Well wishers young and old pack Cafe Kronborg to the brim
The
happy Nielsens (L to R) Songkran, Avid, Christina, Bjarne and Egon.
Peter Malhotra
They say that when the union of a man and women lasts
over a period of many decades that ‘the match is made in heaven’. And they
also say that heaven is where you hang your hat, or something to that
effect.
Little
Linnea Fagrell delivers a moving rendition of ‘My heart will go on’.
But for Bjarne and Songkran heaven is right here on earth
where they exchanged marital vows three decades ago.
On Sunday May 8, many of the who’s who of the Pattaya expat community
gathered at Cafe Kronborg in Soi Diana Inn to bring love and good wishes to
Bjarne and Songkran Nielsen on the occasion of their 30th wedding
anniversary.
Songkran
and Bjarne, so much in love.
Bjarne Nielsen of Cafe Kronborg is, like most Danes,
larger than life with a beaming smile to match. Born and bred in Copenhagen
he went to sea at age of fifteen like his father before him. He landed here
when he was 18 and stayed. “I came here with the Danish Marine Union, I
joined a Union school in Japan and they had a two-week course in Pattaya.
That’s how I ended up here.”
In 1980 Bjarne, with two seamen friends, opened a bar called Nyhavn, Danish
for ‘new port’. They decided that when they were not at sea, they spent so
much time sitting around drinking they should spend the money in their own
place. They ran this for ten years and it was a welcoming gathering place
for friends. The partners then sub-leased the Sugar Inn for three years.
Peter
Malhotra (right) past president of PSC pays his respects to Dick Caggiano,
respected mentor of the Pattaya Sports Club Association.
In 1979 Bjarne and Songkran met when she was working at
the Mermaid Restaurant in Bangkok. He soon persuaded her to transfer to
Pattaya. “We have been together ever since.”
In 1992 they bought two bungalows beside his wife’s house and built the Cafe
Kronborg, which has stood at the same spot in Soi Diana Inn ever since.
Songkran, who looks just as youthful and beautiful as she ever was said, “I
don’t have much to say, except that I love my husband very much. During the
30 years of our marriage we’ve had our differences, but we have always
overcome our difficulties and our love for each other is as strong as ever.”
Eldest son Egon said, “I feel great that I have such a loving family. I am
so happy to see that my parents have been together for 30 years. My mom
loves me very much and my dad has taught me a great deal about the good
things in life. I can remember all of them. He was the one who taught me how
to play golf and thanks to his love and guidance, I am now a card-carrying
golf pro. I am away on tour quite a lot, so my sister Christina helps mom
and dad look after the restaurant.”
Christina, who has grown up to become a beautiful young woman, was beaming
with pride throughout the evening. “I’m so proud of my parents. 30 years of
marital bliss means a lot. They are the best.”
Youngest brother Avid, who works in Denmark at his father’s company, flew in
to be with his family on the special occasion. He spoke in Danish, which
this writer didn’t understand very much of, except for the lovely words he
said at the end, “We are a very loving family and we are all very happy.”
The whole room broke out in a loud cheer as glasses were raised in a toast
to the Nielsen family.
You couldn’t get the ladies
off the dance floor.
(L to R) Mio, Mae, Peter
Malhotra and Jan Olav Aamlid arrive with love and best wishes for the loving
couple.
