JIM THOMPSON has unveiled two new fabric collections able to add elements of Romanticism, Art Nouveau and Moorish culture to any home, with luxurious, elegant looks.

Old World charm manifests in an array of ornamental prints in the Floriental collection. The name combines “floral” and “oriental” for a collection that revives 18th-century damasks and warp printing, giving historic artworks a fresh lease of life.

The Romanticist designs glorify the past and nature in a classically ornate manner, with picturesque birds nestled among blossoming peonies on bright silk and linen with chintz finishes. Decorative Art Nouveau motifs meanwhile appear on rich velvets.

The Floriental pattern itself originates from a fanciful block-print kept in the Jim Thompson archive. The birds among the peonies are screen-printed onto a flowing silk-and-linen blend in a lively, contemporary palette.

This fresh design is enhanced with a chintz finish, then calandered, giving it a handle and drape, while increasing durability.

The Otago pattern is inspired by an abstract image of the Otago, a legendary ship captained by author and adventurer Joseph Conrad, who visited Siam during the 19th century.

Here, the layers of lineation and illustrative brushstrokes are separately screen-printed onto a finely slubbed linen ground.

Inspired by the work of French furniture designer Louis Majorelle, the Majorelle pattern has been reworked from an archived turn-of-the-century image. The original nature-inspired print has been carefully redrawn and then screen-printed onto sumptuous velvet, in layers of deep ink shades and metallic tones.

The subtle lustre of the metallic pigment, paired with the jewelled colours of the modal ground, brings this decadent 20th-century document back to life.

Dusk Garland is a romantic, mystical design depicting a blooming garland. It’s been constructed from the traditional technique of warp printing. Printed warp yarns are woven with undyed yarn to create a pattern that appears to move subtly, like shadows.

The Saracen collection features high-performance fabrics that similarly reflect the opulence of a bygone era. Constructed in a Trevira CS flame-retardant textile and inspired by Moorish art and architecture and the highly decorative motifs of the Byzantine Empire, Saracen brings together style and durability in equal measure.

An arabesque look and feel is a distinct feature in different patterns like Moorish stripe Ablaq, marble-inspired jacquard Ebru, and Nasrid, a geometric design that is in turn influenced by intricate palace tiling from the culturally rich metropolis of Constantinople.

Also named after the collection, the jacquard woven, Trevira CS cut-velvet Saracen pattern takes its cues from the colours and patterns found in traditional Byzantine architecture. The repeated trellis motif is a popular pattern, adopted by many cultures, which evokes the East-meets-West connection that runs throughout this collection.

Moss is Jim Thompson’s latest durable velvet. The impressive Martindale result and luxurious upright pile finishing, which enhances its handle and depth of colour, ensures it is suited for upholstered works.

Presented in a large and versatile colour offering, Moss is available in various punchy tones and elegant neutrals.

Pomare’s abstract design is inspired by the oceanic art of the Pomare Dynasty of Tahiti, sharing its partiality for distorted forms. The distinctive appliqued-embroidery detail is achieved using a computerised machine-embroidery process on a sumptuous linen ground, creating a soft and lightweight woven construction – perfect for a curtain.

Learn more at http://www.JimThompsonFabrics.com.

Centred on the concept “Wondrous Christmas Town at T77”, the event will feature Santa Claus and his friends along with plenty of places to shop, eat and chill in the wintry atmosphere.

Shoppers and gourmands alike will be thrilled by the “T77 X’Mas Town” strewn with fairy lights all the way from the entrance. A “Mood Wall” adorned with mood pins greets visitors at they enter while more than 120 hip stalls are being set up in seven zones. The “Market Zone” will be packed with stalls featuring popular restaurants and food trucks and offers fashion, health goods, antiques and house décor items.

The highlight is the “Santa Factory Zone” with replicas of Santa’s toy factory. Join in the fun games and receive wonderful prizes presented by Bangkok Bank. Be enchanted by experimental shows at the “Zoolumination Zone” under the theme Winter Forest that mimics an arctic forest, aurora borealis and animals with lights programmed to imitate their movements as though they were coming to life.

Over at the “Playground Zone”, children and families can enjoy a variety of playthings that are guaranteed to bring laughter and joy and stimulate imagination in children. Next door is the “Dog Pavilion Zone” filled with stalls designed for pet lovers and a large plaza for dog training.

