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No author wants to be a time bandit
“Bad books rob you of precious time. No author wants to
be a time bandit.” These are the words of Christopher Moore, well known
Bangkok based author, during his presentation to the Pattaya City Expats
Club on Sunday, May 5. Further, he said, “Good books give you knowledge,
meaning and insight.” Departing from his past presentations to the Club
describing his most recent books, for most of his talk he instead wove
together three interesting themes: (1) words, (2) time, and (3) control. He
also touched on a fourth theme - blind luck.
 Canadian
author Christopher Moore presents ‘words about words’ at his 5th of May talk
to Pattaya City Expats Club. Discussing the origins of the oral and written
word, he said, “For most of the time humans have been on the earth, words
were delivered only orally. Word of mouth was the only way to exchange
information with other people and to pass information on to the next
generation. If you missed a word, it disappeared into thin air.”
He cited, “In the beginning there was the Word” from the Bible and noted
that written words are a relatively recent invention in human existence. For
most of the time humans have been on the earth, words were delivered only
orally. Word of mouth was the only way to exchange information with other
people and to pass information on to the next generation. The expression “a
man of his word” came out of this oral tradition, Christopher explained. We
inherited this tradition. Even today people hear many more words than they
read.
 Member
Tony Heron advises members of the topic for the May 12th meeting; ‘Current
topics’, for which he will be the MC.
Christopher said that before paper and printing were invented, there were no
libraries, no readers - only listeners. There was no way to record the sound
of one’s voice. Also, there was no way to look up anything. Oral
storytelling required a high level of concentration by listeners. “If you
missed a word, it disappeared into thin air.” Christopher explained that in
societies with a strong oral tradition - like Thailand - education was based
on memorisation and repetition.
“How much time do you spend reading?” he asked his audience, rhetorically.
There are 8,760 hours in a year, he said. “Think about how you spend those
hours. There is not enough time in our lifetimes to do everything we want to
do.” He mentioned that most of us try to squeeze in a little time to read
and said, “We find purpose and meaning by reading books.” Because time is so
precious, Christopher pointed out that “an author has to give you a solid
reason for reading his book.”
Board member Lawrie
McLoughlin presents Christopher with a Certificate of Appreciation for his
most insightful talk.
Although we have some say in how we use our time,
Christopher said, we have little control over what happens next in our
lives. There are too many circumstances beyond our control. “We think we can
control how events unfold, but this is an illusion,” he explained. “We find
it hard to give up the illusion of control.” Vincent Calvino is not always
in control, Christopher said. This makes readers feel that he is believable.
(Vincent Calvino is the Bangkok based private eye protagonist in many of
Christopher’s novels.)
Christopher described how blind luck was behind the Vincent Calvino series
and his other books. He explained that we wrote his first book while he was
at law school in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in the mid-1980s.
Christopher recounted that he sent the manuscript to a publisher in New York
- and he got lucky. The book was published in 1985. Christopher quit
teaching at law school to become a fulltime author. He came to Thailand to
research a story in 1988 using a short-term visa, which he renewed, and then
renewed again. In eighteen months, Christopher said he wrote three books and
like many others, he is still in Thailand. He is now on his 25th book, the
fourteenth in the Vincent Calvino series.
He noted that people often ask him if he has had any problems with the
authorities because his books often deal with controversial subjects. Not so
far, he replies. “I have a secret: I never introduce the controversial bits
until at least page 20. Censors read the first few pages and move on. They
don’t have time to read more.” Some interesting one-liners from
Christopher’s presentation: The enemy of the author is not piracy; it is
obscurity - One can never recapture lost time - One can’t bank time for
later use - The author’s job is to make room for the reader’s imagination -
Books are a great way to time travel - We can live the lives of others
through books.
 Christopher
and wife Od show one of his latest books, ‘Missing in Rangoon’.
