DECEMBER 2017
BWA Joins Clean Up Jakarta Day Galungan in Bali A Fairway for Charity
An international school with British heritage, for boys and girls from around the world aged 3 to 18.
For more information or to apply for a place, please contact the Admissions Office +62 (21) 745 1670 • admissions@bsj.sch.id • www.bsj.sch.id
Grapevine / December 2017
Chairwoman’s Message From the Editor
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Social Welfare BWA Joins Clean Up Jakarta Day Greener Living for Jakarta Residents
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Feature Galungan in Bali
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Special Event A Fairway for Charity
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Social Diary Batik Workshop 16 Newcomers' Shopping Day 16 GBCM (Great British Coffee Morning) 17 Halloween Girls' Night In 18 Prost 19 Member News Fur Ever Friends Members Always.... Night of Nights
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Member Review Book Reviews
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Notice Board
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For many of us, breast cancer is an issue close to our hearts. I think we all know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer and possibly had a “scare” ourselves. But for many women in Indonesia, understanding the importance of regular checks and having access to breast cancer screening is not always so apparent.
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Find this inspiring article at page 11
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BWA COMMITTEE 2017 - 2018 Honorary President Rachel Malik Chairwoman Heather Powell
Postal address: P.O. Box 7923 JKSM Jakarta 12079 email: bwa@bwajakarta.org www.bwajakarta.org
Vice-Chairwoman Janine Robinson Treasurer & General Secretary Helen Gerrard Grapevine Editor Claire Ruberu Social Welfare Coordinator Jackie Buchanan Newcomers’ Coordinators Helen Watkins Melissa Holck Sponsorship Coordinator Anne Aho-Eagling Membership Coordinator Lorraine Goring House Manager Louise Curtis Programmes Coordinator & Bazaar Leah Sudarto Events Coordinators Diana Grieger Noreen Hussein Website & Comms Coordinator Lucie Turnell General Members Claire Clarke Sibby Brunn
DISCLAIMER The inclusion of any articles, advertising, logos or website links in this publication does not constitute an endorsement or approval by the BWA of the products or services so advertised or featured.
From the Chairwoman As 2017 comes rapidly to a close, 2018 is eagerly ready to kick start the BWA calendar for what promises to be another vibrant year for our association! Thanks to the work of the committees and the enthusiasm of current members and supporters, BWA house has been a hive of activity throughout the year as well as having our members and friends being active in the community enjoying what is on offer in Jakarta. On 31 December 2017 membership for current members will be coming up for renewal. The BWA committee asks you to “Please renew your membership early” as these funds ensure that we can keep BWA House operating. Having a strong membership base also means that newcomers are welcomed by current Jakarta residents and we can help families settle here in Indonesia. Our sponsors are also happiest when we are active and are often willing to repeat their donations which is vitally important for our fundraising work and support for our welfare programs. If you need a reminder as to why you should renew your membership and continue to be a member of BWA see page 23. Did you know that every member renewing for a full 12 months will be given a free entry voucher to a GBCM of your choice? I would like to wish you and your families a Happy Christmas and a peaceful end of year. We look forward to seeing you at BWA House again in January.
Heather
- chairwoman@bwajakarta.org
PS: Mark your calendars. On Saturday 12th May BWA will be hosting, at the Shangri-La hotel, our Annual Charity Ball. This is one party you don’t want to miss out on!
About Cover Photograph by Christina Alexander. One of the many cheerful volunteers who joined in Clean Up Jakarta Day in Pejaten Barat. BWA joined the effort in the neighbourhood around the Kampung Kids centre, one of BWA Social Welfare partners
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From the editor
From the Editor
Grapevine December 2017
The silly season is upon us again. Don’t you love it? So much to do, so little time, so much traffic! But so much fun. Make sure you join in the gatherings with your expat friends. Distract yourself from being away from loved ones with the festivities that your local friends enjoy (because, who doesn’t love a little tinsel - just look at the malls!) and put aside a little time for a good deed here and there for those less fortunate than us. It can be as simple as buying your vegetables from the man who pushes his cart up your street instead of at Hero or asking your pembantu if you can send some goodies for the kids in her kampung. This is the giving season after all.
