SILC NEWS
A publica*on of the Samutprakarn Interna*onal Ladies Club
February 2017
Committee Members Responsibility
Name
Chairman
Jane Campton
silcchair@gmail.com
Vice Chairman
Kay Hickey
silcvice@gmail.com
Secretary
Sally Dicken
silcsecretary@gmail.com
Treasurer
Vacant
silctreasurer@gmail.com
Coffee Mornings
Karen Tye & Lek Burrell
silccoffees@gmail.com
Tours
Jimmy James & Carla Rijnders
silctour@gmail.com
Lunches
Jo Thomas & Sue Williams
silclunch@gmail.com
Membership
Jeanne%e Rademaker
silcthai@gmail.com
Welfare Coordinator
Chris Rajakarier
silcwelfare1@gmail.com
Newsle&er Editor & Adver(sing
Clare Nevin
silcmagazine@gmail.com
Online Media & Web Adver0sing
Jan Briggs
silcwebsites@gmail.com
Bazaar
Tracey Hewison
silcbazaar@gmail.com
Evening Events
Kay Hickey & Irene Gray
silcvice@gmail.com
Cra$ Club
Debbie Morton & Tracey Hewison
silccra'@gmail.com
Book Club
Sara Carr-‐Legg
silcbookgroup@gmail.com
General Commi,ee
Shirley Tan, Sudeshna Srivastava, Debbie Morton, Herma Vos, Kate McDonald, Sunita Kulisra
Link Ladies Area
Name
Garden Towers
Jan Briggs
Ladawan
Shirley Tan
Lakeside 1
Lakeside 2
Sunita Kulisra
Thana City
Irene Gray
Bangkok Area
Chris Rajakarier
Moo Baan Panya
Clare Nevin
Fantasia 2
Debbie Morton
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SILC News Copy Deadline for March Newsletter
Monday 20th February
If you have any recipes, book reviews, recommendations for holidays or items for our bulletin board please forward them to the Newsletter Editor: silcmagazine@gmail.com
SILC February 2017
Chairman’s Message Happy New Year everyone, I hope this finds you s7ll relaxed and refreshed a"er the hols and ready to celebrate the coming of the Year of the Fire Rooster! We had a fantas+c response to our Bilingual Bites, the SILC Cookbook in the run up to Christmas. In addi1on to heaps and heaps of books, we also sold out of our special gi% sets completely and are now well on our way to mee4ng our targets to sustain our welfare projects well into the future. We know you like to keep up to date with where you money is spent-‐ this month we are featuring the English program, read all about it on page 17. We have lots of lovely ac.vi.es as usual this month. I am looking forward to our Coffee Morning on the 2nd February at Home of Grace, suppor0ng another one of our welfare projects. Hope to see you there! Jane
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Advertising Adver&sements for non-‐profit community events are welcome and are free of charge. Personal Adver-sements for S ILC members are free of charge. Email reminders for SILC events and non-‐profit community events will be sent out free of charge; other events must be adver(sed in our magazine.
Discounts
1500 Baht
Member
800 Baht
Annual Contract (10 adverts/year)
10%
Quarter Page 400 Baht
(Only one discount may be applied)
Website
Rates (per issue)
Full Page
Half Page
3000 Baht per annum (no discount) Includes Link
25%
Adver&sing requests and payment must be received prior to the published deadline. Further details on adver0sing in the Newsle4er contact: Clare Nevin: silcmagazine@gmail.com Further details on adver0sing on the SILC Website contact: Jan Briggs: silcwebsites@gmail.com To arrange payment contact: The Treasurer: Rocelyn Keilnhofer: silctreasurer@gmail.com
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SILC February 2017
Aims & Policies Organisa(on of the Club SILC creates an opportunity for women of all na6onali6es living in the Samutprakarn area to meet socially and par$cipate in a variety of ac$vi$es. We invite members to join monthly mee$ngs, tours and interest groups. Members pay an annual fee of 1000 Baht to cover costs and receive a newsle1er and club directory.
