A weekend in Bahrain

The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
by Christopher Marlowe

Come live with me and be my love,
And we will all the pleasures prove
That valleys, groves, hills, and fields,
Woods or steepy mountain yields.

And we will sit upon the rocks,
Seeing the shepherds feed their flocks,
By shallow rivers to whose falls
Melodious birds sing madrigals.

And I will make thee beds of roses
And a thousand fragrant posies,
A cap of flowers, and a kirtle
Embroidered all with leaves of myrtle;

A gown made of the finest wool
Which from our pretty lambs we pull;
Fair lined slippers for the cold,
With buckles of the purest gold;

A belt of straw and ivy buds,
With coral clasps and amber studs:
And if these pleasures may thee move,
Come live with me and be my love.

The shepherds' swains shall dance and sing
For thy delight each May morning:
If these delights thy mind may move,
Then live with me and be my love.

Just spent a weekend in Bahrain. It's where AB grew up and where Ma is currently on assignment, so went to see what it's all about.
As countries go, Bahrain is small, petite to be more precise! Traffic is non-existent, almost! And there are only about 5 buildings making up the skyline! After the high-rise craziness that is Dubai, Bahrain was pleasantly dopey and idyllic. The people we visited all lived in spacious villas(that cost less than what we pay for our 1 bedroom in Dubai!!) and some even had gardens!! Where they grew their own veggies!!
Now if, like me, you have grown up on a diet of Enid Blytons, you'll understand my fascination with "sun-ripened tomatoes" and all things home-grown. Can there be anything more satisfying or charming than pickles made out of lemons grown in your kitchen garden? Which also brings me to the point that Bahrain is greener than your average Middle Eastern country. Simply divine!
For the sake of the lemon pickle that isn't yet, but may someday be, I need to figure out a way to get AB to move there!