Samui Ex Servicemen December 2009 Get Together

Merry Christmas to One and All.

Thank you to Mark and Oh at The Elephant and Castle for hosting the November get together, great food as always and good company, welcome to the new guys who made it along.

The next time we meet will be on Tuesday the 29th December, 4:30 pm onwards at the Red Fox in Lamai, as most of you know we usually do not get together in December due to most peoples busy schedules at this time of year, however Alan kindly offered to host Decembers gathering.

Terry Le Long, ex RAF, who is a will writer, will be coming along, so he may be able to answer any queries you may have regarding wills.

Hope to see as many as possible on Tuesday.

Here is a little festive item, guess the Santa:

Guess Who????

Here is the Official receipt from the Royal British Legion from this years Poppy Appeal on Koh Samui:

Cheers,

Samui Ex Servicemen

Poppy Appeal 2009

Thank you for everybodies support and donations for this years Poppy Appeal on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Jointly the sum total of GBP 880 was raised.

Thanks to everybody who contributed in some way.

Samui Ex Servicemen November 2009 Get Together

Thanks to Geof at the Samui Dojo for hosting October's gathering, although not too many people could make it, a good time was had by all. Alan from Island Insurance Services came along and discussed Health Insurance options, an e-mail was sent to everybody regarding these options, if you need further infomation please feel free to e-mail Alan by clicking here

The Next time we get together will be the 24th November, 4:30 pm, at The Elephant and Castle in Bang Rak, this will be the last one of the year.

Thanks to all who could attend the first Samui Remebrance Service, the poppy appeal boxes are now been collected and thanks to all who donated.

Looking froward to seeing you all on Tuesday.

Samui Ex Servicemen

The Poppy Appeal and Remebrance Service On Koh Samui

The Poppy Appeal is now underway on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao

Each year people everywhere expresses their unequivocal support for The Royal British Legion's charity work through the Poppy Appeal. The 2009 Poppy Appeal is emphasising the need to help the Afghan generation of the Armed Forces and their families – today and for the rest of their lives.

For their sake, wear a poppy - and please help our fundraising by making a donation.

Donation boxes can be found on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao at the following locations:

ELEPHANT AND CASTLE BANGRAK

PICNIC BASKET BANGRAK

PREMIER SPORT BANGRAK

BBC(dancing crab) BANGRAK

VIZ BAR BANGRAK

CROWS NEST BOPHUT

THE PUB BOPHUT

MOQUITO BOPHUT

BIG JOES CHAWENG

IRISH TIMES CHAWENG

CAFÉ UNO CHAWENG

LE CHABLES CHAWENG

THE WAVE CHAWENG

THE ISLANDER CHAWENG

THE DUKE CHAWENG

ROSE AND CROWN CHAWENG

INTERNATIONAL CHAWENG

SAMUI ROCK CAFE CHAWENG

BLACKJACKS CHAWENG

LAZY COCONUT MAENAM

JORDANS MAENAM

FAP OFFICE MAENAM

TOPCATS BAANTALINGNAM

CAMELS TOE LAMAI

CHURCHILLS LAMAI

EASY BAR LAMAI

OUTBACK BAR LAMAI

RED FOX LAMAI

COMEDY CLUB LAMAI

M and Ms BANGRAK

GREEN ROOM AIRPORT ROAD

SSI THAILAND KOH TAO

SAFETY STOP KOH TAO

CHEQUERED FLAG KOH PHANGNAN

MASONS ARMS KOH PHANGNAN

LAZY HOUSE KOH PHANGNAN

In addition to the Poppy Appeal a Remebrance Service is being organised for Sunday the 8th November at the Elephant and Castle in Bangrak all who would like to attend should be there by 10:30 am.

Samui Ex Servicemen October 2009 Get Together

Thank you to everybody who made it to The Cork and Cask (Le Chablis) in September and a special thanks to our host Joe for the wonderful curry. Hope everybody had a good time.

The next time we get together is on the 27th October, 4:30 pm at the Samui Dojo in Lamai, Click Here for Directions (Scroll to the bottom of the page)

Alan from Island Insurance Services will be coming along to give a presentation on Health Insurance and what options we have as a group.