Privacy The Members Directory and addresses sourced from our legi7mate club business such as Lunches or Coffee Mornings are for the sole us of members in a social se3ng and must not be used for commercial purposes.
Newsle&er The newsle)er is published ten 1mes a year with ar1cles and informa1on on club ac1vi1es. Contribu1ons are welcome and can be sent to the newsle/er editor.
Commi%ee Mee)ngs These are held once a month and are open to all members. Please inform the mee2ng hostess if you wish to a7end. All SILC events are subject to change. Please confirm your attendance with the relevant contact. Please advise of your cancellation as soon as possible so that another member may take your place.
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December Lunch Review Our seasonal celebra-ons this year found us at the swish and glam Royal Orchid Sheraton hotel on the banks of the Chao Phraya. I always think a riverside loca8on makes an occasion special and here in Bangkok, I par,cularly love seeing the tourists trapped in the cheap seats on the orange flag boats, imagining them dreaming of the luxury offered by a 5* hotel with a view whilst dealing with the stress of ge#ng off at the right pier for the Grand Palace. As ever, we were extremely glamorous too but not so much that we couldn’t do jus9ce to the fes9ve feast of the buffet-‐ stuff the turkey, my faves were the minty lamb chops and the baby lemon meringue pies! Also as ever, we followed lunch with our infamous secret santa. It was quite a hard room for our Re5red Serviceman’s Club style compere to work but I was much be9er once I had a mic and didn’t just have to rely on being a big gob. This meant you could all hear my cheesy cracker jokes but in case you missed it, here is my favourite-‐ Knock knock Who’s there? Olive Olive who? Olive the other reindeer.
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SILC February 2017
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January Lunch Review Connecting at Wine Connection It’s January, Christmas and New Year holidays are over, children have left (sigh): what better reason to zoom up the highway and meet at Mega Bangna Wine Connection for the SILC January lunch and catch up with the gang. It was lovely to see everyone – around 13 of us and a quick visit from Irene – and also to check out the new Wine Connection menu. Aren’t we so lucky to have this restaurant at Mega? I so wish someone would open one in Pattaya! Fish and chips was really popular at our end of the table – something to do with it being Friday, according to Mrs Hickey. Once again I broke my New Year’s resolution which was to eat lots of healthy, fresh, unfried food, but felt totally justified as the fish and chips would give me the strength to drive back to Pattaya. It was also nice to meet some of the newer members of SILC ; Nicky, Sara and Marieke it was great to talk to you and share a little bit of information about places to go down my end of Jomtien. I really should write some of them up for SILC News, rather than scrawl them on Wine Connection drink coasters! Hope you had a good weekend at Ravindra Marieke! I finished off my afternoon with a trip to Zara to buy a fabulous fake-fur trimmed coat to wear in the UK next week. As I told my husband: I was only following advice from everyone at lunch who said it was absolutely essential that I have the fabulous coat otherwise I would get frostbite. Thank you so much ladies for the shopping advice and company last Friday. See you again soon!
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SILC February 2017
Craft Club Review January 2017
Soap Making Workshop Maria is the bubbly, energetic founder of The Bangkok Soap Opera and immediately her passionate enthusiasm for her natural soap and cosmetic products began to rub off on our small group of Silc members. A chemist by training, she began the session by explaining the chemistry involved in the 100% natural process of soap making. Her soaps contain no chemicals, preservatives or emulsifiers. She uses only local herbs and oils to produce gentle, non- allergenic soaps. As we donned our rubber gloves we tried hard not to blow up Tracey’s neat kitchen and followed closely the soap making process. Maria explained each step in detail and we managed to produce sweet smelling bars of soap from what, at some point, looked like mash potatoes.
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By Fiona Lemaire
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Book Reviews The Icarus Girl by Helen Oyeyemi Reviewed by Lorraine This was the debut from Helen Oyeyemi written whilst she was studying for her A levels in London, it was published in 2005 whilst she was at Cambridge.
The novel is voiced by Jess, an 8 year old girl living in the UK with her Nigerian mother and British father. She is an introverted, sensitive girl given to screaming panic attacks, a loner with a vivid imagination. Her mother, a writer, returns with her family to Nigeria after an absence of 15 years for a holiday, here Jess meets her grandfather, aunts, uncle and cousins.
