Senior Times (March 2017) by Times of Malta

SENIOR TIMES March 2017

Malta’s monthly newspaper for the elderly

FatHer aNd SON Joe Busuttil finds that restoring vintage beauties is a family affair for Laurence and Stephen Ciappara. See PageS 26-27

WeaviNg taleS Fiona Vella catches a glimpse of a disappearing Malta. See PageS 12-13

Strada Stretta F’siltiet meħudin millktieb Strada Stretta: Aktar dawl fuq it-triq li darba xegħlet il-Belt, George Cini jitħadded man-nies li għexu u ħadmu f’din it-triq. See PageS 28-30

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

EDITOR’S WELCOME

IN THIS ISSUE

Eyes meet across a crowded page

here are pleasures which go beyond words; pleasures so slippery that, like a freshly caught fish, squiggle and squirm in the grasp of a dictionary meaning, until they free themselves. Pleasures like the smell of a wet dog, panting after a barkingly-long run. The taste of a peach, ripened by the sun and bursting with the taste of summer. An early morning coffee, steaming your glasses, while the world outside is still asleep. Or the joy of finding a long-lost memory hidden on the top shelf – you thought you had lost it but there it is, black and white yet full of colour. And you sit down with your memory and find that, even though long years have passed, you’re still the same and only the world has changed – and that it is all good. Then there are pleasures which do not go beyond words because, well, they are made of words. These are the pleasures of reading. When we were young, we struggled with the signified and signifier; with stringing letters together into words, juggling words into sentences, and queuing up sentences into stories. And that is because at that age, reading is still a chore. But then suddenly you find that the key has turned and words open a box of wonders. And from that box, readerly pleasures burst out: the detailed world of a Charles Dickens novel, the poetic sky of a Khaled Hosseini narrative, the swagger of an Ian Fleming adventure, the laughter bursting out of every word which Trevor Zahra writes, the endless possibilities of a poem. It is these pleasures that Senior Times aims to give you. This new publication is driven by one very simple aim – to give you stories which you can read and read again, rediscover; features which keep you company. And since I believe that everyone has a story to tell, feel free to share your memories, hopes and dreams. I wish you a pleasant read.

Stanley

SENIOR TIMES MARCH 2017 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stanley Borg E-mail: seniortimes @timesofmalta.com CONTRIBUTORS Carmel Baldacchino Joe Busuttil Justyne Caruana Sarah Chircop George Cini Robert Cutajar Anton B. Dougall Stephanie Fsadni Christine Galea Jamie Iain Genovese Amanda Grech Fiona Vella PUBLISHERS Allied Newspapers Limited Strickland House, 341, St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1211. www.timesofmalta.com DESIGN Krista Aquilina SALES Marion Muscat Tel: 2559 4208 E-mail: marion.muscat @timesofmalta.com © 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited.

3. A vision for active ageing Let us celebrate a society for all ages, says Justyne Caruana, Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing.

4. Our common good The elderly can contribute in a unique manner, says Robert Cutajar, Opposition Spokesperson for Family Affairs, Children Rights, Elderly and Persons with Disability.

5. The write time Stephanie Fsadni meets a first-time writer who has published a collection of bedtime stories.

6. Local news 7. Bridging the gap The elderly have much to offer to the younger generations, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

9. Effective and durable treatment Implant-retained overdentures improve speech, confidence and comfort, says Dr Jean Paul Demajo.

10. The age of caring Jamie Iain Genovese visits Hilltop Gardens in Naxxar.

12. Weaving tales Fiona Vella catches a glimpse of a disappearing Malta.

14. The Golden Boy Carmel Baldacchino recalls the legendary Tony Nicholl.

16. Crosswords and more 18. Recipe by Anton B. Dougall 19. Foreign news 20. The private collector One should invest and build a collection to, above all, enjoy and not speculate, says Sarah Chircop.

22. Tips for your toes Walk this way with the Senior Times guide to buying the right walking shoes.

24. A man for all seasons 95-year-old Edward ‘Eddie’ Spiteri is undoubtedly a man with an interesting life story to tell.

Care to share? Do you have an interesting story to tell? Send us your memories, stories and anecdotes and we will share them with Senior Times readers. Contact us via email at seniortimes@timesofmalta.com or simply write to Senior Times, Allied Newspapers Limited, Strickland House, 341, St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1211. We look forward to hearing from you.

26. Father and son Joe Busuttil finds that restoring vintage beauties is a family affair for Laurence and Stephen Ciappara.

28. On the Strait and narrow George Cini has woven a multi-hued tapestry of the shenanigans in Strait Street by interviewing protagonists who lived or worked along this entertainment strip.

