Hi family and friends.
How are you all? As has happened this year so far - I am late again.
Please forgive me. I hope to change that and be less tardy.
With that in mind, this ‘Happenings’ will be for May and June.
Sorry no pics this time - or I will be even later.
The next one will have pics.
So … I shall begin …
But before I do … Exciting news - we will be in Australia for Christmas!! Yeh!!
If you read further you will find out how come …
We will be able to have Christmas with Sue and Bronwyn, Trudy and Jeff and I believe Andrew and Val at Kangaroo Point, on the river. Should be lovely! For Friends reading this - theses people are Quentin’s sisters, brother and their spouses.
We will also have Christmas with our family, because Nathaniel and Sheree will be back from Beijing, Samuel and Ena are back on the Gold Coast and Israel and Ruth have come over to Brisbane from Perth (Daniel’s brothers).
May
Daniel
Daniel has been continuing with his schoolwork and has been making good progress. He is quite entertaining and very supportive. He and Q have enjoyed a few sessions of wakeboarding and he also enjoys going to the movies or out to dinner with his friends here in Pattaya and ‘hanging out’ with them.
Pam
For me May was a long month primarily spent doing an assignment for uni and stressing over my 1st assignment for the same course, because I only got a conceded pass in it - the lecturer said I could redo the assignment if I wanted, but it has been too hard for me and I am hoping that the second one will suffice.
Great news I got a pass mark for my 2nd assignment - it arrived today, so I emailed my course convenor to let him know that I will just stick with the results of my 1st assignment. I have too much going on at present and to not have to do it again is enough for me this time (disappointing - but enough).
Quentin
Quentin had a busy month. Early in the month he went to England for a week. The following week he went to Malaysia and to finish off the month went to Melbourne, with a quick trip (just one day) in Brisbane to see family. His trips to England and Oz were business trips and while they did not put us out of pocket, did not bring in desired extra finances as hoped. The trip to Malaysia was for the International C.O.C. Conference (our church in Oz).
Haven Foundation and Our Visas
At the end of May we had a visit from the lady in charge of the Chonburi area for ‘The Department of Human Development and Social Security’ and were told that there was certain paperwork she was waiting for before she could assess our application. We have supplied her with that and are hoping it will suffice.
I mentioned that we were organizing our visas through becoming the branch managers for the Haven Foundation, which is based in Chiang Mai. The process of organizing our visas has also taken longer than expected and they are also still ‘being processed.’ Our visas have been linked with the business, with which we will soon no longer be involved.
As a result of Daniel and my only having single entry ‘O’ visas after our 90 day time limit expired for that visa we found that we had to leave the country and are now back on tourist visas only. We have already been told by our lawyer that is very difficult for us to get the visas granted for Daniel and me if our visas are not in the same category as Quentin (he has a multiple entry ‘O’ visa). We only purchased single entry visas in Oz when we went back in March because of the expense, so we will start the process again when we return, but this time we have a lot more experience under our belt, so we know how to prepare and what is expected in our submission.
So … June
It has been quite a big month so far…
The Business
Quentin has resigned from being director of GIS (Global Internet Systems).
We moved out of the shop/house on the 21st. We moved into the Lido apartments for 10 days, above Pii Rain Pub. It was great catching up with some of the musos. On the 1st July we went to Woodlands Resort with Nathaniel and Sheree.
We were in Pattaya until 3rd July.
Change of Location for 6-8 months
We have made the decision to return to Brisbane for a period of approximately 6-8 months.
I will teach one or 2 Cert IV in TESOL courses for my practicum (my university study) and be busy studying. One day I will finish this degree - Yeh!!!
Quentin is planning on working with the training products he has been developing here in Pattaya and to begin running seminars in Brisbane and the Gold Coast in particular and possibly Melbourne. He may even go to Adelaide if there is the call for it. He would like to set up seminars and a speaking circuit, so that when we return to Pattaya, he can come back to Oz a few times a year to maintain the momentum.
