WARNING !   THIS  LETTER  CONTAINS  SOME  REALLY EXCITING  NEWS.   READ  IT AT  YOUR OWN  RISK

I just wrote a letter yesterday, but this is such great news, I couldn't wait to write another.

Many of you from LCD and NP College may remember Somprasong   or '' Daeng'' as he was known as.  Came to NP college in 1967 and was the only one of his batch that finished in 3 years instead of 7.  He is now big shot at the Tourist Authority of Thailand and appropriately India is now his territory.  The TAT is one of the few ministries that really works.

Now Daeng was always a con artist and somehow he managed to convince the Gurment uv Thailand that we guys is impotent.  80+ of us are going to descend on Thailand, spending gobs of money on shopping and massages and turning our economy around in one fell swoop.  So they are gonna to host one of our functions.  We gonna to get the red carpet and walk around looking impotent.   How's that for a kicker !!  Everyone taking part is invited, even Mo.

Good news !!   w e e e e l l l l    it keeps getting better.

TAT has a river cruiser which plies the Chao Phraya river hosting parties of upto 100 guests.  It is really gorgeous to see the city along the river at night.  Lots of food, music and drink.  They normally charge B 800++ per person.  Daeng ( you  dah  man !!)  has arranged it for us at the amazing price of  Baht 000.00 (that's right,  ZERO!!)  per.  This will replace the Pre Welcome Dinner at my place on August the 3rd,  so now Prim is speaking to me again (which ain't that wonderful, but is better than the alternative).

Since I have already charged most people B 250 per for the Pre Welcome, we will use part of this money to hire a couple of buses to and from the pier.  One mini-bus will leave from the Bangkok Serene and another 2 from The  Manhattan.  Exact schedule and locations will be posted.   What ever money left over will be refunded ( or you can will it to school or college).

SPECIAL  CALL  TO  THE EARLY  70's  CLASSES.    It is funny that so many from this group have written and said the same thing.  i.e.  they are not coming because there are so few from their age group.  It is the only group that has used this excuse for not joining.  PSHAW,  BALONEY  &  BALDERDASH.   This includes, Lisa & Pia,  My own sister Maureen, Yvonne to mention a few.  Not true !   We now have NEENA (MAZUMDAR)  DE,   DOLLY (BOSE)  NAG,  NORZING  NGYODUP, KABITA  CHOUDHURY, PRADEEP SINGHANIA,  ASHOK  SADHWANI,  ERIC  von der  RECKE,  HANS  von der RECKE.   In fact, other than the mid 60's group (we're real party-animals who are known to celebrate the openning of anything more important than a bag of potato chips, if there is even the slightest chance of free booze), yours is the largest contingent.   No more excuses !!

Which brings me to one final point.   Everytime one of you writes to me, she or he always adds that he is thankful for the work I am doing.  Cut it out !   My head is swollen enough as it is.  Others are contributing more and believe me, this is really a labour of love.  I am having so much fun.  I just love having a captive audience.  The thought that I can say in 500 words what others would in 50 is just too much fun & Then to FORCE EVERYONE TO SIT THRU ALL THE DRIVEL TO GET TO THE MEAT.   Fantastic !!   All I have to do is to avoid offending too many people each time I open my mouth.

11 days and counting !!

Dan

Sad to hear that Fr Burns will not be able to join us.  He has to go to Canada to celebrate a Jesuit Jubilee.  Fr  has just completed his 60th years as a Jebbie.  Congratulations Father!!  We'll miss you a lot.   Maybe you should give the Jubilee a miss, there'll be another one in 60 years.  Can't say the same about HIHH though !!

Good response so far for the PRE - WELCOME DINNER (even Mo),  The SIGHTSEEING TRIP (even Mo)  on the way back,  BEACH  OLYMPICS ( not Mo)  and even the PALA-U (BURMA) TRIP (even Mo). Thanks to those who wrote.  It looks like the more activities the better.  Old age aint gonna slow any of us down huh !

As for the sightseeing return trip.  The key is The Bat Cave.  They usually start out at about 5 PM so we should aim to be there by 4.30 PM.  Lots of snack and fruit stands around to keep you busy.  That means if we leave the hotel at 12.30,  we get to Marukathayawan Palace by 1.00.  An hour there is enough, so that allows us about 2 hours to get to the cave.  Just fine!!  We then leave the caves at 5.15  (Once you've seen the first 75 million bats, you've seen them all),  and get back to Bangkok at 6.30 PM.   In time for dinner and shopping.  The cost will be about B 400 ( instead of B 200 for direct return trip).  Will speak to the bus Co ASAP.

