the west of England. Twenty years later, he travelled to South Australia but in those days of sail, the journey took a staggering twelve weeks. When he finally arrived there, he did various jobs mostly on farms, but along the way he picked up knowledge about wine-making. After a stint in the goldfields of Victoria and working as a butcher and cattle drover, he was finally able to start growing his own vines.

In 1853 Thomas Hardy bought a property of about fortysix acres on the River Torrens which he called Bankside.

The following year he planted a couple of acres of fruit trees and just under an acre of Shiraz vines. He made his first wine three years later and exported two hogsheads to England. From these modest beginnings, The Hardy Wine Company was established in Adelaide and it soon became South Australia’s largest winemaker. Hardys (without an apostrophe) has grown into a massive organisation.

Today, the company produces a very wide range of wines including the Nottage Hill selection, which first appeared over forty years ago. This range includes a dozen varietals, crafted for consistency which means that each one will taste pretty much the same from year to year.

And just in case you’re wondering, Nottage Hill was named after Old Tom Nottage, who sounds like a character in a rustic folk-song. But he was once Young Tom Nottage and the nephew of Thomas Hardy. He worked for the company for sixty-six years and on his retirement, one of the prime vineyards was renamed Nottage Hill in his honour.

Hardys Nottage Hill Chardonnay 2012 (white), Australia (Bt. 699 @ Tesco-Lotus) If you hold your glass against a plain white background, assuming that you have the necessary energy and inclination, you’ll see the attractive greenish-gold colour of this wine. Swirl it around and those long “legs” will appear. Without writing a paragraph on advanced physics, which would be a challenge for both of us, let me just say that they are caused by surface tension and known as The Marangoni Effect. If you feel compelled to pursue the matter further, a mathematical explanation together with thrilling thermodynamic equations can be found in Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar’s text-book evocatively entitled Hydrodynamic and Hydromagnetic Stability. It probably doesn’t have very many jokes.

But back to the wine. There’s an almost creamy Chardonnay aroma. I know the expression “tropical fruits” is a bit of a cliché but that’s what springs to mind. If you want me to be more specific, then I will. (You’ll understand of course that there is a small charge for this additional service, for expertise doesn’t come cheap.) Well then, pineapple comes out first with white peaches and melon in the background. There’s just a hint of citrus and a suggestion of oak and honey. There’s also a vague hint of cucumber which I know is not a tropical fruit, but you

Bankside homestead in 1874. did ask for more details. Right, that’s fifty baht please.

Leave the money on the table when you leave.

This full-bodied wine has a lovely silky-soft mouth-feel with plenty of fruit up front. However, it’s pretty dry with a dash of acidity and there’s a rather elegant long finish with a faint mineral flavour in the background. At just over 13.5% alcohol, the wine is easy to drink and undemanding, so it would be very pleasing on its own. It would work well with seafood or chicken dishes and some milder Thai dishes too. Serve it quite cold but not freezing, otherwise the aromas won’t come through.

Hardys Nottage Hill Riesling 2012 (white), Australia (Bt. 699 @ Tesco-Lotus) Riesling (REEZ-ling) has a long history. It can be traced back to 1435 when it was listed as growing in the vineyards of the splendidly-named Count John the Fourth of Katzenelnbogen. The spiritual home of Riesling is Germany’s Rhine and Mosel Valleys, but it makes fine wines in Alsace too. Rieslings usually have high acidity, delicate flavours, low alcohol and a characteristic mineral quality.

The Rieslings from Alsace are aromatic, elegant wines quite different to their German cousins. Contrary to popular belief, German Rieslings, with a few notable exceptions are nearly always very dry. This Australian one is a lovely pale straw colour and has a delightful rich aroma of lemon and lime, pineapple and warm spices. When the wine has had enough contact with the air, you might also pick up the faint and strangely attractive smell of kerosene (better known to some people as paraffin). It might sound odd, but a delicate petrol-like aroma is typical of some good Rieslings.

It’s a fairly light-bodied wine but pretty dry too, with a soft and beguiling mouth-feel. There’s a good dash of lively mineral acidity, giving the wine a crisp flavour which continues through the lingering fruity finish. This is a lovely example of an Australian Riesling, pleasingly assertive and with quite a bit of character. At 12.5% alcohol, it would make a good partner for fish, pork or chicken dishes.

Incidentally, Riesling is one of the few wines that can stand up to spicy Thai or Chinese food, but you’ll need to serve it cold to bring out the attractive freshness. Give it an hour in the fridge, I’d say. And don’t forget the fifty baht.

VOL. XXII No. 50

PATTAYA MAIL

Tree@Sea

Where can you take overseas visitors to give them an idea of our lifestyle, here in a tropical resort tourist city?

Somewhere away from the tour busses and crowds?

We live by the sea, and seafood is a very favored staple.

So where should you go?

The answer is Tree@Sea. This restaurant is in Ban Amphur, far enough away from Pattaya, yet close enough that it is only an easy twenty minute drive south down Sukhumvit. When you get to Ban Amphur, turn right at the (only) traffic lights and follow the road past the slip road on your right to the local temple and then past the big “shed” restaurants used by the tourist busses with touts outside.

There are still some original fisherman’s wooden cottages along this road, which will also be of interest to visitors. About 500 meters from the lights look for a large, well signed parking area denoting Tree@Sea on the left with room for around 50 cars. The restaurant is actually opposite on your right (the seaside) with a narrow entrance beside

On our review day, it was just a little windy, so we decided upon the covered area that is overlooking the beach and which has large tables and comfortable wicker chairs for the guests.

The menu is very substantial, so take your time to read it all through. Try a Paulaner beer while perusing, as they stock both bottled and draught of this interesting beer. There is also the Dutch Hoegarden, plus the usual range of local beers.

upon weight and market price; Oysters B. 195; and Stir fries around B. 195 as well. A huge choice, so take your time.

The ambience is excellent with beach dining and the service staff attentive and in uniform and overseen by manageress K. Kae who competently took our order which included Spicy Larb (and it was) at B. 195 and whole deep-fried sea bass (B. 420). The sea bass was filleted very well with no small bones to catch the unwary by the throat! The presentation of the various dishes was also very good.

We were more than happy with our selection and for a restaurant literally on the beach it is difficult to imagine a more pleasant dining place, and is as such that for overseas visitors it would be breathtaking. Try finding a restaurant like this in Blackpool, for example. There are other seafood restaurants along the NaJomtien Soi 28, but none offering true dining on the beach such as Tree@Sea. As written in the introduction, this is an excellent seafood restaurant to

But back to the menu.

Prices are very reasonable with several Salads at B. 195; Spaghetti dishes B. 220; Appetizers B. 120-150; Soups (and there are 14 of them) B. 150-200; Curries 200-300; Pan-fried items B. 150-420 (whole sea bass at the top end); N-E dishes B. 120-150; more “Spicy” dishes B. 195; then more spice with Thai Chilli Paste items; then Seafood items generally around B. 350 but with some dishes dependent

impress overseas guests, and even impress the locals.

And all at a very reasonable price, and giving the diner live music five days a week.

Tree@Sea, Soi NaJomtien 28, 46/16 Moo 4, tel 038 238 649, and 080 631 2662 (Khun Kae), email treeatsea. baanampur@outlook.co.th, plenty of off-street parking, open seven days 11 a.m. until 11 p.m., live music 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. Wednesday through to Sunday. Well worth the short trip down to Ban Amphur.

some sailboards and then it opens out with an open area and a bar around the central “tree” with hanging bottle chandeliers, and then on into a covered dining area and then through that to tables and chairs actually on the sand, with a small yacht marina on the left, and the “sea” of the Bay of Siam beyond. Tree@Sea explained!

The “tree”, from which this restaurant gets its name, has a sit-up bar all round it, and drinkers can watch sporting events on the large screen off to one side.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 23

24

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

“THE WEEK” RUNS FROM DECEMBER 12, 2014 - DECEMBER 18, 2014

Aries 21 March - 20 April Powerful energies may need directing as a Uranus Pluto clash, along with other influences, can encourage you to act rather too much on impulse Aries.

However, opportunities which can jolt you out of your comfort zone could also show up now regarding your goals and romance.

Taurus 21 April - 21 May You could feel like you’re walking on eggshells this week, especially if your relationship with someone seems on edge. If this or an equally strained situation has been ongoing, you might have an opportunity to take action. Wait though until your emotions are more settled.

Gemini 22 May - 21 June A feeling of insecurity could mean you’re holding on tight to a job or situation that’s outgrown its usefulness. Yet, over the coming days the desire to embrace a new opportunity might get stronger. If so, it’s certainly worth making plans to move in the direction of your dreams.

Cancer 22 June - 23 July Are the demands of others blocking the fulfillment of your ambitions? If so, they may not be doing this intentionally, but nevertheless you could be frustrated that you don’t have as much freedom as you’d like. It will be important this week for you to focus on your goals Cancer.

Leo 24 July - 23 August This week’s alignments can be a game-changer.

Tensions may surface which might push you to take action. However, don’t jump out of the proverbial frying pan and into the fire. There is a way to lessen the pressure by developing your personal interests and embracing more freedom from strains.

Virgo 24 August - 23 September Creative ideas will blossom if you’re able to explore new ways to fire up your enthusiasm. The same can be said of a romance or other situations that seem to have lost their sparkle. Meanwhile, Venus’s influence suggests you could earn more money from a skill that you’re not tapping into.

Libra 24 September - 23 October You may find yourself in a situation that you are struggling to reconcile. Whatever choice you make might seem too far removed from your ideal, meaning you’ll need to find another way to get what you want. However, Capricorn suggests an experimental approach might be best.

Scorpio 24 October - 22 November Don’t let doubts prevent you from continuing along the path that brings fulfillment to you. You could find the days ahead test your resolve of whether to stick with an idea or plan, but leaves you wondering whether you’re doing the right thing. Let the results speak for themselves.

PATTAYA MAIL

Crossword No 1115

Classic Tailor

1 Item of hosiery (4) 3 Unnaturally high voice (8) 9 Mozart’s middle name (7) 10 Sentry (5) 11 Lustrous fabric (5) 12 Rubber (6) 14 With pleasure (6) 16 Come into view (6) 19 Off-hand (6) 21 Swift (5) 24 South American mountain range (5) 25 Slanting (7) 26 Holiness (8) 27 “The garden of England” (4)

Down 1 Leo, for example (4,4) 2 Intone (5) 4 Solution (6) 5 Greek letter S (5) 6 Acrobat’s swing (7) 7 Probabilities (4) 8 Edible part of a nut (6) 13 Slope (8) 15 Forsake (7) 17 Dangers (6) 18 Using maximum effort (3-3) 20 Distressed (5) 22 Feeling of resentment (5) 23 Catholic church service (4)

Answer to 1114 Across: 1 Envelop, 5 Start, 8 Heron, 9 Rhizome, 10 Breathe, 11 Tried, 12 Twitch, 14 Lashes, 18 Mensa, 20 Uncover, 22 Retrace, 23 Exist, 24 Hedge, 25 Beseech.

Down: 1 Exhibit, 2 Verse, 3 Lunatic, 4 Parted, 5 Swift, 6 Abolish, 7 Tread, 13 Ignited, 15 Archers, 16 Scratch, 17 Superb, 18 Marsh, 19 Amaze, 21 Voice.

Ten-Minute Sudoku An easy Sudoku puzzle that should not take long to complete.

The rules of Sudoku are simple. Enter digits from 1 to 9 into the blank spaces. Each row must contain one of each digit. So must each column and each 3x3 box.

Answer next week.

Last week’s answers:

No. 018

Capricorn 22 December - 20 January You may feel like the pressure is on to make changes that offer greater scope for the future.

Though this can be easy in theory, in practice there could be many reasons why this doesn’t seem possible.

Even so, an event or conversation could act as a catalyst and help you see a way ahead.

Aquarius 21 January - 19 February If you feel shaken, it might be down to the planetary energies that are having a profound impact. Though you’re known as a free thinker, some of your beliefs may be challenged, leaving you somewhat insecure. Dip your toe into the water, and you might find it proves liberating.

NEWLY LAUNCHED! Read your Daily - Weekly - Monthly Horoscope Log on to www.pattayamail.com/horoscope

sponsored by

Across

Sagittarius 23 November - 21 December Your intuitive understanding of a situation could make the difference between resolving it or not. Though facts can seem compelling, they may not represent the whole truth, whereas your gut feeling just might. Meanwhile, money matters come under the spotlight for you now Archer.

Pisces 20 February - 20 March You might be spoilt for choice when it comes to getting invites and having fun. Yet, one thing might surprise you, which is that certain friends can find your ideas rather radical. Consider this; if you’ve changed so much over the past couple of years, it could be time to move in new circles.

VOL. XXII No. 50

Answers next week.

VOL. XXII No. 50

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

PATTAYA MAIL

How does a person cross Thappraya Road?

Editor Pattaya Mail; How does a person cross Thappraya Road (Jomtien Sai 2) near View Talay 1, and navigate the excavations which have been in existence for a year now?

The Thai Highway Code states that (unless there is a sign to the contrary), a vehicle approaching a red light may turn left if it is safe to do so, but must give way to pedestrians who are on the crossing. This almost never happens!

I am 67 with a prosthesis in my right knee, so I am not very agile. When I was on crutches and trying to cross the road, cars would be aggressively blowing their horn for me to get out of their way. I have even seen a young mother with toddlers trapped in the middle of the road.

If you disregard the prescribed crossing and move up the road towards Pattaya, you still have difficulty in crossing due to the excessive speed of the vehicles, (farang and Thai drivers alike).

Thappraya and Thepprasit roads are very busy, not as busy as Sukhumvit but very busy nevertheless.

As you walk towards the Hanuman Fountain on the right hand side of the road from the Indian restaurant, Indian by Nature, there are no less than eight excavations in the footpath which force a pedestrian to step into the road. These excavations have lain dormant for nearly twelve months without any work being carried out! If the company, or City Hall, did not have the finances

to complete this task, then they should not have started!

There is no consideration for pedestrians, never mind the old and infirm. Drivers all have the motto, “Might is right”. In addition you have to contend with motorcyclists who consider that a footpath is meant for them and demand right of way!

Back to the excavations, in addition to the ones mentioned there are a similar amount of excavations on the opposite side of the road.

Some of these holes are quite deep and if an old or infirm person, such as me, was to fall into one, serious injury could ensue. Also, what about young children and mothers to be?

One hole is right on a pedestrian crossing, not that the motorists in Pattaya know and understand the purpose of such a crossing!

Thank you, B Jones

25

Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit: Winning accolades in Pattaya’s shadow Thanachot Anuwan Over his 30 years in office, Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit has seen his sub-district grow into an incorporated municipality and a tourism giant rise in neighboring Pattaya.

Now in his fourth term as mayor, Mai oversaw the change from Sub-district Administrative Organization to Municipality and, this year, has collected six awards for overseeing Nongprue’s development.

The honors this year include “KPI Best Executive,” “Corruption-Free Community,” “National Women’s Right Promotion Award,” “Best Tradition-Promotion Community Award from the Ministry of Culture,” “Best Civil Defense Volunteer Award” and “This Life is for the Country Award.”

Mai downplayed the accolades, saying they were from the joint efforts of Nongprue municipal council members and residents. He added that the municipality still needs fundamental development, such as roads, electricity, public water, drainage systems, and in education, religion, tradition and culture.

Nongprue Mayor Mai Chaiyanit.

As for education, Nongprue offers formal and non-formal facilities as well as religious schools teaching both Buddhism and Islam.

The district has a large Muslim population and, of course, foreigners with different cultural backgrounds. So, he said, it is important that the municipality take care of them and promote their traditions and cultures equally.

Group cleans Cosy Beach to Honor HM the King on his birthday

Compare prices in Pattaya to Australia Editor; Re: Putting out fire with gasoline (PM Mailbag Friday, 05 December 2014) Scott, Compare your 2 hours Q.T. at Pattaya to Australia’s famous Bondi Beach. No deck chairs, no alcohol, no cameras, no smoking, no vendors at your beck and

call. If you want that cold Coke you must walk 400 yards and cross 2 busy roads to get your refreshments & if in a glass bottle it will be confiscated. If you find a parking space it will be metered and set at 2 hours.

Only guessing but I presume your parking space

Boxed in by motorcycle taxis Editor; Re: Putting out fire with gasoline (PM Mailbag) - I parked my car on Second Road and Soi 5. Motorbike taxis parked their bikes one

in front of me and one behind me. They would not move the so I could get out until I gave them a hundred baht. I’m beginning not to like Thais.

Rick

Correction On page 5 of last week’s Pattaya Mail, we inadvertently published a wrong figure for the amount of money

raised at the 4th annual Ban Jing Jai bicycle race. The correct amount was 210,000 baht raised for Ban Jing Jai.

Write to the Editor:

E-mail: mailbag@pattayamail.com Note: Letters printed herein in no way reflect the opinions of the editors or writers for Pattaya Mail, but are unsolicited letters from our readers, expressing their own opinions. No anonymous letters or those without genuine addresses are printed, and, whilst we do not object to the use of a nom de plume, preference will be given to those signed.

near the beach would be at one of the supermarkets as I know of no other free parking area near the beach. True, the beach is public land but the vendors must pay a fee to set up shop. Yes, you were over charged for the chairs. But if you had stayed all day the charge would have been the same. B30 for Coke kept cold in vendors icebox for you.

Next time you visit the beach I suggest if B160 is too much to pay you walk and buy your drinks at 7/11 then sit on the promenade cement benches. I see no mention as to the cost of fuel used for your Q.T. Your comment hinges around tourists but if they can afford to stay at 5**** hotels, $5.00 at the beach would compare with the tip to the bellboy.

Arnold Scheffran

Staff from India by Nature restaurant help Green Pattaya clean Cosy Beach in honor of HM the King’s birthday.

On the 6th of December Green Pattaya and 20 volunteers from Rotary, India by Nature Restaurant, City Hall and residents of Pattaya gathered to clean Cosy Beach in honor of Majesty the King of Thailand’s birthday.

The state of the beach was sadly very bad and the boats and other rubbish still create a feeling of wasteland at this shady and otherwise usable part of the beach.

In just two hours the volunteers collected 50 bags of rubbish and made this part of the beach clean and usable again.

This was the 24th cleaning from Green Pattaya and the last for 2014. In 2015 there will be many more cleanings and opportunities to help Pattaya become greener and cleaner. Check the Green

Pattaya Facebook if you want to take part. You can also contact them at green@ donate2thailand.com and mailto:green@donate2thailand .com if you want to sponsor or help in other ways.

Pattaya Emergency Numbers Pattaya Call Center ................................ 1337 Police Station .......................................... 191 - Pattaya ................................................... 038 424 186 - Banglamung ......................................... 038 221 800-1 Highway Police ....................................... 038 392 001 Fire Brigade ............................................. 199 Pat. Int. Hopsital ..................................... 038 428 374-5 Bkk-Pat Hospital ..................................... 038 259 911 TAT Central Office: Region 3 Pattaya . 038 428 750 Tourist Police ......................................... 038 429 371, 1155 . .................................................................. 038 410 044 (FAX)

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26 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXII No. 50

Merriment, merit-mak of HM the King’ Staff reporters

Government officials in Chonburi joined more than 2,000 Red Cross officials, judges, civil servants, military, police, state enterprise officers, and residents to hand out rice and dried food to 88 monks to make merit for His Majesty on his birthday.

Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome represented the entire city in pledging love and unconditional loyalty to HM the King.

Apichart Thepnoo, Chief Judge of the Pattaya Provincial Court, places gold and silver floral ornaments in front of His Majesty’s portrait at Bali Hai Pier.

Rear Adm. Yuth Pijitchumhol, commander of Navy special combat forces, presides over the Royal Thai Navy’s 13th “Love Samae San Sea” activity to honor His Majesty on Father’s Day.

TAT Pattaya Director Suladda Sarutilavan solemnly takes part in the formal ceremonies on Father’s Day.

Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens marked Father’s Day with elephants placing flower garlands in front of a portrait of His Majesty.

Noi Emerson represents Pattaya Sports Club at the ceremonies to honour HM the King.

Students and staff from Garden International School (GIS) help celebrate HM the King’s birthday by all wearing yellow.

The Eastern Seaboard marked HM the King’s 87th birthday with jubilant celebrations and a focus on the environment in events ranging from fireworks in Pattaya to planting coral in Sattahip.

Pattaya saw Mayor Itthiphol Kunplome preside over the annual candle-lighting ceremony at Bali Hai pier after the annual parade from Royal Garden, down Beach Road, through Walking Street to Bali Hai pier. The event was attended by crowds of city workers, council members, military, police, students, residents, business operators and foreign tourists. They jointly lit candles and signed books of well-wishes for HM the King’s speedy return to health.

Students from Pattaya schools 8 and 11 began the evening festivities with traditional dance shows to worship HM the King in front of His portrait.

Attendees largely dressed in yellow as Itthiphol delivered the commemorative speech, then led people in the blessing ceremony, starting with the placement of floral trays in front of a portrait of His Majesty. Representatives from the government and private companies jointly lit the candles before everyone sang the royal and national anthems. Fireworks capped the festivities.

In Chonburi, Gov. Khomsan Ekachai joined more than 2,000 Red Cross officials, judges, civil servants, military, police, state enterprise officers, and residents to hand out rice and dried food to 88 monks to make merit for His Majesty on his birthday. The alms will be donated to ill monks at hospitals, the elderly, and the underprivileged.

Khomsan then gathered at the blessing ceremony, praying to the Three Gems for His Majesty’s good health and long life.

Afterward, there was an oath-taking ceremony for civil servants and award presentations to the four “best fathers” in Chonburi, two of whom won national awards. The other two won the provincial prize.

At Chonburi City Hall, Khomsan placed golden and silver trays in front of a portrait of His Majesty and lit candles in commemoration of his birthday. Chonburi Provincial Administrative Organization President Wittaya Kunplome then launched nine volleys of fireworks to mark the occasion, a total of 2,360 shells.

Floral trays and candles were joined by elephants at Nong Nooch Tropical Garden, where park Director Kampol Tansajja presided over the tribute-paying ceremony and General Manager Pattanan Khantisukkaphan gave a speech to hundreds of tourists attending the event.

Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens marked Father’s Day with parade carrying a portrait of the king followed by 19 elephants. Other activities included “Under His Grace,” a blessing-dance performance; elephants placing flower garlands in front of the portrait of His Majesty, 12-year-old Baitoey showed an artistic flair by drawing a portrait of the king at Nong Nooch Tropical Gardens.

VOL. XXII No. 50

PATTAYA MAIL

king mark celebration ’s 87th birthday a baby elephant expressing his love for his father elephant by presenting the older elephant a flower garland; and 12-year-old Yok writing the words in “Long Live the King” in Thai.

Yok’s performance came four days after another elephant, 12-year-old Baitoey, showed an artistic flair by drawing a portrait of the king, as well as writing the same phrase.

Kampol noted Nong Nooch holds its lavish celebration each year by having elephants represent the love of the people toward His Majesty and inviting tourists worldwide to join the festivities.

In Sattahip, the Royal Thai Navy organized the 13th “Love Samae San Sea” activity to honor His Majesty on Father’s Day. Rear Adm. Yuth Pijitchumhol, commander of Navy special combat forces presided over the event at the Thai Island and Marine History Museum in Samae San. More than 800 people, including numerous military units and private organizations, joined in the Nov. 28 event that included nine activities.

Eighty asexual coral plants were placed off Tien Beach, trash was collected in Samae San Sub-district, underwater trash was collected at Lhuang Phor Dum Temple, 88 more coral were seeded in PVC pipes to create artificial reefs, buoys were set to designate protected areas, 100 turtles were returned to the sea and more than 100 trees were planted.

Yuth said the public’s dedication to restoring the environment demonstrated their love and respect towards HM the King and showed unity amongst the private and public sectors.

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Vutikorn Kamolchote, president of the Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya pays his respects to HM the King.

Pattaya students pay homage to HM the King with a time honored traditional Thai dance.

Nutsara Duangsri and Praichit Jetapai pay homage to HM the King on behalf of the Pattaya Mail Media Group.

Residents of the Father Ray Foundation take part in the parade.

Pattaya Tourist Police lead the parade into Bali Hai.

Local dignitaries pose for a group photo after the closing ceremony.

Bangkok Pattaya Hospital is well-represented at the ceremony.

The Lions Club of Pattaya-Taksin was one of many clubs and organizations to participate in the commemoration.

Children from many Pattaya schools performed exquisite dances in honour of our beloved King.

People express their loyalty to His Majesty the King by jointly lighting candles and singing the royal and national anthems.

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Young Swiss string orchestra at Siam Bayshore Colin Kaye On Monday 15th December a talented young string ensemble from Switzerland will appear at Siam Bayshore Hotel for an exciting concert of music by Vivaldi, Mozart, Mendelssohn, Elgar and Grieg.

The orchestra is the internationally-known ZHdK Strings, a chamber ensemble which includes some of the most talented graduates from Zurich University of the Arts. All the members of the ensemble have completed their studies and trained as soloists by Prof. Rudolf Koelman. The concert is presented by D & M Music Studio Bangkok, in cooperation with Siam Ratchada Music School.

The members of this

ZHdK Strings chamber ensemble. dynamic string ensemble all live in Switzerland and represent sixteen different nationalities. The orchestra is

directed by Rudolf Koelman, a concert violinist who studied with masters like Herman Krebbers and Jascha Heifetz.

From 1996 until 1999 he was the concertmaster of the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra in Amsterdam and has

Next Bond film gets retro name: ‘SPECTRE’ Jill Lawless London (AP) - James Bond is back, in a new film with a retro title that evokes the series’ past. The next 007 adventure will be called “SPECTRE,” the dastardly fictional terrorist organization featured in “Dr. No” and other early Bond films.

Director Sam Mendes announced the name of the 24th official Bond movie last week at Pinewood Studios near London, along with the identity of several new cast members and a new version of Bond’s iconic Aston Martin car.

Academy Award-winning Austrian actor Christoph Waltz and wrestling star David Bautista are joining the cast, while Andrew Scott — master criminal Moriarty in BBC series “Sherlock” — will play an MI6 officer.

Monica Bellucci and Lea Seydoux are the new “Bond girls,” Lucia Sciarra and Madeleine Swann.

Mendes, who directed the last Bond installment, “Skyfall,” said the movie would have “everything you would expect from a Bond movie,”

Actor Daniel Craig, producer Barbara Broccoli and director Sam Mendes pose for photographers at the announcement for the new Bond film, the 24th in the series, at Pinewood Studios in west London, Thursday, Dec. 4. The title of the new Bond production is Spectre. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP) with “a little more variety ... maybe a little more mischief.”

“SPECTRE” will be Daniel Craig’s fourth film as the suave spy. Returning cast members include Ralph Fiennes as spy chief M, Ben Whishaw as gadget-master Q and Naomi Harris as secretary Miss Moneypenny.

Producers said the next film centers on “a cryptic message from Bond’s past (that) sends

him on a trail to uncover a sinister organization.”

SPECTRE — Special Executive for Counterintelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion — was the terrorist organization headed by Ernst Blofeld that featured in several early Bond films.

Waltz, an Oscar winner for “Inglourious Basterds” and “Django Unchained,” said his character is called Oberhauser

— but fans hope he is really Blofeld, one of the most enduring Bond villains.

The cat-stroking evildoer, played by actors including Donald Pleasence and Charles Gray, hasn’t appeared for several decades because of a legal dispute over rights to the character. The case was settled last year.

Mendes also revealed that Bond will drive an Aston Martin DB10, replacing the vintage DB5 that was spectacularly destroyed in “Skyfall.”

Initial fan reaction to the details was enthusiastic.

“For Bond fans, this is the best Christmas present — the return of James Bond and classic elements of the series with yet another classic title coined by Ian Fleming,” said Ajay Chowdhury of the James Bond International Fan Club.

Principal photography began Dec. 8. Filming will take place at Pinewood Studios and on location in Italy, Morocco, Mexico and Austria. “SPECTRE” is due for release late next year.

“Skyfall” was the most successful Bond film yet, taking more than $1.1 billion.

Rudolf Koelman. performed as a soloist with various orchestras, including the Amsterdam Philharmonic, the Concertgebouw Chamber Orchestra, the Stuttgart Philharmonic, and the Tokyo Philharmonic, to name but a few.

Rudolf Koelman is professor of solo and concert violin at the Zurich University of the Arts (Zürcher Hochschule der Künste). This University, also known as ZHdK, has about 2,500 students which makes it the largest arts university in Switzerland. The Department of Music provides training in classical, jazz and popular music and offers courses in conducting and composition.

The department has its own record label, ZHdK Records through which in-house productions are released.

This upcoming Pattaya concert will feature two award-winning students from ZHdK, the young violinists Olivia Momoyo Resch and Sachiko Uchida.

Also featured is Alberto

Firrincieli, currently a fulltime lecturer of the Department of Music Performance at the Assumption University of Thailand. He also teaches piano and harpsichord at Yamaha Kolkarn Music School, Bangkok and he has been invited as Guest Lecturer

by Thammasart University.

The programme will include Vivaldi’s Concerto for Two Violins, String and Continuo in A Minor Op.3 No.8 and Mozart’s delightful Divertimento for String in D major, KV136, written when the composer was about fifteen. There will also be a chance to hear Mendelssohn’s rarely performed String Symphony No.9 in C major (also known as the Swiss Symphony). Like the Mozart Divertimento, this was also an early work, written when Mendelssohn was fourteen years old.

You’ll also hear Edward Elgar’s ever-popular Serenade for Strings in E Minor Op.20 which dates from 1892 and has remained once of his best-loved works.

Norwegian composer Edward Grieg is represented with his well-known Holberg Suite for Strings Op.40, based on eighteenth century dances and written in 1884 to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of the playwright Ludvig Holberg.

You can buy tickets in advance at Bt. 500 from Siam Bayshore Hotel, which is at the end of Walking Street near Bali Hai Pier. On the night of the concert, the tickets (if there are any left) will be Bt. 600 at the door. The concert begins at 7.00pm and is expected to conclude at around 9.00pm.

Smith, Leto, Hardy suit up for ‘Suicide Squad New York (AP) - Will Smith, Jared Leto and Tom Hardy are suiting up for DC Comics’ supervillain teamup film “Suicide Squad.”

Warner Bros. confirmed the much anticipated casting of the film in an announcement last week. Smith will star as Deadshot, Hardy will play the group’s leader, Rick Flagg, and Leto will take on the Joker,

following in Heath Ledger’s footsteps. The rest of the gang will be Margot Robbie as Harley Quinn; Jai Courtney as Boomerang; and Cara Delevinge as Enchantress.

David Ayer, who recently released the World War II tank thriller “Fury,” will write and direct.

“Suicide Squad” is to be released in August 2016.

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Dancing the night away Nobody knows when humans started dancing, but it must have been a very long time ago. It was probably a natural expression of joy or elation and I suspect many generations elapsed before the concept of ritual dancing emerged. But of course, all this is so far back in human history that we simply don’t know. Your guess it as good as mine and to be honest, probably better.

We know that formalized dancing was practised among the ancient Greeks, because various artifacts depict dancers and musicians. Even so, we don’t know very much about what the music actually sounded like. It wasn’t until the Renaissance began to dawn, that an increasing amount of dance music was written down. Huge collections were produced during the second half of the sixteenth century onwards, notably by prolific composers like Michael Praetorius, Tielman Susato and publisher Pierre Phalèse.

Leuven lies about sixteen miles east of Brussels and Pierre Phalèse started a bookselling business there, which developed into a

Zoltán Kodály analysing folk-song recordings. successful publishing house.

By 1575 he had produced nearly two hundred music books, many for the lute - a popular instrument for singing and dance music. At first, Phalèse outsourced his books to various printers, but later produced his own music books using state-of-the-art technology, movable type.

During the sixteenth and seventh centuries, dance music of all forms flowed from the pens of many composers, including some distinguished ones like Bach,

Handel, and Georg Philipp Telemann who wrote suites of dances, not necessarily for dancing but as courtly entertainment.

Zoltán Kodály (18821967): Dances of Galánta. London Philharmonic Orchestra cond. Vladimir Jurowski (Duration 15:23 Video 720p HD) Zoltán Kodály (zohl-TAHN koh-DAH-yee) is best known as the creator of the

so-called Kodály Method.

He became interested in children’s music education in 1925 when he happened to hear some school kids singing in the street. He was horrified by their tuneless squawking and drew the conclusion that music teaching in the schools was to blame.

He set about a campaign for better teachers, a better curriculum, and more class-time devoted to music. His tireless work resulted in many publications which later influenced music education world-wide.

Kodály is most closely associated with a teaching aid he didn’t actually invent: the hand signs. The so-called Kodály hand signs were devised in the mid-nineteenth century by an English minister, John Curwen and they represent each note of the scale. They were used in the 1977 movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, but they didn’t seem to fit the plot and were perhaps merely included to add a bit of gravitas to a rather implausible scene.

Rare Shakespeare Folio discovered in French town Shakespeare first folios printed in 1623, seven years after the playwright died.

The first folios are the first complete printed collections of Shakespeare’s plays. Sixteen Shakespeare plays, including “The Tempest” and “Macbeth,” were not printed in the bard’s lifetime — meaning the first folio saved them from oblivion. One first folio in 2006 sold at Christie’s for $6.8 million.

The newly discovered Shakespeare’s original first folio is seen in the SaintOmer library, northern France, Wednesday, Nov. 26. (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)

Thomas Adamson Paris (AP) - The accidental discovery in a small library in northern France of an original first folio of Shakespeare’s plays has sent a jolt of excitement around the world of Shakespeare scholars.

The find brings the total of known folios in the world to 233, and is significant as each first folio can contain variations that shed light on the bard’s intentions. Among the 900 pages of the most recent discovery are rare annotations that suggest it was used for performance.

The annotations “might tell us something about Shakespeare’s reception at the time, how they were thought of as text for performance,” said Stanley Wells, honorary president Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.

Scholars have not yet had a chance to carry out the painstaking comparisons with the texts of other folios to determine what variations the latest discovery may contain.

Remy Cordonnier, the director of the Saint-Omer library’s medieval and early modern collection, happened upon the folio among

the belongings of a Jesuit evangelist that were bequeathed from a now-defunct Jesuit college in the town.

“I first tried to keep a level head as I wasn’t sure 100 percent of its authenticity,” Cordonnier said.

Missing were 12 title pages, which record the printing date and location. So Cordonnier sought the help of Eric Rasmussen, a Nevada-based specialist in Shakespeare first folios, who traveled to the small town near Calais to examine it.

Rasmussen concluded that it was among about 750

Kodály wrote Dances of Galánta in 1933 using folk music of the Galánta region, now part of Slovakia. The work is in five sections and the clarinet is especially prominent, because it represents the traditional Hungarian tárogató, a single reed instrument whose conical bore produces a unique sound, somewhere between that of an oboe and that of a soprano saxophone.

Alberto Ginastera (1916-1983): Dance Suite from “Estancia”. Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela cond.

Gustavo Dudamel (Duration: 12:52; Video: 480p) Alberto Ginastera (jee-nahSTEHR-ah) is considered the most powerful voice in Argentine classical music. He studied at the c o n s e r v atoire in Buenos Aires, and later with the American composer Aaron Copland. Ginastera’s music can be challenging, percussive, thrilling, thought-provoking and sometimes even downright scary.

The thunderous last movement of the dramatic First Piano Concerto was brought to fame in 1973 when it was adapted by the rock group Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Ginastera even approved of the arrangement, which relied heavily on keyboards and synthesized percussion.

Much of Ginastera’s music is nationalistic and draws on

Argentine folk themes or other elements of traditional music. He greatly admired the fine Gaucho traditions and this is reflected in his 1942 one-act ballet Estancia (“The Ranch”). It’s a story about a city boy who falls for a rancher’s daughter, but the girl finds him weak and dull compared to the macho and intrepid Gauchos.

Ginastera turned the ballet music into a delightful fourmovement orchestral suite and if you haven’t heard Ginastera before, this is a great place to start. All the hallmarks of his style are there: his love of percussive sounds, his sparkling angular melodies and his tremendous sense of rhythm.

You would need a heart of stone to not be moved by the dazzling last movement (at 09:04) which is an absolute “must hear”. The closing section (at 10:47) is thrilling, with cataclysmic percussion and brilliantly articulated playing.

The Simon Bolivar Orchestra of Venezuela is the direct result of another dedicated music educator, José Antonio Abreu, who developed a music education programme in Venezuela k n o w n a s E l S i s t e m a.

This young Venezuelan orchestra is superb and the brilliant, musicallygifted conductor Gustavo Dudamel clearly enjoys every moment of this actionpacked music.

To watch these YouTube videos, either use your Smartphone to read the QR codes or go to this article online, click on the “live” links and go direct to the videos. If you have a laptop, sound quality can be improved significantly by using headphones or external speakers.

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VOL. XXII No. 50

E-mail: socialscene@pattayamail.com

To reward all employees for their dedication and hard work for the past year, the Dusit Thani Pattaya management, led by GM Chatchawal Supachayanont, organized their annual hotel Staff Day recently. The event was marked with exciting sports and fun games and activities which everyone enjoyed. Daytime games were based on the Dusit DNA concept of ‘CRAFT’ which means Creative, Reliable, Attentive, Friendly and Team and each of the four teams created fun activities to show the true spirit of teamwork and camaraderie. During the night, the staff party theme was “White Shirt & Blue Jeans” and the Napalai Convention Hall was filled with joy, laughter and generosity as staff and management gave to charity through game booths that raised money for Dusit International’s CSR project, Dusit Smiles for Operation Smiles.

Sub Lieutenant Anussorn Naksrichum (3rd left), Executive Vice President, Aviation Business Unit, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI), represented THAI in accepting the Excellent Catering Service Award “Gold” 2013 from EVA Air. Presenting the award was Clark Yeh (fourth from left), Managing Director of EVA Air in Thailand.

Well known make-up artist Ornapa Krisadee (2nd left) was a guest at the A-One the Royal Cruise Hotel Pattaya recently, where she was welcomed by the management team including Personnel Manager Tassanee Maneenate (right), who is also the President of the Personnel Management Assembly (Pattaya).

Pakpongkrid Phureewattana, GM of the Diana Garden Resort, presents a gift to Sue Kukarja of PMTV on the occasion of her birthday recently.

The Malhotra and Pawa families gathered together to celebrate the birthdays of three of our beloved family members recently. Three cakes were provided for the birthday kids (seated lr) Jasmeet, Dave and Sue, who were just about getting ready to blow out the candles when we took this photo. The festivities took place at the poolside of the Thai Garden Resort.

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Silverlake goes a rockin’

(L-R) Surachai Thangjaithrong, President of the Silver Lake Entertainment Co., Ltd. poses with Wuttinan Pirompakdee, Managing Director of Music Union Co., Ltd. and rock star Pom Asanee Chothikul.

Sue K Silver Lake Vineyard was packed with thousands of concert revellers on November 22, all there to witness performances from a collection of Thai pop artists, including Asanee – Wasan,

Maew Jirasak, Slot Machine, Hugo, Palmy, Nuvo, Rock Mahoree, Helmet Heads, Tattoo Colour, Black head, 25 Hours, Pong – Hin Lek Fai, Modern Dog, and Super Band.

The stars played a collection of hits on 2 separate stages, which had large sections of

the crowd cheering and dancing whilst others just relaxed on camping mats with a beer in hand and enjoyed the cool breeze and music.

Rock on The Lake was organized by the Singha Corporation, Music Union and Silverlake Entertainment.

One of the highlights of the show was the performance of Asanee and Wasan Chothikul.

Pong from the Hin Lek Fai band belts out another hit song.

Pop Darrell’s Last Case One of the more prolific expat writers is Dean Barrett with numerous books covering several genre, including fiction and non-fiction, poetry and children’s books. Whilst he may be a China specialist, dating back to when he was in the US Military, he has not let himself be restricted by that, though China influences are often experienced.

Pop Darrell’s Last Case (ISBN 978-09788888-4-8, Village East Books, 2014) is Barrett’s latest book, featuring Pop Darrell, a tough ex-cop who becomes involved in a mystery which was not of his making.

The opening chapter does have a China influence with the tale of two grave robbers, one of whom does not return home.

The next few chapters introduces separate themes, which do eventually relate to each other later in the book, the third chapter being Pop Darrell, the grizzled ex-cop and central figure in this book.

Barrett makes good use of the short chapter style of narrative, which keeps the action going and keeps the reader turning pages.

The action is placed in the present time with Google, Twitter and even Candy Crush - and no, I do not wish to play! There is even mention of the fallen-from-grace Chinese politician Bo Xi-lai, to really place the action in time and space.

It is not all heavy data, as there is also a thread of humor which runs through the book, with, for example, the description of a tug of war between a dog and a C cup brassiere producing giggles if not outright guffaws for any reader with a visual imagination.

The plot is that of a detective thriller, but author Barrett has also introduced some supernatural elements just to provide some more mystery and confusion in the mind of the reader. This is then much more to this novel than your average detective drama.

Dean Barrett has the ability to describe his characters in a thoroughly lifelike way. “Thin, wiry, nervous, jumpy, greasy mop of hair, sleeveless black jersey over slightly bloodied, long-sleeved white Tshirt, baggy wide-legged jeans, sleek black-and-red Air Jordan high-tops.” You cannot help but see this young lad in all his grunge glory!

But along with the street cred, Pop Darrell’s Last Case also brings the reader to high class S&M and B&D, feng-shui, martial arts weapons and other oriental items.

Bring on human trafficking and the drug trade in China white heroin. This book has it all, both real and imagined and conjured up.

The final chapters come one after another, after another, and after another, as men are split open with ancient swords and the great final battle for world supremacy is fought out in the storeroom of a Chinese restaurant.

Fiction mystery, or does it have a basis in fact. You, the reader decide.

B. 450 in Asia Books and Bookazine, or Amazon Kindle, makes it a cheap way to enjoy a weekend. I have found in the past that Barrett weaves a great yarn, and this book is up there with the best of them. A very professional work as one would expect from a Board Member of Mystery Writers of America.

Tattoo Colour on stage at Silver Lake.

Nuvo, led by Joe and Kong performed some hits from yesteryear including “Luem Pai Mai Rak Kan” (Forget Loving Me) and “Luek Sud Jai” (Deep in My Heart).

(Above) Hugo sings his hit rock song “99 Problems”.

(Right) Palmy entertained the crowd in her inimitable style.

Rowling commencement speech to be issued as book New York (AP) - A new book from J.K. Rowling will offer no magic — only words of wisdom.

Publisher Little, Brown and Company has announced that Rowling’s 2008 Harvard

University commencement speech will be released in April as the book “Very Good Lives.”

Proceeds will be donated to Lumos, a charity for disadvantaged children that Rowling founded, and to a financial

aid program at Harvard.

In her speech, the “Harry Potter” author spoke of her early struggles as a writer and the importance of failure as a “stripping away of the inessential.”

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XTC: Swindon’s only pride XTC, Waxworks (Some Singles 1977-1982) (Virgin) When I did an interview with Andy Partridge back in 1985 he started talking about his home town Swindon.

According to Partridge, Swindon was a dump, it had nothing to show for itself, it was so dead they might as well turn off the city lights at 9 p.m. and go to bed. He even claimed that the Swindon football team were once up against 11 garbage cans and lost. 29 years later Swindon Town is top 3 in League 1, so the days of garbage can humiliations are long gone.

Anyway, his Swindon bashing covered the fact that the city gave birth to one of the most remarkable bands in British rock since The Beatles. I am of course talking about the unpredictable, highly original and wonderfully quirky XTC. Even if you’d be quick to spot the Beatles-references and a continuation of The Kinks’ drowsy snapshots of everyday life, their songs took so many left turns they would make both Frank Zappa and the early 10cc proud.

They debuted back in 1977, the year of punk. Trying to sound punk-like, even deliberately reducing themselves to a two chord racket, they still couldn’t hide the art school playfulness that was holding its breath in the background, just waiting for a chance to bounce out of the speakers like a thousand multicoloured rubber balls.

Already on their breakthrough single “Life Begins At The Hop” (no. 54 in 1979), XTC had great difficulty

sticking to the din. The song was simply too starry eyed and full of life’s wonders.