Christopher G. Moore is originally from Canada and has lived in Thailand for
over two decades. His most recent books are “Missing in Rangoon” and “Faking
It in Bangkok.” He also edited two books that were published in 2012: “Phnom
Penh Noir” and “The Orwell Brigade.” Christopher’s contribution to “Phnom
Penh Noir” is titled “Reunion”; it has been short listed for the Canadian
Crime Writers Arthur Ellis 2013 Award for Best Novella. Learn more about
Christopher and his books by visiting his website at:
http://www.cgmoore.com/.
After Christopher’s presentation, Master of Ceremonies Richard Silverberg
updated everyone on upcoming events and called on Les Edmonds to conduct the
Open Forum, where questions are asked and answered about Expat living in
Thailand.
For more information about the many activities of the Pattaya City Expats
Club, visit their website at www.pattayacityexpatsclub.com.
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Imperial Mae Ping Hotel Chiang Mai to host fundraising gala dinner & dance
01 June 2013
A special Gala Charity Dinner and Dance on Saturday 01 June
at the Imperial Mae Ping Hotel Chiang Mai is being held to help raise funds to
continue life saving medical treatment for Chaa Nay Choo, the 14-year-old boy
seriously burned when trying to save others in the Mae Surin refugee camp fire
on 22 March, as well as provide support for other refugees and migrants from
Burma.
The organisation involved is The Best Friend Library in Chiang Mai, which is
committed to helping Burmese refugees. The dinner will feature a Burmese theme,
with Burmese entertainers, Burmese-style buffet dinner, and a Burmese
handicrafts exhibition.
Dang Fantastic and his band will provide the music.
Tickets for 850 baht are on sale at: All branches of Rimping Supermarket Chiang
Mai - at customer service desks; The Best Friend Burmese Library, 302/2
Nimmanhaemin Road, Chiang Mai; Imperial Mae Ping Hotel, Chiang Mai - reception
desk; Hillside Condo 4 Reception, Huay Kaew Road, Chiang Mai.
Overnight accommodation at the Imperial Mae Ping hotel is available at 1,300
baht per superior twin or single room including breakfast, tax and service.
(This rate is only applicable to Gala Dinner guests)
Private tables seating ten persons are available on request, for companies, or
groups of friends.
For guests in Bangkok or other Thai provinces, the hotel is offering a 2-night
Friday to Sunday weekend package for 2,450 baht nett per person sharing twin
room, including the gala dinner, breakfasts, airport transfers, tax and service.
For full details please see:
https://sites.google.com/a/chiangmaiheritage.com/burma/home
Inquiries: [email protected]
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Bangsaen orphans live the high life at Thai Garden Resort
The Abundant Life crew showed
their appreciation for their stay, giving Graeme Moore (left) and Rene Pisters
(right) gifts of hand-painted pictures.
Elfi Seitz
The Thai Garden Resort played host to 27 orphans and guardians from Bangsaen’s
Abundant Life Home, giving children a weekend filled with fun and great food.
Orphanage director Karen Sanchez led the May 2 - 4 trip with support of hotel
owner Gerrit Niehaus and General Manager Rene Pisters, who welcomed the children
with gifts upon arrival. Graeme Moore from K-999 Engineering & Construction in
Rayong sponsored 24,000 baht for the outing.
It didn’t take long for the kids to spot the Thai Garden’s huge swimming pool,
however, and they were splashing around in no time.
The children also had their pick of the menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner and
their broad smiles showed how much they enjoyed the delicacies on offer.
The Abundant Life crew showed their appreciation for their stay, giving hotel
executives gifts of hand-painted pictures. Smiles were mixed with tears as the
kids had to leave their Pattaya paradise, but Thai Garden Resort officials
assured them they’d be back next year.
Currently there are 27 children at the Abundant Life Home. They live in groups
in separate houses, with one mother and feel like a normal family - except that
they all have to share one “father”. More info about the home can be received by
emailing [email protected].
