Ogygia

Following a brief stop in Malta, I return to my island home. Yesterday involved a whirlwind tour of Malta with some friends from France. Mdina makes your chest swell with pride, the cliffs at Dingli make you feel like a God, then there are the taxis, the potholes, the shithead driving and the arseholes littering the place that bring you down to earth with a bang. A pleasant surprise was the feast of St Lawrence in Birgu complete with Baldacchin. I couldn't help not thinking of Xtruppaw and their Festa Song while the statue was being hoisted up to the tune of the band and the yelling of the crowd. "jekk intom ghandkom vara, ahna ghandna vara iktar minnkom!"

Il-Forn still serves great salads - I recommend both the Forn Salad and the Clementine Salad. I still wouldn't mind a bit more grill on the menu but then that's carnivore Jack talking.

Politics and politicians is something I follow with a fleeting interest. A little nod to Fausto's gleeful analysis of Harry's declaration of Parliament or nothing. Somehow I was sure that Fausto would miss the point that it would take a Green yet again to publicly set a target and choose to resign if that standard/ target is not met. Unfortunately there are not so many similar individuals warming the seats on the government side of Parliament. From hysterical reactions to the Vote X Get Y saga to the VOM procurement sham it seems that if there is one word this government constantly fails to understand in its plagiarised and "cut and paste" documents is RESPONSIBILITY.

Whoever is responsible for the Waterfront is doing a goodish job. I do hope that standards of cleanliness are kept and that once the novelty dies out it will not just become another promenade littered with cigarette ends, hardened chewing gum and faulty lampposts.

Speaking of lampposts, I must admit that my original impetus for the campaign has wilted during the holidays. Will try to work out something as soon as I am out of the prolonged siesta. Sorry Patrick... patience is a virtue.

One last thing. Kinnie is fantastic. Emotionally so. How about putting the Kinnie logo on the Maltese flag instead of the George Cross. A bitter-sweet symbol for this island of contradictions... n-est-ce pas?

Sahhiet.

PS. Pierre... qieghed ghawdex.. meta trid niltaqghu... issa incempillek.

PPS. Who the fuck is Stanley Borg and why doesn't he come to Gozo and say whatever drivel he chooses to put on Times supplements in the face of the Gozitans.. we could teach him a thing or two about courtesy... has he been to Zejtun? Has he seen the fake side of Sliema and The High Ridge? Gimme an effing break Stan.