Bangkok Post, Thailand, Insider Column.

Nov. 2--A COMPANY OUTING TO REMEMBER: All work and no play would make Siam Cement just another dull conglomerate. It needs the occasional gimmick to attract attention. Even among people who get paid to cover heavy industry for a living, the mention of words such as "olefins" does not get pulses racing.

So it was, then, that Siam Cement laid on a little quality time during a recent two-day tour of its Eastern Seaboard operations. The press contingent was treated to an afternoon of island-hopping off the coast of Trat.

There were four islands on the itinerary, and at each one the boat anchored while the passengers swam and snorkelled. It was a jolly time by all accounts, until the boat departed island three for island four. In all the hubbub, no one noticed that the second most senior company executive had been left behind.

Thanes Khaochun, the managing director of Rayong Olefins, Siam Cement's petrochemicals flagship, was treading water, with no life vest, as the boat headed off. He eventually made it to the nearest rock he could find, to catch his breath and wait for a lift.

As the boat returned to the scene some 20 minutes later, a relieved Mr Thanes gave all on board a wai. Safely on deck, the tired executive said he had waved at one passing craft earlier, but those on board assumed it was just a cheery hello.

Was he scared? He admitted that he had been. But not quite as scared as the Siam Cement underlings had been once they realised that the boss was missing. Frowns finally turned to smiles, though, when he boarded the boat.

STRIKE UP THE BAND: Events of recent days on the local nightclub front have underscored the dire consequences of stepping on someone's foot. Feet attached to Yubamrungs seem to have a unique magnetic attraction.