Hua Hin Forum, Stride With Pride Appeal 2015 – Trip Report
After collecting a massive 93,180 Baht towards the Stride With Pride Appeal, Forum guests and my neighbours prepared to set off in convoy from my Soi at 07:30 this morning. There were 10 cars in the convoy, which actually departed at 07:45 (very good for Thai Time). I was still walking my dogs, and set off a couple of minutes behind the convoy.
- 10 cars in the convoy
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My car was loaded with foodstuffs - treats for the kids and soft drinks. Another car was carrying the 3 biggest ice-cream tubs in the world together with a hell of a lot of fresh chicken. A couple of cars were carrying loads of 2nd hand clothes and toys for the kids. The final load carrying car was loaded with the shoes, sandals, socks and blankets purchased by Hua Hin Forum:
• 253 pairs of shoes
• 264 pairs of sandals
• 1012 pairs of socks
• 253 blankets
- My car was loaded with foodstuffs - treats for the kids and soft drink
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- carrying the 3 biggest ice-cream tubs in the world
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- 2nd hand clothes and toys for the kids
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- The final load carrying car was loaded with the shoes, sandals, socks and blankets
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The other 9 cars travelled with hazard lights flashing, and other road users gave way. Imagine my surprise, when I arrived at the school, and was the first one there. I’d somehow managed to pass the convoy, and arrived 15 minutes ahead of the next vehicle.
The 15Km of dirt track road to the school was in fair condition today, although still made for quite a bumpy ride.
As we drove into the school, we received the usual friendly greetings of salutes and wais from the kids who were in the playground. I backed up to our usual base, and about 10 young lads rushed across to help us unload the car. Once unloaded, I drove up to the playground, to allow other vehicles access to unload.
One by one, the convoy gradually pulled in. There was a mass frenzy to offload. The gifts we had bought looked good quality gear, and took up quite a bit of floor space.
- One by one, the convoy gradually pulled in.
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- One by one, the convoy gradually pulled in.
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- The gifts we had bought looked good quality gear, and took up quite a bit of floor space.
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- The gifts we had bought looked good quality gear, and took up quite a bit of floor space.
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- The gifts we had bought looked good quality gear, and took up quite a bit of floor space.
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- The gifts we had bought looked good quality gear, and took up quite a bit of floor space.
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- The gifts we had bought looked good quality gear, and took up quite a bit of floor space.
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The chefs for the day set up the big cookers, and started preparing lunch for everybody. This is always a mammoth task, and hats off to those guys doing all of cooking in a very hot dining hall – they are good.
- The chefs for the day set up the big cookers
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- The chefs for the day set up the big cookers
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Food prepared, the younger kids marched down the hill to see us in single file.
- the younger kids marched down the hill
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- the younger kids marched down the hill
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They lined up smartly outside,
- They lined up smartly outside
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and when given the nod, the marched quietly to their seats and sat down – hardly a word spoken.
- marched quietly to their seats and sat down
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Their food was served,
- Their food
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- was served
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and they ate it, again in silence. It never fails to amaze me at how quiet maybe 50 4 and 5 year olds can be.
After they had eaten their food, 3 orderly queues were formed in front of the 3 giant ice-cream tubs.
- 3 orderly queues were formed in front of the 3 giant ice-cream tubs
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- 3 orderly queues were formed in front of the 3 giant ice-cream tubs
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Ice-cream in hand, they each picked up a plastic carrier bag, and moved along the conveyor belt picking up treats.
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At the end of the line, they also picked up their blanket. Because the shoes, sandals and socks are size/gender specific, they would be distributed tomorrow.
- 2 young kids going up the hill with their swag.
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Eventually, the dining room had cleared, and preparations were busily being made for 200 hungry older kids.
- preparations were busily being made for 200 hungry older kids
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- preparations were busily being made for 200 hungry older kids
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Right on cue, they marched down the hill, removed their shoes, and marched into the dining hall for an almost exact repeat showing of the younger kids. Difference was we got a couple of songs as well.
- they marched down the hill
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Our appeal this year was centred on the need for shoes, so while the kids were otherwise occupied, I took the opportunity to photograph some of the shoes left outside. My favourite was probably the grey plastic Crocs look alikes.
- some of the shoes left outside. My favourite was probably the grey plastic Crocs look alikes.
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- some of the shoes left outside.
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- some of the shoes left outside.
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- some of the shoes left outside.
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I then checked out the sock situation (we’d bought 4 pairs for each child, so it wasn’t the problem we saw last year) – we had a remedy. Many of those wearing socks were showing more flesh than sock. Others just didn’t have any socks.
- the sock situation
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- the sock situation
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- the sock situation
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- the sock situation
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When the big kids had had enough, the younger kids were brought back for more ice-cream. Many of them wouldn’t leave the dining room. When questioned by one of the teachers, the shy reply was that they hadn’t received any shoes yet. To me, this brought home the meaning of the day. All of these strangers visiting them were like a visit from Father Christmas and his elves. This was their Christmas Day.
The day ended as usual with the tear-jerker Kapom (thank you) song.
I think everybody that went had a good day. The kids were certainly full of smiles, each with their goody bag and blanket.
The forum was given the certificate of recognition (see above) – none of this would have been possible without you guys. Thank you all very much.
).
) and 1,012 pairs of socks (lesser quality I would assume than last time) for 66,365 Baht. Additionally, the school requested blankets, of which we purchased 253.
