Family Money: The Year That Was - Part 1

By Leslie Wright

It has become a tradition at this time of year that I review the predictions I made at the beginning of the year.

Although it’s not hard to make humorous predictions with regard to some local goings-on, making more serious forecasts for what might happen in various stock markets over a twelve-month period is infinitely more difficult.

This year was a particularly tough one to call, as the economic situation at the start of the year was far from clear, and investor sentiment rather gloomy.

#1: My first prediction was that there would not be any significant changes to local banks’ interest rates. That has proved correct.

I also opined that the significant differential between lending and deposit rates would persist throughout the year: that has also proved correct, despite pressure from the government to reduce the spread.

I also said that ‘strategic’ non-performing loans (NPLs) would continue to be a problem throughout this year. Sweeping them collectively under the rug of the Thai Asset Management Corporation (TAMC) doesn’t make them go away, merely consolidates them into one massive public debt. That has also proven to be the case.

On the general politico-economic front, I ventured the opinion that the Prime Minister would have to keep the various political factions at each other’s throats rather than at his, and keep his own house in order - and if he succeeded in this and was perceived as a strong leader, some international confidence will be restored to the beleaguered economy.

Well, the various party factions have been making the usual dissenting noises, and anyone who disagrees with the Prime Minister over whom he has the power of dismissal, he dismisses. This has had a somewhat stabilising effect on the economy, but international investors are not flocking to the banner, no matter how hard it’s waved.

At the beginning of the year, optimists saw positive sentiment toward the incoming government leading the SET back up above the 400 mark. I, on the other hand, gloomily predicted that the SET would not do anything very exciting for at least six months. Indeed, the SET in the first half of the year slid steadily downwards past the 300 mark, and then struggled back up above that psychological resistance level before the events of September 11th caused it to nosedive once more.

I also said that I expected the Baht to fluctuate within the range 42-46 to the US$ for most of the year. It has in fact ranged between 43~45.

#2: The second set of predictions concerned the US market. My opinion at the beginning of the year was that the market was overpriced and overdue for a ‘hard landing’ correction. I advised caution with respect to US equities, and suggested that if you were still in, then (the beginning of the year) may well have been the time to “bite the bullet and get your money out to greener pastures.” This prediction was, as it turned out, right on the mark.

The US market went into a nosedive during the first quarter of the year, and negative sentiment continued to dominate performance figures up to the sudden (but unsurprising) dip after the September 11th attack.

However, those event-driven losses were soon recovered once normalcy returned to the market. Mixed earnings and unemployment figures continued to dominate sentiment thereafter, with considerable volatility being seen. The recovery that was widely predicted to happen in Q4 this year has now been put back to Q2 2002 - but this has also been influenced by concerns over the ongoing war on terrorism, and commentators’ negative views on the US - and indeed the world - economy heading into recession.

#3: I commented that European stocks were generally expected to do well again in 2001, although possibly not as well as the previous year, accompanied by continued volatility.

This was, as it turned out, rather over-optimistic, and European bourses were negatively affected by the malaise that pervaded the US market. On average they had lost over 22% of value by the beginning of December - although by then they had already recovered the event-driven losses after September 11th.

#4: My next prediction concerned the stability of Sterling. I ventured that Sterling would hold its own against the US Dollar for at least the first three months of 2001 while doubts persisted over the Euro. Apart from some short-term dips on negative news & sentiment, Sterling has held up remarkably well against both the Dollar and Euro for the whole of the year.

My next opinion was that I didn’t think the Euro would strengthen significantly against the Dollar. That one proved correct also.

#5: I discussed the potential movement of interest rates, and concluded that Alan Greenspan would lower interest rates several times, but probably not until April or May. As it turned out, he started the rate-cutting cycle on January 3rd, and then almost monthly thereafter.

#6: I then ventured the opinion that if the Fed were to lower interest rates in the first quarter, the UK would probably follow suit shortly thereafter. This is what happened.

I reckoned the FTSE All-Share Index might end the year at around 3800. As it has transpired, the FTSE ASI did not perform as well as I’d hoped, and as of 1st December was down some 15% on the year.

#7: Despite some commentators’ positive feelings at the end of 2000 towards the Japanese economy, I predicted that clearing out the dead wood was going to be a drawn-out and painful process, but essential before new growth could emerge.

Japan has this past year fared even worse than I predicted. Recession has set in, and I believe it will take much longer than most analysts predict before we see real sustained growth in the Japanese economy.

#8: I touched on the political situation in the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan and Malaysia, and ventured the opinion that Asian markets in general would remain sluggish until the uncertainty in the US market is removed, and the economies of both Japan and Korea stabilise and brighten. This has proven to be the case, and Asian markets - with only a couple of notable exceptions - have lost money this year.