This edition of Grapevine is full of pages of people giving themselves to the community in one way or another - whether cleaning up the streets in BWA’s neighbourhood or playing golf for charity. I hope you enjoy checking out these pages because they are all ways in which the people of the BWA give themselves up to the community spirit. Happy Silly Season and see you next year.
Claire -
grapevine@bwajakarta.org
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Special Event
Grapevine / December 2017 5
Social Welvare
BWA Joins Clean Up Jakarta Day
On Sunday the 8th October, the British Women’s Association joined forces with Kampung Kids and Clean up Jakarta Day to pick up rubbish around the Pejaten Barat 2 area. Clean Up Jakarta Day has been running for five years and expanding each year, with an estimated 20,000 volunteers participating last year. This year, the project expanded to include areas outside of Jakarta and over 70 clean up sites were nominated. Text by Sibby Brunn • Photo by Christina Alexander
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side from the obvious benefits of picking up rubbish from the streets of Jakarta, Clean Up Jakarta Day also aims to raise awareness about littering and the ‘3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). Early on the morning of the 8th, several BWA members and their families met with families from the Kampung Kids project. Participants were divided into groups and given rubbish bags, rubber gloves and ‘trash hero’ badges. Over 150 people joined the initiative at our clean up site, mainly from BWA and Kampung Kids, but also a few people who lived in the area and saw what we were
doing. Rubbish was collected from the kampung around where Kampung Kids is located and also from Jalan Pejaten Barat 2. An effort was made to separate recyclable trash from non-recyclables and some of Jakarta’s ‘orange men’ joined to help with the sorting. It was considered a very successful morning and we look forward to seeing you all next year to make Jakarta a cleaner city. If you would like more information on Clean Up Day Jakarta you can visit their website at http:// cleanupjakartaday.org/en/ and please feel free to contact socialwelfareaction@bwajakarta.org if you would like more information about our environmental efforts.
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Social Welfare
GREENER LIVING FOR JAKARTA RESIDENTS
Jakarta produces 6700 tonnes* of waste each day, most of which ends up in landfills, in the city's rivers, or on the street. So what can you, as a Jakarta resident, do to make a difference? Below is a list of small changes you can make to your lifestyle. *figure taken from cleanupjakartaday.org
MICROBEADS
RETURN USED CONTAINERS
Microbeads are tiny particles of plastic that have been added to many personal care products. These tiny particles end up entering the ocean. Check packaging for products that contain microbeads. For more information: www.beatthemicrobead.org
Some franchises provide drop points for empty containers. One example is The Body Shop. Used Body Shop containers can be returned to their stores.
SAY NO TO STRAWS Millions of straws are used each day, most of them used just once. By saying no to straws in restaurants you can reduce your plastic usage and carbon footprint. Find out more at: thelastplasticstraw.org
MEAT FREE MONDAY This campaign was launched in 2009 by Paul McCartney and his family. By cutting meat from your diet one day a week, not only do you reduce your carbon footprint, but it's also good for your health! To find out more please visit: www.meatfreemondays.com
TETRA PAK
SAY NO TO PLASTIC BAGS Forgotten your reusable shopping bags at home? Ask your supermarket to pack your groceries in cardboard boxes instead of plastic bags.
Washed and flat packed tetra paks can be dropped at the tetra pak office. BWA is also working on a drop point at their premises. For more information, please contact socialwelfareaction@ bwajakarta.org
Compiled by British Women's Association Social Welfare Team. For more information please contact socialwelfareaction@bwajakarta.org
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Feature
Galungan in Bali Have you ever wondered why sometimes when you are in Bali you see rows of beautiful bamboo poles lining the streets? Why are they there sometimes and not other times? Well, that time of year has rolled around again, and on November 1, 2017, Bali celebrated Galungan. Text by Stephanie Brookes • Photos by David Metcalf
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alungan is a time for welcoming the ancestral spirits back home to Bali, and the island must look welcoming, colourful and festive for the gods. Galungan is a ten-day celebration symbolising the victory of good (dharma) over evil (adharma), during which Balinese Hindus honour their creator and their ancestors. The celebration of Galungan occurs on a Wednesday, once in the 210-day Balinese calendar. During this time, the island is ablaze with colour as the Balinese make elaborate offerings and perform rituals to entertain the returning spirits.
