Mahjong for Everyone

Come along and have some fun, meet people and play the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong (Western Style)!
Beginners very welcome
We promise it is not difficult to learn and we certainly don't take ourselves too seriously, in fact, we don't even keep score. Our next game will be: Tuesday, November 61pm to 3pm (or later)At the home of
Norah McParlane
103B Laurels
59 & 60 C P Ramaswamy Road
Alwarpet
Home Phone: +91 44 42658791
Mobile: +91 9952 085 099
Please RSVP or direct questions to Julie Rich at jjhoneg@yahoo.com or Norah McParlane at nmcparlane@hotmail.com

Moving Sale

Nancy Reisig is moving and will be selling the following items. All procedes to be donated to charity.

Cream colored Bedroom Set
Queen Bed, Chest of drawers, granite top Bureau with Mirror, granite top 2 end tables, footrests
Sell as a complete set
Original Price 1.2 lakh
Asking Price 30,000

Television
Philips (2005)
Original Price 6000
Asking Price2000

DVD
Philips (2005)
Original Price 2000
Asking Price 500

Single Bed
Original Price NA
Asking Price 5000

Side table
Free if purchase bed
Original Price NA
Asking Price300

Dresser
Original Price NA
Asking Price1500

Cane Chairs (4)
each
Original Price NA
Asking Price 250

Dining Room Table
9 foot glass table
no chairs--sorry
Original Price 26,000
Asking Price 13,000

Fish Tank (with fish)
Original Price 18,000
Asking Price 7,000

Hutch
Original Price 31,000
Asking Price 10,000

Stove/Oven
Original Price 16,000
Asking Price 5,000

Refrigerator
used
Original Price 8000
Asking Price 3,000

Washing machine
quite old
Original Price Unknown
Asking Price 500

Various kitchen appliances & utensils
mixie, toaster, utensils, etc.
used, sell as set
Various
Asking Price 5,000

Chair (red)
used
Original Price Unknown
Asking Price 500

Television
used
Original Price Unknown
Asking Price 1,000

Books
Many, 50 RS each
used

Video player
used
Original Price Unknown
Asking Price 500

DVD Player
works fine
Original Price 5000
Asking Price 2,000

Vacuum Cleaner
works fine
Original Price Unknown
Asking Price 500

TV Hutch
Original Price 50,000
Asking Price 10,000

If interested, please contact: nred2002@yahoo.com or call/SMS Nancy at 9840972495.

Storytrails

Storytrails Presents

An evening of storytelling

When was the last time, you snuggled into a comfortable position
to listen to a fascinating story?
Not to read, not to watch. But to listen to a story.
How about taking a journey through this magical world of stories now?
A make-believe world that fascinated us as children.
A world that most of us have long forgotten or think we have out-grown.
A world that holds just as much promise now, if only we cared to transport ourselves to it.
Stories really are for everyone.
Join us as we present to you, one more telling of these age-old tales.
at
THE TOP STOREY
Alliance Francaise of Madras
New No.24, College Road, Chennai 600 006

Date: 28 October 2007, Sunday
Time: 6:30 PM
All are welcome
Directed by Pritham Chakravarthy
Storytellers: Karthik Srinivasan(TMK), Vidyuth Sreenivasan
Music: Vedanth Bharadwaj

No. 34, North Usman Road, T.Nagar, Chennai – 600017; Ph: +91 44 4212 4214; Visit us at www.storytrails.in

Christmas General Meeting

Nov. 14: General Meeting & Christmas Bazaar, Park Sheraton Hotel, 10 AM. There will be a gift exchange, so bring a gift worth 250 Rs. and trade it among other members at the meeting! The gift exchange isn’t mandatory, but it does allow members to mingle more and get to know each other…plus it’s a lot of fun! The new OWC Directory will also be available for purchase at the meeting (Rs. 100)

CAN STOP

Nov. 14: The U.S. Consulate, along with Can-Stop, is organizing a breast cancer update by the Susan Komen Foundation, at 10 AM –Noon, at a place TBA. For more info, contact Can-Stop at 2628-4256.

