Prog for 26 Nov - Newsletter for 19 Nov

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

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

19 November 2006 - Meeting Manager:- enRico Nestler.

Bob Sutterfield (Bob4you) did his first run as MC today. Many thanks to Bob for undertaking this brave job, which he performed admirably. As a current MC for PEC I know that most people would not even consider standing up and taking charge of a Meeting. There's a natural resistance to standing up and being in the spotlight, on a stage, with a microphone, on your own. You really would be amazed how rewarding and comfortable it quickly becomes. Welcome Bob - to the MC-Group!

Please think about helping out at the Pattaya Expats Club Meetings, or in the background during the week. A lot of 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.

The 'Speaker' today was.. well.. me! I tried to shed a small ray of light onto the different world of Isaan. I regularly visit Isaan as part of my partner's natural need to visit her family home, and I'm slowly learning to feel comfortable in the 'village'. It was my aim during the talk to help people overcome this unease at visiting an area that is so completely different to the city of Pattaya in which we live. Of course there is a 'culture shock' effect whenever we are taken out of our cosy cocoon and thrust into something different, but I must tell you that the friendly uninhibited and genuine warmth that the people show is noticeable from the first moments. My first visit was for 3 days around 12 years ago - far too long I thought at the time! My recent visit was for around 4 weeks and, apart from the lack of Internet, could have happily been longer. Land-line phones are a problem because maintenance is poor (at best), resulting in non payment of bills, resulting in disconnection. Mobile phones are everywhere, so most people don't worry. Obviously 'wireless' Internet is the only reliable way. For some reason the very many Internet shops available a few years ago, have all closed. I guess those that want it get a phone-line, and the lack of tourists means a lack of business. If you need more info, or have experiences to tell, let me know and we can always do a short update later.

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)

New City Hall phone number 038 253 100. Septic Tank emptying for just 300 baht 038 253 276.

We are looking for personal experiences of Busses to and from the new airport. Bell Travel (inside the North Road Bus Depot) go to the airport 7 times every day (0600, 0900, 1100, 1300, 1500, 1700, 1900) and will pick up from your accommodation. They return from the airport arrivals area 6 times a day (0800, 1000, 1200, 1400, 1600, 1800), price 150 baht one way. Local phone 038 370 055, BKK phone 027 474 675. -- Another Bus to the airport leaves Jomtien Chaiyaphuk Road (office is near the beach road) and tickets can be bought 1 day in advance. From Jomtien daily (0900, 1300, 1700, 1930), and from the airport (0900, 1300, 1700, 2000), price 106 baht one way. If you can add any detail to this, please do.

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 to charity.

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

Darrell Woolley, from Tequila Reef Cantina Soi 7 Beach Road 038 414 035, presented us with two free meal vouchers for their 'Thanksgiving Day all-you-can-eat Buffet' at the Tequila Reef from 1600 - Thursday 23 November - 495 baht each (under 12's 250). These vouchers may be used on other days.

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

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'.

Two more stories emerged of UK Bank accounts showing extra withdrawals in Thailand beyond those actually executed. We assume this is another example of 'card fraud'. Somehow the details of your card + PIN are known to others who drain your account quickly.

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). These 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

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

Sat-25-Nov-06 HAVANA NIGHTS at the MERCURE HOTEL - every Saturday. "Havana Nights" with a Live Band Music and a large range of meat and seafood. From 7.00pm. 650 baht per person. Soi 15 Pattaya Second Road. Telephone: 038-42-50-50.

Sun-26-Nov-06 UK EX-Servicemen's Club. Every Sunday at Tropical Bert's 1300 - 1700. 2nd Road opp Bangkok Bank. 038361887, 0898072335

Tue-28-Nov-06 AOT KONA WINDSURFING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP to December 3rd at Raimon Land Northpoint site. Wong Amat beach. Admission free and open to all. Visit www.raimonland.com for details.

Wed-29-Nov-06 Pattaya City Established

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

Sat-2-Dec-06 HAVANA NIGHTS at the MERCURE HOTEL - every Saturday. "Havana Nights" with a Live Band Music and a large range of meat and seafood. From 7.00pm. 650 baht per person. Soi 15 Pattaya Second Road. Telephone: 038-42-50-50.

Sun-3-Dec-06 UK EX-Servicemen's Club. Every Sunday at Tropical Bert's 1300 - 1700. 2nd Road opp Bangkok Bank. 038361887, 0898072335

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.

Meeting Programme for Sunday, 26 November, 2006:

Dr. Supanee Chaiwiroj, Board Certified OB-GYN from Pattaya International Hospital, will present a talk on Women's Health. We have requested Dr. Supanee to speak on "What men need to know about women's health", as most of our members are of the masculine persuasion! Gentlemen, please bring your wives and girlfriends to hear about this important topic.

Alexander Valentine will be our Master of Ceremonies this Sunday, and Bob Sutterfield will lead our Open Microphone Forum, so come and listen in at 2nd Rd's Grand Sole Hotel, and participate with questions and answers about nearly everything for living safely and legally in Pattaya !