SKAL CHIANG MAI & NORTHERN THAILAND, Newsletter for July 2009
As The Man, with the corn-cob pipe, said when he waded ashore on Leyte Island, Philippines, “I’m Back”! I think it was February last when I penned my “penultimate” newsletter. Well, this is still my penultimate – just like “tomorrow I must get organised”!
Greetings Skalleagues everywhere from the top Skal Club in Thailand. We have just had our July gathering at the Holiday Inn, Chiang Mai – and it was great. Unfortunately, several of our Committee were unable to be there – Marc was playing with his Alphorn in Chiang Rai, Sarah is frolicking in Olde England and Hon. Treasurer Armin is rescuing the U.B.S. in Switzerland.
But the rest of us – members and guests – had a lovely evening which commenced with cocktails, wine and snacks before being seated in the Holiday Inn’s Chom Doi restaurant. The Holiday Inn is superbly located on the banks on the River Ping and “Chom Doi” means “Mountain View” (in our old, Lanna language) as we looked towards Doi Suthep.
The evening got underway with Khun Frank Sethi proposing the Skal Toast in Thai, which was echoed by Toby Allen who followed with the Toast in English. Madame President, Khun Anchalee, then personally introduced her President’s Table dinner guests – Simon Douthett (ExecAM, Holiday Inn), Jacques Calvin (Chairman, Natural Agriculture), Tim McGuire (Look at This), V.P. Mohamad Jesr (Lotus Hotel) plus Toby Allen and Yvonne Hesketh (Oasis Spas).
Before dinner was served our Guest Speaker, Monsieur Jacques Calvin, gave a most informative address about what his company, Natural Agriculture, was doing to re-cycle forest & farm waste to produce a clean, natural compost. And accordingly reduce the level of burning which seasonally plagues our northern cities (this can only be good for tourism). Monsieur Jacques, indeed, revealed the secret recipe from which the compost is made – mostly shredded, waste branches from teak trees felled in our forests, plus a mixture of pig slurry, cow manure, horse manure – and small boy’s pee kindly donated by local school-boys (who would ever suggest that our Chiang Mai Skal Club is boring!!!). To prove that Natural Agriculture compost is all that it should be, complimentary samples were available to all. Thank you Jacques for being such an informative and entertaining Presenter.
As always, it is a great pleasure to welcome all of our regular Members and their guests, but it is particularly exciting when we have new members joining us for the first time. So it was great to welcome Khun Ketsanee and partner Eric Danell who has developed Chiang Mai’s latest Tourist Treasure at Dok Mai Gardens. And, of course, Khun Pattaramol (Khun Ketsanee’s sister) who attends to Marketing at Dok Mai. Also joining us we had Trevor Dobson and his wife Gill who operate the hostelry Darling Wine Bar and Wineways. Eric is a genuine Scandinavian whilst Trevor is a keen admirer of explorer Roald Amundsen – ‘appen we ‘ave a couple of berserkers on our hands? Happily Gill is from Hull in Yorkshire. Speaking of Ee bah gum territory, it was good to see our member, and Yorkshireman, David Hardcastle at our table. David began a Viking story of rape and pillage – and then forgot the punch line! Mai pen rai, David. But I was reminded of the Yorkshireman whose rather religious wife had passed away. He wished the epitaph be suitable and asked that Lord, she was thine be chiseled on the tomb-stone. Imagine his upset when he inspected the ‘stone and it read – Lord, she was thin. Angrily, he phoned the stone-mason and told him - you have forgotten the “e”. No problem, said the mason, and when the grieving widower went later to inspect the corrected tomb-stone, it read – Ee Lord, she was thin!
It was also great to see Khun Boong (Chiang Mai Friends), traveller & scribe Reinhard Hohler and the ever suave Paul Humphreys who has recently returned from Namibia and other exotic climes. Joining Paul was his companion, the charming Tatyana Zakrevskaya from the far-away city of Minsk in Belarus. Committee-man David Thomas, and wife Wanna, were surely enjoying as was our indefatigable Irish Consul, Khun Annette.
I must tell you that dinner was all that it was expected to be – Holiday Inn is noted for its fine fare – and Executive Chef Han had created a tempting menu. Some diners favoured the Tiger Prawn as a main (a ferociously sized monster) but yours truly went for the duck – and I wasn’t disappointed. Tender, supremely tasty – and not a quack from it! Altogether, the good folks at Holiday Inn, Chiang Mai, did a splendid job. So a big Thank you from Skal to Exec.Asst.Manager Simon Douthett, Exec. Chef Han and the multi-skilled Banquet Team.
A bit of skullduggery was discovered amongst the Birthday Guys ‘n Gals. It was thought we had only one birthday person this month but then two more revealed their dark secret – so Birthday Congratulations to Mohamad, Khun Phinyo and Yvonne. It was judged Mohamad looked the prettiest so he was awarded the floral tribute!
As always, our Madame President Khun Anchalee and Hon.Sec. Khun Naphat do a marvellous job getting everything together – and looking beautifull as well. We were sorry Khun Naphat couldn’t stay with us this time. After cocktails, Khun Naphat left us to care for her Mom who wasn’t feeling too well.
Of course we don’t forget the others who regularly make things go smoothly for Skal – Khun Kaimook (Tamarind Village) and Khun Nopawan (E.L.E.) on the Registration Desk and our photographer, Khun Phinyo (E.L.E.) whose camera seems to be everywhere at once. Thank you for helping us – and for being so much fun! Khun Phinyo’s photographs follow this written text.
Finally and in conclusion, I can say that our July get-together was a lot of fun for everyone. We had a great meal, in a fine hotel and listened to an interesting speaker who had kindly presented us with a sample gift of compost. As I waited for my transport home, I mused and reflected how much this July meeting mirrored how funny life can be – there was I, paused at the top of the Grand Staircase of Holiday Inn, Chiang Mai – a glass of wine in one hand, and a bag of shit in the other!! C’est la vie!
On such a philosophical note and on behalf of Madame President Khun Anchalee plus All of the Committee of Skal International Chiang Mai & North Thailand –
From Chiang Mai – Simply the Best - Warmest Good Wishes, Slainte, All that’s fun and SKAL!
Ken Hill,
Standing-in for Sarah Leelaphat,
PR & Communication, Skal International, Chiang Mai and North Thailand.
FOLLOWING – SOME OF THE PICS
Khun Anchalee & Reinhart
Skal Toast – Toby (L), Frank & MC Ken
Hon.Sec. Khun Naphat (R) & Khun Kaimook(L)
Mohamad, Annette, David, Paul & Tatyana
Clutching the Compost! Gill (L), Tim & Yvonne
The answer lies in the soil! Monsieur Jacques Calvin
Eric (C) with Sisters Khun Ketsanee (L) & Khun Pattaramol with Jacques
Tim, Khun Anchalee, Mohamad, David Hardcastle & Khun Nopawan
Simon Douthett (Exec.Asst.Manager, Holiday Inn), Ken & David Hardcastle
Simply the Best – Group Photo, Skal International, Chiang Mai & North Thailand
At Holiday Inn, Chiang Mai
THAT’S ALL FOLKS!