#9: Despite many analysts at the end of last year still singing the song of devaluation of the Chinese Yuan, I said that it would not happen this year at least. That has proven correct. Indeed, China has been one of the few star performers this past year, with the Shanghai stock market gaining over 70%. Unfortunately for my and my clients’ portfolios, I didn’t guess that it would do as well as that, and regrettably stayed out of that market. But we can all be wise in hindsight.

(to be continued next week)

by C. Schloemer

Good Points: devoted pet, good with children, intelligent, natural herder, playful, easily trained, beautiful show dog

Take heed: needs plenty of exercise

The bearded Collie is not so well known as other Collies in Britain, and was almost extinct after the Second World War due to the lack of a strong breeding program. Now however, numbers of this delightful breed are increasing. Sometimes known as the Highland Collie, the Mountain Collie, or the Hairy Mou’d Collie, the Bearded Collie is one of Britain’s oldest breeds. It is a loveable breed, affectionate, loyal, and simply adores children, so it is well suited for family life and makes a willing and trustworthy playmate. Owners who want to show in the ring will be pleased with the Bearded Collie’s lovely appearance and beautiful coat.

Size: Ideal height at the shoulder: dog 53-56 cm, bitch 51-53 cm

Exercise: This breed is not suitable for a confined existence. The owner who has time and opportunity to supply it with ample space and exercise will be rewarded with a happy and healthy dog, otherwise a different breed should be considered.

Grooming: Daily brushing is recommended to keep the coat in good condition and free from tangles. Bathing and chalking are necessary for the show ring.

Origin and history: The adorable Beardie, as it is fondly referred to, has ancestors which greeted the Romans when they first invaded Britain, or so the theory goes. Some authorities feel that the Bearded Collie descends from the shaggy haired herding dogs of the Magyar Komondor of Central Europe. As with most breeds which were not used by nobility, there are few early records on this humble herdsman’s dog. The earliest known pictures of Bearded Collies are a 1771 Gainsborough portrait of the Duke of Buccleigh and a 1772 Reynolds portrait of that peer’s wife and daughter accompanied by two dogs.

By the end of the Victorian era, the Bearded Collie was more popular and they were commonly used as herding dogs in Southern Scotland. They were also popular as show dogs in Collie classes. The lack of a strong breed club proved to be a misfortune. During WWII, there were few show dogs and by the end of the war, there was no Kennel breeding Bearded Collies for show purposes. Likely the survival of the breed was assured when Mrs. G. Wilson of the former Bothkennar Kennels acquired a Beardie bitch in 1944, and after a long search, found a Beardie dog playing on the beach with its owners in Hove, Sussex. It is from this single pair that all of today’s Beardies are now descended.

by Dr. Iain

Recently I had a bunch of friends over for a few drinks and nibbles. That is somewhat of an understatement - it was my (much publicized, I’m afraid) 60th birthday and there were something like 100 people around the beautiful swimming pool at Ib and Kannikar Ottesen’s Residence Garden.

Afterwards I had time to sit back and ruminate about the evening (you do that sort of thing when you get to be 60) and think about “my friends”. What an amazing bunch they are! There were members of Thai high society, Thai poor society, bar owners, restaurateurs, bar workers, hospital administrators, newspaper publishers, millionaires, some straights, some gays, my favourite katoey entertainer, businessmen, language school teachers, hoteliers, chefs, karaoke owners, singers, pool sharks, journalists, pub landlords, car detailers, maids, massage ladies, restaurant managers, motorcycle importers, personal fitness trainers, real estate salesmen, photographers, chemical engineers, Uncle Tom Cobbley and all! As well as those friends who attended, there were those who could not be present and who rang and emailed to pass on their best wishes, such as my old medical practice administrator, race drivers, and even an ex-wife!

One of the cries I often hear in Pattaya from the expat community is that they have no friends. If that is really the case, how does anyone end up with such a large and eclectic collection like mine? Unfortunately, the kind of advice that is often handed out to these “friendless” folk is to join a club or organization and there they will make friends. I’m sorry, but I disagree. You can make acquaintances, but you cannot “make” friends. You cannot look around a room and say, “I think I’ll make that woman in the green dress my friend.” You do not have that sort of “power” over the mind and destiny of someone else.

The advice should be much simpler than that of joining clubs and organizations. To “collect” friends, all you have to do is to be friendly to others. Extend that hand of friendship and it will be responded to. Friendship is a reciprocal emotion, just like giving someone a smile that immediately brings one back in return. Honestly, it is that simple!

