PEC Newsletter from Meeting 12 November

Hi, I'm Brian. MC at the Sunday meetings of PEC

To contact the Pattaya Expats Club email: (webhits2000@yahoo.com)

12 November 2006 - Meeting Manager:- Enrico (ably assisted by everyone!).

A special thank you to Enrico who stepped in so quickly to effectively run our meetings during the absences of Richard, Pete, Brian, Niels, Loran & Paul. All of the Production Team rallied around him to ensure the success of each Meeting. Loran is our new Program Manager and 'organiser' of the Future Speakers List, so please pass your ideas on to her (please do NOT pre-arrange dates). Alexander has contributed that different approach to MC-ing that we had been searching for, and now Bob has joined the team also as MC. That's 3 of the 5 needed MCs we plan to rotate on a regular basis. "Variety is the spice of life". There's plenty of opportunity for you to give your own individuality to a meeting by joining the MC group - we're aiming for once-a-month for each MC. Maybe Richard will offer to be number 4 on his return?

Please think about helping out at the Pattaya Expats Club Meetings, or in the background during the week. You would be amazed as to how much preparation goes into one of these Meetings. You would be welcome, and you can determine your own level of help. Please contact a 'Maroon Jacket' member at any meeting.

enRico (our Meeting Manager) gave us a very well researched presentation on the 'rise & fall of the Berlin Wall'. Former East Germans celebrated 17 years of freedom to cross into West Germany after 28 years of restricted access (9 November 1989). Now, of course, all of Germany is part of the huge E.U.. enRico showed many pictures of before, during and after the division of East & West. How quickly we forget!

Open forum questions & information arising from the Meeting:--

An email arrived from the BBC London as follows: The BBC is currently producing the third series of Wedding Stories for BBC Three. We are looking for the last few couples to take part in the series. In particular we are looking for a wedding in Thailand. Due to a tight deadline the wedding would have to be before the end of December 2006. Any couples that might be interested in taking part please feel free to contact us for an informal chat on: +44 (0)208 752 5724 Or email: (wedding@bbc.co.uk), CLAIRE BRICKELL 'WEDDING STORIES' BBC Factual & Learning, Room 5218, BBC White City, 201 Wood Lane, W12 7TS. Tel: 020 8752 4360, e-mail: (claire.brickell@bbc.co.uk)

Ralph Gibbs 086 014 8657 is looking for Scrabble Game players. All levels are welcome.

New City Hall phone number 038 253 100. Septic Tank emptying for just 400 baht 038 253 276.

We are looking for definitive details of Busses to and from the new airport. We know of the one from Pattaya North Road, but have little knowledge of the one from Jomtien, and none regarding trips to Pattaya from the airport. Please contact us if you have travelled on any of these.

If you know of Dave Hickey (a bar owner), Charlie Taylor is trying to contact him. Call Charlie on 0871285942.

We heard details of the Bristol Music Bar Soi 6 Jomtien, where every Sunday 1900-2300 'Sunday Unplugged' Jam Sessions are held. All musicians & vocalists are welcome - proceeds help to support 'The Cammillion Society'.

The Club shop now has long awaited XXXL shirts. Get in quick, they're popular!

Darrell Woolley, from Tequila Reef Cantina Soi 7 Beach Road 038 414 035, presented us with two meal vouchers for last Sunday's Draw + two more for next Sunday. He reminded us of 'Thanksgiving Day all-you-can-eat Buffet' at the Tequila Reef from 1600 - Thursday 23 November - 495 baht each (under 12's 250).

New residence rules are threatened for Brits who rely on being 'Non Resident for tax Purposes'. The new bits relate to: 1. Having property 'available' for use in UK. 2. Having immediate 'family' resident in UK. 3. Making frequent short visits to UK.

Don't forget the 'Long Boat' races on Maprachan Lake - Sunday 19 November.

