Xanh (pronounced Sun) is the resto we go to most often and tonight we took the girls from Trentham there. Earlier I had introduced them to My Le and she helped sort out the orphanage they have collected money for. They have a $1000 Oz to give to a shelter for disfigured and disabled children from the war. In the course of conversation they mentioned Manus Campbell who raised money for the orphanage, as it turned out I knew Manus and he is a good friend of My Le. Manus fought in the battle of Quang Tri a particularly bitter and protracted affair near the DMZ. He was badly traumatised by it and returned to mental health by embracing Buddhism and helping the Vietnamese victims of the war. The ladies were gobsmacked that I actually knew him.
It was so refreshing to have conversations with mature women from home, I don't have them very often and now I have invites from the Trentham people for dinners and get togethers Win.
Mel Thomas owns and runs Chaplins in Trentham and has built a successful business there. Trev and Marg, I will get over more often. Mels partner Kate works in the bank and Laura and Katie work at Chaplins.
Before dinner we went to Banana Split for a vodka and pinapple and I captured this,,,
Hai set up the dinner for us and despite his lack of English he did a great job organising the table and dispensing drinks and food and educating the woman on how to say common Viet words. My Le donated a bottle of vodka and we bought a small bottle at the resto so we were well lubricated for the clams, prawns and a very large fish not to mention the mango salad and rice.
I have other photos to show but due to some weird abberation of my system they have disappeared.
Sista and Bro
2017-09-27
We know what it is like to meet people from home when you are away. Very uplifting to learn about their raising of money for the VN children......
jay
2017-10-01
Great fun again! Our chit chat ok? Bit Blonde hey!