31. Malta’s chapels Perched on top of the Dingli cliffs, the little chapel dedicated to St Mary Magdalene is an impressive sight.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

MESSAGE

A vision for active ageing JUST

YN EC N UA AR

Let us celebrate a society for all ages says, Justyne Caruana, Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing.

he creation of a parliamentary secretariat directly responsible for active ageing in this legislature was certainly a watershed moment in Maltese public policy. After more than 25 years of rendering later life synonymous with acute and long-term care, the Maltese government embarked on a political vision where the concepts of productive and successful ageing became central to its efforts in improving the well-being of older persons.

The stereotypical image of older people as passive persons who experience physical and cognitive infirmness is now obsolete Suffice to say that the first strategy launched by the Prime Minister was none other than the National Policy for Active Ageing. I am therefore pleased to note that this policy is being successful in inspiring the debut of Senior Times, a publication that is not only dedicated to older persons themselves, but also to their relatives and friends. I am certain that this entrepreneurial initiative will thrust older persons to higher levels of active and socially connected lifestyles. This publication is certainly a testament to the parliamentary secretariat’s ongoing and future work in celebrating a society for all ages through its launching a range of policies that enable older persons to experience improved levels of social, physical, and mental well-being. The publication promotes older persons’ engagement in economic, social, cultural, community and family life, while also fostering better solidarity between generations – all of which are integral to the government’s vision for active ageing.

The parliamentary secretariat responsible for active ageing is vociferous in advocating that the stereotypical image of older people as passive persons who experience physical and cognitive infirmness is now obsolete. The fact that the Maltese society is now ready to engage with periodicals that accentuate a ‘boomer’ lifestyle irrespective of age and levels of physical and mental frailty, is certainly a measure of our success in influencing positive images of ageing. In many ways, this publication also reflects the achievement of the parliamentary secretariat responsible for active ageing in constructing a ‘silver economy’ reality in Malta. The silver economy is an opportunity that arises from the public, private and consumer expenditure related to population ageing and their specific needs. After all, population ageing serves as a prospect for the business community since the expanding number of older persons offers an additional customer base and novel markets, as

well as broadening the pool of older workers available for employment. There is no doubt that in the coming years, the cohorts of older persons will increasingly take the role of key consumers in marketing economies ranging from independent living to

fashion to the leisure industry. It is no coincidence that the silver economy is being considered as the third largest economy in the world. The parliamentary secretariat responsible for active ageing is definitely ready to take advantage of this reality for the mutual benefit of older persons,

carers, and the entrepreneurial community. I congratulate everyone involve in the publication of Senior Times, look forward to reading its articles, and seeing the publication flourish for the benefit of a society for all ages. ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

MESSAGE

Our common good

e owe all that we are and all that we have to our elderly and to those who preceded us. The promotion of both their active participation within society as well as their welfare is something which is more than a duty and expression of gratitude. It is also key component of the common good that benefits the whole of society. The inclusion of the elder members and our respect to their dignity must rank high in our policies and programmes. Thankfully, there is a consensus whereby we recognise that the State has certain duties in this regard and that the elderly population has particular vulnerabilities. We also share the belief that our elderly can contribute in a unique manner and enrich all of us. I am humbled that, as a member of the Opposition, I have been entrusted with elderly welfare as well. We are

CU R JA TA

Our elderly can contribute in a unique manner and enrich all of us, says Robert Cutajar, Opposition Spokesperson for Family Affairs, Children Rights, Elderly and Persons with Disability.

ROBE

committed to play our part to promote their participation, provide the services they require and protect their interests against poverty and social exclusion.

Welfare of the elderly is a key component of the common good A myriad of services and programmes were developed between 1987 and 2013 to promote the dignity of the elderly. Home help, meals on wheels, community homes, day centres, Telecare, the handyman service, night shelters and several other programmes came into being. Today, unfor-

tunately, these are taken for granted. Indeed, these are good. But they are never enough and more needs to be done. On behalf of the Opposition, I was responsible for the law promoting a healthy lifestyle.

As part of a whole society approach concept, we also included the elderly and this phase in human life as well. I would like to thank all those who are contributing towards the welfare of our elderly, including their families,

their friends and the carers both formal and informal. We want to create the space for you to do what you could do best and support you in doing so, while we play our part too. May this publication be another step in this direction. ●

IN THE NEWS

Recently, strong gale force winds hit the Maltese Islands, causing the collapse of Gozo's iconic Azure Window. It is a sad loss, as the natural wonder not only attracted thousands of tourists to the island but also made us proud to be Maltese. Lost but not forgotten.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

INTERVIEW

The write time Stephanie Fsadni meets a first-time writer who has published a collection of bedtime stories at 62.

PHOTOS BY CHRIS SANT FOURNIER

hey say it’s never too late to chase your dreams. Some may question the validity of such a statement but others are living proof that age is not a limit. One of these is Grace Kolb, who at 62, has just published her first book ‒ a collection of bedtime stories. “I never actually dreamt of becoming a writer,” says Grace. “But I wanted to publish these stories which I used to read to my children.” Grace’s three daughters, Carmela, who is now 22, and twins Miriam and Josette, 19, identify with the protagonists of the book. “When they were little, I would read to them stories and fairy tales from books. But for how long are you going to read the same tales over and over again? So I started to make up my own stories, based on my children’s real-life experiences,” continues Grace. These tales include, for example, a visit to the zoo, the first day at kindergarten, adventures at the fun fair and a visit to Malta.