Then came “Making Plans For Nigel”, and XTC never looked back. “Nigel” is weird and twisted, the melody line so insisting it almost gets on your nerves, but not quite, thanks to that strange, accentuated beat that gives the impression of a song nonchalantly dragging its feet.

To call XTC a band is a bit misleading. Andy Partridge took control very early on, and his only challenger, Colin Moulding (the man behind “Nigel ...”), simply failed to match Partridge’s productivity. He also lacks his boss’ intellectual way with words (Partridge’s lyrics are clever, precise and often ironic). But Moulding is important for the overall mix on the XTC-albums. 45 minutes with Andy Partridge alone would simply be too much.

In spite of their potential XTC never achieved world domination. Their only TOP 10 hit, “Senses Working Overtime”, came as early as 1982, and they have hardly been near the charts since.

The reasons for this are certainly numerous. In the heydays of punk and new wave XTC stood out as lively, funny, brave and colourful. But then came the 80’s, the poseurs, the hair styles, the cheap and synthetic dance-pop, and XTC

suddenly both looked and sounded irrelevant. They simply required too much of the listener, even if they were working in the pop factory.

One can also argue that yes, Partridge & Moulding share the Beatles’ unorthodox views regarding how a pop song should sound. But they lack the Liverpudlians’ gift of creating melodies that are so strong that they can sneak all sorts of weird antics into the brains of the millions. They don’t have the

Beatles’ singing voices either. But then who has?

This does not diminish the group’s rich and diverse catalogue however. It only explains why they never achieved stardom.

So where to start if you want a taste of the multi coloured world of XTC? Most people would go for a compilation, I guess. And as this column focuses on vinyl, the answer might be “Waxworks: Some Singles 1977–1982”, a 12 track album

released back in 1982. But then you would miss out on some of their greatest albums. I’d add “Skylarking” (1986) and “Nonsuch” (1992), that’s for sure, and the stunning “Black Sea” (1980).

If you are not a vinyl junkie, the double CD “Fossil Fuel: The XTC Singles 1977-92” (includes all 12 tracks from “Waxworks”) is an impressive document of Swindon’s only pride. 31 songs that should have been the world wide hits, if God had wanted it to happen. But He didn’t, so He was awarded with His own song “Dear God”, which definitely is not on the playlist in Heaven.

Released: November 1982 (All songs written by Andy Partridge, except where noted) Contents: Science Friction/Statue of Liberty/This is Pop?/Are You Receiving Me?/Life Begins at the Hop” (Moulding)/Making Plans for Nigel (Moulding)/Wait Till Your Boat Goes Down/Generals and Majors (Moulding)/Towers of London/Sgt. Rock (Is Going to Help Me)/Senses Working Overtime/Ball and Chain (Moulding)

With shake-ups, AC/DC perseveres with album, tour Mesfin Fekadu New York (AP) - AC/DC finally joined iTunes in 2012 after years of refusing to do so, but make no mistake, the Australian rock band is still old school.

“I would like everybody to buy vinyl again,” guitarist Angus Young said in an interview. “That’s my favorite.”

He continued with a loud laugh: “They ought to make them portable — iVinyl.”

AC/DC, which has enjoyed four decades of success, released “Rock or Bust,” its first album in six years, on Dec. 2. It is the follow-up to “Black Ice,” which sold 784,000 units during its first week in 2008.

The band has yet to join Spotify, something Young said is possible.

“I guess, if it’s doing a good service. I mean, we’ll certainly entertain the idea, I suppose,” he said, though Cliff Williams followed with the question: “Is it like Pandora? I’ve heard of it.”

“Rock or Bust,” which has received favorable reviews, is a typical AC/DC album and one the band hopes fans will

Members of the rock band AC/DC, bassist Cliff Williams (left) and guitarist Angus Young (right) pose for a portrait in promotion of their new album, “Rock or Bust” in New York on Nov. 13. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP) listen to on record players, Young, who has dementia, in addition to iPhones. It left the group in September. was recorded in May. Rudd is also charged with “You want people to put it possessing methampheton and go, ‘That’s AC/DC and amine and marijuana. no one else,’” Young said.

Young said Rudd was actIn a recent interview, the ing strangely as the band two members were full of recorded “Rock or Bust” and laughter and good energy as were starting to promote it. they discussed their new They plan to go on tour withmusic and upcoming world out him, he said. tour, planned for next year.

Young, 59, said his older But the band is in the midst brother, Malcolm, is doing of turmoil and tragedy de- fine, but couldn’t play any spite its success: Drummer longer.

Phil Rudd was recently “It was progressing furcharged with threatening to ther, but he knew he couldn’t kill, and guitarist Malcolm do it. ... He had continued as

long as he could, still writing. But he said to me, ‘Keep it going,’” Young said.

Malcolm, 61, is being replaced by their nephew, Stevie Young, who filled in for Malcolm during AC/DC’s U.S. tour in 1988. Stevie also plays on “Rock or Bust.”

“He’s about the closest who plays like Malcolm and he knows that style. And for him it’s natural the way he plays,” Young said. “Malcolm has that hard-rhythm solid sound and Stevie ... he grew up on that. That’s who he emulated.

He stuck to that style, which is a unique thing.”

“Stevie’s personality is very much like Malcolm’s as well, and you kind of play how you are,” Williams, 64, chimed in.

The band members said they’re extremely happy with the outcome of the new album, especially Brian Johnson’s vocals.

“He was sounding great from (the) get-go. He was a bit worried,” Young said.

“We were upstairs, but we could hear him from downstairs. He was sounding great.

He still ... sounds rather angelic in a rough sort of way,” he said, laughing again.

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Regents’ students star in Dickensian Christmas tale Alex McInnes Students from Regents International School Pattaya pulled out all the stops on Friday, November 28 with a show so audacious that Head of Drama, Nick Lewis, labelled it “the best play I have been involved with, in all my years at the school.”

Anyone who has attended a school play could be forgiven in thinking that the level of performance is not of a very high standard.

Regents’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ certainly made an argument for the exact opposite.

From the moment of arrival I was treated to a true ‘theatrical experience’. The dance studio was converted into a refreshments station, with Christmas carols playing and a faux log fire projected onto a wall. Bubbly school staff members greeted me with such a festive attitude it was hard not to get into the spirit of the silly season.

For those unaware of the vagaries of a pantomime: it is all about crowd participation. The quintessentially British form of theatre encourages jeering, booing, cheering and even heckling.

The lead part of Ebenezer Scrooge, played by Year 12 student Travis, embodied this spirit completely as he egged the audience on - often culminating in riotous applause.

The story itself is classically ‘Dickensian’ in nature – the duality of good and evil. A tale that proves there is good in everyone and transformation from self-centeredness to benevolence is possible. All of this was acted out brilliantly

by Regents’ aspiring actors and actresses.

Notable mentions include Tom, who played Charles Dickens, the narrator of the story and well loved by the audience for his terrible dadlike jokes. Roma and DJ

The story of Ebenezer Scrooge was delivered with great aplomb by the young cast at Regents International School Pattaya. played Doolittle and Doolally who also had many in the crowed bursting at the seams due to their heightened physical comedy. Bobby, who played the dual-roles of Bob Cratchit and Jacob Marley was also outstanding and

should be commended for his versatility as an actor and the depth in which he tackles his characters.

The Pantomime was a last hurrah of sorts for Head of Drama Nick Lewis who is leaving the school in April to head back home to England. Despite this, he was visibly beaming following the performance of his charges.

“My time at Regents has been amazing. Every year I challenge the students to be better and they continue to exceed my expectations of them every time. I honestly couldn’t be happier with how it’s unraveled. Regents always has a way of really getting the best out of the individual and I will certainly remember the school fondly,” he said.

Anyone who attended Regents’ Globe Theatre for ‘A Christmas Carol’ is certain to have that memory too.

At 80, MacLaine comes to terms with work, life Michael Cidoni Lennox Los Angeles (AP) - Shirley MacLaine pulled no punches when asked about her take on life at age 80.

“Well, I’m a lot closer to dying,” she said, with a chuckle.

Maybe so, but there still seems to be a lot of life left for both the vibrant woman and her Oscar-winning career.

MacLaine is among the very few octogenarians who still get name-abovethe-title billing, which she shares with 84-year-old costar Christopher Plummer in the big-screen dramedy “Elsa & Fred,” the upcoming American remake of the 2005 foreign-language favorite.

“I had seen the Argentinian film,” MacLaine said in a recent interview. “Loved it,” she continued. “Loved the relationship between the two. Older people falling in love was really attractive to me.”

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 33

PATTAYA MAIL

Actress Shirley MacLaine is shown at the premiere of ‘Elsa & Fred’ at the Sundance Cinema, October 28 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Todd Williamson/Invision for Millennium Ent/AP Images) At first glance, MacLaine’s Elsa is merely the nutty

neighbor to Plummer’s Fred, who has pretty much given up on living in the wake of his wife’s recent passing.

But there’s a lot more to Elsa than Fred, or the film’s viewers, see coming. Getting specific would spoil the surprises, but it’s safe to say that moviegoers should take what Elsa says with a grain of salt.

“She really did lie about everything,” MacLaine revealed.

But little matter, as it’s what Elsa does that’s of greater importance, as it re-introduces Fred to “La Dolce Vita” — both the classic Fellini movie, and, for real, its English translation, “the sweet life.”

No doubt, the character looming largest over MacLaine’s career and persona is the feisty, fiercely protective Aurora Greenway from the 1983 blockbuster “Terms of Endearment.”

“Adore her,” MacLaine said. “Would like her on my tombstone. Loved her.

My favorite part.”

It’s ironic that, after more than a quarter-century making movies, playing Aurora finally earned her the best-actress Oscar because, MacLaine said, it wasn’t really acting.

“I’m kind of like her,” she explained. “That’s the closest I’ve come to being like a character. I mean, I don’t know, frankly, how difficult it was to play her. I think I just played myself.”

When asked if she’s had la dolce vita, MacLaine said, “I can’t imagine a better life.

I’ve sat back and looked at it and thought, ‘Oh, my.

What haven’t I done?’

“I can’t think of anything except I’d like to live on a wildanimal farm,” she continued.

“I’d like to live as though I’m on safari in Africa, maybe permanently, and get to know those animals. But as far as my work and stuff, I’ve done everything. I just want to keep on doing what I’m doing.”

CLUBS IN PATTAYA To be listed, please send your information to <admin@pattayamail.com>

Lions Club of Jomtien Pattaya English speaking Lions club meets 2nd Wednesday of the month. Call President Peter Smith 081 805 6717, 038 303 072 email: <lions@aacondo.com> Website: www. jomtienpattaya.lionwap.org

Lions Club of Naklua Pattaya Meets at Green Park Resort, 4th Tuesday of the month. For information. President Jakapan Pintanon Tel. 090 985 0146

Lions Club of Pattaya Banglamung Meets every 16th of the month at 7.00pm at Ruen Thai Restaurant on Pattaya 2nd Road. President Sasithorn Kleetiang Tel. 086 392 0838

Lions Club of Pratumnak Pattaya Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month at 7.00pm at Ruen Thai Restaurant on Pattaya 2nd road. President Navin Khakhai Tel. 081 683 0056, 038 420 771

Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA) Meets every 2nd Thursday of the month. Call President Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn 038 426 357. Website: www.pattayatourism.org

Pattaya City Expat Club Meets every Sunday at Tavern by the Sea restaurant, Amari Hotel, Beach Road. Buffet Breakfast available from 9.30 a.m. Meeting starts at 10.30 a.m. and finishes about 12.00 noon. Website: www.pcecclub.org

Pattaya International Ladies Club The PILC organizes regular lunches and coffee mornings.

President Helle Rantsen. Tel. 085 8 71 2837, email: <presidentpilc@gmail.com> Website: www.pattaya-pilc.com

Pattaya Sports Club Clubhouse located on Pattaya 3rd Rd., next to Pattaya Driving Range. Open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day. Call President Peter Malhotra at 038 361 167, Fax 038 361 929. Email psc@cathinet.com See Pattaya Mail Sports Round Up for activities. Website: www.pattayasports.org

Rotary Club of Eastern Seaboard Meets every Thursday at 6 pm at Siam Bayshore Hotel Pattaya. President Russell Iffland. Tel. 086 089 0402 E-mail: <russelliffland@gmail.com> Website: www.rotary-es.org

Rotary Club of Pattaya Meets every Monday at 6.30 pm at Town in Town Hotel, President Satienpong Kumnon. E-mail: <juristic@ksc.th.com> Website: www.rotarypattaya.com

Rotary Club of Phoenix Pattaya Meets every Tuesday at 6.30pm at Holiday Inn Hotel Pattaya. President Ingo Raeuber. Tel. 081 949 9433 Email: <ingoraeuber@hotmail.com> Website: rotaryphoenix-pattaya.org

Rotary Club of Pattaya Marina Réunion tous les vendredi à 19 h, Hôtel MERCURE, Pattaya 2nd road, Soï 15, Contacter Président Joseph Roy 085 436 2402, E-mail: joseph.roy@hotmail.com Website: www.rotarypattayamarina.org

Rotary Club of Jomtien-Pattaya Dinner meeting every Wednesday 6.30 pm at Royal Cliff Grand Hotel. President Vutikorn Kamolchote. Tel. 081 447 4152 E-mail: <vut@vnresidences.com> Website: www.rotaryjomtien pattaya.org

Royal Varuna Yacht Club Open every weekday from 8am to 8pm. Weekend from 7.30 am to midnight. Call 038 250 116, 087 075 2194. Commodore Dave Littlejohn. Email: rvyc@loxinfo.co.th Website: www.varuna.org

Skål International Pattaya & East Thailand Meetings: Date and venue will be announced by email, Facebook and in the Pattaya Mail. President Tony Malhotra. E-mail: skalpattaya@gmail.com Website: www.facebook.com/skalpattaya

Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9876 (VFW) Meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month at 1 p.m. at the Hog’s Breath Saloon on Soi 46/3. For information, call Quartermaster Eric Larsen at 038 423 462 or Email: <vfwpost9876@hotmail.com> www.vfwpost9876.org

Y.W.C.A. Meets as notified call Chairwoman Praichit ‘Nidnoi’ Jetpai 038 716 316. E-mail: <pattaya@ywcabangkok.com>

34 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXII No. 50

Tel. 038 411 240-1, 038 413 240-1 Fax. 038 411 833

E-Mail: mailmarket@pattayamail.com

Articles For Sale/Rent

Boats & Fishing Trips

As616/49-50/ Sportek Treadmill for sale: very little used, very good condition.

Price when new 25,000 baht, now for sale 13,000 baht. Call 092 646 0104 As615/47-51/ Stubby Holders: can & bottle coolers, high quality, digitally printed, neoprene, competitive prices, cheap delivery. info@coolaproducts.com, www.coolaproducts.com As614/22-52/ Space Saving Wall-Beds and Custom made furniture, Kitchens and Condo refurbishment. www.wallbedfurnitureshop .asia.Tel: 089-003 6894 As611/27-52/ For Fans of M.J.B. the Cartoonist to Pattaya Mail, you can now buy Mike Baird‘s two new E-Books called “Life in Fun City” and “More of Life in Fun City” from www. bangkokbooks.com at $4-99 each. Both E-Books are the Best of his Pattaya Mail cartoons over 13 years in beautiful full colour. You can carry them around with you, show them to your friends, store them on your computer or give them as a unique gift.

You never know - you might see yourself in them!

Bo/45-17/ High quality Fishing & Boat trips on private boats! Silverton 42-foot yacht or Yamaha 26-foot: Fishing, snorkelling, swimming in clear waters off the white sandy beaches. See more details: www.siamgreat adventures.com or facebook Siam Great Adventures Co., Ltd. Booking contact siam greatadventures@gmail.com, 087 137 6006 (Eng/Finn) or 087 137 0880 (Thai)

Articles/Services Wanted Aw01/26-52/ Missionary in Rayong sponsoring Little Duck Nursery needs help.

Please - Any unwanted items you have would be appreciated. (Eng) Rev Stephen 086 600 5682, (Thai) 038-621343

Business Opportunities Bop02/47-51/ For Sale – Rent – Partner: Benelux – Resort Buriram (Kandong) 15 rooms – swimming pool – restaurant – Villa. Info 081 999 2217

Education & Training Et01/50-51/ Tutor/English teacher wanted to teach 6 year old girl, Mabprachan area, part time, general subjects. Tel. 089 903 5641

Pets Pets03/27-52/ Adorable homeless puppies available for adoption to warm and caring homes! All puppies are healthy, vaccinated and acclimated to people. If you are looking for a friend for life, just call 088 402 6772 or e-mail to karin@carefordogs.org.

Pets02/27-52/ **Free Cats and Kittens** We are still trying to find loving homes for over 40 cats and kittens. Please check the pictures on our website or ring Sandra.

Call 085 287 5004 http:/ cats4youinpattaya.webs.com

VOL. XXII No. 50

PATTAYA MAIL

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 35

Tel. 038 411 240-1, 038 413 240-1 Fax. 038 411 833

E-Mail: mailmarket@pattayamail.com

Prb12/46-51/ OCCASION! Beautiful townhouse (South Pattaya), 2 minutes to city or beach, peaceful and green environment, superbly fully furnished, 3 bedrooms, 2 televisions, ADSL, 4 air-conditioners, garage. Contact: 092 647 1521

Condos, Apartments

Property for Rent Houses, Villas Prb/50/ A 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom 2 storey House in Jomtien available for 28,000 Baht per month. Ref: HR1436.

Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Prb/50/ A 2 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom 2storey House in East Pattaya available for 25,000 Baht per month. Ref: HR1985. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property. net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net Prb/50/ A 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom single storey House in East Pattaya available for 35,000 Baht per month. Ref: HR2060. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net, Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Prb/50/ A 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom single storey House in East Pattaya available for 21,000 Baht per month. Ref: HR1813. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property. net, Check our website www.pattaya-property.net

Prb/50/ A 3 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom single storeyHouse in East Pattaya available for 20,000 Baht per month. Ref: HR1733. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property .net, Check our website www.pattaya-property.net Prb17/50/ House for rent: swimming pool, waterfall, furnished, Thepprasit Villa: 20,000 baht/month. Tel. 087 137 9460 Prb16/50-02/ 2-storey house next to Mabprachan lake, 4 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms, pool, double glazing, lake view, looking for long term rental or possible rent to buy available, open to offers. Tel. 089 687 5020 (Eng) or 081 413 6810 (Thai) Prb15/49-01/ CORNER TOWNHOUSE, Off Soi Khaotalo, Like new, quiet, safe, two bedroom, one bathroom, patio, carport, Thai kitchen, air-conditioned, FULLY FURNISHED, 10,000 Baht/ Monthly, English 087 805 5276 Prb14/48-52/ A 2 and 4 bedroom terraced house on Soi 5 Pratamnak Rd. for rent.

Phone 081 782 0206, www. rimtalay.com Prb13/48-52/ A beautiful 3bedroom villa with private pool and garden off Soi Chaiyapruk (beach side) Jomtien. Phone 081 782 0206 www.rimtalay.com

Prc/50/ 80sqm, 1 Bedroom Condominium in established development located in Pratumnak available for just 20,000 Baht per month .Ref CR1613. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property .net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net Prc/50/ 79.5sqm, 1 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom Condominium in established Central Pattaya development available for just 19,500 Baht per month.

Ref CR1225. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property. net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net Prc/50/ 46sqm, 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Condominium in this popular Central Pattaya development available for just 20,000 Baht per month. Ref CR2649 Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or e-mail info@ pattaya-property.net, Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Prc/50/ 46sqm 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Condominium in established development located in the city center available for just 18,000 Baht per month. Ref CR2461 Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or e-mail info@pattaya-property .net, Check our website www.pattaya-property.net

Prc/50/ 44sqm, 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Condominium in this recently completed development located in Jomtien for just 24,000 Baht per month. Ref: CR2800.

Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Prc/50/ 48sqm, Studio Condominium in established development located in Wong Amat available for 15,000 Baht per month. Ref: CR2663.

Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Prc/50/ 52sqm, 1 Bedroom, 1 Bathroom Condominium in abrand new development located on soi 1, Beach Road, North Pattaya available for 25,000 Baht per month. Ref: CR2969. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net, Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Prc11/47-51/ 51sqm, Porchland 2, Jomtien, 1 bedroom, 8th floor, new, sea view, free internet, TV, swimming pool, Gym, big balcony: 15,000 baht/month. Tel. 087 138 3523

Prc08/41-50/ VIP Condo (Ban Amphur), studio for rent, 40sqm, flat screen TV, free Wifi, newly renovated, large swimming pool, tennis courts, good gym, on the beach, 1 month 15,000 baht/month, 1 year 13,000 baht/month. Tel 086 069 4399 and 083 687 1900 Prc07/40-03/ Furnished Studio For Rent: A/C, Hot Water, Cable, Swimming Pool 4,500 baht per month Nernplaubwon Soi 53 at Mapyaillia Soi 45, Tel 085 276 8457 (Eng). 089 931 4170 (Thai).

Property for Sale Houses, Villas Psb01/43-05/ Rayong Ban-phe - near Mae Ramphung beach, new houses and villas for sale, 2-4 bedroom, private pool/ land, partly furnished: Price 2.7 - 8.5M.baht. Tel (Thai) 081 863 6063, (Eng) 086 158 5667 Psb/50/ A substantial 3 Bedroom, 4 Bathroom Detached family House in East Pattaya on offer for 6,950,000 Baht.

Located in a well established village with all the facilities a family could ask for. Ref: HS3704. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net

Psb/50/ A 3 Bed, 4 Bath House in East Pattaya, located in an exclusive, secure village close to Mabprachan lake. On offer for just 5,000,000 Baht. Ref: HS3850.

Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property. net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net Psb/50/ A 4 Bedroom 4 Bathroom house with private pool in Naklua for only 11,100,000 Bath. A perfect family house in a fantastic location. Ref HS4115.

Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-9962489 or email info@ pattayaproperty.net, Check our website www.pattaya-property.net Psb/50/ A 3 Bedroom 2 Bathroom house with communal pool in East Pattaya.