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The house compounds that form the nucleus of Balinese society come alive, with families offering food and flowers to the ancestral spirits to express their gratitude and to seek protection. The whole island sprouts tall bamboo poles (penjors), which are usually decorated with fruit, coconut leaves and flowers, and are set up at the entrance to every house. And, yes, we have one outside our house because I live in Bali. At each gate, you'll also find small bamboo altars erected especially for the celebration, each one bearing woven palm-leaf offerings.
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Preparations for Galungan begin well beforehand. Penyekeban, meaning the day to cover up, occurs three days before the actual Galungan day. This is the day when green bananas are covered up in huge clay pots to speed their ripening. Penyajahan occurs two days before the Galungan day and marks a time of introspection for Balinese. Colourful Balinese cakes known as jaja are made from fried rice dough. These are used in offerings and eaten during the 10-day Galungan time. This time of the year you see piles of jaja in every village market. The day before Galungan is Penampahan or slaughter day. The Balinese kill sacrificial pigs and chickens for uses such as temple altar offerings. On Galungan day streams of Balinese devotees can be seen bringing elaborate offerings to their temples, where they will pray. The next day the Balinese visit their extended family and closest friends. In ten days Kuningan will mark the end of Galungan. This is the day the Balinese believe the spirits ascend
back to heaven. This is another ornate and glorious event on the Balinese calendar. On this day, you will see special offerings of yellow rice, and for sure, if you are staying in a village, your neighbour will give you some.
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Feature
The barong is invited into houses as he makes his way through the village. His presence is meant to restore the balance of good and evil in a house. The residents of the house will pray before the dancing barong, who will then give them a piece of his fur as a keepsake. After the barong pays a visit, it is important to make an offering of a canang sari (a flower offering) containing money. During Galungan there is an abundance of traditional Balinese food, like lawar (a spicy pork and coconut sauce dish) and satay. If you love trying local food, some local restaurants will feature a larger array of Balinese specialities. Make sure you try some.
Watch out for those giant banners or boards posted outside temples. As there are over 20,000 temples and shrines all over Bali, you have a pretty good chance of catching a temple Odalan (temple birthday) when you are in Bali. The notice display will show the upcoming dates of temple dances, rituals and other important ceremonies. Often these festivities go for one month, and most temples have an Odalan every 210 days. If you happen to chance upon an Odalan, look for the day of Ngelawang. Ngelawang is an exorcism dance performed by a barong, a mythical beast representing the divine protector. 10 Grapevine / December 2017
The beautiful penjors line every road, lane and tiny street and sway in the wind, a continual reminder of this grand welcoming home of the ancestral spirits. Mark your calendar and plan to visit May 30 to June 9, 2018, and you will get to witness this beautiful event for yourself next year.
