Poppy Appeal Samui 2015 Outreach

Poppy Appeal – Samui 2015 Outreach

Poppy Appeal Samui 2015

Samui Ex Servicemen have been supporting the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal for 10 years on the Islands of Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.

We would like to offer the opportunity to donate to the Poppy appeal to other areas of Thailand where Poppies are not locally available. The minimum donation would be 500 Baht, for this you would receive, four poppies, two 2015 enamel badges and two wrist bands(whilst stocks last) This would be delivered to you by Thai Post.

This would be available for the next three weeks up to the week of Remembrance Sunday.

 For more details regarding donating and receiving your poppies please click here to request details of when and how you can donate.

Samui Ex Servicemen April 2012 Get Together

Thanks to everybody who made it to The Red Fox in Lamai in March where we enjoyed some of Alan's excellent food and a few beers. Thanks to Alan and his staff for making it another enjoyable evening.

The April 2012 get together will be at a new venue, Shakespeare's, located on the Ghost Road between Bang Rak and Chaweng about 1km up on the right hand side look out for the white sign. Plenty of off road parking is available.

Owned and operated by Joe formerly of the Cork and Cask it would be great to see you there this Tuesday the 3rd April from 4:30pm onwards.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen Get Together August 2011

Once again the spread at The Red Fox in Lamai was excellent with a great cheese board. Thanks to Alan and his staff for once making us feel welcome.

We will be meeting next at Fairways on Tuesday the 2nd August from 4:30 pm onwards this is the first time we have had a get together at Fairways, who kindly hosted the Great Poppy Party weekend. You can find Fairways on the airport road or click here to view the location on google maps.

Hope to see everybody at Fairways this coming Tuesday.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen June 2011 Get Together

A successful and enjoyable evening was had by all at Rik's in Bang Rak. Thanks to Rik the host for providing a spicy meatball and pasta dish, very nice it was too.

Our next get together is this coming Tuesday  the 7th June from 4:30 pm onwards at Lords Bar and Grill in Choeng Mon. Last time at Lords Andy surprised us all so we will have to see what he has up his sleeve for this one.

All Ex Servicemen are welcome.

On Sunday the 12th June it is the 90th Anniversary of the Royal British Legion and Samui Ex Servicemen are organizing a Family Day as part of the Great Poppy Party Weekend at Fairways Play Centre on the airport road, located between the arrivals and departure turn offs, there will be a Barbeque, Bar and Kids can play in the air conditioned soft play area.Kick off will be 2:30 pm.

Everybody is welcome to come along and have a great poppy party afternoon.

All profits from the day will be donated to the Royal British Legion.

Hope to see you all next week.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen March 2011 Get together

Firstly thank you to Andy at Lords Bar in Choeng Mon for surprising us all with a Roast Beef dinner, very nice it was too, when we met there in February. A good evening was had by all although their were some sore heads then next day.

The March get together will be this Tuesday the 1st March from 4:30 pm onwards at the Red Fox in Lamai

Hope to see as many people there as possible, the last time we arranged a meet up in Lamai only a few managed to get there due to the rain, no such excuses this time around I hope.

See you all Tuesday,

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen February 2011 Get Together

Thanks to Joe at The Cork and Cask for hosting January's get together, Bob the Towel got a good send off and I hope everybody who could make it had an enjoyable evening.

The next meeting will signal the start of our fourth year of the Samui Ex Servicemen having first met in February 2008 at The Elephant and Castle. The venue will be a first time for Lords in Choeng Mon. As usual it will be on the first Tuesday of the month the 1st of February and everybody is welcome from 4:30 pm onwards.

Looking forward to seeing a good turnout for the first meeting of our fourth year.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen October 2010 Get Together

Thanks to Paul at The Full Moon Bungalows in Bang Rak for hosting the September gathering of the Samui Ex Servicemen. I hope all who were able to attend had a good time.

The Next time we meet will be on Tuesday the 5th October 4:30 pm onwards, at a NEW venue for us, The Sky Bar in Bang Rak (Opposite The Elephant and Castle).

Charlie will be our host and food will be served from 6:00 pm.

Looking forward to seeing everybody on Tuesday.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemen August 2010 Get Together

The July 2010 gathering of the Samui Ex Servicemen was at the Samui Dojo where everybody who attended had a thoroughly enjoyable evening, drinking the fridge dry and eating some top quality tofu sausage hot dogs. Geoff, our host, sadly is no longer with us. Let us all hope he is looking down on us from the great Dojo in the sky. May he Rest In Peace.

The August 2010 Get Together will be at The Elephant and Castle in Bang Rak this coming Tuesday  the 3rd of August from 4:30 pm onwards this is also Mark's birthday.

Food will be served for us at about 5:30 pm however if you are are unable to get there until later there will be a finger food buffet in the evening.

Looking forward to seeing everybody again on Tuesday.

Samui Ex Servicemen

Samui Ex Servicemens May 2010 Get Together

Thanks to everybody who could make the last gathering at The Red Fox in Lamai and thanks to Alan for hosting the event a success as ever. As you will now notice it was decided to change from the last Tuesday in the month to the first Tuesday of the Month for all subsequent get togethers.

The next time we meet will be on the 4th May at The Elephant and Castle in Bangrak from 4:30 pm onwards.

Looking forward to seeing everybody there.

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

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

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

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

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