Pattaya Mail - FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 12, 2019 (Vol. XXVII No. 40)

Established in 1993

VOL.XXVII No. 40

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29 - DECEMBER 12, 2019

30 BAHT

Pope Francis calls for action to safeguard women, children

Pope Francis called for migrants to be welcomed and for women and children to be protected from exploitation, abuse and enslavement during the beginning of his visit to Thailand Nov. 21. During his busy two days of activities here, the Pontiff, accompanied by his cousin Ana Rosa Sivori, also enjoyed a private audience with HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn and HM Queen Suthida at Dusit Palace where they exchanged gifts of the highest level. (Full story on page 18.) (Photo courtesy The Royal Household Bureau via AP)

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False killer whale dies after beaching in Pattaya

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Pattaya unprepared for plastic-bag ban

Boonlua Chatree

Jetsada Homklin

An oceanic dolphin commonly called a “false killer whale” died after beaching itself on Pattaya Beach.

The 300-kilogram “Pseudorca crassidens” was hooked inadvertently by a fisherman and ended up in the shallow waters off the beach around 9 p.m. Nov. 20. Suffering from numerous wounds to its belly, the dolphin was transported to the navy’s Sea Turtle Conservation Center in Sattahip where it died Friday.

It was the second time a false killer whale died after washing ashore. Another beached itself in Trat on Nov. 15. Marine biologists said this currently is the migration season for the species.

34-year-old fisherman Jirayu Wanpusit was nearly pulled into the sea when the mammal swallowed his bait and pulled his fishing rod from his hands. He jumped in the water

In six weeks, major Thai retailers will stop handing out single-use plastic bags, but Pattaya residents seem unprepared for the change.

An informal survey by the Pattaya Mail found most people ignorant of the agreement announced Sept. 6 between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and the country’s largest retail chains. And other than in convenience stores, there is little awareness of the government’s campaign to cut plastic use.

Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said in September that the ministry asked Thai retailers to give up single-use plastic Jan. 1.

Among those agreeing are

An oceanic dolphin commonly called a “false killer whale” died after beaching itself on Pattaya Beach.

to get the pole and thought the dolphin was a shark.

Sub. Lt. Kornkamol Kittikammara, veterinarian at the Sattahip turtle center, said the false killer whale measured 3.4 meters long and was suffering convulsions and an elevated heart rate.

Following the two beachings, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources was

told to ensure local offices have the necessary first-aid equipment, vehicles and support teams always ready to deal with marine creatures in difficulty.

First identified in 1846, the animal was described as a porpoise but later was given the name “false killer whale” due to its skull having similar characteristics to the giant black-and-white orca.

Naklua roadwork 20% complete

PCPR Pattaya officials expect roadwork on Naklua’s Sawangfa Road to wrap in mid-to-late December.

Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, city engineers and community leaders toured the work

site Nov. 11, saying the extensive project is about 20 percent complete.

Boonkitthana Partners were hired by the city lay sewage and storm-drainage pipes from the Amorn Market to the Namchai intersection. Currently Sawangfa is

being ripped up, supports placed and a location being prepared for installation of a box culvert.

The original completion date was Dec. 16 and officials said they believe the work will be completed by then or shortly after.

the Central Group, The Mall Group, 7-Eleven operator CP All , Siam Makro, Robinsons, Bangchak Retail, Big C Supercenter, Index Living Mall and gas station operator PTT, as well as trade associations like the Plastic

Industry Club and Thai Retailers Association.

The government earlier said it would ban foam food packages plus other singleuse plastic items, including lightweight plastic bags, straws and cups, in 2022.

Beach Road closed, parking lots set for fireworks festival PCPR City hall designated thirteen parking lots for the throngs of tourists and locals expected for this month’s Pattaya International Fireworks Festival.

Beach Road will be closed from 4 p.m. to midnight Nov. 29 and 30 from the Dolphin Roundabout to Walking Street. No parking will be allowed on Beach Road from the Dusit Curve to Walking Street from 3 p.m. onward.

Instead, parking will be available nearby at Bali Hai Pier, Pattaya School No. 8, Chaimongkol Temple, Royal Garden Plaza, Mike Shopping Mall, Central Festival

Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, city engineers and community leaders toured the roadwork on Naklua’s Sawangfa Road and expect it to wrap in mid-to-late December.

“No plastic bags please, I carry my own environmentally friendly shopping bag”.

City hall designated parking lots for the throngs of tourists and locals expected for this month’s Pattaya International Fireworks Festival Nov. 29 and 30.

Pattaya Beach and Central Marina. Further out, parking lots and shuttles will be available at the Leelawadee Resort

and Spa on Soi Phettrakul, Terminal 21 Pattaya, Tesco Lotus North Pattaya, Big C Extra, and Big C South Pattaya.

Thepprasit roadwork to continue until March Jetsada Homklin Roadwork creating traffic backups on Thepprasit Road will continue until March as a Department Of Provincial Administration contractor lays new tap

water pipes in the area.

The 16.6-million-baht project began Sept. 25 and has resulted in part of Thepprasit being closed.

Work currently is underway

at the intersection with Sukhumvit Road near the Grand Condotel.

Contractor Sahathanachon Co. is scheduled to complete the project on March 23.

Roadwork on Thepprasit Road will continue until March as the contractor lays new tap water pipes in the area.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 3

SOS Rice Appeal 2019 begins Thursday Derek Franklin It was a Belgian expat who many years ago asked Father Ray Brennan a simple question, what could he do to help Father Ray’s work here in Pattaya, and the reply was also simple, ‘go and get rice for my children.’

This is how the annual SOS Rice Appeal started and each year the people of Pattaya are asked to help feed the children and students at the Father Ray Foundation. Today the Foundation cares for almost 200 children whose own families cannot take care of

You can donate at all three branches of Foodland.

them, children who are victims of abuse and neglect, orphans and those who were living in poverty.

There is also the school for blind and visually impaired children, a technological college for young adults living with a disability, a day care center as well as a school for children with special needs, bringing the total number of children and students being fed each day to around 850, that’s 850 children who are fed three times a day, every day.

On Thursday 5th December, a day when the Kingdom remembers the birthday of

Pattaya, Marine Dept. point fingers over failure to remove encroaching bridge Boonlua Chatree Seventeen months after an illegal bridge across the South Pattaya flooddrainage canal was ordered demolished, is still standing and progress to remove it standing still.

Pattaya and Marine Department officials are pointing fingers at each other for the delay, each claiming it’s the others responsibility to remove the bridge built by a renegade property owner to facilitate access to his construction site. As both government offices squabble, the land owner actually has made improvements to the bridge area, adding facilities and a tent.

The illegally built bridge is used as a walkway during the day and for parking cars and bikes at night.

Area business owners – some of which already were forced to demolish

structures encroaching on the canal – planned to meet with Pattaya city officials Nov. 18 to demand action.

The bridge was cited in June 2018 after Pattaya began a project to widen the canal to allow better floodwater drainage in the city. A property owner building a commercial building objected and refused to remove the bridge.

Pattaya ordered construction on the building stopped as it did not have a permit and the landowner fought back, turning the construction site into a parking lot. He claimed in July this year that he got 'special' permission from a city official to allow the lot to open.

H.M. the late King Bhumibol, and on the weekend of the 7th and 8th December, you can make a donation of rice, or other foodstuffs such as cooking oil, salt, sugar or fish sauce, as well as make a cash donation which will be used to buy food throughout the year.

Participating stores this year include the two branches

of Makro, three branches of Foodland, Tesco Lotus North Pattaya, Little Walk, Friendship, Central Festival, Mike’s Shopping Mall, Top’s as well as at Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and all 7-Eleven stores.

The Foundation needs 75,000 kg of rice a year, can you help them feed the children of Pattaya?

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

Sattahip teen arrested for Another Russian victimized pimping out 13-year-old by snatch-and-run thief Patcharapol Panrak

Boonlua Chatree

Sattahip authorities arrested a 19-year-old woman for pimping out a 13-year-old.

Chonburi Women and Children Protection and anti-human trafficking police accompanied District Chief Anucha Intasorn in the Nov. 14 arrest of Hawa Samansin at the Nong Jazz karaoke bar.

Officials found six girls and women ages 13-19 working in prostitution there.

Hawa was charged with child exploitation and procuring prostitution for a child under 15.

Another Russian tourist has lost valuables to a Pattaya snatch-and-run bandit.

Irina Kotlova, 30, was walking to her hotel on Naklua Soi 12 while using her Apple iPhone X. A male motorcyclist saw her eyes were fixed on the screen and not her surroundings and easily rode by and grabbed it from her hand.

The robbery comes a day after another Russian tourist had a 50,000-baht gold necklace snatched from her neck in South Pattaya.

Sattahip authorities arrested a 19-year-old woman for pimping out a 13-year-old girl at the Nong Jazz karaoke bar.

The arrest came after a sting operation where an undercover officer arranged

for sexual services from a 13year-old girl for 1,500 baht, 300 of which went to Hawa.

Pattaya man retries suicide leap after police let him go after first try Boonlua Chatree Hours after being talked down from a highway overpass from which he wanted to jump, a suicidal man returned and made the leap.

Boontieng Saokaew, 45, didn’t die in the Nov. 20 jump from the pedestrian crossing over Sukhumvit Road near Central Road. A 70-year-old foreign expat grabbed him at the last moment and slowed his fall into a grassy area.

Boontieng suffered bruises in the fall and was sent to Banglamung Hospital where he also can receive mental care as well.

The man, driven to suicide by a disfiguring skin condition that has left him jobless and ostracized in society, was stopped from jumping

A pardoned ex-con is behind bars again after being arrested for two armed robberies in Nong Plalai.

Aun Veerayuth, 33, was captured in front of his house Nov. 13. He wasn’t hard to find as he lives across the street from the Banglamung Police Station.

Gold snatcher victimizes Russian tourist Boonlua Chatree

Boontieng was sent to Banglamung Hospital where he also can receive mental care.

that morning by Banglamung police officers who talked him down from the overpass.

But rather than commit him to a psychological ward for his own protection, they let him go. He returned to the

same overpass that afternoon.

David Baxter, 70, saw Boontieng readying to jump.

The expat grabbed his shirt, but it ripped. He also grabbed the Thai man’s hand and swung him to a grassy area.

Pardoned ex-con jailed again for armed robbery Boonlua Chatree

Irina Kotlova sought assistance from the Pattaya police after her IPhone was stolen by a snatch-andrun bandit.

Police allege Veerayuth held up a motorcyclist Nov. 7 on Soi Playfan in Nong Plalai and stole a two-satang gold chain before fleeing.

The next day he’s accused of again threatening a motorcyclist at gunpoint on Nong Ketnoi Road and this time robbing the victim of 700 baht.

Both crimes were captured on CCTV. The suspect confessed, saying he sold the gold and used the money to buy drugs on Loy Krathong.

Authorities said Veerayuth previously was imprisoned for robbery, but was released on a royal pardon a year ago.

Pattaya police are tracking down a gold thief who snatched a pricey necklace form a Russian tourist.

Elena Pankratova, 25, told police Nov. 17 that she and her husband were walking with their baby in a stroller on Soi Wat Boonkanjanaram when she stopped to attend to the child. As she bent over the stroller, a youth on a motorbike drove and snatched the gold necklace dangling from her neck. She said it was worth 55,000 baht.

Police checked all the

A dejected Elena shows a picture of her necklace which was snatched by a thief in Soi Wat Boonkanjanaram.

possible escape routes, but didn’t find the thief. They’re

now checking video from nearby CCTV cameras.

German arrested on weapons possession charges Boonlua Chatree A German man and his Thai girlfriend were arrested on weapons charges following complaints from neighbors that the expat often shot guns into the air.

Lars Daubenbuchel, 49, and Sujittra Srisirisakulchai, 28, were taken into custody at their Mabprachan Village house on Soi Pornprapanimit 4, Nov. 20.

Officers seized two guns, five BB guns, bullets, a walkie-talkie, hats with police

Immigration police arrested on charges of illegal possession of fire arms and other paraphernalia.

logos and other police logos.

They were charged with

illegal possession of guns and bullets.

PATTAYA MAIL PUBLISHING CO., LTD. 62/284-286 Moo 12, Thepprasit Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150.

Administration, Advertising and Editorial Offices: Tel: 038 411 240-1, 038 413 240-1 • Fax: 038 411 833 E-mail: ptymail@pattayamail.com • Website: http://www.pattayamail.com Managing Director Pratheep S. Malhotra e-mail: pratheep@pattayamail.com Executive Editor Daniel M. Dorothy e-mail: dan@pattayamail.com Kamolthep Malhotra e-mail: prince@pattayamail.com Deputy Managing Director Editor Nopniwat Krailerg e-mail: editor@pattayamail.com Executive Editor-Pattaya Blatt Elfi Seitz e-mail: elfi@pattayablatt.com Director of Communications Supa Kukarja e-mail: sue@pattayamail.com Senior Special Correspondent Peter Cummins e-mail: npetercummins@hotmail.com Advertising Department Nutsara Duangsri e-mail: nutsara@pattayamail.com News Department: Boonlua Chatree, Urasin Khantaraphan, Patcharapol Panrak, Theerarak Suthathiwong, Jetsada Homklin (e-mail: newsdesk@pattayamail.com)

© Copyright Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 5

Pope Francis blesses young man from Father Ray Children’s Home can only use one foot to drive his wheelchair, the day was to become the happiest of his life so far, when the Holy Father walked towards him and personally blessed him.

Blessed by the Holy Father.

Not the real Pope, but a good picture.

Derek Franklin

About to leave for the Papal mass in Bangkok.

He could not stop smiling after meeting the Pope.

During the short time that His Holiness Pope Francis was in the Kingdom of Thailand, he performed two public masses, one in the National Stadium in front of a crowd of 70,000 and the second to a smaller gathering at Assumption Cathedral. Tickets were allocated by lottery, and while they were hard to get for the stadium mass, they were even more difficult to obtain for the mass at the cathedral. However, luck was on the side of two students from the Technological College for people with Disabilities and one young man from the Father Ray Children’s Home.

Not only were they given tickets for the cathedral, but tickets in zone 1, as close to the altar as it was possible to sit. For one student, living with severe cerebral palsy, hundreds of miles from home and

It was a day that will live forever in the memories of three young students from the Father Ray Foundation, a day they will talk about for many years to come.

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Lights installed at dark road overpass

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Police, immigration officers undergo LGBT sensitivity training

Jetsada Homklin Pattaya installed lights at the overpass over Sukhumvit Road at Soi Tonkrabok 33 after complaints about safety after dark.

Assistant City Manager Passakorn Usomboon led engineers to the pedestrian crossing where steps on each side were shrouded in darkness after sunset.

Women and parents worried about safety.

City workers later returned and installed two lamps on each side of the stairs.

Assistant City Manager Passakorn Usomboon led engineers to install lights at the overpass over Sukhumvit Road at Soi Tonkrabok 33.

Pattaya issues fire advisory Jetsada Homklin Pattaya officials warned residents about the higher risk of fire during the dry season.

Suchart Kedprach, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, and firefighter Taveesub Ongnonyang said Nov. 13 that the dry climate and stronger winds typical during winter increase chances of brush fires.

Pattaya has three main fire stations, with Naklua covering the area from the Kratinglai Canal to North Road; Pattaya responsible for North Road throughout Thepprasit Road; and the Jomtien station responsible from Thepprasit Road to the Najomtien border.

The city has 18 trucks at its disposal with water, foam and dry chemicals. There also are various aerial, rescue and support vehicles.

In addition to brush fires,

Suchart Kedprach, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, and firefighter Taveesub Ongnonyang warned how the dry climate and stronger winds typical during winter increase chances of brush fires.

blazes in commercial buildings and wooden houses can be more difficult to battle this time of year, they said.

The fire officials urged residents and businesses to keep their property clean and

organized, and pay close attention to stockpiles and disposal of paper, electric appliances and flammable liquids. They also warned about burning trash and lighting incense and candles.

Pattaya Grab Food drivers strike over wage cuts, long hours

UNDP representative Rono Mayer leads the training.

Warapun Jaikusol Police and immigration officers underwent gendersensitivity training to improve their knowledge of LGBT rights and law-enforcement tactics.

Organized by the United Nation Development Programme, Sisters Foundation and Justice Ministry, the two-day workshop at the D Varee Hotel in Jomtien Beach focused on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender rights and protections under the law, as well as proper procedures to deal with both LGBT criminal suspects and complainants.

Police and immigration officers are given gendersensitivity training.

UNDP representative Rono Mayer led the training, which covered rights, work procedures and humanrights protection. Practical training emphasized human

rights with LGBT people, understanding sexuality, sexual identity and gender expression as well as the social problems LGBT people face.

Nakpakdee roadwork to wrap next week Warapun Jaikusol Roadwork in East Pattaya’s Nakpakdee Village is scheduled for completion next week, Nongprue officials promised.

Only 20 percent of the work laying new drainage pipes is left and, once complete, flooding in the village should become a thing of the past, they promised.

Sanitation Engineering chief Bekchai Ninpanan said Nov. 22 that only 25 more meters of pipe need to be laid.

The 10-million-baht project sought to capture water that flowed downhill through

Only 20 percent of the roadwork in East Pattaya’s Nakpakdee Village is left and, once complete, flooding in the village should become a thing of the past.

Nakpakdee and into neighboring Eakmongkol 4/3 Village, causing flooding woes in both neighborhoods.

Water now will flow into drainage pipes that connect with Pattaya’s sewer system at Soi Khao Talo.

4 new dengue cases reported in Pattaya Jetsada Homklin

Grab Food delivery staff protest wage cuts and heavy workloads.

Boonlua Chatree About 150 Grab Food drivers went on strike to protest wage cuts and heavy workloads.

The motorcyclists assembled Nov. 18 outside Big C South Pattaya. All the drivers signed off the food-delivery mobile app, leaving

hungry Pattaya residents searching for other dining options.

Driver Sanor Engseng, 44, accused the Singaporebased firm of exploiting workers by making them work 12-hour shifts and cutting their wages recently and not providing insurance.

He said drivers are losing

money and feel unsafe by having to drive long distances after dark to areas in Nongprue subdistrict. Such a delivery used to pay 55 baht, but Grab recently cut the fee to 30 baht.

He said drivers want to meet with Grab’s Thai management before going back to work.

Four Soi Arunothai Community residents have been diagnosed with dengue fever, sparking a fresh round of pesticide spraying and campaigning to eliminate mosquito breeding areas.

Neighborhood President Amnuay Muangthong and Saiying Muangthong, chairwoman of the Primary Health Care Center and village health volunteers hosted an outreach event Nov. 20 where mosquito abate was distributed and free health checks given.

Four locals were found to have contracted the virus, prompting the Pattaya Disease Control Office to fumigate the neighborhood. The dengue sufferers were said to be in no danger.

Soi Arunothai Community Amnuay Muangthong hosted an outreach event Nov. 20 where mosquito abate was distributed and free health checks given after four Soi Arunothai Community residents were diagnosed with dengue fever.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

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More tourists, less litter this Loy Krathong

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 7

Sikhs plant trees to honour Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji

Jetsada Homklin Volunteers joined Pattaya sanitation workers in cleaning up the mess left behind from Loy Krathong.

People spread out across the beach, picking up plastic bags, food containers and krathongs that washed back to shore Nov. 12.

Trash collectors said there was less litter than in previous years despite an increase in tourists.

