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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

AWAKE! Well, that's a good start at least. Sit gingerly upright, shake head, breathe sigh of relief.

Working until 10pm last night and had to cancel dinner plans, so no real reason to worry about waking with a headache, but old habits die hard. Fridays. Not my favourite day. I hate the idea of forced inaction but am grateful for the fact that I can be inactive if I so choose, unlike some others who have no choice but to work today.

Coffee, emails, check on Khalid, 19-year-old son. He sleeps like a baby.

Reminisce briefly, remembering those deep teenage sleeps.

Now it's just night sweats, palpitations and reading until dawn. Off to Dan's tonight to celebrate Australia Day.

He is a great host and I love my Aussie friends, their enthusiasm for life is infectious.

Television signal down again, internet slow ... good reflection of my current energy levels?

Saturday

Dan's party was on the roof, what a view, what a host, what great friends, what freezing weather! Dan held a silent auction to raise funds for victims of the devastating floods in Oz. Found self faced with scary prospect ... laden table of Aussie childhood goodies such as Minties, Tim Tams, Vegemite and Wagon Wheels (wait a minute, I remember those from my school days, they are definitely SCOTTISH.

Still, it's for a good cause, Betsy, don't remonstrate). Bid recklessly on all the choccy items.

Had to leave early (panicky business phone call from UK) so don't know how many extra calories I might have to consume this week. Work today, consulting on spa for HNI client for his new palatial residence.

Meeting won't be easy. Design changes never are and I know that whatever I do, there will be unhappy people at the end of the meeting. Better that it's the architect, contractor, interior designer rather than the client (sorry guys).

I love my job, the spa industry is so exciting and no two days are ever the same for me. Thank goodness.

Don Giovanni at Crown Plaza, 7.30pm looking forward to a bit of culture, but not holding breath, as previous opera experiences in Bahrain were bit flat, pun intended.

Sunday

Coffee, take diuretic, drink water, loo. Emails, drink water, loo. Shower, not drink water still loo. Wonder how many wasted minutes a day, week, month, year, spent going to loo. On second thoughts don't think about it. This growing old gracefully lark is not as effortless as it looks. Fluid retention, hot flushes, sleepless nights, diuretics, beta blockers, and something else, now what was it? Ah yes, memory lapse and loss of concentration. Vow to laugh in face of ageing process.

Stop at donut shop on way to gym to help resolve. Between meetings, stop off at Seef Mall to find gift for newly-engaged friend. Wandering round furnishing store and come across a young Bahraini girl being 'trained' by Filipino colleague on how to measure a table. She is constantly repeating 'see, this width ... see, this length ... see ...' the volume of her voice increasing with her frustration as she realises she is not connecting with her trainee. Consider interfering and advising her that it may help to: a) use diagrams, b) stop shouting c) learn those words in Arabic so you can communicate better d) treat others the way you would like to be treated yourself.

In a rush, so decide to keep mouth shut, instead smile sympathetically at Bahraini girl and wonder if this is what Tamkeen had in mind when they pay companies to 'train Bahrainis on the job?'

It amazes me that we all expect Bahrainis to speak flawless English, in their own country, but how many of us ever make the effort to learn even a few words of Arabic? If this so called trainer had bothered to learn just TWO words then her training session would have been more fruitful. Reminded me of a great training course I attended blah blah years ago called 'Training the Trainer'.

Seems like this furniture chain should be investing in training Bahrainis to be trainers and then problem solved. Not giving this store my business. Leave. Rethink gift.

Work on updating menus and nutritional profile for a client in UK and email them off.

I love to be creative in my work, even if it is only finding a way to include his favourite biscuits in his healthy diet. He is constantly in the public eye and needs to look and feel good, but more importantly he needs lots of energy and we are what we eat. Now where did I hide that kit kat?

Monday

Was chatting to client today about Don Giovanni, it really was excellent.

First time I had heard the Bahrain Sinfonia play, musical excellence in every sense of the word.

Was in front row and no orchestra pit so disappointed to see that despite the formality of occasion, lots of dirty shoes (men) and several unkempt musicians who could have been more appropriately dressed.

Come to think of it, there were far more members of the audience inappropriately dressed.

One female had skirt so short, we girls were sure she had left home and forgotten to put it on. Considered offering her my shawl.

Boys were too busy staring, assessing, turning round in seats to comment.

Fickle males, sigh. Loved her shoes though.

Situation in Tunisia and Egypt very worrying. Spent time last night chatting to eldest son, Tariq in UK.

He is a real Arabist and always fights for the underdog. He had some pretty strong opinions about the Egyptian leadership. He is finishing his graduate law degree and would be a perfect human rights lawyer in my opinion, as he has been like this since he was a little boy, always supporting those weaker, and standing up for their rights, even if it was only the legitimacy of a goal during neighbourhood footie.

Clients all day today and have to work on my business plan for my latest project, a range of uber-luxe spa products. Struggling with lack of sleep, own fault, drank coffee yesterday afternoon, should know better.

Tuesday

Five am. Yes five am before I slept. Followed all my own advice ... warm bath, cool comfortable bedroom, eat handful natural skinless almonds, lavender on pillow, chamomile tea, stay out of bed until tired.