Craft's Group

Nov. 6 & 13 & 27 – held at
Suzanne de Haes’ house from 2 PM onwards.

Mahjong for Everyone

Come along and have some fun, meet people and play the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong (Western Style)!

Beginners very welcome - We promise it is not difficult to learn and we certainly don't take ourselves too seriously, in fact, we don't even keep score.

Our next game will be:

Tuesday, October 301pm to 3pm (or later)

At the home of Norah McParlane

103B Laurels59 & 60

C P Ramaswamy Road

Alwarpet

Home Phone: +91 44 42658791

Mobile: +91 9952 085 099

Please RSVP or direct questions to Julie Rich at jjhoneg@yahoo.com orNorah McParlane at nmcparlane@hotmail.com

November Tiffin: Baking Blind – Re-Run!

Due to cancellation of the Baking Blind Tiffin, I am rescheduling it for Friday November 16th at 10am at my house.
Please call or email to confirm attendance (even if you had booked on for last time!) as the maximum number is 15 ladies.


A little advance information: the December Tiffin will be a Cookie Exchange, like last year. This was very successfully run last year with all the ladies bring a sample of cookies and recipes to exchange with each other. We arrived with one kind of cookie and left with many sorts!! Let me know if you are interested in being a part of that and we can start organising this.

Please remember that if you want to share recipes with other members of the OWC and the Tiffin Club, please email them to me and we can pass them on.

Sejal Wasani

Thanksgiving Lucheon

River House
12 Turnbulls Road, Extn.
Chennai 600 035

Wednesday, November 28, 2007
11:30

All OWC members are invited to a traditional Thanksgiving lunch at River House, the home of Susan Hopper.

As the lunch is limited to 50 people, OWC members are asked to sign up via e-mail at chennaicgr@gmail.com. If you wish, you may also sign up by telephoning Sejal Wasani at 98840 52575. A sign-up sheet will be at the November OWC meeting for those who have not replied by e-mail or telephone. Please also include your telephone number and nationality. Once the maximum number of guests has been filled, a waiting list will be maintained so that any cancellations can be filled by others.

Unfortunately, children in or out of prams cannot be accommodated.

Because of security, cars will not be permitted inside the compound. Parking will be made available at the Madras Club next door for all those who attend the lunch whether or not they are members. Please let Susan know if you have special needs that require parking inside the River House compound.

Security personnel will be at the gate with a list of those who have warned in.

Majong for Beginners

Come along and have some fun, meet people and play the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong (Western Style)! What is Mahjong? Come along and find out!!!
You don't even need to bring anything!!!!
We promise it is not difficult to learn and we certainly don't take ourselves too seriously, in fact, we don't even keep score. Our next game will be:

Tuesday, October 231pm to 3pm (or later)
At the home of Norah McParlane
103B The Laurels59 & 60 C P Ramaswamy Road
Alwarpet
Home Phone: +91 44 42658791Mobile: +91 9952 085 099

Please RSVP or direct questions to Julie Rich at jjhoneg@yahoo.com or Norah McParlane at nmcparlane@hotmail.comarlane@hotmail.co

Volunteer Needed

I will be leaving Chennai in two weeks and I am looking for someone whowould like to take over the Ladies who Lunch on a monthly basis. It is very simple really. It is just a case of deciding on where to have lunch every month, ringing up the restaurant and booking a table for about15 women, and then putting it on the blog and the newsletter in advance.

If anyone is interested please ring Suzanne on 98846 89222.

Moving Sale

Quick sale!!! Must be sold in next few days.

We are leaving Chennai in next two weeks quite suddenly.

Two lovely red couches to sell and one glass fronted vitrine.

The couches are only 6 months old and the vitrine one year old.