Stephanie Brookes is a travel writer and blogger with tales from Indonesia and beyond. Please see www.travelwriter.ws http://www.facebook.com/stephtravelwriter www.instagram.com/stephtravelwriter David Metcalf runs cultural photography tours in Indonesia and beyond. His photo gallery, Taksu Photo Gallery in Ubud, Bali is a showcase of beautiful photographic work from Indonesia. www.davidmetcalfphotography.com www.instagram.com/davidmetcalfphotography
Special Event
A Fairway for Charity For many of us, breast cancer is an issue close to our hearts. I think we all know someone who has been impacted by breast cancer and possibly had a “scare” ourselves. But for many women in Indonesia, understanding the importance of regular checks and having access to breast cancer screening is not always so apparent. So, that is why the BWA Charity Golf Day for Breast Cancer Awareness is such a great event. Women can be active in helping Lovepink Indonesia raise the profile and goals of their group and have fun at the same time. Text by Claire Ruberu • Photos compliments of Rinaldy Chaniago, who also kindly gifted each player a photo of their choice
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s a BWA member, I have previously participated in the charity golf days in a volunteer capacity. Distribute drinks, help with registration, take some photos. But I was always slightly envious of the people playing because they looked to be having so much fun. So this year, I expropriated my husband's clubs, rustled up a few equally amateurish but fun friends and hit the green for my first ever golf tournament. And that is the beauty of the BWA golf days - everyone can play, whatever your experience. As absolute beginners, some prep was involved. Two days of nine holes with someone to show us the ropes, some seriously ambitious crafting to create our golf cart decorations and a few trips to the fabric pasar to wow everyone with our golf kit, because our game certainly wasn’t going to win us any prizes! The fun had begun even before we hit the green. For us first-timers, the BWA golf day was a fantastic introduction to social golf. Everything was fun, nothing overwhelming. The team at Matoa Golf Course and Country Club, led by Pak Reza, did a splendid job managing the 17 teams as they made use of their beautiful course and facilities. There was much pre-planning with
the BWA mighty duo of Heather and Diana who were coordinating the event for the first time. Before tee-off, all teams were given access to their carts for decorating, provided with morning snacks compliments of American Club and a BWA goodie bag with a swag of great golf accessories and vouchers from sponsors. There was plenty of water thanks to Coca-Cola and we received first aid kits from RS Premier Bintaro. Team captains were briefed by Bill Lloyd of sponsors Asian Tigers Mobility on the rules of the Texas Scramble program and all began the shotgun tee off without too much delay. My team made good use of the Mulligans-for-charity which allowed us to take our shot again when we hit a dud. And fun games like the “wellie toss” and “football golf” lightened the game nerves, while we thought the “Hire the Pro” hole was genius. For a donation to Lovepink, Ken Runyon of Accel Golf Academy made an expert drive for us that set us up on the green, but he also impressed us further by matching our donation. His team of Nunung, Mala and Sugung were top helpers, getting into the spirit of the day. Once we finished, it was back to the club house to celebrate our success with Pink Sparkling Wine from
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Special Event
Now! Jakarta. Over lunch, provided by Matoa and Turquaz, Dede, Mitha, Desi and Bebe from yayasan Lovepink updated us about the important work they do for women across Indonesia and we purchased extra raffle tickets, with all proceeds going to the charity. We relaxed and laughed about the day over margarita’s from Eastern Promise, Starbucks coffee and juices from LifeJuice, with a massage from Spalosophy. And finally...the winners were announced. Congratulations everyone! It was truly another great golfing event but the success must be attributed to the great spirit of fun and participation of all the golfers. Thank you from BWA and see you next year!
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Congratulations to the winners: • Longest Drive Men: Rick Wymer • Longest Drive Ladies A: Misako F. • Longest Drive Ladies B: Mini Wati • Nearest to the Pin: David Gee • Wellie Toss: Bill Loyd • Best Team 1:Page 287 • Best Team 2:Pink Panther • Best Team 3: Longest Balls • Best Decorated Cart: Pink Putters • Best Golf Kit: Titty Committee
Special Event
TEAM SHOTS
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Social Diary The past few months have been some of the busiest for BWA members. Grapevine brings you some of the highlights of our members and their friends enjoying just a few of the great events BWA organises and is involved in.
Batik Workshop
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n 26 September, a special members only event was held at Batik Hajadi , a leading exporter of Indonesian batik. Ibu Sulis Hajadi demonstrated the process of batik stamping and provided all members with a chance to create their own hand stamped batik souvenir. She explained how her uncle first hand crafted the designs for the family business back in 1974, designs which still feature as the foundation pieces for Batik Hajadi’s collection.