So let’s get really “basic” here. What is a friend? Quite simply, and this is from the Concise Oxford Dictionary, “A person with whom one enjoys mutual affection and regard (exclusive of sexual or family bonds).” The key word here is “regard”. You have a high regard for the person, for some reason or other. It doesn’t mean that you agree with everything they are, do or say, but you have a regard for them in some way. That may stem from their abilities as a musician, or their sense of humour, or their capabilities in carrying out their job, or their compassion towards the sick, the down at heel, animals, or the underprivileged. In other words, look for the good points in people and suddenly you will find that you can have a high regard for a person of whom you did not think all that much of before.

This is how I can say I have friends from all walks of life. Many will have different ideas from mine, different interests, some different sexual directions, the complete spectrum - but I have a regard for them all which is then reciprocated to me. I am sure the total package called Dr. Iain (me) isn’t all their cups of tea either, but they have a regard for some parts of me. By definition, they are my friends and I am theirs. The regard is mutual.

So, if you feel that you have not got many friends over here, try being bright and friendly to everyone. Some of that emotion will come back to you and you can work on the regard you have for those people who returned your breezy smile. Friendship will grow from there. I honestly believe it is easier to make friends in a foreign country than it is in many of our “home” countries. Try it! You will be amazed by the result. After all, this is Amazing Thailand is it not?

by Mirin MacCarthy

Moose are found in many other places other than Alaska and Canada, though the most studied members of the moose population are from that region of the world. By the way, the plural of Moose is generally ‘moose’ and certainly not ‘meese’!

Moose are not small animals, and are the largest member of the deer family. They stand around 2 metres at the shoulder and the males, known as bulls, can weigh in at up to 750 kg. The females, known as cows, are lighter, but can still tip the scales at 500 kg.

They are a fairly lugubrious looking animal too, with a disproportionately large head and a muzzle with an overhanging top lip, a bulky body with a “hump”, a stubby tail and a hanging piece of skin below the throat which is called a ‘bell’.

Only the males have antlers, which are described as being ‘palmate’ which means they are like hands with palms extended upright and the pointed ends like fingers. The spread of antlers is known as the ‘rack’ and it is in its prime when the bull moose is around six years old. Antlers begin growing in April and reach their maximum size in August or September. They are covered with skin and hair, or “velvet”. In late August, the blood supply to the velvet is cut off and it starts to shed, aided by the moose rubbing the antlers against trees. Continuous scraping of the antlers signifies the start of the breeding season. After about a week, the velvet is completely shed and the white antlers begin to stain brown. Older bulls lose their antlers in December, following the rut, while the younger males may keep theirs as late as February.

Because of the climate they live in, moose have adapted to being able to live in deep snow at wintertime. To be able to walk through the snowdrifts they have long legs that can propel them up to 55 kph when necessary. In the extreme cold, thick hides and warm coats insulate them. A difference of as much as 20ฐ C may be registered between the air temperature and the hide of the moose which has a fine undercoat of grey wool, and coarse, scaly guard hairs helps to retain heat. The coat is about 10 cm long on the body, but may grow up to 20 cm on the neck and shoulders. In the spring, the old, faded coat is shed and replaced with a new, short, dark brown coat. In late summer, the guard hairs grow longer and produce a rich, reddish, brown-black coat and the under-hair thickens in September to provide additional warmth.

Like deer, moose are herbivores (plant eaters) and need up to 45-50 kg of food to maintain their enormous bulk. However, they are not quite the docile or nervous animals. There are official notices regarding moose, and people are advised against feeding moose because the next time a human does not offer food, the moose can become enraged and charge. Cows will also protect their young against any supposed threat and it is unwise to come between a cow and her calves.

Moose have only four predators - grizzly bears, black bears, wolves and mankind. The grizzly bears are large enough to attack any moose, and bite into the moose’s neck and suffocate the unfortunate beast. The smaller black bear kills in the same way, but must select smaller moose as its target. The wolf attacks in packs and bites the rear legs of the moose. This attack is called ham-stringing because the moose becomes unable to walk with injured legs. The wolves must be careful in this attack, as one kick from a moose can kill or injure the predator.

But the attacks from wild animals are nothing compared to the threat posed by humans. With the hunting season starting in September, around 8,000 of these giant beasts will be killed by “sporting shooters”. A great shame in my mind.

by Richard Bunch

From John Williams, England: I want to get a computer for my girlfriend so I can set up web cams in Thailand and UK so we can talk and see each other and it would be a lot cheaper than just the phone calls, so I asked her to find out how much it would cost to get a phone line connected to her house and she as said it will be about 150,000 baht because she off the beaten track. There is a public phone box about 250 metres away so I can’t see why it would cost that much. A friend of hers had one put in a while ago and that cost 12,000 baht. If it’s right, what system should I be looking for a cheaper option, i.e. mobile phone laptop, etc. I am going over in January and I would like to get it set up then if possible. She lives between Dang Chang and Donjadee (Suphanburi) area. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Computer Doctor replies: Generally speaking, there are two telephone providers here in Thailand, TOT and TT&T. With both these it is common to pay in the region of 8 – 12,000 baht for a line, and there is normally a waiting time; how long this is depends on the area. Whilst this is the standard pricing there are areas where quite simply the exchange can’t cope with any more numbers and subscribers who already have a number make a private deal and sell on their number and 150,000 baht is quite common for these deals. Really it depends how desperate you are and how much you are willing to pay. Without taking over Hillary’s column which I’m sure you read avidly, how sure are you about the costs your girlfriend has advised you of?

