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 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 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

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

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 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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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 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

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

September Get Together of the Samui Ex-Servicemen

This Tuesday the 30th September at Le Chablis in Chaweng 4:30 pm we will be having our monthly get together. If you are unsure where to find Le Chablis e-mail me at samuiexservicemen@gmail.com for directions.

As mentioned previously if anyone is interested in obtaining a veterans lapel badge and is unsure how to apply for one when we meet this time 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.

Look forward to seeing everybody on the 30th September.

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

August Get Together of the Samui Ex-Servicemen

Tuesday the 26th August, 4:30 pm at The Full Moon Bungalows in Bang Rak will see the next get together of the Samui Ex-Servicemen. Following on from the excellent turnout at the last meet up lets all make an effort to support the Full Moon Bungalows in Bang Rak. If you need directions please contact me on samuiexservicemen@gmail.com

Walt Alert:

Members are advised that a 6’ Australian claiming to be 47 but looking much younger has surfaced on the Island claiming to have been seconded to the SAS (12 tours of iraq/stan!). He was immediately rumbled by several of our members & subsequently failed their Walt-Detector test(s). We’ll need to devise new lyrics for walting matilda in case he shows up at our next meeting.

UK Armed Forces Veterans Lapel Badge

For generations our Armed Forces have served their country across the world in many roles from war fighting, peacekeeping and reconstruction to home defence. In so doing, they have defended our country, our way of life and our cherished values. A large number of our veterans are young and active and now use the skills, the discipline and the leadership qualities they learned in the Armed Forces to benefit their civilian employers and the wider community. The Ministry of Defence Strategy for Veterans highlights that because of all this it is important to focus on supporting veterans of all ages, by celebrating, and raising public awareness of, their achievements and their contribution to society. To promote recognition of veterans by the wider British public the unique and unifying symbol of the HM Armed Forces Veterans Badge was introduced.

The UK Armed Forces Veterans’ Lapel Badge was launched in May 2004 by the Minister of Veterans, to raise the profile of veterans by assisting the wider public to recognise them. The first veterans badge was issued to Lord Healy, a veteran of the Battle for Monte Cassino, on 10 May 2004, which initiated the roll out of the badge to the Second World War veteran generation. Since then eligibility to apply for the badge has been extended in sequential phases to all veterans. This has now closed the gap between those who apply for their badge and those who receive it automatically on leaving the Services.

The badge is an enamelled, engraved, and pinned, lapel badge featuring the words “HM Armed Forces – Veteran”, which encompass the Tri-Service, Anchor, Crossed Swords and Eagle motif. Its symbolism is intended to unite all veterans in recognising the commonality of their service, to encourage a sense of unity and community between surviving veterans and to ignite public recognition of current veterans and their continuing contribution to society.

Eligibility

Criteria
All those who have served in HM Armed Forces.

Exceptions
Veterans who served in Armed Forces of other Countries and those who served alongside HM Armed Forces are not eligible (e. g. Canadian Navy or Royal Australian Air Force).

Posthumous requests
The badge is a survivors badge and therefore is not issued posthumously.
The only exceptions are War Widows and Widowers who are in receipt of a War Widows/Widowers Pension paid by the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency. This is in recognition of the fact that their death was due to their military service.
DQ Graham to provide word around the term survivors

How to apply

You can apply by any of the following methods:
Click on one of the links below to access the application form.

Application Forms

• Acrobat Reader Version

Please ensure you complete the form as fully as possible.

You may post or fax your completed form to the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency.

Another option is to download the form, complete it electronically, save the form and return to the
Service Personnel and Veterans Agency by email.

If you wish, you may call the Freephone number to apply. Please ensure you have to hand all the details asked for on the application form.

