It's never too late

Dear Betsy, I WROTE a letter and a small poem recently, but you did not incorporate it in your column. Every week I open the GulfWeekly anxiously in the hope that this week my letter will be published, but to no avail.

Dear Betsy is there any special criteria for writing a letter and entering it in your column? Is it because:

1. There are many letters and it is turn wise.

2. It depends on the topic.

3. It depends on good written English.

4. It depends on the nationality of the sender.

Please Betsy, I am waiting for your answer.

U.A.

Dear U.A.

Thank you for your persistence in writing to me. It is not always possible to print every letter due to pressure of space each week, and it is not possible for me to reply privately to every letter due to the volume of emails I receive.

All readers' letters are valued and I do try to reply privately to as many as possible. However, sometimes, I may not receive your emails, they might end up in my junk box.

To avoid this, I suggest that readers please put ASK BETSY in the subject line of their emails, as then they will be delivered straight to my Inbox.

Your poem was really beautiful, and was submitted to the Ed for publication, but was held over due to pressure of space. Here it is this week, and thank you for sharing it with us. It is a very powerful and meaningful piece.

"Whatever part of the day

Wherever I am,

You are always with me

Whatever I am doing

Whatever I am thinking

You are always with me

You are in my mind

You are in my heart

Thanks for everything

Keep on writing

I miss you a lot

Waiting for you forever."

Do other readers have a favourite inspirational poem? Please share it with us:

betsymathieson@hotmail. Com

BETSY SAYS RELAX

Organise your festive season in advance and cut out all that festive stress. With Eid and Christmas in the next few weeks, and the global recession never far from our heels, it has never been more important to plan ahead.

If you are going to be buying gifts, then decide on a budget for each individual gift and stick to it. Now is a great time to find bargains in the shops with lots of sales and discounts, so take advantage of this and start your gift buying now.

If you are going to be hosting a festive party then plan your menu and shopping list well in advance and organise your cutlery, glasses, table linen, and cook or prepare whatever you can a day or so before the event. This means you might actually get to enjoy your own party for a change! Now all that remains is the question of the washing up ... Try bribery. Offer your significant 'other' a back rub, it never fails.

IF YOU ONLY DO ONE THING THIS WEEK

Blow the cobwebs away and strengthen your immune system by going for a brisk walk in the autumn sunshine. We all need some vitamin D to keep us happy and healthy and a 30-minute walk in the sun is a great way to elevate your mood and stay healthy. Don't cover up with a total sun block or you will be blocking out all of the benefits. IF you walk after 3pm and/or wear a light sunscreen then you will be safe, happy and healthy.