An ideal family home or rental investment for 3,400,000 Baht. Ref HS3866. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property. net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net Psb/50/ A Brand New 2 Bedroom, 2 Bathroom House located just off the Highway 7 in East Pattaya on offer for 2,890,000 Baht. The owner is offering a finance scheme of 69 months. Ref: HS3711. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property. net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net

36 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

PATTAYA MAIL

Tel. 038 411 240-1, 038 413 240-1 Fax. 038 411 833

VOL. XXII No. 50 E-Mail: mailmarket@pattayamail.com

Psb/50/ A 5 Bedroom, 3 Bathroom House in Soi Nernplubwarn in East Pattaya on offer for only 3,850,000 Baht.

A large, fully furnished house for a very low price!

Ref: HS3851. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property.net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net

Condos, Apartments Psc/50/ A 58 sqm 1 Bedroom 1 Bathroom Condominium right in the heat of the city.These unit make excellent rental investment in one of the most popular projects in Pattaya. Priced at only 3,400,000 be quick not miss out. CS4431. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property. net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net

Psc/50/ A 46.5sqm 1 Bedroom High Floor Condominium in the recently completed Nova Cliff development in Pratumnak, on offer for only 3,422,400 Baht. Stunning Sea, Koh Larn and Panoramic Views. Ref: CS4563.

Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net, Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Psc/50/ A 24.2sqm Studio Condominium in Central Pattaya on offer for 1,325,000 Baht. Be the first to own this property, 80% payment now and 20% in March 2014. Ref: CS4475. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net, Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Psc05/50-02/ Novana condos for sale: 2 top floor (8th), 26sqm studio condos for sale, next to each other, can be changed to 1 bedroom 52sqm.

Units in foreign name: 1.35M each or 2.6M for both. Call 089 687 5020 (Eng) or 081 413 6810 (Thai). Open to offers!

Psc04/47-51/ 38sqm Porchland 2, 1 bedroom, 8th floor, 2 years old, quality furniture, panoramic sea and Jomtien views, swimming pool, Gym, WIFI, 24/7 security, foreign name, owner sale: 1,750,000 baht. Tel. 087 138 3523

Psc/50/ A 75sqm Brand New Fully Furnished 1 Bedroom Condominium in Pratumnak, 5,990,000 Baht. A spacious condo ready to be lived in, enjoy the modern style, large balcony and pool view.

Ref: CS4586. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattaya-property. net, Check our website www. pattaya-property.net Psc/50/ A 25sqm 1 Bedroom Condominium in South Pattaya, 1,199,999 Baht! Due for completion in Q3 2016 this property offers exceptional investment value. Facilities include large pool and shopping centre. Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081-996-2489 or email info@pattayaproperty.net, Check our website www.pattaya-property.net Psc/50/ A 117sqm, 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom, Sea View Condominium with large balcony for 14,300,000 Baht.

This popular, well established development in Pattaya offers an unrivalled common area and is located on Beach Road. Ref: CS2984.

Contact Alan Bolton Property Consultants on 081996-2489 or email info@ pattaya-property.net Check our website www.pattayaproperty.net Psc03/47-51/ Condo 42sqm + balcony, Pratumnak Hill (200m to beach) swimming pool – fitness – security – conveniences: Price 1.3 million. Contact 080 772 7717

Psc01/43-50/ For Sale: 74sqm, 3-room condo, 2 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, balcony, swimming pool, First floor Majestic Condominium Jomtien, fully furnished, Farang name, Price 2,300,000 baht. Urgent Tel 087 485 3770 and 082 474 3154, email: josger8586@gmail.com

Land for Sale P04/27-52/ Land in USA for Sale: 24.3 acres (61.46 rai) (9.8 hectares) of prime wooded land in northern New York State is now up for sale. Formerly a tree farm, the ambitious could recoup some of the purchase price by harvesting the wood. 7 minutes from downtown Potsdam, New York, home to 2 major universities, Clarkson College and SUNY (State University of New York). Located near the St. Lawrence waterway and Lake Ontario, beautiful Hanawa Falls is just around the corner. Only about 20 minutes from Adirondack State Park. Lake Placid, home of the 1932 & 1980 Winter Olympics, is just one and a half hours drive away. Less than 2 hours drive from Ottawa, Canada. Land could be used as a hunting lodge (plenty of wild game in the area), or as a quiet, secluded residence, or developed into many house lots. Only US$70,000 OBO. Contact Dorothy Petrosky: dottreal @twcny.rr.com or email Dan at totopm@csloxinfo.com.

VOL. XXII No. 50

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Tel. 038 411 240-1, 038 413 240-1 Fax. 038 411 833

Services Provided Sp20/50-02/ Air-Conditioning & Condo-House Renovations: For Free quotation contact www.irishaircon .com or Phone 089 608 7808 Sp19/49-53/ Office and/or Office Desk Space for rent: Starting at only 1,500 baht/week incl. internet and electric. Please contact 081 605 1231.

Sp18/50/ Plans drawn for house condo shops: Tel: 085 083 4221.

Sp17/47-51/ Freelance Video Editor: I can edit your videos or teach you how to edit them. Also build you a custom PC Digital Edit Suite.

Call 089 776 2565 Sp16/47-51/ Thai Massage, Thai-oil massage services, will visit you 24 hours. English speaking, call 083 745 6557 S p 1 1 / 0 8 - 5 2 / WWW.321CLEAN.COM – General home cleaning: Dynamic team and foreigner follow-up. Call now on 089 886 5445 (English), 080 091 2924 (Thai) or leave a message on our web site.

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 37 E-Mail: mailmarket@pattayamail.com

Sp14/44-53/ Service construction: Tiling, painting, electricity, water pipe, ceiling, art wall etc. Call 087 783 4015 or 087 136 7036 Sp04/26-52/ Magna Carta Law Office can assist you in securing loans from a minimum 700,000 up to a maximum of 50 Million Baht through various financial institutions with no credit checks or black marks and no penalty for a bad credit history. All loans are secured against either land or property and we are able to lend you up to 50% of the appraised valuation of your asset. The funds will be available around 10 days from the start of the application. Loans can be for a period of 6 months to 1 year and can be extended for longer if needed. Call either 038-373735 or 081-9833-620 for an appointment.

Sp01/26-52/ Magna Carta Law Office in South Pattaya offers One-Stop Quality Legal Services. Criminal, Civil, Family & Labor Law Consultancy, Full Accounting Service, Company Setup, Visa and Work Permit, Notary Service, Real Estate

Transactions, Last Will & Testament. You can visit our website www.magnacarta .co.th for the complete list of services. Call us at 038 373 735 to 6 or email us at legal@magnacarta.co.th to set an appointment for a FREE NO OBLIGATION INITIAL CONSULTATION

Staff Wanted Sw02/50/ Wanted cook and waitress for small cafe-bar, must be able to speak English and friendly to customers, references preferred, phone 092 803 6928 for appointment Sw01/45-02/ Driver wanted for mini-van. Call: 081 146 1811

Vehicles for Rent Vr04/48-09/ SPS Car and Bike Rentals: Cars from 500 baht/day, Yamaha Nouvos and Mio from 80 baht/day, free delivery in Pattaya area. All cars with 1 st class i n s u r a n c e . Te l 0 8 1 1 7 7 3307, 038 405 165, www. pattayacarhire.com

Vr03/48-52/ Jay’s Rent A Car: Toyota’s & Honda’s. All top of the range, for your safety all serviced by Toyota/ Honda, all have A.B.S./ airbags + 1st class, rental Insurance, Rent the best, Please ring for details: (Thai) 084 865 5102 or (Eng) 085 283 4915.

Vr02/50/ Daily prices now flexible! - offers to fill our blank dates! Cars and 4-door pickups: 1,000 baht/day or 16,000/month; Class 1 Fortuners 1,500 baht/day.

Top model pickups 24,000 baht/month. Full insurance.

Tel. 089 932 7965 Vr01/39-01/ Low season prices all through high season 100% insurance. New Honda City. Tel: Nat 084 738 8812 Holiday Car Rent

Vehicles for Sale Vs02/50/ For sale: Yamaha Mio 2013, 115cc injection, new tyre, every service, only 7,700km, no accidents, registered March 2015: 26,000 baht. Tel 087 138 3523 Vs01/46-50/ Honda Accord 2.0: 2012. Automatic, black 10,500km: Price 950,000 baht, Norwegian owner Tel. 092 643 6595

38 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

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VOL. XXII No. 50

Custom 1939 Rolls Royce Phantom Pick-Up

Autonomously driven Most of the major automobile manufacturers have moved on from experimental hybrids to autonomous cars, which will whisk us to our destination with a silent “chauffeur” dealing electronically with all the usual road hazards.

To show just where Mercedes-Benz are in this timeline they demonstrated their Mercedes-Benz S500 Intelligent Drive autonomous prototype, recreating the historic drive of Carl Benz’ wife Bertha.

In August 1888, Bertha Benz started off on the first long-distance automotive drive in history in the Patent Motor Car of her husband Carl Benz, thus paving the way for the worldwide success of the automobile. Her route, which ran southward from Mannheim to Pforzheim for around 100 km, was used

by Mercedes-Benz developers as the real test track for another pioneering achievement in mobility exactly 125 years later: proof of the suitability of autonomous drive systems for everyday use in the highly complex environment of overland and urban traffic.

“This S-Class spells out where we’re headed with ‘Intelligent Drive’ and what tremendous potential there is in currently available technology,” says Dr. Dieter Zetsche, chairman of the Board of Management at Daimler and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars.

“With our successful test drives, we have demonstrated that highly automated driving is possible without the luxury of specially closed-off sections of road and relatively straightforward traffic situations,” says Thomas Weber, member of the Board of Management at Daimler with responsibility for Group Research and Head of MercedesBenz Cars Development.

This experience will now be incorporated into the engineering of future vehicle generations to be equipped with such innovative, furtherdeveloped functions. Thomas Weber stresses: “With the new S-Class, we are the first to drive autonomously during traffic jams. We also want to be the first to provide other autonomous functions in series production vehicles.

The Ultimate Pick-up?

Saint Augustine, Florida for USD 150k OBO. With RR (BMW in reality)

talking about an SUV Roller in 2016, perhaps the pick-up will be the next variant?

Something strange here as well Spotted out along Siam Country Club Road is this rather large behemoth. American I must assume, and has been given the chop top treatment. Anyone throw some light on the subject?

Drive me home, James!

The now successfully conducted autonomous test drives along the Bertha Benz route allowed the Daimler researchers to gather important information on the challenges that remain to be addressed on the way to highly and fully automated driving and what, for example, still needs to be done to enable a car to navigate safely in highly complex situations.

Improvements were made to the number and arrangement of the sensors in order to achieve comprehensive coverage of the vehicle’s surroundings in every direction, and to obtain additional information on the area around the vehicle. Examples of specific technical modifications compared with the standardproduction version of a Mercedes-Benz S-Class are the enhancement of the base width (distance between the eyes) of the stereo camera to allow more-distant objects to be detected not only by the radar system, but also by the camera, and a new color camera for the monitoring of traffic lights.

The autonomous research vehicle records the entire sensory data collected by the vehicle, which flows in at a rate of 300 gigabytes per hour from the images of the stereo camera alone.

Based on these sensor data and determination of the vehicle’s own position with reference to information from a digital map, an autonomously driving vehicle analyzes the available free area for driving and plans its own route. In addition to the road layout, this map - which must meet special requirements with regard to accuracy - includes information

Autotrivia Quiz Last week I asked what car is this? It had tiller steering and was the first affordable series-produced car with interchangeable parts. What was it? It was the Curved Dash Oldsmobile of 1903.

So to this week. The first

This 1939 Rolls Royce Phantom (chassis 3DL70) was offered with little information on its eBay listing, but some quick Googling reveals it was recently custom built from a non-running donor car in order to replicate the factory truck Rolls used to deliver finished Merlin V12 aircraft engines during WWII. The quality of work seems to be very good, and note that the bed was donated from a 1930’s Ford pick-up. Find it on eBay in

motorcycle (1896), retractable undercarriage and a car that would jump trenches in the war have something in common. What was it?

For the Automania free beer this week, be the first correct answer to email viacars@gmail.com.

on the number and direction of traffic lanes and traffic signs as well as the positions of traffic lights. Digital maps of this kind are a key prerequisite for autonomous driving.

The autonomously driving S-Class was monitored during the tests by specially trained safety drivers who, whenever the system made an incorrect decision, were able to intervene immediately and take over control of the vehicle. A record was made each time it became necessary for the safety driver to take over control of the vehicle. This information was then evaluated by the development team, thus making it possible to extend the vehicle’s repertoire of maneuvers. This advances the development of the technology platform, enabling it to cope with more and more traffic situations.

A particular challenge for autonomous vehicles is the way in which they communicate and interact with other road users. Coming to an agreement with an oncoming vehicle on who should proceed first around an obstruction is something that requires a very great deal of situational analysis. Where a human driver might boldly move forward into a gap, the autonomous vehicle tends to adopt a more cautious approach.

This sometimes results in comical situations, such as when, having stopped at a zebra crossing, the vehicle gets waved through by the pedestrian - yet the car stoically continues to wait, because M-B failed to anticipate such politeness when they programmed the system. (Local readers will understand that this situation will never happen in Thailand!)

I have no doubt that driving oneself to the shops will have a totally different meaning to it in five years, though it will probably be 10 years before it becomes commonplace. One of the biggest hurdles will be the litigation aspect. When an autonomous car collides with me selfdriven one - who is to blame?

Wot izzit?

Nissan gives the GT-R a little less R and more GT Nissan in Japan has released the 2015 version of its celebrated GT-R, known colloquially as “Godzilla” for its prodigious horsepower from the turbo V6 engine. At one stage in Australia it was banned from competition because nothing could get near it! It is still one of the fastest production cars around Germany’s Nurburgring.

However, this succeeding version has been tweaked in the suspension department, rather than the under the bonnet (which is more than adequate).

The softening up of spring rates and shock absorbers has made the ride less jarring on anything other than motorway smoothness. This makes it more ‘gran turismo’ in line with its GT-R badge.

Nissan’s engineers claim the new shocker settings actually help the GT-R’s cornering, being able to be compliant with the road imperfections to aid stability and allows the driver to better choose the best driving line.

“The same modifications reduce the amount of steering

Godzilla corrections necessary on rough while the steering damper roads, adding a further sense has been changed to adof security in less than ideal dress vibration through the driving conditions,” Nissan steering wheel at idle. says in its media release.

The throw-out bearing in The high-performance the flywheel housing has tyres have also come in for been changed to reduce attention, with improved noise, while a new boot carmaterials and a fresh inner pet material improves noise structure that is said to de- insulation. liver better straight-line staNissan engineers describe bility and increased stability the revised GT-R as “more over uneven road surfaces. civilized”, with “dramatic” Brakes have been revised improvement to ride quality. for better stopping power They say previous engineerand less noise, while a num- ing efforts had mainly fober of modifications have cused on the “race” element been made to address noise, of the GT-R’s handling, but vibration and harshness. this time more attention was The drivetrain has been paid to the effortless touring modified to reduce backlash, side of owning a GT-R.

FIA releases F1 Provisional 2015 calendar March 15 Grand Prix of Australia March 23 Grand Prix of Malaysia April 12 Grand Prix of China April 19 Grand Prix of Bahrain May 3 Grand Prix of Korea (TBC) May 10 Grand Prix of Spain May 24 Grand Prix of Monaco June 7 Grand Prix of Canada June 21 Grand Prix of Austria July 5 Grand Prix of Great Britain July 19 Grand Prix of Germany July 26 Grand Prix of Hungary August 23 Grand Prix of Belgium September 6 Grand Prix of Italy September 20 Grand Prix of Singapore September 27 Grand Prix of Japan October 11 Grand Prix of Russia October 25 Grand Prix of USA November 1 Grand Prix of Mexico November 15 Grand Prix of Brazil November 29 Grand Prix of Abu Dhabi The F1 calendar above, and those quick with mathematics will see that there are now 21 Grands Prix slated for 2015. Is this too many? With the problems and expenses involved in a GP weekend, many teams were too financially strapped this year, with Marussia having gone completely to the

wall. Caterham looks to be next. “Lotus” and FIndia are also shaky. And what is the FIA doing about it? Extra races will certainly not have improved matters. But they have at least scrapped the ridiculous double points for the final GP.

Touring cars come to Thailand The FIA World Touring Car Championship 2015 Calendar is also released, and our new Chang International circuit at Buriram is hosting the WTCC event next November. I will be running at Buriram in the TBX Retro Escort next week and will give you my impressions of the circuit after that.

March 8th - Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina April 19th - Circuit Moulay El Hassan, Morocco May 3rd - Hungaroring, Hungary May 16th - Nordschleife, Germany June 7th - Moscow Raceway, Russia June 21st - Slovakiaring, Slovakia* June 28th - Paul Ricard, France July 12th - Vila Real, Portugal September 13th - Motegi, Japan September 27th - Shanghai, China November 1st - Buriram - Thailand November 22nd - Losail, Qatar*

VOL. XXII No. 50

Crumpton Oaks Cider Monday Pool League Standings Dec. 1 (week 15) Team Legends Links Bar Rest Stop Sweethearts Bar Nicky’s Bar Shoot Pool Cheers Bar Dean’s Bar Classroom Offshore Bar Wok ‘n’ Rok Two Dogs Mates Bar

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 39

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P 15 14 15 14 14 15 14 14 15 13 14 15 14

W 12 11 11 10 10 7 7 6 6 5 5 2 1

L 3 3 4 4 4 8 7 8 9 8 9 13 13

+/38 36 37 17 17 1 -9 -9 -6 -14 -25 -59 -24

BP 0 1 0 1 0 2 2 3 2 1 1 1 0

Pts. 36 34 33 31 30 23 23 21 20 16 16 7 3

Results: Classroom 10 v 2 Mates Bar, Nicky’s Bar 10 v 8 Shoot Pool, Offshore Bar 3 v 10 Rest Stop, Two Dogs 2 v 10 Legends

Shoot Pool Thursday Darts League Results & Standings Dec. 4 (week 8) Team P W D L +/BL Pts. Ben’s Tattoo Bar 8 8 0 0 34 0 16 Shoot Pool 7 4 1 2 -2 0 9 Nervous Wreck 8 4 0 4 -4 0 8 Scandalic 7 4 0 3 -8 0 8 Connections Bar 7 1 1 5 -20 0 3 Results: Nervous Wreck 5-8 Ben’s Tattoo Bar, Scandalic H-W Bye, Shoot Pool 5-5 Connections Bar

Pattaya Sports Club Bowling League Café Kronborg moved into first place after winning all four points from the previous week’s leader Canada. All the bowlers for Kronborg bowled very well with Tao leading the way with a 567 series, games of 200, 205 and 162, Kran Nielsen had a 527 series and Roy a 513.

Green Tree moved into second place (based on total pins) after splitting their match with ARDEO with each team winning two points. Heinz bowled a 517 series and Tue Pettae had a 515 series and 204 game for ARDEO. Noodle Russell bowled a 511 for Green Tree.

Balloon remains in fourth place after splitting their match against Brother D with each team winning two points. Aht Johansson bowled a 527 series for Balloon and Antero Ronkainen had a 200 game and 513 series for Brother D.

200 Bowlers: Peter, Steinar, Yeow, Tao, Tue & Antero.

PWC won three points bowling as a Pacer rolled a from Bavaria with Yeow Gale 205 game and 518 series. Peter leading PWC with a 205 also bowling as a Pacer bowled game and 516 series. Steinar a 565 series with a 217 game.

Results & Standings Dec. 5 (week 3) Pos. 1 2 3 4 5 6 5 8

Team Café Kronborg Green Tree Canada Balloon PWC Bavaria ARDEO Brother D

Score 4–0 2–2 0–4 2–2 3–1 1-3 2–2 2–2

Standings 10 - 2 7-5 7-5 7-5 6-6 5-7 3-9 3-9

Darkside Thursday Darts League Standings Dec. 4 (week 3) Team P W L F A T/G Moonies 3 3 0 16 7 2 Load Out 2 2 0 11 7 1 Chill Bar 3 1 2 12 11 2 Oscar’s Sports Bar 3 1 2 12 11 1 Moonie Blues 2 1 1 9 9 2 Results: Bye A-W v Oscar’s Sports Bar, Chill Bar (3-0)-(6-1) v Moonies

Pts. 6 4 2 2 2

Asia Back Packer’s Monday Darts Super League Standings Dec. 1 (week 3) Team Legends W. Tankies i-Rovers ‘A’ Moonies Don’t Tell MaMa’s Load Out Oscar’s Sport Bar i-Rovers ‘B’

P 3 3 2 2 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 2 2 1 1 0 0

L 0 1 0 0 2 2 3 3

F 22 18 11 10 15 10 8 5

A 5 9 7 8 12 17 19 22

B/L 3 1 1 1 3 1 0 1

Pts. 6 4 Results: Load Out 4 (1-0)-(8-1) v Leg4 ends, Oscar’s Sport 2 Bar (2-0)-(7-1) v 2 Don’t Tell MaMa’s, 0 i-Rovers ‘B’ (1-1)-(80 0) v W. Tankies

Pattaya 8-Ball Pool League Results & Standings Dec. 1 (week 15) Team Played Won Lost For Agst Diff Points Phimai Geordie 15 15 0 166 54 112 45 Smile Bar 15 14 1 158 67 91 43 San Snack Bar 14 9 5 119 91 28 32 Asian Nomads 14 8 6 100 110 -10 30 Funny Girl 15 6 9 110 110 0 27 Crazy Eddie’s 15 6 9 96 129 -33 27 Pom Bar 14 6 8 90 120 -30 26 Doggy Style 15 5 10 93 132 -39 25 Ta Bar 14 5 9 101 109 -8 24 Naughty Kangaroo 14 3 13 68 132 -64 18 Connections 13 2 11 74 121 -47 17 Results: Crazy Eddie’s 6 v 9 San Snack Bar, Smile Bar 13 v 2 Pom Bar, Doggy Style 8 v 7 Connections, Funny Girl 6 v 9 Asian Nomads, Bye 0 v 0 Ta Bar, Naughty Kangaroo 3 v 12 Phimai Geordie

PSC Bowlers wish HM the King a happy birthday on Friday, Dec. 5.