Part of that was due to an increased number of garbage cans placed by city hall while part was the

People spread out across the beach, picking up plastic bags, food containers and krathongs that washed back to shore Nov. 12.

high-profile push to use natural materials in krathongs and

for food sellers to not use foam boxes.

Constitutional court removes maverick politician from Parliament Tassanee Vejpongsa and Grant Peck Bangkok (AP) — The Constitutional Court ruled Wednesday Nov. 20, 2019 that the maverick leader of a new political party that finished third in a general election in March violated election laws and cannot keep his seat in Parliament.

The court said Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the Future Forward Party, violated a regulation barring owners of media companies from running for Parliament.

The court rejected Thanathorn’s claim that he sold his holding in a media production company before the deadline needed to be a candidate.

The ruling had been expected. Thanathorn’s party has been a thorn in the side of Thailand’s conservative establishment, in whose favor the courts have consistently ruled. The party is disliked by the establishment not only for its anti-military stance, but also because of its strong popularity.

There are other cases pending against Thanathorn and his party, and there are widespread fears it will end up being disbanded, with its members banned from political office for several years.

Thanathorn was never allowed to take his seat in the lower house of Parliament because of the state Election Commission’s preliminary finding that he had violated the law. According to an initial court ruling, he was being suspended because he could be guilty as charged, which would be an “obstruction to the important work in the meetings in the House of Representatives.”

However, the court did not suspend 32 members of Parliament from the coalition formed by the pro-military

HE Suchitra Durai (centre) Ambassador of India to Thailand leads the Sikh delegation in the tree-planting ceremonies.

India’s ambassador to Thailand Suchitra Durai marked the 550th birth anniversary of Shri Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism by planting trees at Sattahip School in the Royal Thai Navy compound.

Her Excellency was joined for the ceremony last month

by Amrik Singh Kalra, leader of the Siri Guru Singh Sabha Sikh temple in Pattaya and a large group of Indians of all faiths.

In all, about 500 people joined together to plant trees to respond to the philosophy of the guru that the power of nature and God are the same.

Guru Nanak was a naturelover, and in his writings and pronouncements, he always inspired people to look at nature as the divine presence of the Creator and to form a loving relationship with nature.

The devout believe that planting trees to celebrate the 550th birth anniversary

of Guru Nanak is the best way to celebrate this visionary. Guru Nanak Dev ji said ‘Air is our Guru, water is our father, the earth is our mother.

They give us life, we sleep in their laps night and day, so we should not spoil them.

There are living beings even in water and if we spoil the water then those living beings that live in the water will die and the people who drink water will also be harmed so we should not pollute the water.”

Thaksin’s son acquitted in illegal loan scandal

Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, leader of the antimilitary Future Forward Party, gestures as he arrives at the Constitutional Court in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Palang Pracharath Party who faced similar complaints. It said those cases had not been filed and processed by an investigative committee.

“This is not the time for hopelessness but it is the time to expose the evils of dictatorships,” Thanathorn said at the time. “What has happened is an injustice. I want to call on everyone who still loves justice to proudly stand together and fight to restore justice to Thai society.”

Thanathorn on Monday raised the issue again, announcing he was suing the Election Commission’s members because they had acted improperly and forwarded his case to the Constitutional Court before it was adequately investigated.

His party also recently launched a campaign urging people not to accept the status

quo and be willing to stand up for their rights.

Thanathorn, a 40-year-old billionaire whose family fortune comes from the auto parts industry, founded his party in March 2018 as Thailand was heading toward an election after a period of military rule that began in 2014. The party’s initial support came from youth and young professionals, but it proved to have wider appeal in many parts of the country.

Prayuth Chan-ocha, who staged the 2014 coup and served as prime minister in the military government, took a second term after the Palang Pracharath Party formed a coalition to take power.

The Future Forward Party has maintained its gadfly position in Parliament, and Thanathorn announced before the court’s ruling that he would continue to be active politically no matter what the verdict.

Bangkok (AP) — The son of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was acquitted on Monday Nov. 25, 2019 of money laundering in a case involving $328 million in loans extended by a staterun bank to a real estate developer when his father held power.

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases ruled that Panthongtae Shinawatra was not guilty in the case involving loans extended in 2003 and 2004 by Krungthai Bank to the Krisdamahanakorn company and its subsidiaries.

Panthongtae had said a 10 million baht ($331,000) check he received from the son of the real estate company owner was meant for an unrelated business venture, and had been returned when he scuttled the proposed investment.

Thaksin, ousted from power by a 2006 military coup, was acquitted in the case this year. He fled into exile in 2008 to escape serving a prison term for a conflict of interest conviction and has since been the target of other legal proceedings that he has said are politically motivated.

About two dozen bank and company executives received prison terms in 2015 because the bank’s loans were illegal.

Krisdamahanakorn had been in a state of receivership at the time because of an excess of nonperforming loans, making it ineligible for such new lending.

Panthongtae Shinawatra, son of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, arrives at the Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Case in Bangkok, Monday, Nov. 25, 2019. (AP Photo/ Sakchai Lalit)

The court on Monday said there was insufficient evidence to prove that Panthongthae knew the source of the possibly tainted money, adding that 10 million baht ($331,000) represented less than 1% of his net worth of more than 4,000 million baht ($13.2 million).

It said that the public prosecutor had only proved that Panthongtae is Thaksin’s son and was very close to Krisdamahanakorn’s owner, Wichai Krisdathanon, who had signed the check to him.

Since Thaksin was ousted in 2006, there has been a sometimes violent struggle for power between his supporters and his opponents, who accused the populist billionaire of abuse of power and corruption. His supporters

say the traditional Thai establishment feared losing power because of his popularity, and the courts have played a major effort in trying to destroy his political machine.

The Thaksin-affiliated Pheu Thai party won the greatest number of lower house seats in this year’s general election but came in second to the military-backed Palang Pracharath party, which topped the popular vote and formed a coalition government. Critics charged that Thaksin’s side was handicapped by laws instituted by the junta that ruled the country after a 2014 coup against a government that had been formed by Thaksin’s sister, Yingluck Shinawatra.

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

Yahoo Japan, Line to merge China tests Mars lander in business to form online giant international cooperation push Yuri Kageyama

Samuel McNeil

Tokyo (AP) — Online services Yahoo Japan and Line Corp. have announced they are merging.

Z Holdings Corp., which owns SoftBank Corp. that operates Yahoo Japan, and Naver Corp. of South Korea, which owns a majority stake in Line, said Monday they are aiming for a final agreement by next month.

The combination in a joint venture through a tender offer will form an online giant with retail services, advertising and other mobile services such as messaging.

The combined sales would be the largest among Japanese online business operators, surpassing Rakuten Inc., according to Kyodo News service.

The companies said combining forces will allow them to stay competitive in a drastically changing market, including expansions into robotics and other new areas.

The integration will be carried out equally, according to the companies, but the price is expected to be decided in December.

Discussions had been ongoing between Naver and Z Holdings since June, they said.

After a deal is completed,

Huailai, China (AP) — China showed off its Mars spacecraft during a landing test Thursday as the country pushes for inclusion in more global space projects.

The demonstration of hovering, obstacle avoidance and deceleration capabilities was conducted at a site outside Beijing simulating conditions on the red planet, where the pull of gravity is about one-third that of Earth.

China plans to launch a lander and rover to Mars next year to explore parts of the planet, one of four scheduled missions. The U.S. and Europe are also sending rovers to Mars next year, and the United Arab Emirates plans to launch an orbiter.

China’s burgeoning space program achieved a lunar milestone earlier this year by landing a spacecraft on the mysterious far side of the moon.

It has developed rapidly, especially since it conducted its first crewed mission in 2003, and has sought cooperation with space agencies from Europe and elsewhere.

The U.S., however, has banned most space cooperation with China out of national security concerns, keeping China from participating in the International Space Station.

Despite that, China’s ambitions continue to grow as it seeks to rival the U.S., Russia and Europe in space and cement its position as a regional and global power. It is gradually constructing its own larger, more permanent space station in which it has invited foreign participation.

(Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)

Line will get delisted.

The new company will primarily focus on the Japanese market, seeking to answer to Japan’s social needs such as a shrinking worker population and natural disasters, SoftBank said in a statement.

“Social and industrial conditions surrounding us are changing drastically and daily on a global basis,” it said, adding that Japan needs to catch up, and coming together might help.

“Particularly in the internet market, overseas companies, especially those based in the United States and China, are overwhelmingly dominant.”

The chief executives of both companies later appeared together at a Tokyo hotel, wearing ties with the other company’s

Snooze cruise: Study sees future for hibernating astronauts Berlin (AP) — The European Space Agency says putting astronauts into a state of suspended animation could make it easier to reach other planets.

The agency said Monday that its researchers examined how hibernation would affect the design of a crewed mission to Mars and concluded that it could help to significantly shrink the size of spacecraft.

While slowing down humans’ metabolic rate similarly

to the way animals hibernate isn’t possible yet, research team head Jennifer NgoAnh says the idea “is actually not so crazy.” She noted that similar methods are already used to save trauma victims.

Challenges include designing the spacecraft to operate largely autonomously while the crew — padded with extra body fat in advance of their trip — sleep through much of the 180-day cruise to Mars.

colors — green for Line and red for Yahoo.

They said the companies not only shared similar values but also the same sense of crisis of being dwarfed by American and Chinese rivals, even after the two companies come together, by size in terms of sales, research investment amount and number of employees.

“We both felt we needed to act now to prepare for the future,” said Line Chief Executive Takeshi Idezawa.

The merger is planned to be completed by October next year, with the new entity having 10 board members, three from each company and four outside members, they said.

They said the companies are a good match because they both operate online content and financial services, but can complement each other. Line, for instance, is stronger in messaging and Yahoo in online commerce, they said.

“Yahoo values surprising its users, and Line values wowing its users, and so by coming together we hope to excite our users around the world,” said Kentaro Kawabe, chief executive of Z Holdings.

A lander is lifted during a test of hovering, obstacle avoidance and deceleration capabilities at a facility in Huailai in China’s Hebei province, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

The lander on Thursday successfully avoided ground obstacles during a simulated low-gravity descent, according to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, the Chinese space program’s main contractor.

The refrigerator-sized craft was lowered gently on 36 cables through the air for about a minute and used onboard jets spraying rustcolored fumes to alter its downward course.

“After the probe is launched, it will take about seven months to reach Mars, and the final procedure of landing will only last about seven minutes, which is the most difficult and the most risky part of the whole mission,” said the Mars mission’s chief designer, Zhang Rongqiao, standing before the 140-meter

(460-foot) -tall testing facility.

Many Mars-bound spacecraft launched by the U.S., Russia and other countries have been lost or destroyed over the years.

Only the U.S. has pulled it off and has made eight successful landings.

The remote test site lies an hour north of the Great Wall from Beijing.

Guests at Thursday’s event came from 19 countries and included the ambassadors of Brazil, France and Italy.

“This event is the first public appearance of China’s Mars exploration mission, also an important measure for China to pragmatically carry out space international exchanges and cooperation,” the China National Space Administration said in a statement.

Digital Ministry outlines AI ethics Bangkok (NNT) - AI (Artificial Intelligence) technology has been widely adopted in day to day life, which provides both benefits and consequences from improper usage. The Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society has combined interests with academics and experts to help outline ethical codes for AI development in the future.

The Minister of a Digital Economy and Society, Puttipong Punnakanta revealed a part of the 20-year national strategy involves the enhancement of competitiveness in future industrial development and services, which will include AI adoption to help strengthen the economy and society, in parallel with the development of human resource capabilities.

The technology, however, has potential consequences for misuse and could be adopted as a tool for warfare by some countries.

To ensure a proper transition into the AI age ethically, the Ministry has joined hands with academics and experts from Mahidol University to draft Digital Thailand - AI Ethics Guidelines, which will serve as a manual and provide ethical codes for AI development in government agencies, private firms, regulatory bodies, researchers, designers, developers, and users. The guidelines cover six aspects of development, namely competitiveness and sustainable development; legal regulations and international ethical standards; operational codes and duties;

The Ministry of a Digital Economy and Society has joined hands with academics and experts from Mahidol University to draft Digital Thailand - AI Ethics Guidelines.

security and privacy; equality, diversity, and fairness; and credibility.

Further consultations will be held to hear opinions from all sides to further refine

these draft guidelines, which will become the key development manual for all to follow in order to develop AI technology based on good ethics.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 9

Yellow Liver, Yellow Liver (sing along) What is your most important organ? Ask any man and he will undoubtedly point to his bladder’s siphon hose.

But it isn’t. The liver is one of the more important organs you possess. Without it you will die, whereas you can get by without a kidney, or a lung or a thyroid, or even Willy the Wonder Wand (a delicacy enjoyed by Isaan ducks, I believe)! Yes, I’d rate my liver fairly highly.

Think of your liver as a filtering and de-toxifying device.

Chemicals are taken up by the liver, to be broken down into non-toxic chemicals, all to protect your system. Clever organ your liver, to know what’s good for you and what isn’t.

The most well known liver toxin is our old friend Ethanol, more usually referred to as booze. There is “common wisdom” that says certain types of booze are more damaging than others, but that just isn’t so. Irrespective of the color or shape of the bottle it came in, ethanol is ethanol, is ethanol. It is the percentage of alcohol that is the important factor. That alcohol affects the liver is generally accepted, with the end result being called Cirrhosis, a fibrous hardening of the liver which then becomes unable to carry out its job correctly. Toxins build up. You feel unwell and it’s all downhill from there.

Some proprietary or prescription drugs can produce an inflammation of the liver tissues too. Or worse, produce a breakdown of the liver tissue itself. Amongst these is the

headache medication paracetamol (the ubiquitous medication you can even buy in the corner stores), but before you throw them out of your bathroom cabinet, it requires some heavy and very frequent dosage of paracetamol to do this.

Other prescription items that may produce liver problems include Methyldopa, several penicillins, Simvastatin (the cholesterol lowering drug), Diclofenac (a non-steroidal antiinflammatory) and Ketoconazole (anti-fungal). But it is rare – so don’t stop taking your prescriptions yet!

Prescription drugs can be dangerous (even though you can get most of them over the counter in Thailand), but that’s why they have a PI (patient information) leaflet inside the box (the bit you throw away and don’t read). Probably if you read about it, you wouldn’t take it!

However, what about “Health food” preparations? The purveyors of these all cite the fact that the ingredients are “natural” so everyone assumes that this means “safe”. Not so, I’m afraid. Lead, for example, is a naturally occurring compound, and not much good for young kidneys. However, since we are talking about liver problems, hands up all those of you who have heard of Echinacea? Supposedly fixes everything from falling hair to fallen arches – but is it “safe”? Well, Echinacea, along with Kombucha Tea are two of the commonest compounds showing a well documented history of being toxic to the liver. So if you’re sipping

Kombucha tea because you’ve drunk too much alcohol last night, I would suggest that you change to water, or go back to booze (stop hangovers – stay drunk)!

Others for sale in the Health Food shops with known toxic effects on the liver include Evening primrose oil, Valerian, Chaparral, Japanese Daisaiko-to (for dyspepsia), Chinese Jin-bu-huan and several forms of herbal teas such as those from Heliotroprium, Senecio crotalaria and Symphytum. Makes you think that the shops that sell them may be incorrectly named, doesn’t it!

So how can we see what stage your liver is at after the onslaught of liver toxins? There is a new test called Fibroscan which can show if your liver is in trouble. My hospital’s Gastrointestinal and Liver Center can arrange it for you.

But while the column this week seems to be spreading doom, gloom and disaster, it’s not quite that bad. The liver is a very powerful organ and is capable of regenerating itself quite quickly, so in most cases of toxicity following ingestion of chemical compounds (including alcohol), by stopping taking it the liver recovers and the patient feels well again.

So remember that if you are taking anything regularly and you feel unwell, it may be the liver – but tell your doctor everything you have been taking! And no thanks, I’ll give the herbal tea a miss today.

Old dogs, new tricks: 10,000 pets needed for science Carla K. Johnson Seattle (AP) — Can old dogs teach us new tricks?

Scientists are looking for 10,000 pets for the largestever study of aging in canines. They hope to shed light on human longevity too.

The project will collect a pile of pooch data: vet records, DNA samples, gut microbes and information on food and walks. Five hundred dogs will test a pill that could slow the aging process.

“What we learn will potentially be good for dogs and has great potential to translate to human health,” said project co-director Daniel Promislow of the University of Washington School of Medicine.

If scientists find a genetic marker for a type of cancer in dogs, for instance, that could be explored in humans.

For the study, the dogs will live at home and follow their usual routine. All ages and sizes, purebreds and mutts are welcome.

In this Monday, Nov. 11, 2019 photo, University of Washington School of Medicine researcher Daniel Promislow, the principal investigator of the Dog Aging Project grant, rubs the head of his elderly dog Frisbee at their home in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Owners will complete periodic online surveys and take their dogs to the vet once a year, with the possibility of extra visits for certain tests.

Their welfare will be monitored by a bioethicist and a panel of animal welfare advisers.

To nominate a pet, owners can visit the Dog Aging Project’s website.

The five-year study was formally launched Thursday at a science meeting in Austin, Texas. The National Institute on Aging is paying for the $23 million project because dogs and humans share the same environment, get the same diseases and dogs’ shorter lifespans allow quicker research results, said deputy director, Dr.

Marie Bernard. The data collected will be available to all scientists.

Leslie Lambert of Parkville, Maryland, enrolled her 11year-old rescue dog, Oscar, in an early phase.

“I would selfishly like to have him around forever,” said the 33-year-old veterinarian.

“Unfortunately, he ages much, much faster than I do.”

But she’s torn by the prospect of an anti-aging pill because so many abandoned dogs go without care. “Just because we can, should we?”

Compared to farm dogs in the past, today’s pampered pups live longer and get more geriatric diseases, said veterinarian Dr. Kate Creevy of Texas A&M University, the project’s chief scientific officer.

Yet no standard measures exist for frailty or prognosis in sick, aged dogs, Creevy said. The project will develop those tools.

One dog year is roughly equal to seven human years,

Banglamung comes to rescue of impoverished grandma Boonlua Chatree

Banglamung authorities came to the rescue of a poor woman trying to care for a senile husband and 4-year-old granddaughter.

Banglamung authorities came to the rescue of a poor woman trying to care for a senile husband and 4-yearold granddaughter.

District Chief Amnart Charoensri and officials from the Banglamung Red Cross visited Boonlert Wongson, 59, at her Thepprasit Soi 5 home Nov. 14.

Boonlert’s husband is afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease, and young Kanklao Nortiensin was abandoned

by her mother. She must provide for all three with minimal income.

The officials gave Boonlert a care package of basic necessities and 7,000 baht from the Red Cross and volunteers. They also gave everyone a medical checkup.

Amnart said the district would work to ensure Kanklao gets an education and that everyone has access to health care. He also promised to negotiate lower rent from the landlord.

Creevy said, but that varies by breed. Large dogs have shorter lifespans than smaller dogs. A Great Dane’s lifespan is about half that of a toy poodle’s.

That makes large dogs better test subjects for the pill.

Dogs weighing at least 40 pounds will be eligible for an experiment with rapamycin, now taken by humans to prevent rejection of transplanted kidneys. The drug has extended lifespan in mice. A small safety study in dogs found no dangerous side effects, said project co-director Matt Kaeberlein of the University of Washington.

Human devotion to dogs

drives projects like this, the scientists said. Owners will gladly fill out surveys, send records and submit a pup’s poop for analysis if they think it will help all dogs live longer, even if it won’t help their pet.