You could as you say go for a mobile telephone option, as this can work well but the coverage may not be adequate in the area your girlfriend lives so check the signal on someone else’s mobile (GSM) before you take this route. I assume you will also be purchasing a computer or notebook PC for her. So this needs to be considered in conjunction with the telephone issue. Even in some of these outlying areas there is what can loosely be described as an Internet Cafe so check this out first, it may be an option certainly in the first instance.

From Al, Vancouver Island: As one who reads your section every week I am intrigued by your (mostly) easy to understand answers. My question is; can I speed up my Pentium II, 233 to say 266 or higher? And if so, how?

Computer Doctor replies: Your options for speeding up this PC are somewhat limited I’m afraid. Your existing processor will be Slot 1 which Intel has moved away from in favour FCPGA (370 Pins) so if you want a faster processor, you will have to look for second hand. Also be mindful that your motherboard will support the faster processor. The cheapest way you can get a bit more oomph out of the PC is to put some more RAM in, particularly as it is so cheap at the moment. Bear in mind though that you will probably only be able to buy PC133 and your existing RAM is likely to be PC100 and the two don’t make happy bedfellows so you will probably have to replace and buy all new RAM. Technology has progressed by leaps and bounds since this PC, Bus speeds have increased, memory has increased in speeds and now we have DDR and RAMBUS as well as SD RAM, hard disks have gone through ATA 33, ATA 66 and now ATA 100. For this reason any money you spend on upgrading your current PC should be regarded as a write off. If your budget will allow, your best option is to buy new and try to sell your existing system as is.

Send your questions or comments to the Pattaya Mail at 370/7-8 Pattaya Second Road, Pattaya City, 20260 or fax to 038 427 596 or e-mail to [email protected] The views and comments expressed within this column are not necessarily those of the writer or Pattaya Mail Publishing.

Richard Bunch is managing director of Action Computer Technologies Co., Ltd. For further information, please telephone 0 1782 4829, fax 0 3842 6335, e-mail: [email protected] or see the firm’s website www.act.co.th

Getting on with it

After some initial bumpy patches and wrong turns, my recent visit to the USA smoothed out and I began to find my footing. Staying with friends in their suburban family home was cozy and certainly more fun than putting up in a hotel. My presence soon lost its novelty and I was made an honorable member of the family. Kids, dogs, and friends did their best to make me comfortable while I tried to slip into the rhythm of everyday life.

Atlanta, Georgia is a big city. I was told that the population is about six million. It didn’t seem that populous to me. Compared with Bangkok’s crowds and chaos, narrow streets and continuous bustle, Atlanta seemed spacious and downright empty. That first impression was deceptive. I drove my friend to his office one morning so I could use his car while he was at work and discovered that rush hour traffic there was as gridlocked and obnoxious as any place else.

The drivers, however, were more disciplined than in Thailand. For that I was grateful. I was unused to driving on the ‘right’ side of the road, and was really counting on the merciful forgiveness of the local motorists to ignore my lapses into oncoming traffic, of which there were more than I care to admit. Country roads have sparse traffic, and I habitually wandered into the wrong lane. Startled locals froze at the wheel as I barreled around corners and jerked back onto my own side of the road just in time to avoid a nasty accident.

The American state of Georgia is in the southern region of the USA and straddles what is referred to as the ‘Bible Belt’. For readers who are not sure of that term, I was told that residents of this area were rather more devout Christians than in other regions. That explained why there were so many churches. A neighbor tried to explain to me the ‘blue laws’ which were still in place in parts of the state. This pertains to very old laws on the books which still forbid things like selling alcohol on Sundays, and a variety of other inconveniences which I never did fully understand. Seems it has something to do with the idea that families should go to church and then go home and rest on that particular day of the week. I am from Pattaya. This went right over my head.