Quentin and Daniel are also planning on doing Toastmasters to increase their public speaking skills.
Back in Thailand in 2009 - Yeh!
When we return to Thailand we will be setting up English Language Centres in Chiang Mai and in Pattaya. The English centre programme will have formal language learning with friendship conversational English groups built into class hours. English classes will run from Level 1 through to Level 4. Classes will be taught by volunteer native-English speakers. Courses will run for 4 weeks.
We will also have business English and computer courses (web page design, multi-media, computer graphics, etc).
If you are interested in being part of our support team for what we will be doing in Thailand, please let me know. It would be great to have you on board with us! We would value support in various ways;
- as a friend (emails, postcards, etc),
- with keeping up-to-date with what is happening in Australia,
- somewhere to stay when we make short visits back to Oz,
- help with co-ordinating Q’s seminars and workshops
- help with co-ordinating volunteer teams to come to Thailand and teach English
- prayer support
etc. (i have not yet thought of any others, but I’m sure there are)
Other bits and pieces
So… a great deal of our time was spent packing and finishing off organizing everything in Pattaya.
So sad to go and leave our friends. No more ‘late nights/early mornings’ listening to music. Miss you guys heaps. Love listening to you all. Mama Pam will not forget any of you, nor will Daniel (Kanye).
Daniel was up in Chiang Mai, for almost 2 weeks and I think it is great that he was catching up with friends and having a bit of a change of scenery. I think it’s nice for him to have the break from us.
Nathaniel and Sheree came to Thailand on their way back to Australia and arrived on the 1st July staying for almost a fortnight. It was lovely to see them. The company Nathaniel was working with went bankrupt a little while ago and just closed its doors. This has left a financial deficit in their pockets, because Nathaniel did not receive holiday pay nor was he able to get any money in return for his shares. They arrive back in Oz this week.
Samuel and Ena are well. Samuel has a new job. I have not yet seen them, but am looking forward to catching up with them.
Israel and Ruth are also well. They have been living with Julie (my sister - who has just returned from 6 weeks away, in England, Scotland and some parts of Europe). Ruth has just got a job and Israel has been doing some short-term contracts and is hoping work will pick up after the financial year. It was great seeing them on Sunday. Israel beautifully cooked roast lamb, which we had with chips and crusty bread. Great company, good food!
We move into our unit at the weekend (12th July - I think). Renting again - this time fully furnished. It’s a nice place, good position for us.
Our friend Ronni looked after us wonderfully over the weekend on Bribie Island. We have had a great time with her.
Jill and Darren have been looking after us since Monday and are going on holidays and offered us their house to stay while they are away. We are so fortunate. They have a cat we are feeding. It’s beautiful.
Well, I think I have just about finished with my news, so will wrap up!
We are looking forward to seeing you.
Hiya!
How goes it with everyone?
Hope you are all well?
April is a special month in Thailand - with Songkran being celebrated from the 13th-15th April in Bangkok and Chiang Mai and on the 19th April in Pattaya.
April has been a lot of fun here!
Many Thai kids are on school holidays for at least 4 weeks. It may be longer.
Daniel went to 2 different youth camps. He loved both. They were both very different. He went to the 2 youth camps in the 1st 2 weeks of April - before Songkran.
The 1st camp was held by the beach with all Thai and Thai+ youth.There were about 30-40 youth from as far north as Bangkok. The sessions were all in Thai and Daniel’s friend Solomon told him what was going on. He’s a young 14 year old Thai boy who has also spent a large portion of his life living in Bermuda, so identifies with being ‘foreign’. Daniel had a great time and came home very enthusiastic. He told us there was going to be another one with youth from all over Thailand getting together and expressed an interest in going to it also.
The 2nd camp was held in Chiang Mai with about 30-40 youth. This time the language of instruction was English and most youth were ‘farangs’ (foreigners) with just a few who were Thai and Thai+. So it was a very different camp. Daniel also really enjoyed it. He said it felt really strange to be with so many people with different coloured eyes. He is more used to be around Thais (with their black/brown eyes).