“People love dogs,” said Promislow, who normally studies aging in fruit flies.

“No one has ever come up to me and said, ‘Oh my goodness, I just love fruit flies.’”

Promislow’s mixed breed, 14-year-old Frisbee, will not participate to prevent a conflict of interest.

“It’s too bad because she’s a terrific example of a really healthy ager,” he said.

10

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019

Odds and Ends The Associated Press

Lobsterman rescues deer trapped in water off Maine coast Harrington, Maine (AP) — A Maine lobsterman hauled in an unusual catch 5 miles off the coast — a live deer. Ren Dorr says he was setting traps when he saw a young deer Monday morning. He says the deer had given up swimming and was being carried farther offshore. He and his crew hauled the 100-pound buck aboard. Having a wild animal in a confined space could be trouble. But Dorr told the Bangor Daily News that the deer was so tuckered out that he “laid right down like a dog.” He says it took a halfhour to return to Harrington, where the deer was set free.

Dorr says that he has seen deer swimming before but that this was different. He says that if he and his crew hadn’t intervened, the deer would have been “a goner.”

(Jared Thaxter via AP)

California deputies help dumpster-diving bear escape Kings Beach, Calif. (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies in Northern California have helped a massive dumpster-diving bear get out of a sticky situation. Placer County sheriff’s deputies found the bear trapped Monday in a locked trash bin in Kings Beach, on Lake Tahoe’s northern shore. Video the agency posted to Facebook shows a deputy shining a flashlight on the dumpster and the bear suddenly popping its head out. As the startled deputy jumps back, others laugh and say “whoa!” They recognize it as the bear they’ve dubbed “T-Shirt” for a patch of white fur on its chest. The agency says the animal has had run-ins with deputies before. They unlock the dumpster from a distance and fling open one of the doors. The bear was stuck in a smaller opening in the top of one of the doors, but eventually drops down, pushes it open and lumbers out.

Rescue: ‘Unicorn’ puppy doesn’t notice ‘tail’ growth on head Jackson, Mo. (AP) — A rescued puppy is attracting a lot of attention because of his resemblance to a unicorn. The nearly 10-week-old puppy, named Narwhal, has a tail-like appendage growing from his forehead. Narwhal was rescued over the weekend and sent to Mac’s Mission in Jackson, which specializes in fostering animals with special needs. Mac’s Mission founder Rochelle Steffen says Narwhal doesn’t notice the extra tail and is otherwise a happy, healthy puppy. Although it looks like a tail, Narwhal cannot wag it. Steffen says the rescue group has been flooded with requests from people wanting to adopt Narwhal since his picture hit social media. But he’ll remain at Mac’s Mission so his caretakers can be sure the tail doesn’t grow out of proportion to his face and cause him problems.

PATTAYA MAIL

Crossword No 1366

sponsored by

Massic Travel

Across 1 Distinguish (7) 5 Revolves (5) 8 Wooden shoes (5) 9 Lingered (7) 10 Endangered (2,5) 11 Wingless parasitic insect (5) 12 Portuguese currency unit (6) 14 Foreigners (6) 18 Father Christmas (5) 20 Loss of memory (7) 22 Place of shelter for ships (7) 23 Maladroit (5) 24 Large, unwieldy (5) 25 Nullified (7)

Down 1 Mislead (7) 2 Exclusive news story (5) 3 Guaranteed (7) 4 Stinging plant (6) 5 Of the country (5) 6 Free time (7) 7 Move furtively (5) 13 Restraint (7) 15 Yearning (7) 16 Began (7) 17 Infertile (6) 18 Term of respect in India (5) 19 Great pain (5) 21 Perfume (5)

Last week’s answers Across: 1 Cheats, 4 Wisdom, 8 Gorse, 9 Descend, 10 Antlers, 11 Games, 12 Completed, 17 Anger, 19 Seventy, 21 Stained, 22 Stain, 23 Absurd, 24 Racket.

Down: 1 Cognac, 2 Erratic, 3 Theme, 5 In sight, 6 Dream, 7 Modish, 9 Disclosed, 13 Mariner, 14 Denmark, 15 Nausea, 16 Cygnet, 18 Grass, 20 Vista.

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. 268

(Tyler Graef/The Southeast Missourian via AP)

S. Carolina man: McDonald’s sweet tea came with weed inside Hilton Head, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina man who went to McDonald’s for a sweet tea says he received a little extra herbal substance on the side. The Island Packet reports Parrish Brown went to a McDonald’s on Hilton Head Island and asked for a sweet tea with light ice and extra lemon. Brown now believes “extra lemon” was code for marijuana, since he found three bags of weed in his cup. He says he only realized it once he was “high as a kite.” Brown says he’d never had marijuana, so he didn’t recognize the taste. He says he paid regular price for the items. Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Maj. Bob Bromage says an investigation is ongoing. He didn’t specify which McDonald’s Brown had gone to. A representative for McDonald’s said the company is “fully cooperating with law enforcement on the validity of this claim.”

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Answers next week.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

PATTAYA MAIL

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019

11

A few reader’s FAQ’s

Over the years, the questions I receive tend to be about fuzziness, and not really related to camera problems. I did get something new the other day, however.

The reader went on to write, “Bought an S/H D 40 X. Lovely bit of equipment suitable for my needs.

“I will ask a little advice now and then as I work my way through all its tricks if you don’t mind. I have already picked up a neat infrared remote shutter control and have tested it out to 30 meters. I also picked up a twin battery pack that should give me plenty of backup power. I will look for an AFS VR 200 mm zoom in a couple of months. A question though, I know most of the time it is

power economical to leave the LCD off but occasionally it is needed for viewing. I have trawled through the book and menus for both turning it on and also extending the viewing time of the menus but I’m damned if I can find anything about either items. Any suggestions?”

The reader is of course correct that the LCD is certainly a power drain with any digital camera, be that compact or D SLR, and this is why the manufacturers will suggest you use the optical viewfinder.

Personally I like the optical viewfinder and have mine set up with a grid pattern on it so I can check horizons and verticals before releasing the shutter. With the Nikon D 40 X, you should be able to turn the screen on and off at will by using the “Info” button which is near the shutter release button and that should do the trick. Are you sure the LCD does not have an automatic power save/shut off ability, which fixes your worries?

Remember too that most DSLR cameras only view

Dear Hillary, I love your column. I have been coming to Asia from the US for almost 20 years. I bought a condo here, got a driver’s license, bought a car, and have a retirement visa. I even arranged my funeral, when that becomes necessary. I am continually amazed how stupid western men are when they come here. They do not act the way they would back home and take women for granted. I frankly think they deserve to get taken for all they are stupidly worth or claim to be. I hear too many of them bragging (mostly lying) about how great they are, how much money they have etc., I hope they get robbed. I live here and have many Thai friends. I respect them for their lifestyle and do not care that I may have more money than they. Those idiots who come here to do the wrong thing deserve to get ripped off. So, to those who do not learn or respect the culture, spend your money and get the hell out.

Kingston Dear Kingston, Anyone who starts their email with “I love your column” goes straight to the top. Flattery will get you everywhere, and some chocolates and bubbles gets you even further! It is well known that there is a certain group of foreigners.

Unfortunately you are correct that many westerners who write their CV on the plane coming over, thinking that coming from a first world, anyone in a third world country will never know the truth – but the social networks soon show up the frauds. After that it is downhill from there. I am glad to hear you have some Thai friends and you respect their lifestyle, which can be quite different from the westerner’s, but you are here in Thailand and have really made the grade. Well done.

through the eyepiece, unless they have a “live view” function, which the D 40 does not. The LCD is therefore for reviewing an image after it is shot, and setting your menu options. Finally, if you can’t find what you need in the destruction manual, then go directly to Nikon HQ and they will be able to assist. Sorry I cannot be more specific, but each camera brand and each camera model can have individual characteristics that

the factory sales representatives know intimately.

One frequent problem that photographers have with Auto-Focus (AF) is getting out of focus results when photographing couples.

They frame up well, hear the focus set ‘beep’ but the people are not in focus in the final rendition. Another reader wrote, “I have a Pentax (model not given) Autofocus SLR and am generally happy with it and its performance, other than

Dear Hillary, I just came from a big shopping center and saw an old man argue with his young Thai girlfriend outside an expensive jewelry shop. She was pointing at very expensive diamond rings and he was trying to pull her away. I think he probably has to pay her huge salary because here the older and uglier you are the higher the price is so he think he pays her enough and judging by the shopping bags, she was doing very well that day. My point is we foreigners don’t care sometimes how much we pay but we all hate very much to be taken out for a fool.

Gordy Dear Gordy, Why do I get the distinct impression that you are talking about yourself, being ripped off by a gorgeous Thai girl, that you thought was a girlfriend, despite a hefty “salary”, though what is a lot for some people is merely nothing relatively. All I can suggest for you is to stop going to shopping centers and hanging around young Thai ladies who are window shopping. For all you know, she might have been going to buy him an expensive diamond ring! Then again, Up Umbrellas, as a squadron of pigs just went by overhead.

Dear Hillary, My name is Maleeporn, and I am a Thai woman from Pattaya the sin city, who have been reading Pattaya Mail and your column for years. I wrote to you once long time ago, could not remember what it was, in hand writing. I enjoy learning

when I am taking people shots. Many times the print comes back and the people in the shot are soft and blurry. I have even used a tripod, in case I was getting camera shake. Any ideas on this? Is it a usual problem with the AF?” This is easy to fix. AF cameras have a central spot in the viewfinder to find the focusing point in the picture.

That AF point is not very large, and obviously does not cover the entire image in

the viewfinder. What happens is that when photographing two people, the AF beam goes through between the people and the camera is then auto-focused on the background, not on the couple in the foreground.

Check your images and I am sure you will find you have a crisp background and the soft foreground.

What has to be done is to employ the ‘focus lock’ capabilities of the camera. Set up your shot as usual, positioning the two people as you want. Now swing the camera away until one of the people is now central in the viewfinder and depress the shutter release half way. As the camera focuses on the one person, keep the shutter release half depressed to ‘lock’ the focus and now swing the camera back to recompose the shot and then fully depress the shutter release.

The focus point is now at the same distance as the subjects so you will get correctly focused prints.

foreigner’s point of view in life - I mean yours and your readers’, the style of putting out their opinions, their home countries and everything. Personally, I always admire their punctuality and being discipline which we Thais are so weak at this. Your column is very helpful to me to learn the differences of people in this world. As I am studying Humanities at Ramkhamhaeng University major in English, I would like to say here that I have learned a great deal of knowledge from your column, and this has helped my studying to become a very interesting one. I thank you. You are like my religion here. I hope you keep doing this useful job for a very long time. Lastly, to have my letter for a change in your column would not be so bad, yes? Readers need vacation, too.

Always, Thai woman Dear Thai woman, How kind of you to write again, even if you can’t remember what it was. Yes, there are many differences between farangs and Thais, and more than just big noses and round eyes. Foreigners have learned how to use a wrist watch, whilst the Thais think of them as fashion accessories and are still inventing excuses for being late. One day they will fix the traffic in Bangkok and hundreds of people will be without the ‘rot dit’ excuse, and then all we will have left is to blame the six hour clock system. And honestly, if Pattaya is a “sex and sin city”, what is Bangkok, with its Patpong Road, Soi Nana, Soi Cowboy and 3,596 karaoke bars? Or London, or Amsterdam, or Munich, or Sydney, or Mumbai?

12 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Music from the Gurkhas

Four pipers echoed around the school.

Derek Franklin

Feeling the sound.

Music plays an important part in the lives of the students at the Pattaya School for the Blind. There is a marching band, a rock group, traditional Thai instrument orchestra and a country music band, and they also like to listen to instruments that are not usually heard in Thailand.

In the past the silence at the school was shattered when a trumpeter arrived to play and shook the windows, a quartet of violins echoed beautifully around the school and the students were amazed when an Irish musician played the spoons; the cook in the dining room,

The HHNFT outreach team give children an education and teach them how to stay safe.

Jetsada Homklin Human Help Network Foundation (Thailand) social workers visited a construction workers camp behind the Cartoon Network Amazon where they gave language and art lessons to the children living in the situated behind the Cartoon Network Amazon water park.

Staff and volunteers from t h e c h a r i t y v i s ited the Ocean Workers Camp behind the tourist attraction Nov. 17, allowing kids who normally went to construction sites with their parents

a day to stay at home and learn.

The children – most of whom are from neighboring countries – were given Thai language lessons and engaged in drawing and painting. The HHN staff also gave the kids instructions on how to remain safe and avoid exploitation and kidnapping.

The social workers said it’s dangerous for children who hang around construction sites and planned to return to the camp in the coming weeks and encouraged more children to stay at the camp so they can also get an education.

Once the music was over the children were allowed to touch and feel the instruments, work out how the pipes work and several attempted to play them. It was a strange experience for the soldiers as the children also felt the medals

and the uniforms.

Then it was over to the sports court to watch a game of Goalball, a sport the Gurkhas had never seen before and they were very impressed, but unable to play themselves as they were in full dress uniform.

The Gurkhas were introduced to the sport of Goalball.

Riding for the Disabled compete in a Caprilli Test

The Gurkha drummers.

HHN volunteers give education to migrant workers’ children

however, was not happy when most of the spoons went missing after lunch as the children attempted to play them.

Bagpipes and drums were the latest instruments introduced to the children, courtesy of the band of the Second Battalion Royal Gurkha Rifles who made the students sit up and take note when the pipes started.

There was silence as the musicians paraded around the school and the students applauded after each piece of music. In return the pipers and drummers, who are originally from Nepal and are part of the British Army, were treated to a performance of traditional country music.

Introducing Thai country music to the Gurkhas.

Able the Disabled Foundation Horseshoe Point Pattaya Sandra Cooper For the riders of Able the Disabled we celebrated the end of the year with a fun competition. This year’s riders spent two months with their volunteer helpers and the grooms, learning a 4 minute test. The Caprilli test consists of trotting poles to rise and go over, one circle, two salutes and steering around corners. Each movement is marked out of 10 points.

Our judge this year, Richard Thell from the USA, was full of compassion and support for our riders. A huge thank you to him for judging each test, helping to make this event special along with scribe Flore.

This year’s winner was Panyopon Jindahra who held up the winner’s cup with great pride.

Event judge, Richard Thell from the USA, was full of compassion and support for the riders.

We would like to thank our sponsor, Pattaya International Ladies Circle, for sponsoring the rosettes. Our winner this year was Panyopon Jindahra who held up the winner’s cup with great pride. A lunch was enjoyed by all the parents and children, making this day a special memory for everyone.

If you would like to know more about volunteering to help special needs children with therapy riding, or love being around horses, contact Sandra on 0868483684. Our classes are on Monday and Thursday from 10.00am to 12.00. We also give private lessons to special needs riders any day of the week.

The Able the Disabled Riders celebrated the end of the year with a fun competition.

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 13

PATTAYA MAIL

Pattaya amputee turns trash into treasure Jetsada Homklin One man’s trash has been good fortune for a Pattaya amputee who turns beer and soda cans into art.

Palangkorn Auipako had his arm amputated at age 10 after falling from a tree and getting an infection in his broken arm. The future might have looked bleak at that point, but, like so many, the newly disabled boy found hope at the Redemptorist Vocational School for Persons with Disabilities in Pattaya.

The Father Ray Foundation vocational school – now called Redemptorist Technological College – educated and trained Palangkorn in computers at no cost. The Surin native graduated and landed a job at a plastics and auto-parts factory.

Inspiration struck one day when noticed piles of empty beer and soft drink cans being collected to sell for scrap

A tuk-tuk model uses 1015 cans and takes up to six hours to make.

for just a few baht a kilogram.

Why not, he thought, make something from them that people want.

Studying tutorials and videos online, Palangkorn taught himself to make models from the disused aluminum, fashioning them with his left arm and right foot. He now turns cans into models of tuktuks, aircraft, trains and even Vespa motorbikes and sells them on social media.

“I believe that everyone has a different genius and inspiration,” Palangkorn said. “I lost my right arm, but I kept fighting and found my ability to create things and earn an income from adding value to garbage.”

What started out as a hobby has turned into a good business for Palangkorn, sometimes too much business. He said he still works full-time, so must fulfill orders for tuktuks and Vespas in his spare time. And it takes time.

A tuk-tuk or train model uses 10-15 cans and takes up

to six hours to make. He sells them for 500 baht each. A Vespa takes two cans, two hours and he sells them for 120 baht.

Palangkorn wants to show others how to create art from recyclables and has started his own YouTube channel where he gives lessons on making tuk-tuks and other models, providing links to purchase other people’s projects.

“All problems have ways to be solved,” Palangkorn said. “Don’t give up and you will find the way.”

Palangkorn Auipako, who had his arm amputated at age 10, has learned to turn beer and soda cans into art.

Destination

HM the King Changes Emerald Buddha’s Attire

His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn presides over a ceremony to change the seasonal attire of the Emerald at Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

Bangkok, Nov 13 (TNA) His Majesty King Vajiralongkorn of Thailand on Nov. 12 presided over a ceremony to change the seasonal attire of the Emerald Buddha at Wat Phra Kaew or the Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

King Rama X accompanied

by Queen Suthida arrived at the temple in the Grand Palace on Tuesday evening to perform the age-old ritual of changing the attire of the Buddha image from the rainy season to the winter cloak.

After the ceremony, the King sprinkled holy water on officials attending the ceremony and people outside the temple hall.

The royal ceremony began during the reign of King Rama I, the founder of the House of Chakri, with only two seasonal costumes; the summer season and the rainy season.

King Rama III ordered another costume made for the winter season.

The Emerald Buddha image in cross-legged sitting posture is considered a palladium of Thailand. (TNA)

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

And all I ask is a tall ship…

Walt Whitman in September 1872.

Do you ever get that curious experience when for no apparent reason, a line of poetry, or a long-forgotten name or phrase drifts into your mind and catches you unawares? This morning I was making some dog food in the kitchen, when John Masefield’s evocative line floated into my mind. And yes, since you asked, the food was intended for the dogs not for me, although I

have occasionally tried those Pedigree Chum dog chews.

They look a lot better than they taste, I can tell you. But of course, these things are rather subjective and you might be very fond of them.

Anyway, last week I was looking at some of those stunning seascapes by Ivan Aivazovsky, the nineteenth century Russian painter who’s regarded as one of the greatest marine artists in

history. He created literally thousands of seascapes and had the uncanny ability to convey the effect of moving water and of reflected sun and moonlight.

If these things interest you, there are several websites where you can see his remarkable and technically brilliant work. It’s not surprising that the sea has had such a profound influence literature and the arts. Two of Masefield’s best-known poems are about the sea and the second line of Sea Fever with its yearning for a tall ship was quoted by Captain James T. Kirk in a rare moment of reflection during a 1980s episode of the television series Star Trek.

In Britain, you can’t go very far without arriving at the coastline and the sea has influenced many other British writers and composers. Benjamin Britten, born in a fishing port in Suffolk, found inspiration in the sea and so did Arnold Bax and Edward Elgar whose Sea Pictures are still a great favourite in Britain. In 1905, the conductor Henry Wood (he of Proms fame) composed his Fantasia on British Sea Songs, celebrating the centenary of the Battle of Trafalgar of 1805.

So then, here are two seainspired works by English

composers of the early twentieth century. Both are scored for large orchestra, chorus and soloists and both are settings of poems by the America’s “first poet of democracy” Walt Whitman.