An old friend living in Boston had agreed to fly into Atlanta to see me, and the family I was staying with assured me we could pack one more guest into the spare room. It would be a tight fit, but my friend had lived 7 years in Thailand which meant that she could survive the lack of privacy. This woman is a sophisticated city girl, raised in Manhattan, and a flight attendant on an international bank’s corporate jet. But she’s a good sport. She was going to have to be. We were short on transportation the day she arrived, but the whole family wanted to meet her at the airport. ‘Dressed to kill’ when she showed up, we unceremoniously crammed her into a friend’s dilapidated truck and loaded her Gucci luggage on the rack on the roof. I noticed her wince. The farther we drove into the endless suburbs, the deeper she frowned. Our house was a 30 minute drive on the freeway from the city. Atlanta vanished behind us. She now looked panic stricken.

Home at last. I have no idea what my friend thought we were going to do for four days in the ‘Burbs’. She had brought so many pieces of luggage we had to leave some in the garage since the guest room was already bursting with mine. I gave up the tiny closet I was using and watched her hang up all of her designer clothes. She commandeered the teenage son’s bathroom. Teenage boys don’t bathe that much anyway, so she needed it more than he did. So far she was holding her own.

She’d brought wine and champagne as gifts. Perfect. I had a feeling none of us were going to get through these next four days entirely sober. The family’s two dogs, a cocker spaniel and a Siberian husky had the run of the house. The more dog hair she found on her clothes, the faster she drained her wine glass. I didn’t have the heart to tell her that she would wake up in the morning and find them both in her bed. We sat up most of that night and planned our escape. Sunday we would spend all day in the city and go to the fanciest restaurant in town and really treat ourselves. I could hardly wait!

by John D. Blyth, P.O. Box 97, Pattaya City 20260

The Famous ‘Castle Class’ (continued)

By the mid-1920s a number of ‘Castles’ were in service and gaining a good reputation on the heaviest trains. The L.M.S.’s West Coast line to Scotland, committed to introduce a ‘prestige train’ between London, Glasgow and Edinburgh, was slowly developing a compound ‘Pacific’ since Sir Henry Fowler was impressed by their work on the CF du Nord in France. Progress was too slow and success too uncertain to count on this type’s availability by the due date of Summer1927.

No. 4074 ‘Caldicot’ Castle’ entering Paddington station in the late ’20s. The second of the Class dates from 1924.

By the usual ‘cloak and dagger’ methods another exchange took place. I can almost hear that arch-publicity man, Sir Felix Pole saying to an L.M.S. man over a drink, “Having a spot of loco trouble old boy? Why not try one of ours?” However done, in mid-October of 1926 a brand new ‘Castle’ and one of the best as it turned out, No. 5000, ‘Launceston Castle appeared, working a week between Crewe and London and a second week between Crewe and Carlisle. The latter was a far more formidable task.

The late Stewart Cox was in the Dynamometer for most, if not all the runs, and, L.M.S. man though he was, he reports in one of his books that the ‘Castle’ went about its duties with a quiet efficiency, unlike the roaring exhausts and black smoke more familiar on his railway. The outcome was to immediately cancel the compound ‘Pacific’ project, as it seems without even consulting Fowler! The Great Western were asked to built 50 ‘Castles’ for the L.M.S. by Summer 1927 which they, quite righly, declined to do. They also refused to supply a set of working drawings to enable the L.M.S. to build them themselves. Everyone seemed to have forgotten the set of working drawings for the ‘Star’ Class supplied by G.J. Churchward on the occasion of the visit of a locomotive of this type to the then L.N.W.R. in 1910. Maybe they had been destroyed by 1926. We don’t really know. But it would not have been too big a job to enlarge the boiler and include a superheater, which could have come close to a ‘Castle’!

In fact the L.M.S. made an approach to the North British Locomotive Co. in Glasgow, who put in all the resources of their drawing office and two main workshops. No, they didn’t get 50 big locomotives on the road for mid-1927 but they were not were not far behind. Happily the new engines were an instant success. Some of the early drawings were headed ‘Improved Castle’!

My sketch of the proposed ‘Compound Castle’ quickly vetoed by Collett in 1926.

Various modifications were made to the engines, some when new, and others when in for heavy repairs. New ‘Castles’ were turned out from Swindon works until 1951. The very last, 7037, was named ‘Swindon’ by H. M. Queen Elizabeth, when as Princess Elizabeth she visited Swindon works. Like her father she also drove a locomotive from the works to the station. King George V had a ‘Castle’ but his daughter was provided with a smaller ‘Star’ which, most appropriately, bore her name.

Larger superheaters and eventually double chimneys were aids to improved performance over the years. All did good work, but it is astonishing to realise that the cylinders, valve chests and valve gear were all identical to those provided for the very first ‘Castle’ turned out in 1923. Apart from a small difference in cylinder diameter, all were the same as were fitted to the first production line ‘Star’ built in 1907. It is hard to believe that no improvements in design were possible between 1907 and the last one made in 1951. On what other mechanical device, however driven and for what purpose, could such longevity be claimed with attending efficiency? Certainly not the motorcar!

