Ruthrieston

Given how many people are dying in the violence inflicted on the population by the fake government there, these Myanmar nationals should be given asylum in Thailand and treated decently.

I was brought up in Scotland as a Presbyterian, the Minister arrived at our house when I was 12 to say that as I had not been baptised I could not attend Bible Study classes until I was baptised, all news to me. I started visiting other religious groups, with the help of my Religious studies teacher and chose to become a Roman Catholic at the age of fifteen. When I left school I entered an enclosed, silent Benedictine monastery in a semi-ruined building built in the year 1230, Latin Office and Latin Mass sung in Gregorian Chant, seven times a day in the church, no school or parish. I was so happy there, a good community who respected each other, but kept silence and we had separate cells (rooms). After seven years I chose to leave and start a new life and trained as a nurse. I am convinced that though it was never mentioned the community knew I was gay but no one ever spoke of it, I simply felt accepted. As a teenager I tried to commit suicide three times because I could not cope with being gay, and I feel that the community of monks who accepted me gave me the courage to leave and live my life openly and freely.

Looking forward to your trip to sunny Thailand is part of the enjoyment. Have a great trip and enjoy your time here, we never know what lies ahead and should make the most of our time now.

I used to really like the cocktail bar on the top floor, enjoying my dry martinis with the lovely views over the park. Is there any sign of a bar on the top floor of the new building?

I agree with you wholeheartedly Londoner, all this technology stuff is utterly beyond me. I mush prefer dealing with human beings rather than machines!

Yes open again, I walked past last night and saw that they have removed the wall inside to open up the space for more tables. They were really so busy in high season that they were having to turn people away, so good for them to have more space now.

There is definitely a major refurbishment in progress now, and it will open again without doubt.

I was first introduced to Thailand and Pattaya when I was 39, 26 years ago. My flat mate of several years in London and a group of his friends all travelled together. My flat mate had AIDS and was really not well, but so enjoyed embarrassing me by dragging me into the go go bars where young gentlemen flashed their hard willies in my face, and he laughed his head off when I blushed so much my glasses steamed up! We got back to London in mid May and he died in July. After travelling to Thailand twice a year for several years for great holidays I fell for a bar boy, brought him to visit me in London for a month and the following year brought him to London and we entered our Civil Partnership in Chelsea Town Hall Registry Office, with all my friends attending and throwing a party for us. That was in December, and the following year in August he said he missed Thailand too much and he flew back home and I never saw him again. When I retired twelve years ago and moved to live in Pattaya I promised myself I would never fall in love again, and I lasted over a year, enjoying lots of fun with many money boys. Then I fell again, but this time I knew it was one sided, and of course I couldn't expect a young man half my age to live with me, so I payed for his room, and supported him while also encouraging him to work, as he did as a receptionist in a hotel. It lasted over six years until I found out he was gambling a lot. I payed his debts three times and then broke off our relationship. His last message to me was to ask for 50,000 Baht....... Broke my heart, so I am living alone and happy now with friends and a comfortable life.

Suddenly, after using this site for years with no problems, my Microsoft Defender is blocking my access. Is there a problem?

I have stayed loyal to Le Siam on Soi Convent, although I also dislike the upgrades I have been given because of the awkward climbing into a bath to use the shower, while the cheaper rooms have lovely walk in showers. Also they did away with the previously excellent buffet breakfast during Covid and have never reinstated it. At least now I can just walk across the road to the new building and go to Took Lae Dee restaurant in the basement for a lovely breakfast.

Any idea where we can get this new vaccine in Thailand?

I love going to Railay Beach to stay for a few nights, but I will stay with the longtail boat to get me there. I have had to battle off a couple of the monkeys just walking round Railay in the past, using my umbrella! They can be scary.

I moved to live in Pattaya from my home in London UK in 2011, but the appalling drop in the exchange rate after the insane vote to leave the EU has cost me dear. The day before the vote I got 56 Baht to the pound, and the day after the vote it dropped to 36 Baht to the pound. Now at 45 Baht we are still well down.

It will only take a further rise of 10 Baht to get us back to where we were before the ridiculous Brexit vote to leave the European Union. The day before that day of madness we were getting 56 Baht to the pound and the day after the vote it fell to 36 Baht to the pound.

I also hide in my condo in Pattaya from 12th to 16th, then I flee to Bangkok as the nonsense finishes there on 15th, and then return to Pattaya on 20th as 19th is the most stupid day in Pattaya. I see though that the "government" intends to lengthen Songkran this year but I have not seen any details of those plans as yet. I remember on my first trip to Thailand in 1998 that Songkran even in Pattaya was more civilised in those days, with all the water throwing stopping as the sun went down about 6pm so you could dress decently and go out for dinner with no threat of stupid drunk farang dumping buckets of iced water over your head.

Jomtien Complex is not one of the designated entertainment zones, and therefore is not permitted to stay open until 4am, they must close at 2am. All of the bars were informed of this by the complex.

Older women chasing younger men are called "cougars", and many young women are envious of them. So who cares what they really think, but jealousy sounds accurate to me.

"9 males" ?? In a Tomboy Club?? It has been great to see the "coming out" of the Tomboys over the past few years. Watching the tomboys walking through places like Central Festival shopping centre holding hands with their girlfriends is lovely. Presumably the raid on this club happened because the bib's were not getting enough in their brown envelopes. Sad.

We can only hope what the future may bring. A few years ago I met a gay Thai man from a very wealthy family drinking with friends in Telephone Bar in Soi 4 Bangkok. Shortly after that his family told him that if he did not get married soon then they would throw him out and disown him. He married and the young lady soon worked out the issues and started demanding more and more money from him. The hiso set really do despise gay people, and are willing to punish their own children. As for any hope of democracy returning to Thailand, I simply cannot see the army ever relinquishing their absolute grip on power.

Putin is a closet queen, jealous of those who actually have the courage to come out of the closet and live their lives freely and openly when he cannot. His persecution of the gay community is all about his own issues. Sad but still unforgivable.

I really can't stand all this technology stuff, I much prefer to deal with a human being.

Westerners have not always been so clean. I remember my early years coming out and having sex with men who had what were then described as "cheesy willies", disgustingly smelly penis, who never seemed to draw back their foreskins to clean them properly!

One of the saddest events of my life was when I was in a senior seminary and in my second year. Among the dozen new entrants in the first year was a sweet, completely straight 17 year old. A 24 year old in the third year fell besotted with him, and got more crazy, even picking fights with him just so that he could touch him. The seminary was surrounded by farm land and we all worked the fields etc in the afternoons. One night the besotted 24 yr old went down to the farm buildings and took the paraquat (lethal weedkiller) which he drank, then walked back to the seminary, woke up the young man and told him what he had done and why. The young lad had a total breakdown, and left the seminary. Of course in Catholic Church teaching suicide is a mortal sin so there can be no requiem mass or burial in holy ground. Unless of course the church is covering it's arse and cannot admit a seminarian committed suicide. So there was a full requiem mass, presided over by the Archbishop, and we all had to attend. I left the seminary shortly after that.

I spoke too soon, blocked again now....

My pardon has been granted - that was quick!