Newcomer’s Furniture Shopping Trip
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aking your house a home is top priority when moving to a new country but, finding those "go to" shops isn't always easy. But on October 10 BWA saved the day as far as these newcomers to Jakarta were concerned. Newcomers Coordinators Helen Watkins and Melissa Holck organised the essential itinerary for the ladies. A big shout out to two BWA sponsors who helped with this event; Bintang Rent, car and driver rental services, who provided three beautifully presented cars complete with very capable drivers. Pak Joko, Pak Iwan and Pak Muhid ferried us around safely, were always ready to go and packed all purchases carefully! “ Also,
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Social Diary
thanks to Vie for Living, who quietly guided everyone through their unique store, giving great information on their sourcing of products and design, they also provided yummy Indonesian snacks and refreshments plus efficient service for all the discounted purchases! Very happy shoppers, thank you Vie.
gbcm Great British Coffee Morning
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he October Great British Coffee Morning was a busy and very pink affair. The lovely ladies from the yayasan Lovepink, who support survivors and women undergoing breast cancer treatment, presented all the great work they do in Indonesia. Nathasja of NadeBo Life Coaching gave tips on the different ways women can take steps to get more from their lives.
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Social Diary
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Halloween Girls' Night In
t was a Witchin’ Good Night for the October Girls' Night “In”. Cackles of another kind were heard around BWA House as the girls' delighted in the Halloween dress ups. (Why should the kids have all the fun?) It wouldn’t be a girls' night without the cocktails. Thank you to Casa Mexico for the margaritas and delicious gourmet tacos and La Posta for the treats. But the night belonged to DJ Big Dwi who rocked the house! Closely followed by BWA member Maz who scared the stripey socks off us in her outfit!
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Social Diary
It seemed like a great idea and it was. The Oktoberfest themed Quiz Night was a huge success. BWA House was transformed into a Bavarian beer hall with German folk music playing in the background. This set the scene for a very fun night. Quiz masters Claire, Rod and Phil kept everyone guessing with a few beer-themed questions in each round. “What is the name of the most popular beer brand in the Simpson’s universe?” and “Which beer refreshes the parts others can’t reach?” But the highlight of the beer quiz had to be when Claire took over for a beer tasting round with 8 different types of beer, some of course from Germany. I mean, what is an Oktoberfest Quiz Night without quizzing contestants on their beer appreciation? But the best was yet to come...dinner! A genuine German feast was beautifully presented and catered for by Jakarta’s favourite German restaurant Paulaner Brauhaus at the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski. “This is the best German food I have ever tasted outside of Germany”, exclaimed our bona fide German member Diana. There was tasty “Brezeln” and different breads with cold cuts. Traditional Bavarian “Obatzda” - a cheese delicacy made of different soft cheese, butter and seasonings. There were delicious salads and for the main of course - sausages and “Sauerkraut” and “Spätzle” (a south German pasta speciality), “Backfisch” and sautéed mushrooms with bread dumplings and other yummy treats. “My personal favorite was the Spätzle with the mushroom sauce,” Diana gushed. “Our quizzers couldn’t believe how lucky they were to get such an exquisite dinner - and desserts hadn’t even been served yet.” Dessert was simply amazing again, with a choice of apple strudel, two types of traditional German cakes, Bavarian Cream in a glass and fresh cut fruits. Everything looked picture perfect and tasted even better. This was definitely one of the best dinners ever served at BWA House, all thanks to our sponsor, the Hotel Indonesia Kempinski. The final two rounds were hard to beat after the great dinner but still played out by the teams with gusto and spirited enthusiasm. Congratulations to the winners Janine, Jenny, Marianne, Ian, Barry and Larissa. Claire Ruberu & Diana Grieger Grapevine / December 2017 19
Member News
Fur Ever Friends Rumah Shambala ...meaning “sanctuary” or “place of peace”. I would like to introduce you to one of the special places in Jakarta that looks after the unwanted dogs in our city. It is a place managed by two wonderful women (Indra and Amy) who give all their love, time and dedication to the welfare of dogs. Text by Rika Oshiro
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umah Shambala initially has started as a foster home for dogs that were rescued from another shelter in Gn Sindur where the owner died and left behind a shelter full of malnutritioned and starving dogs and cats. In March 2016 Indra and Amy evacuated 48 dogs and 25 cats with the help of several rescuers. Due to good social media work they were able to raise a considerable amount of money in short time to put the animals into several animal clinics for immediate medical treatment. About four weeks later all animals were healthy enough to be released and placed into foster homes. In July 2016 Indra and Amy rented a place in Ciputat and called it Rumah Shambala. A place for dogs who couldn’t find a new home or who were simply not healthy enough to be adopted yet. Currently there are 37 dogs living in Rumah Shambala waiting for new families. It is a safe place for the dogs until all of them can be re-homed into new families or homes. Since March 2016 Rumah Shambala has found homes for 31 dogs (50% of them are rescued dogs from Gn Sindur) and Indra and Amy keep in touch with all adopters to ensure the wellbeing of the dogs.