I have freely referred to ‘double chimneys’ in this series; here is one seen from the top being fitted to a ‘Castle at Swindon; the two orifices for exhausting steam and smoke can be clearly seen.

Around 1926 the question of a bigger engine arose again, partly due to the ever-increasing weight of trains, partly die to the Southern Railway producing its ‘Lord Nelson’ 4-6-0s for the heavy boat trains to and from the Channel Ports, which had a tractive effort marginally greater than that of a ‘Castle’. Of course, Sir Felix could not allow this, and the usual questions were raised, with one particular question of special interest. This was whether a ‘compound Castle’ would suffice for both the traffic and Great Western pride. Not much is known of this proposal. William Stanier, then Collett’s assistant, directed ace draughtsman Hawkesworth to work something out and in due course the result was taken for Collett to comment. Later on Hawkesworth told writer O.S. Nock, “In about five minutes we were out again”, and so ended compounding on the G.W.R! No good drawing has ever been seen of this concept but I did find one about 11/2 in. long in a book, had it enlarged by Photostat and then put some ‘flesh on the bones’. The outcome is shown here and only published for the second time. With knowledge of some of the dimensions, I cannot see that it could ever have been a success.

Pole’s requirement eventually firmed-up as a tractive effort of not less than 40,000 pounds. This led to almost every dimension in common use on G.W. Locomotives being altered. Pole admitted much later that he had been horrified at the cost of altering wheel diameters by 21/2 inches, cylinder diameters by 1 1/4 in., and piston stroke by 2 in., boiler pressure being increased by 25 pounds per square inch and so forth.

This led to the ‘King’ Class of 1927 and to the question, “Were the ‘Kings’ really necessary?” I think the answer is yes but only just and not as built.

by Anchalee Kaewmanee

The nature of the Cancer/Taurus is innocent, charming and gentle. But underlying that humble persona is the stability, determination and inner strength of the Taurus bull. That guise of fragility and timidity is really a camouflage for an inner shrewdness and confidence.

After much introspection, and a few rough breaks, these natives will have learned to keep a constant guard lest others take advantage of them. They know themselves pretty well and have the ability to second-guess others. Cancers tend to use many escape and defence tactics, and will use all of them at their disposal if necessary. But ultimately, they all come to rely on their perseverance and wisdom as protection against the storms of life.

This combination is adaptable to people around them. But they never really lose that well-defined sense of self. And even though they are truly considerate of others, they seldom take other people’s advice seriously. They know they have to live their own lives, and use that inherent intuition as a guide to practical decisions. Tenacious and stubborn, natives of the Cancer/Taurus combo usually have difficulty shaking off first impressions or forgiving a past hurt. Sometimes this emotional rigidity can be their downfall. Too often they will find that friends and co-workers will get fed up and withdraw in order to avoid the constant scenes.

Since the natives of this sign almost always feel they are right and know best, criticism from others confuses them. It is almost impossible for them to admit they might be wrong. All are experts at projecting the guilt or failure that they personally feel onto another person; very often a person closest to them. They are also capable of losing their temper and becoming completely irrational at the first sign of any threat to their emotional or material security, and those hot flashes of anger will flare if someone tries to convince them that they just might be in the wrong. Age and wisdom, and some nasty experiences with broken relationships usually teaches people in this group to be less suspicious of other’s motives and to discriminate between constructive advice and people who mean real malice toward them.

The Cancer/Taurus combination implies great potential for expressive thought and action. These natives have a powerful imagination and everything they do has flare and originality. On the other hand, that overactive imagination can also cause irrational fears, superstitions, and even paranoia. A word of caution here is advised. Constructive use of imagination is the key, and will ensure all endeavours certain success. Living too much in the imagination can bring on depression and feelings of failure.

Natives of this sign are passionate and loyal lovers. Domesticated and family oriented, the Cancer/Taurus needs a sold home base in which to feel secure and loved. Material comforts are a must to this sign, and he or she will ensure monetary security is always there when needed. People born into this sign are usually lucky with money and know how to make it and keep it. Luxury and comfort are vital for their well being. A beautiful home and a bulging bank account assure them their place in the sun and allow them the emotional security they so badly need.

A mate who is understanding of emotional outbursts is the best choice for this combination. Those tempers usually don’t last long and that devotion to loved ones is a virtue to be valued. Mates and children must come to grips with a certain amount of silent brooding in this sign. A well-suited spouse should know how to cheer and jolly this sign out of those temporary sulks which are a part of the Cancer personality.

by Duncan Steam

Thailand has had a tradition of being a breeding ground for some of the world’s best pugilists, particularly in the lighter weight divisions. According to most boxing aficionados, one of the legends in the junior-bantamweight division (115 pounds) was Kaosai Galaxy.

