HEADLINES [click on headline to view story]: 

PCEC receives medical advice about arthritis

Norwegian Church Abroad opens Pattaya mission

Barry Kenyon to retire from embassy

Fantastic Fjords in new art show

PCEC receives medical advice about arthritis

The meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club (PCEC) on Sunday February 21st at Henry J. Bean’s got under way with this week’s MC Roger Fox welcoming a medical specialist from Bangkok Hospital Pattaya. The PCEC welcomes advice on healthcare matters and this week was no exception as Dr. Sukree Khumarak, an orthopaedic specialist provided a detailed account of the condition of arthritis and the treatments available.

Dr Sukree Khumarak, an orthopaedic specialist of Bangkok Hospital Pattaya, provides a detailed account of the condition of arthritis and the treatments available as Roger Fox, master of ceremonies looks on.

There are many forms of arthritis, the most common form being osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease which can be caused as a result of trauma to the joint, infection of the joint, or age. In this case the bone cartilage can become damaged or severely eroded.

Risk factors for osteoarthritis include prior joint trauma, obesity, repetitive joint use and a sedentary lifestyle.

Other arthritis forms are rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and autoimmune diseases in which the body attacks itself. Septic arthritis is caused by joint infection.

The major complaint by individuals who have arthritis is pain. Pain is often a constant and daily feature of the disease. The pain may be localised to the back, neck, hip, knee or feet. The pain from arthritis occurs due to inflammation that occurs around the joint, damage to the joint from disease, daily wear and tear of joint, muscles strains caused by forceful movements against stiff, painful joints and fatigue. The most important factor in treatment is to understand the disorder and find ways to overcome the obstacles which prevent physical exercise.

Open Forum moderator Judith helps find the answers to the questions that arise living & loving in the ‘land of smiles’.

While neither rheumatoid arthritis nor osteoarthritis can be completely prevented, the risks can be reduced by becoming physically active, participating in physical exercise, losing weight and eating healthily. Dr Sukree commented that one pound loss of weight produced four pounds load reduction to the joints. All individuals who have pain in the joints should seek early diagnosis because the earlier the treatment is started, the better the results.

Dr Sukree described the treatment options which will vary depending on the type of arthritis. These include physical therapy, lifestyle changes, medications, and dietary supplements. Finally arthroplasty, joint replacement surgery, may be required in eroding forms of arthritis. Dr Sukree provided some illustrations of the operative procedures.

A large number of questions followed including a query as to whether yoga could lessen the chance of the occurrence of arthritis to which the answer was yes.

It was announced that the next six week TEFAL course provided by the Text and Talk Academy would be starting shortly and this would provide an opportunity to teach English in Thailand. There was also a report on the recent Pink Polo event which was described as an excellent day out at the local Thai polo club.

Hans Strusynder reported that the next visit to the driving license centre would take place on the 7th April, deliberately scheduled to avoid Songkran.

The meeting continued with the confirmation that the next ‘Frugal Freddie’ dinner would be taking place on Monday 22nd February at the No Name Italian Restaurant located in Soi X-yte. The purpose of this dinner is to partake of some budget priced but nevertheless tasty food in a social atmosphere.

Sig Sigworth passed on a message of greeting from his friend and long time PCEC member Bob L’Etoile. Bob is currently receiving medical treatment in the US and the PCEC asked Sig to pass on their best wishes to him.

The regular Open Forum was then underway with Judith Edmunds leading the proceedings. The Open Forum provides an opportunity for questions about living in Thailand with an emphasis on Pattaya to be asked. 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 pattayacityexpatsclub.com.

Norwegian Church Abroad opens Pattaya mission

(L to R) Orwan Phanthusak congratulates Rev. Jan Olav Johannessen of the Seamen’s Church of Pattaya, as do Sutham Phanthusak, managing director of the Tiffany Show Company Pattaya, and Waratsaya Phanthusak.

Vimolrat Singnikorn
The Norwegian Church Abroad opened its second seamen’s church in Thailand Feb. 22 with a ceremony at the new mission on Thappraya Road, Soi 7 in Jomtien.

Norwegian Missionary Party Bangkok Director Dag Johannessen and Seamen’s Church of Pattaya Rev. Jan Olav Johannessen led the ceremony highlighted by a flower presentation by Sutham Phanthusak, managing director of the Tiffany Show, and songs from children of the Ban Jing Jai orphanage.

The Norwegian seamen’s church, or “SjØmannskirken,” was established in 1864 to not only provide moral and religious education of Scandinavian seafarers, but offers a place to seek advice and talk with fellow countrymen. The only other mission in Thailand is located in Phuket.

The Pattaya church offers an outdoor prayer area under beautiful trees, kitchen and study rooms for children. It’s also positioned as a place for Christian weddings.

Thai and Norwegian Christians offer congratulations
at the special worship of the Norwegian Church Abroad.

Barry Kenyon to retire from embassy

The British honorary consul in Pattaya has announced that he will stand down in June 2010 when his current contract expires. The British embassy in Bangkok is expected to advertise the vacancy via its website and in local media over the next few weeks.

Barry Kenyon

Barry Kenyon, who is 68, has been attached to the British embassy since 1997, and became the resort’s first honorary consul on a five year fixed term contract in June 2005. In 2006 he was awarded an MBE for services to the British foreign and commonwealth office.

Honorary consuls are local agents who typically deal with problems such as the arrest of British nationals, deaths, serious hospitalizations and various other categories of distress. Additionally, a consulate was opened in Jomtien in December 2008 to provide a wide variety of notarial services for British nationals in the Pattaya area.

Barry said, “I have certainly had my ups and downs over the years, but it has been a fascinating journey and a great privilege to witness the development of a consular hot spot such as Pattaya. But, after thirteen years, I’m ready to call it a day.” He is the longest serving British officer attached to the consular section of the embassy in Thailand.

As a young man, Barry had a varied career as a journalist and an income tax officer before settling to a career in further education both in Britain and overseas. He graduated with first class honours from Liverpool University in 1964 and taught sociology at two police colleges and at the Open University.

He moved to Thailand in 1993 where he taught English to foreigners before starting up Pattaya bridge club and, later, becoming deputy editor of the fortnightly newspaper Pattaya Today (2003-2008). He has been a regular question setter for the Pattaya trivial pursuits leagues, served as secretary to the fund raising charity Pattaya Gay Festival and is the sole member in Thailand of the Titanic Historical Society.

Barry said that he would spend his retirement travelling more, writing a sensible book about Pattaya and continuing with some community work. He is a familiar figure at the Jomtien immigration police bureau and is expected to continue to assist at the information desk during busy periods.

Fantastic Fjords in new art show

Mark Beales
A new exhibition featuring images from Norway has opened at Liam’s Gallery on Soi 4 on Pratamnak Hill. The display was launched February 19 and runs until mid-March.

Norwegian fjords, acrylic on canvas is one of many Bjoern Thoe Andersen works now on display at Liam’s Gallery.

Bjoern Thoe Andersen highlights the essence of his country in a series of acrylics of the Fjords.

Bjoern studied at the Institute of Drama in Sweden before working as a scenographer on various projects.

His first gallery exhibition was in Sweden in 1972, and since then he has held numerous shows in Norway.

The exhibition features many paintings of the Fjords but also has several installation pieces.

For more on the show visit www.liamsgallery.com.