Frederick Delius (1862-1934): Sea Drift. Bryn Terfel (bass-baritone), BBC Symphony Chorus and Orchestra cond.

Sir Mark Elder (Duration: c. 25:00; Video: 720p HD) Frederick Delius was born to German parents in the north of England and by all accounts he retained a noticeable Yorkshire accent throughout his life. His atmospheric work Sea Drift takes its name from one of Whitman’s poems in the Leaves of Grass collection.

It’s a large-scale work written in France where Delius lived for most of his adult years. Sea Drift was composed between 1903 and 1904 and was first performed in Germany a couple of years later.

The first performance in England was conducted by Henry Wood in 1908 at the Sheffield Festival. It was

later performed in Manchester though it was reported that there were more people on the stage than there were in the audience. Even so, this is an impressive work.

The performance on this video was recorded by the BBC at the first night of The Proms in 2012 and the audio quality and video production are exemplary. It also has the added advantage of subtitles so that you can fully appreciate the depth of meaning in Whitman’s engaging but profoundly sad poem.

Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958): A Sea Symphony.

Soloists and Choir; Southwest German Radio Symphony Orchestra, cond.

Dennis Russell Davies (Duration: 1:12:31; Video: 1080p HD) The music of Ralph Vaughan Williams is so established in his home country that British musicians often refer to him simply as “RVW” but his name can be tricky for foreigners.

His surname is “Vaughan Williams” not just “Williams” and his first name is

pronounced “Rafe” to rhyme with “safe”. During his long and prolific life he wrote nine magnificent symphonies for which he is best-known, a great deal of choral works and music for stage and screen. Strangely enough, Vaughan Williams did not number his first three symphonies although the Sea Symphony was the first, composed between 1903 and 1909. It’s also his longest. Whitman’s poems were not widely known in Britain at the time but Vaughan Williams was attracted to them not only for their thematic content but also for their use of free verse. The symphony uses five of Whitman’s lesser-known poems from Leaves of Grass. The first three movements are entitled A Song for All Seas, All Ships; On the Beach at Night, Alone and The Waves.

The last movement (The Explorers) uses text from Passage to India. The Sea Symphony contains some thrilling moments and some remarkably beautiful music. Towards the end of the work (01:07:17) there’s a sublime duet for the soprano and baritone soloists and the symphony ends almost inaudibly in a mood of profound serenity.

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.

Baldacci’s new thriller spooks and horrifies Waka Tsunoda David Baldacci made his literary debut in 1996 with a political thriller, “Absolute Power.” He has since written novels with blinding speed, many of them action thrillers featuring men with military backgrounds.

With his latest, “A Minute to Midnight,” the author changes gears and offers a murder mystery that spooks and horrifies.

The drama begins as FBI agent Atlee Pine comes upon a registered sex offender trying to abduct a little girl. She overpowers the man and pulls the girl to safety, but she doesn’t stop there. She beats him until he is unconscious. In her mind, the man has become confused with the still unidentified individual who came into her bedroom when she was 6 years old, almost killing her and running off with her twin sister Mercy.

Ordered to take a vacation for having used excessive force in the incident, Pine returns to her hometown in Georgia and attempts to solve the crime that happened nearly 30 years ago.

With the help of her assistant, Pine interviews her former neighbors, family friends and a man who now lives in her childhood home.

Many remember the horrific incident, but no one can shed any new light on it. Meanwhile, a woman’s corpse in a wedding veil turns up, followed by another in a tuxedo and yet another in an American Civil War costume.

Pine manages to solve these new cases and even discovers some surprising secrets about her parents, but the answer to her old “A Minute to Midnight: case still evades her. For Atlee Pine fans, an Atlee Pine Thriller,” this is good news because it means Baldacci Grand Central Publishing, has another thriller about her in the oven.

by David Baldacci.

Online: https://www.davidbaldacci.com/

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Hanks anchors a lovely Mister Rogers tale for adults Lindsey Bahr, AP Director Marielle Heller frames “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” as if it were an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood,” with miniature sets of cars and bridges to illustrate New York and Pittsburgh.

Mr. Rogers, played with clear-eyed purpose by Tom Hanks, introduces the audience to the film’s protagonist, journalist Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), using his “picture window” in that alltoo-familiar living room where he’s just changed into his sneakers and sweater.

It’s even rated PG. But “A Beautiful Day” is not really a children’s story at all. It’s a story about a man who suffers from the doubly impossible combination of being an adult and an investigative journalist. In other words, he’s the person least likely to be charmed by

the straightforward sincerity of someone like Fred Rogers.

The film is loosely based on Tom Junod’s article “Can You Say...‘Hero’?” which appeared in Esquire Magazine in November of 1998.

Junod has said that spending time with the then 70-yearold changed him. Cynical at first, the two formed a friendship — Junod’s first ever with a subject — that would last until Rogers’ death in 2003.

The similarities stop there and the film veers off in its own direction, adding drama and elements that are not part of Junod’s life at all (like getting into a fistfight with his father at his sister’s wedding, neither of which happened). But as Junod writes in The Atlantic this month, the film “seems like a culmination of the gifts that Fred Rogers gave me and all of us, gifts that fit the definition of grace because they feel, at least in my case, undeserved.”

Essentially, Fred Rogers’ lessons can apply to adults too. And “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” spins

its magic to show (not just tell) us how, no matter if it’s mostly a fiction from the minds of screenwriters Micah Fitzerman-Blue and Noah Harpster.

The film introduces Lloyd at a particularly unstable moment. He’s got a newborn son with his wife, Andrea (an understated and excellent Susan Kelechi Watson), and his long-estranged father (Chris Cooper) has suddenly started trying to come back into his life. It’s under these high-pressure circumstances that his editor (Christine Lahti) assigns him to write a “small piece” about Fred Rogers for the magazine’s “heroes issue.” Lloyd scoffs at what he considers a demeaning assignment. He’s there to be an investigative journalist and the host of a cheesy children’s show is, he thinks, below him. Andrea even asks her husband, knowing what kind of writer he is, to please not ruin her childhood.

He remains skeptical even upon meeting Fred and goes

back to his editor to ask for more time, saying that he “just doesn’t think he’s for real.” Sure, part of you is probably thinking Lloyd a monster. But consider Lloyd’s point of view too: Fred uses puppets during his interview and deflects quite a bit on the more pressing questions, often diverting and asking about his interviewer instead of answering.

And yet, his goodness starts to transcend all of that. Heller does a marvelous job illustrating the effect Fred has on those around him. Even the production staff who he infuriates with his tendency to veer off schedule by spending a little too long with visitors, falls in line when he starts to work his singular magic in front of the camera. They know they’re making something special.

One scene, that seems almost too schmaltzy to be true, in which a subway car full of adults and children starts serenading Fred with his theme song, actually

happened.

Hanks is such an obvious choice to play someone as beloved as Fred Rogers that his performance is something that could be in danger of being taken for granted or overlooked. He just makes it all look so easy — the almost uncomfortably slow way that he speaks. But it’s a testament to Hanks that you can’t “see” the work.

But much like Fred Rogers, you don’t have to understand it to be moved.

“A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” a Sony Pictures release, is rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America for “some strong thematic material, a brief fight, and some mild language.” Running time: 108 minutes. Three and a half stars out of four.

Jon Voight, Alison Krauss honored with national medals Washington (AP) — Oscarwinning actor Jon Voight, singer and musician Alison Krauss and mystery writer James Patterson are among the artists and philanthropists being honored by President Donald Trump for their contributions to the arts or the humanities, the first recipients of prestigious national medals since Trump took office.

The White House announced four recipients of the National Medal of Arts and four of the National Humanities Medal in a statement Sunday night. Voight is one of Trump’s few vocal Hollywood backers, and has hailed him as “the greatest president of this century.”

Trump is also honoring the musicians of the U.S. military, who frequently entertain at White House events.

While the honors had been an annual affair during past administrations, they have not been awarded since Trump’s inauguration in January 2017.

The most recent arts or humanities medals were bestowed by President Barack Obama in September 2016.

The recipients of the National Medal of Arts are: —Alison Krauss, the bluegrass-country singer and musician, “for making extraordinary contributions to American music.” The White House misspelled her name in its release.

Actor Jon Voight. (Photo by Charles Sykes/Invision/AP, File)

—Sharon Percy Rockefeller “for being a renowned champion of the arts, generous supporter of charity, and a pioneer of new ideas and approaches in the field of public policy.”

—The Musicians of the United States Military “for personifying excellence in music and service to country.”

—Jon Voight “for his exceptional capacity as an actor to portray deeply complex characters.” Voight starred in “Midnight Cowboy,” the 1969 film that won anAcademy Award for best picture, and he won the best actor Oscar for 1978’s “Coming Home.” He appears in the Showtime series “Ray Donovan.”

The recipients of the National Humanities Medal are: —The Claremont Institute “for championing the Nation’s founding principles and enriching American minds.”

Singer Alison Krauss. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

—Teresa Lozano Long “for supporting the arts and improving educational opportunities” through scholarships and philanthropy.

—Patrick O’Connell, the chef at The Inn at Little Washington, “for being one of the greatest chefs of our time.”

—James Patterson “for being one of the most successful American authors of

our time.” Patterson wrote a book about Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who killed himself while awaiting trial on charges of sexually abusing teenage girls. The book includes several references to Trump, including an account of the men’s falling out.

The National Endowment for the Arts and the National

Author James Patterson. (Photo by Taylor Jewell/Invision/AP, File)

Endowment for the Humanities solicit candidates for the medals and compile proposed winners. The White House, which sometimes adds its own nominees, traditionally approves and announces them ahead of a presidential ceremony.

Trump has had an uneasy if not hostile relationship with many in the arts and

the humanities who oppose his policies and have denounced his presidency. He has been largely shunned by Hollywood and has skipped events like the annual Kennedy Center gala that is one of Washington’s premier social gatherings after some honorees said they would not attend if Trump was part of the ceremony.

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

Everyone wins at R

500,000 baht raised Jetsada Homklin

Winston Gale running towards a silver medal in the 3000-metre marathon.

Sarah Osbourne-James presents a donation of 25,000 baht to towards the Riviera charities, received by Winston Gale and witnessed by Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh (centre).

Sukanya Gale wins the gold medal in the 3000metre marathon.

The Riviera Group, along with their suppliers and contractors traded work clothes for athletic gear for a day as the property developer hosted its fourth-annual Sports Day. Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh and Riviera founders Winston and Sukanya Gale opened the Nov. 16 event at Regents International School with Principal Sarah Osborne-James.

The day started with a grand opening ceremony for the 300 athletes and cheerleaders.

Then the games commenced with a three-kilometer longdistance run for men, women and kids.

The sports day kicked off with the grueling 3000 metres marathon. It was an exciting race with some runners dropping out after a few laps. The 3 top winners in the men’s division were, 1. Suwan Team 2.

Riviera Group and 3. Somchai Team. In the women’s category the Riviera Group grabbed the Gold medal, followed by Strong Agents Team, Silver medal followed by Boonteung Team, Bronze medal.

The Junior race saw a throng of young runners compete which was won by PB Ceiling, followed by young runners from the Riviera Group team.

Other sports during the day included tug of war, a “centipede walk”, takraw, volleyball and track. Men’s and women’s 100-meter races were held along with a 4 x 100meter relay.

The day concluded with a football match between the Regents and Riviera teams.

Riviera – which lost to the school last year – rebounded, winning 5-2 and capturing the 5,000 baht prize.

The Gales handed out the trophies and medals at the closing ceremony and conducted a lucky draw for charity. The 200-baht raffle tickets gave entrants the chance to win gold and jewelry with the proceeds going to Ban Kru Boonchu Foundation, (150,000 baht) Banglamung Hospital’s equipment fund (200,000) and Riviera’s own fund (150,000 baht) to help children stricken by cancer.

Sports done, everyone then joined together for a lavish party and dancing to a live band.

Sukanya Gale leads the Riviera Group team in the march past.

Runners give it their all.

The Riviera Revue entertained the spectators during the opening ceremony.

(Photo right) The heart stopping finish to the relay.

The Riviera football team celebrate winning the champion’s trophy.

Ubonjitr Thamchop (Min), organiser extraordinaire, worked very hard to help make this one of the best sports days ever.

The Tug-o-war separated the men from the boys.

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Riviera Sports Day

d for local charities

Sarah Osbourne James presents the silver medal to Austin Gale.

Sarah Osbourne-James presented a prize to the winner. In second and third place were Austin and Toby Gale.

Winston Gale proudly holds onto the Champion’s Trophy.

Peter Malhotra (Pattaya Mail) presented medals to the winners of the men’s and women’s 3000 metres marathon.

Sukanya Gale (right) presents a raffle prize to the lucky winner.

The football match was exciting and fast paced.

Winston presents a winner’s prize to the WSP team.

The women’s volleyball matches were fast and furious.

Time to party. Singing and dancing to the sounds of the live band.

Results

Everyone wins at The Riviera Group Sports Day.

3000 meters Run (Male) Chang Suwan – gold medal, Riviera Group – silver medal, Chang Somchai – bronze medal.

3000 meters Run (Female) Riviera Group – gold medal, Strong Agent – silver medal, Chang Boonteng – bronze medal.

Junior Run 1st: P&B, 2nd: Riviera Group, 3rd: Riviera Group.

Takraw (Male) 1st: Chang Witoon, 2nd: Chang Somchai.

Volleyball (Female) Strong Agent - winner, Riviera Group – 1st runner-up.

Individual Run (Male) Electricians – gold medal, P&B – silver medal, Chang Boonteng – bronze medal.

Individual Run (Female) Strong Agent – gold medal, Riviera Group – silver medal, P&B – bronze medal.

Relay race (Male) 4x100, Chang Suwan – gold medal, Thanasit – silver medal, Chang Witoon – bronze medal.

Relay race (Female) 4x100, Riviera Group - gold medal, Peterson – silver medal, WSP – bronze medal.

Tug of war: Riviera Group.

Centipede Walk: Chang Sutee.

Break and Run: WSP. Young man and lady with nice figure (Male): P&B. Young man and lady with nice figure (Female): Chang Suwan.

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

Pope Francis calls for action to safeguard women, children Nicole Winfield Bangkok (AP) — Pope Francis called for migrants to be welcomed and for women and children to be protected from exploitation, abuse and enslavement as he began a busy two days of activities in Thailand on Thursday, November 21.

Francis pleaded for action against one of the region’s greatest scourges, human trafficking to fuel the forced labor and sex trade industries, as he began a weeklong visit to Asia.

debt bondage, of migrant workers in commercial fishing enterprises.

The Thai government has insisted it has made significant progress in cracking down on human trafficking and has vowed continued cooperation with international bodies to improve.

Francis has made the fight against human trafficking one of the cornerstones of his papacy, calling it a crime against humanity. Under his express wishes, the Vatican has hosted several conferences on eradicating

Pope Francis celebrates a Mass at the National Stadium, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/ Gregorio Borgia)

He praised the Thai government’s efforts to fight human trafficking in a speech delivered at host Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha’s Government House offices. But he appealed for greater international commitment to protect women and children “who are violated and exposed to every form of exploitation, enslavement, violence and abuse.”

He called for ways to “uproot this evil and to provide ways to restore their dignity.”

“The future of our peoples is linked in large measure to the way we will ensure a dignified future to our children,” he said.

The United Nations considers Thailand a key trafficking destination as well as a source of forced labor and sex slaves, who are trafficked at home or abroad.

The U.N. anti-trafficking agency says migrants come from Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia or Vietnam, with Cambodian women and children in particular trafficked to beg in Thai cities.

The U.S. State Department has faulted Thailand for failing to fully crack down on traffickers who induce young Thai girls into pornography, as well as the exploitation, including via

trafficking, featuring women freed from forced prostitution. And during his papacy, an international network of religious sisters, Talitha Kum, has gained greater prominence following decades of quiet efforts to rescue women from traffickers.

While Thailand has a tradition of taking in migrant laborers and sheltering people fleeing from danger in neighboring countries, it also has a checkered history of deporting foreigners who are in the country illegally, even if they are recognized by the United Nations as refugees who are fleeing persecution. In addition, up until it signed an agreement with the U.N. refugee agency this year, Thailand held child asylum-seekers in detention centers.

In his comments made alongside Thai authorities, Francis thanked the country for its historical role welcoming migrants from across the region, who are drawn to Thailand for economic opportunities. But he said all countries must do more to resolve the conflicts that fuel the “tragic exodus” of forced migration.

“May every nation devise effective means for protecting the dignity and rights of

Thailand bids a fond farewell to His Holiness Pope Francis. (NNT)

migrants and refugees, who face dangers, uncertainties and exploitation in their quest for freedom and a decent life for their families,” he said.

Francis had a busy schedule on his first full day of activities.

During a meeting with Thailand’s Supreme Patriarch of Buddhism, Francis committed the Catholic Church to working more with Thailand’s majority Buddhists to launch projects to care for the poor and the environment.

Francis’s visit was the second time a pope has called on the spiritual leader of Thailand’s Buddhists, after St. John Paul II in 1984.

There are fewer than 400,000 Catholics among Thailand’s 65 million people, yet Francis said they nevertheless have enjoyed freedom in their religious practice. He called for increasing charitable initiatives to improve fraternity and to help the poor “and our much-abused common home.”

His visit to Wat Ratchabophit was followed by a visit to a Catholic hospital and a private audience

Pope Francis, center, celebrates an open-air Mass at the National Sports Stadium in Bangkok Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

a medal, on the occasion of his official visits to Thailand and Japan between November 19 and 26, to Her Majesty the Queen.

Their Majesties and the Pope then posed for an official group photo and held a private discussion.

And finally, after Queen Suthida curtsied to Pope Francis, the royal couple walked down the stairs at the palace entrance to see Pope Francis off in his car, a rare and personal touch.

The 82-year-old Argentine wrapped up the day with a public Mass at Bangkok’s National Stadium.

Pope Francis greets religious leaders during a meeting of Christian denominations and other religions at Chulalongkorn University, Friday, Nov. 22.

(AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)

Pope Francis talks to his cousin Ana Rosa Sivori as he arrives at Military Air Terminal of Don Muang Airport, Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2019, in Bangkok.

(AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

with HM King Maha Vajiralongkorn and HM Queen Suthida.

Bidding farewell at their palace on Thursday evening, the royals paid their utmost respect to the pope, bringing their hands together and nodding their heads. The “wai” is a gesture of respect, usually initiated by young to old, and is shown by the king to the Buddhist patriarch, but not to other heads of state.

In addition, the gifts presented to Pope Francis were of the highest level of royal gifts that the Thai king gives to a foreign monarch: a nielloware desk set, similar to what the king’s late father, King Bhumibol, gave to Queen Elizabeth II. The Pope presented a mosaic of St. Peter’s Basilica, a medal to commemorate the seventh anniversary of his election as pontiff and a commemorative book to His Majesty the King.

Her Majesty the Queen presented a set of scented candles. The Pope presented

Pope Francis ministered to Thailand’s tiny Catholic community Friday, urging Thais young and old to practice their faith with joy and with “a Thai face and flesh” in an overwhelmingly Buddhist country.

Thousands of Thais welcomed Pope Francis as he traveled to St. Peter’s Parish, a Catholic community

outside Bangkok, to pray at the sanctuary of Thailand’s first martyred priest.

Pope Francis celebrated a Mass dedicated to young people in Bangkok’s Cathedral of the Assumption. He urged them to look to the future, firmly rooted in their faith.