Don't forget the Samui Poppy Appeal is now in full swing, boxes have been distributed around Koh Samui at various locations and their promotion would be appreciated.

Looking forward to a good turn out at the Samui Dojo this coming Tuesday.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Poppy Appeal

The Poppy Appeal On Samui is now underway as collection boxes are being distributed around the Island at numerous locations.

Each year the nation expresses its unequivocal support for The Royal British Legion's charity work through the Poppy Appeal. The 2009 Poppy Appeal is emphasising the need to help the Afghan generation of the Armed Forces and their families – today and for the rest of their lives.

For their sake, wear a poppy - and please help our fundraising by making a donation or volunteering your time.

Samui Ex Servicemen September 2009 Get Together

Excellent homemade cumbrian sausages and mash were on the menu when we last met at The Red Fox in Lamai, thanks to Alan for his great food.

We will next meet up on the 29th September, 4:30 pm at The Cork and Cask (Le Chablis) in Chaweng. Hope to see everybody there.

Here is a link for information on UK state pensions for people living abroad: UK State Pensions

More information Here

Hope to see as many people as possible on the 29th.

Samui Ex Servicmen

Samui Ex Servicemen August 2009 Get Together

A big thank you to Big Joe for his highly appreciated hospitality at the July get together. We had one of our largest turn outs with 20= people coming along, was it the company or Big Joe's food, I suspect the later myself!!!

We collected names for a proposed group health insurance plan, this has been followed up on and a mail was circulatedd with relevant information, hopefully we can discuss this further the next time we meet on Tuesday the 25th August at the Red Fox in Lamai, usual time 4:30 pm hope we can generate a good turn out for our visit to Lamai the last one there was very good.

Hope to see everybody Tuesday,

Samui Ex Servicemen

Here are some articles of interest:

STATEMENT OF INTENT

Our aim is to secure equality of pensions for former regular members of the Armed Forces who served for fewer than 22 years at any time to April 1975 and who were discharged before 5th April 1975. This also applies to those regulars who were discharged prior to 1981 who do not meet the criteria of length of service and age. We ask Her Majesty's Government for pension rights based on years of service and related, pro rata, to pensions received by contemporaries who completed 22 years of service.


MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Armed Forces Pension Group is open to all ex-servicemen and women who meet the criteria in our Statement of Intent. Supporters of the aims of AFPG may also apply for membership. To apply, forward your full name and address to AFPG Ltd, P O Box 8151, Mansfield, NG21 0ZA or download an application form from the box on the right.

http://afpg.info
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Public support for our Service personnel

Thank You!

Soldiers on Patrol

Coldstream Guards on Patrol in Afghanistan

Thank you for visiting this page. Public support means a great deal to those who are serving, and particularly to those on operations. Support from home is an essential part of the morale of our Armed Forces deployed overseas amid the stresses and strains of the operational environment.

Ways to show your support

There are many ways in which members of the Public can support our Servicemen and women. This factsheet highlights some of the best ways to provide support, whether for troops deployed on operations, for personnel who have been wounded or for ex-Service personnel.

Support a Service Charity

Often the best way to provide support will be through established charities which understand the most effective ways to help.

See Related Pages >>> for a list of the major Service charities.
Support to the Deployed Personnel

SSAFA Logo

SSAFA Operational Welfare Fund

In conjunction with the MOD SSAFA has set up a new Operational Welfare Fund dedicated to providing support to the front line. Although the MOD provides a comprehensive Deployment Welfare Package which includes; a free mail service, 30 minutes of telephone calls a week and Internet access, there are still areas where life can be improved. The priority for spending from this fund will be set by in theatre commanders in order to meet areas of greatest need.



Donate to the Christmas Box scheme

The charity uk4u-Thanks! provides Christmas boxes to all deployed personnel away from their families and friends on Christmas Day. Wounded personnel staying in hospital over Christmas also receive a Christmas Box.

The Charity supplied over 24,000 boxes in 2007 and will be doing the same for 2008 and for the foreseeable future.

To make a donation or find out how you can sponsor a box, see the uk4u website under External Links >>>

Help provide support for wounded personnel

A number of charities exist with the specific aim of providing help and support to soldiers, sailors and airmen who have been injured in the line of duty.