TOBGYE  DORJI & ROSHAN MASSEY insist they want to do a striptease before the auction.  For once Mo came up with a great idea.  Let's have a slightly different version of the auction.  Tobgye and Roshan will bid how much they are willing to pay to be allowed to strip and everybody else bids how much we want to pay them to keep their clothes on.  I am sure it will raise lots of money.  Everyone should bring blindfolds in case we lose..

Good idea  MO!!  This is the first time I've ever seen you in The Thinking Pool.  ( Albeit in the shallow end, but it's a start!).

Roshan says I misquoted him in letter # 21.
1.  He did not say ''balding''. I admit I added the (ing)  part because that is hitting below the belt.  It is something I am sensitive about ever since my daughter said to me a few years ago  '' Daddy!! your grey hair is getting bald''
2.   I left out  ''Tom-Yum-Eating-slob''.  Here too another sensitive point.  I have vowed to lose 12 Kgs by Christmas, (at least 7 Kgs before HIHH).  My paunch & I are getting divorced, I get custody of the Tom Yum Soup and week-end visitation rights to the Ice Cream.  No Fat jokes allowed.

Shashi was also upset because I have not made any jokes about her.  Well, love !!  having a Paulite for a brother is suffering enough.   Even though you have tried to disown him and play nice to us NP types.  The scars are there, no getting away from it.

Mo asked how come I don't say anything about Rajiv Dutt.   Rajiv was a Paulite who went to college at NP.  Well, 2 reasons.  His mail keeps bouncing, so I have taken him off the address book and he is bigger than me.  Anyway, Rajiv is coming to HIHH so I'll have plenty of time to pick on him in person.

Back to HIHH.   Since I am the kind of guy that has never had second thoughts about taking advantage of someone when they are down, I have been researching a couple of other hotels in HH.  Tourism is so down that there are some real good deals.  e.g.   One day I needed someone to validate my parking ticket ( anything to save B 50 )  so I asked to see the manager of The Hilton.  Their normal rooms at B 5,200 are going for B 2,700.   The bathroom alone is bigger than any normal hotel room.  Still, it's above our budget though, but it did get me free parking.   There are other deals, so Joan and I have decided to take everybody's fate in our hands.   We are shopping around for some better deals and decided that we do not need to decide till the first week of July.   Don't worry, we'll keep the limit at B 1,500 per double &keep everyone in the same hotel.

SHASHI & RAJEEV are looking after the music.   If anyone has some old tapes, CD's they want played, bring them along.   ''Love those oldies, but mouldies''.  No Rap or Acid Rock please !!

LOUIS BANKS  had to cancel lately because he got a gig lined up on those days.   Too bad, I was really looking forward to listenning to our home- grown talent.  Maybe there's a change of plans Louis ???   Still hoping.

Some of you may wonder why the tops of your mail has some unrecognizable name & address on it.  Well, according to my computer dept, when I send mail to my whole list in one shot, I always get about 25 ''returneds'' and ''undeliverables''.  However, when I split my address book into groups of about 20, then I have only 1/3 as much.  However, some names continue to bounce :-

Shankar Rajkhowa
Surinder Jaswal
SP  Agarwala
Shyushyu
and somebody whose address starts with  ''Tru..''  who has mysteriously gotten into my add book an dcnanot be erased.
Always have trouble with these,    & Rajiv Dutt sometimes

Don't know what to do with these guys.  If you meet each other, please ask around if everyone has been geting my newsletters.  I hate to think there is someone out there that I failed to offend and  I refuse to believe so many have intentionally put up Firewalls against me.

Dan

SUNDAY  NOON. Golf at The Sports Club. Members of Tolly can play for B50, plus caddy fees. Others can join in if they want, I think the cost is B1,000. Let me know if you are interested. OPTIONAL. We might do this again on Saturday Aug 9th when we get back to Bangkok.

SUNDAY  PM. PRE-WELCOME  DINNER. Either at The Manhattan (cost B400)  or I prefer at my place. But it depends on the numbers & the weather. I have a great caterer who can do this for B250 per. I think we need this to tie up loose ends, not just to say ''Hey''.  Those who have not paid for dinners, transports and to sign up for other events. Can also bring the items they want to donate for the auctions, prizes etc.         OPTIONAL

MONDAY  10 AM. Bus leaves for Hua Hin from the Manhattan. We stop for a leg stretch at Wang Kaeow at about 11.30. There are lots of food stalls so everyone can do a little sightseeing and grab a bite. We'll leave at 12.30 and reach HH at about 13.30 PM. Cost will be B200 per person, some have paid and the rest can pay at the Pre Welcome.  EARLY  SIGN  UP  SUGGESTED.