Darkside Tuesday Darts League Standings Dec. 2 (week 14) Team Chill Bar PJ Pub Oscars Bar Load Out Double Dutch Moonies

P 14 14 13 13 13 13

W 11 11 8 7 3 0

L 3 3 5 6 10 13

F 87 75 71 69 41 17

A 39 51 46 48 76 100

T/G 11 9 9 4 3 3

Pts. 22 22 16 14 6 0

Results: PJ Pub and Restaurant (6-1)-(3-0) v Double Dutch, Chill Bar (6-1)-(3-0) v PJ Pub and Restaurant

Tuesday Darts League Results & Standings Dec. 2 (week 22) Team P W L F A B/legs Pts. Londoner 22 19 3 194 73 16 38 Legends 22 16 6 133 82 11 32 The Swan 22 14 8 129 79 18 28 Ken & Jim’s Bar 22 14 8 132 96 12 28 Naughty Kangaroo 22 14 7 127 105 16 28 Crazy Eddie’s 22 13 9 126 99 11 26 Nervous Wreck 22 13 9 124 103 10 26 Yates’ Bar 21 13 8 106 93 13 26 Shoot Pool 22 9 13 100 120 12 18 i-Rovers 21 8 13 108 110 10 16 Scandalic 22 8 14 99 139 8 16 W. Tankies 22 5 17 70 128 7 10 Bye 22 5 15 36 110 5 10 Bye 22 0 21 0 147 0 0 Results: Bye (0-0)-(7-1) v Legends, Crazy Eddie’s (7-1)-(6-0) v Scandalic, Ken & Jim’s Bar (0-0)-(7-1) v W. Tankies, Londoner (6-1)-(7-0) v The Swan, Nervous Wreck (7-1)-(00) v Bye, Shoot Pool (3-0)-(11-1) v Naughty Kangaroo

40 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

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VOL. XXII No. 50

Connor shines brightest at Burapha PSC Golf from The Outback Golf Bar Monday, Dec. 1, Burapha Stableford We welcomed back Frank and Elsabe Connor, Jon Kittilsen, Michael Shreve and Andre Coetzee along with new friends Tuyet Hohnet and Clive Smit to the A and B course, where we had 25 players.

Driving through rain on the way up was not a good sign but it cleared by the time we teed off, leaving the course somewhat wet but imminently playable. Frank Connor quickly came out the traps to win Div B with 40pts from Tim Knight (38) with Jimmy Little next on 36 and John O’Keefe (33) fourth on c/b.

Peter Nixon (37) won the top division on c/b from Dennis Pelly, with Bob Finley beating John Cunningham also on c/b, both with 35.

Dennis Pelly and Frank Connor both had ‘2’s on the 12th (B3) Outback observation: Weather - Fine, overcast; Check in - Friendly and quick as usual; Tee time – Early; Fairways - Lift, clean and place; Rough – Fair; Greens - Fast and true; Bunkers Sand was wet; Value for money - Reasonable (compulsory cart); Pace of play under 4hrs; Drink stations open - 4 (all); Restaurant – Expensive.

Div A (0-16) 1st Peter Nixon (12) 37pts 2nd Dennis Pelly (11) 37pts 3rd Bob Finley (13) 35pts 4th John Cunningham (05) 35pts Div B (17+) 1st Frank Connor (20) 40pts 2nd Tim Knight (23) 38pts 3rd Jimmy Little (19) 36pts 4th John O’Keefe (17) 33pts

Wednesday, Dec. 3, Khao Kheow Stableford 1st Wally Brown (15) 37pts 2nd Suzi Lawton (25) 34pts 3rd Elsabe Connor (13) 34pts 4th Frank Connor (19) 25pts A special welcome from General Jack to his son Harry, just in from Dubai on a four day flying visit, who insisted that Dad had to play today; regretfully not that well but is was a good day out.

The course was busy and we were pushed unnecessarily by a three-ball for the whole round; seemed like they could not wait to race to their ball and hit, almost before we had left the greens!

The Khao Kheow queen, Suzi came up against some solid opposition from Elsabe who out-drove her throughout the day and was pretty tidy around the greens as well, but Suzi’s putting kept her in the frame right to the last minute as she missed out on count back for second place, with both ladies recording 34pts.

From left: Clive Smit (seated) with Elsabe Connor, Barry McIntosh and Frank Connor.

Wally Brown collected Jack’s 500 baht bar bonus which was set at 37pts to win the day, and a surprised Frank Connor picked up fourth place with a lowly 25pts. There were no ‘2’s.

Outback observation: Weather - Fine, overcast; Check in - Friendly but busy; Tee time - on time; Fairways - Lift, clean and place; Rough – medium; Greens - good but slowish; Bunkers - some not raked; Value for money – excellent; Pace of play about 4hrs; Drink stations open – 3; Restaurant - Good

Friday, Dec. 5, Greenwood Stableford

All three courses at Green Valley were closed to us today, which we only found out about a couple of weeks ago as we hastily looked around for an alternate venue on this day, The King’s Birthday. Greenwood, a course we have not visited for some time, came up with the right package, eventually charging the normal daily rate.

With some golfers getting lost and a shortage of carts, trying to start on time at Greenwood C and A was just like herding cats!

However, with the co-operation of the 28 Outbackers we were only slightly late teeing off, although not quite in the same order as the sheet and somehow we picked up an extra player at the back.

Welcome back to Barry McIntosh who celebrated his return by winning Div B on c/ b from Frank Connor, both with 35pts, and Jon Kittilsen beat Stephen Blazsanyik also on c/b for third, both on 34pts.

Another Barry, Barry Copestake, returned the day’s best score of 39pts to win Div A from Paul Hack (38), with Wally Brown (36) third on c/b over J P Maffrey.

We said good bye to Frank & Elsabe Connor and Clive Smit until next year and also to Michael Shreve.

The ‘2’s were shared by Clive Smit & Tim Knight on C6 and Paul Hack (A6).

Outback observation: Weather - overcast with a cool breeze; Check in - Shortage of carts caused a problem; Tee time - on time; Fairways - Different grasses and tight lies; Rough – fair; Greens - A bit slow but true; Bunkers – good; Value for money – excellent; Pace of play - over 4hrs; Drink stations open – all; Restaurant - Good value Note: The Outback Golf Bar is situated about 6km from Sukhumvit Road along Soi Siam Country. Call Jack on 081 578 1956.

Div A (0-16) 1 st Barry Copestake (12) 39pts 2nd Paul Hack (14) 38pts 3rd Wally Brown (15) 36pts 4 th Jean P Maffray (11) 36pts Div B (17+) 1 st Barry McIntosh (21) 35pts 2nd Frank Connor (19) 35pts 3rd Jon Kittilsen (18) 34pts 4th Stephen Blazsanyik (22) 34pts

Ebrahim wins again PSC Golf from The Growling Swan Monday, Dec. 1, Greenwood – Stableford The C and A nines were the challenge for today, played in that order with the A nine used for count back purposes.

Fred Cuypers from Perth, Western Australia and Peter Bailey from Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia were welcomed.

The weather was pleasant, the fairways a bit heavy underfoot due to rain the previous evening whilst the greens were as smooth as a suppository coated in Mr Sheen.

Two farang five-balls hooked in at the half way mark in front of us, so the second stanza was as crowded as a group of transvestites around Dame Edna’s clothes line.

Ebrahim continued his good form, handing in forty one points to finish atop the podium whilst Colm Mullen came home with a wet sail and scored thirty nine.

John Anderson, who commented “if you thought Bridget Bardot’s face has done a million miles you should see my golf swing”, broke his handicap for the

first time in Thailand and also scored thirty nine points to take third spot.

Don Richardson rounded out the place getters with thirty eight.

1st Ebrahim (14) 41pts 2nd Colm Mullen (17) 39pts 3 rd John Anderson (30) 39pts 4 th Don Richardson (13) 38pts Near Pins: Fred Cuypers A2, Ebrahim A6, Don Richardson C3 and Bob Akapita C6.

Long Putts: John Coetzee A9 and Don Richardson C9.

Our lady golfer Kae collected the coveted Compass Cap with a score lower than the scribe’s bank account interest.

The resident hound was the happy recipient of many donations for the needy children of Pattaya and the punters are once again thanked for their generosity.

Thursday, Dec. 4, Crystal Bay Stableford Another three buses left the Growling Swan with the forecast heavy rains not daunting the players,

Left to right: John Anderson, Russell Calcutt and Stuart Rifkin. although two called in with health issues and could not make the day.

The course was busy, however we managed to tee off the white tees (6,450 yards) a little earlier than our 10 a.m. start time, using the A and C nines. Despite the course being busy the first group finished their round in four hours and ten minutes.

The presentation of the course was very good and the greens were in fine condition and certainly not as fast as many of the recent courses we have played.

Welcomes were made to

‘Big’ Johnny Parr, visiting from Rory’s territory in Northern Ireland, and Michael Catillon from France, who joined his French mates who play regularly at the Swan.

The expected rains fortunately never eventuated for us, however we noted how lucky we were as on the way back to Pattaya the roads were soaking wet only five minutes after leaving the course, and rains persisted intermittently all the way home and a deluge hammered down ten minutes after arriving back at the Growling Swan.

The field was divided into two grades with A grade being taken out by Stu Rifkin, who seems to have recovered from a tennis elbow issue that has seen him laid up from golf for a while. His 40 points was well clear of the consistent Sal Brizzi with 36 points and third was Ebrahim (Al Ansari) with 35, who beat the unfortunate Fred Cypers on a count back.

B Grade was well won also with a fine 40 points from John Anderson, however he only narrowly defeated Roy (I don’t believe it!) Dayton on a count back as Roy shot a fine round of 40 points too.

Third place went to Bob Akapita with 36.

A Flight (0–17) 1st Stuart Rifkin (17) 40pts 2nd Sal Brizzi (6) 36pts 3rd Ebrahim Al-Ansari (14) 35pts B Flight (18–36) 1 st John Anderson (30) 40pts 2nd Roy Dayton (23) 40pts 3rd Bob Akapita (18) 36pts Near Pins: A5 – Roy Dayton, A8 JJ Harney, C4 JC Lhost, C7 Michael Catillon

Long Putts: A9 Ebrahim AlAnsari, C9 Sal Brizzi Russell Calcutt graciously accepted the Compass Cap for the day’s lowest score and generously donated to Deefa the Charity Dog. Note: The Growling Swan is a friendly PSC Golf outlet and welcomes all lovers of golf to join in and have a fun day out with us. We generally play Mondays and Thursdays with buses mostly departing at 8.30 am.

Please contact Peter Grey on 0861 503086 if you are interested in a game.

The Growling Swan also caters to the lawn bowling enthusiasts. Bus transport leaves the Swan at 10.00 am to play at Coco’s under cover synthetic lawn bowls on Sundays and at the Retreat Lawn Bowls grass greens on Wednesdays, also departing at 10.00 am.

The cost including bus transport, green fees and hot lunch is approx 300 hundred baht, so great value for a day out. Please contact Paul Rennison on 0843 454005 if you would like to come along.

VOL. XXII No. 50

Friday DFiT, Dusit Thani Pattaya: Visitors using the group fitness membership can avail of the THB 2,000 offer for five visits to the gym after their membership has expired. The offer includes unlimited use of DFiT facilities including tennis courts. For more information, call 038-425611 ext. DFiT. 1:00 p.m. The Pattaya Bridge Club meets upstairs at Altos Restaurant, 144/99 Thappraya Road near flyover. Contact Jeremy Watson 085 818 2172, www.pattayabridge.org.

2:00 p.m. Pattaya Sports Club Bowling at PS Bowl on the top floor of Tops Supermarket at the junction of Central and Second Roads. Contact La at PS after 1:30 p.m.

Saturday Pattaya Archery Club meets between 10am and 12 midday every Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at our dedicated shooting range within easy reach of Pattaya, near the new railway road. Beginners of all ages are welcome, and equipment and coaching are free. For more information call Eric, the club President , on 089 535 1193 or visit www.pattayaarcheryclub.com Ocean Marina Yacht Club invites experienced sailors and learners for racing weekends and funsail/training weekends. The club has 5 star clubhouse facilities and a fleet of 25' racing yachts available. www.omycsailing.com, phone Kev Scott 087 825 0011.

8:00 a.m. Diving with Mermaid’s Dive School. Contact Mermaid’s Dive Center, tel. 038 232 219 - 20, email: mermaids@loxinfo.co.th 8:00 a.m. - noon & 2 - 6 p.m. (Sat & Sun - Also Monday to Friday) Horseback riding at the Horseshoe Point Riding Academy, the biggest equestrian center in South-East Asia. Show jumping, hacking, trail, dressage and classical dressage. Training courses from beginners to advanced riders with English speaking instructors. Leisure trail riding, group and private classes. All levels of riders welcome. Over 100 horses and ponies available. Located on 1,500 acres of beautiful tropical garden land just outside Pattaya.

Free shuttle service available. For more information: phone (+66) 3873 - 5050 (ext. 4016-18), fax (+66) 3873 - 4973 or email: ridingschool@thehorseshoepoint.com 8:30 am. -10:00 am. International Players Academy meets every Sat. morning for Jr. Intermediate level Tennis at Ambassador City Tennis Courts. Visitors are welcome, just bring your tennis racket, ages range from 10-16. For more details call CJ on 086 086 2121

DATE:

FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 41

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Fri 12

Sat 13

Indoor Lawn Bowls Free at Coco Club every Saturday for school or college aged children from 11.00am - 2.00pm, with Male – English and Female Thai tutors. Parents can sit at the bar and watch. New champions needed! Call Sue on 087 135 8357 or pop in to the club at Baan Amphur - signposted behind Phoenix Golf.

3.00 pm - Pattaya Cricket Club practice nets at Horseshoe Point next to Siam Country Club. All ages and abilities welcome.

Please contact Simon at pattayacricketclub@gmail.com

Sunday Badminton players are invited to play 3 mornings a week at X-zyte Sports Club on Third Road. We play 10-12am Sunday, Tuesday and Friday with a mix of mostly 50+ farangs and younger Thai’s.

The Amazing Sunday Golfers are a friendly group of average index who welcome new players. Each Sunday they have friendly games on different courses with a meeting point at the course.

Contact Philippe at 082 546 0770 or email 2012tasg@gmail.com to be updated each week for the upcoming game.

8:00 a.m. Diving with Mermaid’s Dive School. Contact Mermaid’s Dive Center, tel. 038 232 219 - 20, email: mermaids@loxinfo.co.th 12:00 p.m. Pattaya Sports Club Softball plays slow pitch recreational pick-ups games at every Sunday at 12 noon. New players always welcome regardless of skill level, experience, age or time away from the game. For more information and directions see the softball page at the Pattaya Sports Club website www.pattayasports.org or contact John at scrabbleking@ yahoo.com or call 089-932-5433 2:00 p.m. The Pattaya Backgammon League (PBL) meets every Sunday at B.G. House & Restaurant @ 2 p.m. For further details phone 081 664 9085 or email tournament@ pattayabackgammonleague.com 3:00 p.m. Pattaya Jungle H3 meets every 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month and departure is from the Lek Hotel on 2nd Rd at 3pm. For more info please call Kai on 01 863 5095.

Monday 1:00 p.m. The Pattaya Bridge Club meets upstairs at Altos Restaurant, 144/99 Thappraya Road near flyover. Contact Jeremy Watson 085 818 2172, www.pattayabridge.org.

Sun 14

Mon 15

Tue 16

Blue Moose Golf Bunker Boys

The Haven

Billabong Golf Pattaya Golf Soc. Travellers Rest

Green Valley

Green Valley

Khao Kheow St.

Wed 17

Thu 18

Fri 19

Pleasant Valley TBA

Pattavia St.

Greenwood St.

Phoenix St.

TBA

TBA Plutaluang

Greenwood Green Valley St.

Pattavia

Greenwood

Silky Oak Treasure Hill St. Eastern Star

Greenwood St.

Plutaluang

Green Valley

Khao Kheow St.

Mt. Shadow St.

Greenwood

Crystal Bay

Pattavia

The Golf Club

Pattaya C.C.

Green Valley

Siam Country Rst Green Valley St.

.

Greenwood

Greenwood

Plutaluang Green Valley St.

The Emerald

.

Phoenix St. Plutaluang Pattavia St.

Green Valley

Eastern Star St. Kabinburi

Greenwood

Khao Kheow

Green Valley St.

Green Valley St. Eastern Star

Kabinburi

Pattaya C.C. The Emerald

Mt. Shadow

Pattavia

Mt. Shadow St. Pleasant Valley

Treasure Hill Crystal Bay

Eastern Star

Pattana

Mt. Shadow

Treasure Hill St.

Treasure Hill

Growling Swan

Tara Court

St. Andrews

Treasure Hill Khao Kheow St.

Donovan’s Golf

Bangpra

Pattavia St.

Khao Kheow St.

Eastern Star St.

Beaver Bar

7:00 p.m. Pattaya Panthers and Panties (mixed) Touch Rugby every Thursday night at Horseshoe Point next to Siam Country Club. New players are always welcome - we are a very sociable team!

Please contact Paul Crouch on 089 902 6286 or pjcrouch@hotmail.com

Green Valley

Jomtien Golf

Witherspoons

Thursday

Bangpra

Pleasant Valley

Le Katai

1:00 p.m. The Pattaya Bridge Club meets upstairs at Altos Restaurant, 144/99 Thappraya Road near flyover. Contact Jeremy Watson 085 818 2172, www.pattayabridge.org.

3.00 pm - Pattaya Cricket Club practice nets at Horseshoe Point next to Siam Country Club. All ages and abilities welcome.

Please contact Simon at pattayacricketclub@gmail.com.

4.00 pm – Club Petanque Thailand plays Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. The court is open for groups every day.

New and bigger surface. Very good drainage as well as better lighting.

No membership fee. Find us at Soi Nernplabwan 100/2 Moo7, next to Sutawas Temple and small Banglamung Police station. Contact: 085 280 7182, fax 038 248 067, email: petanque.Th@gmail.com (English, French, German, Scandinavian); (Thai & Chinese: 080 618 2831.)

Burapha

Tropical Golf

Sugar Shack

Wednesday

TBA

Kronborg

The Links

Chess and Scrabble Club: every Tuesday 12pm - 5pm at Hoek-Van-Holland in Jomtien. Take Thappraya Road to intersection with Beach Road. Dong Tan Police sub-station is right there.

Walk back towards Pattaya 10 meters along walking path. HoekVan-Holland is on the right, before the parking lot. Bring your own chess set and/or scrabble board. For more information please see website www.hoek-van-holland.com - Everyone welcome.

The Pattaya Chess Club meets every Tuesday evening from 6:30 p.m. onwards at Brauhaus on 2nd Road between Soi 7 and Soi 8. Learners and anybody who would like to play chess are most welcome. Boards and clocks are provided.

Pattaya Ladies Netball Club: 7.30 pm every Tuesday at Fairtex Sports Club. All ages and abilities are welcome. 100 baht per person. Please email pattayanetballclub@gmail.com to confirm or find us on Facebook – ‘Pattaya Ladies Tuesday Night Netball’

Bangpakong

Plutaluang

Mt. Shadow

I-Rovers

Lewiinski’s

Tuesday

TBA

RichmanPoorman Outback Golf Bar

3.15 p.m. Pattaya Hash House Harriers: The club for drinking people with a running problem meets every Monday at 3:15 p.m. in Pattaya Third Road, in front of the Buffalo Bar close to soi Lengkee, and just down the road from the Boxing Roo. We depart at 3:30 p.m. sharp. More info at: www.pattayah3.com.

Pleasant Valley

Treasure Hill

Pattaya C.C. St. Mt. Shadow

Plutaluang The Emerald

Transportation leaves from Cafe Kronborg on Soi Diana Inn at 8:15 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays (call Dave 083 602 2117). Blue Moose golf plays on various days of the week, call Gay Wilanan 0811441054 for details. The Bunker meet at The Ranch on Pattaya 3rd Road. Please contact Buff on 086 046 5091 or 080 605 5663. The Haven departs from Soi Thirteen (Soi Pattaya 13) at 8:30 a.m. on its scheduled days (contact Stephen at 038- 710-988/9). The Pattaya Golf Society departs from the Elephant Bar on Soi Buakhao on its scheduled days (contact Len Jones 081 949 1468). Lewiinski’s departs from Soi Pattayaland One (Soi Pattaya 13/3) at 9:00 a.m. on its scheduled days of Sunday, Monday, Tuesday/Wednesday and Friday. Tropical Golf meet at The BJ Holiday Lodge on Pattya Soi 3, Beach Road at 8 a.m. on Tuesday’s and Friday’s for breakfast before leaving via minibus to the course (contact Derek on 089 034 0629 ).

Travellers Rest play Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday - please contact Fergus Brennan on 086 056 7019. The Outback Golf Bar is situated 6km from Sukhumvit Rd. along Siam Country Club Road. Telephone Jack on 081 578 1956. Donovan’s Golf Society plays at Green Valley Golf Club on Saturdays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Call Steve at 081 996-3026 for details. Jomtien Golf meets every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Siam Cats, Soi 5 Jomtien Beach Rd. at 8:30am for 10am Tee-off. Contact Glyn on 086 837 5464 for details. The Siam Country Group (Mabprachan) play golf every Tuesday & Thursday. Call Jeff on 089 094 1841. The Growling Swan (formerley The Bunker Bar in Soi Chaiyapoon) generally plays on Mondays & Thursdays. Please contact Peter on 086 150 3086 or email to petergrey@y7mail.com. The Billabong Golf Bar located at Mabprachan Lake play golf every Monday, Wednesday & Friday. Contact Bob Philp on 082 204 3411. The Tara Court Golf Group play every Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday. Call Joe on 089 249 1364 for details. Witherspoons Golf Group, Soi Buakhao, Contact Paul on 092 374 4276. The Beaver Bar & Grill in Ban Chang plays at Emerald Golf Course every Friday with first Tee at 8 a.m. All are welcome. Contact Larry on 087 147 8986. The Players Lounge - call Bob on 080 096 8232.