Postal address:

Service Personnel and Veterans Agency,
Norcross
Thornton-Cleveleys,
Lancashire,
FY5 3WP

Fax:
01253 330561(UK Only)
+44 1253 330561 (Overseas)

Email: lapelbadge.team@spva.gsi.gov.uk

Freephone Helpline
Free: 0800 169 2277 (UK only)
Free: 0800 169 3458 (Minicom UK only)
+44 1253 866043 (Overseas)

Ref: http://www.veterans-uk.info/new_badge/badge.html

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

Samui Ex-Servicemen June Meet Up

Hope all who attended the June Samui Ex-Servicemen meet up at The Red Fox in Lamai had an enjoyable afternoon. Thanks to Alan our host for the excellent stew, a real taste of home. As usual a few topics were discussed and a few beers consumed.

If you are ever in Hong Kong, a recommendation for a cheap pint, was the Mariners Club just over the road from the Star Ferry terminal.

For July's get together it was decided to return to our original venue The Elephant and Castle in Bang Rak on the 29th July at 4:30 pm. Hope to see everybody there.

Here is some information that may be of interest to some of us:

Chancellor Alistair Darling has announced changes to the personal allowance in a bid to defuse the 10p tax row.

The move was intended to compensate the 5.3 million households who lost out when the 10p tax rate was abolished.

It will mean more money for several million people paying the basic tax rate, but administrative work for some businesses.

So how will it affect you?

How did this come about?

A series of tax changes came in at the start of the financial year, on 6 April. They had been announced in Gordon Brown's final Budget as chancellor in 2007 and in the later pre-Budget report.

The changes saw the 10% starter rate of income tax abolished, except on savings income for people who are low paid. The basic tax rate came down to 20% from 22%.

When 5.3 million people realised this meant less money in their pocket, many spoke out leading to a backbench rebellion by Labour MPs.

What changes have now been announced by the chancellor?

Alistair Darling said he wanted to compensate the people who lost out.

He is borrowing £2.7bn to raise personal tax allowance by £600 to £6,035.

This means anyone earning up to about £40,835 will gain £120 this year.

Mr Darling said 4.2 million of those households which lost out previously will receive as much or more than they lost when the 10p starting rate of tax was axed, and the remaining 1.1m households will see their loss at least halved.

The biggest losers, experts say, would be some of the very lowest earners who do not have families and do not work enough hours to claim tax credits.

What is my personal allowance?

The personal allowance means you earn a certain amount of income without paying any tax at all. Income tax starts being paid on earnings above this amount.

Personal allowances are amended each year in the Budget, and usually they go up with inflation.

In the current tax year 2008/2009 the basic personal allowance was set at £5,435 (up from £5,225 the previous year) but has now gone up by £600, a rise backdated until 6 April.

People can expect a £60 lump sum in September pay packets, followed by a £10 monthly increase until the end of the year.

The chancellor's announcement was extremely unusual as it made changes to the tax system after the Budget - a move not seen by a chancellor for around 15 years.

Won't the better off gain too?

Around 17 million middle-income earners, who did not lose out when the 10p rate was axed, will gain from what the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) described as a "simple and expensive option".

Extra money for these people makes up around £2bn of the £2.7bn handout, the IFS says.

Mr Darling said he would lower the starting point at which the 40p tax band is paid by £600 to £40,835, so the most well-off would not gain more.

This will push 150,000 people into the higher 40p tax rate but the Treasury said that these people would still benefit from the extra £120 this year.

It remains to be seen what will happen next year, as all these changes are for this year only.

It also remains to be seen whether this move - which will give millions of people a little more spending power - will cut the chances of a fall in interest rates in the coming months.

What does it mean for people running small businesses?

While many low and middle income earners will gain, there are some issues to deal with for those who pay them.

Chas Roy-Chowdhury, head of taxation at the Association of Chartered Accountants, said businesses systems and processes will have to be updated halfway through the tax year in September.

"SMEs represent over 99% of UK businesses, and they will have to change their PAYE codes and tax systems," he said.

Ref: BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7399105.stm