MONDAY Night is official Welcome Dinner & Dance. Father Van will open the show and both NP and LC will be expected to sing their school Choruses (Mo you are excused). (Cost B450 per person). I assume attendance will be 100%.

TUESDAY  A.M.   Golf outing at the Railway Course. OPTIONAL
TUESDAY  P.M.    Outing to Hua Hin town. Free transportation supplied by hotel.   ( No curfew !! ).

WEDNESDAY AM. Beach Olympics. Some Burmese types may want to take a 1/2 day trip to PALA - U WATERFALLS at the Burmese Thai Border. 1 hour bumpy ride in rented pick-up trucks. OPTIONAL.
WEDNESDAY   AFTERNOON. Crazy  Whist, with prizes (Cost probably free unless you want some snacks included). OPTIONAL
WEDNESDAY  NIGHT. If there is enough interest, we will have Fund Raising Social & Dinner  (Cost B 400). Bachelor Auction, Flower or Coupon Dance etc etc. OPTIONAL.

THURDAY  AM   Golf outing to Lakeview Princess Country Club. OPTIONAL.
THURSDAY  P.M.  Farewell Dinner & Dance. Silent Auction, Fr's speech and a better rendition of the 2 Chorusses.

FRIDAY  NOON. Either direct bus back to The Manhattan  (Cost B200) or if there is enough interest, we do the tourist thing. On the way back to The Big Mango, we stop at Hua Hin Palace (Marukathayawan)  and Bat caves ( one of the wonders of  natural history) where you can watch at a distance as 100 million bats stream out of a cave at dusk. (Cost B 400 per) OPTIONAL. It might work out there are 2 buses so one will be direct and the other the tourist version.

Wednesday Night needs a bit of explaining. Besides the bachelor Auction, we'll sell flowers, say B100 per 5 pcs. Then everytime you cut in and ask for a dance you've got to give the girl a flower. Whoever gets the most flowers wins a prize. Husbands are expected to cheat and give their wives 5 or 10 flowers per dance. (Shashi, No you don't get extra flowers if you decide to strip). Then we can do the same for the guys. Money goes to Hayden Hall, NP and LCD.

Now come on,  let's have some feed-back. Everyone seems to be ''going with the flow''. I am playing dictator here!!

Here is a game that we might enjoy. It will require some research on your parts. Some of you may know that word game where you change, add or subtract one letter at a time and change one word to another. e.g. BAD  to GOOD.    BAD .... bOd (?) ..... God ... goOd.  Well, it's based on this idea. I call it. FOLLOW  THE CONNECTION. (very imaginative ! ....... not !!!  I didn't say I was any good at it. Maybe' if I was a B.A  Eng Hons, I might have come up with something better). I'll start :-

How do you connect  EDDIE  SHUE (NP  1956) to VIKROM  MAHATAPHONGSE  (NP 1962)

EDDIE  SHUE  married  PHYLLIS  CHEN-SEE    from  Kingston Jamaica Phyllis  has  a niece  nee  JO  ANNE CHEN - SEE  also from Jamaica JO ANNE  married ANDY  WANG  from Bangkok Thailand ANDY  WANG  is  VIRKOM'S COUSIN. (at this point you can mentally play the music from the old TV series Twilight Zone in the back ground)

Andy was also my roomie is the US and is a current golfing buddy, so we are all related. He was on holiday in Canada last year and met Uncle-in-law Eddie who told him that he was at an NP reunion in the US in 2002.  In fact, Eddie generously supplied many of the old photos that are on the website.  That is when Andy told Uncle Eddie that his fellow golfing nut and his cousin are both NP  boys. (I don't care, I still refer to meself as a '' boy'' till I am 95).

Small world Huh ! Maybe some of you could think of some more connections like this to show how we become linked, indirectly around the world.

See you soonest,

Dan

So far,  this is the feed-back I got on various points. All of it, Absolutely fantastic !!
1.   NOT A  SINGLE  CANCELATION. Thanks for hanging in there, SARS  or not.
2.   EVERYONE  who is coming has signed up for WELCOME  DINNER so I am just going to assume it is part of the package when you sign on.
3.   One couple will be leaving early so will skip the FAREWELL. EVERYONE ELSE HAS SIGNED ON FOR THAT. So this will also be assumed.
4.   More activities have been requested and will be added on. In my next letter I will also have a rough schedule.