Born Sura Saenkham on May 15, 1959 in Petchaboon, he started as a Muay Thai fighter before switching to boxing, turning professional under the management of Niwat Laosunwanawat in December 1980.

Galaxy amassed no less than 19 successful defences in the seven years he held the World Boxing Association (WBA) junior-bantamweight crown. He knocked out 16 of those challengers.

He began his career with a series of five straight knockouts, the last three all coming in the first round. His sixth bout he won on points over six rounds.

A southpaw, he suffered his first and only defeat in his seventh bout when he was outpointed over 10 rounds by Sakda Saksuree on July 29, 1981.

However, Galaxy bounced back to knock out his remaining three opponents that year, including a return bout with Sakda, stopping him in six rounds.

He fought eight times in 1982 and notched eight wins by the short route. The last of them came against an opponent in South Korea, the first time Galaxy had competed outside Thailand. He won in four rounds.

In 1983, he took on five opponents, knocking out four of them while Chan Yong Park stretched him to the full 10 rounds.

He started 1984 the same way, with Song Uhm Jae lasting 10 rounds, but his next two contests ended in victory by KO.

The-then WBA junior-bantamweight champion Jiro Watanabe refused to defend his crown against Galaxy (who had by now compiled a record of 25 wins in 26 bouts, 22 by knock-out) and the belt was declared vacant.

On November 21 that year, Galaxy and a Dominican named Eusebio Espinal met to decide who would be the new WBA champion. Galaxy stopped Espinal in the sixth round to begin a reign that only ended when he retired after outpointing the Mexican fighter Armando Castro in December 1991.

Of his 19 title defences, just four took place outside Thailand and only one of those was held away from Asia. That bout took place in 1986 on the island of Curacao in the Caribbean when Galaxy knocked out Israel Contreras in five rounds.

In part because of this, Galaxy did not receive the recognition in the West that he richly deserved. His seven-year reign and 19 successful title defences constitute a record for the 115-pound division.

Galaxy’s tough, brawling style earned him the cognomen, ‘The Thai Tyson’ and his record certainly shows a man who dominated his division in much the same way as Mike Tyson was then controlling the heavyweights. His preferred mode of demolition of his opponents was via a powerful left hand.

Kaosai Galaxy’s twin brother Kaokor was also a champion boxer who snared the WBA bantamweight title in 1988 and held it until 1989.

Overall, Galaxy fought as a professional on 50 occasions, scoring 49 victories (43 by knockout) against one defeat. He is readily acknowledged as one of, if not the, best 115-pound fighters in history and certainly the best to come out of Thailand and Asia.

by Lesley Warner

I was researching the subject of witchcraft, to find out the role women played, and I was interested to discover a whole section on witches in Bideford, England. As Bideford is where I have a home I couldn’t resist looking into the subject more fully; this is a summary of a book by Frank Gent. These women, persecuted and accused of witchcraft, deserve a mention in my column. They suffered torture and the most horrific death, even though sometimes their only crime was being too beautiful, supposedly conjured up by witchcraft. It seems one jealous person only had to point the finger saying, “She’s a witch” and the ‘Witch Hunter’ would arrive to do his worst.

English witches were believed to have ‘caused diseases and fits, harmed livestock, hurt infants and small children and kept familiars.’ Familiars were demons who accompanied witches, often in the form of animals, such as the witch’s cat, but also dogs, toads and a whole menagerie of other real and imaginary creatures.

This is the story of three women: Temperance Lloyd, Mary Trembles and Susanna Edwards, who paid with their lives for the suspicion of witchcraft.

The stereotype witch is an independent adult woman who does not conform to the male idea of proper female behaviour. She is assertive; she does not require or give love (though she may enchant), she does not nurture men or children, nor care for the weak. She has the power of words - to defend herself or to curse. In addition she may have other more mysterious powers, which do not derive from the established order.

And this threat was responded to with accusations of witchcraft, in particular of unnatural sexuality, with the devil or familiars, in whatever form they chose. Unable to nurture their own children, they instead fed these monsters.

Folklore still played a large part in the beliefs of ordinary seventeenth-century people and the South of England has long been known for it’s history of superstition. At this time it was at its peak for the Puritan fanatics searching for witches.

The earliest case of witchcraft in Bideford for which any record has survived occurred in 1658. Grace Ellyott was accused of witchcraft and sent by the justices to stand trial at the Exeter assizes. In the Bail Book it was recorded how she was dealt with: ‘Josias Ellyott of Bideford, mercer, and Richard Wann of Great Torrington, tailor. That Grace Ellyott, wife of the aforesaid Josias Ellyott do appear next [assizes] and be of the good behaviour on suspicion of witchcraft. Appeared and discharged. Surety in twenty pounds apiece.’