International bank transfers from Nationwide Bank in UK are possible via the Internet, but you have to set it up first. Apparently an application form is downloadable from the bank site. One member uses this method successfully. Of course, along with most other banks, a debit card can be used in an ATM for limited withdrawals and presented to a bank's foreign exchange desk for larger amounts following contact with either 'visa' or 'maestro' or similar.
Also, a personal cheque from your own foreign bank may be paid into a Thai bank account in any currency . There will be some charges, and a long delay before you have access to the funds, but is much cheaper than a bank-to-bank transfer. Apparently you write the cheque for 'cash', and the amount is entered into your local bank book at the current exchange rate. Basically 'exchange now - receive later'.

Remember, the end of November sees the completion of the changeover of mobile phone numbers. If you haven't changed the numbers stored in your SIM card, or phone, they will not work. An extra digit (an 8) must be added after the original 0 (e.g. 01 234 5678 will become 081 234 5678). The new mobile numbers are all 10 digits, home phones are 9 digits.

How do you know which numbers are mobile or house phones? Visit: (http://www.thailand-uk.com/phones/10digitmobile.php).

The British Embassy has a Pattaya Office local representative for emergencies. He is Barry Kenyon. Contact 081 782 7363. Barry can authenticate your UK pension or UK bank statements for Immigration purposes if you can show proof.

US Embassy local Pattaya representative for emergencies is Gary Hacker. Contact 089 803 0388.

Please help our Meeting organisers by suggesting 'Speakers' for our weekly (Sunday) Meetings. Tell us a subject you wish to hear of by suggesting a competent speaker. There are vacancies in November, onwards. Please come up with some ideas and contact Loran our current Program/Speakers Manager. Give her your suggestions and let her arrange the details. Please do not fix dates in advance.

Contact: Loran Davidson (furzymouse@msn.com).

The PEC next golf group's Monthly Golf Tournament for 28 November is at Emmerald Golf Club. More info on this event is available from Pattaya People Office (Soi Day Night), Globetrotter (just off Soi 7), and of course PEC Club meetings on Sunday, or contact Ossi Viljanen on 081 851 9620, (ossigolf@yahoo.com). These events are popular and fill up quickly, so sign-up early to avoid disappointment.

Deutschsprachige Treffen. Jeden 1.und 3. Samstag im Monat,10:00 Uhr morgens, im Konferenzsaal des Wat Chaimongkon an der South Pattaya Road. Nachste Treffen: 18. November und 2. December 2006. Jeder ist eingeladen. Info: Erwin 086 009 8497

Sun-19-Nov-06 Long Boat racing on Mapracham Lake - there will be a small charge for car parking. Opens around 1200. There are lots of stalls with food and beer. It is very exciting, and lots of noise.

Sun-19-Nov-06 UK EX-Servicemen's Club. Every Sunday at Tropical Bert's 1300 - 1700. 2nd Road opp Bangkok Bank. 038361887, 0898072335

Wed-22-Nov-06 "Buddie" meetings at Redemtorist Centre, Sukhumvit Road. 7:00pm. Contact Lynda 0841327086,

Thur-23-Nov-06 Thanksgiving Day (US):

Sat-25-Nov-06 Pattaya International Ladies Club (PILC) Annual Gala Ball at the Royal Cliff Hotel. Tickets 1950 baht, an excellent sit down dinner and beverages. There will be a raffle with substantial prizes, and a silent auction.

Sat-25-Nov-06 Sattahip Naval Base established - King Rama Vl

Wed-29-Nov-06 Pattaya City Established

Wed-29-Nov-06 "Buddie" meetings at Redemtorist Centre, Sukhumvit Road. 7:00pm. Contact Lynda 0841327086,

Why not come along next Sunday morning 10:30am (11:30 program start) to the Grand Solé Hotel (in the Theppraya Room, up on the Mezzanine level), 370 Pattaya 2nd Road (north), near the Pattaya Mail Office. Hotel tel: 038 427 555 Fax: 038 427 550. Half way between TOPS supermarket & BIG-C supermarket - bring a friend.

For location - link to: (http://www.grandsolepattaya.com/location.htm)

See you soon, MC, Brian.