See Related Pages >>> for a list of the major charities which help wounded Service personnel.

Send a Personal Message [Family and Friends only]

Family and Friends of Service personnel can send them messages for free via the award winning e-bluey system. This is a hybrid or electronic mail system that allows the relatives and friends of Armed Forces personnel serving on operations to maintain regular contact. e-bluey allows users to compose a letter using e-bluey software at an overseas operational, a rear party location in UK or a home PC and know within 24hrs it will be in the hands of the recipient, in some cases we have recorded receipt within 12 hrs of despatch. You can also include pictures within an e-bluey.

For more detail please visit the BFPO website under External Links >>> .

PLEASE NOTE: This service is available only to Family and Friends of deployed personnel.

Send a Parcel [Family and Friends only]

The Family and Friends of Service personnel deployed into or in support of certain operational theatres, currently Afghanistan and Iraq, can send them parcels for free via the Enduring Families Free Mail Service. This allows them to send a small packet weighing up to a maximum of 2 kilograms. The packet will be accepted by Royal Mail Post Office Counters only if the address contains the name of the person it is being sent to.

For more detail please visit the BFPO website under External Links >>> .



http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/Personnel/PublicSupportForOurServicePersonnel

Samui Ex Servicemen July 2009 Get Together

Hope everybody who made the June get together at the Full Moon Bungalows in Bang Rak had a good time. Thanks to our host Paul for a great sunset and some good food.

Our next get together will be at Big Joe's on the Old Monkey Theatre road at 4:30 pm on the 28th July 2009.

Hope to see as many people as possible there.

There have been a number of improvements re Med Insurance this year. If you are interested in getting a quote we will take names/pers details on Tues of anyone interested in finding out more on this subject. Those not attending on Tuesday can email their details to ME (Name, age, existing conditions etc).

Please keep an eye on the news on 2-3 Sept 09 for information on pensions CLICK HERE for details.

Those holding private medical insurance are reminded to contact their insurers and/or check the small print on their policies regarding Swine Flu. Some insurers are resorting to little-known ‘get-out’ clauses which could prove expensive to the unwary. If in doubt use a Thai Govt facility.

Samui Ex Servicemen Get Together June 2009

A great turn out at the Red Fox in Lamai, thanks must go to Alan our host at the Red Fox for some delicious food and to every body who made the effort to go.

I hope every body had a good time and thank you Alan for the introduction of our new member Mr. Jameson, he had a lot to answer for the next day.

Our next get together is this coming Tuesday the 30th June, 4:30 pm kick off at the Full Moon Bungalows in Bang Rak, next to the Big Buddah pier. Hope to see plenty of people there to belatedly celebrate the Armed Forces Day.

Here is a link to a trip report of the British Legion (Thailand)'s visit to Malaysia: http://www.tropicalberts.com/malaysia.htm

See you all Tuesday.

Samui Ex-Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen Get Together May 2009

Thanks to everybody who made it to Ian's house in April for our meet up. Free beer provided by Bob courtesy of Fluid Asia Pacific and Big Joes excellent BBQ food made for a great evening.

The next get together is on the 26th May 2009, 4:30 pm at the Red Fox in Lamai. Let's hope we can have a good turn out and for those in Chaweng or Bang Rak make an effort to get over the hills and meet up at The Red Fox.

Looking forward to seeing everybody there.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen April Get Together

Firstly, Thanks to Joe at Le Chablis for hosting last months get together, great food from Le Chablis as always and a thoroughly enjoyable time was had by all.

The April get together will be a Pool BBQ at The Home of Ian Gilks, a map will be forwarded as to the location of Ian's House in the next day or two. BBQ provided but BYO Booze.

Look forward to seeing everybody at Ian's on the 28th April 2009 from 4:30 pm onwards.

See you there

Samui Ex Servicemen

February 2009 Get Together

Thank you to Geoff at The Samui Dojo in Lamai for his hospitality.

All who could make it, once we all found the Dojo, had a pleasant afternoon. The vegetarian meal provided was very tasty.

A few new faces came along and it was also good to see some of the regulars there also.

Next get together will be on the 31st March, 4:30 pm at Le Chablis in Chaweng.

Hope to see everybody there.