She continues to be lonely, even surrounded by family until she meets the mysterious TillyTilly, a friend who finally understands her. The book now turns slightly sinister, TillyTilly encouraging Jess to venture into forbidden places. On their return to the UK Jess’s troubled state of mind becomes even more apparent.
I read the first half of this book in one sitting, but I felt the second half was a less coherent and with an unsatisfactory conclusion. I quite like an ambiguous ending, lots to discuss at book club, but this felt as if the author was rushed and tired of writing. Of course, it is easy for me to criticise a 17 year old published author! I will however, definitely read some of her later novels.
A Streetcat Named Bob
by James Bowen
Reviewed by Jane A Streetcat Named Bob is the uplifting and true, story of the unlikely friendship between a young homeless man and a ginger tom who adopts him. Bob helps James turn his life around- he helps practically by sitting attractively on James' shoulders whilst he busks in central London but, more importantly, Bob gives James a a focus and a reason to care. The book offers a perspective on the hazards and hardships of life on the streets, the challenges of coming off drugs and the random acts of kindness, and equally brutality, from strangers. In learning to take responsibility for Bob, James eventually learns to take care of himself and life takes on an upward spiral. Whilst its an easy read, and not just for cat lovers, I loved the book for its insight into the tough lives of the homeless and drug dependent. This is rarely a life chosen willingly and James tells of his struggle to get life back on track honestly and without self pity. As a cat lady though, I did have to find out if Bob was still around- yes and he has even recently starred in his own Hollywood blockbuster bio pic!
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SILC February 2017
The Big Mango Whats new in the Big Mango? We have interviewed a few of our members to give us their ”Best of the Big Mango Dining”
Name: Jan Briggs How long have you lived in Bangkok: 8 years Best special/ destination dining: Rib Room Bar & Steakhouse, The Landmark 31st floor -‐ Fab views and steak! Best thing to do on a Friday night: Zaks Wine Bar, Soi 11 Best local/ cheap eat: View Dee Restaurant, Kanchanaphisek Road Best family eats: Hoshi Japanese Restaurant, Bangna Trad Best buffet: 27 Bites, Radisson Blu Best lunch: Watching the life pass by on the river from the outside restaurant at Mandarin Oriental Best unusual/ quirky dining experience: Midnight Tuk Tuk Food Tour Best theme eg Indian, Chinese, Italian etc: Zanotti Italian Restaurant -‐ on the nights they have the Opera singers performing Best place to take guests to show off the highlights of Bangkok ( ie tourist destination): Octave Rooftop Bar, Marriott Suk 57 then a Thai meal on Suk Soi 11. Most memorable meal in Thailand: Had so many this is too hard to answer, but some of the best Thai food has been on beaches on Koh Chang, Koh Samet or Krabi and in Food courts in shopping Malls Best Delivery: Sunrise Taco's
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Best of The Big Mango Dining Name: Sue Williams How long in BKK: 61/2 years Best sky Bar: The Long Table Best thing to do in a Friday night: Cinema with family then out for supper with lots of lovely margaritas Best local night: Onut market (before they closed it to make way for ANOTHER mall) Best special night out: The Banyan Tree - Vertigo Best family night: Dinner at Harvest on Soi 31 (if our children have nothing better to do than be with their mum and dad, which is increasingly rare!) Most unusual: The flying chicken restaurant on Bagna Trad frontage road. Too bizarre for words! Best girls night: Maya, on a Wednesday night, especially if indiscretions are revealed at full volume for the rest of the restaurant to appreciate J Best tourist destination: Lumpini park to see the Water monitor Lizards - a definite "only in Thailand " place Best night out ever: so many to choose from so will go with husbands 50th Bangkok birthday party (obviously couldn't just have the one) at the Long Table with all our friends who
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SILC February 2017
Best of The Big Mango Dining Name: Jo Thomas How long have you lived in Bangkok: 15 years in April Best special/ destination dining: Lord Jims free flow Sunday brunch buffet & Plaza Athenee Sunday brunch Best thing to do on a Friday night: Chill by the time hubby gets home! Best local/ cheap eat: Sabai Jai (Chicken Shed) Ekamai Best family eats: Rossano's Asoke, Fat R Gutz Thonglor, Luigi Italian for pizza -‐ Sukumvit, Appia Best buffet: Mandarin Oriental and Plaza Athenee Best lunch: Love the Khao Soi at You & Mee Grand Hyatt -‐ Indulge Asoke Best unusual/ quirky dining experience: Maggie Choo's Silom, Viva Aviv Riverside -‐ River City Best theme eg Indian, Chinese, Italian etc: Masala Art (Indian), Indigo (French) Best place to take guests to show off the highlights of Bangkok ( ie tourist destination): Long tail river boat around the Klongs and to Wat Po, water taxi to Asiatique -‐ A night out in Soi 11 Most memorable meal in Thailand: Le Normandie -‐ Mandarin Oriental