Worry about looking and feeling dreadful next morning, but surprisingly up at 8.30-ish, and not exhausted. Nothing that three coats of under eye concealer, careful use of eyelash curlers, smidgeon of blue mascara (whitens eyes) can't fix.

Was standing face to face with client, chatting, when it happened. Great wave of overwhelming heat accompanied by nausea followed by profuse and immediate sweating of upper lip. Felt like river running down my back. Checked discreetly for puddle on floor.

Client, who knows me well, saw the look of horror on my face and asked what was wrong. Told her truth. Spent next hour swapping MP stories. She didn't have sweats, but had extreme mood swings and interrupted sleep. Had mental picture of her with axe in hand, dark circles under eyes, steam coming out of ears, but then remembered her husband was still alive so how bad could it get? Bet my ex is happy he is ex. That's good thing about being single. No one to witness MP. That's bad thing about being single. No one to sympathise, bring you cool drinks in bed. Think formation of such thoughts must be beginning of emotional mood swings. Keep busy, distract self, put Prussian marching music on, read Financial Times.

Wednesday

Didn't realise Prussian marching music could be so sweetly sad, didn't realise how truly beautiful the pink paper of the FT is. Brought tears to my eyes. STOP! Time for radical action.

Will not give in to emotional rollercoaster. Need more exercise, less sugar, more avocadoes and Brazil nuts and Peruvian herbal remedy that promises a return to youthful vigour and ... other youthful pursuits. I am known for being a planner. 'Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail' is my favourite saying, so it will come as no surprise to my friends to know that I bought this special supplement a year ago, just in case.

Finally locate it at back of knicker drawer and swallow two capsules with large glass of water.

Feel better already. Have to phone UK bankers today. Got back from UK Xmas trip to find that on the day I was flying back to Bahrain, I had purchased, online, a £900 computer with my UK bank card.

How clever am I? Lloyds have a really good online fraud department, and they will refund me, but they scared me when they explained to me about identity theft and just how easy it is for someone to do this and run up thousands of pounds of debts in your name before it catches up with you. They explained that it can take up to 18 months before you realise and then it can be practically impossible for you to prove that you did not take out all of this credit.

I signed up for their monthly credit fraud detection thingy. If this was a sales pitch, then it worked.

Thursday

Woke to find excited son asking for his list of chores. Unusual. Very unusual. Tell Khalid no cash available and no he can't have my car. He reminds me he begins work at the Gulf Hotel on Saturday, so this is his last day to 'help mummy'. Bad cynical mother. I began using the 'help mummy' game when he was two years old. My devious way to get him to do what I wanted for a small reward ... put toys away, eat breakfast, go to sleep. Now he has turned the tables on me and he instigates the 'help mummy' game when his cash reserves are low. Go to bank, post office, pay electric bill, drop off dry cleaning, all those things he knows I hate. Give in gracefully, and dive into shower.

Playing golf today. Have been prevented from playing for a few weeks, due to some people wanting to park their Volvos down at the RGC or something similar. Hmm.

Love the fresh air surrounded by the sights and smells of grass, it reminds me of my childhood in Scotland playing hockey and having the freedom to just run and run in the countryside.

Rush to finish paperwork, send emails, return calls and get down to tee off. Mad dash home to change then back to Riffa to work until 9pm.

Most of our discussions are about the sad situation in Egypt. It makes me realise how lucky we are that King Hamad had the vision to begin democratic and social reforms 10 years ago, ensuring that Bahrain avoids just the situations we now see in Egypt. Some Arab leaders may have questioned His Majesty's wisdom at voluntarily beginning these reforms, but these same leaders may now be wishing they had emulated him.

The days of ruling your people by keeping them largely ignorant, poor and barefoot are thankfully fading fast. Education, healthcare, employment, economic and democratic reforms, empowerment of women and the implementation of basic human rights, are the way forward. But those same citizens who demand democracy and their so called 'freedoms' need to be reminded that with democracy comes responsibility.

Each citizen has to understand that unquestionable loyalty to your country and giving back to society and working together for a better future, are the responsibility of all. I am so proud of Bahrain and all she has achieved. We are a shining example in many ways.

Battle home through Thursday night traffic. Reminded me about a report this week where young Emiratis admitted they drove recklessly. Yes, plenty of evidence tonight that their GCC counterparts are no different. Home. Hungry. Tired. Lazy. Fridge empty except sardines, tuna, pilchards (what was I thinking?) decide to opt for take away.

Decisions, decisions, which health risk should I invoke tonight? Diabetes, cardiac arrest, obesity? Order cheeseburger, fries, apple pie. Well, I never was one for doing things by half and maybe, just maybe, I will sleep tonight after all those carbs. Put on DVD to wait for food delivery. Wake at 1.40am. Slept through delivery man ringing door bell. Open sardines, make toast, resume DVD and congratulate myself ... finished paperwork, parred the second hole, got my omega 3, 6 and 9, had some exercise and even survived the Thursday night wacky races. Not a bad day. Not a bad week. Now if only I can sleep through a whole night.