We went to a Songkran Celebration at Nong Nooch. We had a great time. Last year Penny and Peter were here for the celebration at Nong Nooch. It was great celebrating it with them. We had no idea what to expect at Nong Nooch then either, since it was also the 1st time we had been there. It did not disappoint. We love the place.
The evening Celebration was great - unfortunately I have no pics, because while I did have my memory card (which Q kindly went back to Pattaya to pick up) I did not have batteries for my camera (still getting used to it because it was a new one - a replacement).
We did enjoy seeing new things in Nong Nooch and seeing some of the Songkran Procession.
There was a great time had by all with water-fights with the elephants and their trainers and guests at Nong Nooch.
No prize to who guesses the winners of those water fights.
The shows had new parts to them as well as old favourites and the costumes were all very colourful and the lighting and music made it an all-round great time. 
With the procession and float at midday - the staff were certainly busier at this time of the year.
The sun was shining, but the road is quite wet from earlier water-fights, which only slowed down for the procession. Some guys found it very hard not to douse the dancers (which would have been in very poor taste).
I do have some other pictures of our stay at Nong Nooch this April. There is also a link you can go to to see a map of the place.
If you would like to see go to these links.
Nong Nooch - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17622&l=43b20&id=631099280
Nong Nooch Map - http://www.nongnoochtropicalgarden.com/en/img/gardenMap.pdf
The cars and scenery http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17639&l=18f19&id=631099280
On our way home from Nong Nooch we passed different groups of people who were beginning to celebrate Songkran, but Pattaya does not celebrate in earnest until 19th - having said that many places were closed down for the week from the 12th or 13th until 19th April. Some staff go home to family, while others just have a holiday.
Songkran in Pattaya.
I have taken 4 albums of pics of our Songkran day. I will just take out 4 pics to put in here, but if you want to see the others I will give you the links. Some of you will have already seen these also on facebook.
The 1st pic is in the morning before we left home. Q was dry before he left home to go down to 7/11 and buy milk.
The 2nd pic was how Daniel looked after we went downtown to watch the festivities in front of Starbucks. As we were walking back to our car (and also on the way to Starbacks - we got ‘got’).
Here’s how Dano looked after the event.
It’s quite hot so being wet is great fun!
The 3rd and 4th pics were our afternoon activities just down the road opposite 7/11.
Everybody takes part in Songkran. Young and old.
There’s dancing in the street - music - and water, water, everywhere!
Daniel’s participating.
Q’s filling up and the pick-up truck in the background is getting ready to strike whoever and where-ever it can.
For more pics these are the links.
Songkran 2008 1 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16024&l=6f265&id=631099280
Songkran 2008 2 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16073&l=34f96&id=631099280
Songkran 2008 3 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16074&l=832f1&id=631099280
Songkran 2008 4 - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=16077&l=b768a&id=631099280
The last thing that happened in April that I want to share with you was an event which was of great importance to our friends who run the restaurant where we eat. They have 2 sons. Their younger son ‘Mon’ (25 years old) had not yet been ordained and served his time as a monk. We were invited to be a part of their family and witness this event. It was very special of them to invite us and we were very honoured. It was huge for them.
Mon went to the temple to be accepted as a monk and then came home and had his head shaved and changed out of his ordinary clothes into other garments. There was quite a bit of ceremony that went with all this.
They had a big party with approx 500 guests, a band, dancers and even the new mayor of Pattaya was invited. For those of you who have been here. The street was closed with the band and tables and chairs all on the road in front of their restaurant and down where they are building.
The following day close friends and family were invited to go to the Wat where Mon was going to be ordained. There was more walking in a procession and dancing and music around the Wat (at least 3 times) and then Mon stopped in front of the temple (see pic above).