Samui Ex Servicemen

January 2009 Get Together at The Elephant and Castle

Thank you to everbody who could make it to The Elephant and Castle for January's get together.

Our appreciation goes to Mark, John and Oh of the Elephant and Castle for hosting the January get together where as well as there usual hospitality we also enjoyed a very tasty chilli con carne.

I hope every body had a good time and can make it along to the next meeting which will be, for the first time, at The Samui Dojo Resort. For those unsure of it's location a map can be found on the home page by clicking on Here . As usual 4:30pm on the last Tuesday of the month the 24th February which also is Shrove Tuesday.



Shrove Tuesday traditions particular to the United Kingdom

On Pancake Day, pancake races are held in villages and towns across the United Kingdom. In 1634 William Fennor wrote in his Palinodia:"And tosse their Pancakes up for feare they burne."

But the tradition of pancake racing had started long before that. The most famous pancake race, at Olney in Buckinghamshire, has been held since 1445. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan and race to the finishing line tossing the pancakes as they go. As the pancakes are thin, skill is required to toss them successfully while running. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times.

The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes, that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.

Since 1950 the people of Liberal, Kansas, and Olney have held the "International Pancake Day" race between the two towns. The two towns' competitors race along an agreed-upon course, and the times of all of the two towns' competitors are compared, to determine a winner. After the 2000 race, Liberal was leading with 26 wins to Olney's 24.

In North Somercotes in Lincolnshire in eastern England, a race takes place every year in the village. There are three categories - adults, children from 11 to 16, and under 11s. Each person receives a frying pan and has to race from one end of a field to the other, tossing their pancake at least once every few seconds on the way. As in the Buckinghamshire race, the winner is the first to cross the line, having tossed their pancake several times and with the pancake still intact.
Also, in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, the foreshore road (beach) is closed off, schools close early and all residents are invited to skip in the road.

A Festy cock in Scotland is a ball of extra finely ground meal, wetted until it could be patted and rolled into a round shape, then roasted in the hot ashes from a mill kiln, etc. It was eaten at Shrovetide.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shrove_Tuesday


Samui Ex Servicemen

Pension Letters Now Available on Koh Samui and Meet The Honorary British Consul

Pension letters

British Citizens requiring verification of income from UK should note that the service is available locally. For further details please send an email entitled ‘Pension letter enquiry’ to:

info@help4brits.org

Enquiries from 3^rd parties are accepted if written on behalf of those not familiar with email.

Meet The Honorary British Consul

1. I am pleased to confirm that I will be @Bills Beach Bar* on Mon 26^th Jan from 1630hrs to discuss, enlighten & entertain the expat community as to what I can & cannot do on their behalf in my capacity as honorary consul.

2. We’re starting early to enable those with evening businesses to attend.

3. I will endeavor to answer any questions within my remit (& can usually back my answers with an anecdote or two) while staying within the guidelines of the UK’s data protection legislation (confidentiality etc).

4. Bob Keen (of Fluid Asia-Pacific) will be in attendance with some of his latest imports from UK.

5. Please pass this to interested parties. If anyone has a specific question they’re welcome to email me on info@help4brits.org & I’ll include it during the evening (or explain why I can’t).

6. My website: www.help4brits.org (contains links to the Embassy & FCO websites too)

Thanks to Bill for allowing us to use his bar & to his regulars for suggesting the ideaJ

*http://billsamui.com

January 2009 Get Together

Happy New Year to all readers of the Samui Ex-Servicemen Blog, hope you had a good one and are ready for the year ahead.

Thanks to Alan at The Red Fox in Lamai for hosting the final meet up of 2008, Alan once again did everybody proud with some excellent Cumberland sausage and accompaniments. This was enjoyed by all present, anybody in the Lamai area is welcome at the Red Fox anytime also home to the Koh Samui Hash House Harriers.

As the November get together was postponed due to heavy rain by one week and the next meeting would be in between Christmas and New Year it was decided to hold the next get together of the Samui Ex Servicemen in January. Hence we will be meeting next on the 27th January 2009 at The Elephant and Castle in Bang Rak at 4:30 pm for our 1st anniversary get together.

Hope to see everybody there old and new members alike.

Samui Ex-Servicemen