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 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’s Get Together November 2008

Firstly thanks to everybody who came along to the October get together at Big Joes. I must say Joe Did us proud with a selection on anti pasta followed by minestrone soup and then spaghetti and meatballs. Thanks to Big Joe for his hospitality.

The next time we will see each other is this Tuesday 25^th November at the Red Fox in Lamai, 4:30 pm.

Hope every body can make it and look forward to seeing you on Tuesday.

If you are in receipt of you old age pension or due to be paid soon this may not be too good news for you:

AT least half a million British pensioners who have retired overseas have had their hopes of seeing an upgrade to their state pensions dashed.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ruled this morning that the Government is not obliged to pay annual inflation-linked state pension increases to expatriates. It rejected an appeal by 13 expats led by Annette Carson, who moved to South Africa in 1989, that they were being discriminated against by the British Government.

The group claimed discrimination on the grounds that pensioners are treated differently depending on their country of residence. Pensioners retiring anywhere in the European Union, America and countries such as Israel and Barbados have their state pension increased each year in line with prices, just like a pensioner who stays in Britain.

Those living in most Commonwealth countries, including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa, do not. Their state pension is frozen at the moment they retire, or when they leave Britain if they have already retired. Over time, that results in a pension that falls further and further behind the uprated version, and their purchasing power steadily declines.

Ms Carson's pension is frozen at £67.50 a week, the going rate when she retired. But if she still lived in Britain, or any of the countries where state pensions are uprated, she would now be receiving £90.70 a week, the rate for the tax year that has just begun.Some expatriate pensioners in their 80s receive less than £10 a week. Victory in the case could have increased annual payments by hundreds of pounds.

The ECHR rejected the appeal by six votes to one. It said: "While there was some force in the applicants’ argument, echoed by Age Concern, that an elderly person’s decision to move abroad might be driven by a number of factors, including the desire to be close to family members, place of residence was nonetheless a matter of choice.

"The Court therefore agreed with the Government and the national courts that, in that context, the same high level of protection against differences of treatment was not needed as in differences based on gender or racial or ethnic origin.

"Moreover, the State had taken steps, in a series of leaflets which had referred to the Social Security Benefits Up-rating Regulations 2001, to inform United Kingdom residents moving abroad about the absence of index linking for pensions in certain countries."

The Department for Work & Pensions said: "We do not plan to make any changes to the current arrangements regarding the freezing of UK State Pensions. We will, nonetheless, study the terms of the judgement carefully to ensure that we continue to comply with our obligations under the terms of the European Convention on Human Rights."

Only one member of the court, Judge Garlicki from Poland, supported the pensioners' view. She said: "To my regret, I cannot subscribe to the Chamber's finding of no violation. In my opinion ... the difference in treatment has no objective and reasonable justification."

This was echoed by Gordon Lishman, director general of Age Concern, who said: “The ruling means that older people will continue to be penalised for wanting to retire abroad. We supported the action because it is hugely unfair that these pensioners have made their National Insurance contributions but are not getting their fair share in return.”

Three years ago, Ms Carson had a similar appeal rejected by the House of Lords

Reference: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/money/pensions/article5079275.ece

Samui Ex-Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen October Get Together

A quick reminder that on Tuesday 28th October 4:30 pm will see the next Samui Ex-Servicemen get together at Big Joes, located on the Ring Road, Chaweng.

All Ex-Servicemen living on Samui, visiting ex-servicemen or serving members of Her Majesty's armed forces are welcome to come along.

Hope to see you there.

Samui Ex-Servicemen

September Samui Ex Servicemen’s Get Together at Le Chablis

Once again a good turn out for our September get together at Le Chablis Resort in Chaweng, Koh Samui. A few new faces and some of the regulars enjoyed an evening of banter and an excellent Fish and Chip supper provided by Joe at Le Chablis. Thanks to Joe for his hospitality and all who came along.

October’s meet up will be at Big Joes, located in Chaweng on the ring road, at 5:00 pm on the 28th October.

The Poppy appeal boxes are being distributed around Koh Samui in the next few days, if you see one it would be appreciated if you could contribute to this worthy charity.

Looking forward to seeing everybody on the 28th. Any serving members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces or Ex-Servicemen visiting the Koh Samui are welcome to come along.

Samui Ex-Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen At Full Moon Bungalows In August

A good time was had by all I hope at Full Moon Bungalows in Bangrak thanks to the hospitality of Paul and Big Joes food. Thanks to everybody who came along, again a good turnout.

The next time we all meet will be the 30th September at Le Chablis in Chaweng 4:30 pm as usual. If you are unsure where to find Le Chablis e-mail me at samuiexservicemen@gmail.com for directions.

If anyone is interested in obtaining a veterans lapel badge and is unsure how to apply for one when we meet in September bring along the following details:

National Insurance Number:
Date of Birth:
HM Forces Service or Unit:
Service No.:
Periods of Service if known:

I can then apply on your behalf and hopefully have them for you by the October meet up.

If you want a laugh click Here for some funny pictures, military style!

Look forward to seeing everybody on the 30th September.

Samui Ex-Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen May Get Together

Thanks to everybody for coming along to the May get together and a special thank you to Big Joe for providing refreshments and a most delicious selection of cold cuts, fresh bread and savoury foods followed by a few glasses of wine accompanied with some excellent cheese.

If you are in the area why not call in on Big Joe and see what homemade food he has on offer. Big Joes is opposite the PTT station on the Chaweng ring road, he is open Monday to Saturday, 9:00 am to 6:00 pm.

At May's get together we had a couple of guests who are currently serving in Her Majesty's armed forces, who were on the Koh Samui, come to say hello and one new face living on the Island.

June's venue will be The Red Fox in Lamai on Tuesday the 24th at 4:30 pm.

Hope to see you at The Red Fox

Samui Ex Servicemens May Meeting

If you are an ex-serviceman on Koh Samui why not come along to our next get together at Big Joes, purveyor of fine pies and all things good to eat, located on the Chaweng Ring Road opposite the petrol station.

We will be meeting at 6:00 pm on Tuesday the 27th May 2008 for a few drinks and some good food.

See you there.

Samui Ex Servicemen