And don’t miss the “Workshop Spaces Zone” and the “Music & Show Zone” where mini-concerts by artists such as Film Bongkot and Sqweez Animal on December 16 and Lipta and Season Five on December 17 will be performed.

A shuttle bus service is available between Onnut BTS Station and T77, leaving from under the pedestrian bridge for BTS Exit 2 in front of Tesco Lotus Onnut. Temporary parking at Wat Mahabut (Onnut 7) is available.

The fair is open on all three days from 4 to 10pm.

Digital mobile phone service Line Mobile has upgraded its app and added a new function that can help you save on your phone bills.

Just select the icon “Refer a friend” and send invitation codes to your pals to subscribe to the mobile phone service and you get to use the service for free for up to five months, after which you will get Bt10 discount per month per referred friend.

A collaboration between Line Thailand and DTN (dtac), the Line Mobile app is very convenient and transparent too, allowing users to manage their own monthly packages without having to go to or telephone call centres. Users can use the app to change their package, control data use and pay bills.

The “Refer a friend” function generates a code that you can immediately send to friends via your social network apps, like Line, Facebook or email.

Once your friends click on the link, they will be taken to the Line Mobile web page where they can buy a SIM card and subscribe to a package.

After your friends have subscribed via your shared code, you will receive a code to redeem for one month’s free usage. You can redeem the free usage up to five referred friends, meaning you can use the service free for up to five months.

Moreover, each of your referred friends can invite his or her friends to get the same free usage for up to five moths.

And after the five-free month period ends, you will get Bt10 per month per referred friend and your referred friend will also get the same Bt10 discount per month. Line Mobile says it has no ceiling for this Bt10 discount. So the more friends you invite to use the service, the more you save.

While this is a clever marketing strategy, it does help you save on your phone bills too. And there are further savings to be made, as Line Mobile has just reduced the cost of five of its seven monthly packages by 50 per cent. For example, the S package is reduced from Bt339 to Bt170 a month and the XL package from Bt749 to Bt375.

During my trial use of the service, I detected no problems other than a very occasional and quickly righted glitch, the Internet data was fast and the voice calls were loud and clear.

PROMOTION PACKAGES

S: Bt170 (Bt339)

M: Bt215 (Bt429)

L: Bt300 (Bt599)

XL: Bt375 (Bt749)

Unlimited: Bt850 (Bt1,699)

The Insta 360 One 4K 360-degree camera ensures that you get every detail of a panoramic view, using “smart” technology, with in still photos or video. It’s packed with functions for making premium 24-million-pixel photos and 4k videos. RTB Technology distributes the Insta 360 to stores for Bt11,900.

Shoot like a pro

Sony’s Alpha 7RIII 35mm full-frame mirrorless interchangeablelens camera boasts 42.4-megapixel resolution for professional-style results. The strong, compact body affords greater flexibility in any situation. It can shoot up to 10 frames per second continuously. A good performer in low light, it uses a builtin five-axis image stabiliser. The body sells for Bt114,990.

Four cameras, no waiting

The Nubia Z17s phone packs four cameras – two up front and two at the back – plus AI technology to enhance your shots. On top of a 5.73-inch display, the phone has plenty of power thanks to a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835, and you have 8GB of RAM and 128GB of storage. Expect to pay Bt17,990.

Safe for kids

Safe, lightweight and sized for kids, JBL JR300BT wireless headphones feature Safe Sound technology to protect young ears. Bluetooth-enabled and with 12 hours of battery life, they have a soft padded headband and ear cushions for a feathery fit. Get them at a promotional discounted price of Bt1,990 from http://www.MahajakLife.com.

Monster listening

ATHM50x Red full-size Monitor headphones from AudioTechnica were built for studio engineers. The 45mm large aperture drivers carry rare-earth magnets for exceptional clarity and solid bass. The professional-grade ear band and headband remain exceptionally comfortable over extended use. Deliver great sound isolation as well, the headphones come from RTB Technology for Bt7,290.

Winter illuminations around Christmas and New Year have long been popular across Japan and now Bangkok is getting in on the act with the launch of the Thailand Illumination Festival 2017 on Ratchadaphisek Road.

