PEC Programme for Sunday, August 10, 2008

Our Meeting Manager is Jahir Khan, ensuring a well managed, interesting and memorable meeting. 

Club News & Notices will be presented by Niels Colov with a roundup of just about anything & everything affecting our club and it’s members living in Pattaya. 

Our Main Speaker (10 August) is Andrew Hicks who is known in Thailand as the author of THAI GIRL, a book that has been described by Farang Untamed Travel as "one of the top selling novels ever published in Thailand". Andrew has now just published a new book about his own life in Thailand called MY THAI GIRL AND I. Andrew has had a varied career from London lawyer in pin stripes to lecturer in law at universities in Nigeria, Hong Kong and Singapore.  After early retirement from his university at Exeter in the West of England, he than drifted back East and inevitably has stayed. That was when five years ago he met his wife, Cat, and settled with her in her village in Surin in the North East of Thailand. The last thing on his mind at the time was to write a book about his experiences… of living with his in-laws in their old wooden house, of eating frog and red ants' eggs, running a thirty year old jeep and the painful ordeal of building his own house.  But now MY THAI GIRL AND I is in the shops and already is a bestseller. Andrew's writing is mainly ON relationships, about the strange fascination, sometimes reciprocated, that the farang have for the Thais, especially the ladies, about the cultural gulf that separates us, about the incompatibilities and how these can sometimes be overcome.  Life is a comedy and there's nothing funnier than a sexagenarian farang trying to make a life for himself way out in the back of beyond with a rice farmer's daughter half his age. MY THAI GIRL AND I is an upbeat story about finding that new life in Thailand. Andrew will tell us all about it, about the pain and pleasures of authorship and of how he survives in a tiny rice growing village in the far reaches of rural Thailand. For details of the books (www.thaigirl2004.com), and more about life in Surin see (www.thaigirl2004.blogspot.com). 

Next week: An interesting international Investment Company with schemes that can operate similar to a simple bank account, or with a percentage of Investment risk. 

Our Regular Feature this week is Alexander Valentine, targeting those ‘moody blues’ and turning them into ‘Happy days are here again’. He will, as usual, show video clips of items that have caught his attention – and made him laugh, from TV, video, real life, it’s all there! Alexander is the presenter of ‘Tropical Lifestyle Television’ (TLT) and ‘Tropical Property Pattaya’ (TPP), on Sophon Cable TV. 

After that it's the famous Open Microphone Forum, moderated this week by club member Brian Maxey. This feature goes back to the early days of the club, around 2002. It’s a lively exchange of information and advice, with a little humour, from Asia hands and 'expat experts' in the audience - for all those practical questions on life in Thailand in general, and FunTown in particular. 

Our Founder has suggested we start a database of information that you may choose to supply – quite separate from your original membership details. If you would like to avail yourself of this service please come to a meeting and pick up a form for your details. The extent of your participation, and details, are quite voluntary and could include family contacts, Will location, medical history etc. There will be room for additional information of your choice. Forms available from PEC staff at the Sunday meeting. 

PEC have received an email from Andrew of Preston, Lancs. He’s trying to contact Francesca Cameron-Proctor and Lorraine Rollason (nee Cameron), of Hornsea, E.Yorkshire known to be in the Pattaya area. There is very urgent family news from UK. We have his email and UK telephone. If you know of these people please ask them to contact PEC by phone or email. 0896043646 or (kop1bj-pecoffice@yahoo.com). 

Why not join our Badminton group – currently played at Diamond Badminton Centre on Pattaya Third Road, near Soi 17 traffic lights, Thursdays 18.30 pm. 

Free ‘Computer for Beginners’ class each Wednesday 0900. For more info on this class call John Coughtrie on 0870211396. Vacancies exist in what may be the last group of classes of this kind.

Free ‘Computing – Intermediate Level’ class each Thursday 0900. For more info on this class contact Clarence Bell, there are vacancies (c.bell@srsoftware.org) 0849069384.

All PEC Members are eligible and there is no cost to you. These classes are held in an Internet Café in central Pattaya, not far from Carrefour shopping mall. 