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Gerry’s smash & grab Travellers Rest Golf Group Andy Rich The first full week of December culminates in the celebration of the King of Thailand’s birthday on the 5th of the month and is a Public Holiday. As a result the TRGG decided to not arrange a golf competition for that date so there were only four days of competition this past week. I hear through the grapevine that the TRGG will revert back to a four day week in future as the five day week was a little bit too much like hard work and the numbers playing each week worked out the same over a four day period compared to five.

Monday, Dec. 1, Greenwood Stableford The week got underway on Monday with a trip over to Greenwood (C and A courses) and the previous week’s winner at Crystal Bay continued his good form by again taking first prize. Niall Cronin for the second time in three days shot 39 points and as a result quickly went from a 14 handicapper to a 12, which may just dampen

down his spirits for a while.

Ed Brubaker, who single handedly keeps the sun cream manufacturers in business by using triple layers over any exposed part of his body, marched into second place with a commendable 37 points, just edging out Derek Thorogood on count back.

1st Niall Cronin (13) 39pts 2nd Ed Brubaker (12) 37pts 3rd Derek Thorogood (13) 37pts

Tuesday, Dec. 2, The Emerald Stableford On Tuesday a tall, dark debonair guy jetted into town for a few days, leaving a trail of broken hearted maidens in his wake and at Emerald golf course a trail of broken hearted golfers trying to cling to his coat tails.

Follicly challenged lothario Gerry Fernandez swept away all challengers and made it to the top of the leader board before jetting back out of town a few days later.

Behind Gerry there was a bit of a family dispute between Poopay and partner Fergus, with Poopay getting the bragging rights after pipping

Debonair Gerry Fernandez - winner at Emerald.

Joe Stranks - winner at Green Valley.

Fergus on count back. Hope it all ended amicably.

1 st Gerry Fernandez (13) 36pts 2nd Tewin Poopay Lamthong (11) 34pts 3rd Fergus Brennan (12) 34pts

Thursday, Dec. 4, Green Valley Stableford Thursday was of course Green Valley day, and our weekly trip over to this course is always popular with the TRGG clientele.

Joe Stranks, who has also

only recently arrived back in town leaving the cold and damp of south west London a distant memory, wasted no time in letting everybody know he knew how to play golf in Thailand. He hit the ground running and totted up 38 points, which was just good enough to edge Mike Rushant into second place on count back, with ‘Mr, Suncream’ Ed Brubaker taking third spot.

1st Joe Stranks (12) 38pts 2nd Mike Rushant (10) 38pts 3rd Ed Brubaker (11) 36pts

Saturday, Dec. 6, Mt. Shadow - Stableford On Saturday it was off to Mountain Shadow and for the first time this week two divisions were necessary because of an increase in numbers.

The breeze blew and the greens were slippery on a beautiful day for golf which led to some indifferent scoring. In Division 1 only the winner Seil Revels managed to play to his handicap while the ever reliable Nick Thomas made it into second

place, with Derek Thorogood beating off a number of others finishing on 32 points to take third.

In Division 2 the invisible man put in a long awaited appearance. In the old days I was always typing the name Ted Senior into the top three places at least two or three times a week. Obviously fatherhood has taken its toll and so it is a big “welcome back Ted” to the top of the leader board. Tom Kett just got the better of Dorsey Richardson after count back for second place.

Div.1 (0-13) 1st Seil Revels (6) 36pts 2nd Nick Thomas (11) 33pts 3rd Derek Thorogood (13) 32pts Div.2 (14+) 1st Ted Senior (16) 32pts 2nd Tom Kett (18) 30pts 3rd Dorsey Richardson (17) 30pts Good luck to all you golfers for the coming week and if you would like to play a round of golf with the TRGG please phone Fergus Brennan on 086 056 7019 or pop into the Ned Kelly Bar in Soi Lengkee and add your name to the weekly lists which are posted on the notice board.

Nearest point of relief This week’s article is part of an on-going series on the Rules of Golf. They will vary from the obvious to the not so obvious, and feature golfing holes around Pattaya that regularly cause problems. If you have any local golf holes you would like reviewed, simply pose the question in the online comments section and we will endeavour to provide the answer.

How many golf courses around Pattaya contain obstructions or abnormal ground conditions that can lead to a free drop? It would be simpler to reverse the question by asking how many don’t? I suspect there aren’t any. This makes sense given that most courses have been set up as resort or tourist destinations.

The chances therefore of a golfer taking relief, under Rule 24 – Obstructions, or Rule 25 – Abnormal Ground conditions, are very high.

Please note that phrases, when italicised, indicate a term as defined under definitions contained within the Rules of Golf.

Let’s take the common occurrence of a ball coming to rest on a cart path. This comes under 25-1 Abnormal Ground Conditions where relief may be taken as follows:

Nearest Point of Relief – is he right? (i) “Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the condition and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.”

The critical point here, and one that many golfers, experienced amateurs and professionals alike get wrong, is using the correct club when

determining the nearest point of relief.

Defining the ‘nearest point of relief’ The above diagram illustrates the term nearest point of relief in relation to Rules 24-2 and 25-1. The diagram instances the case of a righthanded player.

The nearest point of relief is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3). · B1 = position of ball on road, in ground under repair (GUR), etc.

· P1 = nearest point of relief. · P1-A shaded area = area within which ball to be dropped, radius of one clublength from P1, measured with any club. · B2 = position of ball on road, in ground under repair (GUR), etc. · Two small squares = position of notional stance required to play ball at P2. · P2 = nearest point of relief. · P2-C shaded area = area within which ball to be dropped, radius of one clublength from P2, measured with any club.

What club is used to determine P2?

The Rules of Golf, under Definitions, page 29, actually state

the nearest point of relief as; “The point on the course nearest to where the ball lies: (i) that is not nearer the hole, and (ii) where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by the condition from which relief is sought would exist for the stroke the player would have made from the original position if the condition were not there.

Note: In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke.”

Therefore the distance

between the notional stance and P2, above, is determined by the length of the club that would have been used for the shot had the road or GUR not existed. Having established P2, any club may then be used to determine the oneclub radius drop area.

How often do we see players use their driver to establish the equivalent of P2, shown in the diagram, when they are but a short iron from the green?

Next time you see a player faced with a drop off GUR, or similar situation such as P2, give him the heads-up on how to establish his nearest point of relief. Hopefully, he/she will thank you for it.

Happy golfing, Golfnutter

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Rayong revisited, Evans & Brooks prevail PSC Golf from the Tropical Golf Group Tuesday, Dec. 2, Khao Kheow – Stableford Well it is nice to see the high season really is underway and currently our players lists are filled as soon as they are put on the board.

Indeed overfull in many respects. On this day the turnout at out new base, BJ’s Holiday Lodge, Soi 3, was overwhelming and even the ‘organiser’ was forced to get in early for a change.

One of the worries when we moved to our new home was the parking, but with care all the drivers seem to be able to park, so with the very fine and well priced brekkers taken care of it was off to Khao Kheow.

The test for the day was to be the A & C nines, probably the toughest test and as we did not seem to have had much rain in Pattaya we decided to play from the yellow tees and no ‘lift, clean and place’. Even being told the carts were not allowed on the fairways triggered in the brain that it was wet and muddy.

Really the course was not too bad, it was very wet in places and the ball picked up a fair bit of mud, but generally it was fine. Of course the rough was really difficult to get out of and the greens were not as fast in some places, but it was a lovely day out.

Landis Brooks (left) and Daryl Evans (right) with one of BJ’s Holiday Lodge staff.

We moved along well and apart from the odd wait on a par 3, we got around well.

My one really good shot came on C 8 as I hit a really good shot that covered the pin, only to be brought to earth by the comment, “What a great shot, I hope it is not a hole in one as you were in front of the tee.”

Ever wanted to wrap a club around someone’s neck?

Round over it was a bite in the fine restaurant and back to Pattaya for the results. In the A Flight, 0 to 18, the winner was Maurice Roberts with 37 points ahead of AVD with 36 points in second. In third was Mashi with 35 and taking fourth spot was Tom Herrington with 33 on count back over Brian Parish, Bob Watson and Dick Warberg.

In the B Flight the winner

was Barry Elphick with 36 points ahead of Rita Zoebelli in second with 34, while third went to Jim Ferris with 33 points on count back over Frank Donnelly.

Near Pins: Dick Warberg, Dave Cooper, Bob Watson, John Davis Long Putts: Brian Gabe, John Hackett

Thursday, Dec. 4, Rayong C.C. – Stableford Today the destination was Rayong Country Club, a course many have never seen, and others not for a few years.

There was discussion during the drive about how we would find the condition here. We needn’t have worried though as overall the course was in good shape, with some saying it’s the best they have ever

Maurice Roberts & Barry Elphick pose with 2 BJ helpers. seen it. Some complained the rough was a little too tough, making recovery shots a true penalty and once you were passed the usual boundary of the rough it was pure jungle.

Such comments were invariably

answered with “Then stay on the fairways”, but of course that was from golfers who played well on the day.

Rayong C.C. is on a nice plot of land and an interesting layout, and very much worth a

visit. So on to the results.

Since this course was unfamiliar, even to those with good memories, there was no prediction how the scores would come in. In the end the course proved just about right with only two players from A-flight shooting handicap; Landis Brooks (H/cap 9) with 36 points edged Ted Morris (15) on count-back, with Tom Herrington (15) taking third place honors with 34.

In the struggling B-flight (16+) Daryl Evans (20) was the best with 32 points, followed

by Don Carmody (25) at 31, and Brian Gabe (19) garnering 28 points but still good enough to enjoy some reward.

Near Pins: Ted Morris, Don Carmody, John Davis, Freddie Starbeck.

Long Putts: Don Carmody, Brian Parish.

Wednesday Darts League Results & Standings Dec. 3 (week 13) Team Oscar’s Sports Bar i-Rovers ‘A’ W. Tankies ‘B’ W. Tankies Moonies Yates’ Bar Bye i-Rovers ‘B’ The Clinic Bye

P 13 12 13 13 12 12 13 13 12 13

W 10 9 9 8 8 5 5 4 3 3

L 3 3 4 5 4 7 8 9 9 10

For 85 77 73 75 59 52 41 41 40 15

Against 32 31 44 42 49 56 67 76 68 93

Pts. 20 18 18 16 16 10 8 8 6 4

Results: Oscar ’s Sports Bar (8-1)-(1-0) v W. Tankies ‘B’, W. Tankies (9-1)-(0-0) v iRovers ‘B’, Yates’ Bar (4-0)-(5-1) v The Clinic

Worthy winners at Bangpakong IPGC Pattaya Golf Society at the Elephant Bar December PGS golf began on Monday the 1 st with a visit to the beautifully prepared course at Bangpakong for a stableford competition, played in two flights, with the cut coming at sixteen and under. The field included members for whom this was the first opportunity to play the course and the weather conditions were absolutely spot on for the day, with a light breeze offering some comfort from the humidity and heat.

In the second flight, Alan Walker and Mike Sim shared third place with 33 points, the latter playing some of the finest golf of his PGS career, with a putting performance worthy of a golfer of a much lower handicap. Second place saw Leigh Abbey confirm his consistency this trip with 36 points whilst John O’Sullivan won, making the podium for the first time with the group on 37 points.

The top flight saw Rick Schram take third place with 37 points, one behind Simon Hirst and a well crafted 38 points. The winner was Alan Flynn and his 42 points was his highest score since recording forty points at

Khao Kheow in late January.

He was also trying out a new RBZ driver which may see him produce similar results again soon!

There were no birdie ‘2’s and Toshi Aoki enjoyed the bar’s consolation beer for the non-winners whilst Mr Len awarded himself the Booby Bevy after a day of horrors, on and off the course. However the true winner of the day was the course at Bangpakong Riverside.

Bangpra still a major test On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the Pattaya Golf Society travelled to the splendid course at Bangpra to play a stableford competition. A few late dropouts had reduced the field to one flight but the weather stayed warm and the lack of any wind was a blessing on a course with the white tees well back. Fairways were well grassed and greens were at a fast pace, as so often on this course.

The competition was very tight with only three points covering the top four places.

In fourth, Richard Dobson produced one of his best rounds to finish on 33 points

Bangpakong Riverside G.C. whilst Marty Rock went one better to take third with 34.

Second place was filled by Leigh Abbey with another consistent round of 35 points whilst the Danish golfer Jesper Hansen took the win with an excellent 36 points.

Canadian duo Henry Mah and John Chelo shared the ‘2’s pot for their efforts on the second and twelfth holes respectively and back at the Elephant Bar the presentation enjoyed the thought of Dave Lehane winning the non-winners’ beer draw and the oldest golfer in the field, Alan Walker, receiving the Booby Bevy for his low score/largest split figures.

Bangpra is always a treat on the schedule but it does not get any easier in good conditions and currently ranks third most difficult in PGS history in terms of winning scores.

Goodbye Plutaluang Just ten minutes before our transport was due to leave, we received the call. The time was 8:50 on Friday 5 December. Our tee-off time, which had been confirmed the day before, was set for 10:30. Sure, it was the King’s birthday, meaning the day had Public Holiday status, but we have often used this course on public holidays

previously, without problems.

“Today we no have caddie so you cannot use golf course.” With that simple explanation Plutaluang cancelled our golf – precisely one hour forty minutes prior to teeoff. We have always accepted Plutaluang’s special status (Navy-owned) and put up with previous challenges, but this latest episode represents behaviour most appalling.

There is only one option available to prevent a reoccurrence.

Goodbye Plutaluang.

By 10:15 the first of our four groups teed off at nearby Pattaya Country Club. The 1850 baht green-fee caddie-fee was more than we had intended, but we were hardly in a position to complain. The Pattaya Country Club has a good layout but the main problem appears to be the state of the back-nine greens, which lack good grass cover. Notwithstanding, this course is in development stage, with its new clubhouse nearing completion. Once development is complete and putting surfaces are brought up to standard, this course may well feature on our regular rota.

Scoring was tight today, with only one shot separating the

first six golfers. As stated, putting surfaces made good scoring difficult, especially on the back nine and unsurprisingly there were no ‘2’s.

With just the one division, we were paying out the first four places which, due to ties, meant six golfers. John Tallett (23), Murray Edwards (22) and Simon Hirst (6) shared first place on the podium after all three returned 32 points. The next three were also knotted together, this time on 31 points, with David Thomas (6), Peter Wilson (6) and Leigh Abbey (25) sharing fourth place.

Congratulations to all podium placers, and a special hats-off to first-time winner John Tallett, whose perseverance and belief finally receives the recognition deserved.

Back at the Elephant Bar, we welcomed back big Michael McGuigan from Scotland and farewelled Simon Hirst, who is returning to the UK. S imon kindly expressed his appreciation by ringing the bell.

Tony Campbell won the lucky beer draw and the booby bevy went to Gary Bolger for his front-nine back-nine split of 18–9.

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Golfer of the month - William or Bill?

PSC Golf from Lewiinski’s Golf Society demand it. John Ianson rounded out the flight with 34 points.

The Orth family of Oliver and Tina split the ‘2’s pot.

Brian and Marlene Prudden must have had something else on their minds as they both had no-returns.

Sunday, Nov. 30, Green Valley – Stableford A Flight 1 st Freddy Starbeck (13) 43pts 2nd JP Maffray (11) 37pts 3rd Ed Wyckoff (12) 37pts 4th Peter LeNoury (10) 36pts B Flight 1 st Peter Henshaw (21) 41pts 2 nd Mick Beresford (18) 38pts 3rd Gerry Roche (18) 36pts 4 th Manos Volikaisk (18) 35pts Near Pins: No 5 Freddy Starbeck, No 8 Barry Copestake, No 12 Ian Pickles, No16 Peter Henshaw.

Peter ‘the silver surfer’ Henshaw led the B Flight boys into the barn with a sparkling 41 points, thinking he had probably won the day, and one by one the players known to be on form fell by the wayside.

But alas, lurking in the second to last group was Freddy Starbeck who stole the man of the match right out of Peter’s grasp.

Freddy had shot the best round of his career, a fantastic 43 point gross 77, and was six strokes ahead of two society regulars in JP Maffray and Ed ‘our man in the white house’ Wyckoff, with the scales of justice tipped in JP’s favour. Fourth place on the podium also went to a count back with Peter ‘the right honourable’ LeNoury edging Irishman Pat Reagan off the steps.

Tuesday, Dec. 2, Bangpra Stableford

Player of the month Bill Peach (right) with friend Eddy Bielby.

Lewiinski’s best dressed golfer, Mickey ‘nine holes’ Beresford, followed Peter Henshaw onto the podium with a sound 38 points while Gerry ‘the Irish rover’ Roche filled third spot with an even par round. The Donkey and Manos Volikaisk had to be separated by a count back, both on 35 points, with Manos having the better of it for fourth.

A word about the headline - Freddy always adds up the total for the golfer of the month thinking that Bill and William Peach were different players, but when he corrected the mistake it was Bill or William and not he who was the golfer of the month.

Freddy Starbeck, Bill Peach, Bruce Walters, Peter Henshaw and Barry Copestake shared the 2’s pot (Barry made an eagle on the par-four sixth hole).

Monday, Dec. 1, Greenwood A & B Stableford A Flight 1st Ken Hole (17) 36pts 2nd Peter Hynard (13) 34pts B Flight 1st Colin Davis (17) 43pts 2nd John Ianson (27) 34pts Both A and B Flights were topped by non-members, Oliver Orth in A Flight with 37 points and Michael Bangert in B Flight with 44, and so neither qualified for the prizes. Ken Hole therefore took the top spot in A Flight with 36 points as Peter Hynard closed the flight on 34.

The Donkey, playing off his old handicap, was as happy as Larry in B Flight as his excellent 43 points landed him the gold. Colin has started to play steady golf of late so let’s hope he continues as his new handicap will

The ultimate Christmas golf tournament

The Pattaya Orphanage choir will add some Yuletide flavor to the Christmas Pattaya Classic golf tournament on December 20 at Laem Chabang.

Kingdom Property are sponsoring The Christmas Pattaya Classic on December 20 at Laem Chabang International Golf Resort.

This unique nine-hole tournament hosted by The Pattaya Golfer magazine and organized by Exact Trading is being held on the floodlit Lakes course designed by Jack Nicklaus, with Santa Claus teeing off too.

The tournament gets underway at 5.30pm and then there will be a massive Christmas party in the new

clubhouse with a full buffet and drinks from 7pm onwards for players and nonplaying VIP guests.

To enter into the Christmas spirit, the organizers have arranged a 30 voice children’s choir from the Pattaya Orphanage who will sing carols, plus there will be live entertainment during the party along with Santa Claus giving out the prizes!

Cost to enter is only THB1, 950 per player which includes green fee, cart and caddie fee for nine holes + a

free golf shirt and cap + free entry to the Christmas party with buffet and drinks.

There are only 64 slots to play in this fun event so if you would like to enter then visit www.thepattayagolfer .com for details about booking or email mike@ exactthailand.com who will send out registration details.

Here is your opportunity to help raise funds for the Pattaya Orphanage and to enjoy a great night out at one of the top golf clubs in the region.

A Flight 1st Ian Pickles (14) 36pts 2 nd Freddy Starbeck (13) 36pts 3 rd Michelle Sancillo (8) 33pts B Flight 1st Phil Davies (16) 38pts 2 nd Mick Beresford (18) 37pts 3rd Walter Baechli (16) 33pts C Flight 1 st Peter Henshaw (21) 38pts 2nd Mick Coghlan (24) 28pts 3rd Bernard Green (28) 24pts

Walter Baechli on 33.

Ian Pickles stood atop the A Flight rostrum but it needed the aid of a count back over the unlucky Freddy Starbeck as both had even par returns. A count back was required to sort out the third spot also between Michelle Sancillo and Andre Coetzee, Michelle getting to stand on the last step as André was left at sea level and pot less

Wednesday, Dec. 3, Silky Oak Stableford A Flight 1st Tore Eliassen (20) 43pts 2nd Merle Humphreys (18) 39pts 3rd Colin Davis (17) 38pts A small but talented group chose to play Silky Oak and Tore Eliassen was clearly man of the match as his excellent 43 points was four clear of Merle Humphreys fine 39 point return. The

Sunday’s winners Peter Henshaw and Freddy Starbeck.

Both C Flight’s Peter Henshaw and B Flight’s Phil Davies showed considerable prowess on the course and legendary greens of Bangpra to notch a best on the day 38 points each.

Peter’s C Flight winning score was a unbelievable 10 strokes clear of second placed Mick Coughlan while Bernard Green was glad to see any part of the podium with his third placed 24 points.

Phil Davies was followed up the B Flight podium steps by two of the nicest and most effervescent personalities, Mickey ‘two shots Beresford with 37 points and

Donkey made it two pay days this week as he closed the flight with 38 points.

Tor Eliaseen (a brace) and Peter Henshaw shared the 2’s pot.

Thursday, Dec. 4, Pattana A & B Stableford A Flight 1st Robert Watson (3)36pts 2 nd Maurice Roberts (12) 34pts 3rd William Peach (16) 30pts B Flight 1 st Michael Coghlan (20) 39pts 2nd Chris Reed (19) 36pts 3 rd Michael Bangert (22) 36pts

The mid-week tilt belonged to Michael Coghlan and his best on the day 39 points.

Mick was three clear of Chris Reed and Michael Bangert, but Chris had the better of the count back over Michael.

Aussie star Robert (or is it Bob) Watson stood atop the A Flight podium with a sound even par round. Maurice Roberts took the silver on 34 points as the man in the bold print and golfer of the month Bill (William) Peach lifted the bronze.

Phil Davis was the sole heir to the 2’s pot.

Friday, Dec. 5, Mountain Shadow Stableford A Flight 1st Tom Byrne (15) 34pts 2nd Peter LeNoury (9) 31pts 3rd JP Gasser (12) 29pts B Flight 1 st Peter Henshaw (21) 36pts 2nd Jim Proctor (18) 34pts 3rd Peter Wallace (18) 34pts The always difficult Ronald Ream designed course once again proved hard to score against as no player bettered par and only one player actually played to par. That man was Peter ‘the silver surfer’ Henshaw and his score was good for the top slot in B Flight and the man of the match honours. Jim Proctor and Peter Wallace were tied on 34 points with the former wining the count back and the silver spot.