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December Welfare Update
These Christmas cards were sent to SILC by the 2 teenagers that SILC sponsor and the photo of the girl in blue is the girl we paid for to have an eye operation. Thank you Chris
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SILC February 2017
December Welfare Update Christmas is always one of the highlights of our visits to Mahawong and Prakkasamsi schools and this year, I felt, was particularly happy and fun. The joyful atmosphere was perhaps due to the puppy or kitten toys the children received, ingeniously made from socks by a small organisation called "Sewing Socks and Sowing Smiles". The group is made up of urban refugees from Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Myanmar and the sock cats and dogs, which they make, bring in much needed income for them and their families. Each toy is unique and the children's faces really did light up when they saw their own individual puppy or kitten. Many of the children gave their new toy a kiss and a cuddle and they were all absolutely delighted with a gift which appeared to have been made just for them; some of them actually seemed to match the children's outfits and personalities. Our father/lady Christmases did a sterling job handing out the presents and the children enjoyed their individual cuddles. I think our father Christmases enjoyed the day as much, if not more, than the children. Jingle Bell sing songs and dances were of course part of the morning and gifts to the teachers who work hard all year with the children. Both days were packed with fun and this year the children also made a bright red candle with stickers and tinsel. Well done Sudeshna and the cutters for another great craft activity. It is always a great pleasure to see the children and teachers enjoy Christmas Welfare and even better that this year their gifts also helped others. The order of 330 gave a great boost in income to the refugee families from Sewing Socks and Sowing Smiles and they were hugely grateful. Well done to Sacha for initiating and realising this idea. A massive well done to Chris who has led Welfare smoothly for over 4 years. Welfare takes up a huge amount of her time and she is a dedicated and kind leader. None of this would happen without her. Thanks Chris. We look forward to working together and having fun helping others in 2017. Big thank you to all the kind SILC members who gave so generously towards the appeal for the kids underwear, sock, toothpaste and toothbrush donation. We had an overwhelming response from our members that not only did we give Mahawong and Prakkasamai preschool but we were able donate items to Heavenly Home orphanage and Place of Grace slum project. This year we donated to around 500 kids. Thanks to your generosity the children's basic needs were met. THANK YOU!
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Christmas at Prakkasamsi
Christmas at Mahawong
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SILC February 2017
Welfare THE ENGLISH PROGRAM The current version of the English program started at the beginning of September 2016 at the Mahawong Pre-‐School. We discussed what the children could benefit from most and what the Thai teachers at Mahawong might not be able to provide for lack of their English proficiency. We decided on the following: We aim to teach the children basic English vocabulary for speaking and understanding the language through conversa.on, songs, repe..on, games, group and individual ac.vi.es. We believe that the children have a be(er chance of learning English later in life if they have this basic founda5on and we hope that this ul,mately might help them have a be2er future. The program is run by a coordinator, 2 weekly teachers, and 7 bi-‐weekly teacher assistants. We have a curriculum and all of us are ac(vely involved in preparing the weekly lesson plans by providing teaching materials (flashcards, charts for the whiteboard miniature objects, colouring-‐in sheets etc) and finding the appropriate songs for each lesson. We have covered: Introducing oneself, Numbers, Colours, Fruit and vegetables, The body, Clothes, Objects, Transport and next are: Animals, Feelings and Preposi5ons. All lesson plans and materials are stored, so they can be used for years to come, even by different teachers at different schools. The material looks professional and a%rac(ve. Hanneke and Saskia have taken on the task of teaching every week and preparing the lesson with the lesson plan provided, they have one assistant each in the class per week. There are 30 5-‐6 years old children, who are divided into two groups.