At the meeting, Pope Francis highlighted care for the poor and the environment as areas where Catholics can cooperate with Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs and members of other Christian denominations.

The encounter featured a youth choir of Muslim, Buddhist and Christian students — a nod to Pope

Francis’ efforts to highlight Thailand’s tradition of religious tolerance.

Government officials saw His Holiness Pope Francis off on his departure for Japan at Air Wing 6 in Don Mueang, Bangkok. Nov. 23.

As representatives of the government, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak, Foreign Affairs Minister Don Pramudwinai and Culture Minister Itthiphol Kunplome, as well as representatives of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Thailand, those of religious networks and Christian Thais, attended the departure of His Holiness Pope Francis.

Pope Francis attends a welcome ceremony at the Government House courtyard, Thursday, Nov. 21. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

VOL. XXVII No. 40

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FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 19

A moving Remembrance Day service at the British Club Mark Bowling Photos by Rodney J. Charman

Colonel Roger Lewis, H.E. Brian Davidson, British Ambassador and Mark Bowling, President of the Royal British Legion lead the way in laying wreaths.

The British Ambassador greets Archie Dunlop.

Many British expats were hugely disappointed and saddened to learn of the sale of the former British Embassy on Wireless Road and to learn that the War Memorial was to be moved to the British Club in Silom.

However, the first Remembrance Service to be held at the British Club was on Sunday 10th November. It was very well attended and surpassed many expectations following the controversial move.

In attendance were many dignitaries and VIPs including H.E. Brian Davidson, British Ambassador, British Defence Attaché Colonel Roger Lewis, together with ambassadors and military personnel from other embassies including U.S.A., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada along with many other respected guests.

The Thai military also sent a delegation of senior officers from the Army, Navy and Air Force to show their respects and lay wreaths.

The Royal British Legion Chonburi Branch were

H.E. Brian Davidson enjoying a drink with attendees.

Kimberley with husband, Defence Attaché Colonel Roger Lewis.

Wonderful to see young children from the Cubs on parade.

The newly installed War Memorial now in the grounds of The British Club, moved from the former Embassy site on Wireless Road.

British Ambassador H.E. Brian Davidson delivers his Remembrance Day speech.

particularly well represented at the new venue, with Mark Bowling (President) laying a wreath alongside the British Ambassador and Defence Attaché.

Bob Mann (Chairman) was also in attendance to read the Act of Remembrance, and the Royal British Legion standard was on parade, with the Standard Bearer, Richard Holmes.

Many other members made the journey to pay their respects from Pattaya and the North East of Thailand, alongside Bangkok members who were on hand to raise money with a wellstocked Poppy stall.

Following the wreath laying, guests were called onto the rear lawn of the club to enjoy a superb buffet of British Fayre with complimentary drinks provided by the British Embassy and British Club.

Soon after the service and refreshments many Royal British Legion members then made their way up to Kanchanaburi for an additional service on Monday 11th November, which was equally well attended and very well organised.

For further details of upcoming and future events please contact chonburi. secretary@rbl.community.

Colonel Roger and Kimberley Lewis stand with members of The British Club Pipes and Drums band.

Thai military representatives joined the Remembrance Service to pay their respects.

Reverend Norman Jones conducted the memorial services.

A fantastic crowd of people attended the first Remembrance Service held at The British Club

Many children from various schools joined the service to lay wreaths and pay their respects.

Defence Attaché Colonel Roger Lewis and Middy Campbell salute as Standard bearer Richard Holmes lowers the Royal British Legion standard to the sound of the Buglers.

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

PCEC learns what it means to be a volunteer The November 10 meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club began with the MC introducing two lovely young ladies from Germany. These two ladies, Linda Heil and Sarah Chagri, are volunteers working with Pattaya’s Human Help Network Foundation Thailand (HHN), whose main purposes is to provide help and support to underprivileged children or who are homeless, abused or come from broken families.

Taking turns in the presentation, these young ladies, aged 19 and 24, gave a wellorganized talk using a clear to understand Power Point punctuated by appropriate video clips. The three-part presentation consisted of 1) the motivation to volunteer, 2) how they actually got to Thailand, and 3) a precise overview of the divisions and work of the HHN itself.

They provided their views on the motivation for volunteering abroad and the specific mindset that they believe is necessary to make a meaningful

and sustainable contribution to the projects of a charity organization. They reminded the audience of the concept and reality of privilege (unearned access to special things). With a chart of checkable boxes for such categories as white, male, able bodied, class, heterosexual and cisgender (being confused or worried about what gender you are), the argument was made that many in the west are indeed privileged. The danger, they cautioned, of this position of privilege as it relates to volunteering to help the needy of the world, is falling into the trap of the ‘White Savior Complex’.

This is seen often when the badly motivated volunteer takes ‘selfies’ with themselves in the middle surrounded by the poor underprivileged they came to rescue. True volunteerism they pointed out should be motived by what can be contributed, keeping privilege in check and remaining committed to the task.

MC Ron Dittmer poses with Linda Heil and Sarah Chagri after presenting them with the PCEC’s Certificate of Appreciation for their presentation on their volunteer service for Pattaya’s Health and Human Network Foundation Thailand.

They mentioned that the sending organization for them was the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and the German Red Cross. These organization provided the training, monetary support and connection to the HHN here in Thailand. The HHN is a multifaceted organization whose main job is to

protect, educate, feed and in many cases, house abused or endangered children. It is estimated that 53 acts of child abuse both physical and sexual take place in Thailand each day. Despite their hard work and broad outreach, they pointed out that HHN only reaches about 4% of the children in need in the Pattaya area.

They highlighted the various operations of the HHN, including a mobile unit outreach going to local labor camps of migrant workers and local school to teach about the dangers of abuse and trafficking.

They use a card game of role playing where adults are pitted against children to enlighten the children of the enticement dangers of abusers and traffickers.

Another is a drop-in center, a notable pink building located in Naklua where children on the street or in danger may come and where labor camp children are brought for a day of training, good food and fun game interactions. This outreach training center is where Linda and Sarah spend a lot of their time teaching English and interacting with the children.

An important arm of HHN work is their Child Protection and development Center. This program consists of small housing units of 5 or 6 children paired up with a

trained social councilor to simulate a regular home environment. The children who live in these units have been abused, trafficked or come from rejected home situations.

Although the HHN is well funded, it all comes from individual company or individual donors. They are in a building project now to expand their training facilities and can use any help both monetary and physically that anyone can provide.

The interest in the topic was evident by the number of questions and comments provided by the audience at the end of the presentation.

To learn more about HHN and their activities, visit their website at https:// www.hhnft.org/.

The presentation was followed by the Open Forum where questions can be asked or comments made about expat living in Thailand, especially in Pattaya.

For information on PCEC activities, visit their website at www.pcec.club.

PCEC Got Soul and a Bit of the Blues Brian Thomas and the Power had the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) rocking at their November 17th meeting at the Holiday Inn. If you haven’t heard Brian Thomas and the Power Play, you need to. They are good.

Until their drummer recovers from a recent motorcycle accident, its Brian Thomas’ strong vocals and guitar play, along with Noi Shampoo’s saxophone that

is the Power. And they do give a powerful performance of classic soul, rock and blues, with a little Latin thrown in.

The duo started off with James Brown’s classic “Papa’s got a brand new bag”, and followed with Percy Sledge’s “When a man loves a woman”.

The set included songs by Otis Redding, the Blues Brothers, Madness and the local favorite “Pattaya,

Pattaya” (with Noi on vocals). All this driven by Thomas’ intense guitar work and that voice “made for the guitar” (as someone commented after their performance).

Growing up in the 60’s and raised in the heart of Motown (Detroit, USA), Soul and Blues music came naturally to Brian. According to Brian’s narrative, which accompanied his performance, he had an interest in music starting at the age of 5. Right about when the Beatles and Motown took over the airwaves. At the age of 8, he got his first guitar and by 13 he was playing in a band. A factory job earned him enough to buy a van, and with $200 in his pocket, Brian was off to make a name for himself in Los Angeles, California.

He did flirt with success while in Los Angeles. His band teamed up with a young Helen Reddy, but, as Brian says (with a wry smile) she was fired from the band after just a few months. It was something about her style that just wasn’t right for Brian’s band. Of course, that was not a tragic career move for Helen, who went on to record several hit songs in the 70’s. Soon after there was a stint with Ike and Tina Turner, and four months of working in the studio to get an album recorded. Nope; personalities just didn’t mesh and

Brian Thomas on guitar along with Noi Shampoo on the saxophone provided some great entertainment to the PCEC with a lot of Soul and a Bit of the Blues.

nothing came out of that effort and Brian went his way and Ike and Tina went theirs. Of course, Tina’s unique and powerful voice led to a few classic albums.

After his California experience, Brian found himself back in Detroit at the age of 28, where his creative talents turned to woodworking, jewelry making and sculpture. During his presentation, Brian showed some slides of his custom tables and desks. His furniture style tended towards the classic (can’t get any more classic than roll-top desks - a Brian specialty).

After ten years of concentrating on his woodworking business and away from his music, Brian was back at his music, and somehow ended up in Pattaya performing at the premier venues for the past nine years.

Brian’s life is as interesting as his musical style, and you might want to find out more by going to the band’s Facebook page at: https:// w w w. f a c e b o o k . c o m / thepowerpattaya/. The general consensus of the PCEC attendees was that Brian Thomas and the Power is one band in Pattaya you should not miss. And if you

get a chance, ask Brian about that guitar of his - he claims he’s been playing it for some 55 years. You can view his presentation to the PCEC by visiting https:// w w w. y o u t u b e . c o m / watch?v=hc1usvwbiWk. Member Ren Lexander interviewed Brian Thomas after his presentation to the PCEC. To view the YouTube video, visit: https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=cmE85Lnpdw.

After Brian Thomas and the Power’s performance, the MC brought everyone up to date on the upcoming club events and others of interest. This was followed by the Open Forum where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in Thailand, especially Pattaya. A special appeal was also made for donations to the Christmas fund as more is needed to purchase gifts for the children from Pattaya orphanage and Human Health Network who will be providing great entertainment at the PCEC’s Christmas Program, which will be on 22 December this year.

For more information about the PCEC, visit their website at: www.pcec.club.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

PATTAYA MAIL

Businesses for Sale or Rent Bop02/14-42/ Warehouse on Huay Yai Road, 4 big halls on 1.5 Rai (2,400sqm), 8 toilets, air-condition; perfect for all kind of business. 20,000,000 THB(331) GO PROPERTY THAILAND; 093- 161 5995; www.gopropertythailand.com

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22 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Is it time to retire?

Ferrari’s troubles deepen at Brazilian GP Sao Paulo (AP) — Ferrari hoped the Brazilian Grand Prix would bring some relief after poor performances and even accusations of cheating from opponents.

Instead, the Formula 1 team ended the weekend with a collision involving its two drivers as they fought for only fourth place at Interlagos.

Sebastian Vettel looked strong starting from second in Sunday’s race. Charles Leclerc, who began from 14th position because of an engine penalty, jumped to sixth in only 11 laps in Sao Paulo.

It was too good to last.

The two Ferrari drivers faced off on Lap 66 after a safety car restart, and contact between the cars gave Vettel a right-rear puncture,

while Leclerc had a broken suspension. Both failed to finish.

“It is very disappointing for the team,” Vettel said after the race.

Leclerc said he wanted to see footage of the crash before reaching any conclusions. “It was a great race before that. But we can’t draw anything positive from this race,” he said.

Their exit allowed Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, the winner in Brazil, to jump to third place in the driver’s championship. He is 11 points ahead of fourth-place Leclerc with only the Abu Dhabi GP on Dec. 1 to go.

Vettel is 30 points behind Verstappen and cannot claim a top three spot any longer.

Ferrari will also finish the season far behind Mercedes

in the constructors championship.

Earlier this month at the United States GP, Leclerc finished almost a minute behind race winner Valtteri Bottas of Mercedes. Vettel retired early.

After that race, Verstappen suggested that Ferrari had been “cheating”. The Red Bull driver said on Dutch TV that the Italian team’s performance dipped at Austin because of a FIA directive on fuel flow systems.

Ferrari boss Mattia Binotto said the directive had no impact on the team’s engine.

After the Brazilian GP Binotto said “both of them (Vettel and Leclerc) have got at least a small percentage of responsibility” for the clash.

“At the end, they were free to fight,” Binotto said.

And the Fugly award goes to …

Spotted this horror in the hospital car park. I have never seen anything more deserving of the Fugly award than this. It looked Japanese but what? I wondered if it could be a Kei (under 660 cc) car. Eventually, an old racing mate from Australia and now living in Japan, identified it as a “Will” made

by Toyota on the Vitz platform. Toyota should be ashamed, and the following is from the Toyota web.

The WiLL Vi is a compact car, produced from 2000 to 2001, with distinctive styling combining elements of many cars. The WiLL Vi was designed by the then newly formed Virtual Venture Company, headed by Jim Shimizu.

The unique-appearing rear window had earlier appeared on the Mazda Carol, the Ford Anglia (1959–1968), and the Citroen Ami. The “neo-retro” look represented a period in Japan where vehicles took on the styling of historic vehicles from the 1950s and 1960s, such as the Nissan Be-1, Nissan Figaro, Nissan Pao, the Toyota Origin, the Subaru Vivio, and

Fugly front and rear.

the Mitsubishi Minica.

The car was equipped with MacPherson struts for the front wheels and a torsion beam axle for the rear wheels.

The car was painted in a number of pastel colors, and the plastic wheel covers resemble sand dollars. One of

the few options was a canvas sliding roof, and the vehicle was installed with bench seats for both front and rear passengers, with the gearshift installed on the dashboard.

Sales were disappointing.

I wonder why.

Being one of a handful of race drivers who are still racing in their 70’s, some of my readers may find my exploits interesting. (If not, just move to the next item.)

My love affair with motor cars began when I was 11 and was taken to spectate at a race meeting at the Charterhall circuit in Scotland. It was at that circuit I first saw Jimmy Clark and Jacky Stewart, members of the Border Revers team.

Clark was later killed in a racing accident and Wee Jackie long retired but willing to express an opinion.

As a schoolboy I saved any information I could find about the cars of that era. I begged the tobacconist to give me the advertising photo behind his counter of Mike Hawthorn complete with bow tie, smoking a cigarette for Craven A. Scrapbooks with cut-outs of the latest cars, like the Phase 1 Standard Vanguard and the 1953 Morris Oxford (which later became the Hindustan Ambassador Mk III). Weekends would see me hanging around the motorbike repair shop and my nose could pick up the heady smell of Castrol R from 59 meters.

But I was not a good spectator. I wanted to race.

By the time I was accepted into medical school the die was already rolled. Medical student by day and mechanic at night and petrol pump attendant weekends.

Getting the grease off my hands before morning clinics was always a huge problem.

Doing up tired old cars (like a 1949 Austin A40 and a 1953 Ford V8 Customline and a couple of semi-wrecked MG TC’s) and in 1965 some lucky deals saw me in the local sports car yard trading in my second 1953 Ford Customline (the first Cusso tripped one night and we put the good interior of the first one into the second one) and traded it on a 1955 MGA 1500 with a slipping clutch.

The car yard threw in a new clutch plate in a box in the deal, and by that evening I had it installed. By the weekend it was at the Lowood

MGA and its first race.

race circuit. That was March 1965. I was still a starving medical student and the helmet was borrowed, the race suit was a short sleeved shirt with my name embroidered on it, shorts, long socks and slip-on shoes. The excitement, noise and fumes were better than any of today’s naughty substances. MGA and I came 3rd in class and won $5. I was going to frame the cheque, but I cashed it as I needed the money!

MGA and I entered everything I could but it was shoestring racing. Tyres? No Dunlop Racing for me, until I scored some very secondhand ones by chance. The top racer of the day had a Dunlop tyre contract and he would pass his racing tyres to a friend when they were half worn. From there they went through another two friends until they were finished and then I scored what was left. Even 99 percent worn out I was delighted. “Free” tyres.

At one meeting I ran out of my freebies but spotted that one of the car trailers had the same size tyres.

Within five minutes the required tyre was on the MGA, and the trailer was on blocks.

Five minutes after the race was over the tyre was back and fitted on the trailer.

The circuit at Lowood had a long straight and I was doing everything I could to get the magic “ton”. Slipping down in the seat to keep my helmet out of the wind I was reading the instruments as the 100 mph arrived, but suddenly the engine started to misfire.

Backing off suddenly, I found I was sitting in the middle of a bonfire. Sheets

of flame were running up the bonnet as I looked for a fire marshal in the officials. Spotting one with a large fire extinguisher I drove off the circuit and headed towards him. Getting closer he opened his extinguisher and began to spray me! “Not me – the car!” I screamed and then found my long socks were on fire!

What had happened was that a fuel line fitting at the carburetor had come loose, spraying petrol all over the exhaust pipe. MGA’s have wooden floors, and it was alight too!

That evening and into the small hours we cut new floors and reassembled the fuel lines. I got some new socks and we raced again the next day.

It was now 1966 and I sat my exams and qualified overseas and then spent two years between Gibraltar and England. That was worth a book on its own but one story will be enough. It was right when Gib was having a referendum to determine whether it would stay British (with London paying the bills) or revert to being Spanish and having to find the money themselves. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to work out which way the vote went. 99 percent voted to stay with the UK. Anyway during all the referendum fever, I was called to the Casualty department to look at the wife of the Gibraltar Minister for Tourism. “What can I do for you, Madam?

I asked. She replied, “You speeky Spanee. Me no speeky Englee!”

There’s lots more if you are interested.

Automaker Daimler to save $1.54B by cutting manager posts Berlin (AP) — German automaker Daimler says it plans to slash costs 1.4 billion euros ($1.54 billion) by cutting every tenth managerial position and other austerity measures.

CEO Ola Kallenius told reporters in London on Thursday that the EU’s stricter specifications on carbon dioxide emissions and the transition to more electric vehicles are putting the squeeze on the Stuttgartbased company’s bottom line.

The cuts at the manufacturer of Mercedes vehicles are to come over the next three years, the dpa news agency reported.

Kallenius told reporters in a conference call that Daimler was also being hurt in the trade war between China and the United States, with new duties being placed on U.S.-built cars that are exported to China.

He says Daimler remains “fully committed” to invest and grow in both countries.

(At Daimler, an optimist is someone who takes their sandwiches for lunch.)

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RST Vipers and Cobras both win on last ball Pattaya Indoor Cricket League - Round 10

Marcus Large of Vipers bowls to Matt Harkness whilst Wez Masterton backs up and Dan Allan wicketkeeps.

From page 32 Trevor Moolman and Richard Holt managed the same score but Richard was caught behind by Dan Allan and then bowled by Matt Mann. A meagre 27 for 3 at the hallway stage.

Wez Masterton and Matt Harkness picked up the pace and managed 30 runs but Wez was bowled by Ryan and again Stuart had a catch dropped. Jainish Parikh and Andy Emery were kept under raps with 6 dots balls as Andy was caught behind by the faintest of snicks and Jainish survived another spilt catch from Marcus Large for the second time.

RST Vipers might regret their buttery fingers. A paltry 16 scored in the last three overs and a final score of 96 reduced to 71 for 5.

RST Vipers’ usual openers of Dan Allan and Chris Sizer were well contained in their 3 overs and could only manage 15 runs with Chris

being caught and bowled

by Jainish Parikh and then bowled by Jainish 2 balls later. Not a good start.

Matt Mann and Stuart Douglas fared no better as wickets continued to tumble, although there were wides aplenty.

