Londoner

That's sad news. I stayed there on many occasions and loved it. Does anyone recall the owner's gay dog and his relationship with a friend next door? "Boy" was his name, appropriately. I also liked Adam's Apple where, as I often say, the punters-many from CMU- were sometimes as cute as the dancers. I must admit that I had misgivings about the fire risk...remember that staircase? More twink dancers than was later the case. Fifty a night, I believe. I agree with Patanawet; the CM venues were so far apart that it made my subsequent arrival in Pattaya something of a relief. But in those days, CM had its own distinctive ambiance, long since gone. Memories!

At least Loy Kratong remains a family occasion. The last two we spent on Jomtien beach with mainly Thai families. The children trying (not very successfully) to launch their kratongs into a choppy sea, a few fireworks, lanterns sailing serenely out to sea in the breeze. No loud music. Beautiful.

It's not just that I loathe the rowdy, selfish behaviour of some of the participants- though I do-but that I have a rather old-fashioned view concerning ancient cultures and their struggle to survive the current disintegration of social values that we see all around us. Everywhere. Yes, you've guessed it; I'm getting old. When I first met my beloved, he regaled me with stories of his life back in Kamphaeng Phaet and the traditional values with which he was brought-up. Songkran in his village was celebrated in the traditional way and one of those traditions was that the young visited elderly relatives and sprinkled water on them. Sprinkled, not drenched with high-powered water-guns. My experience of Songkran- and it was a week before the actual event, something which I have never suffered- was a bucket of ice and water thrown at me while riding a baht-bus from Jomtien. Later that day, I was in Pattaya Second Road when I was by approached a Thai family; parents plus a boy of about eight years old. He pointed a water-pistol at my face. "No," I said, "don't you dare." Very sternly, you will understand. He did dare. But what really annoyed me was that his parents laughed. So there you have it; the old values and the new. Yes, I'm getting old.

There's only one week in the year when I'd rather be here at home than in Thailand.

Meanwhile, just a few metres from Agate, last week I saw workmen in the old Café John's. A new restaurant?

I suspect there are others who, like me, miss Thai food on our return home almost as much as we miss other activities. So time for a recommendation. My favourite is Ponn in T21. Here's why. Many Thai restaurants, understandably, offer a more-or less standard Thai menu. All the old favourites....and delicious ones at that. Ponn is different in that these are still to be found on the menu but so are an array of dishes and sometimes even ingredients that I'd never experienced anywhere else. Even my partner (and he's a farmer) is sometimes surprised. Over the past few visits, we've noticed that it has become more popular, and deservedly so. The service is sweet, the presentation exquisite without being fussy. The delivery of plates surprisingly fast- heaven knows how many chefs work there- and the food equals that of my old (and much-missed) favourite, PIC Kitchen. And the prices? I'd expect to pay much more than I do at other favourites like Dick's and Sandbar. But no; it is more expensive but only by about 10%. Well worth it. A recommended dish? Ok; the seabass, which is offered with a variety of sauces. I never order fish at home in London, but cannot resist Ponn's seabass in a sweet and sour sauce. Nearby are two other Thai restaurants are also worth visiting. By the way, the cost of a whole sea bass which serves two or even three and is carefully deboned and sliced is less than 400 bht. Accordingly, the check-bin for two came to about 1100 for three shared dishes plus rice. No drinks other than water.

You may be right; English humour can be pretty brutal, even as far back to the time of Chaucer. Perhaps the "softer" culture of Buddhism is at play here. I recall my partner being cross with me when I made a remark to him about the appearance of a guy in a bar. I thought it was witty; he didn't.

If I may change direction just a tad and speak about our Thai friends.... One thing they don't seem to respond to is teasing, even when it is gentle and affectionate. Teasing is something that I have been used to all my life, perhaps because I was the youngest (and best looking) of three. OK, I made that last bit up. Here in Thailand I've seen abject failures in attempted teasing by falang visitors and expats, well-meant but utterly bemusing to Thais. At least those on the scene. Is it cultural? linguistic? I don't know. When I've gently teased younger folk at home, those I know well of course, they've usually responded with a smile. Some of the smarter would tease back. But tease a Thai? I'd never do this; Thais just don't seem to "get it" and appreciate the affection behind it.

I write a lot about my time in Palestine-too much some would say- and so I won't do so here but I must say that, while I've enjoyed my holiday in Chiang Mai and Jomtien and am sad to be going home tomorrow, Trump and Netanyahu have done their utmost to ensure that my mood has been much more gloomy than usual. Thanks guys. And I dare not speak of the far worse suffering of others. Insh'allah it'll be over by June when I return. Or will it be Cuba and Lebanon (again) then? Or Mexico? or Syria? For heaven's sake, please stop.

I too find the computer troublesome in this regard. My partner, however, lives only for his phone and so far has found the new lenses infinitely preferable.

Yes. Stand at the door to Agate. Look left; it's on the other side of soi, twenty metres away. It's name is in Thai so I can't provide it. I think it's aaht we call in the UK "a pop-up", self-contained office outside the old car-park.

Possibly....but the hotels i'm thinking of are palaces; from the outside they appear to be 5*. Overnight guests surely wouldn't expect that degree of luxury? or be willing to pay for it, surely. But you have a good point about parking; there certainly seems to be room for that in the forecourts. Speaking of which, I see that the buses have returned to Thappaya Road; congestion is once again an issue in South Pattaya. The local temple must be making a fortune from parking. I watch the lines of traffic streaming into Pattaya Second Road in the evening and have no idea where they can park once the Central and the temple are full.

Location, location, location... a major issue when choosing a hotel for a holiday. Rabbit certainly has that to its advantage and much else....at a price. Which reminds me; our taxi journeys from T21 or Big C often take us along Pattaya Third Road to avoid beachfront traffic. It is amazing how many new and chic hotels have been built there recently. Ostentatious luxury in that location? if I were to say in Pattaya, that road wouldn't be my choice. Perhaps marketing experts on this board- of which I'm definitely not one- could explain the rationale behind building expensive hotels in such an unpromising area?

Progressive glasses replaced the old bifocals, combining both long-sighted and short-sighted deficiencies in one lense. Light-sensitive lenses become darker in bright light. No more need for sun-glasses!

Something of a niche issue, perhaps, but there must be a number of posters who wear spectacles. Last year, my own pair needed adjustment while I was staying at the Agate and rather than going to my usual Top Charoen I went to a small, very small, place run by just one guy almost directly across the soi from my hotel in the Jomtien Complex.. I was most impressed by the care he took in making the necessary adjustments and surprised that he refused to take payment despite my efforts to offer one. My partner had mentioned a few weeks ago that he'd like a new prescription for his and I suggested he wait until we came here to see what this local business could offer. He spent a good forty minutes there last week and ordered both prescription and a new frame, including progressive and light-sensitive lenses, at a cost of 9000 bht. They arrived after only five days. Like me , he was impressed with the service and the cost- his previous pair, bought in Pattaya Tai, cost nearer 15000- and so I wanted to pass on this recommendation. A small business, run by one man, providing good service in competition with a huge chain. He deserves consideration if you need the service of an optician.