Mark Gorda survives 60th trip around the sun

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JJ adds to the collection box, ably guarded by Woody Underwood.
JJ adds to the collection box, ably guarded by Woody Underwood.

Mark Gorda has braved all sorts of dangers throughout his life, from abductions, kidnappings, firefights, and bombings, to being shot at in the desert, but none of these come close to the exhaustion created by his exploits the first weekend this month in Pattaya!

You see, local luminary Mark Gorda celebrated his triumphant completion of his 5th cycle of life (60 years) and organising the Canadian Jackalope Charity Golf Tournament, and he did it with panache and style.

Firstly, participating in organising the 5 August 20th annual Canadian Jackalope Charity Golf Tournament, which along with Mark’s birthday party on Saturday raised the tidy sum of 235,000.01 baht … and two paper clips!

Very handy those paper clips, indeed!

All the money goes to helping less fortunate children at the Fountain Of Life Charity through the Jester’s Care4Kids.

Sunday’s birthday party was hosted at Steven Beard’s The Haven on Soi Lengkee off 3rd Rd, where guests were served a fabulous dinner with plenty of drinks.

 (L to R) Bjarne Neilson, Bill Freeman, newly 60-year-old Mark Gorda, Peter Malhotra, Dr. Penguin and Neil Sandilands hold down the roundtable.
(L to R) Bjarne Neilson, Bill Freeman, newly 60-year-old Mark Gorda, Peter Malhotra, Dr. Penguin and Neil Sandilands hold down the roundtable.

The night was topped off with many illustrious friends roasting, toasting and kidding Mark to no end.

Dr. Penguin did an impromptu magic show, starting with a disappearing bottle of beer that he claimed Mark had taught him.

Penguin followed that with an insane card trick which caused a lot more imbibing, finishing the night off with the most amazing and delicious variety of cherry tarts and pies I’ve ever tasted. All washed down with a very rare vintage bottle of 1990 Glenfarclas, from the family Casks, a Single Cask Highland Malt Scotch Whiskey and one of only 517 bottles ever produced that Mark saved for 10 years for this very special occasion.

Mark announces the generous amount raised for charity on the night.
Mark announces the generous amount raised for charity on the night.

A certain Danish gentleman took a big liking to this tasty beverage, making the contents disappear faster than a magician’s vanishing rabbit. He took great care, making sure not a single drop was wasted.

It was a legendary night, one that many will remember, or not depending if they could recall how they got home or where they went for the after party. Yes it was one of those nights.

Can’t wait till next year’s party.

A big thank you to Mark from all the kids at the Fountain of Life and from all of Mark’s friends who are still trying to work out that damn card trick.

Cutting the traditional birthday cake.
Cutting the traditional birthday cake.
A certain Danish gentleman took a big liking to this tasty beverage, making the contents disappear faster than a magician’s vanishing rabbit.
A certain Danish gentleman took a big liking to this tasty beverage, making the contents disappear faster than a magician’s vanishing rabbit.
The Haven proprietor Stephen Beard says happy birthday to Mark Gorda after putting on a delicious birthday spread.
The Haven proprietor Stephen Beard says happy birthday to Mark Gorda after putting on a delicious birthday spread.
A toast to the birthday boy.
A toast to the birthday boy.
There was a full house at The Haven on Soi Lengkee.
There was a full house at The Haven on Soi Lengkee.