“The concept of Thailand Illumination Festival 2017 draws on the Luminous Garden Lighting Festival in Japan, which is held in almost all cities across the country every winter, each with a distinctive display and style. The lights are a definite tourist attraction and never fail to impress both local and international tourists. Amusement parks and shopping malls as well as the city streets are all lit up too. The festival has become one of Japan’s winter traditions,” says Yuiji Matsuyama, president of Apollo (Thailand), manufacturer and distributor of Idemaitsu and Daphne lubricants and the organiser of the lighting extravaganza.

“Our aim is organising this festival in Bangkok is to create a new attraction in the heart of the city to help promote the tourism industry in Thailand. This is the key to stimulating the Thai economy. It is also intended as a social activity that fosters a sense of sharing among our staff and the public, as well as giving everyone an opportunity to make merit through donating to charity. In addition to proceeds from sales of food, fun games will also raise funds for a number of important foundations. We were only able to make this event a reality due to the efforts and willingness on the part of Apollo Oil to express in a practical way our concern for the community and to benefit society,” he adds.

Thailand Illumination Festival 2017 features elaborate and colourful light displays made of millions of LEDs spread over 39 rai of land opposite Esplanade shopping centre in the centre of the area’s exciting night life venues.

Getting there is easy and convenient with the MRT Thailand Cultural Centre station just a short walk away from the action.

The entrance to the festival boasts a beautifully crafted sign with the festival’s Thai name, “Silp Saeng Haeng Raeng Bandal Jai”, meaning “Inspirational Illumination.”

On the other side of the gate, an exhibition presenting Apollo Oil’s CSR events is adjacent to a copy of His Majesty the late King Bhumibol’s speech about doing good for the benefit of others through public health, education, helping the underprivileged, nature conservation and sports.

A little further into the festival are five game booths. One invites you to throws darts at balloons or a board, another to throw balls in cans and yet another to toss rings. Players are rewarded but the prizes go not to them but to the Foundation for the Blind in Thailand, Baan Fuengfah Home for Disabled Babies, Pakkred Babies Home, Rachawadee for Girls, and Baan Nontapum, a Home for Children with Disabilities.

And the festival is not only a showcase of dazzling illuminations. It also commemorates His Majesty the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej and honours His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn Bodindradebayavarangkun with an exhibition titled “Nai Luang Nai Duangjai” featuring the portraits of King Rama IX and King Rama X as well as their actions for the Thai people.

The exhibition “The King of Our Heart” is a must-visit and pays tribute to the late King through a garden of light sculptures presenting the late King’s personal belongings and a fabulous light and sound display with the late King’s compositions such as “Blue Day”, “Echo”, “Near Dawn”, “Alexandra” and “Still on My Mind”. It runs for 12 minutes and gets underway nightly at 7.

The centre of the festival is a sea of blue lights. Visitors stroll through a tunnel of lights made of millions of blue, yellow and red LEDs, the perfect background for that must-have selfie.

You emerge from the tunnel into a kaleidoscopic garden of lights boasting illuminated rabbits, chickens, houses, trees and spheres as well as fountains as well as lifesize animals of the 12 zodiac signs. Even the trees have LED branches.

And just as it should be with any festival, part of the space is dedicated to an open-air eating area manned by 30 leading street food stalls selling pork satay, bone soup, noodle soup, grilled pork and beef, maw soup, meatballs, Isaan food and Japanese delicacies. Part of the proceeds from food sales will go to the Chaipattana and Siriraj foundations. There’s music to, courtesy for a band from Mahidol University.

On December 31, this spectacular illuminated garden will play host to the “Apollo Thai Countdown 2018” with mini-concerts by Chanakan “Atom” Rattanaudom, Jennifer Kim, and the Sincharoen Brothers.

Shining in the night

– “Thailand Illumination Festival 2017” takes place nightly through January 6.

– Admission is free.

– It runs from 6 to 10 Monday to Thursday and until 11 on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

– Visitors can leave their cars at the MRT Park and Ride building, Thailand Cultural Centre, Ratchada Soi 6 and the Park and Ride building of Lat Phrao MRT.

– Find out more and join the conversation at Facebook.com/ThailandIlluminationFestival2017

An ultra-compact digital camera which uses similar technology to Sony’s acclaimed RX100 V, the Sony DSCRX0 more than makes up for its minimal appearance and lack of control buttons by capturing outstanding photos and videos.

