All was peachy at this year’s PILC Holiday Bazaar

Everyone who was part of the swinging ’70s grooved their way to Shenanigans last Saturday evening for the Seventies Night. Even those who weren’t part of the swinging ’70s by virtue of being too young, or not even born, got into the swing of it too, with wild gyrations to the “music” of such bands as T Rex. Some, like Paul Dobbs, Jeremy Coles and Kim Fletcher, had obviously come out of the closet for the evening. Clothes closet that is, with some memorable gear that should have been left behind for moth munching or decent burial.

The Seventies - it must have been inevitable that someone would resurrect the decade that style forgot...

Wigs, boots and make-up were also in evidence, with Kim mincing around as Ace Freeley on his white platform soled boots grinning at everyone from his new height. He did remark during the evening that everything looked a lot different from up there.

The staff were sensational, really putting a lot of effort into their outfits and hairdos and a fitting winner of the best ’70s look was Jeab, who teamed up the correct dress, the black sloe-eyed make-up and the beehive hairdo, looking as if she had just stepped out of a ’70s fashion shoot. The wildest gear was definitely worn by Beautiful, with the red hair, silver eyelashes, floral dress and red tights.

ABBA devotees arrived with fetching blue and red wigs, while one poor old dear arrived complete with Zimmer frame, curlers and incontinence knickers, having read the advertisement as being a party for people older than 70 years. Karen (“I hope nobody sees me like this”) wore the shortest and hottest, hot pants of the evening, while Pat Dixon was overheard muttering that in the swinging ’70s she was up to her armpits in children. Yes, those were the days.

Now for all of you who missed it, or for those who would like to see how silly they looked, Dr. Iain, complete with Paisley pattern shirt (thanks Marlowe, Classic Tailors) and wig appropriated from Gip at the KR Bar, had the Pattaya Mail TV crew there and recorded the event for his Nite Beat programme being screened Friday 12th and Sunday 14th. Look for yourself and laugh again.

by Lesley Warner

I went to Jeep’s Joint on Thursday to visit Jeep (Glenn Holthaus) and his wife Lek. They have devoted the last 4 years to improving the education of some of the poorer kids in Pattaya. To do this they started teaching the children some basic computer skills.

Sunee - “I like Paintbrush, it’s fun”

The main problem for Jeep was language - his Thai, the same as for many of us, was not good enough to teach the children. So he encouraged Lek to learn the computer so that she would be able to instruct the children. At first reluctant, Lek decided to give it a try, and as time went by and she learnt more she began to enjoy her studies. During the last 4 years she has taught 50 teachers how to teach computer skills to children and found the time to teach the children and carry on learning herself.

The children are taught Excel, Office, Paintbrush, Typing, PowerPoint and many other useful skills in the hope that their future will become more secure. Some of the children don’t go to school, they only collect trash to sell, so this is the only education they are receiving. Jeep said, “The average age is 10-12 years, because this is the time the kids are taken out of school. Family money runs out and the children are sent to work, but we don’t like to turn them away at any age. We also get some of the disabled kids from the Redemption Center and they come back to teach the new kids.”

Happy kids enjoy learning at the computer

I spoke to one of the girls who spoke a little English, and she told me her name was Sunee. She said she liked using the computer and enjoyed playing around with Paintbrush; she likes the colors. All the children seemed very happy and totally engrossed in what they were doing; occasionally another child would wander in and settle down in front of the computer screen, obviously feeling totally at home.

There are several private and business sources in the town that have donated money, desks, old computers, books and software but there can never be too much. Foster Wheeler donated some desks and UN-Web Card donated a digital camera. Recently there was a contribution of 50,000 baht from two local businessmen and there are other local businesses that organize fund raising days. Donations occasionally come from abroad as well in the form of money or equipment.

Jeep and Lek

So far Jeep and Lek have managed to send 233 computers to isolated schools in the North of Thailand and they have 12 on the premises in their small school. If you have any software that you have finished with, books, desks, chairs or computers, screens, keyboards, please let Jeep and Lek have them for this worthy cause. As well as teaching these underprivileged children Lek and Jeep are managing to keep 83 children in school. Jeep told me, “Some cases are worse than others. For those children that come from families with no money to assist it costs about 6400 baht per child annually.”

Jeep said, “There are volunteers that help, sometimes, especially some of the ex-pat children. They are ideal because they can usually speak Thai, but we can always do with more help.”

The school is open Tuesday to Friday from 3:30 p.m. until the children are finished, which can be quite late at night. Jeep said, “But we try not to be a babysitter service!” On Sundays Lek and Jeep sell sandwiches at the softball game and on Mondays they sell food at the Hash; these funds go into the children’s kitty.

Remember, if there is any way that you could help these kids, however small with time, money, computers or office equipment, please contact Jeep. A collection point for donations of computers, books and software is also needed in Bangkok.

For more information telephone (038) 424 998, fax (038) 723 273, email: [email protected] or just call into Jeeps Joint, 313/82 Pattaya 3rd Road (almost on the corner at Pattaya Tai traffic lights).

Updated every Friday
Copyright 2001  Pattaya Mail Publishing Co.Ltd.
370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, Chonburi 20260, Thailand
Tel. 66-38 411 240-1, 413 240-1, Fax: 66-38 427 596

Updated by Chinnaporn Sungwanlek, assisted by Boonsiri Suansuk.
E-Mail: [email protected]