There was quite a long ceremony within the temple. A talk is given and questions and answers flow back and forth between Mon and the head monk. Mon then has his new garments and bag and basket presented to him. He is then changed.
After the ceremony within Mon comes out and all his family and friends have the opportunity to give him offerings.
I believe he is also given a new name, but unfortunately we have a translation gap and so I cannot give you that information.
As you are all aware Quentin and I are Christians and this for us was the first time we had been invited to be part of such a family gathering. As I said before we were very honoured and appreciated very much that they wanted us to be there. I appreciated the demonstration of love and caring for family members towards one another and how much they were all involved and helped each other out. While Mon has only one brother his mother and father both come from very large families and they were all involved and there for the various events and mealtimes (which seemed to be quite numerous).
These celebrations took place in the last week of April and the 1st week of May … so concludes my April ‘Happenings’ …
(December 2007 and January, February and March)
Hiya all!
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!
Gong Xi Fa Cai (Happy Chinese New Year)!
Happy Easter!
It’s been too long!
So sorry!
I was just ready to send out my belated end of 2007 Happenings for December.
I had 2 “Happenings” ready for December (one was the last of my trip in Penang and the other was about our family Christmas here in Pattaya) and was also finishing off one for January.
Quick update of family news.
Nathaniel and Sheree are working in Beijing and traveling around visiting different places when they get the chance.
Samuel and Ena are in Europe on holidays seeing different countries and places.
Israel and Ruth are in Brisbane at present - about to head to Tasmania for a visit with Peter and Penny.
Daniel is going to a youth camp in Chian Mai in a couple of weeks.
Quentin and I are busy here in Pattaya with work and study.
This pic was taken at Christmas - left to right - Daniel, Samuel & Ena, Nathaniel & Sheree, Ruth & Israel, me & Quentin.
Not many photos - sorry - hopefully later when I get another camera.
My excuse
We had a robbery in our townhouse and Quentin’s laptop, my laptop, my camera, Daniel’s ‘red army’ shoulder bag (containing his 2 harmonicas) and some Thai money were stolen. We were in the place at the time - possibly asleep or showering getting ready for church?
Daniel was the 1st person to go downstairs and called up asking why the front door was open?He then called up and said he thought we’d been robbed.
Fortunately they had gone and we were safe.
So… what has been happening you ask?
December
We had a family Christmas! It was great! (Pic of us all above.)
All of our sons came with their wonderful ladies and stayed with us over Christmas! It was awesome to see them.
I think I was a bit of a hard taskmaster and tried to do too many things with them, while they were here, but they rallied around and were all very good natured about it.
I think, a good time was had by all?
I enjoyed having them all here.
January.
In Pattaya - the fireworks for New Years Eve here were wonderful. We had company - Ryota, a friend I went to Griffith University with and who has kept in touch came and spent some time with us. It was great to catch up.
We also began the process of closing down the business. It didn’t work out and we were forced to close the business since the other gentleman was in breach of contract and we wanted to make a clean break.
February
We went to Beijing to see Nathaniel and Sheree and to spend Chinese New Year with them. That was also great. The fireworks were great to see and it was great letting them off as well!
(Pic taken of fireworks out the window of Nathaniel and Sheree’s apartment).
We made dumplings with Sheree’s co-teacher and spent an evening with her family. That was very special.
Just for us - the air was clean and the traffic was not manic. We have been told neither of those occurrences is common. We were fortunate. We ate at some fabulous places - some were favourites of Nathaniel’s and Sheree’s and enjoyed shopping.
It was freezing cold, but we were well cared for and well rugged up!
(pic -The waterfall was all man made! Beautiful eh?)
We went and saw a portion of the Great Wall (we walked some of it - pic above of Daniel), and saw some awesome ice-carvings (The ice carving was representing the Olympics).
We went to Tiananmen Square and Daniel went skiing with Nathaniel.
It was too short a time.
But it was great to see what we did see and be with Nathaniel and Sheree.