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Who are the people behind Rumah Shambala? The faces of Rumah Shambala are Indra Halim and Amy Sukmana who dedicate an amazing amount of time and love to the unwanted dogs in our city. In October 2010 Indra met Dr. Susana Somali the owner of Pejaten Shelter who had about 80 dogs in her shelter by that time. She inspired Indra to start working as a volunteer and donator for the shelter. Indra helped looking for adopters and worked on donation reports. Besides volunteering for the Pejaten Shelter Indra started rescuing dogs personally and sent them to animal clinics at her own expense. In 2011, she retired after 25 years in the foreign banking sector and moved to a part-time job in education so she could have more time for dog rescue. She is currently
Social Diary
looking after 27 dogs in her private home.
Shambala is a welfare /charity organization and draws no salaries.
How is Rumah Shambala able to survive? I personally came across Amy after she helped one of my friends to adopt a Golden Retriever puppy, the only one out of five puppies that survived after being dumped in the streets. Amy was born and raised in a very poor family and struggled almost her entire life to make a living. She couldn’t attend school as she was expected to work to support her brothers education. She married young but had to raise her children as a single mum. Besides her own two biological children Amy adopted two more children who live with her today. In her past life Amy used to work as a maid, nanny and cook for many expat families in Jakarta one of them with dogs. In October 2015 Amy rescued a Great Dane who was chained and left to starve and met Karin Franken from JAAN. This was a turning point in Amy’s life and she wholeheartedly committed herself to saving dogs lives. After Amy met Indra, she decided to join Indra in full time dog rescue and she sold her small café and is now dedicating her life to her children and dogs. Amy also works at another shelter to earn her living, as Rumah
Rumah Shambala is a non profit organization with the purpose of re-homing rescued dogs or finding foster families for the dogs. They are completely dependent on donations. From the beginning, Rumah Shambala’s dogs have been supported solely by private donors. To maintain long term donor commitment, they started a foster parent program (Orang Tua Asuh/OTA). With a monthly donation of 350.000 IDR/ dog Rumah Shambala is able to take care of the dogs, get medical treatments and prepare them for new families. In addition, Rumah Shambala regularly participates in pet expo’s or bazaars where they sell dog gifts and accessories and actively promote their organization.
If you would to help these selfless women and Jakarta’s abandoned dogs, please contact Indra and Amy to donate. Email : indra.halim222@gmail.com Whatsapp : 0816 1960 222 (Indra Halim) or 0813 8026 3094 (Amy Sukmana) Facebook : Rumah Shambala for more information and to consider fostering a dog temporarily. Instagram : @rumahshambala @indra.halim222
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lifestyleretreats lifestyleretreats 22 Grapevine / December 2017
Member News
Members Always.... It feels good when you belong to something. A family, a workplace, and most of all a friendship group. Then there is the feeling you get from belonging to something exclusive-A club, a neighbourhood, a gym, the frequent flyer club. You have something in common with those people as well - fitness, love of books, the feeling that you worked hard to get there and are being rewarded. Text by Helen Watkins
old friends. Weekly events are ALWAYS well attended, the banging of tiles and shrieks of laughter over the mahjong tables, the calm peacefulness as people create beautiful artwork in dot painting, baby giggles at play group and steely concentration during a canasta game. The sun ALWAYS (well nearly!) shines on our Jolly Golfers and our Rusty Rackets tennis players as they all sweat it out outside then relive those great shots as they cool down afterwards.