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We structure the Lessons as follows: *The class starts every week with the students forming a circle and singing the ‘Hello song’ and introducing themselves. *Next is the main lesson, on the subject we are covering that week, with pictures and real objects, Hanneke and Saskia will be introducing these on or in front of the blackboard. *Followed by ac-vi-es, games and songs to memorize that days lesson. *A#er we will form smaller groups and work with flash cards, books and have conversa.ons. *The children get worksheets at the end of the lesson, which they can colour in and/or they can try and write the words that they have just been introduced to. *We always finish back in a circle with the ‘Goodbye’ song. It might be interes-ng to read some quotes from the members involved: When I started teaching English at Mahawong I was a bit nervous, because I did not know what to expect and if the children would like and understand what we had prepared. But it seemed they really liked the lessons and now it is so nice to see they are having fun as well as making progress. Although it takes a lot of work to find and make the lesson materials it is also so much fun to do. -‐Saskia Leeuwangh I'm so thankful that I have the opportunity of teaching these wonderful children! They're eager to learn the basic English skills from us. Every Thursday I look forward going to the children and see their happy faces. I'm very proud of our children and our teachers! -‐Hanneke Langschmidt It is very gra,fying to hear the children sing the songs that they have learned while they are colouring in. The team spirit between the volunteers, their quick responses to our ques%ons and the a-en%on to detail they put into preparing the lesson plans is fantas*c. -‐Sacha de Vries
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SILC February 2017
New Members Hi there, my name is Marieke Kraaijeveld and me and my husband Huib have just moved to Bangkok from Shenzhen, China. We have two grown sons, (25 and 28) both living and studying in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Our cats live with them too. Since 1998 we have been living abroad in various countries and ci'es, star'ng in Prague, then on to Shanghai, Manila, Guangzhou, Shanghai again, Kiev, Shenzhen and last but not least Bangkok! So far we love everything about it, apart from the traffic. We chose to live in Ekamai and we are very happy with the apartment and loca2on. I had a wonderful welcome here in Bangkok; the Dutch ladies are fabulously well informed and welcoming and SILC held their Christmas lunch 2 weeks a8er I moved in. I am really enjoying the perks of a ‘foreigner’s city’, where everything is available and transporta*on is easy. While living in China, I always worked as a subs$tute teacher at the interna$onal schools. I will look for a posi$on here in Bangkok as well, a-er the dust has se3led.
Hi, I am Debbie Connors. My husband, Jeff, works at the U.S. Embassy. We moved from London, Kentucky to Bangkok where we have resided for one year. We are empty nesters of 2 sons. Our oldest son is in the United States Army and is married with our only grandchild but that will change in September when a second grandchild will be born. Our youngest son is currently working on his Masters at the Air Force Ins3tute of Technology at Wright-‐Pa#erson Air Force Base in Ohio. This past year has been spent ge/ng to know the Bangkok area by walking and using the BTS/MRT. Having returned from a seven week visit to the states, I am looking forward to con/nuing my par/cipa/on with the women’s ministry at the Evangelical Church of Bangkok (ECB) along with beginning a new adventure as a member of SILC.