Stuart was bowled by Trevor Moolman and caught

by Edwin van Rensburg. 29 for 4 at half way and nothing between the teams.

Things got worse for the Vipers when Marcus Large and Nick Hitchmough took the field. They were restricted by 9 dot balls and Marcus was bowled 3 times; once by Richard Holt and twice in the same over by Matt Harkness.

Defeat was staring RST Vipers in the face at 29 for 7 off 9 overs and 25 runs behind.

The cavalry arrived in the form of Ryan Driver and Tim Jones and poor backing up

by PCC led to 4 overthrows.

Matt Harkness’ 3 dot balls in the final over meant 3 runs

were needed off the final ball for a 1 run victory. Tim obliged and had clattered 27 and Ryan 14 from no loss to pull off an unlikely win.

Best bowlers were Jainish Parikh and Ryan Driver both with 2 overs 10 for 2. Best batsman was Tim Jones with 27 and MotM was Tim Jones.

In the second match, AAS opened the batting and as usual it proved to be a big hitting wicket fest.

Dimple and Bharat opened and made a credible start marred by Dimple’s 3 dismissals. The first was an unlucky runout where Bharat drove the ball hard at the bowler where it came off Will Howell’s hand and leg and clattered the stumps. Dimple was not amused. He was even less amused when given out LBW 2 balls later to a ball he thought was going down leg – it wasn’t. Poor Dimple was really miffed when he drove a ball back at Charlie Rowe for a caught and

bowled - the first of 3 catches and 3 wickets for Charlie.

The match continued in the same vein with Happy and Rajish scoring a respectable 25 including a 6 for Happy, but too many wickets were falling. Happy was out twice to John Holland (bowled and caught) and Rajish was run out by Will Howell off Guthrie Miller.

The half way score was a sorry 33 for 6 and it didn’t get any better when Jatin and Ashwin arrived. Jatin got a good 17 but Ashwin was having a terrible day. He was caught twice in 3 balls

by Will Howell off Charlie and then caught by Charlie off Guthrie. The situation was pretty dire at 39 for 9 from 9 overs. AAS’s saving grace was Happy (batting again as the 8th man) and Ravi. They added 35 plus 11

extras for Ravi bowled to John Holland and finished the innings on 130 reduced to 80 for 10.

RST Cobras responded with Pete Reeh and Guthrie Miller making 28 for 1 as Pete was caught behind by Ryan Driver’s first of 4 one handed catches. Charlie Rowe and Simon Forrester, a debutant, scored 35 but Charlie had the wrong contact lenses in and played around the ball twice to Rajish. Simon’s refusal to stop running on ignoring “No” from Charlie ended with a run out for Charlie.

Simon managed a 7 with the help of the wall and an overthrow.

So, 57 for 4 at half way and a comfortable lead of 24. Just like AAS, it all went horribly wrong. Lee May’s bat wasn’t wide enough and he

edged 3 behind to superlative catches by Ryan as well as being bowled by Bharat.

Luckily there were some extras to add and so RST Cobras advanced to 65 for 8, still 26 ahead. For the last 3 overs Happy, Bharat and Dimple managed 10 dot balls with tight bowling leaving RST Cobras needing 6 off the last over to win. 4 runs off 5 balls and AAS desperately needed another dot ball, but Cobras managed a 5.

RST Cobras 124 reduced to 84 for 8 and a win by 4 runs off the last ball.

Best batsman was Simon Forrester with 24 for 0 and best bowler was John Holland with 2 overs 9 for 3.

MotM was Ryan Driver.

If you wish to know more about PCC visit www. pattayacricketclub.com

Dimple of AAS faces a ball as Lee May and Charlie Rowe of RST Cobras prepare to field.

A lovely day for golf PSC Golf from Billabong golf Monday, 25th Nov. Phoenix Gold Stableford

Bharat of AAS takes a swing as Will Howell of RST Cobras waits.

Phoenix Gold is in beautiful condition and it was just a lovely day for golf. A nice breeze blew under a virtually cloudless sky. All three nines were open, with the Navy lads having quite a large tournament starting on the Mountain loop.

The Billabong started on the Lakes and finished on the Ocean in just under 4 hours.

The management and staff must be commended for their

organization skills as the courses were packed and not a hold up anywhere on any of the nines at all.

With 5 groups playing we had some friends of Stan Ree’s making up the numbers playing their first game with us. Welcome fellas to the Billabong. The scribe has promised to give the boys playing with him every week a rest next Monday. I can’t keep dragging them down to my miserable level every time I play what some would call golf and

others flog, but thanks for putting up with me so far.

Now down to the scores and count backs. Dave Bramley (I mustn’t be doing his golf any harm) shot 36 points off his 14 handicap and won 4th place on a count back by one point. Taking 3rd was Francis Goyons with 37 points being beaten by John Seton on a count back also on 37 points. Bob Edwards scored 38 points off his 9 handicap to win the day.

Ty Anderson got the only two of the day.

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

Miss May cards 41 points at Green Valley to earn top spot PSC Golf from Billabong Monday, 18th November Phoenix Gold Stableford It was a glorious day out for golf with a nice breeze blowing and not a cloud in the sky. There were no holdups while playing Phoenix Gold on the Lakes and Ocean loops which were in fantastic condition and everything just flowed along.

With 5 groups playing we were away right on time. The girls went out in front of the lads and set a cracking pace for us to follow.

Only 4 players didn’t manage to score over 30 points, not bad at all. It’s a rough day out when you play to your handicap and not be in the prize’s but that’s what happened today to one of our lady players.

Dave Bramley took third spot with a fine 37 points, We s R a d o took second with 39 points and Thiery Petrement took the top spot with a great 42 points off his 12 handicap.

There were 4 twos coming from Dave Bramley, Thiery Petrement, Wes Rado and Miss May.

Wednesday, 20th November Green Valley Stableford Green Valley, with a few surprise’s - what started out as 11 players turned into 19 by the time we teed off, plus the ladies team of 8 players.

As per usual the ladies made a meal of the course with two on 37 points making for a count back between Miss Porn and Miss Prae with Miss Prae taking second and Miss Porn 3rd.

Leading the pack by a country mile was Miss May with her great score of 41 points (L to R) Lloyd Shuttleworth and his wife Arna with which included 2 twos.

Tony Oakes.

The men’s competition There was a 4 way count The day was just right for was somewhat different.

When you score 25 points golf with a nice breeze blow- back, all on 35 points, beon the front nine holes you ing to keep the heat away, tween Greg Ritchie, Malcolm could reasonably expect the course is in fantastic Adamson, Fergus Brennan that you would win the condition at the moment and Peter LeNoury with Petournament. Alas, that was and the greens were as fast ter getting 4th due to a not to be but more on that as making for really good slightly better back nine. scores.

Third place went to Glyn a little later.

Davies with a handicap matching 36 points.

Now comes the man with 25 points on the front nine but could only manage 15 on the back for 40 points to take second and Tony Oakes was that man.

The man just back from 9 weeks in the sands of Basra came home with a 74 off the stick on his 6 handicap to take the count back and first place, also with 40 points, Lloyd Shuttleworth.

There were two 2s coming from Lloyd Shuttleworth and Fergus Brennan.

Friday 22nd November Burapha A & B Stableford Burapha A and B on Friday and a very busy course it was. But everything went along smoothly and we were in just over 4 hours. The course is in great condition considering the amount of traffic it is getting.

We were taken to the cleaners today by the French connection. I will explain

later in this report. Firstly it must be told we had one proper golfer in our midst who, playing off his 15 handicap, was one over the card off the stick and cruising to what you would say an easy win. But alas, the wheels fell off shortly after the 5th hole.

He shall remain nameless as the scribe cannot run very fast at the moment. Suffice to say there was a little ribbing back at the bar, all in good fun of course.

The scoring was not very good for some reason and it wasn’t the weather as it was a beautiful day with a lovely breeze blowing. I really can’t think of any excuses at all.

Now to the French connection. These golfers took first, second and third. Gerard Lambert took third with a massive 30 points, winning the count back over Tim Knight also 30 points. Second spot went to Francis Goyons with 32 points and the man of the moment Thiery Petrement came first with 34 points.

There were no twos recorded.

No complaints for new two division set up Jomtien Golf with the I.P.G.C. Monday 18th November Pattavia Stableford The fairest cut Monday with six groups out: 9 - 16 and 16.4 plus in the two divisions. 40 points was the best score of the day and in both divisions. Dennis Scougall took the top step on the podium in division 1 with Len Bantleman coming in second on 36 and then with a 19/16 back nine countback Marc Brunner beat Bob Poole after two 35’s came in.

Tom Novak was the winner in division 2 with Alan Bissell taking second place with 36, Frank Grainger third on 34 and Dave fourth beating Brendon Copestake 19/12 after they both shoot 33 points.

Near pins Div. 1: Dave Boran (2), Nik Evans and Keith Wooley. Div. 2: William Chang, Curtis Hessler,

Paul Hobson and Tom Novak.

One rollover in division 1 and Dave Boran birdied the 13th as did Marc Brunner. In division 2 with six rollovers there was an amazing four twos Monday, Brendon Copestake on the fourth, Curtis Hessler on the 17th, Paul Hobson the fourth and Tom Novak the 13th. There were some happy faces at Frasers that evening.

Wednesday 20th November Silky Oaks Stableford Our first game here for some time and we were given a very reasonable rate on Wednesday. We experimented with division 1 playing off the back yellow tees and division 2 off the forward white tees.

Pete Sumner won division 1 with 39. Three 33 pointers

Friday 22nd November Eastern Star Stableford

Dave Howden, Frank Grainger and Per Forsberg.

came in and with a 19/18/15 back nine countback Chris Slota was second, Dennis Scougall third and poor Ian Speirs lost out.

Two 37s came in for division 2 and with 15, 15 each on the back nine Joseph was declared the winner beating Paul Hobson 11/9 on the back six.

Nearest the pins Div. 1: Dennis Scougall, Chris Slota and Pete Sumner (2). Div. 2: Alan Bissell and Paul Hobson.

With no rollovers in either division there were three birdies in division 1, John Hughes and Dennis Scougall on the 14th and Chris Slota on the 16th, a different story as of Monday. None in division 2 with a rollover to Khao Kheow on Monday.

There were no moans or complaints regarding the day’s set up for the two divisions, so we will go back here in two months’ time.

Another six groups out Friday with an almost identical cut as of Monday and Wednesday’s games in the two divisions. The scores were a lot lower due to the very slick Eastern Star greens.

There were many putts of three and four strokes on many greens which was reflected in the scores.

34 points was the best of the day with Pete Sumner winning division 1 beating Per Forsberg on an 18/15 back nine countback. John Hughes came in third on 30 and Paul Butler fourth on 28 points.

There were three scores of 31 for division 2. With a countback of 20/20/15 and a back six countback of 16/ 13 Tony Thorne was the winner. Eugine Maguire finished second and Frank Kelly third. Curtis Hessler came in fourth beating Dave Howden on a 16/13 countback after two scores of 29 came in.

Near pins Div. 1: John Hughes and Pete Sumner (2).

Div. 2: William Chang and Max Wilson.

Three rollovers in division 2 and William Chang birdied the signature 13th hole for the division’s only win. In division 1, John Hughes birdied the 6th and Pete Sumner the 17th.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 25

PATTAYA MAIL

Ian Mollard Memorial Day

Glenn Smith’s game was the best for the day

PSC Pattaya Links Golf Society Friday Nov. 22 Green Valley Stableford Ian Mollard loved coming to Pattaya and playing golf at Links. Back home in the UK he contracted Leukemia and sadly passed away a couple of months ago. He gave his great mate, Pat Lavin, some money and requested he bring it to Links and that it be spent on giving the players a big and happy day of golf.

Thanks to Ian’ generosity, we were able to increase the size and number of prizes.

Forty one players came out to Green Valley for this day and vied for four placings in two flights plus double the number of near pins and one long putt, along with the usual best nines.

Kevin McEntee was passenger in Derek’s car which became lost en route only to arrive well after everyone had teed off. However, his great power of concentration, no panic, and plenty of golf talent saw him score 42 points to win the A flight.

Wayne Peppernell had one of his better days and made

B flight winner Dave Orbinski with Kevin McEntee (L) and Derek Phillips (R).

37 points for second spot.

Phil Davies scored 36 points and had a better back nine to win a countback for third over Ciaran Smyth.

The scoring in B flight was just crazy. With a sky high score of 45 points it was first place to Dave Orbinski, and the Green Jacket, just before heading home to Aust.

Niall Caven played in the same group and it must have rubbed off as he took second place with 43 points on countback over the third member of that three-ball, Brian Bissett.

Ron Matthews wasn’t in that group but scored 37 points to grab fourth.

Near pins A flight: Colin Service, Marco Beer, and Peter Coyne.

Near pins B flight: Mike Firkin, Niall Caven, Frank Riley, and Paul Stewart.

Long putt: Phil Davies.

A Flight (+3-16) 1st Place – Kevin McEntee (8) - 42 pts 2nd Place – Wayne Peppernell (15) - 37 pts 3rd Place – Phil Davies (13) – 36 pts c/back 4th Place - Ciaran Smyth (13) – 36 pts B Flight (17 +) 1st Place – Dave Orbinski (20) – 45 pts 2nd Place – Niall Caven (25) - 43 pts c/back

3rd Place – Brian Bissett (25) - 43 pts 4th Place - Ron Matthews (17) - 37 pts Best Front Nine (non-winners) Paul Smith 20 pts Best Back Nine (non-winners) Pat Lavin 20 pts After arriving back to Links, Phil conducted the presentation of prizes as usual, but then more surprises. All cards were shuffled and lucky draws took place with prizes ranging from sleeves of Titleist ProV1 and ProV1x golf balls, a new Chee Chan golf bag, won by Mike Firkin, and a New Callaway Rouge Driver, won by Dave Arataki.

Many happy winners there.

Then the trays of seafood salad and potato salad arrived to compliment the 2 pigs-on-a-spit, followed by music from a talented local duo and, just for good measure, a couple of numbers from Phil Davies (a la Tom Jones) and David Wilkinson (a la Frank Sinatra).

A great day and night for all, which we feel sure fulfilled Ian’s wish.

R.I.P. Ian Mollard.

PSC Growling Swan Golf played out of “Bogey’s Bar & Grill” Monday, 18 November “Big Navy,” Plutaluang G.C. Stableford.

Ten saw their way fit to put their names down for Monday’s journey to Plutaluang or, The Big Navy Course.

The course was in good nick as you would expect being a government course.

But a lot of people do not like it, or should I say do not like the grass that is on the course. Anyway, it was good to play according to those who played. This is yet another course that does not take an advantage of “The Fairy Tale High Season” with their pricing.

Ten golfers allowed us to play only the one division with three placing’s and all novelties up for grabs.

Well it was Glenn Smith that fired up to take the day’s event. 36 points was what it took. This put him 3 points clear of second place getter Eric Black playing his last game this trip. Third place and filling the last place on the podium was JC Lhoste.

Winners from Big Navy G.C. 1st Glenn Smith (24) 36 pts.

2nd Eric Black (14) 33 pts.

3rd J.C Lhoste (30) 30 pts.

Near the pin: 5 Bill Steinmann, 7 Denis Steele, 12 Sam Reid, 16 Nobody.

Longest first putt: 9 Bill Steinmann and 18 Martin Kempton.

The Voucher for The Free Pizza was won by Sam Reid and to what has become “The Done Thing” he put it on the table for all golfers to eat. Well done mate, a great gesture.

Back at Bogey’s we welcomed back Gordon Clegg, but unfortunately had to say farewell to both The Judge Eric and newcomer Sam Reid, who fitted in very well considering he had recommendations from the 3 Amigos or the 3 stooges and Smithers. Well guys you will be sadly missed, let’s wish you safe travels and hope that we see you again soon.

D-For was set free by Alex and the punters and players at Bogeys Bar and Grill were generous as always with their contributions towards the needy in Pattaya. All are thanked for this.

1 - 13 Dec. 2019 DATE:

SUN 1

MON 2

Apple’s Irish

WED 4

Eastern Star

Bunker Boys Cafe Kronborg Colin’s Golf

TUE 3

Growling Swan

Mt.Shadow

Silky Oak

Crystal Bay

SAT 7

SUN 8

MON 9

King Naga

Greenwood

Plutaluang

Crystal Bay

Pattavia

WED 11

THU 12

Pattaya CC

Pattavia

Pattana

Greenwood Treasure Hill

Green Valley Greenwood

Bangpakong

Silky Oak Pattaya CC

FRI 13

Pattana

Plutaluang

Crystal Bay

Royal Lakeside

TUE 10

Crystal Bay Pattavia

Bangpra

Emerald

Harry’s Golf

FRI 6

Treasure Hill

Treasure Hill

Green Valley Pleas.Valley

THU 5

Khao Kheow Greenwood

Greenwood

Crystal Bay

Khao Kheow Eastern Star Pattaya CC

Mt. Shadow

Crystal Bay

Treasure Hill Plutaluang Pleas. Valley

I Rovers Lekatai

Mt. Shadow Pleas. Valley

Lewiinski’s The Links

Khao Kheow

Pattana

Retox Game On Bar

Kabin/G.wood

Crystal Bay

Siam Country Resort

Tropical Golf Valley View Hackers

Mt. Shadow Pleas. Valley

Pattavia

Sugar Shack The Golf Club

Greenwood

Pleas. Valley Waterside

Green Valley

Pattavia

Greenwood

Plutaluang Pattavia

Greenwood

Pattavia

Parichat Parichat

Eastern Star Mt. Shadow

Plutaluang

Pattana

Eastern Star

Pattana

Eastern Star Pleas. Valley

Greenwood Silky Oak

Mt. Shadow Bangpakong

Waterside Green Valley Greenwood

Khao Kheow Treasure Hill

Bangpakong

Pattana Crystal Bay

26 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019

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ITF Seniors Championship draws 150 global players to Pattaya From page 32 45-49: Masahiro Sato (JPN) def. Daniel Rajsky (Czech Republic) of 6-3, 3-6, 6-4.

50-54: Daniel Ahl (UK) def. Leo Pijnacker (Netherlands) of 6-4 and 6-3.

55-59: Alain Miracchini (France) def.

Markus Zinkand (Germany) 6-1, 1-6, 4-0 (Retired).

60-64: Jiri Cermak (CZE) def. Simon Rapoport (Israel) 7-5, 6-4.

65-69: Philippe Gely (FRA) def.

Giancalo Nucci (Italy) 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

70-74: Iakov Atrokhove (RUS) def.

Valeriy Medvedev (RUS) 6-3, 6-4.

75+: Kobchai Tarasena (Thailand) won Women’s Doubles 35+ (L to R) Arunya Wongkaew and Puttaruksa in a walkover.

Jantamad (THA), Singha Corporation sponsor agent, Huk Wa Choi Women’s singles winners: (HKG) and Jinhua WU (CHN).

35-39: Ding Eckstein (China) def. Hsin Yun Wen (Taipei) 6-1, 6-2.

50-54: Luisa Gouveia (Portugal) def.

Valdone Vozbutiene (Lithuania) 6-4, 2-6, 4-1 (Retired).

60-64: Encarnacion Gomis Ruiz (Spain) def. Atsuko Yamauchi (JPN) 6-4, 6-3.

Full results of the double competition are on the ITF website at https:// www.itftennis.com/seniors/tournaments/tournament/info.aspx? tournamentid =1100046013 Men Singles 60+ (L to R) Simon Rapoport (ISR), Singha Corporation sponsor agent, and Jiri Cermak (CZE).

