Samui Ex Servicemen July 2010 Get Together

A highly successful evening was had at The Cork and Cask in Chaweng for the June gathering. A tasty curry was provided by Joe and we even indulged in a small darts and pool competition in which some visiting Australians also took part.

The next time we meet will be on the 6th June, 4:30 pm onwards at The Samui Dojo, heading south of Lamai, turn right after the Jubilee restaurant and follow the signs.

Looking forward to seeing everybody there.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Armed Forces Day 2010

Thanks to everybody who came along to The Armed forces Day at The Cork and Cask. A good evening was had by all and as ever an excellent curry supper was provided by The Cork and Cask.

We hope to make this an annual event and look forward to an even larger turn out next year.

Samui Ex Servicemen June 2010 Get Together

After using our new venue selection system for the first time at May's gathering. The next venue for our June get together is on Tuesday 1st June 2010 at The Cork and Cask (Le Chablis) in Chaweng from 4:30 pm onwards. Looking forward to see every one there.

Thanks to Mark, John and Oh for hosting the May gathering at the Elephant and Castle, good company and great food as ever.

See you all on Tuesday.

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.

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 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.

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

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's July Get Together

Tuesday, July the 29th at 4:30 pm will see the next get together of the Samui Ex-Servicemen. We will be meeting at the Elephant & Castle Restaurant and Bar in Bang Rak on Koh Samui. Any Ex-Servicemen or currently serving members of Her Majesty's Services are welcome to come along, have a few drinks, something to eat and chat about days gone by and what is happening now.

Hope to see you there.

Samui Ex-Servicemen

Work Permit Update

Here is some information for all who are working on Koh Samui regarding work permits. Hope it is of assistance.

Understanding the new work permit law

TILLEKE & GIBBINS

Most foreigners working in Thailand are well aware that they need a visa and work permit to stay and work in the country. Yet, they find the law and regulations rather complicated and difficult to comprehend, especially with immigration rules dramatically evolving in the past few years and posing a challenge to the status of many expatriates. Unfortunate expats who either lacked knowledge or failed to keep track of developments in immigration and labour laws and practices have paid a price for their oversight or negligence.

On Feb 23, 2008, the law governing work permits (Working of Aliens Act) generated much attention when it emerged to replace its 30-year-old predecessor. Although the implementation of the major part of this new law has been delayed pending the issuing of several ministerial regulations, it would be prudent for working aliens to familiarise themselves with some key changes.

The greatest point of interest is the punishment imposed on both employer and employee for an employee working without a work permit. The new Act imposes a heavy fine ranging from 2,000 to 100,000 baht upon a violating [alien] employee, significantly increased from 5,000 baht, and/or a five-year term of imprisonment, increased from three years. An employer hiring an alien without a work permit will face high fine of 10,000 to 100,000 baht, although the former three-year imprisonment has been eliminated. Labour officials are now empowered to arrest (without a warrant) any alien suspected of working without a work permit.

Depending on one's point of view, the penalties seem to be harsher for employees and lighter for employers. The new law will allow any alien worker who pleads guilty and voluntarily leaves Thailand within 30 days to be fined without a trial.

Under the new law, a work permit of up to two years may be granted instead of one year under the old law. The most welcome change is that a work permit will no longer be tied to the duration of stay that is stamped on an alien's passport. In other words, work permit holders who do not have a one-year duration of stay will not need to keep extending their work permits by leaving and returning to Thailand on a "visa run" to get a new duration of stay. Nevertheless, work permit holders will still have the duty under immigration laws to maintain a valid duration of stay while in Thailand. This new development awaits implementation in the near future.

The new work permit fee is 20,000 baht. Renewal will cost the same price. In addition, an employer applying to hire alien employees who are not deemed skilled or expert will be charged a 10,000-baht fee per alien. The Department of Employment has not applied these new fee rates as yet.

Employers or employees are no longer obligated to report to the Department of Employment and return a work permit when employment has ended. Under the old law, those who failed to comply would have to pay a fine of 1,000 baht at a police station, which was quite unnecessary and inconvenient.

Nonetheless, labour officials still encourage both parties to report the cessation of employment, otherwise their system would not permit the employee to get a new permit with another employer or the old employer to fill the vacant position.

The Immigration Bureau has reacted to this development. The usual seven-day period of stay after the cessation of work will no longer be automatic but will be granted upon request and payment of 1,900 baht. Most importantly, a further temporary stay while a new work permit application is under consideration will not be given anymore. As a result, aliens switching jobs would be compelled to process their new work permit within seven days or leave Thailand to get a new business visa from a Thai consulate.

Several provisions dedicated to a fund for sending aliens out of the Kingdom have been added. In addition to the existing personal income tax and social security withholdings, the employer will soon be obligated to contribute to the fund by withholding a certain amount from the income paid to work permit holders. The criteria and conditions relating to the contribution are to be set forth later. The fund is intended to relieve the government of the high cost of deporting guilty working aliens and illegal immigrants.

In general, the major changes in this law seem to be positive and more liberal. It is hoped that they will help resolve the enduring problems that have troubled both aliens and the Thai government in the past.