Surrounded by the love of her children, who are trying to teach her to type on the computer, Grace is already working on her next project Grace was first encouraged to pen these stories by her German husband, Frans Josef, who sadly passed away 10 years ago. “I left school at age 15 and I was more into crafts and sewing. When I got married, I was more concerned with my family and I never learnt how to type. So I used to handwrite my stories and my husband would type them.”

Grace’s late husband Frans Josef published a booklet with maps on hiking trails on the Maltese islands.

The book is, in fact, dedicated to her children and to him. Frans Josef was a writer himself and launched a series of psychology books in German. He also published a booklet with maps on hiking trails in the Maltese islands in English and German. “This booklet was very popular and often ran out of print,” says Grace proudly. “Every time it was going to be reprinted, he used to do the walks again, just in case there was a new obstacle or detour, which he would have to include in the new edition.” Frans Josef loved Malta but preferred living in Germany. The children were all raised there and it was only six years ago that Grace decided to move back to her home town, Mosta. “It wasn’t easy to live in Germany after he passed away but neither was it simple to settle down here again. My dear mother and two brothers passed away, to make matters worse.” It was in fact only last year that she plucked up the courage to pursue her

Grace Kolb with her twin daughters Miriam and Josette.

dream and try to publish her collection. Her cousin, Marlene Mifsud Chircop, translated her English texts into Maltese and did the proofreading, and a friend of her eldest daughter, Desiree Dimech, provided the colourful illustrations which accompany the stories. Surrounded by the love of her children, who are trying to teach her to

type on a computer, Grace is already working on her next project: a book on her childhood in the heart of Mosta. “It’s really never too late to do things in life or to start afresh. And this does not only apply to taking up a new hobby; it could be anything,” enthuses Grace. Indeed, her first publication marks the start of new and exciting times for her. ●

BEDTIME STORIES and its Maltese version is published by Book Distributors Limited (BDL).

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

INTERVIEW LOCAL NEWS

Improving mobility

C Choosing the right care home: is it that simple?

here comes a stage in our lives when we or our loved ones might need extended care that goes beyond that which can be given at home by care givers or through the provision of community support services. It is at such a time in our lives that we find ourselves thinking about which place is best for our loved ones or for ourselves. The number of care homes on the island are on the increase in view of the challenge posed by the ageing population, thus the increasing demand for elderly services. However what is the environment that one should look for when choosing a care home? And what constitutes good care? A care home should ideally be purposely built. The need for the right lighting in common areas, lounges at ward level and individual rooms is vital whereas the focus on open spaces and landscaped areas where residents can choose to spend their days is essential. The environment must be safe, secure and easily accessible given the need for many to use medical aides. Clients’ rooms should be carefully designed for ease of mobility and likewise equipped with the right aids particularly in bathrooms where residents can be supported if their mobility is limited. Investment in medical equipment including medical beds is crucial. This enables the clinical team to deliver good and safe quality care while supporting residents irrespective of their dependency level. The embellishment of common areas should likewise not be undermined. It is vital that common areas are not only brightly done up to look attractive but are also comfortable. An attractive and homely environment is beneficial for all and is considered to be a major contributor to the enhancement of community living. Care however remains the pinnacle of any care home service. Holistic care, delivered with compassion and commitment, cannot at any point be excluded from the equation. Healthcare professionals who are entrusted to care for residents in care homes must be qualified, professional and trained. Relatives or next of kin

need to have the reassurance that those caring for them or their loved ones are competent to do so. Compassionate behaviour and attention to the resident individual needs and dignity leading to tailor-made care plans are considered to be the main pillars in the delivery of good quality care. This is because the client’s needs are particular and it is never a one-size-fits-all approach. The ethos and philosophy of care which should resonate in a care home is one which instils healthcare professionals and care givers, to adopt a client centred approach, one that focuses on a resident’s personal needs. It is a relationship built on trust at a time when a person is very often most vulnerable. At Simblija Care Home, the philosophy is based on the three C’s of care, competence and compassion. All the staff at Simblija Care Home believe that one without the other makes the service incomplete and is short-changing anyone using the service. The building in its entirety is a showcase of what a care home should be, with its wide open spaces, spacious resident rooms, fully equipped bathrooms and lovely common areas including a lovely dining room, spacious verandas and chapel. Simblija Care Home also makes sure that residents age actively and thus activities are organised on a daily basis morning and evening. The care home adopts a holistic approach in the delivery of care in order to ensure that all facets of life, be they physical, social, mental or spiritual needs, are cared for. This is the only way Simblija Care Home ensures that that the best care is delivered through the highest of standards. Choosing a care home may be one of the biggest decisions you ever take in your life, but with places like Simblija Care Home, that decision is easier. Simblija Care Home in Naxxar, will assist you throughout this journey, every step of the way, through the high quality service standards provided. For more information call on 2235 1000, e-mail info@simblijacarehome.com or visit www.simblijacarehome.com ●