The PEC's free 'DVD and Book Swap' table, on the left as you enter the meeting room, is a 'member to member' service. Donate some stock and take 1:1. Please bring those books, magazines and DVD's you've already enjoyed, and swap them. Our DVD stock is shrinking – we’re watching you! Please be fair – This is a SWAP scheme!

PEC has an Emergency Helpline 089 604 3646. Visit our website homepage for a boxed advert of this service, or see the advert in each issue of Pattaya People Weekly. The project is hosted by PEC Board Member Brian Maxey. For legal emergencies, please call Lawyer Khun Katrena Wannasakda 089 244 0709 or email (thai_int_law@yahoo.co.th). 

Pattaya International Hospital Health Desk in our foyer each week. If unwell, make your way to the PIH Health desk or alert staff immediately. Hospital admission, if needed from the Club, is just a few minutes in either direction, at Memorial (Pattaya Central Rd) or PIH (Soi 4).  

Club TV Reports. PEC meeting reports are given a generous segment on Pattaya People Channel, (Sophon cable Tv Ch6). Also via your PC by scrolling down past the news homepage stories to the bottom of the page. On the left-hand side click on the photo to view any one of a library of meeting video clips. (www.pattayapeople.com) 

More TV - For our viewing pleasure Club Member and regular ‘Funnies’ presenter Alexander Valentine has launched a second show to his very popular Tropical Lifestyle show on Sophon Cable TV Ch40 (367Mhz). The new show is called Tropical Property Pattaya and is a dedicated property show covering everything about interiors, décor & design, furnishings, etc, and exteriors including such topics as swimming pools, landscaping, etc. This new show will air 1:00 to 2:00 PM and 6:00 to 7:00 PM Saturday to Tuesday each week. The ever popular Tropical Lifestyle remains Wednesday to Friday, giving you two great shows every week. Alexander invites viewer’s feedback via his website: (www.tropical-lifestyle.com). 

Radio - Tune into Pattaya's Premier radio station, 'Yes2Day', on 96.0 Mhz-FM. The station features community news sponsored by PEC along with classic 70s & 80s rock music. Local information – International news – and upcoming PEC programme information! Listen live in Pattaya, 96.0 FM, and around the world via the Internet. And now 0800–1100 each day ‘The Breakfast Show’, DJ Johnny Diamond, interviews, requests.

(www.pattayapeopleradio.com) 

The Club's fishing trips are organised every month by James Duffy, call 084-8717649. Trips leave 4am and return 6pm, usually from Sattahip, next trip 20 August. 

Get our weekly e-newsletter delivered direct to your email box, subscribe via our website home page. Down the page you'll see entry boxes for your name and e-mail address. When you receive a confirming e-mail, click on the link to start receiving the newsletter. (www.pattayaexpatsclub.com) 

Another great reason to be a member and attend the Pattaya Expats Club is that at regular 'spots' during our Sunday Meeting, Lucky Draw prize tickets are drawn for PEC special promotional offers from a range of businesses around the city. Current regular prizes are: Globetrotter dinner for 2, value b1200 – Jamesons week-end carvery for 2 - Little India dinner for 2, value b500 – The New Inn food & drink, value b500 – Tequila Reef food & drink, value b500. And to aid your recovery from such gastronomic extravagance, the following health offers are: The Nutrition Club health assessment and treatment plan, value b1500 - SOQI Spa one week evaluation and detoxification, value b2000 – Dr Kamaljit Clinic wellness diagnosis via acupressure, value b1550. Also our friends from Canterbury Tales Bookshop have donated vouchers for free book-exchange as ‘instant prizes’. All winners must produce a valid PEC membership card. 

We meet at the Grand Solé Hotel, 2nd Rd.  Speakers from 11:30 am, with the optional brunch available from around 10:30 am (Doors Open) till after 12 noon. Entry tickets cost just 80 baht for members, and 100 baht for the general public, brunch included. We enjoy excellent technical presentation facilities within the Grand Solé Hotel function room, one floor up from the entrance. 