In A Flight, Tom Byrne’s 34 point effort, was good enough to provide him with a three shot cushion over Peter ‘the right honourable’ LeNoury, this courtesy of Oliver Orth not being a member of the PSC. JP Gasser and Lawrie McBride went to a count back, both locked on 29 points, with the bitter pill of defeat being left for Lawrie.

Michael Bangert, Merle Humphreys and Colin Davis shared the ‘2’s pot.

Note: Lewiinski’s is situated on Pattaya land Soi 1, Beach Rd Soi13/13 near Walking Street. Anyone wishing to play with us just pop in and add your name to the list or call Colin on 089 826 0764. Transport is provided.

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Trevor back in the driving seat IPGC Golf from The Haven Rodney Nabbe sixth with 13 and Peter Skinner seventh on 12. Peter had looked a potential winner after the first nine but sadly his score slipped away the longer the round progressed.

There were no ‘2’s in the second division but Trevor Schirmer added to his dominance of the day with the sole one in the first division to clear out the rollover pool.

Monday, Dec. 1, Treasure Hill (Yellow tees) - Stableford CSS 73 1st Don Everett (18) 38pts 2nd Markku Tynell (23) 36pts 3rd John Squitiero (20) 32pts 4th Rodney Nabbe (11) 31pts 5th Garry Barling (8) 30pts 6th Eric Goodman (25) 30pts A week of threatening rain ended with hardly a drop falling on the three days of golf and resulted in overcast skies and light winds, which made it perfect weather in Thailand for golf.

The week started at the always difficult Treasure Hill course where the yellow tees were taken as the test for the day, which proved to be a good choice as the CSS went out to 73 to underline the difficulties faced by the players.

Don Everett had the best of the day at two under handicap after returning a very tidy card that did not include any zero-pointers but had five threes and a four-pointer, which ensured that he will be at his lowest ever level for handicap next week.

Markku Tynell continues to play very steadily and will surely be seeing his handicap dropping in the weeks to come as the courses get easier with extra run on the fairways, which always assists the higher handicappers with their length from the tee.

John Squitiero returned

Trevor Schirmer.

Jon Yarrow.

Don Everett.

Las Vegas to take third place ahead of Rodney Nabbe by a shot.

Garry Barling won a count back over Eric Goodman for fifth place with a better 15 to 12 after Eric slumped a bit following a bright start.

There were no ‘2’s in the first division but Don Everett at last did the business with one on the 13th, which was playing 172 yards and the second most difficult of the day, to sweep away the massive rollover second division pot. Don was very generous following this great cleanup operation, blowing the horn twice before staggering home to really celebrate the day.

Before the presentations there were welcome backs for Eric Goodman, David Johnson, John Dahlseng, Brendan Dunne, John Squitiero, and Terry Hodgkiss, the latter

again contending for the longest drive having returned from five weeks in Oz and taking over again from Phil Groves who is heading in the opposite direction.

wishing he knew as much about horses as he does about golf. Trevor’s round was highlighted by some exceptional putting.

Mark Armstrong, recently returned from Wakehurst Golf Club in Sydney, also had a good return as he placed second, albeit at a distance.

Mark had a strong finish over the last six holes, just when most of the other returnees were beginning to wilt, and he found extra strength to close out the round.

Garry Barling is still not quite finding his usual form but will surely be there by the time he leaves as he showed again flashes of his real abilities in taking third place.

Once again Markku Tynell was in the hunt, this time claiming fourth spot following a better score of 19 in a four-way count back, which left Daryl Burkett fifth on 18,

Friday, Dec. 5, from several hundred hours from a serious dose of flu. in Oz at the Melbourne Cup, Greenwood B & C of driving the boulevards of Also Trevor Schirmer was among others interests, and Stableford

Wednesday, Dec. 3, The Emerald Stableford CSS 72 1st Trevor Schirmer (14) 38pts 2 nd Mike Armstrong (18) 34pts 3rd Garry Barling (8) 32pts 4th Markku Tynell (23) 31pts 5th Daryl Burkett (12) 31pts 6th Rodney Nabbe (11) 31pts 7th Peter Skinner (11) 31pts Having taken a day or so to acclimatise again to the humidity of Pattaya, Trevor Schirmer was well in charge in all respects as he swept to the top of the podium by four clear shots, even after having had a five week hiatus from golf while relaxing

CSS 73 1st Jon Yarrow (13) 38pts 2nd Markku Tynell (22) 36pts 3rd Paul Hubbard (9) 34pts 4th Garry Barling (8) 34pts 5th Peter Skinner (11) 33pts 6 th Shuichi Kodaka (15) 32pts As today was a public holiday in celebration of HM the King’s birthday, the local courses were expected to be well patronized and as Greenwood is at the forefront of courses offering a good deal for holidays, they were almost full. But the group got away on time although the numbers on the course made for a slow round, which no doubt contributed to the low scoring and accounted for the CSS moving out to 73 for the day.

Jon Yarrow continued with his fine run of form, taking the top spot by two from the everpresent Markku Tynell whose own hopes of a win were

dashed on the 17th, the eighth on the A course, as he took a zero to end his run for the first place. Paul Hubbard took third after winning a count back on the C course although the back nine actually played was the A, with a better 18 to 17 over Garry Barling.

Peter Skinner slipped into fifth just one ahead of Shuichi who was contemplating his return to the fray in the second division in the coming weeks.

There were no ‘2’s in either division.

Before the presentations were made there were welcomes for new members Anthony Dillon and Anders Haglund together with welcome backs for Alan Hanlon, George Pittam and Wilf Wellman. There were also farewells for Paul Hubbard, Garry Barling, Daryl Burkett and Rodney Nabbe.

Note. If you would like to play with The Haven group, you can contact 038 710 988 or call in to The Haven Hotel, at 185 Soi 13, between Beach Road and 2nd Road. All transportation to the course is arranged and you do not need to sign up prior to the day, but you should be there by 8.15 on a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday on the days that you wish to play. A schedule of courses to be played can be found on our web site at www.thehavenhotel.com

Madsen takes the win at Mt. Shadow PSC Golf from the Café Kronborg Monday, Dec. 1, Mt. Shadow - Stableford A Flight (0-20) 1 st Kennith Medsen (18) 40pts 2nd Takeshi Hakozaki (13) 36pts 3rd Jan Lovgreen (20) 36pts 4th Leif Kirkgaard (17) 35pts B Flight (21+) 1 st Richard Snellen (23) 38pts 2nd Mike Winfield (22) 36pts 3rd Ernst Hansen (24) 34pts 4 th Mick O’Connor (22) 31pts Long Putts: #9 Mark West, #18 Mike Winfield.

Near Pins: #5 Michele Sancillo, #8 Dave Richardson, #15 Ernst Hansen, #17 Carole Kubicki Mountain Shadow was the test today and we teed off

25 minutes early in fine weather conditions. The course was in good shape, with much faster greens than its sister course Crystal Bay across the tracks.

Back in the clubhouse, after a round of just under 4 hours, welcomes went out to Michele Sancillo and Richard Kubicki, and a farewell to Richard Snellen.

Two flights today with the cut at handicap 20 plus a full bag of near pins to shoot for.

Kennith Madsen took the A Flight with a fine 40 points, four ahead of Takeshi Hakozaki who took second on a count back from Jan Lovgreen. Leif Kirkgaard finished in fourth on a count back from Mark West, both with 35 points.

Kennith Madsen and Richard Snellen with Dave Richardson.

Richard Snellen topped the B Flight with 38 points while Mike Winfeld took second with 36, Ernst Hansen was third with 34 and Mick O’Connor completed the podium with a count back

win over Steen Habersaat and Karl Beter for fourth.

Thursday, Dec. 4, Pattavia - Stableford A Flight (0-20) 1st Kenneth Madsen (18) 37pts

2 nd Silvano Pizzato (19) 35pts 3rd Leif Kirkgaard (17) 34pts B Flight (21+) 1 st Dave Richardson (25) 33pts

2 nd Mogens Jensen (36) 32pts 3rd Mike Winfield (22) 31pts Long Putts: #9 Leif Kirkgaard, #18 Jan Lovgreen Near Pins: #4 Kenneth Madsen, #13 Elias Magnusson We were off the first tee 45 minutes early today under sunny skies and with no wind at all. The course was in fine condition with the greens a bit slower than at the recent members open.

Back in the clubhouse after a round of just over 4 hours, a welcome went out to Silvano Pizzato from Italy.

Two flights today with the cut made at handicap 20 and 4 pins to go for.

Kenneth Madsen continued his winning streak to take the A Flight with 37 points. Silvano Pizzato placed second on 35 points and Leif Kirkgaard was one further back in third.

Dave Richardson topped the B Flight with 33 points, one up on Mogens Jensen in second while Mike Winfield took third with 31.

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VOL. XXII No. 50

Ken Aihara is the man, again PSC Golf from The Golf Club Steve Ellison

Monday, Dec. 1, Green Valley (white tees) – Stableford T1st Kenny Aihara (5) 35pts T1st Phil Smedley (10) 35pts T1st Bill Eyles (22) 35pts We get spoiled by this course. Green Valley is our regular Monday venue for good reason, everybody loves it here, it’s easy to get to, and is usually in great nick. More locals are members here than any other Pattaya golf course so that must tell you something.

More perfect weather was on the cards as things are getting just a tad bit cooler these days, and that is making our golf even more enjoyable.

It was a very close contest here today as 3 of our finest were locked in a tie at 35 points. We only do a count back on our Monthly Medal and so 3 top blokes had to squeeze together on the top step for a rare 3-way joint win. Best of Class went to the usual suspects, Kenny Aihara, Phil Smedley and Billy “The Hat” Eyles. These guys are playing off 5, 10

Bill Eyles, Phil Smedley and Ken Aihara protect their assets on the podium. and 22 handicaps respectively, which demonstrates what a great game this is when players of different levels can have a good comp and great time together.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, Pleasant Valley (white tees) – Stableford 1 st Freddie Graham (20) 41pts 2nd Kenny Aihara (5) 37pts 3rd Robbie Taylor (14) 36pts

somewhat crowded on certain holes. Greens were a bit grainy and sometimes inconsistent as well. That said, there were no complaints from the Peanut Gallery today as we followed some very talented young golfers in a junior tournament. It might be sad to admit, but those little kids didn’t hold us up!

Stalwarts Robbie Taylor and Ken Aihara can hold their heads high after turning in 36 and 37 point returns respectively. A couple of weeks ago we had 40’s from Mark Wood and then Bryan Carroll, great scores indeed, but it has been ages since a 40 plus card hit Phil’s

Sure, it’s another 15 minutes drive to get out to Greenwood, but so what? Where are you rushing to? It is well worth that extra bit of time to play such a lovely golf course at an amazing high season rate of just 1,000 baht for green fee and caddy!

The weather was just perfect today and the boys barely broke a sweat out there.

Condition of the course was fantastic so we will have Greenwood on our playlist for many months to come.

We were playing here on Thursday this week as Friday was the King’s Birthday and a holiday.

Well he won at Pattana the previous week, and this

with a 39 on his card. That was good enough to easily win over our (near pro) flag bearer Kenny (copy & paste) Aihara who took another second place on the week. Coincidentally, Billy Eyles had a third today as well as a first on Monday at Green Valley, so we are observing a pattern here!

Kenny Aihara, with a first and two second place appearances, took the cake for golfer of the week! Gam batta, ne! Thanks again to all who supported us this week, and keep it in the fairway boys.

Note: The Golf Club is located on Soi LK Metro.

Just call 085 434 3377 or see our website www.golfclub

We picked up our 750 baht PSC vouchers at the club on Tuesday, so fully loaded we set off up Highway 7 to Pleasant Valley. The road has been under some serious construction for months now but looks like it is making headway finally. It seems much safer now but is still a year or so from completion, I am guessing.

This really is a pleasant track, the only negative we always hear is that it seems

Wednesday’s top three: Kenny, Freddie and Robbie, the new boy band. desk and that all changed today when Freddie Graham notched up a fine 41 pointer to top the podium.

Freddie scored 10 more points today than his efforts at Khao Kheow the previous week for a third on the steps.

Nice going Freddie, that’s a great round of golf mate, and what an improvement!

Thursday, Dec. 4, Greenwood (yellow tees) – Stableford 1st Ross Nicholson (14) 39pts 2nd Kenny Aihara (5) 37pts 3rd Billy Eyles (22) 35pts

was the last round that Scotsman Ross Nicholson would get in before heading back home. He was saving his best for last and strolled into the clubhouse

pattaya.com and for more information mail us: pattaya4golf @gmail.com and see updates at www. facebook.com/golf clubpattaya... all handicaps welcome.

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Lewis sparkles at Crystal Bay Jomtien Golf with the IPGC Monday, Dec. 1, Crystal Bay Stableford As we left Siam Cats here in Jomtien we were still uncertain which route to take so there is a split decision and five cars took the motorway and one checked the Sukhamvit route out. I n the end it was 18 kilometers longer on the 7 but we arrived ten minutes earlier than the 3 route.

There were seven groups out today with the cut at 8-17 and 18 plus in division 2 and we were playing the C and A course off the white tees.

There was a warm welcome return to Jill and Howard Stanley and Joe Mueller.

Mike Lewis recorded the best score of the day, winning division 1 with 40 points while Jerry McCarthy came in second one point behind and Chris Voller took third with 36.

In division 2 a few points less was Chris Slota who won with 34 points and there were two 32’s fighting for second place but William Chang pipped Andy Oz 13/ 11 on the back nine.

Near pins were won by (Div 1) Mike Chatt, Nik Evans, Chris Voller (2) and (Div 2)

Andy Oz. William Chang (2), Bryan Rought and Matty Swire.

There were no ‘2’s recorded in division 1 so a rollover to Pleasant Valley on Wednesday but in division 2 William Chang birdied A8 and he was a happy chappy.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, Pleasant Valley – Stableford Driving onto the 7 up to Pleasant Valley the skies in the distance were looking very gloomy and as we passed the blue water tower turning for Burapha we hit a horrendous storm. This lasted for 20 minutes but as we turned off the 7 there was

Gerry Cooke. a more promising outlook and we arrived at the course with blue sky in every direction and a very busy clubhouse.

There were six groups in front of us ready to tee off plus a Thai junior 5-ball in competition as well, but we teed off only 15 minutes behind schedule although the front nine was two and a half hours. Fortunately it speeded up on the back nine with two hours for our first group.

We had an 8-15 cut in division 1 and Edward Bourne won that flight with 37 points. Chris Voller came in second on 36 and Jerry

McCarthy was third with 31.

In form and waiting to have his handicap cut, Chris Slota topped division 2 with 40 points while Paul Hartley was second five points behind and Jin Connelly took third with 34.

Near pins were shared by (Div 1) Maurice Lots, Jerry McCarthy, Dennis Scougall, Pete Sumner and (Div 2) Jim Connelly and Gerry Cooke.

Yet again there is no ‘2’s in division 1 so a double rollover to the Emerald on Monday but in division 2 Gerry Cooke and Ray Hucknall both birdied the 17th to share the pot.

Jerry McCarthy.

Friday, Dec. 5, Eastern Star – Stableford Our largest turnout so far in the high season with 12 groups out today with the equal cut at 7-14, 15-19 and 20+ in division 3 and the best score of the day was returned in division 1, with Bill Bertram winning with 40 points. Chris Voller came in second once more on 35 and Mikael Andersson beat Pete Sumner 16/15 on the back nine to finish third after they both scored 33 points.

Andy Galvin won division 3 with 39 points, eight ahead of Glyn Evans in second and

Lars Svensson beat little David Taylor 11/10 on the back six holes for third after they both scored 30 points each.

Alan Hansen was the winner in division 2 with 36 points, and with 34 points Iain Walsh beat Colin Aspinall 19/15 on the back nine to take second place.

The first group reached the 17th tee and there was a heavy shower which was intermittent over the last two holes but soon cleared, although three groups who had just arrived at the tenth called it a day, unknowing of our 1 hour rain cancellation rule, so they were still in the comp.

Near pins went to (Div 1) Bill Bertram, Karl Flood, Arthur Hancock, Chris Voller and (Div 2) Colin Aspinall, Andy Galvin, Richard Owen and Iain Walsh.

In the ‘2’s a rollover to next Friday in division 2, while in division 1 Juha Harilo eagled the par 4 first hole and there were birdies for Arthur Hancock, Marty Rock, Walter Weber and Karl Flood to leave the pot being split 5 ways.

We said bon voyage today to Mike and Wendy Lewis, see you next October if not before.

O’Keefe takes the plaudits at Greenwood PSC Golf from The Billabong Golf Bar

Peter, Sel Wegner and Gary Ritchie.

Wednesday, Dec. 3, Green Valley Stableford Green Valley was the challenge today, with no rain and a course in peak condition. 9 groups playing and we got away to an early start in perfect conditions, just a nice gentle breeze and glorious sunshine.

We welcomed Cynthia and David Hutcheson along with Gary Ritchie, who is over from NZ for a month or two.

Birthday boy Sel Wegner donated two Billabong golf

shirts for near the pins on the 8th and 16th holes which were won by Dean Hart on the 8th and Cottee on the 16th, two great shots and also two good 2s. There were four ‘2’s in total, the other two coming from Gary Ritchie and Sel (Birthday boy) Wegner.

We had a four-way count back for 5th place between Cottee, his lovely wife Eng, Murray Hart and Dave Driscoll, with Dave getting the nod with 21 points on the back nine. 4th place went to Peter Henderson with 36,

third was taken by Peter LeNoury with 37 and it was a count back between Gary Ritchie and Auke for top spot on 39, with Auke having the better back nine and relegating Gary into second place.

Friday, Dec. 5, Greenwood Stableford Playing Greenwood for the first time in ages, it was a little chaotic at first with a shortage of carts, but it got sorted out in eventually with shared carts, and as our old mate John White

George Gamble with Brian Maddox, John Locke and John O’Keefe. used to say, nobody died.

With a few cancellations and it being Father’s Day here in Thailand we still had four groups and got away to a bit of a late start but we were all back in the clubhouse in just on four hours, which is great at this time of the year. Thank you to the management at Greenwood for the good organization.

We had two near pins of two sleeves of Pro V1 golf balls, kindly donated by Mick Beresford of the Paradise Bar in Soi Khao Noi. He managed

to get one back for himself on the first par three and Capt Bob got the other one on the next.

We had just the one ‘2’, coming from Brian Maddox, with George Barrie missing out due to those blasted plastic rings they put in the holes here in Thailand; his putt hit the back of the hole from about thirty feet but just bounced out.

The score’s were very good today with John Locke getting third place with a great 37 points. Second spot went to George Gamble with 40 points but the man of the

moment was John O’Keefe, just pipping George with a superb round of 41 points.

The road going up to Greenwood is the only thing keeping us from going there on a more regular basis, the course was in good condition and I guess if you can put up with the 331 it certainly is great value for money.

Note: The Billabong Golf Bar is situated just off Siam Country Club Road looking straight down Lake Mabprachan.

Give Bob a call on 082 204 3411 if you are looking for a game.

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GIS takes gold in U-15 Games

Almost there! A GIS student challenges GIS girls did well in the football for gold in one of the track events. tournament.

Words: Mark Beales/ Photos: Robert Edwards

GIS were champions in the pool.

Sports stars from Garden International School (GIS) returned home with a hoard of medals after a hugely successful competition against other British schools in Southeast Asia at the recent Federation of British International Schools in Asia (FOBISIA) sports tournament.

GIS, which is based in Ban Chang near Pattaya, sent a team to Triall International School in Bangkok to take on the other schools at the event.

The boys’ and girls’ teams both came home as swimming champions, while the boys’ also took gold for track and field. The girls came third in their track and field contest.

After a toughly-fought football tournament, the GIS boys came in as runners-up - and also placed second in the basketball competition.

The GIS girls’ team also did well and finished fourth in their football competition.

The results again confirm GIS’s position as a school that produces outstanding young athletes who are capable of competing at the very top levels.

The GIS boys’ team were track and field champions.

VOL. XXII No. 50

Potential Olympic archer awarded President’s Cup A potential Olympic archer has joined Pattaya Archery Club, and has very quickly learned how to shoot a modern recurve bow with great accuracy. In fact her style is so text-book that in the coach’s opinion she should be a poster girl for other newcomers to copy.

Dasha Dmitrieva, an 18year-old Russian girl, is a pupil at the Regent’s International School in Pattaya where she got her introduction to the basics of archery.

Her interest in the sport was kindled and so she recently joined the Pattaya Archery Club to get greater experience. Very soon she was shooting quite accurately, and in the opinion of Eric Hearn, the club’s coach, she has real potential to be selected for the Russian archery team in a future Olympic Games.

“If she ever goes back to her home town of Khabarovsk in Eastern Russia, the local archery club would welcome

Dasha is presented with The President’s Cup by Eric Hearn. to move on to shoot at the basis to the archer who shows 30 metres target. Again, the most progress in the sport. even after just a few shots, Archery is often called “the she was peppering the cen- thinking man’s sport” as extre of the target with her ar- cellence in archery is achieved rows. A natural archer if ever by using mind control to conthere was one. sistently replicate a flawless Pattaya Archery Club pro- technique, for every arrow. It vides free initial coaching for is mental strength and not physical strength that is the key to success in archery.

So for Dasha, archery is clearly “the thinking woman’s sport.”

Note: Pattaya Archery Club meets on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, beginning at 10.00 a.m. and finishing at about noon or thereafter. Anyone % Thai or farang, young or old, man or woman % is welcome to come along to the Pattaya Shooting Park in Hua Yai and find out what it is all about.

Beginners’ coaching is held on any of the club’s meeting days. The coach’s services and the use of the club’s bows, arrows and other equipment are free for beginDasha Dmitrieva, a future Olympic archer? ners, and so it costs nothher with open arms,” said Eric. anyone interested in finding ing to see if this challenging Her remarkable progress in out if they like to shoot a bow. sport is for you. archery enabled Eric to award Those who start from this For more details visit Pattaya her the club’s President’s very basic point are automati- Archery Club’s website at Cup in recognition for how cally eligible for the chance to www.pattayaarcheryclub.com, quickly she showed her true win The President’s Cup. This or telephone Eric, the club’s potential to achieve great is presented on a bi-monthly President, on 089 535 1193. things in the sport.

“She is so young and yet so talented, commented Eric.

