MALTA SUMMERS OF YORE

I GREW UP LISTENING TO SALT ENCRUSTED TALES. SITTING IN THE SHALLOW WATERS - UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF PARENTS AND AUNTS, NEIGHBOURS AND AN ASSORTMENT OF PETS WHO ARE LEFT WITH LITTLE OPTION BUT TO HEAD TO THE SHORE FOR SOME COOL RESPITE - GRANDMA AND I WOULD SPEND HOURS IN THE SEA CHATTING.

Summer inevitably brings back memories of summers past and as we sat there till our fingers and toes went wrinkly (admittedly my nanna stood at a disadvantage on this front) I would listen to her recount nostalgia-tinted tales I had heard a million times before, embellished anew with every retelling.

She used to love telling me about the wooden beach cabins which dotted Għadira Bay – tiny changing rooms which afforded the locals some discretion as they changed into their swimwear. She found them fascinating and I, by implication, did too. All the while she’d be fiddling away at the rocks behind her with a sharp knife small enough to hide discreetly in the palm of her hand. For my nanna Giorgia was a self-confessed limpet fiend. No limpet was safe from her acute gaze and that practiced twist of the wrist. She would pin-point her delicacy of choice, free it from the wall and then from its shell and devour it in one swift and admirable motion, quite literally, al fresco. And just as no limpet was safe from her, no limpet was ever big or juicy enough as those from the summers of her youth. Me on the other hand, still burdened by the unfortunate constraints of an underdeveloped palate, would just sit there with my inflatable armbands cutting into my skin and annoyed sea snails nipping at my chubby thighs. Satiated, she would ask for my help to get out of the water, head back into the crisp white washed boathouse for a plate of something “a bit more substantial” and a well deserved nap.

Summers somehow felt longer as a kid. Adults would rush around you – although ‘rush’ is a big word given the sweltering temperatures – leaving us young ones relatively unattended and unoccupied. Fans would be on all day, their whirring sound lamenting the too short a winter they have just spent covered in plastic. Activities taken up half heartedly were almost always abandoned mid-stream. But as evenings drew to a close, every household on the street would start making its way out onto the doorstep, still warm from a solid nine hours of relentless sun. Improvised seating arrangements would sprout up on village core pavements. Neighbours would mingle over beer and a weird and wonderful assortment of furniture. Older cousins would be forced to accompany their younger ones to the nearest ice-cream shop, their reluctance appeased by an extra coin or two. These were the perfect conditions to inspire yet another round of that age-old lament along the lines of ‘we had it so much better in the past!’

I distinctly remember my family recalling the basket-laden vendors which used to pass through the village with items as diverse as nuts arranged in meticulous segments, all manner of fresh seafood, ices and fruits. “And what about sea urchins? You call these sea urchins? Back in the day we’d crack them open and eat them there and then at the shore with a teaspoon. Now that’s fresh. Tsk.” Indeed, no trip to the sea was complete without stepping on one of these spiky demons and having to dedicate the next couple of days to complaining about it and toying at one’s foot with blunt tweezers. My uncles would recall the improvised football pitches in the middle of dusty roads and how they often went one full game without having to dismantle the “goal posts” since cars were so few and far between. And before you know it, an unnaturally energetic voice would bring you back to life from what must have been a heatwave induced nap with tales from a remote and romanticised childhood when kids were given carte blanche as to how to spend their summer days. They would leave the house at day break, cause all manner of havoc climbing up trees and stealing fruit from exhausted farmers, or jumping into unattended small boats to go fish for octopus in secret coves, only to return home battered and bruised, after a long, hot and sticky day.

The sepia-filtered past of a largely still rural Malta and the seas-ofplenty that once lapped up onto its shores are easy to romanticise. My family and my friends’ families do it constantly and consistently to this very day. I’m pretty convinced it’s a national hobby. Recollections collect in heaps like yellowing postcards, family albums fill in the blanks and anchor some of the wilder tales in some form of context. Before you know it, it’s July, again, and inevitably you’re back at your favourite spot by the sea doing the very same thing, reminiscing about summers past.

WORDS

Debunking

ENERGY COMES AT A HIGH PRICE, AND WITHIN THE CURRENT GLOBAL CRISIS OF RISING ENERGY COSTS PERSISTING, IT IS NOW MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO CONSIDER MAKING OUR HOUSEHOLDS AS ENERGY EFFICIENT AS POSSIBLE.

Lately, it has become the norm that whenever we purchase new appliances, we aim to purchase the most energy-efficient ones on the market, even if that means spending a little bit more initially, as that will, in turn, result in cheaper utility bills over a longer period.

However, we tend to overlook the benefits of investing in green homes from the outset. Investing in PV panels, insulation, doubleglazing, and HVAC systems might be considered at a later stage, given the initial capital outflow when purchasing a house. However, investing in green homes may not be as prohibitive as some might imagine, particularly given the savings in energy consumption.

With the BOV Personal Energy Loan and the BOV Home Energy Loan, green financing solutions can be availed of at fully subsidised interest rates for the first ten years of the loan. Interest is then paid by the customer for subsequent years if the loan term is extended beyond the 10-year initial period. This means, that customers opting to take out these loans with BOV to finance eco-friendly and sustainable solutions for their households, will not be paying any interest during the first ten years of the loan.

The difference between the BOV Home Energy Loan and the BOV Personal Energy Loan lies in the amounts that can be borrowed and the repayment period. The BOV Home Energy Loan is targeted primarily at new homeowners who are looking to invest in a sustainable and eco-friendly home, with maximum borrowing amounts of up to €100,000 and a possible 25 or 40-year repayment term. The BOV Personal Energy Loan is targeted at individuals who are considering green renovations in their existing household, where financing is intended for a specific green investment. A maximum of €50,000 can be borrowed and must be repaid during a maximum 15-year period. Both financing solutions enjoy additional benefits including the waiving of processing fees. At present, the upfront contribution is being waived for the BOV Personal Energy Loan, and no collateral is required either.

Bank of Valletta has already stepped up its efforts to live up to the ESG principles it has embraced, whilst embarking on several environmental initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint in its dayto-day business activity. The focus now shifts to supporting its customers seeking financing options to think ‘sustainable’ and ‘green’. Customers who, like Bank of Valletta, have the environment at heart, can take the initiative and make a positive impact, while at the same time personally benefiting from these Eco-Financing Solutions.

Further information on Green Financing Solutions, including the Personal Energy Loan products, is available on www.bov.com.

Family Days Out

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VISIT THE PLAYMOBIL CASTLE AND ENTER THE WORLD OF PLAYMOBIL!

In the indoor play area children’s creativity comes alive with themes of Princesses, Police and Knight Playmobil play sets for both toddlers and kids aged 4+ to improve their cognitive skills. And in the outdoor pirate themed play area kids’ fascination reaches new levels with a pirate ship and tree house to climb, slide down and let out some energy!

Get your own Playmobil sets from the shop and keep the little ones entertained for hours!

IS-SUQ TAL-BELT

A Maltese heritage site Is-Suq Tal-Belt is located in the Heart of Valletta, the capital of Malta!

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It houses more than 15 food concepts under a roof. It has been renovated retaining the inside structure made out of iron which was one of the first of its kind in Malta! It’s so much more than just a place to buy food…it’s also a cultural hub, where people meet and enjoy Valletta’s rich culinary heritage. suqtalbelt suqtalbelt www.issuqtalbelt.com