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January Tour Review Lopburi Last Tuesday sixteen of the wonderful SILC ladies went on tour to the historic city of Lopburi, and the Saraburi sunflower fields. We were to start the day fresh and early at 7.30am, and my drive in to town was through rain. But, as this is Thailand, the rain clouds quickly dissipated and made way for a hot sunny day. We began with a quick caffeine fix at True Coffee while some members met others for the first time, then we were off in our two mini vans headed north. The two-and-a-half-hour drive seemed to pass quickly with lots of chatter, stories from our respective home countries, accounts of life in Bangkok, some whinging about the traffic and Thai drivers, and even some singing. By late morning we arrived at our first stop, the 17th century ruins of Phra Narai Ratchaniwet. Phra Narai Ratchaniwet, or King Narai’s Palace, is described by Tourism Thailand as being built by the king during the Ayutthaya period, interestingly by French architects, but visually having an obvious Khmer influence: “The palace is a perfect blend of both worlds, a unique mixture of Khmer-European styles. After the death of King Narai the Great in 1688, the palace was abandoned. It was not until the reign of King Rama IV during the Rattanakosin era that the palace was restored and renamed Phra Narai Ratchaniwet. Now, there are several compounds with pavilions dating from both King Narai and King Rama IV’s reigns.” Unfortunately, the inner courtyards and museum section of the complex was closed the day we visited, however we were still able to walk the outer grounds and see some impressive ruins, which were once a banquet hall, theatre, temple and treasury houses, pictured below.
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SILC February 2017
Next up, just a short drive down the road to the centre of town we arrived at Phra Kan Shrine and Phra Prang Sam Yod. The centre of Lopburi is also “Monkey Town” were literally hundreds of Macaques roam the streets (footpaths, power lines, temple roof tops, fences, etc.) After just previously having been enlightened by one member as to the prevalence of rabid animals in Thailand, we all decided watching from the van windows would be sufficient. We pulled over between the two shrines and we soon had monkeys climbing all over our van. We watched on amused as a monkey and a local food cart operator seemed to be in a Mexican standoff, the elderly Thai man wielding his trusty long necked lighter in a bid to save his grilled meat from hairy little fingers. With bananas lying untouched everywhere it is clear that these monkeys have become more accustomed to a finer array of treats and sweeties handed out by tourists, not to mention morsels from the local food carts when some complacent vendors backs are turned. Third on the agenda were the ruins of Ban Luang Rap Ratchathut, which translates to “Royal House to receive dignitaries”, another residence which King Narai had built in the sixteen hundreds. The structures here were interesting as they were mostly of a European style.
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Our fourth call was to the ruins of the religious place called Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat. The original structures at this site are much older than the others we had visited that day, believed to have been built somewhere in the vicinity of the early 14th century. During his reign, King Narai added pagodas, galleries and other dwellings to the site and had the original temple reconstructed.
Our fifth and final destination during our visit of the historic town was for lunch at the Baan Saha Café where we were served some terrific Thai cuisine and a round of much needed cool drinks. Then it was off in our vans again to the sunflower fields of Saraburi.
The trip from Lopburi to Saraburi seemed to take us along many rural roads, past hills and fields of all different crops such as Tapioca and Sugar Cane. We were excited with anticipation for every next turn in the hope of seeing a field of yellow ahead of us. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, the sunflower seasons seems to have come to an abrupt end this year, and our first sighting was of fields of very sad looking dry flowers with their heads hung. We made the most of the situation and climbed out of the vans and walked among the dry fields to get some fresh air and with hopes of spotting a few stray perky flowers to snap photos of, much to the amusement of locals passing by on their scooters. Eventually our driver pulled up in a small village area and asked a local to direct him to the sunflower fields. She pointed ahead as she spoke in Thai as the driver nodded and seemed pleased! However, Jimmy then informed us that the lady had said “all dead though.” As it turned out we were fortunate enough to find a small field of reasonably cheerful sunflowers and we were all able to get some decent photos for our troubles.
Thanks to Carla and Jimmy for organising a great day out. As a new member, it was a great opportunity for me to meet more of the lovely SILC ladies. I’m looking forward to the next tour that I may get the opportunity to come along to.
