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Carabao lover sounds his horn
Patcharapol Panrak
A familiar sight around the neighborhood these days, because you can’t
really miss it, is the Toyota Hi-Lux pickup belonging to Manop Bangpetch,
the 41-year-old self-confessed number-one fan of rock band Carabao.
Manop Bangpetch, self
professed number one fan of Carabao, stands next to the old Toyota he
decorated in homage to the band.
In a tribute to his favorite music, Manop has customized
his truck, painting the body in army camouflage colors and mounting a set of
buffalo horns on the hood.
Our photographer found Sattahip resident Manop on a trip to Dongtan Beach,
where he had parked his truck in front of the District Office. Manop said he
had been a rock music fan since the age of 10, and that Carabao is his
all-time favorite. The truck, he said, was 40 years old and he had inherited
it from his father.
Do all those people staring and pointing at his truck ever embarrass him?
“Never,” he says. “I’m really proud of it!”
Another full slate at PCEC meeting
Hawaii Bob gives an update on the
Fun Golf Group.
There was a full house which attended the Pattaya City Expats
Club (PCEC) meeting on Sunday September 2nd at Henry J. Bean’s as the series of
full weekly programmes continued.
 Special
Completion Certificates were presented to PCEC volunteers for their
participation in the Volunteer English Language Conversation Groups at Sattahip
Naval Base.
This week’s meeting was started by Jim Jones who was making his first appearance
as meeting MC. His first task was to introduce Barry Kenyon, Honorary British
Consul who was making a welcome return visit to announce some breaking news.
Barry announced that the requirement from October 1st 2007, verifying pension
income for the purposes of an application for a retirement visa, to have an
additional stamp from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok had now
been dropped.
PCEC Vice Chairman Andre Machielsen then introduced Tom Thomson who is the
general manager of LMG Pacific Healthcare. Tom provided a valuable insight into
how healthcare insurance operates in Thailand and made several recommendations
when considering coverage. He explained that insurance companies relied upon
correct declarations by the policyholders and urged that the truth was provided
regarding pre existing conditions. Tom provided advice regarding selecting the
correct type of insurance, ensuring that the policy covered the real needs of
the insured.
Tom reminded the attendees that health insurance premiums will rise both over
time and with the age of the insured. He suggested that changing insurance
companies, for example, every year should be avoided.
Specific recommendations were that men should have an annual prostate
examination and that the treatment of relatively minor ailments should take
place by other medical practitioners before attending a hospital. Tom answered
many questions regarding health insurance and health in general.
PCEC chairman then made a number of announcements. The first one concerned the
Volunteer English Language Conversation Groups. He reported on the presentation
of special Completion Certificates for the attendees of the Sattahip Naval Base
group. The PCEC volunteers were presented with some appreciative mementos. Later
on the same day, 29th August there was a completion party and certificate
presentation for the PCEC volunteers and attendees at the Mike Shopping Mall
classes.
Richard was then able to announce that the long awaited first aid classes were
to take place on 15th and 22nd September at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya and
that all those who wished to attend the courses should now sign up.
Finally Richard reminded the attendees that the monthly Computer Group was to
meet at the Markland Hotel on Monday 3rd September. Hans Stroosnyder has
organized the next trip to the Driving License centre on Wednesday 5th
September. Hawaii Bob reported on the progress made towards the formation of a
fun golfing group.
Richard Silverberg presented his much appreciated ‘Website of the Week’ which
this week was not so much a website but more of a method of accessing the
internet in a more efficient way. Richard explained and demonstrated the
benefits of tabbed browsing and briefly compared the facilities provided for
this by both Internet Explorer 7 and Mozilla Firefox. Firefox, which was highly
recommended, can be downloaded from www.mozilla.com.
Richard stayed on to mediate the regular Open Forum and this proved to be the
usual lively and entertaining session. For more information regarding, not only
PCEC Sunday meetings but also the varied mid week activities, please see the
Community Happenings section of Pattaya Mail or, for more details, visit the
Club’s website at www. pattayacityexpatsclub.com
Something for everyone
at the Jesters Party Night
Mike Franklin
A fabulous night is in store at Jameson’s Irish Pub on Saturday 15th
September for the final fund-raising event of the Jesters 10th Anniversary
‘Care for Kids’ Charity Drive year.
 Diamond
rings will be going under the hammer at the Jesters Party Night, Saturday,
September 15.
Corporate and individual sponsorship has exceeded all previous years, the
Jesters Children’s Fair was a ‘WOW’ and the Jesters Sporting Party Night is
set to round off the 2007 Charity Drive in style. This is a Party night with
something for absolutely everyone.
The money raised on Saturday 15th September will close the Charity Drive
account for 2007 and, with your attendance and support, will result in a
record total and a record benefit year for the Kids that we care for.
 Just
arrived! The original Middlesbrough Premiership Football Shirt signed by all
the 2007/2008 Squad, it has a note of authentication by their Manager Gareth
Southgate. Donated by Steve Coppell Ex Manchester United, England and
present manager of Reading Football Club.
The Party Night kicks off in earnest at 6.30 pm with 90 minutes of
entertainment fronted by Mike Gerrard to warm everybody up, Dale will
rekindle fond memories of Elvis and star Bangkok DJs Paul Jackson & Andy
Francis are on station to segue the opening entertainment set. Around 7.30
pm Erik Sorensen and trainer Robert Jonasson will interrupt proceedings by
their arrival back from Trat after yet another successful marathon cycle
ride with sponsorship exceeding 750,000 baht.
TV coverage of the Wales vs. Australia Rugby World Cup Match will provide an
opportunity to appreciate items of Welsh and Australian memorabilia up for
auction later in the evening. The top ‘lot’ being the 2005 Welsh Grand Slam
jersey signed by that amazing team. And that will be the ideal moment to
come on with the bar snacks - Welsh rarebit, Roo rolls and Outback pies. The
spectacle continues until around 9.30 pm when the auctioneer’s gavel will
work in earnest and silent bids received will be revealed. Lots also include
memorabilia of Michael Schumacher, Sir Matt Busby, Arnold Palmer, and teams
Manchester United, Liverpool and Everton. Plus antiques, diamond rings,
children’s original drawings and other unique items.
The entertainment and music continues thereafter with sets from Rick &
Harpic and Pop’s Pattaya All Stars with the Grand raffle scheduled just
before 11 pm when the winners of the motorbikes, airline tickets and
packages to Angkor Wat, River Kwai, Koh Samui and the Similan Islands will
be drawn. Not forgetting vouchers to the top Pattaya restaurants including
Bruno’s, Mata Hari, and the Manhattan Steakhouse
This is a party night for everyone to enjoy and make it memorable wind down
to a quite extraordinary Jesters 10th Anniversary year.
Gian’s dinner raises charity cash
The sum of 75,000 baht was raised at the Pattaya Gay
Festival’s dinner on September 9 at Gian’s premier Italian restaurant. The
cash was raised by a raffle and by part of the dinner receipts donated by
the restaurant owners Alma and Guido.
The most expensive prizes were given by Honest Gems, Cerruti 1881 watches
and Travelling the Orient. Master of ceremonies Jim Lumsden (1st left) said
most the sums raised by PGF were donated to the AIDS and HIV sufferers’
charity Heartt2000. Also pictured, from the left, are Visa Chimdee, Rob
Astbury and Alma and Guido Vietri.
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