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Beter is Best PSC Golf from Cafe Kronborg From page 32 The A flight was closely contested between Mashi Kaneta and Rob Brown, both with 39 points, but Rob had 22 on the back 9. Arne Max Pedersen could only get third place with a fine 37 points.

A flight 1st Rob Brown (7) 39 pts (22 back 9) 2nd Mashi Kaneta (17) 39 pts (19 back 9) 3rd Arne Max Pedersen (22) 37 pts B flight 1st Lotte Boskov (23) 35 pts 2nd Patrick Poussier (25) 29 pts 3rd Jan Lovgreen (24) 28 pts Near pins: #8 Jan Lovgreen #17 Patrick Poussier Long Putts: #9 Gordon Clegg #18 Karen Brown

Thursday 14th November Pattavia - Stableford Fourteen golfers of various nationalities headed up the 331 to Pattavia. We started

under overcast skies and a fresh breeze but by the back nine it was sunny and getting very hot. The course was in its usual condition.

Putts that were uphill and straight were easy anything else was impossible to most.

Scoring was pretty average except for Karl Beter who was, by far, the best.

Karl easily won the B flight by 4 shots.

The scores in the A flight were even more ordinary, with Henning Olsen winning a close fought podium.

Tony Leece taking second place with an impressive 20 points on the back 9.

A flight 0-21 1st Henning Olsen (21) 32 pts 2nd Tony Leece (20) 31 pts (20 back 9) 3rd Rob Brown (7) 31 pts (16 back 9) B flight 1st Karl Beter (35) 38 pts 2nd Karen Brown (29) 34 pts 3rd Kai Aabling (23) 30 pts Long Putts: #9 Kai Aabling #18 Jan Lovgreen

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Good week for two Keiths PSC Bunker Boys Golf

Monday, November 18th Bangpra 1st John Hughes (21) 37 points 2nd Tony Robbins (22) 35 points 3rd Gerry Cooney (17) 35 points 4th Pat Ryan (12) 34 points Near pins Keith Norman, Pat Ryan, & Jimmy Carr X 2.

Nineteen golfers were on hand for Monday’s game at Bangpra. The course was in good order but the greens were back to their treacherously fast condition of a few years ago. Anybody putting down the slope had a real job on their hands and if the putt didn’t go down then it was much further away coming back. To compound the problem the greenkeeper must have had a bad night as some of the pin placements were wicked. The wind was also up just to add a bit more to the challenge.

John Hughes of the (I win when I want to) fame did just that today with a solid round of thirty-seven, very good in the conditions. Having missed a couple of opportunities, Tony Robbins still did enough to take second place on countback from Gerry Cooney whilst Pat Ryan brought up the rear with thirtyfour, low by his standards.

Keith Norman 1st day winner at Kabin Buri.

Tuesday, November 19th Kabin Buri Day 1

was no run and the occasional mud ball. The wind was also blowing sometimes strongly to add an extra dimension to what is already a very challenging course.

Many drove up in the morning and the round was completed in time to catch happy hour back at the hotel.

Keith Norman played out of his skin to claim first place with a magnificent thirty-nine points, five ahead of secondplaced Keith Smithson on thirty-four. Jimmy Carr took third with thirty-two and Greg Berry rounded out the winner’s list with thirty-one.

Wednesday, 1st Keith Norman (13) 39 points November 20th 2nd Keith Smithson (4) 34 Kabin Buri Day 2

points 3rd Jimmy Carr (17) 32 points 4th Greg Berry (12) 31 points Near pinsAlan Sullivan, Keith Smithson, Keith Norman, Mashi Kaneta.

Sixteen Bunker Boys made the trip up Hwy 331 to one of our favourite away destinations staying at the beautiful Serenity Hotel and Spa and playing two rounds of golf at a quality course. As there was a major event being staged at the course on Thursday it was in competition-ready status and just about as good as it could be.

One could argue the course was overwatered as there

Individual placings 1st Keith Smithson (4) 35 points 2nd Michael Brett (16) 34 points 3rdTony Robbins (22) 33 points Team placings 1st Keith Smithson & Mashi Kaneta 39 points 2nd Jimmy Carr & Brendan Harnett 38 points Near pins Geoff Parker, Keith Smithson & Jimmy Carr X 2.

Day two saw us play both individual Stableford and two-ball better ball, with eight teams of two. The course was just as it was yesterday but with a bit less wind, nevertheless, nobody was able to replicate the heroics of Keith Norman on

on countback, both with thirty-seven points. Paul Smith took third with thirtyfive. Kob Glover once again got in the near pins, Paul Smith took one and the organiser Daryl Vernon got two.

Friday, November 22nd Eastern Star

Winning pair Mashi Kaneta and Keith Smithson.

day one. Keith Smithson moved up one place to take first with thirty-five points.

Michael Brett took second a stroke back with Tony Robbins bringing up the rear a further point back.

Geoff Parker came close to an ace hitting the pin and rolling away. Had he been successful it would have completely changed the first and second team placings.

Crystal Bay A & C 1st Gary Smith (13) 37 points 2nd Pat Ryan (12) 37 points 3rd Paul Smith (3) 35 points With sixteen away in Kabin Buri there were still thirteen left for a game at Crystal Bay. Mixed reports about the

course with some loving it and a lone dissenting voice saying they would not play it again. As the old adage goes, “You can’t please all the people all the time”.

If there was agreement on anything it was that the greens were slow and inconsistent, most welcomed the reopening of the A nine judged to be the best of the three. There was a worry about the watering system not working correctly and if not repaired then the course condition will deteriorate quickly.

A close game with some good scores saw Gary Smith take first place from Pat Ryan

1st Keith Smithson (4) 38 points 2nd Niall Glover (19) 37 points 3rdTony Robbins (22) 36 points With a total of twenty-nine playing on Wednesday, we were back to sixteen today.

Could be many don’t like the Eastern Star course or possibly four games in a week is too much for some. Difficult as always, the course was in nice condition and a nice breeze kept playing conditions comfortable. The pace of play was acceptable with the game completed in about four hours.

With some booming drives and accurate iron play, Keith Smithson completed a week that contains two wins and a second-place. Friday once again at the head of the pack with thirty-eight points. Niall Glover had a very solid thirtyseven in second place with Tony Robbins rounding out the winner’s list with thirtysix, also having a good week.

Near pins went to Kob Glover who is fast becoming a dab hand at this aspect of the game, Keith Norman, and Michael Brett.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Associations & Clubs The next meeting of Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) will be held on Sunday, December 1 & 8. The PCEC program varies, but usually involves a guest speaker on a topic of interest to Expats.

The program starts at 10:30 am with a buffet breakfast available from 9:00 to 11:00 am on the 4th floor of the Holiday Inn’s Executive Tower located behind the Holiday Inn’s Bay Tower on Beach Road.

The Eastern Seaboard Businessmen’s Dinner is a monthly event taking place on the last Thursday of the month. It brings together business leaders from various backgrounds including Automotive, Aerospace, Real Estate, Architecture, FMCG, Electronics, White Goods, Logistics, Recruitment, Legal, Consulting, and others in a relaxed atmosphere. If you are interested in attending please contact Anuttra.Sukruen@tinfish.co.th Rotary Club of Pattaya (Thai-English) meets at the

PATTAYA MAIL

Royal Cliff Grand Hotel on the 1st and 3rd Mondays of the month. Meetings begin at 19.00 hrs. President Stephen Devereux Email: stevecarlow @gmail.com Rotary Club Phönix Pattaya (German) meets every Tuesday at the Holiday Inn Pattaya at 19.00 hrs.

President Dieter Barth Email: dieter.barth@rotary-phoenix-pattaya.org Rotary Club of JomtienPattaya (English) meets every 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at Royal Cliff Grand Hotel, Pattaya City.

Fellowship begins at 18.30 hrs and Dinner meeting at 19.00 hrs. President Joachim Klemm Email: jo.klemm53@ gmail.com Rotary Club Eastern Seaboard (English) meets at the Siam Bayshore Hotel, 17.30 hrs for 18.00 hrs on the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month, followed by dinner (Fellowship) President Dieter Reigber Email: dieter.reigber@t-online.de Le Rotary Pattaya Marina, seul Rotary Francophone d’Asie, vous accueille les

premier et troisième vendredis de chaque mois, début des réunions 19h, à l’hôtel Pullman G Pattaya Wongamat 445/3 Moo 5 – Soi 16 – Pattaya Naklua Road. Venez agir avec le Rotary pour changer des vies. Michel Roche Président Email: mmproche@gmail.com

Charity Events 1st Santa Claus Classic Car Meeting Pattaya. Saturday, 7 December 2019, 5pm – midnight - All Classic Cars are welcome - No charges.

100 baht entrance tickets for the public to see the Classic Cars. Rotarians and their guests are invited to the buffet at 600 baht per person.

Entertainment by Paul Jackson’s Rock ‘n Roll Band.

Charity raffles, Thai food & cold drinks, children’s artwork sales. All proceeds to support the children of Human Help Network Foundation (Thailand). Diana Garden Resort, North Pattaya Road, Pattaya (Sukhumvit Road, Soi 32) For more information please call 092-753 9309 Phone: 038- 415 212 www. classic-car-friends-pattaya.com

Christmas 2019 BCCT Multi-Chamber Eastern Seaboard Christmas Networking. BCCT, in cooperation with AMCHAM, AustCham, BeLuThai, CanCham, GTCC, NTCC, SATCC and STCC cordially invites you to Multi-Chambers Eastern Seaboard Christmas Networking on Friday 13 December 2019 at 6.30 - 9.00pm at the Beach Lawn of the Amari Pattaya.

Cost: THB 500 for BCCT/ participating chambers and THB 1,000 for non-members.

Price includes food and a free flow of soft drinks, beer and wine. Booking: Email banthita@bccthai.com. Accommodation: Amari Pattaya is offering a special room rate on during 11 - 15 December at THB 4,250++ per night including breakfast.

Promo Code “BCCT2019” on amari.com.

Christmas Eve at the Oasis Restaurant and Poolside of the Thai Garden Resort on Tuesday 24 December 2019.

Start at 18.00hrs. Enjoy an international gala buffet and

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 27

be thrilled by the Sounds of Christmas with the sensational performance of the Grand Opera Bangkok. Santa Claus will bring a lot of presents. Live music by the Thai Garden Resort Trio. Adults: THB 1,800 net, Children (412 years): THB 900 net, under 4 years: Free of charge.

All prices are based on food only. There is no refund in case of unforeseeable incidents, or weather conditions. Dress code: smart casual, no sleeveless shirts, no shorts, no flip flops.

Please make your reservation at the Thai Garden Resort (North Pattaya Rd. Opposite Terminal 21 Shopping Centre) in person to select your table. Email: reservation@thaigarden.com Tel.: 038 370 614 Avani Pattaya Resort, Sizzling Christmas at Benihana 24 and 25 December 2019.

Turn up the heat with unique Christmas dinners to remember. Kick off the season in spectacular style with festive dinners at Benihana this Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Choose from three

sizzling set menus and prepare to be dazzled by fantastic Teppanyaki shows performed by your private chef. From THB 2,200++ per set, including one glass of sparkling wine.

Christmas Eve at Dicey Reilly’s 24 December 2019.

A festive dinner for all the family. On the night before Christmas, gather all your favourite people around the table and tuck into a hearty buffet of all the tastiest holiday classics. THB 999 nett per person. Kids under 5 eat free. Early bird THB 850 nett per person when you book before 20 December.

Christmas lunch at Dicey Reilly’s 25 December 2019.

Enjoy the big day with a leisurely, long lunch. Join us whenever you’re ready and feast on a delicious festive lunch all afternoon. Pile up on Christmas favourites and all the trimmings from the buffet spread and enjoy time with family and friends. THB 1,199 nett per person. Kids under 5 eat free, THB 999 nett per person when you book before 20 December.

Continued on page 29

E-mail: socialscene@pattayamail.com

Nong Mark Pawarit visits Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya

Top 3 Master Chef Junior Thailand Season 1 Nong Mark Pawarit Parnichprapai (2nd right) and family was warmly welcomed by Ramneek Singh Lamba (right), Executive Assistant Manager- Food & Beverage of Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya during his stay at the resort recently.

Rotarians donate computers to rural hospital

President Maneeya Engelking (4th left) of the Rotary E-Club Dolphin Pattaya International, with Charter President Dr. Otmar Deter, PP Dr Margret Deter and members of the club, visited the Nong Ta-aun sub-district Health Promoting Hospital recently where they donated computers and printers valued at 35,000 baht. On hand to receive them was Mrs. Suchanan Kantee (4th right) director of the medical centre.

Somewhere Hotel, Koh Sichang, receives TripAdvisor award

Somewhere Hotel, Koh Sichang, led by Hotel Manager Jason Eugene Knight (centre), together with hotel staff, receive the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence Award 2019. The Certificate of Excellence award celebrates excellence in hospitality and is given only to establishments that consistently achieve positive traveller reviews on TripAdvisor.

Chevron organizes Fun Charity Outing at HHNFT Baan Euaree

Salman Saadat, Country Chairman and General Manager Products of Chevron Thailand Limited (Caltex) led 100 staff on a fun trip to visit the children at the Baan Euaree under the care of the Human Help Network Foundation (Thailand) recently. The kind hearted visitors donated necessities and educational funds. They were welcomed by Radchada Chomjinda, HHNFT Director, and Siromet Akarapongpanich, Asst. Director of HHNFT. The children had a lot of fun playing games and also enjoyed a large variety of snacks and sweets.

28 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019

PATTAYA MAIL

VOL. XXVII No. 40

Sikhs mark Sri Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary

The minister together with city fathers and high-ranking government officials join the Sikh congregation in prayer and meditation.

On Tuesday November 12, 2019, devout Sikh residents of Pattaya made a special pilgrimage to the Siri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara in Soi 17, where special programmes were arranged such as reading the Holy Scriptures and singing kirtans (religious songs) continuously for 48 hours.

Pattaya Sikh Community President Amrik Singh Kalra and VP Praramjit Singh Ghogar headed the event, celebrating the birth of Sri Guru Nanak Devji 550 years ago.

On this most auspicious occasion the Sikh congregation was honoured by the visit of Mayor Sonthaya Kunplome, Amnart Charoensri, Banglamung District Chief Officer and Poramet Ngampichet – Dep. Minister of Culture. A delegation of high-ranking government officials including many distinguished religious leaders of the community also attended.

At the end of the prayer session, Vice Chairman of the Sikh temple, Paramjit Singh Ghogar related the history of the Sikh religion to the distinguished visitors saying, “Guru Nanak Dev Ji founded Sikhism in the 15th

Paramjit Singh Ghogar relates the history of the Sikh religion to the distinguished visitors.

century. He advocated equality of races and genders and rejected worship of idols. Sikhism broke away from Hinduism and Islam, the main religions of India.

Sikhism is not just a form of religion or belief, but a form of Faith, in One Supreme Power that reigns beyond the scope of time and space.

Sikhism has about 27 million followers world-wide, most of whom live in India.

“Today we are celebrating Gurpurab, the 550th anniversary of the founding of

the Sikh religion. Gurpurabs or festivals are anniversaries associated with the lives of the Sikh Gurus.”

Devotees both men and women chanted the Sri Guru Granth Sahib for 24 hours and events were held in both the morning and evening with devotees gathering to pray throughout the 3-day celebration.

The mayor said that he was very familiar with the Sikh community in Thailand especially here in Pattaya.

“My friendship with the Sikh community goes back decades. You were one of the first pioneers of this town going back almost 50 years.

Pattaya recognises y o u and thanks you for your steadfastness and dedication in the development of our city and society. On this important occasion, I would like to wish all of you happiness and prosperity.”

The most eventful morning of prayer and celebration ended with the Langar or community lunch which was served to people of all walks of life and of all faiths. Local volunteers served the food with a spirit of Seva (service) and Bhakti (devotion).

Amrik Singh (5th right) head of the Sikh community with Paramjit Singh Ghogar (4th right) and other Sikhs welcome Mayor Sonthaya and his entourage.

Mayor Sonthaya is surrounded by his old Sikh friends.

Mayor Sonthaya poses for a photo with the lovely Sikh ladies.

The Sikh lady’s congregation await the arrival of the dignitaries.

Sikh elders present sacred shawls to the visiting dignitaries.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

From page 27 Home-Style Turkey at Garden Café 10 December 2019 to 1 January 2020. Treat yourself to a home-cooked, whole turkey with all the trimmings, and forget about having to cook it yourself. Leave the details to the expert team at Garden Cafe and take home a beautiful bird. Go on, you deserve it. THB 7,200 nett per set.

Holiday Treats at The Pantry 10 December 2019 to 1 January 2020. Everything from bites and delights to festive feasts. Stop in for a Christmas pudding to get into the spirit. Take home a gingerbread house to surprise the family. Gather your festive goodies for all your favourite people. We’ve got Christmas covered at The Pantry. From THB 150 nett.

For more information, please call: +66 38 412 120, email: pattaya@avanihotels.com Dusit Thai Pattaya - White Christmas. Dusit Thani Pattaya presents this year’s holiday-themed White Christmas. You, your family and friends will feel the enchanted joyous season this year at Dusit Thani Pattaya. “White Christmas Dinner” in The Cascade, Tuesday 24 December 2019 from 18.45-23.00 hrs. Price at THB 1,900 net per person (Terms & Conditions apply.

50% discount for children under 12 years old). Advanced reservations recommended, please call +66 (0) 3842 5611 Ext. 2149, 2150 or email to dtpafb@dusit.com Glittering Christmas at Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya.

Shine bright this season at Starz Diner. Enjoy the Great Charcoal Christmas Buffet with family and friends.

PATTAYA MAIL

Santa. Live band. Christmas carols. 24-25 Dec 2019 6pm-9.30pm. Bt. 1,299 per person inclusive of a complimentary glass of mulled wine. Bt. 550 per child inclusive of a complimentary glass of soft drink. Kids under 12 eat free. For reservations, call 038-428-755 or secfb.pty@hardrockhotels.net or https://www.facebook .com/hardrockhotelpattaya Hilton Pattaya Christmas Eve and Day Celebration at the edge Restaurant, Level 14. edge, Hilton Pattaya invites you and your family to celebrate Christmas with a wide selection of international cuisine along with a view of Pattaya Bay. The highlights are include seafood on ice – imported oyster, New Zealand mussel and caviar, seafood on the grill – tiger prawn, rock lobster, blue crab, seabass in banana leaf and river prawn, sashimi – Maguro, Hamachi, Salmon, octopus, Sakura shrimp, surf clam and Hokkaido scallop, Australian beef and lamb, foie gras, honey glazed Virginia ham, roasted whole turkey, Asian and Western selections and desserts corner at THB 2,850 nett per person (half price for kids 612 years old and free for kids 0-5 years old). Beverage package is priced at THB 2,550 nett per person. The buffet is available on December 24, 2019 from 6pm – 11pm for dinner and on December 25, 2019 from 12noon – 3.30pm for lunch and 6pm – 11pm for dinner.

Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, Level 34. Celebrate an unforgettable Christmas with our special 3course set menu including choices of starter – lobster or beef, main dish – beef,

lamb, salmon or duck breast and complete with the dessert – pudding or Millefeuille. Moreover, unlimited food stations are available such as turkey, ham, foie gras, Fine de Claire oyster, mixed seafood grill, sashimi, cold cut and cheese. The price is THB 3,750 nett per person. Available at Horizon Rooftop Restaurant & Bar, level 34 on December 24 and 25, 2019 from 6pm – 11pm.

