Fare Thee Well Gail. Mah Jong just won’t be the same without you.

It is with a great deal of sadness that the Mah Jong group ‘officially’ farewelled Gail Ritchie on June, 15.  She does not leave Pattaya for a few weeks yet, but as many of the regulars will be overseas on home leave when it is time for her to depart, we decided to commemorate the occasion early!  We had a beautiful cake and cuppa and presented Gail with a key ring made from Mah Jong tiles and several pieces of PILC etched crystal.

Gail started this group of Mah Jongers at the North Star Library two years ago, not long after she and her husband Warren arrived here in Pattaya July 2005.  There had been a group before, but it seemed to have dissipated.  The Library was a great choice for an interested person to meet, as it is very central, is closely affiliated with the PILC, and if you can’t make it for a week or two, it doesn’t matter.  Others will be there anyway and it is a very social and friendly group of ladies. Gail and Warren are Canadian, hailing from Ontario; Gail born in Hamilton and Warren in Windsor.  Warren studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Windsor and Gail trained as a nurse at Niagara Falls, concentrating on Community (District) Nursing.  They have two children.  Carmen (35) married to Scott and they have 3 smalls; Paige Isabella, Chloe Elizabeth and Audrey Katheryn.  And Matthew (32) married to Nichole who also have 3 smalls; Leah Gail, Sarah Lynn and Alexander Warren.  These babes have all appeared in the last few years, hence their desire in retirement to be home and spend much time with the grandchildren.

The Ritchie’s have been on the ex-pat trail for 15 years now, their first posting being in Kuwait, followed by New Delhi, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur and finally, Pattaya.  They have thoroughly enjoyed this episode of their lives and the experiences it has given them and their children.  It was in Hong Kong, 1997 that Gail first experienced Mah Jong, having read about it in a YWCA brochure and thinking she would like to give it a try.  She had lessons and thus a lifelong passion (or vice?) was born!  While they were posted in Malaysia Gail really got into Mah Jong.  After all, who could resist the sumptuous decor of Mrs HSBC Manager’s beautiful home with the long, deep verandas and ceiling fans where they played?  Added to this was the scrumptious afternoon tea the maids prepared for them every week!  Brings up a nice picture in your mind, doesn’t it?  This ritual was adhered to, even if Mrs HSBC Manager was away!!  No wonder it was such a happy and enjoyable time.  Gail plans to start up a Mah Jong group as soon as they settle in back home: this will hopefully be on the shores of Lake Eyrie where they plan to build on a family property.

This ideal setting is important to Gail and Warren as they love sailing.  They have recently sold their boat here, but Warren is already “shopping” in Canada for a replacement, so they might sail away the hours on the lake.  And of course, there are plans for travel too.  Warren has jokingly said on occasions that he “will be relieved when they can take a holiday not dictated by their children’s breeding habits”.  Well Warren, your time has come!  They will visit Australia and New Zealand before returning to Canada and also intend to spend a great deal of time with their children and grandchildren in Canada.  Gail will be able to spend more time on her other interests of cooking, reading and movies too.

I am sorry that my arrival in Pattaya is just when Gail is to set off home; she is a great lady, has a wicked sense of humour and has been a wonderful Mah Jong teacher.  We shall all miss you enormously and wish you much joy, excitement and happy memories in your journey ahead.
Faye Vawdrey