Most cases of seventeenth-century witchcraft seemed to occur in villages, not in a busy provincial town with a cultured, educated and wealthy population. The governing body in Bideford, at the time the three women were accused, consisted of a mayor, four aldermen and ten capital burgesses, together with a recorder, a town clerk, two sergeants at mace and various other officers. The capital burgesses correspond to modern councillors, except they were not elected but were self-appointed and self-perpetuating old fogies, consisting of the wealthiest families of the town, closely linked with each other by business and by marriage.

There were very few executions for witchcraft in England after the Restoration, and the Bideford witches Temperance Lloyd, Susannah Edwards and Mary Trembles were almost the last to be executed in England. The Bideford trial is unusual, firstly, it came at the very end of the witch-hunting craze of 1550 to 1660, and by that time most witchcraft trials ended in acquittals. Also, the victims do not appear to have made any attempt to deny the charges made against them either before or during their trial. The trial took place during a struggle for authority and petty quarrelling between the two chief personages of the town, some indication of the friction in Bideford society at that time. Coincidentally (or unfortunately) at this time some of the women of the town began to suffer from the illnesses that were attributed to witchcraft.

To be continued...

by Apichart Panyadee

In the last half of the 19th century, archaeological excavations, the development of museums, exhibitions of famous glass collections, publications such as Ruskin’s Stones of Venice and pattern books crammed with eclectic designs created a fashion for historical reproductions which swept Europe.

Designs drawn from the 1886 pattern book of the Rheinische Glashutten

In Germany, the style known as ‘Historismus’ covers all copies from Flankish claw beakers to 18th century enamelled Humpen. The Rheinische Glashutten Aktien Gesellchaft (the glassworks of the Joint-Stock Company in Koln-Ehrenfeld in the Rhineland) was the most important factory for this work. Founded in 1864, it made table glass and bottles but from 1879-90, under the directorship of Oskar Rauter, it concentrated on revivals of Roman, Venetian and Old German styles. Designs used blown glass techniques with little cutting and engraving but no painting or gilding. Subdued colours included the characteristic ‘antique-green’. The flawless quality of Koln-Ehrenfeld glass means that it is impossible to mistake it for anything but Historismus.

In 1865 Carl Heinrich Muller moved to Hamburg where he established a glass blowing workshop. His copies of 16th or 17th century Venetian goblets were made by lamp work and sold as authentic pieces by dealers in the Netherlands. From 1876-7 Muller combined his stylistic and technical innovations to create many dragon stem goblets and covers, which almost without exception were classified as 16th or 17th century. Increased awareness and research into 19th century glass records has helped to identify these fakes.

A beaker of soda glass with air bubbles and figures on either side of the coat-of-arms, and dated 1624

At Petersdorf in Bohemia, Fritz Heckert operated a glass decorating works from 1866 and added glassmaking facilities in 1889. His pattern books illustrate an astonishing variety of deliberate imitations of Humpen, plus decanters and beakers enamelled with figures and coats-of-arms, inscriptions and dates. Genuine glasses in museum collections would provide inspiration, but oddly enough, Heckert’s enamelling is flat and without modelling.

The Venetian revival

The fashion for the historical coincided with the revival of the Venetian glass industry in the 1840s. In 1861 the Museum of Murano was opened with the express intention of stimulating this revival by offering antiquarian models, including Roman glass and Venetian glasses from the classic periods of the 16th and 17th centuries. This achieved the desired result and for the next 40 years Venetian glassmakers dealt almost exclusively with copies and variations based on their glorious past. The most famous company was that set up by Antonio Salviati in 1859 with English patronage, but of course there were many others.

A Venetian cameo glass vase, dating probably from the 1870s. The decoration was copied from a terracotta plaque of the 2nd century B. C. Venetian glass of this period can be deceptive. The metal used was a soft soda lime glass, which in inclined to pitting and will give a misleading impression of age.

The obsession with the past has never totally left Venice. The houses of Scalabrin, Daltin and also Valerio make enamelled and gilt versions of 16th century marriage goblets and processional bowls. Many other hoses specialise in reproductions of archaeological finds and mosaic glass. One will also find imitations of 19th century paperweights and other ornaments.

Following the exhibitions of Venetian glass in Paris and London in the 1860s and 70s, European and American glassmakers joined the rush to create exact 16th century copies. English glassmakers were able to examine the originals in the collection formed by Felix Slade, which was displayed as early as 1850. It was later donated to the British Museum in 1868 and published in 1871. Jenkinson in Glasgow, Northwood in Stourbridge and Lutz in America created serpent stemmed goblets and latticino vases and bowls with a precision worthy of the originals.

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