It’s time for a group photo, just
before the bittersweet end of the day - sad because they are leaving; happy
because they had one of the best day’s of their lives … ever.
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100 join THAI and hotels in Pattaya Beach cleanup
Staff from dusitD2 baraquda join the socially
beneficial activity collecting garbage on Pattaya Beach.
Warunya Thongrod
About 100 people joined Thai Airways International and the Dusit Thani Hotel in
cleaning up the north end of Pattaya Beach to mark the airline’s 53rd
anniversary.
The May 8 “Love the Sea, Save the Beach” activity saw celebrity Khemanit
“Pancake” Jamikorn join fans of Thai Airways’ Facebook web page, online media,
bloggers and local government officials scour 50 meters of beachfront from the
Dusit Thani to Soi 4.
An airline spokeswoman said the event was organized to mark not only THAI’s
birthday, but as a way to give back to society.
Pattaya Deputy Mayor Ronakit Ekasingh thanked the airline for sponsoring the
event, which he said would boost tourism and raise environmental awareness.
Many people who care for the environment
participated in collecting garbage.
Holiday Inn Hotel employees join the fun in cleaning
up the beach during the Love the Sea, Save the Beach event.
Dusit Thani Pattaya is joined by Deputy Mayor
Ronakit Ekasingh as GM Chatchawal Supachayanont leads the staff in kicking off
the CSR campaign of Thai Airways International dubbed ‘Love the Sea Save the
Beach’ at a small ceremony held at the hotel’s Chaba Beach.
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146th Canada Day Celebration
The Canada Day Organizing Committee is pleased to announce that the annual
Canada Day party will be celebrated at the British Club on Saturday, June 22,
2013. The event marks Canada’s 146th birthday and the 24th year that Canada Day
has been celebrated in Bangkok.
“The 2012 event was a great success with 347 people in attendance and we are
looking to attract over 400 this year with our planned changes to the venue’s
lay-out and the introduction of live music,” said Don Lavoie, Chair of the
Canada Day Committee organizing the event. “The 2013 event promises to be a
great time as the Canadian community and its many friends comes together to
celebrate Canada’s birthday,” he added. Through this annual event, the Canada
Day Committee also raises funds which are contributed to the Thai Fund
Foundation (TFF).
Officially, Canada Day is celebrated on July 1st each year, but is being held
early in Bangkok to accommodate school breaks and to allow for more families to
participate in the festivities. The aim of this annual event is to encourage
Canadians and their families, friends, and colleagues of all ages and
nationalities, to gather and celebrate Canada Day in a lively atmosphere, with
delicious food, exciting games and fantastic camaraderie.
The Canada Day Celebration offers children’s games, tug-of-war, water balloon
toss, volley ball, and various sporting activities for adults, including
petanque. A delicious buffet dinner will be served following the afternoon
activities. Beer and wine will be available for the occasion, as well as Clamato
juice for the uniquely Canadian Bloody Caesar. Event ticket holders will also be
eligible to win a host of fabulous lucky draw prizes.
Tickets are being sold in advance with limited tickets available at the door -
based on a ‘first come, first serve basis’. Ticket price includes entry into the
event, dinner and a chance to win lucky draw prizes):
Adults: (13 & up) 950 baht in advance/ 1250 baht at the door.
Children: (4-12) 450 baht in advance/ 600 baht at the door.
Children: (3 & under) 100 baht in advance/at the door.
Reserved tables: Tables of 10 can be reserved with an advance payment by Friday,
June 7, 2013.
Event schedule:
15:00: Doors open
16:00: Children’s games
16:30: Ball hockey, volleyball tournament & adult games
17:00: Live music
18:00: Greeting & prize drawings
18:30: Dinner
19:30: Live music
For further information, please contact the Canada Day Organising Committee c/o
the Thai-Canadian Chamber of Commerce, 139 Pan Road, Sethiwan Tower, 9th Floor,
tel: 02-266-6085-6 or email us at:
[email protected]
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