Anyone interested phone Suzanne on 98846 89222

Great value.

Good Housekeeper (not the magazine, a person)

Hi everyone,
As most of you already know Trev and I have been called back to the UK with very little notice so we will be leaving Chennai in less than two weeks now. We have an excellent housekeeper. His name is Soloman. He worked for us the first time we were here in Chennai five years ago and when we came back this time we found him again to work for us.He cleans really well, is a lovely guy, is never sick or asks for anything. I would highly recommend him.Please if anyone knows of anyone looking for househelp can you give me a buzz.
My number is 98846 89222. He will be finished with us Sat week.
Thank you so much
Suzanne

JOB VACANCY: Visa Assistant

LOCALLY ENGAGED ENHANCED VACANCIES IN VISA DEPARTMENT, CHENNAI

1. The Visa Department in Chennai is recruiting for the posts of Locally Engaged Visa Assistants in the Grade LEIII(E). We will recruit four full time Visa Assistants. The start dates will be November 2007. If you are selected for a position, we will be able to employ you as long as you:

· Pass a demanding and comprehensive training course; and
· Receive the appropriate level of UK national standard security clearance; and
· If appropriate, have permission from the Indian immigration authorities to take employment; and
· Are available to join on our stipulated start date

2. These are opportunities for portable careers. These jobs may particularly appeal to you if:

· Your spouse or partner works for the Foreign Office or Home Office, or for a company which sends its staff to work in different countries; and
· You would like to work in a fast-paced and challenging environment as part of a large and diverse team of people, committed to achieving clear service delivery goals.

Background information

3. UKvisas is the overseas arm of the UK's immigration control. We have visa offices in 160 locations throughout the world. The largest handles 180,000 applications a year; the smallest less than 10.

4. Chennai is one of the busiest and most high profile Visa Departments in the world. Our team is committed to providing a first class service, and we are expected to be flexible, and make fair and defensible decisions on visa applications quickly, balancing the need for a high level of customer service with the requirement to maintain the integrity of the immigration control. We are at the forefront of innovation, always prepared to react positively to change and try new ways of working.

Duties and responsibilities:

· Assessing a narrow range of visa applications and making recommendations to senior staff on how to deal with them.
· Reviewing appeal cases and making recommendations to senior staff on how they should be dealt with.
· Preparing statements in support of our decision for the appeal court.
· Dealing with routine correspondence and other enquiries from members of the public.

The skills we are looking for

5. The ideal candidates will be:

· Good communicators with excellent spoken and written English;
· Computer literate with accurate typing skills of at least 25 words per minute;
· Able to remain customer focused, polite and courteous under pressure;
· Able to work quickly and reliably with little supervision and meet challenging targets;
· Capable of making quick decisions in accordance with set rules and able to show that these decisions are fair and just;
· Able to work well under pressure;
· Excellent team players; this is an all for one, and one for all environment;
· Flexible and positive about working in a forward thinking, modern and motivated department, which is working at the forefront of visa work. We are committed to improving standards and procedures - and we are looking for like-minded employees;
· Excellent representatives of the Visa Department, the British Deputy High Commission, and of the UK Government.

Salary & employment

6. We can only offer you a job if you are in India legally. Employment by Her Majesty's Government in an India-engaged capacity, does not afford employees any special immunities or privileges, or protection against legal action. Conditions of service for all locally employed staff in India are consistent with Indian laws and regulations.

7. The period of the contract will be for two years and the starting salary is Rs.87,754 per month. Visa Assistants’ salaries are set, and paid, in rupees, and are taxed at 25%.

Making your application

8. You should submit your application on the attached application form, making sure that you read the instructions carefully. Please e-mail the completed form to mailto:gauri.srinivasan@fco.gov.uk and title your e-mail ‘Locally Engaged Visa Assistants’. Alternatively, please forward your application form to HR Officer, British Deputy High Commission, 20 Anderson Road, Chennai 600 006. Your application must be received by Wednesday 31 October 2007.

