BAMBI PARTON'S NEW YEAR GREETINGS
Dear BAMBI Members,
As I begin to write this, it’s mid-November and I know that many of you are still having a horrible and difficult time coping with the effects of the floodwaters that have inundated much of Bangkok and the surrounding areas. I well remember, in 1983, when the soi I lived in was flooded for three months. We decided not to move out as we had our sailing dinghy in the garage (well, you never know when things like that can come in handy!) and we used it to get to the market. We bought a Suzuki Jeep and fixed a ‘snorkle’ on the exhaust pipe. None of the pregnant mums who came to my childbirth preparation classes could get into the soi and I used to ‘scoot’ all over town and give classes at any group member’s house that was free of water. The government made the decision to keep the business areas free of floods (what’s new?) and my visits to the Bangkok Nursing Home to see new BAMBI mums were greeted with mirth when everyone saw the duckweed attached to the jeep radiator. After three months the joke began to wear thin, so I can readily sympathise with everyone who’s currently suffering.
Some of you may know that after thirty-three years of living in Bangkok, my husband and I, in April this year, decided to relocate to Chiang Mai. It turned out to be a fortuitous decision as, although the centre of Chiang Mai was flooded for several days, where I now live, about 25 kilometers north of the city, we were spared the misery. The large dam, just a couple of kilometers away, was full to capacity and overflowing. So awful to see all that precious water going to waste, as the farmers around us often suffer from lack of water during the hot, dry season.
So all in all it’s been quite a year. One of my main concerns about leaving Bangkok was the feeling of being ‘out of touch’ with BAMBI. Unfortunately, the local post here has brought a new meaning to ‘snail mail’, so I’m lucky if I get the magazine by the middle of the month and sometimes it doesn’t arrive at all. But thanks to modern communications and regular updates from Eleni, I’m still able to know what’s happening and, as always, it’s a lot! Although our annual Christmas Bazaar and party had to be cancelled this year, come floods, rain or shine, our lovely Chairwoman, Eleni, and the amazing BAMBI Committee continue to work hard to make sure that there are plans in the ‘pipeline’ to make up for those disappointments and to continue with BAMBI’s many regular activities.
Next year – or should I say, this year, as you will be reading this in January 2012 – BAMBI will celebrate its 30th birthday. That’s quite a thought for me, as I never imagined that something that was born out of necessity and with the support of just a few enthusiastic and dedicated new mothers could be what it is today. And although BAMBI has become a large and very diverse group its heart remains the same – it still has the support of enthusiastic and dedicated mothers and for that I am delighted and very grateful.
So for BAMBI’s thirtieth year I’d like to wish you and your families all the very best for 2012 – may it bring you good health, happiness and peace in your hearts.
Mel Habanananda
CHAIRWOMAN'S LETTER
Dear Members,
Welcome to our January edition and the year 2012!
I found myself wondering about New Year’s resolutions AGAIN. Where did 2011 go already? I always need extra hours for the day, extra days for the week and now I am getting to the point that I need extra months for the year. Life goes fast, and it is too short to be sad.
As 2012 is now here, I welcome our family, “The Petrakalalang’s”,
to three years of residency in Bangkok, the Land of Smiles, and I also welcome MYSELF to the age of 40. What a number! I feel the need to make an affirmation for what it has been, and what it may be. As a yoga/pilates instructor, I see a difference in all the classes in January. Many join up, trying to keep their New Year’s resolutions to be flexible, strong, skinny, etc. Some are gone before the month is up. In 2011, I decided that I had had enough with all the ‘regular’ resolutions and I resolved instead that I would wear earrings every day for the year 2011. It worked! I think I only missed one week; it got to be a routine, rather than a resolution. So, as I am turning 40 and I surveyed my closet to see if I needed to rearrange it, it was an easy decision. I hereby confirm that I will wear a skirt or dress every day in 2012. Sure, I would love to be skinny, flexible, strong, tall, confident, rich, beautiful, etc. Sure, I would love to find solutions and resolutions for me. But somehow the word ‘confirmation’ is more serene. Something that I would like to repeat every morning.
And in 2012, BAMBI is turning 30. We spent the last part of 2011 canceling events, so we can only confirm that this year the Events Team is very happy to come back and announce new events. We are planning to have an amazing, wonderful 30th anniversary party in March, and we are also planning to have many surprises for our members throughout the year.
As 2012 is here, I would like to say a humble ‘Thank You’ to the Committee and all the Playgroup leaders who help, and wish them only the best. To all our members and their families – may you all be blessed with joy and happiness for 2012 and beyond.
Be well,
Eleni Petraki