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Dear Stan, Betsy really tugged at my heart strings with her article last week about the heroes.

I have been fortunate to live here for the last five years and I agree with her about the kindness of Bahrainis.

At work, I have made some good friends and learned to understand the tolerance of true Muslims. As Betsy says, the infrastructure of the island may be changing rapidly, but thank goodness we still see the old fashioned values of the Bahrainis.

I hope this never changes, as it has in England, where human kindness seems to be in short supply.

George Neil, by email.

Dear Stan,

Well, Betsy is lucky to have found some kind helpful Bahrainis to help her.

It is all very well to write a sloppy feel good piece, but why doesn't she write about all the road rage, dreadful driving and dangerous manoeuvring that is rammed down our throats every minute of every day we are on the roads here?

Get real Betsy.

Realistic Driver, by email.

Ask Betsy - Pg15

Dear Stan,

I read Betsy's article in last week's GulfWeekly - it certainly was a refreshing insight into the real people in Bahrain.

I was particularly taken by her story about Hamad, the cleaner.

Well, I am looking for a driver to join us at Adhari Park and if Hamad fits the bill it could be that step up into "his dream of being able to work in a better job".

He would not have to worry about clothes and shoes as I am sure we can work something out. As long as he has a clean driving licence and no criminal record and can get released from his present job then we would be willing to talk to him about giving him a chance.

We would like to explore the possibilities of him coming to work at Adhari Park.

Tony Johnson,

General manager,

Adhari Park

Development Co,

PO Box 75707,

Bahrain.

Tel: 17407301

Mobile: 36076752

Fax: 17405110

Email: tony@adharipark.com.bh

Betsy's reply: This restores your faith in human nature. I urge Hamad to get in touch if he is interested in the opportunity.

Dear Stan,

The double page spread on summer activities for children was very informative.

Just one small thing: your readers may be interested to know that the main picture of the boy enjoying the pool was taken at Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain. It's such a wonderful picture for summer and deserves an image credit.

Best wishes,

Shreedevi Menon

Communications

manager,

Mšvenpick Hotel Bahrain,

Editor's note: Certainly, credit where credit's due!

Dear Stan,

IT was definitely a case of the GulfWeekly to the rescue last week.

On my way home from work on Tuesday, June 24, I was listening to the live reports from Wimbledon on BBC World Service. The commentators were raving about whatever it was that Maria Sharapova was wearing: they figured (if you will forgive the pun) that papers the following day would be full of photos of her Tuxedo-type top and her apparently OTT shorts.

On Wednesday, June 25, I went, licking my lips, to my local Cold Store and bought copies of both the English language newspapers published in Bahrain.

Were my (worst) voyeuristic impulses satisfied? Certainly not! The best that they managed between them were photographs of herself from about mid-torso upwards, and she is hardly in the same league as Lucy Lawless of Much Ado About a D-Cup (as Xena, Warrior Princess is better known in the UK).

My faith in humanity was restored when, later on that day in the office, I read Marie-Claire's article about Amy Winehouse and spotted the photograph that accompanied her article.

A colleague agreed with me that the singer should not bend backwards!

Back in my misspent youth, the length of a mini-skirt would be defined as so many (few!) inches below see-level. With Amy Winehouse, her jeans would now be defined as so many cm (we have since my misspent youth gone metric) above see-level.

If, as a result of the foregoing, Marie-Claire would want to write a derogatory article about male chauvinists in Bahrain like myself, be my guest: I would be happy to contribute!

Best regards,

Brian Pickering, by email.