An attractive and homely environment is beneficial for all

armelo Farrugia Melfar Limited is a long established company. It was founded by the late Carmelo Farrugia in 1930, who started importing, installing and servicing the first Otis lifts in Malta, having obtained the sole agency for Malta from Otis Elevator Company in the US. Melfar, as the company became well known by its trademark, grew strong over the years, undertaking adventurous and ambitious turn key projects in the M&E and lifts and escalator services. Melfar combines its wealth of experience and know-how in the field of vertical transportation, in providing products and services for people with limited mobility in and out of their home. These products include StairAid, stair climbers, stairlifts and wheelchair platforms for straight or curved stairs, indoor and outdoor, small home lifts, bath lifts and strong suction type grab handle rails, portable lightweight ramps, mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs, patient lifters and riseassistance cushions, thus providing more independence and improving physical well-being. TK Access have invented the Flow2 Stairlift with automatic swivel and levelling technology (ASL) which can be fitted on any staircase as narrow as 610mm, using a single discreet rail that closely follows the line of your stairs, keeping it free for other users. ●

Leading with care since 1993

ndoubtedly the care for elderly sector has come a long way since the time CareMalta started operating in this field in 1993. One year short of its silver anniversary, CareMalta looks back with pride at what it has achieved in the past 24 years and what the company has contributed to the sector. After 24 years since setting up, CareMalta now operates nine different homes, five privately owned namely Casa Arkati, Villa Messina, Roseville, Casa San Paolo and Prince of Wales and four public homes, Żejtun Home, Cospicua Home, Mellieħa Home and Zammit Clapp Residential Home in St Julians. As CareMalta expanded its services during the past 24 years, the company’s philosophy in the running of its residential homes has remained unchanged and is namely based on: maintaining a safe, comfortable and efficient environment while recreating an inclusive homelike atmosphere; providing individual dignity and right to privacy of all residents; encouraging their independence and active lifestyle while providing full assistance when and where required; promoting social interaction between residents through activities; and providing continuous training to all staff. For more news about CareMalta and its homes, visit www.caremalta.com, e-mail info@caremalta.com or call 2258 4200. ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

The elderly have much to offer to the younger generations, Christine Galea from the Cana Movement says.

n recent months, much has been said and written with respect to Pope Francis’ post-apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia, especially regarding persons who have divorced and remarried. However, there is still a great deal of Amoris Laetitia which remains to be explored, particularly the fifth chapter, in which the Pope profoundly turns his attention to the senior citizens of our society. There is certainly a public policy issue for communities in how we treat the elderly and how we care for them – however families are not without responsibilities in this regard. No matter how much, or how well, the older members of our families are cared for by the Church, the State or by a private agency, their relatives still have responsibilities in this endeavour. In our contemporary world in which so much importance is attributed to family life, Pope Francis speaks of a “culture of encounter”, and of family life in a broad sense which

includes all family members, and not only the so-called “nuclear” family; because the family, with its deeply social character, is a wide network of many different relationships. Within this social dimension, the Pope particularly emphasises the specific role of the relationship between the youth and the elderly. This represents a challenge in that the Pope is asking us to combat today’s “throwaway culture” and not to conform to a men-

tality of impatience, and much less of indifference and contempt towards old age. He states that, “we must reawaken the collective sense of gratitude, of appreciation, of hospitality, which makes the elderly feel like a living part of the community” (Amoris Laetitia, 191). He appeals for “the overflowing joy of a new embrace between young and old” (191). These six qualities, impatience, indifference, and con-

We must reawaken the collective sense of gratitude, of appreciation, of hospitality, which makes the elderly feel like a living part of the community

tempt, as opposed to gratitude, appreciation and hospitality, are not a matter of simply ‘feeling’ something towards an older person. The latter three are virtues which must be learnt and practised and they involve an active choice on one’s part: one can choose to be thankful, can express appreciation and can display a welcoming attitude, versus being uncaring or impatient, and contemptuous towards elderly relatives. Of course, this involves an effort and sometimes even an interior struggle, but that does not negate the need for fostering the positive factors of a relationship. The elderly have much to offer to the younger generations. They help families to appreciate the continuity of the generations by bridging the gap, by passing down important values and traditions. Their stories raise awareness in children that human history has long been in the making and that they form part of a bigger picture,