Sara Gill
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SILC February 2017
January Committee Meeting Committee meetings are normally held in members houses but in January the Committee met at ‘Steps with Theera’. Steps with Theera is situated on Ekamai Soi 10, it is a coffee shop, cafe and vocational training centre for young adults with special educational needs and for those who benefit from an alternative pathway. They provide inclusive accredited training programmes to enable young people to be independent and find sustainable and fulfilling employment opportunities. They work in the community to create awareness and break down some of the barriers surrounding special needs. The coffee shop and cafe allow trainees to show their capabilities and be a part of the community. So please go along and support this fabulous venture by grabbing lunch or even just a coffee.
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What’s on in February?
February 2017 Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
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2
3
4
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Welfare Ac#vity @ Prakkasamai
SILC Coffee at Home of Grace
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11
12
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6
7
8
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SILC Tour to Bang Phli Market
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15
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13
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Patana Holiday Patana Holiday Patana Holiday Patana Holiday Patana Holiday
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24
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Book Club at Lorraines
SILC Lunch at Patara
NIST Holiday
Welfare Ac#vity @ Mahawong
SILC Cra( Club
NIST Holiday
NIST Holiday
NIST Holiday
NIST Holiday
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AWC Breakfast at the Oscars
Notes For any NON SILC events please always double check the date and times. 24
SILC February 2017
February Coffee When : Thursday 2nd February Time : 11-12.30 Cost : Buy your own coffee and cake, plus see below for some help they require Location : Home of Grace, Skuhumvit soi 107, Bearing soi 34, Kanya House 62/2 RSVP to silccoffees@gmail.com) Home of Grace is a very local charity; they provide shelter to 15 pregnant women who would otherwise have no support during pregnancy and in the months after the birth of their child. Most mothers are between 17 and 25. I would like to supply a donations box for anyone wanting to support them, they are currently looking to raise 20,000 Baht to purchase a new super coffee machine for their coffee shop, this will again help the charity to do more with the ladies.
Please RSVP Karen & Lek: silccoffees@gmail
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February Book Club Date: Thursday 23rd February Time: 12noon – 2pm Venue:
Lorraine Slowther’s House Sukhumvit Road Soi 31 BTS Phrom Phong Please bring yourself and a plate to share. Don’t worry if you haven’t read these books or any book lately, come along for a chat and meet some new friends. Please RSVP to Sara on silcbookgroup@gmail.com And Sara will send you Lorraine’s address
February Books to Read The Well - Catherine Chanter recommended by Tracey M When Ruth Ardingly and her family first drive up from London in their grime-encrusted car and view The Well, they are enchanted by a jewel of a place, a farm that appears to offer everything the family are searching for. But The Well's unique glory comes at a terrible price. The locals suspect foul play in its verdant fields and drooping fruit trees, and Ruth becomes increasingly isolated as she struggles to explain why her land flourishes whilst her neighbours' produce withers and dies.
Leave Me - Gayle Forman recommended Goodreads
For every woman who has ever fantasized about driving past her exit on the highway instead of going home to make dinner, for every woman who has ever dreamed of boarding a train to a place where no one needs constant attention-meet Maribeth Klein. A harried working mother who's so busy taking care of her husband and twins, she doesn't even realize she's had a heart attack.
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SILC February 2017
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February Lunch FEBRUARY LUNCH AT PATARA FINE THAI CUISINE SOI THONGLOR 19, SUKUMVIT ROAD 55 ON FRIDAY 24TH FEBRAURY 2017 AT 12 NOON Please come and join Jo and Sue for a fine dining style Thai cuisine at the beau:ful Patara restaurant where we can choose from a set menu for 420++ baht including complimentary iced water throughout, finished with a lemongrass ice cream. The set menu also includes a combina(on of steamed handcra1ed dumplings with prawn, crabmeat and mince pork, Thai fish cakes served with cucumber salsa, cured beetroot Norwegian salmon and pomelo salad, s'r fried mix vegetable and jasmine rice. Please select main course from below and please state your choice when you RSVP: S"r fried beef with chilli, garlic and basil Tiger prawns fried with tamarind sauce or sautéed in red curry sauce Crispy fried seabass with either Chinese celery, tamarind sauce or chilli jam S"r fried chicken or pork or prawns with chilli, garlic, and sweet basil If you would like to join this lunch please RSVP by Tuesday 21st February to silclunch@gmail.com. Nearest BTS is Thonglor and there is parking at the restaurant.
