A report from my recent trip.

June 4th

Finally Stirling Council got their warehouse back. A big thank you to them for supplying the warehouse to store all the donated goods. If it was not for their help the operation would not have happened. The people of Stirling very generously donated beautiful new toys which the Thai and Burmese children will get great pleasure from. Special thanks to the University of Glasgow for storing lots of items too and Hauser Manchester and Glasgow for shipping the 40 ft container to Thailand. Not forgetting Caroline for all your help with this.

June 6th

I would like to introduce you to the party: Marion (my Mum), Moira McLennan Social Worker and Florence Nightingale, Elizabeth Barry, Kyle Donnelly, Wright Robinson Gorton. Paul Cosgrove began his work experience in Burma with the Foreign Office.

June 7th

Stay at the Inya Lake Dusit courtesy of the lovely GM Eduard (thank you!).

Everyone visited the children at the Monastic in Rangoon where we spent the next few days having English competitions and lots of fun.

Moira got to work with all the children getting their health check. Rosalind Koo, Andrew and Jeffrey arrived. Rosalind helped me with English lessons for the children whilst Moira and Kyle continued with the health checks. After several days the monks plucked up the courage and received their check ups as well. All in all, a busy time.

One little girl needs to see an eye specialist and needs a sponsor to pay for these costs!!! Can anyone help?

Good news too as the GSK office Burma came up trumps and supplied medicine for the children.

June 9th

Party at the British Embassy Club with thanks to Vicky and her team. 15 Children from the Monastic and 15 children from the orphanage in Burma all met up at the Dusit in Rangoon. This was the first time they had ever been in a hotel and they were very happy. Staff from the Dusit helped give all the children their new clothes, wallets, bags and goodybags. The children were transformed and so excited, not to mention a little apprehensive.

We then all went to the Embassy Club where we had fun and games, along with fish and chips and Burmese food, topped off with ice cream. There was pass the parcel then the dancing competition which went down really well. A great time was had.

Thanks to all the staff at the British Club for all their help, GSK Burma staff, Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya and everyone else who made the day such a success.

June 11th

Greig McBeth, a wonderful joiner from Stirling, said a fond farewell to the people in the village and the many friends he had made. Greig took a month out of his work as a self employed joiner- carpenter to help rebuild the orphanage in Burma. Without his help I know the project would not have been completed on time. I also know he was upset to leave and will go back when he can – Greig… I think I will need you in about 6 months!!. Thanks to Andrew Koo GM at the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya, Greig was able to enjoy a couple of days rest in Pattaya before he left. Thanks also to the Inya Lake Dusit who supplied Greig with some R&R.

June 11th

The orphanage in Burma was officially opened with ownership then passed back to the village committee.

Attending the opening was HE Vicky Bowman UK Ambassador, Tracy Cosgrove, Than Naing and family, Marion Donnelly, Moira McClennan, Greig McBeth, Andrew Koo, Elizabeth Barry, Paul Cosgrove, Kyle Donnelly and the staff, committee members, police and extended family,

Once all the official speeches were over - including the often very funny address in Burmese by HE Vicky Bowman - the children and officials then set off the confetti bombs which went down a storm. A lovely meal was provided by the committee and everyone was very proud of their new home. It was also lovely to meet the wonderful benefactor who donated the land.

June 13th

We all visited the temple and took the children bowling. It was superb to see the children having lots of fun. They had never bowled before and the first little boy went flying with the ball. We also ordered lunch and then went to Swensens Ice Cream after bowling.

June 14th

Moira got to work on the slum children's health checks and the Burmese migrant workers check ups on the construction sites in BKK. Moira will attach her report shortly… not for the light hearted reader. The slum children all had their interviews for Scholarships and the parents also received health checks. People should not forget that for £20 a month you can make a direct difference to the children helping them with their education. You can follow their progress and see them smile and benefit from your help. So what are you waiting for?

June 15th

Tracy and Kyle organised a painting competition with the children at the temple in BKK. Kyle then had a game of football with them. The game was 5 a side. Kyle's team played, with no shoes, against a local group of Thai School Children who on seeing the temple children thought they would trance them!! Well guess what? Through sheer determination and stamina, Kyle and the temple kids WON. 5 to 1. Who needs shoes? As this was going on, the other kids were all practising YMCA (the song and dance) – in the graveyard for our special trip to the Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya the following day. What a sight as one little boy, who is nicknamed Ronaldo, sat on a plastic chair, broom in hand, singing "Row Row Row Your Boat" in the graveyard.

June 16th

“Love All Serve All” and “Take time to be Kind”, two of the Hard Rocks mottos. The Hard Rock Pattaya must be the number 1 for their ethos as it flows through the hotel and I am extremely grateful for the staff and Management's support.

Hard Rock Hotel Pattaya. Party Time. 2 mini buses and 25 kids later we arrived in Pattaya. First the children went to the Hard Rock Café for lunch, all change and Cabana at the ready the fund starts. As usual the staff were superb and the children had a great time. I often take children in to the hotel and they are regarded as the VIP guests. When we were in the pool, a group of holidaymakers from Australia asked if they could buy ice cream for the children. I am often surprised at people's affections and generosity. The children all liked their ice cream and so did the Hard Rock Staff.

June 23rd

Tracy arrives back in Scotland for the Entrepreneur of the year awards with Ernst & Young, Tracy was proud to be a finalist in the Social Category and would like to thank Ernst & Young for recognising her endeavours.

July 2nd

Tracy and Melissa headed back to Thailand. The 40ft Container will arrive on the 2 nd and with the help of 10 Hard Rock Pattaya Staff and 5 volunteers from the Pattaya orphanage, the container will be unloaded. Special Thanks to School Trends and Blue Clothing for donating the wonderful brand new goods and their continued support.