“Like all newcomers to any sport, Dasha had her share of challenges and reversals, but she has demonstrated a very high level of motivation and determination and is driven to excel in whatever she puts her mind to,” he added.

These personal qualities have enabled Dasha to quickly absorb the advice of the club’s coach, and try out whatever changes he suggests. Her will to succeed means that she only has to be told something once …and so her rate of progress has been a joy to watch.

Dasha started shooting at 18 metres (the shortest distance in target archery) and once she could put most of her arrows in the centre of the target, the coach advised her

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Russell Wilson leads Seahawks over Eagles 24-14 NFL round-up (week 13) Philadelphia (AP) Russell Wilson threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score as the Seattle Seahawks stifled Philadelphia’s high-powered offense in a 24-14 victory over the Eagles last Sunday.

Wilson had 263 yards passing and ran for 48 to help the Seahawks (9-4) win their third straight. The defending Super Bowl champions have victories over NFC West-leading Arizona (10-3), San Francisco (7-6) and Philadelphia (9-4) in the last three weeks.

The Eagles host Dallas (94) with first place in the NFC East at stake this coming weekend.

Tom Brady threw a 69-yard touchdown pass to Julian Edelman midway through the fourth quarter, as the New England Patriots (10-3)

beat the San Diego Chargers 23-14 for their eighth win in nine games.

The Patriots clinched their 12th straight 10-win season for the second-longest such streak in NFL history. Brady completed 28 of 44 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns.

Denver’s C.J. Anderson ran for three touchdowns as the Broncos overcame a rare unsteady outing by Peyton Manning to defeat the Buffalo Bills 24-17.

Manning’s streak of 51 straight games with a touchdown throw — three shy of Drew Brees’ NFL record — ended on a sun-splashed, almost still afternoon in Denver, where the game-time temperature was a balmy 63 degrees.

Despite three turnovers, the Broncos (10-3) won their third straight game since

changing from a pass-oriented attack to a run-heavy approach.

At Glendale, Arizona, Kerwynn Williams rushed for 100 yards two days after being elevated from the Cardinals practice squad in a 17-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The NFC West-leading Cardinals (10-3) took the lead when Drew Stanton threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jaron Brown in the third quarter.

Jamaal Charles scored two first-half touchdowns on a 63-yard run and 18-yard pass from Alex Smith, but the Chiefs (7-6) were shut out in the second half.

The Indianapolis Colts edged the Cleveland Browns 25-24 after Andrew Luck threw a 1yard touchdown pass to T.Y.

Green Bay Packers’ Eddie Lacy celebrates his touchdown run during the first half of their NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons Monday, Dec. 8, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Tom Lynn)

Seattle Seahawks’ Russell Wilson scrambles away from Philadelphia Eagles’ Fletcher Cox as Russell Okung defends during the first half of their NFL game Sunday, Dec. 7, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Michael Perez)

Hilton with 32 seconds left, while Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger threw three touchdown passes, including a 94-yarder to rookie Martavis Bryant in the fourth quarter that was the longest play from scrimmage this season, as the Steelers downed the Cincinnati Bengals 42-21.

In other games, the Baltimore Ravens played more than 17 minutes before picking up a first down, then overcame a 10-point deficit to beat the Miami Dolphins 28-13, the Oakland Raiders defeated the San Francisco 49ers 24-13, the Carolina

Panthers trounced the New Orleans Saints 41-10 and the Detroit Lions downed the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 34-17.

The St. Louis Rams have back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1945 after a 240 domination of the Washington Redskins, the Houston Texans beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 27-13, the Minnesota Vikings overgame the New Jets 30-24 in overtime and the New York Jets were 36-7 winners over the Tennessee Titans.

On Monday night, Eddie Lacy ran for a touchdown and caught one of Aaron Rodgers’ three TD passes as

the Green Bay Packers built a 24-point lead before holding on for a 43-37 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

Mason Crosby kicked a 53yard field goal with 4:37 left, helping the Packers withstand Atlanta’s final punch.

Rodgers finished 24 of 36 for 327 yards. Lacy had 73 yards on 13 carries, and 33 yards on five catches.

The Packers (10-3) earned their fifth consecutive victory to stay a game up on Detroit in the NFC North. The Falcons dropped to 5-8, but remain in a first-place tie with New Orleans in the woeful NFC South.

Man United beat Southampton 2-1 in Premier League more mistakes but they had players who handle that type of mistake and that was the difference.”

On Sunday, an Andy Carroll brace helped West Ham to a 3-1 victory against Swansea at Upton Park. The win temporarily moved the home side up to third in the table, their best start to a Premier League campaign. Swansea, without an away win since

Jack Bezants Southampton (AP) - Two clinical finishes from Robin van Persie gave Manchester United a 2-1 victory against Southampton in the Premier League on Monday, despite the visitors being pegged back for much of the game at St. Mary’s.

Van Persie scored with United’s only two efforts on target to give Louis van Gaal’s side their fifth win in a row and overtake Southampton in third place. Southampton dropped to fifth behind West Ham after their third straight loss against the teams they hope to challenge for a top-four spot — Manchester City, Arsenal and United.

Van Persie punished a wasteful performance from the home side, who created enough chances to win the game comfortably.

He took advantage of a defensive blunder to put United ahead after 12 minutes, and went unmarked to

August, remain eighth.

Carroll scored his first goal of the season to equalize for West Ham in the 41st minute, heading past Swansea keeper Lukasz Fabianski from a Carl Jenkinson cross.

Stewart Downing’s corner found Carroll in the 66th minute for the striker to nod home his second.

Substitute Diafra Sakho scored his seventh goal of

Manchester United’s Robin Van Persie (left) and Southampton’s Ryan Bertrand watch the ball go past during their English Premier League match at St Mary’s stadium in Southampton, Monday, Dec. 8. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant) meet Wayne Rooney’s free kick a t t h e f a r p o s t t o poke in the winner after Graziano Pelle had levelled for Southampton in the 31st minute.

“I don’t think we played our best football today,” Van Persie said. “In the end, it’s a fifth straight victory.

We’re on the way up.”

Southampton’s defensive lapses, alongside an array of missed attacking chances, left Saints’ manager Ronald Koeman’s fuming.

“We lost not to Manchester United tonight, we lost to ourselves,” Koeman said.

“We did everything. We created chances. We did mistakes, maybe they did

West Ham’s Andy Carroll celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal in their English Premier League match against Swansea, Sunday, Dec. 7.

(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

the season to secure the victory for the East London side late in the second half.

“We deserved to win today, and we won playing some really good attacking football,” West Ham manager Sam Allardyce said after the win, West Ham’s third in eight days.

In Sunday’s other fixture, Aston Villa secured a 2-1 home victory over Leicester City thanks to a 71st minute winner from Alan Hutton.

On Saturday, Chelsea slipped to their first defeat of the season thanks to a two goal strike from Newcastle United’s Papiss Cisse in a 21 win at St. James’ park, Arsenal lost ground on the Champions League spots with a 3-2 defeat at Stoke, and Queens Park Rangers moved out of the bottom three with a 2-0 win over Burnley. The d i v i s i o n ’s o t h e r t h r e e fixtures, Liverpool v Sunderland, Hull City v West Brom and Tottenham v Crystal Palace all finished goalless.

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Thai brothers strike gold at King’s Cup jet-ski grand prix

Pattaya mayor Itthipol Kunplome (3rd left) presents the King’s Cup trophy to Pro Sport GP champion Supak Settura (4th left) at the D’ Varee hotel in Pattaya, Sunday, Dec. 7.

Brothers Supak and Teera four motos (races) to finish issues and finished well Settura flew the flag for Thai- 34 points clear of his brother down the field in 14th place.

The King’s Cup Jet Ski land in grand style and se- Teera in second place. cured coveted victories in Teera achieved a measure World Cup has been held the Pro Sport GP and Pro of revenge over his younger in Thailand since 1996, iniRunabout 800 Open catego- sibling in the Pro Runabout tially with just Thailand, ries respectively at the Thai category as he was equally Malaysia and Singapore Airways sponsored King’s dominant over the field, taking part, but has since Cup Jet-ski World Cup Grand taking three moto victories grown to become one of Prix 2014, held at Jomtien to leave him 52 points clear the premier events on the Beach from Dec. 3-7. of his closest rival, com- world jet- ski calendar, reguSupak was almost faultless patriot and PTT teammate larly attracting top racers in the Pro Sport class, tak- Teerapong Khungieng. from over 30 countries ing victory in three out of the Supak suffered technical around the globe.

One such performer, 19time world champion and jet ski legend Chris McCluggage of the United States showed that he still has what it takes at the top level as he dethroned reigning champion Dustin Motzouris of South Africa in the Pro Ski class to claim the World Cup trophy for this year. The American took advantage of Motzouris suffering a shoulder injury in Moto 1 to win two races on Saturday and hold on with a podium finish in the final race on Sunday to claim the title.

Previous King’s Cup champions, Thailand’s Chaowalit Kuajaroon and Chokuthit Molee of the Flamingo Racing Team came up disappointingly short in the Pro Runabout Open as they finished fourth and seventh respectively. The title was won by the UK’s James Bushell ahead of Japan’s Isahai in second place.

The final main category was the Pro Freestyle event, always a crowd-pleaser as riders perform seemingly unimaginable acrobatics and stunts on their modified jet-skis. The winner of the event this year was Rashid Ali Al Mulla from United Arab Emirates, who just pipped Thailand’s Weerapong Maneechom for the title.

2014 also saw an Endurance category added for the first time at The King’s Cup, consisting of 2 motos, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, and was won by Japan’s Masaharu Takenoshita . Other categories this year included Novices, Amateurs, Womens, Experts and a Spark class.

The award presentation ceremony was held Sunday evening at the D’ Varee hotel on Jomtien Beach and saw the five coveted King’s Cup trophies presented by Pattaya mayor Itthipol Kunplome and Vilaiwan Twichasri, TAT’s Deputy Governor for Tourism Products.

For a full list of this year’s winners, go to website: www.jetski-worldcup.com.

Supak Settura of the Bobby Hunter team displays champion’s form at the King’s Cup World Cup Grand Prix at Jomtien Beach.

Teera Settura was victorious in the Pro Runabout 800 Open class.

England’s James Bushell achieved success in the Pro Runabout Open category.

Large crowds descended on Jomtien Beach over the weekend to enjoy the fine weather and spectacular jet-ski racing.

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FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014 51

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Harrington seals dramatic win at Indonesia Open Irishman Padraig Harrington secured a thrilling victory at the US$750,000 BANK BRI Indonesia Open last Sunday after defeating a battling Thanyakon Khrongpha of Thailand by two shots.

The three-time Major champion held a four-shot lead at the start of the final round but stumbled at the turn in 37 as Thanyakon birdied three in his opening five holes to lead by two shots after nine holes.

Harrington clawed his way back up after a two-hour rain suspension to tie with Thanyakon heading into the 18th hole where drama ensued at the Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course.

Under immense pressure to win his first Asian Tour title, the 24-year-old Thai hit his second shot into the water

for a double bogey as Harrington sealed the win with a 15-foot par putt after taking a penalty drop when his tee shot landed on the edge of the hazard.

Harrington, who signed for an even-par 71 and a winning total of 16-under-par 268 said, “Winning is a good habit to have. It gives you a lot of confidence and I need that confidence. I didn’t start too well but I came through and I got the win. This win brings a lot of confidence to my game and hopefully it will show up next year.”

“I had a bad break on the 18th hole when I hit my tee shot and it rolled to the edge of the hazard. I was about to chip my ball sideways to the fairway but when Thanyakon hit it into the water, there was no point to take a chance.

Padraig Harrington holds the champions trophy after winning the 2014 BANK BRI Indonesia Open at the Damai Indah Golf, PIK Course in Jakarta, Sunday, Dec. 7.

24-year-old Thanyakon Khrongpha (left) fought back in Round 4 but fell short of claiming his first Asian Tour title when he double-bogeyed the 18th hole.

So I went back to the fairway and hit my six iron for my best shot of the week,” said Harrington.

After completing five holes in his third round on Sunday morning, Harrington opened his final round campaign with a bogey before dropping two shots on the par three seventh hole. He admitted that the rain delay after nine holes helped him recover.

“I hit a few bad shots earlier on and I hit a careless shot on the seventh hole.

The biggest thing for me at that stage was that I was really praying for a rain delay.

My momentum was gone but Thanyakon was flying and he didn’t miss a shot,” Harrington explained.

“It was very unlucky for Thanyakon because of that rain delay. It was unfortunate but he can be very

Pattaya Cricket Club, affiliated with the Pattaya Sports Club, hosted an internal friendly 25 over game of cricket for all its playing members of all ages and abilities on Sunday, Dec. 7.

The playing surface at the Thai Polo Ground was in magnificent condition despite the recent downpours that threatened during the week and with 20 fit, able and willing players available for selection the two captains for the day, Simon Philbrook and John Speirs, heatedly selected their teams. After much debate and a toss that Simon won, Simon’s team elected to bat first.

After a bright start from Paul Hack (18) and dim start from Dan (5), Simon’s side progressed serenely. Despite losing wickets regularly in the fast format of the game, which in reality was being played at a pedestrian pace, the score progressed to 68/5 at drinks after 15 overs. A PCC club record was established when the young David Scott (age 69) was joined at the crease by the slightly older Roger (age 72), to eclipse the previous

Not finished with that, Simon then clean bowled a despondent Salman (17) and a calamitous Richard Grunwell (8). Bernard (16) launched the hapless, dejected and forlorn Lord Richard Harvey over long on for a maximum to relieve the increasing pressure, leaving a tense finish of 11 runs needed from the remaining 5 overs but with only one wicket remaining. The anchor himself John Speirs (6 no) guided his side home, ably supported by Andy Schofield (11 no).

It was a thoroughly relaxing and enjoyable day for everyone, except RH, with new faces meeting old ones and old bodies with young minds feeling young but sore. The final two hours of the sun drenched afternoon was spent reminiscing of days gone by, accompanied by a few ice cold beers of course.

Note: PCC welcome anyone to participate, either as a player, official or supporter regardless of age and ability and encourage everyone to visit the club website www. pattayacricketclub.com or club Facebook page.

proud with how he played all the way through. He is really impressive. He looks like a player to watch for in the future,” added the Irishman.

A dejected Thanyakon rued the missed opportunity to win his first Asian Tour title after struggling to hold his nerve on the 18th hole.

“It was a great final round

from me but I was under so much pressure on the last hole. I’m still happy with how I played. The rain delay stopped my momentum. It wasn’t good. The pressure made me scared,” said the young Thai, who posted a 69.

David Lipsky of the United States extended his Order of Merit lead by slightly over US$133,518 after finishing sixth while Merit runner-up Anirban Lahiri of India stumbled to tied 15th place after closing with a triple bogey.

“Looks like I increased my lead and I’m feeling pretty good about that. The goal was to play solid here. Step one done and now I’ll move on to the Thailand Golf Championship and see what I can do there,” said Lipsky, who won the Omega European Masters in Switzerland in September.

Lahiri will have much to play for in the remaining two Asian Tour events. “I got a lot to play for. David has a good lead and I need two solid results in the last two

events. I think I’m playing well enough but I got to put it together over four rounds.

I haven’t done that in these last two weeks.”

Focus now switches to Thailand this weekend for the Thailand Golf Championship, being held from Dec. 11-14 at the Amata Spring Country Club in Chonburi.

The $1 million dollar event will feature a plethora of world golf stars including defending champion Sergio Garcia of Spain, Bubba Watson from the United States, 2014 US Open champion Martin Kaymer of Germany, England’s Lee Westwood, South Africa’s Ernie Els and Thai favourite Thongchai Jaidee.

Tickets for the event cost 300 baht for Friday, Dec. 12, 400 baht for Saturday, Dec. 13, and 500 baht for Sunday, Dec. 14. A 4-day pass costs 800 baht. Amata Spring Country Club is approximately 45 mins drive from Pattaya. For directions to the course, go to website: www. thailandgolfchampionship.com.

La Posta Cup, hosted for the first time in Thailand From page 52 The tournament features an all-women cast, with the players turning up for the matches dressed in pink, while the venue itself will be adorned in

matching decor. The day’s events begin at 12 Noon and include show jumping, a fashion show on horseback, best hat competition, kids’ polo, Pink Polo final with divot stomping & high tea,

fireworks Assado & dancing.

Entrance costs 1,000 baht as a donation to the Queen Sirikit Center. For more information, call Kh. Surapol on 081 617 4744 or check website: www.thai-polo-club.com.

Bangkok Sports Club wins HM the Relaxing cricket with a tense finale King’s Birthday bowls tourney

highest combined batting age (128 years) by a comfortable 13 years. Running between the wickets was reduced to a gentle amble and as wickets kept tumbling, eventually a target of 95 was posted to win.

John sent his big guns, Venky and Ragu, in early for a fast start. Then a quite remarkable sequence of events began to unfold. The opening bowlers Thomas and Dan found the outside edges of Ragu (4), Venky (8) and Khalid (10) and all three were caught at first slip by Simon. It was made all the more remarkable by the fact that all three were held at the first attempt and Venky’s was held at full stretch low to Simon’s left.

The champion team from the Royal Bangkok Sport Club.

Coco Sports Club at Ban Amphur near Pattaya hosted Thailand’s first 3 day lawn bowling competition on December 5, 6 and 7 to celebrate HM the King’s birthday. Forty players in 10 teams fought out a new schedule on a real team basis. The teams were drawn and then the players’ positions within the team were also drawn from a hat, so the players had no say in who their opponents would be.

It was a real team event with sidelines assistance, some great games and surprises, but after 83 matches and 553 ends of bowls the two league winners faced off in the final and what a cracker it was, close scoring on the way at 5-all, 6all, 8-all and the winning team, after trailing 12-11 on the last end, made the two shots to win it 13-12. It was a match fit to grace any world final.

So it was a super weekend

and congratulations to the champions, the Royal Bangkok Sports Club team of Yung, Pot, John and Darren, who took home the 24,000 baht first prize, and also to the runners-up from Pattaya, the team of Lek, Thanom, Iain and Harvey.

If you are interested in lawn bowls, come and join the friendly Coco Club, learn a new sport and meet new friends.

52 FRIDAY DECEMBER 12, 2014

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXII No. 50

La Posta Cup, hosted for the first time in Thailand The Thai Polo & Equestrian Club grounds in eastern Pattaya were the setting for the La Posta Cup competition, conducted between the 28th and 30th November, and held for the first time in Thailand.

The La Posta Cup, a perpetual trophy, had its beginnings in Argentina, with the inaugural event taking place in 1973. The trophy was played up to 14 goal standard. Santiago Bachmann, the 36-year-old Thai Polo & Equestrian Club manager and senior resident veterinary surgeon, arranged the tournament, which featured players representing four competing teams: Adamas, Hong Kong, Maple Leaf, and Paisano.

In the first round, held on the 28th, Paisano downed Hong Kong while Maple

emerge victorious in this final round.

All three rounds of the FEI World Cup Jumping SEA League have been held at the well-appointed Thai Polo & Equestrian Club.

While the second round was entirely made up of Thai competitors, the events are open to international teams as well as local participants.

This third round saw a French team of two and one Swedish national, who has

lived a long time in Thailand, take on the five Thai equestrians.

Note: The annual Queen’s Cup Pink Polo tournament will take place at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club this coming Sunday, Dec 14. The tournament is held to help raise funds for the Queen Sirikit Center for Breast Cancer at Chulalongkorn Hospital and the Thai Red Cross Society.

Continued on page 51

Teams battle for honours in the La Posta Cup at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, Sunday, November 30.

Leaf defeated Adamas. The semi-finals took place the next day, with Adamas roaring into the final by downing Paisano while Maple

Leaf downed Hong Kong.

The final, to be played between Adamas and Maple Leaf was, unfortunately, delayed due to inclement

Thai brothers strike gold at 2014 King’s Cup jet-ski grand prix Turn to page 50.

weather and has been postponed until a date to be fixed, although Santiago said it will take place in December.

Over the same weekend, November 28-30, the third and final round of the FEI World Cup show jumping SEA League took place at the same venue. The International Equestrian Federation-sanctioned competition, which featured eight competitors, saw Siengsaw Lertratanachai

The final round of the FEI World Cup show jumping SEA League took place from November 28-30.

Uncertain future for Pattaya’s WTA tennis tourney One of the highlights of the Pattaya sporting calendar, the WTA Tour women’s professional tennis tournament, which is now in its 24th year, will have a name change in 2015 and revert back to its original name the “PTT Thailand Open”, which was initially used in 2005.

Whilst the tournament will go-ahead as planned next year from 8–15 February at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Pattaya, there is increasing uncertainty over the future of the event due to funding cuts from the principle sponsors of the tournament.

Tournament Director, Geoffrey Rowe stated, “The long running support from Pattaya City and Chonburi province was terminated for 2015 as the local authorities were informed they were no longer allowed to support international sporting events.

At the same time funding from other key sponsors has also been cut which means the financial viability of the tournament is at risk. We have no option but to goahead with the tournament in 2015 but we need to seriously consider the situation beyond next year. It is a great pity as the tournament is Thailand’s longest running

The Pattaya women’s tennis open has drawn top stars to the seaside city for the past 23 years. professional sporting event 2015, with the qualifying and we were looking forward rounds being held on 8-9 Febto celebrating our 25th anni- ruary and the main draw comversary in 2016.” mencing from 9 February and Rowe continued, “We re- running through to the finals named the tournament the on Sunday 15 February.

PTT Thailand Open to reTickets are currently on flect the status of the event sale at the following prices: as it is the only remaining Sunday 8 February (qualifyworld tour tennis tournament ing) 300 baht; Monday 9 – in Thailand, since the demise Sunday 15 February: 300, of the ATP Thailand Open 2 500, 800 and 1,200 baht. All years ago. The name was tickets cover access to the originally used for the tour- matches for the whole day nament in 2005 when it was and special rates are available first held in Bangkok, so it is for groups or weekly passes. basically reverting back to For further information on the the original name of the tour- tournament, contact Pentangle nament.”

Promotions Co., Ltd on: Tel: 02The PTT Thailand Open 3113414/5 or via the website at will take place over 8 days in www.pentanglepromotions.com.

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