Bridging the gap

OPINION

S CH R I

TI N

teaching them to realise that they need to respect all that came before them. Their wisdom, kind words and affection can serve as a balm to youth who could possibly feel misunderstood and neglected by their parents who may be busy or overburdened with career and other commitments. Keeping strong ties with our elderly relatives ensures that our connection with the past is not broken and this encourages the building of stable relationships. To quote Pope Francis, “Attention to the elderly makes the difference in a society… such a society will move forward if it respects the wisdom of the elderly” (192). So, in an age in which we worship youth, and age is seen to be a threat to our self-image as a society, let us encourage our elderly to bridge the gap, by surrounding them with respect and affection and considering them to be a blessing. This is where the future of the modern family lies. ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

DENTAL CARE

Effective and durable treatment M

Implant-retained overdentures improve speech, confidence and comfort.

any people who have conventional dentures don’t wear them for the simple fact that they don’t stay in place and hurt because they move on chewing. The use of dental implants to stabilise dentures has proven to be a very successful treatment modality for many people worldwide. The number continues to grow as the word spreads about the effectiveness and longterm durability of the treatment. In fact, it has been reported that dental implants have the highest success rate of any implanted surgical device in the body. Problems witH loose Dentures There are still millions of people around the world who are missing enough teeth to require the use of a denture. Many of them have problems in keeping their dentures secure, particularly in the lower jaw. The increase in mobility of the lower jaw denture is due to the fact that unlike the hard palate in the upper jaw, the lower jaw has less surface area and therefore less support and retention. The lower denture also has a tendency to be displaced by the tongue on talking and chewing. On the other hand the disadvantage of the upper denture is the middle plate, which covers the palate, thus reducing taste and affecting speech. Patients with a strong gag reflex cannot tolerate any palatal coverage of the denture further, reducing the ability of the denture to stay in place. Unfortunately as time goes by, we tend to put up with the situation which we come to believe is our only option with no way out. If you have this problem, you already know about the embarrassment of moving dentures. There is however a way to stabilise your dentures enough to feel as comfortable as fixed teeth feel but still be left with the advantage of removing the denture,

Dr Jean Paul DemaJo is a Dental anD imPlant surgeon. He Has traineD in lonDon anD works in Private Practice in malta.

thus maximising denture hygiene and comfort. All this with the help of dental implants. Dental imPlants useD for over-Denture stabilisation: • Restore proper chewing, allowing a better diet and improved health. • Improves speech and confidence. • Increases comfort with close to no irritation of gum tissue. • Replaces both hard and soft oral tissue propping up facial features reducing creases and improving appearance. • Ends the cost and inconvenience of denture adhesives. Ask your dentist. ●

A CASE SCENARIO A middle-aged woman presents herself with very mobile upper and lower remaining dentition. Having been in this situation for long and reluctant to have dentures, she finally plucks up the courage and opts for over-dentures. The treatment plan included:

Upper and lower over dentures with retention clips.

Upper arch with four implants and locators for retention.

Lower arch with three implants and locators for retention.

Extra-oral image with over-dentures in-situ.

• Extraction and immediate placement of conventional dentures (one week). • Placement of four upper and three lower implants: two months post-extraction of teeth while retaining her previously fabricated conventional dentures as a temporary measure. • Elimination of the conventional dentures and construction of new overdentures to be supported by the implants. Four months post-implantation.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

INTERVIEW

THE AGE OF CARING Jamie Iain Genovese visits Hilltop Gardens in Naxxar. PHOTOS BY JAMIE IAIN GENOVESE

oday’s social climate is changing dramatically, what with fewer births per family and, on the other hand, increased life expectancy. These social changes have created a larger demand for elderly care. More than ever, facilities that provide living assistance for those in need of lower level care and require some degree of independence are invaluable, and thus attention is being directed to the facilities that provide this care in order to make sure that they are up to the task. Ileana Curmi is a resident at Hilltop Gardens in Naxxar. Ileana whose father is the namesake of the nearby school is lively, intelligent and extremely eager to talk about anything from her graduation from University to our country’s rampant construction sprees. We spoke at a great deal of length about her childhood, her work as a guide, and a few gem-like moments from her life. Ileana is a cheerful woman, almost cheeky, who sings praises of her boyfriend (and fellow resident) even though he frequently forgets the channel number for the television stream of the on-site chapel. They met through a mutual acquaintance, in a home, and joked about the number of medical Ileana Curmi and a fellow resident.

interventions they had underwent. Following an intervention, she needed help to rehabilitate her walking. “I had to learn how to walk all over again,” she recalls. Ileana is a busy woman, but cannot have too many visitors due to a weak immune system. Yet she isn’t wanting for company thanks to visits from relatives and friends. The home she’s currently at provides her with her needs: the ambience is attractive, the food is good and there are various activities to participate in, such as high tea when newcomers arrive or arts and crafts sessions. “I always thought that eventually I would have to go to a home for the elderly like my aunts. I spent 30 years of my life clearing up after my aunts who had either died or went to live at homes. And then I had to clear all my father’s books I gave all his writings to the Giovanni Curmi collection at the University of Malta.

Ileana Curmi.