Mövenpick Siam Hotel Na Jomtien Pattaya Swiss-mas Market. Experience our Swiss-mas Market this festive season, think of market stands featuring Raclette cheese, mulled wine and various scents such as cinnamon and other exotic spices at our beachfront location.

The little ones will have their share of fun too with a special kids zone dedicated to fun-filled activities. Local artists will present and showcase their skills art and culinary highlights transform our beachfront grass lawn into a Swiss- style festive market. Price: THB 1,750 net/ day (Adult) THB 500 net/ day (Child) Child below 7 years old dine for Free. Date: 22-24 Dec 2019 Venue: Beach Lawn. Christmas Eve Dinner - Fire up your Christmas festivities and indulge in a special feast at T55 New York Grill Room. Featuring festive ingredients such as smoked salmon, white asparagus, roast duck, beef tenderloin and sweet temptations including Buche de Noel. Let us take you on a culinary journey at our

signature grill room. Price: THB 2,200 net per person *3 courses menu with a glass of wine or cocktail. Date: 24 Dec 2019. Venue: T55 New York Grill Room. Christmas Day Lunch - It’s Christmas Day and time to celebrate!

Relish this joyful season with your family at T55 New York Grill Room. Tantalizing holiday dishes, including traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, honeyglazed ham, a dazzling array of seafood on ice as well as festive desserts such as yule log and Christmas cookies are ready for you and your loved ones. Price: THB 2,200 net per person *3 courses menu with a glass of wine or cocktail. Date: 25 Dec 2019.

Venue: T55 New York Grill Room. For reservations call: 033 078 888, 062 614 6659.

Pattaya Sports Club invites you and your loved ones to our Christmas Party on Wednesday 11 December 2019. Party starts at 6 pm. Festive Theme. Prizes will be given for the best festive costumes of the night.

Win lots of raffle prizes. Entrance: members 600 baht, guests 800 baht includes Thai & international buffet & live entertainment. Free flow of hard and soft drinks.

Venue: First Pacific Hotel (Formerly Town-in-Town) Central Pattaya Road. Get your tickets at the PSC office now! Hurry, Limited seats.

Call: Mobile: 095 706 2646, Phone: 038 415 424 Email: info@pattayasports.org Renaissance Pattaya Resort & Spa Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet - 609 Kitchen.

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 29

December 24, 2019 from 6 pm – 10 pm THB 1,800++ per person 70% off per child + limited kids menu (6-12 yrs.)

THB 2,800++ per person including a range of free flow alcoholic beverages.

Christmas Eve Set Dinner (6-Course) Pebbles Bar and Grill December 24, 2019 from 6.30 pm – 11 pm THB 2,800++ per person 70% off per child + limited kids menu (6-12 yrs.). THB 3,800++ per person including a range of free flow alcoholic beverages.

Early bird booking! From now – 15 December 2019, 25% off Christmas Eve Dinner @609 Kitchen, Pebbles Bar and Grill * For Club Marriott members, get on top 5% when booking for 4 or more. Terms & conditions All bookings have to be confirmed and pay in full amount. - All bookings are non-cancellable and nonrefundable. For booking or inquiries, please contact 038259-099 or email: sasamon.j @renaissancepattaya.com.

Contact information Darika Wechsawarn (Nam Warn) Tel. 03825.9099 Royal Wing Suites & Spa. A Royal Christmas – Enchanting Gala Dinner - Poolside at the Royal Wing Suites & Spa. Tuesday 24 December 2019 7pm-11pm. Celebrate Christmas at the poolside of the luxurious Royal Wing Suites & Spa where we put together a festive 4-course dinner containing delectable favourites and pre-cocktail canapes to start the festivities. Get ready for a night full of family fun with carol singers, live band music and Santa making a special stop

to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. Dress: casual smart. THB 3200 ++ per person. 50% discount for children under 12 years. Early bird: Save an extra 10% off, book before 10 December 2019. Reservations: Contact Tel. 038 250 251 Email: ultimate@royalcliff.com. www.royalwingsuites.com St David’s Society - The St David’s Society will be hosting a Christmas dinner on Wednesday, 4 December 2019 at the British Club (Bangkok).

Tickets are 1000 baht. It is always a great evening so make sure you book by emailing infosdsbangkok @gmail.com with names and numbers. Diolch.

Community Services AlcoholicsAnonymous: The Pattaya Group meets Monday, Tuesday and Friday at 5 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 7:30 p.m. All meetings are closed (alcoholics only) and are held at Soi Skaw Beach (off Pattaya 2nd Rd). Contact Carl 08-45631-671. The Good Morning Pattaya Group meets 9 a.m. every morning. All meetings are ‘open’: contact 080 563 0232. The Jomtien Group meets every day at noon at Jomtien Long Stay Hotel: Contact, Andrew 086 107 6631.

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. 9.00 a.m. meetings every day at Satree Pattana Centre on Soi Skaw Beach off Second Road. Call 080 563 0232.

Continued on page 27

30 FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

Zoltan and Vanichwathana take us to the Royal Cliff Santa Carolina ‘signature’ Carmenere ‘Gran Reserva’ 2013. We were informed by Zoltan this grape from Chile supplies 90 percent of the world’s carmenere production.

The next course was a pulled pork on a corn polenta taken with a Santa Carolina Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Reserva de Familia’ 2015. At Zoltan’s beckoning we sampled this

Miss Terry Diner The November dinner hosted by the Royal Cliff’s deVine Wine Club introduced Santa Carolina to the members and guests in the Royal Grill Room and Wine Cellar. Excellence and Heritage is the style set by the Royal Cliff, and Vanichwathana fitted in well in that situation.

It was of interest to see that the Santa Carolina vineyards date back to 1875, and to keep us on the r i g h t t r a c k , Zoltan Zakor, the Director of Business Development at Vanichwathana advised us that his company had been founded in 1975. A century is a short time growing grapes!

Santa Carolina has also won the award as the Best New World Winery in 2015 and it was going to be interesting to see just how the members of the deVine Wine Club rated these Chilean wines.

The evening began with the reception which featured deluxe canapes from executive chef Peter Held’s kitchen. Oysters washed down with a Santa Carolina Brut NV was a wonderful start to the evening and was as good a reason as any to be on time in the future!

wine, straight from the bottle and then again 10 minutes later after the wine was decanted. The difference was quite obvious, and came as a reminder for all of us to decant before drinking!

The final course was for all the chocaholics and taken with a Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc ‘Late Harvest’ 2015.

The chocolate was lovely

but the sauvignon blanc fell by the wayside. I returned to the decanted cabernet sauvignon.

It had been a most enjoyable evening and the Royal Cliff just does everything so well, without fuss and without peer.

You can contact the deVine Wine Club through prem@ royalcliff.com

Two highly respected professionals, Prem Calais (left) GM of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group and Zoltan Zakor, Director of Business Development at Vanichwathana.

The guiding principle in a wine dinner is to marry up the wine and the food and we began with a Santa Carolina Sauvignon Blanc ‘Reserva’ 2015 with a honey and thyme infused goat cheese mousse on caramelized beetroot and mesclun leaves. This sauvignon blanc was sensational and to cut through the goat cheese mousse it did with no fuss.

For me, this was to end up as the wine of the evening.

The beetroot? A little chewy.

The next wine was the Santa Carolina Chardonnay ‘Gran Reserva’ 2017 taken with crustaceans and fish in a light saffron and vegetable stew. For me this was more

like a French bouillabaisse with extra crustaceans to go with the fish. It was very enjoyable, but I personally found the chardonnay lacking. However, as I always say, wine appreciation is a very personal thing and chatting with some of the members present, they described the chardonnay as being “delicious” and much better than the sauvignon blanc.

After an interesting Pisco sorbet (made from an amber colored brandy produced in the winemaking regions of Chile), came a grilled Chilean sea bass on a bed of spicy corn and tomato salsa. The wine to go with this was the

deVine Wine Club members and guests savor a most remarkable evening at the Royal Cliff.

VOL. XXVII No. 40

From page 25 Narcotics Anonymous Hotline: 082 811 2686. 3 English speaking meetings in Pattaya near Central Festival and 2 in Jomtien each week.

Also regular Thai speaking meetings at 12 noon every Sunday, and Persian Farsi speaking meetings at 5.30 pm on Thursdays. Please call the Hotline for details.

North Star Library on Sukhumvit Road, north Pattaya holds regular Thai language classes Mon - Fri from 10.30 a.m. 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).

For more information, call 081 575 4854 or email wan_nujan@yahoo.com Overeaters Anonymous The ‘Up to You’ group meets Wednesdays 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the housing area just behind Pan Restaurant in Jomtien on Thappraya Road.

Call Steve at 038-364-207(h) or 089-250-1359 (cell) for directions or more information.

Post 12146 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 29, 2019 31

PATTAYA MAIL

United States of America (Ban Chang – U-Tapao, Thailand) meets the second Saturday of each month at 13:00 at Sinthavee Park Condo, 2/ 1 Moo 5, in Ban Chang. If you are interested, please contact Membership Chairman Dan Morgan at <ban changvfw12146membership@ gmail.com> or visit website: www.banchangvfwpost12146.org.

Royal British Legion Thailand meets on the last weekend of every month at various locations around the city.

Please join and like the Face Book page and you will see the all the social events listed. You do not have to have served in the Armed Forces to become a member and can join in the many social events arranged throughout the year. The Legion’s primary aim is the care and welfare of those who have served and/or their dependents. For general enquiries send an email to - chonburi .secretary@rbl.community.

Samaritans of Thailand 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. (02) 713-6791.

Mussels in tomato wine In Pattaya, mussels are cheap and plentiful. They are also not high in calories so you can serve this as a weight watcher item.

Ingredients Mussels Unsalted margarine Onion, minced Garlic, minced Tomatoes, coarsely chopped Dry white wine Salt and pepper to taste Fresh parsley, minced

Serves 4 1 kg 1 tbspn 1 small 1 clove 4 large ¾ cup 1 tbspn

Cooking method Scrub and de-beard the mussels under running water. Prepare a steamer and place the mussels on the top. Steam the mussels for around seven to eight minutes, or until they have opened. Important: discard any that remain closed.

Meanwhile, in a medium sized saucepan, sauté onion in margarine, stirring over medium heat for two minutes. Stir in the garlic, sauté for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes. Cook the tomatoes for two minutes, then add the wine and salt and pepper to taste.

Now quickly bring the tomatoes to a boil for around five minutes, until the sauce is thick. Stir in parsley and keep the sauce over very low heat.

Break off the empty half of the mussel shells and arrange the mussels on serving plates. Spoon some of the sauce over each mussel and serve immediately.

Dining & Entertainment New Delicacies at Pan Pan San Domenico: Italian Antipasto: Parma Ham, Salame, Milano, Hot Salame, Mortadella, Olives, Mozzarella & Bell Peppers. Served with hot, crispy pizza bread. 580 Baht.

Highly Recommended. Must Try! Black Spaghetti Seafood Ki Mao: With Prawns, Cherry Tomatoes, Chilly & Squids. 395 Baht. A must for spicy food lovers! Saeb-elee! Pan Pan San Domenico, Jomtien Pattaya, 038 251 874, 084-345 1717. Pan Pan Italia Restaurant, Na Jomtien Sattahip, 038 237 880, 065570 7836. Pan Pan Cafe Bar, Terminal 21, Pattaya, Tel. 086-392 3288 The Oasis Restaurant and Poolside of the Thai Garden Resort offers nightly dining presentations with different themed “all you can eat” buffets at the resort poolside: Monday – Italian buffet; Tuesday – BBQ buffet; Wednesday – Duck buffet; Thursday – German buffet with roasted pig; Friday – Asian Delights buffet; Saturday – international buffet; Sunday – Steak & Skewers buffet. The buffet starts from 6 p.m., runs until 9 p.m. All this for just 499 baht net per adult. 299 baht for children under 12. (Kids under 4-years old eat free).

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.

Indian Lamb Curry at Yupins. Lamb fillets and leg, homemade ghee and fresh

home ground spices. Spicy sauce includes sultanas, raisins and cranberries Served with popadom, roti, homemade mango chutney and cucumber raita. An Amazing Experience! Only 350 baht.

And a quick reminder that your favourite Oysters from Normandy are now arriving every Friday fresh the same day. Try them! For reservations, call 038 250394 or visit website: www.yupins.com edge restaurant, Hilton Pattaya invites you to discover a unique ‘7 Days 7 Themes’ lunch buffet, the well-known lunch concept featuring a variety of favorite selections and some of the world-famous dishes served with a panoramic view of Pattaya bay. Monday ‘Smokehouse Grill’ at THB 580 net. Tuesday ‘Mediterranean Classics’ at THB 580 net. Wednesday ‘Burgers, Sandwiches & Salads’ at THB 580 net. Thursday ‘Hawker Highlights’ at THB 580 net.

Friday ‘Beachfront Seafood Grill’ at THB 650 net. Saturday ‘Wok and Roll’ at THB 650 net. Sunday ‘Edge Sunday Brunch’ at THB 1,500 net.

Pattaya Soul Club presents Souled Out. The very best of Northern-Motown-Soul.

Friday 13 December 2019 at Hemingway’s Jomtien. 500 baht entry fee. Doors open at 8pm. Free flow of wine and San Miguel 8-10pm. All proceeds to Kate’s Project Pattaya. No need to book in advance. Just show up.

Hobbies A Stamp Market is held every Sunday from 10.00 a.m. till 3.00 p.m.at Rahnpintang Moe Kata Restaurant, Panji Place, on Soi Ponphraphanimit 7 (200m from the Bangkok Highway underpass). Here can you

exchange stamps from the whole world. Call 089 091 3418 for more information and directions.

Rest & Recreation The Lost World is a beachfront water park at the Centara Grand Mirage Beach Resort Pattaya, a themed jungle adventure attraction, part action and thrills, part relaxing tropical resort, all rolled into one destination. It is a world where the variety of attractions and activities is practically endless. Explore the waterfalls and rope bridges, take a ride on the newly improved lazy river, or speed down any one of the 12 water slides. You can cool off in any of The Lost World’s three swimming pools, a free-form main pool, a children’s pool, and a lap pool. Plus the Gulf of Thailand is a few steps away along Wong Amat Beach. School holiday rates start at THB 4,050++/night. Plus, free Kids Club entrance for 2 kids. Tel 038 301 234. eforea spa at Hilton Pattaya Two combination packages of body massage and facial treatment exclusively designed for relaxing tight muscles and nourishing your facial skin. ‘A Luxurious Spa Package’ will take you to a deep relaxation for 90 minutes with a traditional Thai therapeutic massage by herbal hot compress. Followed by full facial treatment, cleanse, scrub and moisturizing for 60 minutes.

A Luxurious Spa Package is priced at THB 5,000 net per person and THB 9,600 per

couple. ‘eforea Journey of the Sense’ is for a short-time relaxation from head to toes.

Start from a 90-minute body massage followed by facial treatment with a Chinese acupressure over your head and face. Priced at THB 3,900 net per person and THB 7,500 net per couple.

Today until December 2019. eforea spa at Hilton Pattaya is located on level 17 of Hilton Pattaya and opens every day from 10 am – 10 pm. Advance reservation is required. For more information or reservation, please call +66 38 253 000 or pattaya.eforeaspa@hilton.com

Shopping A Farmers’ Market takes place every 2nd Saturday of the month at the Holiday Inn hotel on Pattaya Beach Road from 10.30 am - 3.30 p.m. Products range from wellness items, jewelry, freshly prepared food, organic vegetables and fruits.

Theatre Ben’s Theater Jomtien presents TPO String Quartet from the College of Music, Mahidol University 8pm Sunday 1 December 2019.

Haydn: Quartet in C major, Op. 76 No. 3 “Emperor” Mendelssohn: Quartet in A minor, Op. 13 No. 2. Omiros Yavroumis violin 1, Chanasorn Chantarapaoraya violin 2, Aibek Ashirmatov viola, Sarai Arsa cello. Tickets THB 1000 pp including free drinks of choice. Reservations strictly by email: benstheater jomtien@gmail.com. Dress code: smart casual, no shorts, no sandals. Website: www. benstheaterjomtien.com

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VOL. XXVII No. 40

ITF Seniors Championship draws 150 global players to Pattaya

Men’s Doubles 60+ (L to R) Robert McCuigan (AUS), Singha Corporation sponsor agent, Nick Fok (HKG) and Stephen Myers (AUS).

Urasin Khantaraphan About 150 tennis players from 20 countries hit the courts at the Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s Fitz Club for the ITF Seniors Championship Grade A.

The Nov 16-22 tournament featured men’s and women’s singles and doubles matches, plus mixed doubles, split into age brackets for every five+ from 35-75.

Men’s singles winners and brackets were:

35 and Under: Andriy Baidikov (Ukraine) def. Aditya Khanna (India) 6-4 and 6-2.

40-44: Naoki Arimoto (Japan) n def. Steven Eckstein (Russia) 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-1 Continued pn page 26

Women’s Doubles 35+ tennis players Arunya Wongkaew and Puttaruksa Jantamad return a volley during the ITF Seniors Championship held at Royal Cliff Royal Cliff Beach Resort’s Fitz Club. The ITF Seniors Championship Grade A tournament drew 150 tennis players from 20 countries.

Beter is Best PSC Golf from Cafe Kronborg Monday 11th November Mountain Shadow Stableford

Men Singles 65+ (L to R) Philippe Gely (FRA) Singha Corporation sponsor agent, Giancarlo Nucci (ITA), and Vitanart Vathanakul, executive director of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group.

Mountain Shadow was the test on Monday. We had a group of 17, teeing off the white tees, with a stiff breeze behind us at the first. The breeze made the conditions ideal to play in, but made some of the holes into the wind quite tricky. The A flight players seemed to cope better with the conditions as can be seen from the scores.

Karl Beter & Henning Olsen.

With the cut being at 22, Lotte Boskov took the B flight honours by six shots

from Patrick Poussier in second place.

Continued pn page 26

RST Vipers and Cobras both win on last ball Pattaya Indoor Cricket League - Round 10 The evening fixtures on Monday, 25th Nov at Rugby School Thailand (RST), Banglamung were between RST Vipers versus Pattaya Cricket Club (PCC) and RST Cobras versus Asian All Stars (AAS).

In the first match PCC should have won having scored more runs and retained their wickets but they gave away too many extras. It was a really tight match dominated by accurate bowling, few runs and a final ball victory to RST Vipers by 1 run.

PCC opened the batting with Bernie Lamprecht and Edwin van Rensburg. Ryan Driver bowled Bernie second ball and along with Marcus Large restricted PCC to 20 with 10 dot balls. Stuart Douglas was unlucky not to get a wicket when Ryan Driver of Rugby School Thailand Vipers bowls to Bernie Lamprecht of Bernie was dropped by Marcus. Pattaya Cricket Club (PCC) whilst Edwin van Rensburg backs up and Dan Continued pn page 23

Allan wicket keeps. PCC let this tight match get away, dominated by accurate bowling, few runs and a final ball victory to RST Vipers by 1 run.

PATTAYA MAIL is edited by Nopniwat Krailerg for Pattaya Mail Publishing Co., Ltd. Printer, publisher and owner Offices: 62/284-286 Moo 12, Thepprasit Road, Pattaya City 20150.

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