No title specified

Dear Stan, Thank Goodness for Saturday Club at the Dilmun Stables!

For over 30 families, Saturday morning means only one thing - Stable Management Club at the Dilmun Stables. No late mornings in bed and off to brunch for the Dilmun Stables' youngsters ... or their mums and dads!

An early start, tack and snack boxes ready, wearing jodhpurs and smiles children from five - 12 learn all about looking after ponies from friendly patient volunteer mums and an experienced, caring instructor.

Neil arriving with daughters Natalie and Charlotte (bags of carrots in hand) said: "The staff that organise Saturday Club are fantastic, the girls always want to come."

The family atmosphere on a Saturday morning is appreciated by all, as brothers and sisters, mothers and daughters confidently groom and wash ponies, clean tack and muck-out stables together.

Brother and sister duo, Jake and Emma work together to get Munch ready for grooming; "The trouble is he fidgets!" explained Emma laughing.

Thomas and Amy are another brother and sister team that love working together and learning how to care for the ponies. Although sister Amy is group leader, brother Thomas develops strong organisational skills himself while delegating jobs for everyone in his team!

Stan and Immy help their friend Charlotte to apply 'hoof oil' to pony Pip. Washing and scrubbing, everyone seems full of energy despite the hard work.

"The Dilmun Stables Saturday Club is a great place to learn about horse care and it's fun for everyone," says volunteer mum, Kathy. "What better way to become confident around ponies and promote caring for animals," adds mum helper Lesley.

Both mums join in with their daughters, Hana and Holly.

"It is great to see children of all ages learning together, developing a love for horses and having so much fun!" said proud Hannah. "I love helping the little ones and we learn such a lot," she added.

At pick-up time, wet, weary yet still smiling, families troop home to enjoy the rest of their weekend; "thank you!" seems to resound around the stables as well as the odd giggle and neigh!

Jilly Anderson, by email.

Dear Stan,

THE_moment I read the article on the 'threesome Finzi' (GulfWeekly, Issue 17) I thought of sending a congratulatory mail to reporter Anasuya Kesavan.

It was very nicely written providing insights into the pivotal moments of the tapestry of obstacles which Thereza Finzi had to go through.

I do not know Theresa very closely but a short meeting with her confirmed the magnanimity - and to display a noble generosity is no easy task - and you have covered all aspects in a profound manner.

It was only two weeks back I got in touch with her for seeking advice into the music festival competition conducted by St Christopher's School. She was quite supportive and agreed to do the accompaniment for my son's concerto on the day of the competition.

I think it was due to the grace and the blessing she provided through the piano that he received a medal for the performance. She enlivens every piece with her own style with the hairpin transitions and arbitrary segues making it sound absolutely effortless.

Kind regards,

Premjith Narayanan, by email.

Dear Stan,

A few weeks back Marie-Claire wrote about couples and relationships in her GulfWeekly column.

Let me tell you that it was a beautiful piece of writing and was very educational. It was an extremely powerful article and really touched my heart.

I would request her to write and offer advice on couples in which BOTH husband and wife are hot headed, where ego becomes an issue, where compromises are made by women only (if that is fair?), where women are too clingy with their men (which irritates them), where everything a wife says seems like a NAG and where a small spark can create a big argument leading to several fights and where couples dig into past disputes and bring the same issues up every time they are angry.

I hope you are getting what I am trying to say. These are major issues for many couples. I would like to add that I am also one who is facing many of them.

Please Marie-Claire write on these subjects and explain how can we help our marriage.

A Marie-Claire fan, by email.

Editor's note:_Marie-Claire would like to point out that she is not a qualified counsellor but is happy to carry out some research and voice her opinion from the heart in a future edition.

Dear Stan,

The Dessange Health Club in Adliya is holding its fourth annual Dessange Spinning Marathon, a 12-hour spectacular 'spin-a-thon' on Saturday from 8am till 4pm (for ladies only) and 4pm-8pm (ladies and gentlemen) to raise funds for the Think Pink breast cancer awareness campaign.

Each year Think Pink Bahrain continues to advance its mission of breast cancer awareness. Since 2005, the organisation has raised more then BD30,000 which helps many lives change for the better.

Dessange is very proud to help this worthy charitable project. If GulfWeekly readers would like to participate in the spinning marathon, they are most welcome. For further details call 17713999.

Kind regards.

Lucie Kaiser,

Front office manager,

Dessange,

PO Box 54123,

Adliya.

Dear Stan,

This refers to the article 'Stop drink driving' by Ismaeel Na'ar (last week's GulfWeekly).

Whether it is a two-wheeler, four-wheeler or a six-wheeler vehicle you are driving the consequences of consuming alcohol can be fatal.

The best policy in this connection would be "IF YOU DRINK, DO NOT DRIVE ... AND IF YOU DRIVE, DO NOT DRINK".

We appreciate the writer for bringing out every week various interesting articles under the column of 'Youth-Talk' raising issues that concern today's young people which have relevance not only in Bahrain but anywhere around the world. Keep it up, Ismaeel.

Seturam Aspari,

Adliya.