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SILC February 2017
February Craft Club
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February Trip Day tour Thursday February 9th BANG PHLI OLD MARKET
The market is located along Khlong Samrong and is more than 150 years old. You’ll find local food and local products at the market and lovely old wooden shophouses where the vendors still live. For more information on the market, please follow this link to a blog: h"p://bensalmons.wordpress.com/2011/03/06/ Near the market there are two temples, Wat Bang Phli Yai Nai and Wat Bang Phli Yai Klang where there is a huge reclining Buddha that you can go inside. There are four storeys inside and when you reach the fourth floor you can even see the Buddha’s heart.
Date: Thursday 9 February Time: 8:00 am from Tesco Lotus Bangna Trad Road (just before U turn Mega Bangna) Finish: end of morning/beginning afternoon Costs: no, we will either use taxis or car-share depending on who wants to join in. Lunch: if any, at own expenses Minimum number: 4 participants If you would like to join, please respond before Monday 6 February to: silctour@gmail.com Jimmy & Carla
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SILC February 2017
to our members that celebrate their birthdays in February Irene Gray Jan Briggs Mariska Abrahams Shirley Tan Tone Tveit Rosenlund
Apologies if I have missed your birthday, please let me know as it means we do not have your birthday on record.
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What’s On
Performances
Tuesday, February 14, Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18 7:30pm at The Admiral’s Pub – Sukhumvit soi 24 – Oakwood Residence
Tickets 500bht per person (Limited seating)
Book tickets www.bangkokcommunitytheatre.com A charity performance for Homenet Thailand/My Fair and Happy Home What is a V-Day Campaign? A V-Day Campaign is a catalyst for mobilizing women and men to heighten awareness about violence against women and girls. By creating this global community, V-Day strives to empower women to find their collective voices and demand an end to the violence that affects one in three women in the U.S and around the world. V-Day Bangkok is a local effort within the worldwide context of the 2017 V-Day Campaign. V-Day - a global activist movement! In 2017 we are shining the Spotlight on Violence Against Women In the Workplace. Violence against women at work takes place every day, in every country, across socio-economic levels. The additional layer of exploitation is that, in many cases, women facing workplace violence are vulnerable and impeded from speaking out or seeking justice for fear of losing their job. All of this is happening in the context of a global economic reality where it is increasingly difficult for women to even earn a livable wage. This year, Bangkok Community Theatre will donate the profits from these performances to Homenet Thailand/My Fair and Happy Home. Homenet Thailand and My Fair and Happy Home provides services to women who work in their homes and as domestic workers. They help to educate these women to make sure that they are paid properly and treated with dignity. The Vagina Monologues will be performed at The Admiral’s Pub on Sukhumvit Soi 24 at Oakwood Residence. For complete details and to order tickets go to: www.bangkokcommunitytheatre.com
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SILC February 2017
What’s On The British Women’s Group Presents
Music and BBQ by the Chao Phraya River
Saturday 18th March 2017 Pier 28, The Chatrium Hotel Riverside Welcome drinks from 7pm - Buffet from 7.30pm Live music through the ages, so put on your dancing shoes and join the party by the river BBQ and Gourmet Buffet Free Flow Drinks Tickets 2,200 baht per person To reserve your tickets please email specialevents@bwgbangkok.org Sponsored by
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What’s On
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SILC February 2017
From the Christmas celebration at HoG*
A little girl is back visiting us. We are so happy to see they are doing so well!
Thank you all for your support during 2016. This year, there have been 42 girls at HoG. We all wish you a Happy New Year 2017! You are mostly welcome to visit us. homeofgrace.thai@gmail.com
Christmas carols from our three volunteers: Hanna from Australia, Katri from Finland and Berit from Norway
Love from Chanarat (Lek), Pitsaraa (Kaew), Sawai, Anja and Alfhild *The girls have given permission to use the picture.
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