HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

British Ambassador comes to Pattaya

Happy times as Stammtisch in Moon River

BPH holds training session for parents

Wombania has arrived in the Land of Smiles

- EDITORIAL -

British Ambassador comes to Pattaya

Ministry of Silly Walks declined

The British Chamber of Commerce Thailand (BCCT) held a dinner function at the Pattaya Marriott Resort and Spa, with sponsorship of the evening coming from the Garden International School. In fact, schools and education were much in attendance, with Gareth Baxter-Jones (Euro-Education Services Thailand) seen chatting with James Saville from the Asian University, one promoting education abroad, with the other suggesting it was better here.

Amongst the BCCT members were (l-r) Peter Malhotra, Dr. Iain Corness, Graham Macdonald, James Abraham, Gwendolyn and H.E. David Fall, Rob Collins, Chris Langford, Jimmy Howard and David Holden.

As well as the evening being a chance for the BCCT members to network, it was also an opportunity for the members (both local and from Bangkok) to meet their ambassador, HE David Fall, and his wife Gwendolyn, referred to by local chapter organizer Graham Macdonald in his introduction as “his lovely wife Gwendolyn”. One presumes he left the ugly one at home!

The ambassador and Gwendolyn are amused by Graham’s introduction.

HE David Fall is very well experienced in SE Asia, and this is his third tour of duty in Thailand, mentioning the changes that have come to Pattaya in the intervening 30 years. Charitably, he did say that most of these had been for the better!

Stuart Saunders and Urs Mosimann flank the lovely Jeab from the Hard Rock Hotel

However, the ambassador is a very amusing chap giving a very fluid speech for assembled Brits, exhorting them not to forget their roots and to register themselves with the Embassy, and to be involved in issues in the UK, such as voting. He did admit that the postal voting service was a little slow, and by the time his own ballot papers had arrived, there was no time left to post them back. DHL came to the rescue.

Despite being ostensibly a British evening, there was a smattering of other expats in attendance, with the new owner of the Pattaya Hill Resort, Hawaiian Bobby Brooks seen gleaning information from Denmark’s Ib Ottesen (Residence Garden and others), and Australian Stuart (the tooth fairy) Saunders expounding on the advantages of flossing with his handy credit card sized floss dispenser, while many hearts were melted by the delightful Ms. Prim Held, the senior sales manager from the soon to open Sheraton Pattaya.

HE David Fall finished the evening, promising to come back and address another BCCT evening, which will undoubtedly be a sell-out, after this last performance, even though Graham Macdonald did reveal that David had refused to give his rendition of the Ministry of Silly Walks!

Happy times as Stammtisch in Moon River

Thomas Sassen

Every second Friday in the odd months sees a meeting of the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce (GTCC) Stammtisch, and on May 13 members gathered for a sociable get-together at the Moon River Pub.

Dr. Paul Strunk (right) and some of the GTCC members enjoy the beer and the buffet.

Many members from Bangkok had driven to Pattaya for the event, which began at 7 p.m. Chairman of the chamber, Dr Paul Strunk announced the meeting, and the buffet, open. With wine and beer flowing the atmosphere was one of great cordiality, with members catching up with old friends and making new ones. Music was supplied by the Moon River’s resident band Power Jam.

(l-r) Alexandra Mueller, guest relations of the Thai Garden resort, Hans Dieter Westphal, MD Rieckermann Engineering Thailand and Dr. Paul Strunk.

The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce has over 500 members in Thailand. Beside leading German companies there are many Thai companies represented who have business activities in Germany. More information can be obtained from the German-Thai Chamber of Commerce, GPO Box 1728, Bangkok 10501, Thailand; or on website http://www. gtcc.org

The next Stammtisch will be held on July 8 at 7 p.m., again in the Moon River Pub at North Pattaya Road. All members and friends are warmly welcome.

BPH holds training session for parents

Pojawan Supalarp, senior international affairs division manager and Tomoko Shimizu, Japanese coordinator of the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya held a seminar for parents at BAMBI Nursery School in Sriracha, to advise them on how to protect their loved ones from getting infected with dengue fever and other diseases during the rainy season.

Wombania has arrived in the Land of Smiles

Wombania is a comic strip about Chris, a single architect, and his brood of Wombies: Binky, Winky, Twink, and Fraz, who recently invaded both his home and life.

Wombies are genetically-engineered super wombats, created by the late Dr. Franco, Chris’s long-lost late uncle. Seeing as Chris was the only living relative of the Wombies, he took the Wombies under his wing to raise. Sometimes he wishes he hadn’t, as living with a bunch of wayward Wombies can be quite challenging, even for an easy-going guy like Chris.

Wombies live primarily on Wine Gums, Chocolate, and Spamฎ and are extremely trusting, loyal, and naive. Their natural curiosity and high-energy often lead to trouble as the Wombies try to adapt to the complex and often contradictory human world in which they now live.

Binky (left) is the resident rocket scientist, a genius whose high IQ and desire to be the first space-going Wombie invariably results in big ideas and bigger explosions.

Winky (back centre) is a bit neurotic and sometimes silly, but be has a big heart and will do anything for a friend, especially Twink whom he secretly loves.

Twink (right) is an artist and entrepreneur, and tries to keep the other Wombies in line with her maternal instincts and common sense.

Fraz (front centre) is the youngest Wombie, an extreme sports enthusiast who struggles with both school and fitting in.

We invite you to visit the Wombania website (www. wombania.com), which includes the Wombat Information Centre where one can find virtually everything one needs to know about real Australian wombats.

EDITORIAL: Painting a tiger to scare the buffaloes

By Suchada Tupchai

The news teams following National Police Bureau Inspector General Pol Gen Seripisute Themiyawet and over 100 police and officials who went to tear down the 4 million baht resort on Larn Island’s popular Tawaen Beach area were onto more than just a one-off dramatic story. The issue has far-reaching implications. Resort owner Nirote Chuekaew was charged with illegally building the resort not only without authorisation, but on public land. The issue will be of great interest to follow. How will Pattaya City proceed with the case now that the police chief has scolded administrators for failing to strictly enforce the law? Especially as the city has full authority to use the law but has repeatedly failed to implement it.

Nirote has accepted the fate of his resort and that he had built without permission. On the issue of building on public land he will fight that in court. This is an opportunity for another 26 persons who have committed similar acts to see how the city will proceed. Some of these people have claimed that they are friends of the Larn Island community head, or it is said that big businessmen are involved. Will they be treated in the same way as Nirote? Will equal justice prevail? If not, then there should be problems, for the inspector general has assigned Region 4 police commander Pol Lt Gen Adisorn Nontree, and Region 2 commander Pol Lt Gen. Jongrak Jutanont to oversee the operations and enforce the law.

Enforcing the law is one of those processes that have been left too loose for too long. The problem here, however, is that those 26 people have been left to their devices for far too long without any intervention from the city. The result being that Larn Island, once a natural haven, has become a business-oriented community with buildings popping up like mushrooms everywhere. The increase in the number of buildings has more or less depleted the island’s natural beauty.

The local administration’s slowness in resolving the issue has added many additional problems, allowing the greedy to reap the benefits. Despite the lack of action to date, the time has now come to put things right. The inspector general has painted a tiger to scare the buffaloes into action and this may prove whether or not the city has enough backbone to continue with the operation and strictly enforce what has been started. The city must take responsibility and bring about changes to prosecute those who break the law.

The eyes of residents and senior government officials are now upon them and they can no longer allow things to slide as in the past. But only time will tell...

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