If you fall you have someone to pick you up, if you’re unwell they look after you “So, I always thought I would have to go live in a home because if you fall you have someone to pick you up, if you’re unwell they look after you, the doctor can send you to hospital, and if you’re dying they get a priest. Those are the most important things.”

Ileana Curmi’s desk in her room at Hilltop Gardens.

There are other reasons, of course. Ileana uses two walkers, an indoor and outdoor walker, to get around. To do household chores, such as cooking, would be very difficult with her walker. Homes are also a solution for those who are truly alone. Ageing also sometimes makes completely independent living a nigh impossibility. Not to mention that, given the rise of the cost of living nowadays, it’s very much expected that all members of a household earn an income, which makes taking care of a relative often a very difficult task indeed. We have to live our lives prepared for all things, even old age.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

Of course, we can’t just have assisted living homes we need to have good ones. And more than ever we need people to heed the nursing vocation for just such establishments. There are a number of courses available at both the University as well as MCAST that one can take to receive the training necessary to provide adequate care in these homes. There have also been incentives that raised carer allowance. Still, there is a lack in the industry, especially of Maltese or Maltese-speaking, carers and nurses. This is a huge issue given how many residents would definitely prefer, or indeed are only able to, speak in Maltese. What good is being able to choose your meals if the person ordering doesn’t understand what you’re telling them? It might be one of the weakest links in residential or assisted living homes, since so much in homes depends on the communication between residents and their primary carers. Carers, however, are different from nurses, they work with the day-to-day tasks such as cleaning, while nurses tend to more medical issues, while also providing care. Of course, there are some Maltese nurses, one of which is Andrè Buhagiar, who, after the threeyear University course, started working at a facility in Mtarfa before joining Hilltop. His colleagues and superiors have been welcoming and helpful every step of the way.

Andrè Buhagiar says that bonding with the residents is of primary importance.

But what is working at a home like? The hours are long and there is pressure. However, the job is rewarding. “When residents miss you when you’re not around, it’s a really good sign that you’re doing a good job,” he says. He believes that it is important for children to care for their parents just as their parents cared for them. It’s why, when residents walk in, he tries

to see them as his parents and give them the care they deserve. These long work hours expected in today’s society, as well as the lack of Maltese-speaking carers and nurses, only further underlines the importance of this vocation. Maltese speaking himself, Andrè spends time at home looking through modern and antiquated Maltese dictionaries, since he so often comes into

contact with residents that use Maltese language that he’s unfamiliar with. Of course, sometimes residents bond in other ways, such as inviting him to watch football with them. I ask him if a resident ever supported a team he didn’t particularly like. “It makes the teasing more fun,” he says. Banter, I suppose, has no age limit. ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

NOSTALGIA

Weaving tales Fiona Vella catches a glimpse of a disappearing Malta. PHOTOS BY FIONA VELLA

D Moddy Vella.

Equipment used for weaving.

isappearing Malta: Crafts, Trades and Traditions 360˚ is one of the latest publications of Miranda Publishers. Throughout its intriguing interviews and compelling photographs of various men and women, this book presents an invaluable record of a vanishing world of local traditional crafts and skills which are slowly fading away. Many of the stories belong to individuals who came from underprivileged backgrounds. Their narratives unveil their difficulties to thrive and to support their families at a time when opportunities were rare and when poverty was a constant threat. Their ingenious ability to produce objects or to provide services often helped them to overcome life’s challenges, sometimes even to prosper and to be able to nurture a large family. Endurance and passion turned their skills into optimal trades and eventually gave rise to the formation of master tradespersons. Such knowledge and competence were revered by society and were inherited along the years by the following generations. Yet the steady advance of progress and an evolving culture change have gradually led to a decline in the demand for handmade objects and for specific services. The development of a fast paced society which found the new industrialised products and the less personalised services more appealing halted the need for these tradespersons who soon found themselves no longer required.

Indeed, several of the persons interviewed for this book talked about their daily struggle to continue with their work in a world which no longer appreciates their efforts and their time-intensive trades.

houses of the Maltese Islands was furnished with a bulky weaving loom machine. The availability of cotton in the fields together with the presence of several herds of sheep, generated the opportunity to

At the young age of eight, Antoine has already shown a keen interest in his family’s trade As education levels increased and more opportunities became available to have a less arduous job which paid much more, it became less possible for these people to attract their children to their ancestral trades. Confusion reigns in their souls as they foresee that all their inherited knowledge is going to be lost, while at the same time being proud that their children have managed to succeed in life.