In the Foyer Area outside the meeting Hall you can peruse our 'Expat Expo' table displays containing in-depth information from regular expert contributors in their field, from around 10:30, along with programme announcements. Life Membership for PEC is just 600 Baht, bring two very small 'ID-card' photos and your card is prepared at the same meeting by our membership co-ordinator. 

The Pattaya International Hospital table usually includes regular FREE testing of blood group and blood pressure, and on the first Sunday of each month blood-sugar level tests. (a blood sugar test requires fasting for around 8 hours prior to the test). We wish your life-membership to be long & happy! 

Nutrition Club Co Ltd representatives, Pascal and Khun Wan, are always on hand to assist you to a more healthy and stress-free lifestyle, weight loss suggestions and diets.  Nutrition questionnaire and tests on the spot in the club foyer each week, call 038 427 742. 

Khun Neng of AA Insurance - including the club member's own ‘low cost group health policy’, now in its forth year with a premium of 16,244 baht - please show your member's card to apply. They also have a selection of policies for those over 60 years of age. Also a range of property, house contents and vehicle cover available, call 038 415 795 

Suthipong Law Center Co. Ltd, is our attending Lawyer on a weekly basis. If you have a legal query, then this is your chance to get some advice. Khun Suthipong Trakulsak can be found in the centre of the long table. 038416311 ext 108, 0819148193, (www.suthiponglaw.com). 

Club sponsor Key Visa Co Ltd, represented by Darren Mcgarry, offer our members free advice, in the club house on expats’ Immigration queries - please show your members card. Key Visa is starting a monthly update email service for members. Go to their website and sign up. (www.keyvisathailand.com) 

Plus, our take-away Information Centre leaflets, publications and business cards from hundreds of 'member to member services' available in Pattaya, is open until the end of the meeting. 

‘Understanding Thailand’ is a book filled with information about visas, banking, accommodation ownership, investment possibilities, company contacts, how to do and where to find. Originally in the German Language – now translated into English. It’s written by a very knowledgeable Pattaya resident, & a PEC member. Available at our PEC–shop 499 baht (a 50% discount on local store prices). This is not a travel/tour book. 

Entry Tickets are sold from 10:30 AM when the meeting hall doors open for seating and catering. The table plan is usually in friendly format tables for eight or ten - so please allow the 'gaps' to be filled by new arrivals at your table. We are a friendly and welcoming Expats helping Expats group. 

Some useful long term Club info-bites:  

You may only join as a Member of PEC by personal application at a Meeting of the Club at the Grand Solé Hotel, 2nd Road, Pattaya.  A one-time joining fee of 600 baht provides a Photo-ID Card and Life Membership - no renewals needed.  This PEC Membership ID-card will secure a reduced Meeting Entrance Fee (100 baht reduced to just 80 baht), as well as many member services, Lucky Draw etc. 

Please offer to help out at the PEC Sunday meetings, or in the background during the week.  A lot of preparation goes into every Programme, and we are urgently looking for Volunteer helpers – the more help the less work.  You would be welcome to join our Production Team, and you may determine your own level of input. Right now we need some early birds to set-up & take-down Foyer items. This will not stop you attending the meeting, it just means arriving earlier &/or leaving a little later. Several key team members have to leave Pattaya regularly, affecting our ability to continue with posts. We urgently need volunteers to fill general posts as we reallocate team members to these important posts.  

Please dress appropriately for a hotel setting.  A 'tuxedo' is not required, but a sleeveless athletics vest is unacceptable, as is a ‘see-thru’ top.  Our meeting is frequently attended by Thais, and Thai culture is governed by respect.  The way you dress reflects how you respect yourself and others. You will be offered the loan of a Club shirt if inappropriately dressed (deposit 200 B). Notices banning beachwear and vests are on display outside the meeting hall and at the ground floor lobby. Low cost polo-shirts and blue tropical silk shirts with our club logo's are also on sale in the foyer. 

