Earlier this week, I was reminded just why I fell in love with Bahrain when I first arrived here in 1980. The Bahrainis themselves are what makes this a magic kingdom.

I was driving to the gym early in the morning when my car just 'stopped' right in the middle of the highway, approaching the Seef area.

Apparently my engine was hungry and I had forgotten to feed it! Oops, major blonde hormonal moment.

It was rush hour and my first thought was to get out of the car and move myself to somewhere safer.

By the time I had found my mobile phone and located my insurance details, a friendly taxi driver pulled over to ask if he could help.

Mohammed Taxi agreed to go and buy some Mumtaz for me, so off he went leaving my car in the middle of the road and me loitering by the roadside.

Next, along came Hamad and his friend Hassan in a beat-up old Datsun, who asked what they could do.

I explained that help was on its way and they drove off.

Five minutes later, they were back with another friend, another Mohammed.

It was too dangerous, they explained, to leave my car in the middle of the highway so the three of them expertly manoeuvred my SUV to a safer position. (I didn't know you could do that with an automatic car).

They then said they would stay with me until Mohammed the taxi driver returned with my Mumtaz and they were sure I was okay.

Soon we were chatting away and Hamad was telling me he was working on the Corniche as a cleaner.

It wasn't a great job, but at least it gave him the chance to earn some money to help support his family.

He shared with me his dream of being able to work in a better job, perhaps in one of the smart shops in the big shopping malls.

He had only managed to finish high school and would love to study more, but his family needed him to work.

I tried to explain to him about the various training schemes that the government was offering Bahrainis and told him to visit these shops and ask if they had any vacancies.

He couldn't do that, he said. Why? His English wasn't good and he didn't have smart clothes or even shoes to wear to interviews.

Here was a kind, bright, articulate young man who just wanted a better life but didn't know where to turn and wouldn't dream of putting himself and his future first, if it meant letting his family down.

By this time, another three or four cars had stopped and parked, to offer assistance, including the huge tow truck from the Traffic and Licensing Department, and it was almost like a roadside brunch party with people offering me food and water and even the use of their mobile phones.

These would-be-good-Samaritans all had one thing in common - they were all Bahrainis.

Despite the many nationalities and hundreds of cars that passed me that morning, Bahrainis were the only ones to take the time and trouble to stop to offer assistance.

We passed the time discussing the traffic congestion, the dreadful dust pollution that morning, how a Scottish woman was able to speak Arabic like a Muharaqeeia and how it would soon be Ramadan.

Amid cheers, 'Mohammed Taxi' arrived with the Mumtaz and was gently chided by some of my new friends for taking so long and not knowing that there was an easy shortcut right under his nose.

Suddenly, half a dozen empty water bottles appeared with their ends cut off, and with the top unscrewed, these were used as makeshift funnels to feed my beast. Ingenious, I thought.

Our little party began to break up with friendly waves and "Fiamenellahs" all round.

After paying Mohammed Taxi for his professional services, I turned to offer a small token to Hamad.

"La, La, he yelled at me, you are like my mother, how can I take a reward for helping my mother".

I tried to force him, but he refused and told me I was insulting him.

"This is Bahrain, this is what Bahrainis do, it is my pleasure," he told me, with a beaming smile.

Despite the fact that extra cash would be invaluable to Hamad, he selflessly valued the Bahraini reputation for unfailing hospitality more.

As he jumped into his old boneshaker with two of the windows missing and doors of different colours, I couldn't help thinking that despite how much the face of Bahrain may have changed since 1980, the heart of Bahrain remains unchanged.

It still beats strongly with that uniquely Bahraini blend of kindness, compassion and friendliness.

So, this is a big thank you to my heroes, Hamad, Hassan, Mohammed and Mohammed Taxi, who not only restored my transport, but my sense of pride in this magic kingdom we call home.

No congestion at the Traffic and Licensing Department

I get so sick of hearing people complain about every small thing that I thought it was time to share some good news with you.

I suddenly realised that my driving licence had expired and as I was travelling soon, I would need a valid licence to enable me to hire a car.

I was advised to go personally to the Traffic and Licensing Directorate where I was told it could be renewed the same day.

I cleared my diary for a whole morning, expecting to be there for hours.

The last time I visited the TLD was when I passed my driving test in 1981.

The car park was packed with many cars driving aimlessly round searching for a space.

It took me almost 20 minutes of driving around and waiting for someone to leave until I eventually found somewhere to park.

I was dreading the internal procedure of being sent from pillar to post and back again as I tried to make sense of the Licence Renewal System.

How wrong I was! The whole procedure took just 20 minutes, with smiling, polite efficiency amidst the chaos of the building renovations that are going on at the moment.

No queue jumping or favouritism, just a fair, fast and professional system for everyone.

Ironic that it took me the same amount of time to find a parking space as it did to get my hot little hands on that new licence.

Congratulations to everyone at the TLD, and thank you for doing a great job in less than desirable surroundings, with all that building work going on around you.

Other ministries and organisations should take a leaf out of your book.

BETSY SAYS RELAX

Organise your music library and listen to all those favourites that you had forgotten about. There is nothing like a bit of nostalgia to warm the cockles of your heart.

IF ONLY YOU DO ONE THING THIS WEEK

Next time you visit the supermarket, buy a dozen cold bottles of water and when you are driving home, give them to some of those poor construction workers who are toiling away in the heat and dust to earn a meagre crust.

Not only will you be doing something selfless for others, but you won't be able to beat the good feelings you will experience yourself. It quickly becomes addictive when you realise how easy it is to help others.