MODDY AND ANTOINE VELLA

WEAVERS

Antoine Vella comes from a family of weavers. Since childhood, he was taught the traditional art of weaving by his mother Moddy. She was born in the village of Għasri in Gozo and during her childhood, she remembers that both her mum and her aunt had a loom at home. At the time, the largest room in many of the farms and

weave several objects both for personal use and also to sell them to earn a living. As a skilled weaver, Moddy was employed by Cecilia de Trafford in a small weaving factory which was operating in Gozo. Two Swedish weavers trained the workers to produce a new design which became known as Malta Weave. This design became very popular and began to form part of the modern fashion of the time. Although there were some locals who were purchasing this material, most of the buyers were foreigners who were employed with the British Services in the Maltese Islands and had a higher salary. Unfortunately, the success story of this factory in Gozo was very short-lived, since before long, it became evident that it was no longer sustainable. All the workers left except for three who were reemployed by Karmenu Vella, the owner of a Maltese weaving factory. Moddy was one of

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

these three and as she prepared herself to start living a new life on the mainland, little did she know that in a few years, Karmenu would become her husband. A few years after World War II, around 1948, Karmenu and his siblings Wiġi and Mananni, opened a weaving shop in the area of Bajjada which was located near to Sant’Agata in Rabat, Malta. Like their ancestors had done, their parents had trained them in the weaving trade. Eventually the three siblings decided to open a separate business and Karmenu acquired a factory at Saqqajja in Rabat which he named Weaving Industries. He also set up an adjacent shop Weaving and Lacecraft from which he started to sell his own products. Along the years, this weaving business had to deal with several challenges, such as when the British Services started to leave the Maltese Islands, causing the demand for such products to plummet. Nonetheless, Karmenu and his family always found a way to cope and move on. At the young age of eight, Antoine has already shown a keen interest in his family’s trade. As his mother noted his inherent passion for weaving, she taught him patiently how to create the finest products until finally, he started to come out with his own ideas. When his father Karmenu passed away in 1995, aged 86, Antoine decided to take over the business and to continue after him. Yet in 2010, the demand for weaved products waned so much that he had to shut down the shop in which he had spent all his lifetime. Although deeply anguished by this outcome, Antoine

Antoine Vella working on his loom.

would not let go of his family’s heritage. A number of old looms and weaving equipment which were stored in his garage, some of which dated back 200 years, kept bidding him to revive them and not to let them die away. Yet this was not an easy quest. Aware that he is one of the last survivors of local weavers, Antoine is striving very hard to reignite the interest in this trade.

200-year-old looms still used for weaving.

Discover more about weaving and about the challenges that Antoine had to face to save this trade in the book Disappearing Malta: Crafts, Trades and Traditions 360˚. ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

SPORT

The Golden Boy

Carmel Baldacchino recalls the legendary Tony Nicholl.

amuel Nicholl, the son of James and Margret Blayney, was born in Belfast on March 12, 1867. As a young lad, he joined the Dublin Fusiliers and soon after he was stationed in Malta, where on November 4, 1888 he married Anne Camilleri of Valletta. They set up house first in Valletta, then Marsa and later in Sliema. True to Maltese and Irish traditions of the time, the couple had 21 children. Two of them were destined to become famous footballers, while another was to sire one of the best Maltese footballers of the 1950s. The eldest was Joe Nicholl who had a long and successful career as a goalkeeper with Sliema Wanderers. Tony Nicholl was the youngest son of the family. He was to become one of the greatest if

not the greatest Maltese footballer of all-time. Nephew Sammy Nicholl followed closely in the steps of his famous uncles. During his career, Tony was the idol of the Wanderers’ supporters. He was also the biggest exponent of Maltese football as well as a model to every youngster who wished to make the grade in top-class football. Tony was born in Sliema on January 1, 1916. At the tender age of nine years, he was already playing football for the Sliema Primary School team as a goalkeeper. It is possible that his elder brother Joe who at the time was Sliema Wanderers’ regular goalkeeper influenced Tony in his choice. At the Freres school in Sliema he did not excel and he gave no indication of the great heights he would later reach in football. Yet he persisted, and

his luck changed when he joined Sliema Rovers. With the Rovers, he was tried in the centre-forward position and this time he was an instant success. Inevitably Tony caught the eye of the Wanderers’ committee and on Sunday, March 27, 1932 he made his bow in Maltese football at the Empire Sports Ground in a friendly match against HMS Royal Oak. The Wanderers won the match 4-2. Tony had a very quiet match but he was soon to develop into a prolific goal scorer. For the rest of that season, he played for Sliema Rovers in the Amateur League with whom he won the Amateur Championship. Later, in the season however, he made his competitive debut for the

Tony Nicholl is standing at the back in the goalkeeper position. Tony left the posts to become the greatest-ever goal-scorer in the history of Maltese football.