See you soonest,

Dan

We're doing well on sign-ups and have really got lines open.  Some of the mail  ''Bouncers'' have been taken care of :-

Achal Bedi   does get his mail
Got new adds for Chuck and Hishey Basi from Tim Mc Donald
Rajiv Datt got all his letters.

Still no news from Dinny Devitre, Shankar Rajkowa, S.P. Agarwal.

Speaking of S.P.,  how about Enisha ( ee Agarwal) any news from any where ??

By the way !   A lot of info on the forms is just for you to plan your costs of your trip.  You don't need to sign up. i.e. Seafood Buffet Dinner, Taxi from airport, Private session with a stripper, etc

Also,  the cost of Welcome Dinner and Farewell Dinner are the Maximum we can expect.  It will definitely be less once we fix the menu.

Can you stand some more good news ??  Just when you thought things couldn't get any better,..... The Manhattan in Bangkok has just lowered the Double and Triple. They used to be B 1200 and B 1600, now they are B 1000 and B 1400 resp.  So the Double and Single are the same price. Now.......   if that isn't enough incentive to find someone to share the room with .....

Been enjoying photos bouncing back and forth (especialy of the girls. You guys just don't seem to get better looking with age). Please be sure to bring them to HIHH as well as Autograph books (remember them !! ) if you still have them.

Someone asked about  SILENT  AUCTION  will cover this in one of my future lessons.

Some sadistic Bas......d  suggested a HUNK AUCTION.  This is like a Bachelor Auction, but since there aren't many bachelors  it'll just be us guys.   Kind of embarassing if you're left standing there with nary a bid !!  Maybe if we started the bidding at B 5 and it included a free car wash plus first dance ???

It should be a very short one.  I can imagine heavy bidding for Arnold Mc Kenzie and then we close shop.

How about Mohan Shivdasani ?   Seriously  Mohan.  Yes, the same Mohan we have all grown to know and love.   Hear me out.   I am sure lots of you ladies would pay plenty NOT  to have to dance with him.

Then there is Amrit Kuruvilla !!   Pity Amrit is not coming!  Shoot,  I'd pay handsomely to have him NOT SING at the Kara-oke.

Cheerio !!          Dan

Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year to all.

Well, Joan and I (alright, alright, it's mostly Joan's work, sheesh Mo get off my back will ya !!)  just scouted some hotels and have finally come to a decision.   Here are the details :-

BANGKOK   Aug 2nd & 3rd  (OPTIONAL).  I've got a rate at the MANHATTAN  HOTEL on Sukhumvit Soi 15

Single  Room   B1,000  (US$23 at today's rates)  Incl 1 buffet breakfast
Double Room.  B1,200  ($32)   Incl 2 Buffet breakfasts
Triple Room    B1,600   ($37.50)  Incl 3 Buffet Breakfasts
Junior Suites   B2,600   ($61)  Incl 2 Buffet Breakfasts
Royal Suite   B4,600    ($108 )  Incl  4 Buffet Breakfasts

It is clean, very convenient  and centrally located.  Easy to reach from the airport, but Joan is looking into supplying airport pick-up if there is enough interest. STAY  TUNED.  Rooms are big and comfy. There is also a Sheraton opposite side of the road. For those interested, write to me and I will get you a corporate rate there.

There might be a dinner in Bangkok on 3/08  if someone wants to host it  but not confirmed yet, (any volunteers??)  If not, then you are on your own.

On Monday 4/08  air conned bus leaves for Hua Hin at 10.00 A.M.  from in front of The Manhattan  (I expect this will be about B 175 ($4)  per head).  2 & 1/2 hour ride.

At  HUA  HIN  We have block booked 50 rooms at  The MAJESTIC  BEACH  RESORT. This is a great hotel, right on the beach. Gorgeous pool, Sauna, meeting rooms, self-sufficient. The hotel is quite small, so we will practically have the run of the joint. Free shuttles to and from town (which is only 10 minutes away). The rates we have been quoted so far:-

DOUBLE  ROOM  @  B 1,600  (US $37.50)   incl buffet breakfast for 2
TRIPLE  ROOM  (Extra Bed)   @  B2,100  ($49)  incl breakfast for 3
JUNIOR  SUITE  (1 Bedroom)   @  B2,600   ($61)  breakfast for 2
2 BEDROOM  SUITE    @  B3,200  ($75)  breakfast for 4
3 BEDROOM  SUITE    @  B4,800  ($112.50)  breakfast for 6

Might do a little bit better, stay tuned !

There will be a limited number of certain types of rooms, so it is first-come-first-served.  Please check the list below to see if your name is on it. If not let me know as soon as you can.   Bookings by end Jan the latest and you can cancel before end March without penalty.

