Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Dear Stan, After seeing the horrific photo of the poor puppy in the GulfWeekly (6/2/08) that was stolen, then skinned alive and then thrown back into the grounds of the BSPCA, I just wanted to express my pure disgust and complete and utter shock that this barbaric behaviour still happens in a modern day country like Bahrain.
The person who did this heinous act is obviously deranged and has no compassion or humanity towards living creatures.
I hope that when their time comes it will be as painful and as degrading as to that inflicted on poor Scooby, the saying 'may you rot in hell' seems very fitting for this monster.
To the BSPCA I praise you for all your hard work in looking after the strays of Bahrain.
To the law enforcers of Bahrain, I ask you, when is there going to be something done against cruelty to animals in this country?
When is Bahrain going to start charging and arresting people for inflicting pain on innocent animals?
Nat Scoot
Dear Stan,
THE_question is 'How could someone do that to a little puppy?' Was the culprit on drugs?
The BSPCA do a wonderful job and my heart goes out to them finding that sorry sight early on Friday morning.
The vet shouldn't have to deal with acts of violence like this. It beggars belief. We were all shocked to see the photograph in the GulfWeekly.
It must be someone that lives in the vicinity and they must have had traces of blood on their clothes.
My suggestion would be to deliver fliers in the local area and to the local Mosques with the shocking photograph.
We are supposed to be kind to all God's creatures and youngsters must be educated in this.
You are not forced to keep a pet in your house if you are not an animal lover but you must not harm them. Be kind to the defenceless creatures. Live and let live.
LW, by email.
Dear Stan,
This refers to the article 'Blood,sweat and tears covered with kindness' by -RdS- (GulfWeekly, Issue 4).
We were very much impressed by the valuable service rendered by Salma Bala to the needy. We wish her the best of luck and God give her all the strength to accomplish her endeavours. A timely help to the needy will always please the Almighty also.
At this juncture I wish to share one of my experiences of my life. It was way back during my college days when I was secretary of one of the Rotaract clubs in India, a service organisation for young people linked to Rotary International.
One day we were called upon to look out for blood donors for a needy patient admitted to the town's government hospital.
The patient required a certain group of blood which was not available in any of the local blood banks.
The patient, a widow with two small children, was suffering from severe anaemia and her health had deteriorated and her days looked numbered.
Though a weekend club members set out in search of the required donor. We visited colleges, hostels, offices and appealed for help.
Out of a dozen donors only two turned out to be of the required blood group and hence we managed to procure only two bottles of the blood which we handed over to the hospital authorities on behalf of the club.
The blood transfusion ultimately saved her life.
A few weeks later as I was passing through one of the streets of the town, I happened to come across the lady carrying two full bags of groceries and vegetables. There had been a considerable improvement in her health.
Friends, believe me that was the happiness moment I had ever experienced. Yes, real happiness can neither be purchased nor inherited, but only achieved.
Seturam Aspari, Adliya.
Dear Stan,
I am 28 and used to enjoy Krazy Kev's morning show on Radio Bahrain so much - it was not only the kids who liked it. What about listeners who are at work all day and cannot listen to him in the afternoon?
Kev was full of life and made lots of people smile.
I wish the station controllers would change their minds and bring him back to the mornings.
Nehad, by email.
Dear Stan,
I don't like fish for lunch so can't even begin to think about having it for breakfast ... leaves a bad taste (in your ears) all day, give me good old 'snap,crackle and pop' in the mornings or Special K ... our Kev. Listeners should vote with their dial.
Eman, Janabiya
Dear Stan,
With reference to the a recipe that appeared in Eating Out GulfWeekly, Issue 5 which featured Red radish dressing (20 persons).
If I am right about the measurements then the chef's recipe is going to make the best part of two thirds of a litre of dressing.
As I live here in Bahrain on bachelor status, that quantity of dressing would keep me going until well after the totally-fed-up-with-eating-it by date.
That said, however, the recipe looked to be a quite interesting combination of tastes, so I tried it using the following ingredients and method:
Peel 3cm of a 2.5cm or so diameter white radish stem, cut off three 1cm slices crosswise, cut each of these slices in to quarters and drop the whole lot into a ramekin.
Top up the ramekin to overflowing with mint leaves (without pressing them down).
Empty the contents of the ramekin into a blender and give the mixture hell.
Pour four tablespoons of extra virgin oil, two tablespoons of red wine vinegar and one tablespoon of Crme de Menthe into a bowl.
Hand whisk the liquids, add the mangled contents of the blender and give the whole lot a final vigorous whisk.
Pour any of the mixture not needed for immediate use (like I did with boiled Hammour balls) into a sterilised jar and store.
As you might have gathered from the foregoing, I did not have red radish and Pernod to hand, so I improvised. It cannot have been that bad: I am still alive and looking forward to the next time I can find something that calls for this red/white radish dressing.
If you want to run the risk of poisoning your readers by giving them my recipe for White Radish Dressing, be my guest.
However, I have to add that storing it in a fridge does not appear to be a good idea.
Within a couple of days, it separated into two layers: the lower layer (that appears to be a combination of red wine vinegar and some of the white radish) remained liquid; the upper layer (that appears to be a combination of oil and the rest of the white cabbage) solidified.
It still tastes OK, but it looks revolting.
Yours sincerely,
Brian Pickering
Asila
- Poet's corner
We Love you so much 'Asila',
And we all miss you indeed.
Your beauty attracts body and soul,
And you have all what we need.
Narrow ecstatic pathways
Spread aroma of history,
Like taverns they are, full of people, full of joy wine in our glasses
We drink and welcome all races.
People come to meet each other,
Or look forward to someone else,
While bands play music,
Folklore dancers play their games.
You can go shopping or walk around,
Meet friends, or find a place,,
For your hobby and pleasure, or for poetry ... in case ...
Explore heritage, and narrow streets,
Wall paintings representing nations, from corners of the world.
Who else other than Asila, might deserve a creative mind,
Poetry, Art, science and ideas,
For the progress of mankind.
I take a break in the fortress tower,
I look over to the sea,
I hear the songs in the midnight,
From the high waves, with sympathy.
The good people of Asila
Made it a good meeting place,
For artists, thinkers, and humanitarians,
Asila flourished with grace.
-_Taqi Albaharna,
Bahrain