Back to Thailand.
Just after we returned we became a registered part of the “Haven Foundation” - “The Registered Office of the Haven Foundation - Chonburi Branch.”
The Haven Foundation is a registered organization in Thailand and a friend for many years heads up the foundation. He is pastor of a church in Chiang Mai and also runs Christian Outreach Centre Thailand and the Haven Foundation. The Haven Foundation runs 3 separate orphanages there and also organizes medical teams and numerous other aid programs.
March
Daniel and I headed back to Australia, while Quentin remained in Pattaya. We needed to sort out our visas so that the paperwork for transference of visas, etc. with the Foundation could take place more smoothly.
I was concerned about my sister, who has been very ill and wanted to see her - so it was timely that we needed to return. By the time we got back to Oz she had received results of tests she had been having and the results were not as terrifying as feared - for which I’m grateful.
While in Australia Daniel applied to get his “L’s” for his driver’s licence and got them. We all celebrated that.
Israel and Ruth arrived in Brisbane just after us, so it was great to catch up with them as well. They had been living in Perth (on the west coast of Oz) so were quite a distance away from Brisbane and had decided to move back to the east coast of Oz to be closer to family and to make it easier for Ruth to see her family in New Zealand. They left for New Zealand to see Ruth’s family and friends while we were in Oz. So their stop-over in Brisbane was short and sweet, but well timed for us to catch them on the way through
I also stayed with some dear friends of mine, Agung, Xiao-Xiao and her daughter Xiao-gege. We had a brief chance to catch up with one another.
When we returned to Pattaya we were off again a couple of days later to head up to Chiang Mai for the National COC Conference in Chiang Mai. It was quite timely (but a little hectic) going up and seeing the people up there. For Daniel and me it was our first time meeting them all, but Quentin had been up before.
While in Chiang Mai we were reunited with some of our students who had been down here in Pattaya to do computer training with us. It was great to see them!
We returned to Pattaya in time to celebrate Easter here and say goodbye to one of the guys who has been working in the restaurant where we eat. His name is Tae. He is from Laos and is returning to family. We’re sorry to see him go. He was lovely. It’s always sad to say goodbye - hopefully it will be adieu (until we meet again)?
So… I will love you and leave you all. It won’t be so long next time (I hope :).
I found this on the web!
Here is how to say “Happy Birthday” in 161 different languages of the world. So next time one of your friends have a birthday and speak another language you can wish them in their own language. Wouldn’t that be fun!!!!! Enjoy.
I got this from a friend and wanted to pass it on. Enjoy!
Subject: The Four Blessed Looks
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 16:18:27 +0200
I got this from a friend and wanted to pass it on. Enjoy!
THE FOUR BLESSED LOOKS
Look back and Thank God.
Look forward and Trust God.
Look around and Serve God.
Look within and Find God!”
One of my sons has won a trip to Shizuoka Japan to be part of the World International Skills Festival for All, Japan 2007.
I think the Australian participants are observers, more than competitors. But anyway, how exciting.
Below is a little bit about Shizuoka and then info about the Skills Festival.
He asked me to research Shizuoka, so I thought I’d put the info I found here in my blog.
Enjoy!
Sometimes a spark can seem incredibly small and insignificant, but its ability to start a fire should never be underestimated. I learnt a song when I was a little girl and it went …
It only takes a spark to get a fire going
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing
Interesting thought isn’t it? How can you put time in a block?
Have you met someone who was sharing a story with you and you started to think why don’t they just get to the point? Or maybe you had a friend or acqaintance who you thought was at times too direct? Maybe they were too quick in jumping to conclusions or on the other hand seemed to be indecisive and not willing to make decisions quickly enough?
Maybe their attitude to time different to yours?
You’ve heard the saying -
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss it you will land among the stars.” — Les Brown
Tibet, flying, sport and facing your fears - what do these four things have in common?
Pressure … and … pleasure …
Shall I explain?
