Write to the editor

I am most thankful to Bahrain’s warm hospitality during the week spent participating in Bahrain’s Summer Festival in the Nakhool Tent next to Bahrain’s National Museum.

From the Best Western Olive Hotel staff to the technical organisers, ably facilitated by Ahmad Emam, I have had nothing but first class professional treatment.

Sometimes actors, like myself, are difficult to look after but they handled everything with cool and calm thinking. Even the cleaner, who nearly ended up on stage during one of my Einstein performances, walked off with a smile.

A very special thanks to Mr Ludo and the staff of his MTE Studios, who, in his wisdom, invited me to Bahrain. The studios are foremost in providing science education around the world.

Thank you to your good newspaper too, for letting everyone know about a month of excellent Summer Festival activities. Not only entertaining, also ‘edutaining’. My three plays, Imagining Einstein and Travelling Tales of Ibn Battuta and Heathcote Williams’ Whale Nation will no doubt remain in the hearts of the festinos for a long, long time.

I am now busy with rehearsals for my new play which opens at the end of August, in South Africa. Shukran. Ma Salaama!

David Muller, by email.

The positive impact made by the American Women’s Association of Bahrain (AWA) is immense … and will be growing again soon.

For 42 years, the ladies in AWA have been volunteering their time and talents in charities throughout Bahrain. Our mission has always been, and remains, to promote charity, friendship and cultural understanding in the Kingdom of Bahrain.

Our members donate thousands of volunteer hours and work to raise funds for Bahraini charities every year.

We can only do this with the significant support of individuals and companies throughout Bahrain. The biggest event to support AWA and the substantial work we do is our biennial Cherry Tree Trot (CTT). This event is one of the largest fundraising and highest-profile events in Bahrain.

The Cherry Tree Trot supports not just a single charity but more than 35 charitable organisations. On that one day alone, the event involves around 2,300 people and raises tens of thousands of Bahraini dinars.

We are very excited to share with you that the committee has been formed and Saturday, February 25, has been selected as the date for the next Cherry Tree Trot event. It will again be held at the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir. We can feel the growing enthusiasm in the AWA membership as the planning begins.

It is a tremendous opportunity to see your readers support make a difference in the lives of so very many people. By supporting AWA and the Cherry Tree Trot, the support becomes a powerful tool for a full two years.

We look forward to further discuss and plan together your involvement in this great event with the American Women’s Association.

Karen Floyd,
Chairperson, CTT 2017,
CTT@AwaBahrain.org & Facebook.com/AWA.Bahrain

I went to the bank ATM to collect my last BD100 to pay another bank’s credit card and leave enough change to fill my car with petrol and buy a few groceries, robbing Peter to pay Paul, I know what you’re thinking. However, I ended up being ‘robbed’ when the machine failed to dispense my cash.

I reported the problem to the branch immediately only to be told it ‘sometimes happens when we load the ATM with cash in the morning. It will be back in your account … within three days. These things happen, no-one’s to blame’.

But it’s Wednesday, so with the weekend it might, just might, be back in my account by Sunday or Monday. Unfortunately, that meant the credit card bank charged a fee for late payment and I had to find a friend to loan me some cash to pay for petrol and food. Compensation? Not a chance!

Mr Angry, name and address supplied.