All’s Freezing on the Sliema Front

Idled the afternoon away after a massive bacon’n'eggs brunch at the house. Most of aforementioned idling to place in Sliema in the company of the man who shall henceforth be called Dicky B (just because I know he does not like the monicker).

Nothing much to report except that hanger’s on at Giorgio’s still look like a collection of show-off wankers who even fail to move one step up and look remotely wankellectual. There’s the boys in suits and the West Side almost a rapper in bling bling clothing crowds. We settled for a mint tea at Offshore notwithstanding my worry that we might encounter a crowd of Surf Dudes.

We did notice that people are very very limited conversationally and that the popular question to ask when walking on the front six or so days before Christmas is: “Shopping?” As Dicky put it rather unmildly… “Le…I’m just spanking the proverbial monkey”.

Speaking of putting it mildly – Maltatoday’s sales levels must be shooting down the charts and so the title of their midweek edition plays on the childish curiosity engendered in people when they see “rude” words on the front pages of a paper. This time it has something to do with some journalist calling Sant at home and asking him if the CIA helped him win the election in 1996 to which Sant replies that he has not time for this Bullshit (my capitals).

All in all quite an amusing bit of news. Don’t know what is worse… the journalist following up this bit of info, Sant replying rudely or the idea that someone at the Central Intelligence Agency might remotely care about putting Sant in government.

And it’s still freezing here. Even on the Sliema front.

Melitensia (1)

What better than a spoof of oneself? Luxemburgensia is dedicated to all that is Luxembourg so while I am in Malta why not a Melitensia in the same vein?

Double-Glazing

First the rant. Maltese architects and double-glazing. I wonder if modern apartments come with double-glazing included. The one I had bought before leaving the island does not. I had forgotten the discomfort of being woken up by workers at 8 a.m. I had also forgotten how desperately hopeless the windows are at keeping the warm in and the cold out. It does get cold at night, previous blog posts notwithstanding. Tonight the heaters will have to go on – especially since I am Mel-less and there’s no one to rub the cold feet against and magically transfer all coldness.

Eur-on-track

Seen the new coins. They’re lovely. At the risk of being blasphemous let me say that we should thank God and light a candle in gratitude to all the persons who finally saw the light and did not choose Saint George Preca’s face for the pieces. My favourite is the Maltese Cross one euro. The best one euro coin yet… Also. Thank heavens for the Republic and its coat of arms. The 50 cent coin with our arms emblazoned on the back sure beats the hell out of the head of any head of state from Juan Carlos to the Duke of Luxy. But then I might be off on a patriotic rush here so apologies if anyone feels offended by the last statement.

Lights out in Gozo
The sister island is not having a nice run up to christmas. I shared a good couple of hours on the (Gudja-bound) flight with childhood friend Robert Tabone, now mayor of Victoria. He had just attended some conference in cold Brussels. It was Robert who first told me that Gozo is suffering a long black out that is expected to last a couple of days. The reason? It seems that a rather important cable was damaged during a storm and it will take some time to replace. It’ll be a dark Christmas in Gozo. I’m almost prepared to rush there and relive the moment of blackout with a sort of sadistic nostalgia of the days when Dark Christmas was practically a regularity and Santa Claus still existed.

Pavi

Tonite I have been promised an extra special cultural visit by bro and mum. They plan to take me to Pavi. Geez I have been wanting to see that one for ages. Last I remember of the Maltese Christmas shopping extravaganzas it was either Smart Supermarket in Birkirkara or the now bankrupt Swatar Supermarket whose name has slipped my mind. Apparently Pavi is something else… and I plan to try my Delhaize jeton in their Euro trolleys… it’s the simple things in life. P.S. I’m not sure Pavi is even meant to be written that way but hey, give me a break, I’ve only just landed.