I have to admire Colonel Ray Bencini (TMID, 25 November) for his disarming admission that retiring back home “was probably, not such a good decision after all”.

Since leaving the service in mid-life I had looked forward to doing the same, though my perceptive Yorkshire wife would always say that I wore rose-tinted shades during our annual visits. In recent years I became increasingly appalled by Malta’s degrading environment, that so turns off tourists. Even so. Then, a few months before final retirement last July, I started daily accessing the web versions of Malta’s English newspapers. The shades came off and manic Malta was revealed. Gozo remains an option though, and I hope the Gozitans have the sense to preserve their jewel.

I have to wonder how many hundreds or maybe even thousands of expatriate Maltese would love to return but cannot face the reality.

Sqn Ldr Alex P Galea

Woking, Surrey

England