There will be a Welcome Dinner 4/08 and a Farewell Dinner on 7/08. See Sign Up Form, (which will be ready in about 1 week) for details.

We will stay in Hua Hin for 4 nights, during which time there will some other dinners and parties and dances (or should I say ''SOCIALS'') etc. hosted by individuals or groups of individuals.

This hotel has an agreement with MAJESTIC  CREEK  GOLF  COURSE  which allows you to play at a discount.  However, between you and me, even with this discount, there are many other courses, equidistant and just as good and much cheaper. Since it is a Buyers' Market, I will keep trying to get a better rate there.

We return by bus on the Morning of Friday 08/08 to The Manhattan Hotel again.  Same room rates apply.  It is up to you how long you want to say in Bangkok before and after HIHH  reunion.  Most of yas have been to Bangkok before so you know what to expect and can make your own plans.  The main thing is Hua Hin.  The idea is to put everyone in the same hotel, small and cozy, so we can spend time with each other and catch up at breakfast, around the pool, at the sauna etc, not just at the dinners and parties.

As I said, the sign up form will be ready in a few days. Stay tuned. Meanwhile, if you have already signed up and your name is not on the list below, please let me know.  The list has been arranged in the chronological order in which I received your confirmations

Father Burns               Double Room
Father Van                  Double Room
Arnold Mc Kenzie      Junior Suite
Mohinder Boya           Junior Suite
Joan  Sarasin               Double Room
Dan Windsor              2 Bedroom Suite
Mohan Shivdasani       Double Room
Uttara Sarkar Crees    Double Room
Shashi Narula (Bala)   Double Room
Noreen Dunne            Double Room
Shree Singh                Double Room
Brian Cannel               Double Room
C M Cho ( Ban An)   3 Room Suite
David Yah                  Double Room
Roshan Massey          Double Room
Faroukh Lawyer         Double Room
Mama Halliday           Double Room
Jocelyn Hamilton        Double Room
Tobgye Dorji              Double Room
Paljor Dorji                Double Room
Kalden Dorji              Double Room
Indira Singh                Double Room
Mukund Thapa           2 room Suite
Rajiv Datt                   Double Room
Ranjit Das Gupta        Double Room
Ashok Sadhwani        Double Room
John Charles              Double Room
Tamding Tempo          2 room Suite
Koli Pluck ( Ghosh)   Double Room
Rajesh Poddar           Double Room
Kabita Choudhury      Double Room
Ranabir Sen               Double Room

Since there is a shortage of Double rooms, for Loreto girls,  my sister Joan is planning to take up the 3 bedroom suites and share them, so you might be on her list already. (same old LCD girls !  safety in numbers HUH !!)  Let me know if I should take you off my list.

It's not going to be easy organizing this, so we really need your co-operation.  I know it is still far off, but there is pressure from these hotels. I know for many people, this is stll too far off to make confirmed plans. However :-

1.  When you get the Sign Up Form.  If you are sure that you are coming, please sign up and return it by email or by fax ASAP.  This will allow us to set the minimum number of rooms which will be the base of our negotiations.
2.  If you think you might be coming, please tell me so with your expected arrival and departure so I can estimate the final numbers, especially for  the Manhattan Hotel (Bangkok) part of it.  I really need this to give the hotel some numbers. In which case, there is no need to send back the form till you are sure.
3.  By the end of January the hotels expect us to give them some confirmed numbers. This we will do. At that time, I will over book by about 5 to 10 rooms for late comers.  No need to say these rooms are first-come-first-served, so don't take any chances.
4.  By the end of March, we must give them our final list.  Any cancellations after this, you will be billed for the first night.
5.  Anybody signing on after this will be out of luck, unless there is a cancellation.
6.  If you are a single and would like to share a room, please tell us so and we will try to match you up. Don't get your hopes up though as it will be ''same sex'' sharing.  (don't worry guys, no Paulites so it's safe!!)

My fax number is ( 66 2 )  381  2479.  This is a secure number so for those who are afraid to give out credit card details etc by email, you can use this number.  You can also fax back the Sign Up Form by this fax number.

Also, for those who have trouble sending attachments, let me explain that if you prefer, you do not need to send back the actual form itself.  Just give me the information we require by email of fax.  Please be as clear and as complete as possible.

Finally, if you know anybody not on my list, who might be interested to receive this, please forward it to them and ask them to write me back.

SURSUM  CORDA
Dan (Windsor) Email: hihh@ddallwood.co.th