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s expats we constantly live in an ever changing world, countries we live in, friends we make, languages we're immersed in, houses, schools, cultures...the list is endless, fun, exasperating, trying and tiring at times. Here in Jakarta we are lucky enough to have something that we can rely on not to change too much, a rock solid constant… the BWA. For many we are a helping hand even before making the transition to Jakarta by the way of our Facebook page and website, ALWAYS a wealth of information and friendly reassuring comments to smooth the path. Weekly drop in coffee mornings, often a first port of call for new arrivals where there's ALWAYS a friendly face, cuppa and cake, stacks of readily shared information and that feeling of "I'm not alone". Our Great British Coffee Mornings are ALWAYS a babble of catching up voices, laughter, informative speakers, shopping, always tea and a slice of something nice, plans in the making, introductions and big hugs with
The key word here is ALWAYS....a wonderful word in our ever changing lives...a great reason to join BWA and keep that constant, that ALWAYS for others for years to come. So please show that you will be there for BWA, because it will ALWAYS be there for you. Renew your membership and feel good about being part of that special club where we have each other in common. Sign up for Social Welfare or one of the other group activities so you can really be active in feeling a part of your membership. And enjoy all the benefits that go along with it.
• Reduced price at all BWA events • Reduced rate extended to partner and young adults over 18 • Free entry to 1 x GBCM on new membership or full year renewal • Welcome bag to new member (and renewing member on request) • Members’ exclusive events • Priority Bookings at premium events (Christmas lunch, Annual Charity Event) • Use of the house (free Wi-Fi) • Free use of library • Enews sent to your mailbox every 2 weeks • Direct emails with special offers • Sponsor discounts • A place to call your home away from home
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Member News
Night Nights BWA’s annual evening charity event has a long and successful history. For over 35 years, members have produced a spectacular night of fundraising for local yayasan charities that the BWA’s social welfare program supports. The blacktie event is always a highlight of the social calendar for expatriates and locals alike. It gives the BWA an opportunity to give back financially to this community we call home and to have a fantastic night out.
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ver the 35 years, the event has taken many different formats but for the past decade or more it has been presented as a fashion show involving BWA members as dancers modelling local designers creations. This has been a great way to involve both the local and expatriate community. But after many years, it has been decided that it is time for a change. Time to offer the community something fresh and new for BWA’s Night of Nights. So after taking on board all the feedback from members and those who have attended year after year, seeking the insights of those who have been involved in planning other gala fundraisers and listening to the opinions from the women and men who have performed previously, BWA is pleased to announce that our 2018 Night of Nights will be different!
Planning has been underway for months, a new committee has been formed and a creative team gathered. On May 12 2018 BWA will present to you an all new night of entertainment. The theme of the night will be unveiled in the near future but we promise you an evening with a difference. While continuing to incorporate some of the favourite aspects from previous years, such as the participation from our expat community, we will be making changes that will still ensure you a great night of food, fun and music. With a few surprises too. Stay tuned and we will be bringing you more details about our Night of Nights in the weeks to come. And save the date - 12 May 2018, because this will be a night you won’t want to miss!