The British Embassy's Pattaya Office representative for emergencies, Barry Kenyon (British Honorary Consul) or his assistant, Khun Sasamon Khempookeau (cell-phone 08 1782 7363) can be found at the Meesen Restaurant, 1st on the left as you enter the Pattaya Immigration car-park (Jomtien Beach, soi 5), from 0900 to 0930 Monday to Friday, except Immigration holidays.  They can authenticate documents and provide many other helpful services. A British Consular Office will be opening soon in Soi 5 Jomtien. 

US Embassy has 2 local Pattaya representatives for help. Gary Hacker call 089 803 0388, Bobby Brooks call 084 158 0785. 

If you have to leave Pattaya, there's a big Bus Depot at the east end of Pattaya North Road (Sukhumvit Rd end). This Depot houses two quite different company offices with separate timetables. The office on the left runs busses to Bangkok and various destinations including the new International Airport (Suvarnabhumi). The office on the right (Bell Travel Service 038370055) runs busses to the same several times a day. Return trips from the airport are from either Level 1 outside door 7, or the Bus Transport Depot. 

Another Bus Service, The Yellow Bus company - runs between Jomtien Beach and the New International Airport (Suvarnabhumi). This bus terminus is located at the beginning of Soi Chaiyaphuk 1, where it intersects with Jomtien Beach Road, about 30mtrs from the beach. The Jomtien office phone is 038231142, Airport number is 021344099, for the latest schedules. Return trip from the Airport Transport Depot, look for a bright yellow, single deck bus, with the words Pattaya - Suvarnabhumi Airport written large on both sides, and a large notice in the drivers windshield saying either Pattaya or Airport. The cost is 113 Baht in each direction. 

Busses to Isaan. At least twice a day a modern 2-deck bus runs from Pattaya to Nakhon Phanom City & back via Nakhon Ratchasima & Khon Kaen. Originating in Rayong, this bus stops at each of it's offices on route (including Pattaya 038 716528). For a full route & list of offices contact Brian, 089 604 3646

(kop1bj-pecoffice@yahoo.com).

Buses to Isaan. Another bus depot is ‘407 BUS’, hidden behind a Petronus Gas-station just north of Central Rd on Sukhumvit Rd. 038  249 162, & 038 733 167 

Buses to many places. NakhonChaiAir on Sukhumvit Rd just south of Central Road at Pattaya 038 424 871, & 038 427 841, (www.nca.co.th) (Thai language only). 

Please suggest Feature Speakers for our weekly Meetings.  Come up with ideas and contact Richard Ravensdale, Programme Manager.  Pass on your suggestions, with contact information, and let him arrange the details; please do not fix dates in advance. This is not an easy process and your help will ensure you get the speakers/subjects you want.  Email: (pecrichard@yahoo.co.uk). 

Deutschsprachiger Pattaya Expats Club - Jeden 1 und 3 Samstag im Monat 10:00  Uhr morgens im Konferenzsaal des Wat Chaimongkon an der South Pattaya Road. Jeder ist eingeladen. Fur Info: Andy 08 5095 7077 – Expats helfen Expats - (www.pattayaexpatsclub.de) 

The Finnish Language Section is a special interest group of PEC.  They meet every 2nd Saturday at 11:00am at the JP House, Soi 4 Jomtien Beach Rd, co-ordinator Ossi Viljanen, call 0818519620 or email (ossivilyanen@hotmail.com)

Why not come along next Sunday morning (10:30am buffet, 11:30 programme start) to the Grand Solé Hotel (in the Theppraya Room, up on the Mezzanine level), 370 Pattaya 2nd Road (north), near the Hard Rock Hotel, between TOPS supermarket & BIG-C Festival Complex. Bring a friend. 

For location: (http://www.grandsolehotel.com).

PEC website:- (http://www.pattayaexpatsclub.com)

PEC email:- (info@pattayaexpatsclub.com)

e-newsletter: (www.pattayaexpatsclub.com/currentnewsletter.htm) 

And if you are not presently enjoying yourself in Pattaya, the Pattaya Expats Club wishes you a speedy return. Don't leave it too late to start enjoying yourself in this friendly part of the world.

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