Written by Kobkit Thienpreecha, Attorney, Commercial Department, Tilleke & Gibbins International Ltd. Please send comments or suggestions to Marilyn Tinnakul at marilyn.t@tillekeandgibbins.com

Reference the Bankok Post : http://www.bangkokpost.com/180708_Business/18Jul2008_biz42.php

Samui Ex-Servicemen June Get Together

24th June, 4:30 pm, The Red Fox, Lamai, Koh Samui will see the 6th Samui Ex Serviceman's get together.

All ex servicemen and serving members of the armed forces are welcome to come along and enjoy the company of like minded people.

So if you are free on Tuesday afternoon we look forward to seeing you in Lamai at The Red Fox.

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

Stephen Hendry 7 Times World Snooker Champion to Visit Koh Samui

Stephen Hendry 7 times World Snooker Champion and ranked 7th in the world of snooker is in Koh Samui as a guest of Fluid Asia Pacific, distributors of John Smith's Bitter and Strongbow Draught Cider, represented by Bob the Towel on Wednesday 21st May 2008.

If you would like the opportunity to get Stephen Hendry's signature, have a chat or possibly see Stephen Hendry shoot some pool he will be at the following venues:

5:00 pm The Elephant and Castle
6:30 pm The Islander
8:00 pm Tropical Murphy's
9:30 pm The PFC Bar

If any further encouragement were needed to come along, special priced John Smiths Bitter or Strongbow Draught Cider will be available at each venue!

Samui Ex-Servicemen April Get Together at Le Chablis

The April get together was at Le Chablis in Chaweng where our hosts provided an excellent curry accompanied by some substantial samosas and condiments. Thank you to Le Chablis, if you are ever visiting Koh Samui this is a nice resort with very comfortable and moderately priced rooms at the north end of Chaweng Beach. We had new members this time around and as usual a few beers were consumed as the sand bags were pulled up and stories of days gone by related.

Next time we get together will be on Tuesday the 27^th May, 4:30 pm at Big Joes purveyor of pies and all food that is British. Located on the Chaweng ring road opposite the petrol station.

Below is some information that may be of interest to you click on the links to contact the Honary Consul.

Visit To Koh Samui by Head of Passport Section British Embassy

The head of passport section will visit Samui on Fri 16 May. If sufficient interest exists it will be possible to arrange appointments for individuals/families to discuss the following:

• Passport renewal procedure, inc proposed changes to current biometric passports expected later this year.
• All aspects relating to children.
• The British nationality act.

Notes:

1. Time & venue has yet to be established but will be in Bang Rak or Choeng Mon late afternoon or evening.
2. Interviews will be by appointment through the Honary Consul. This is primarily aimed at those with Thai spouses & dual national children or Brit couples with children.
3. Immigration matters (ie visas for UK or visas for ‘farangs’ in Thailand) are a separate entity and will NOT be on the agenda.

What to do next:

Interested parties should email the Honary Consul with questions (between 01 & 09 May) & to ask for an appointment. The Honary Consul will allocate appointments on 10^th May.

April Samui Ex-Servicemen Get Together

A quick reminder 29th April 2008, 4:30 pm at Le Chablis in Chaweng, see the link in the left hand column of this blog for their website, Samui Ex-Servicemen get together for a few social drinks and a chat.

Also 23rd April St Georges day celebrations at the Elephant and Castle in Bang Rak, Free BBQ and Cut Price John Smiths Beer and Strongbow Cider on offer, sponsored by Bob the Towel and Fluid Asia Pacific.

Hope to See You There.

Samui Ex Servicemen Update

At the last get together of Samui Ex-Servicemen, not only did we have a good time, but Steve Ryder of Ensure Asia paid us a visit. He discussed the pros and cons of various health insurance options in an open forum. Any body interested in contacting Steve click here: info@ensureasia.com to receive more personalized information.

News For those receiving War Pensions

War Pension payments will increase by 3.9% from 07 April 2008. From that date those on 100% can expect £145.10 per week, an increase of £5.40.

If you think you may be entitled to a War Pension click here for information: War Pensions Information or come along to our next get together at Le Chablis, Chaweng on the 29^th April at 4:30 pm and pick the brains of our resident expert.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen March Get Together at Full Moon Bungalows

Tuesday the 25th of March saw the get together of Samui Ex Servicemen at the Full Moon Bungalows in Bang Rak.

Our thanks go to Paul the owner of the Full Moon Bungalows in Bang Rak on Koh Samui for his hospitality and Big Joes Food for providing some great Ribs and Sausages.

This month we had representatives from the Army, Air Force and for the first time a couple of new faces from the Navy helping to complete the group.

Much beer was consumed and stories told about times gone by and I believe many of the Ex Servicemen suffered the next day!!

We shall be meeting again on Tuesday the 29th April, 4:30pm at Le Chablis Resort in Chaweng. If you are an Ex Serviceman living on Koh Samui or a visiting member of the services please call in and enjoy the banter.

Hope to see you there.

Samui Ex Servicemen.

March Get Together Notice

To anybody who stumbles across this blog, is a ex servicemen or serving member of the armed forces you are welcome to call by the Full Moon Bugalows in Bang Rack on Koh Samui, Tuesday 25th March 2008 at 4:30 pm for a chat and a few sherberts.

Hope to see you then.

Samui Ex Servicemen