Boasting only a power on/off button, shutter/video button, a menu button, an “enter” button and four navigation keys that also serve other functions depending on the current usage, the camera can be controlled through a smartphone and Sony’s PlayMemories Mobile app.

The app is particularly good for keen home moviemakers as it can be used to control up to five RX0 cameras for multi-angle shooting. One RX0 is connected to your smartphone as the “group owner” with the four others connected to the “group owner” as clients. You control the group power that in turn controls the client cameras.

Your smartphone connects to the camera with a Wi-Fi connection (the camera has a builtin Wi-Fi function) and when using the phone to control a single RX0, you can check the composition or settings on the smartphone screen, which should save you screwing up your eyes to make out the image on the tiny 1.5-inch, 230,400-dot camera display.

The RX0 uses the 1.0-inch-type (13.2mmx8.8mm) Exmor RS CMOS image sensor like the one used in RX100 V but with lower resolution of 15.3 effective megapixels.

Moreover, the image sensor comes complete with a DRAM memory chip, allowing for fast readout and enabling impressive performance including super slow motion.

Adding to the camera’s fast performance is BIONZ X image processor that efficiently processes light to enable movies and stills to be recorded with more realistic details, richer tone gradations and less noise.

The RX0 is capable of shooting high-quality super slow-motion movies at high frame rates of up to 960 fps/1000fps in NTSC/PAL modes. You can switch between them through the menu.

The RX0 also supports Picture Profile and SLog2 gamma settings, which enable prostyle movie expression. In addition the RX0 can record uncompressed high-quality 4K data on an external recorder.

And the RX0 uses a super speedy anti-distortion shutter of up to 1/32000 sec. At this speed, fast-moving subjects can be frozen in frames without distortion.

Thanks to its fast image sensor and fast image processor, the RX0 also has a continuous shooting speed of up to 16 fps.

The RX0’s lens is made of 6-element ZEISS Tessar T glass and has fixed a focal length of 24mm in 35mm photography and fixed aperture of f/4.0.

And despite its compact size, the camera is robust thanks to its duralumin body. That means it doesn’t need an underwater housing to able to take great photos and snap videos at depths of up to 10 metres. You can even drop it from a height of up to two metres and it won’t complain and it’s crushproof too, supporting weights of up to 200 kgs.

The RX0 allows you to select five still modes: Intelligent Auto, Superior Auto, Programme Auto (P), Manual Exposure (M), and Memory Recall.

The Superior Auto is more advanced than Intelligent Auto and takes multiple shots to compose into one photo in dark or backlit scenes.

Both auto modes analyse the scenes and select proper scene modes for the exposure. The camera is capable of recognising Portrait, Infant, Night Portrait, Night Scene, Backlight Portrait, Backlight, Landscape, Spotlight and Low Light scene modes, though in certain cases (Portrait, Backlight Portrait, Night Portrait and Infant), you must first turn on the Face Detection function.

In P mode, the exposure or shutter speed adjusts automatically while you can use the Fn (Function) button and Menu button to change various functions and values.

In the M mode, you must adjust the shutter speed manually.

During the test, I enjoyed shooting with Superior Auto and I captured sharp and clean shots with well saturated colours in most lighting conditions.

For shooting videos, the RX0 provides four modes: Intelligent Auto, Programme auto, Manual Exposure and High Frame Rate (HFR). The HFR is fun as it allows you to shoot super slow motion video for enjoying later.

To change shooting mode, select the one you want from the menu or use the FN button and the arrow keys. For certain shooting modes, you may have to go through a few layers of menu levels. Time being at a premium, I stuck to the automatic shooting mode. The RX0 can also be expanded with more accessories. For example, you can buy a housing that allows the RX0 to be used underwater at the depth of 100 metres. There is also a Filter Adapter Kit that allows you to attach 30.5mm filters to the camera lens for creative shooting.

The Accessory Kit comes with an optional rechargeable battery pack and a charger. The RX0 battery is capable of shooting about 240 shots or about 35 minutes of video shooting per one charge, making the spare battery kit a must have.

Sony DSCRX0 has a suggested retail price of Bt24,990 with a free micro SD card of 32GB storage.

