Ruthrieston

I for one would be very pleased to see the cancellation of the 90 day address reporting requirement. It simply makes no sense to me whatsoever. But I am not holding my breath. Believe it when I see it.

You are so lucky to have access to decent wine at sensible prices. In Thailand the wine is heavily taxed so very expensive, and often transported and stored in high temperatures so it is ruined anyway. As for the champagne........my favourite Veuve Cliquot goes for over 5,000 Baht a bottle! Just a bit too much for me on my little pension.

An old story from my past as a campaigner for gay rights. I joined the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence back in the early 1990's, when our Australian founder moved to London, Mother Ethel Dreads a Flashback, and started recruiting. I became Sister Immaculata Worksurface (Scrubber for short). Those were the days! Often at protests the police looked at us with utter confusion and almost never touched us! Sorry if this is too far off topic.

I agree with now. That beard looks great!

Lady Bunty Gintonic of Skechers

Here in Thailand we are in a sort of lockdown again, and the number of infections and deaths have become a great deal worse than we have seen since the pandemic started. Since I am in the high risk category due to underlying health issues and being in my sixties I am staying home most of the time now and some days it feels a little depressing. The confusion over when we will be able to access the vaccine, any vaccine, continues. The "government" may allow "smelly farang" to receive the vaccine free of charge, but you will not be able to choose which vaccine you receive. Clearly the private hospitals are being prevented from buying in their own supplies. Given all this chaos and confusion I cannot see tourism returning to Thailand this year. When I do go out shopping or walking I see more businesses closing down every day.

My worst ever experience was nine years ago. I was drunk, late evening, and I invited a young gentleman from a chat site to visit my condo. On arrival we were sharing a drink when his phone rang, he chatted a while. When I asked he said it was his ladyboy friend who was downstairs and she could wait for him. Of course I said, please invite her up and she can have a drink while we play in my bedroom. (Stop laughing you lot!). At some point I heard my front door closing, went out to find my laptop computer, iPod, speaker all missing. I went crazy, dragged the young man downstairs and asked our security man to help me. He berated my visitor and the call was made, five minutes later the ladyboy rushed past sitting on the back of another person's motorbike, and threw down a bag which contained my iPod and speaker, but no laptop which is what I really wanted back. So the police were called, a large fat gentleman bursting out of his brown uniform arrived and was informed by the security man what was going on. He took the young gentleman round the back, and when they returned the young man had quite a few cuts and bruises and a black eye. Another phone call and the ladyboy again raced past on the back of a motorbike and threw down a bag with my laptop inside. By now it must have been four in the morning and I was exhausted and just staggered back up to my condo. My big mistake was not rewarding the brown suited chap. The next day I rewarded our security guard, and asked him to pass a reward on to the brown suit. Never again have I invited an unknown person over late at night or after drinking.

I remember on my early visits to Thailand in the late 90's that a top would say "I king!"

Sorry ichigo, Super Isaan shut down several months ago, a big loss.

Last night I went to Alibaba Indian Restaurant on Pattaya Central Road, just up from Beach Road, and it was the best Indian food I have had in Pattaya. (Apologies, a bit far from Jomtien!).

Sorry to tell you that Akvavit shut down many months ago and shows no sign of reopening (Jomtien beach road, yes?). My two favourites are Natan's, opposite Jomtien Complex, on the road down to the beach, and Au Bon Coin. My favourite Italian was Carpaccio, opposite Natan's, but sadly that closed a couple of months ago.

Congratulations on the return of decency, humanity, respect and democracy. The world breathes a sigh of relief and draws a deep breath of hope.

I have lived in Pattaya for nine years now, and recently spent five nights in Bangkok so will add a little to this report. The new "Pride" bar in Soi 4 was really doing well, busy every night, with live music which was not deafening. The small "Connections" bar/karaoke place opposite was also doing well. I still feel loyal to Telephone Bar which I remember from my earliest visits to Thailand 22 years ago, when they still had those ancient telephones on each table and you could call over to another table if you felt like chatting to someone. I visited Patpong too, and sat at the outside bar opposite Dream Boys, just watching the world go by, and of course watching the young gentlemen arriving to work in the bars. Went into Dream Boys for the show, with about ten other customers. A good show culminating in the big cock show, with about nine taking part and looking very proud of their significant appendages. It must be hard work to keep that up with so few customers. The next night into Jupiter 2018 on Soi 4, where the show was also great, even a little more professional in their choreography, though no big cock show, but all the young men look like models, so handsome and muscular. Customers about fourteen or so. A great show, and where I sat I had a good view of the corner where the chaps do their exercise, pulling weights and so forth. That helps too! My last night I spent in the front of Telephone Bar sipping a bottle of cheap champagne, relaxing and watching people come and go, still a great atmosphere, but I do look forward (as I am sure the business owners do!) to the return of the big crowds. I might even treat myself to a better bottle of the bubbly to celebrate that! Hopefully by the middle of next year when the vaccine has been distributed across Thailand. For now I remain grateful for how well Thailand has dealt with the pandemic.