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Member Review
Book Reviews The cult of domestic noir continues apace in the UK. A darker form of chick lit these normally feature a seemingly ordinary 30/40/50 something woman going about her normal daily business until she is disturbed psychologically by a person or event… Then darkness descends in varying degrees of surprise, shock or violence… Authors such as Tammy Cohen, BA Paris, Louise Candlish, Amanda Prowse have helped drive the popularity of the genre… And they are always page turners! Two of this year’s favourites are The People at Number 9 by Felicity Everett and Friend Request by Laura Marshall. Text by by Jane Forster
Friend Request by Laura Marshall
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his debut novel asks the question “Can you really forget your teenage actions? Or do they haunt you forever?” Louise is a 40 something, divorced mother of one. An interior designer she has spent the past few years creating a safe life for herself and her four year old son, Henry. Then one day out of the blue she receives a friend request on facebook from a friend from school. The only problem is that this friend died 25 years ago! The mystery deepens as Lou tries to work out what’s happening… The story shifts back and forth from school days to present day as the story unfolds involving grieving parents, nasty school friends, new boyfriends and a complicated ex husband. These novels can descend into cliche but this one manages to avoid this. I was not shocked but I was surprised at the ending. Really worth a read.
The People at Number 9 by Felicity Everett
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his is a far more gentle example of the genre. In fact not a mysterious death in sight! Set in London in an up and coming neighbourhood this explores the nature of friendship and betrayal - and how far you would go to make and keep - a friendship. Sara and Neil and their two children are pleased and intrigued when artists Gavin and Lou and their three children move in next door. Sara, in particular, is determined to befriend them and goes out of her way to insert herself into the lives of these cool neighbours. Soon Gav and Lou are relying on Sara to help them out… Sara soon finds herself seduced by their attentions - but is she the only one? Who’s taking advantage of who? Are they really friends or is something darker going on? A wonderful exploration of modern friendship, marriage, parenting and the art world… There’s no explosive ending but it’s very satisfactory and will make you look at your neighbours twice and wonder what goes on behind closed doors... I was gripped by both of these - in fact I read Friend Request in two sittings. Happy reading!
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Do I need vitamin supplements? We need vitamins and minerals for a good health. Some vitamins need to be eaten daily and others we can store. Should you be topping up? Vitamins are divided into fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins. You can store supplies of fat-soluble vitamins in your fatty tissues and liver and use them up when you need them. This means that a daily supply in your diet is NOT necessary. Examples of Fat-soluble vitamins are A, D, E and K. These fat soluble vitamins are found in liver and fatty foods such as oily fish, egg yolks, fortified spreads and dairy products. Vitamin A Your body can make vitamin A from beta carotene which is found in vegetables such as carrots, peppers, spinach and yellow fruits. It is important for a strong immune system, as well as good eyesight. If you have too much vitamin A, your bones may become more brittle and easy to break. Too much vitamin A when you’re pregnant can result in birth defects. You don’t need supplements if you have a reasonable diet. Vitamin K Vitamin K is needed for blood clotting, which helps to stop any bleeding. Along with vegetable oils, foods like broccoli, spinach, brussel sprouts and curly kale contain vitamin K. You shouldn’t need to take a supplement. Vitamin K can interact with the effect of blood thinning medication.
Vitamins B and C All the B vitamins and vitamin C are water-soluble vitamins. If you have too much of them, you pass them out in your urine. They need to be in your diet every day, as your body can’t store them. Lots of vegetables are high in vitamin C, but prolonged cooking (especially boiling) can cause loss of the vitamin content. There are different B vitamins with functions mostly related to keeping your blood cells, skin and nervous system in good shape and releasing energy from the food we eat. You should be able to get enough from a balanced diet. People who drink a lot of alcohol, may need regular supplements of vitamin B and Thiamine. When you process alcohol, you use up a lot of vitamin B.
Fizzy vitamin tablets contain a lot of salt. If you do take supplements, try to change to a non-effervescent version. All pregnant women should take a folic acid supplement until 3 months into pregnancy – ideally starting before conception. If you have osteoporosis (increased bone weakness), you may need calcium and vitamin D supplements (especially if you don’t eat a lot of dairy foods). When you suffer from heavy periods you may take iron supplements. So, it is better to stock up on fruit, vegetables and wholegrains instead of taking (expensive) supplements of vitamins! Please discuss any concerns with your trusted medical practitioner or contact Good Practice Clinic. Questions? Call 021 - 7183140 or email to info@goodpractice.co.id 28 Grapevine / December 2017
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