KEY SPECS

– Sensor: 1.0-type (13.2mm x 8.8mm) Exmor RS CMOS sensor with 15.3 effective MP

– Lens: ZEISS Tessar T Lens, 6 elements in 6 groups (6 aspheric elements) with fixed f/4.0 aperture and 24mm equivalent focal length

– Image processing engine: BIONZ X

– Focus modes: Singleshot AF; Preset Focus; Manual Focus

– FocUs area: Wide (25 points contrastdetection AF); Centtre; Flexible Spot (S/M/L); Expanded Flexible Spot

Light metering mode; Multi Pattern; Centre Weighted; Spot

– ISO: Auto: ISO12512800

– Electronic shutter: 1/4″  1/32000

– Recording media: Memory Stick Micro; Memory Stick Micro (Mark2); microSD Memory Card; microSDHC Memory Card; microSDXC Memory Card

– Input/Output terminals: Multi/Micro USB Terminal , Hi-Speed USB (USB2.0), Micro HDMI, Microphone jack (3.5mm Stereo mini jack)

– Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth 4.1

– Battery: Rechargeable battery pack NPBJ1 (240 shots per one charge)

The super-portable Wonderboom delivers uncompromising sound quality with clear, crisp, non-stop sound, as well as big, beautiful bass, according to a company press release. These new anywhere-you-go-proof mobile speakers come with vivid colours.

Designed to get wet, muddy and beat up, UE Boom 2 and Wonderboom blast great sound in every direction. Using the same high-quality materials its fans have come to expect from Ultimate Ears, UE Boom 2 is waterproof (IPX 7), drop-proof (from up to 1.5 metres high), disruptive and bold, plus a whole lot of fun. It’s the size of a water bottle, so stick it in your bike’s water bottle holder or clip it to your bag, turn up life and add dimension to any moment.

Building from the award-winning UE Boom 360-degree speaker that Ultimate Ears introduced in 2013, UE Boom 2 is 25 per cent louder with a longer wireless range of 100 feet (30 metres) and a completely waterproof design, so your music can be shared no matter where you are or what you’re doing. It has a 15-hour all-day, all-night battery life, plus new and innovative tap control that allows you to skip songs, without needing to have your phone in hand.

Wonderboom is designed for music lovers who are connected, on-the-move and want their music from the moment they wake up to the moment they go to sleep. They also want their technology in an intuitive form that fits their spirited, spontaneous lives. Wonderboom is about music – with no fuss and no friction. It is a speaker that stands on simplicity and huge sound. Power on, pair, press play.

Want more? The UE button on the top of the speaker lets you play, pause, skip and double up with two Wonderboom speakers for double the fun. You can free your music from your phone and enjoy your music the way it is meant to be heard – out loud. Stream and share your music anytime, anywhere, whether you’re partying by the pool, getting ready for a night out with friends or surviving that muddy, dusty summer festival. If it gets soaked, no worries. If it gets dirty, rinse it off.

UE Boom 2 comes in six new vibrant colour variations: cherrybomb, yeti, phantom, green machine, tropical and brain freeze and retails for Bt6,990. Wonderboom offers six fresh colors: stone (grey), phantom (black), fireball (red), sub-zero (blue), cashmere (pink) and lilac for Bt3,490. Both products are now available at every branch of IT City, according to the release. For further information, please visit http://www.facebook.com/pg/ultimateears.

The lineup includes include Afrojack, the popular Dutch DJ who’s a regular at such leading music international festivals as Ultra, Tomorrowland, EDC, Balaton Sound and Untold. Hosting the midnight countdown is none other than EDM superstars ‘Knife Party’ who are making a long awaited come back to Bangkok.

Other names that will be bringing the house down include Chris Lake, one of the DJs from OWSLA, who’s an expert at house music; Lookas, a rising star who was featured on Billboard.com’s Top 10 DJ’s list; DJ Feel, the top trance DJ from Russia; Riot Ten, a trap and dubstep master; as well as Kutski, Quentin Mosimann, Wiwek and Mark Sixma.

There will also be a grand selection of food stalls to satisfy all aappetite, making this countdown a unique and memorable evening for all.

Tickets are available at http://www.TheBangkokCountdown.com and cost from Bt1,500 to Bt2,500.

