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IT was great to know that GulfWeekly reporter Shilpa Chandran got to meet Lalettan in person. Like she said, it must have been an experience like no other.

To have a bad case of nerves at that moment and to break through it, come what may, was truly 'feel-goody'. Here was a dream-come-true story for millions of Lalettan fans.

Keep up the good work.

Sudhakar

By email

I'VE just read Shilpa Chandran's story in GulfWeekly about our favourite Mohanlal - nice article by a true fan. But, one mistake - he is only 51 years of age and not 61 as reported.

Anil Kumar,

Manama.

Editor's note: Shilpa was in such a tizzy after meeting the actor her finger must have slipped on the keyboard. Our apologies to the star and his fans.

AS a mother of three children, I feel Adam Jones should be with his mum. People, family, friends and his grandparents should understand that life is too short to fight over custody.

It's time to let him go and be with his mother ... enough of the suffering for them both. What counts in the end is his happiness. He is too young for all this.

Ayesha Jameel,

by email.

I HAVE been speaking to a British subject I know who has been here in Bahrain for many years but has recently fallen on hard times due to the global crisis and lost their job.

The person is now staying in a friend's spare room and currently faces a travel ban and is just one of a growing number of Brits who are stuck here in misery and despair, willing but unable to work off their debts and reverse their situation - yet unable to leave!

Apparently our embassy - like all of them here, actually - is powerless to help.

This morning, officials actually called my friend (who is in contact with Bahrain Human Rights and the churches) to be put in touch with another victim - so they can help each other.

This gentleman, a middle-aged Brit, who previously held a prestigious managerial position here, is in a far worse situation - credit card debt with an ongoing court case and a travel ban.

He has had to spend weeks at a time in jail and actually spent last night on the street. He has an ex-wife and two daughters in the UK.

How can YOU help? Well, many of us live in places which are far too big - with at least a couple of spare bedrooms. Would you be willing to offer some shelter to a person such as this? Imagine - this COULD be happening to you, or me?

Alternatively, can you suggest another way in which you could help? Obviously money is in very short supply so any donations or contributions, even food, would go a long way.

Perhaps a formal support group could be set up in conjunction with the clubs, NGOs and the embassy?

To our friends in the hotels and restaurants - perhaps you could consider offering a room for a night or two when you have low occupancy and/or a hot meal here and there?

I am willing to help co-ordinate a group so they could become their own resource. So, if you know any of these unfortunate people, perhaps you could alert them that a support group is being formed, and have them contact me, in the first instance?

Also, anyone who has relevant experience and would like to volunteer some time to such a group, please contact me. Obviously legal advice is of great help too - but costs money.

How awful to think one could be reduced to begging like this?

My friend is of the opinion there are as many as 100 Britons in trouble here in Bahrain - which can be a frighteningly expensive place to try and survive when you are in such dire straits. Let's see if we can give them a hand?

Susan D. Cook

Bah mob: +973 39801393

BB Pin: 21BF928F Also on Skype and Facebook

FURTHER to your article on the front page of last week's GulfWeekly headlined Majali's Conundrum.

It is a no-brainer, in my opinion, that when a company is losing money ($1 million per day), it is time to stop the ridiculous sponsorship of a soccer team in Europe, namely Queens Park Rangers.

Gulf Air is reported to be spending BD748,000 per season to advertise on the club's hoardings and shirts and is still losing money?

Wouldn't it be better to pay this money directly to an agent who could actively convince somebody to buy Gulf Air tickets?

It is a waste and a shame to have Gulf Air in this poor condition and I don't see how advertising on shirts in the UK will convince anybody to buy a ticket.

Karim Mansouri

Manama.