9. The British Deputy High Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applications irrespective of race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, creed or age.

JOB VACANCY: Community Liason Officer

VACANCY: LEIII(E), PART TIME COMMUNITY LIAISON OFFICER (CLO), MANAGEMENT SECTION, BRITISH DEPUTY HIGH COMMISSION, CHENNAI

1. Applications are invited from UK-based spouses/partners and expatriates for the position of CLO effective immediately.

2. Main purpose of the job:

This is a varied and interesting job, ideally suited to a spouse/partner with experience of the FCO, or an expatriate who is enthusiastic about life in Chennai, and India. The CLO will advise new arrivals as they prepare for their posting and support them once they arrive here. A full job description is available from Sarah Spencer.

3. The key responsibilities include:

§ Advising and helping new arrivals to settle in Chennai.

§ Providing advice on all aspects of life in Chennai and in India including unbiased information on schools, employment, health care and other local services.

§ Collecting, maintaining and disseminating local information for the benefit of those at Post, spouse/partner employment opportunities, networking opportunities and other local happenings.

§ Close liaison with the Diplomatic Service Families Association in London, and with CLOs at other Diplomatic Missions in Chennai and throughout the world.

§ Welfare support. Providing a confidential listening ear and advising onappropriate referral. Assisting with arrangements for medical evacuation and crisis management.

§ Management duties, including updating families and school lists, various returns required by London (e.g. job opportunities, Cost of Living Returns, hardship and DSFA questionnaires etc.).

§ Produce a monthly newsletter for all staff.

4. The gross conditioned working hours for this position are 21 per week. The salary is currently Rs.87,754/- per month pro rata based on a 40 hour week. The salary will be abated by 25% (the amount of income tax which would be payable to the Indian Authorities if the successful applicant were not exempt from the payment of Indian income tax under the Income tax Act 1961, Section 10(6)(v) and subsequent legislation).

5. Recruitment will be conducted in strict accordance with FCO policies. Anyone interested in filling this vacancy should apply in writing (enclosing their CV and a paragraph on why they believe they would be well suited for the job) to: Sarah Spencer, Senior Management Officer, British Deputy High Commission, 20 Anderson Road, Chennai 600 006 by Wednesday, 31 October 2007. Interviews will be conducted during week beginning 12 November 2007. Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

6. The British Deputy High Commission is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome all applications irrespective of race, colour, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, creed or age.


Sarah Spencer
Senior Management Officer
11 October 2007

Mahjong for Beginners

Come learn the ancient Chinese game of Mahjong!
What is Mahjong? It is a game typically played by 4 people (although 3 people can easily play) using a set of tiles similar to those used in Dominoes. The main difference being that mahjong tiles have Chinese symbols and characters on them. Don't worry though...you won't have to learn how to read Chinese in order to play! Nor will you have to learn how to speak Chinese either!
A beginner's mahjong get together will take place on Tuesday, October 16, from 1pm to 3pm at the home of Norah McParlane. Her address is:
103B The Laurels59 & 60 C P Ramaswamy RoadAlwarpet
This will be a fun filled afternoon, and mahjong will be taught in a very simple manner. Come meet other Chennai expat women and learn this fun game!
Hosted by Norah McParlane and Julie Rich

Norah McParlane
103B The Laurels
59 & 60 C P Ramaswamy RoadAlwarpet
Chennai 600018

Home Phone: +91 44 42658791
Mobile: +91 9952 085 099

Please RSVP or direct questions to Julie Rich at jjhoneg@yahoo.com or Norah McParlane at nmcparlane@hotmail.com
Hope to see everyone there!

Tiffin Club Canceled!!!!

Tiffin Club for Friday 5th October has been canceled. Sorry!

General Meeting

October 3
Park Sheraton (10AM)
Think Pink in honor of cancer awareness, the theme for October’s meeting.