For updates and news of the event, visit Facebook: TheBangkokCountdown.

Attendance is limited to those aged 20 and over.

New York band Madball returns to Thailand for the first time in two decades with what they claim is the craziest and the most intense hardcore show they have ever performed. They’ll be at Hollywood Ratchadapisek Soi 4 on December 8 at 7pm with two opening acts Ten Baht Per Hour and Indonesia’s Taring. The NYC quartet released their eighth studio album, “Hardcore Lives” in June 2014. Tickets are Bt1,500 at the door.

Game for a laugh

Bangkok Improv, a night of laughs based loosely on hit show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”, Theatre Sports and American comedy enterprise “The Second City”, is back tonight at the Comedy Club Bangkok starting at 8.30pm. The show will introduce some new players to the improv scene in Bangko led by an incredibly talented, multi award-winning improviser and featuring the best of Bangkok’s improv comedy community. Tickets are Bt500 at the door. Find out more at http://www.ComedyClubBangkok.com.

Just love to dance

Bangkok Dance Academy stages its 10th charity performance “The 9 Harmonies” this weekend at Aksra Theatre King Power with shows tomorrow night at 7.30 and again on Sunday at 4. The performances give students the opportunity to improve their love for the art of dance, by bringing 20 songs composed by His Majesty the late King Bhumibol to create a story of love and relationships in a family through several generations. Find out more by calling (02) 278 0599 or (081) 868 2447.

Barking happy

Paradise Park pampers pooches and their owners with the “Dog Lover” event taking place on the first floor of the shopping complex on Srinakarin Road from now until December 11. Shoppers will get to meet Instagram doggie stars and shop at 26 specialised stores including Dog Cafe by Dogkery and Puppiness Dog Bakery. There are also four booths offering free health checks and a Dog Paradise Card service. Check it out at http://www.ParadisePark.co.th.

A night of Chinese opera

“Night at the Museum” returns for a seventh year to Museum Siam from December 1517 on the theme “Ngew” (Chinese opera). Running on all three evenings from 4 to 10, it features an exhibition about the history of Chinese opera, costumes and makeup. More than 15 food stalls will be set up around the area to keep visitors sated. Call (02) 225 2777 extension 102 or visit Facebook.com/ museumsiamfan to find out more.

In a moving weekend of activities, franchisee partners from Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines and Vietnam joined the Coca and Mango Tree teams of Bangkok in helping the little ones from the Zy Foundation climb the 750-metre Khao Daeng.

Some US$25,000 (Bt814,800) was raised for the Zy Foundation, which will go towards one year’s worth of doctors’ visits for five families, training for 25 therapists specialising in assistance with children with movement difficulties and supporting future Zy Movement Foundation activities.

But it was the inspirational experience of helping and supporting the children during the difficult rocky climb, which often took up to three people per child, that left a strong impression on all participants. They witnessed a level of courage and determination by the children that brought many close to tears.

“It was a moving experience for everyone,” said Coca Restaurants chief executive Pitaya Phanphensophon. “We feel strongly that children deserve equal opportunities but some are less fortunate than others when born. So through this climb we are trying to create greater understanding of the millions of children with movement difficulties throughout Asia and to support and encourage the incredible efforts so far in their lives.”

The Zy Movement Foundation was set up by Walter Lee, whose 11-year-old son Zy was among the 10 climbers with movement difficulties, all of whom came with their families.

“It means a lot to the children and their families to have this kind of support and I am very proud of them all,” Lee said. “The decency and compassion over the two days of the climb to a fellow human being by all participants, offering a hand from their hearts to realise unfulfilled dreams, is nothing short of an act of an angel. It gives the children a level of hope, dignity and camaraderie that is truly raises their spirits.”

A total of 70 people participated in the “Climb To Change A Life” project to Khao Daeng and Mango Tree’s managing partner and managing director Trevor MacKenzie said he hoped that it would lead to climbs in the countries of the restaurant group’s franchisee partners throughout Asia.

“It brought everyone together. We shared some very special moments as colleagues in the most human way possible and for this we are very grateful to the Zy Movement Foundation. The fight of the children as they climbed the mountain was a huge inspiration to us all,” he said. “There is a lot of interest to launch similar programmes overseas and we look forward to being a part of that in the years to come.”