Betsy's Diary

A glimpse into the daily life of a single, 50-something, entrepreneurial mother-of-two with very definite opinions! Join Betsy B. each week as she shares with you her thoughts, plans, dreams, fears, struggles and triumphs.

Friday

A day for taking stock and making plans, a day just for me. Whiz mango, banana and pineapple to make breakfast smoothie. Yum

Swallow my vitamins, stumble to the mirror, pop lenses in and try to see things in a new light! Wish I had enough courage to have that laser-eye thingy done. Big baby. Off to the gym to appease my guilty conscience a bit.

Afterwards in the sauna, I met lovely French lady visiting Bahrain who was very impressed with the friendliness of everyone she had met. Smile secretly to self and thank my lucky stars I get to live here ... everyday.

Dinner tonight at Bushido with some friends I have not seen for a while. Main topic of our discussion was focused on the expected announcement that His Majesty King Hamad was about to bestow a BD1,000 gift to every Bahraini family. Bravo.

Saturday

Official announcement today about BD1,000 gift from King Hamad. Lots of happy Bahraini friends. Lots of other friends wishing they had Bahraini nationality! Lovely news, 16-year-old Bahraini Essa Al Najem won the Young Musician of the Gulf 2011. His humility and work ethic are a wonderful inspiration to other young Bahrainis. 'Nihil Sine Labore' ... 'nothing without work'. My motto for this week. Entrepreneurial thought? Could I sell squillions of T-shirts and rubber band bracelets with this logo on? Could it galvanise youth and motivate them? Could we use profits to help underprivileged children? Back to reality, supermarket shopping beckons.

Sunday

Hearing disappointing comments about the BD1,000 given to Bahrainis by King Hamad. Some people are never happy.

Lots of things come to mind when I think about retorting. Cynical comments about it being done just to appease people who have threatened to protest on the anniversary of the National Charter.

I understand this gift was to be announced on December 17, part of National Day celebrations but sadly HRH Shaikh Rashid bin Salman passed away and the Royal Court was in mourning so it was decided to announce the good news in celebrations of National Charter.

Chating with a client today about pet hates. Hers is people who incessantly honk their car horn. Mine is paper towel dispensers in toilets that are too high up the wall so water runs down your arms when you reach up for towel to dry them.

Monday

Surprise delivery of beautiful flowers and chocs last night. No card, so it's a real mystery. I hate mystery. Need to know. Try to extract info from florists but no luck. Thank you mystery person.

Must finish writing proposal for spa client, Read that Kings Speech won a Bafta. I saw it in the UK, sat speechless for over two hours. No mean feat. Riveting. Deserves Oscar, not just Colin Firth (sigh and sigh again) Jeffrey Rush too and costumes.

Talking today about GAC Pindar yacht that had to pull out of series of regional races. Shame, I was excited to see the first female Bahraini sailor on board. Captain Peter devastated. Better luck next time.

Laughed head my off at an email from a recently divorced friend describing her first date for over 20 years. She spilt water over him, derided the French then found out his grandmother was French, laughed so hard due to nerves she choked on bread. Result, watery eyes, running mascara, mega embarrassment. She says never again. I say never say never. Several stray dogs running around outside my building. Running across road in front of cars. I hope there were no accidents.

Tuesday

I woke refreshed and watched HM on TV bestowing honours on Bahrain's great and good. We have all come so far in so many ways. Very proud to see Bahraini girls working as flight attendants for Gulf Air. Wouldn't you expect to have Bahrainis welcome you on Bahrain's national carrier? Bravo girls. Give the world's travellers a taste of real Bahraini hospitality. Read today that some cola drinks contain a colourant that has been shown to be carcinogenic ... is that really a surprise? Laughed today at a report stating that women use around 20,000 words a day and men only 7,000. Question: does that include when you talk to yourself? Mutter, mutter.

Wednesday

Public holiday. Public disaster. Blood on the streets of Bahrain. Never thought it could get so bad. Watched another 'King's Speech' last night. Speechless again, but for different reasons.

HM spoke from his heart, easy to see his shock and compassion. This is one performance no one in Bahrain ever wanted to witness. This is not the way forward. Easy to see HM is in shock. Poor families lost sons. Poor police who have to risk lives not knowing if Molotov cocktails or worse face them.

Black day on what should be a day of joy for Muslims celebrating the birth of Prophet Mohammed. Foreign TV stations have been hyping it up. My son Khalid is off work today and his Blackberry pinging non-stop with messages. Rumours are rife and lots of friends worried about the security of country.

Al Wefaq members say they will boycott Parliament. They should fight their corner in Parliament and keep using their rights under the constitution to pursue their demands. That's why they were voted in as Members of Parliament.

This is just one example that demonstrates the need for patience and education as our fledgling democracy shuffles from infancy to high school. Pray there will be no more riots or disruption.

Thursday

Emails, Facebook posts, telephone calls from friends all around the world who are worried about the situation in Bahrain.

I am incensed at the totally biased, sensationalised lies that the world's media is spouting. Why do they not report both sides? I am worried that this turmoil will take Bahrain backwards, but, of course, that is what some people want.

French Week and all the hard work of the last nine months and all the good intentions to enhance economic and cultural ties between Bahrain and France will be just one casualty.

Potential to see economic and commercial melt down, job loses, loss of confidence in Bahrain as financial centre ... think people ... think! Don't let others manipulate you. Try to see the big picture for the whole country, for this and the next generation.

Expat friends are too scared of repercussions to join in the many marches in support of the King and government. This is what rioters want, to create fear, panic, dissent. I cannot bear to watch foreign TV, it fills me with angst and tears of frustration are never far away.

Tried all day to get through on the phone to Sky News and I just hope I never bump into their reporter who is roaming our streets stirring up almost as much dissent as the rioters. Shame on you Sky News, BBC and the New York Times.

I have lived here through the Gulf War and several attempted coups and assassinations, I never felt unsafe and don't now. But I never before felt such anger at the interference of external forces and I don't just mean the media.

Writing is my way of expressing myself, so this diary helps. Another way I reduce stress is by singing, but the only voice I can find right now would only be suited to laments, not exactly inspiring for either myself or my poor neighbours. I will write my stress away. This week's word: Anabasis ... in this case with sinister motives.