Wanderers in the cup final against Valletta United. Between 1932 and 1939, together with Salvu Sammut L-Għarawri and Joseph Sammut Il-Brownie, he formed part of the great ‘Musketeers’ trio. This trio struck havoc in every defence on the island. It was a great period for Sliema Wan-

Tony won every honour that the local game could offer

Joe, Tony and Sammy Nicholl.

derers, winning six championships, four Cassar Cups and four FA Trophies. Tony’s goalscoring exploits made him a legend in his own lifetime. On October 23, 1934, he equalled Joe Tabona’s 13-year old record when he notched in seven goals in the league against Ħamrun Spartans. In 1940 he hit in six goals against the Anti-Tank Regiment in the quarter-finals of the FA Trophy. These are but two examples of his opportunism. Throughout his career he scored five, four or three goals in a match with regular monotony. Tony still holds many of the local goal-scoring records. He was league top-scorer eight times; his best season being 1945-46 when he notched in 22 goals. This record stood for a long time until it was first equalled by Stefan Sultana and Karl Zacchau and then broken by Danilo Doncic. His career record of 168 goals from 199 league matches defied the attempts of many fine Maltese goal-scorers until it was finally beaten by Stefan Sultana. His fantastic record of 57 Cup goals from 53 matches however, still stands. It would surely give him a place in the world’s top 10 list if this was ever compiled. The 1945-46 football season was probably the best of his career. It was the first fully organised season to be held after the end of the war. Seven teams took part in the league. As in the previous season, the protagonists were Valletta, Sliema and Floriana. Valletta

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

retained the championship for the second year in succession but Sliema were a close second. It was an era of attacking football, when every team played with five forwards. Marking was loose on the wings and in midfield but the kingpin of the attack, the centre forward, was always closely marked. The game was tougher in those days and many fouls went unnoticed. It took a stout heart and the strength of a lion to venture into the penalty area. Tony Nicholl had all these qualities and more. His strength, sheer bravery and his never-say-die spirit made him the most feared forward in the history of the Maltese game. His 22-goal record for season 1945-46 survived for nearly 50 years. Tony’s record stands out more when one considers that he scored his 22 goals from a possible 12 matches while Sultana and Zacchau made theirs in 17 matches. It all started on Saturday November 10, 1945 when Sliema beat a poor St George’s side 4-1, all the goals coming from Tony Nicholl. On November 24, Sliema came a cropper at their first stiff hurdle of the season, losing 0-2 to Hibernians. On that day Tony lost a penalty. On December 8, Sliema were back on the winning trail with Tony scoring four great goals in Sliema’s 61 drubbing of St Joseph’s FC. Tony Nicholl was always Melita’s ‘bogey man’ and seemed to reserve his best for the Amateurs. Saturday December 15, 1945 was no exception. He scored a fine hat trick and laid another goal for Galea in Sliema’s 4-1 victory. Saturday January 19, 1945 was Sliema’s last chance of challenging for the championship. Their opponents were Valletta and a victory for the Citizens would have placed them in an unassailable position at the top of the table but Sliema, playing the kind of football that reminded one of their pre-war glory days, won 4-1. Tony Nicholl scored one of the goals. Tony scored the only goal of the match against Floriana and then continued with another hat-trick against St George’s in the first match of the second round. Sliema lost 2-3 against Hibernians but Tony was once again amongst the goal-scorers. The championship was by now won and lost but Tony kept hammering in the goals. Another hat-trick against luckless St Joseph’s FC followed. He then scored twice

Tony Nicholl, 1955-56 Footballer of the Year.

in Sliema’s 6-3 victory over neighbours Melita. Tony did not score in the last two league matches of the season but he scored another five goals in the Cassar Cup, four in the FA Trophy and another three in representative matches for the MFA XI thus bringing his total for the season to a fantastic total of 34. I would therefore not be exaggerating if I were to describe Tony Nicholl as the greatest goal-scorer ever produced by Maltese football. For a quarter-of-a century Tony was an automatic choice for the National team. Between 1933 and 1956 he played 22 times for the MFA XI scoring 11 goals in the process. He also played another 22 times for the League XI in prestigious representative matches against Services XI’s. His only disappointment was that he never played in a full international match for Malta. He had his chance in 1957 when he was a reserve in Malta’s first international match against Austria. Late in the second period he was offered a chance of going in as a substitute but he sportingly refused in order to give the younger players in the squad a chance of playing for their country. Everyone respected Tony. In 1946 friend and foe alike were stunned when they heard the news that someone had shot the Sliema player in the leg. It was a horrible moment. ‘Get well’ messages arrived from all corners of the Island. Happily, Tony recuperated and he was soon back in the game hitting in the goals as frequently as ever.

A young Tony in 1932.

‘Money’ is a common word in football, especially nowadays when ridiculous large sums of money change hands for the services of players. There was a time, however, when loyalty was still common in football and everybody appreciated loyal players. 1955 was a golden year in the Tony’s career. That season he

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celebrated his 25th year in football. Sliema Wanderers paid tribute to their great player. A special organising committee was formed. Dances were held, a testimonial match was played, and the climax was reached in a dinner dance when the club presented their captain with a cheque for 300 pounds (a good

sum in those days) and other presents donated by nearly all the league clubs. The MFA as an appreciation of the loyal service given by Tony to the National team presented him with a gold medal. In his illustrious career, Tony won every honour that the local game could offer, except for the Footballer of the Year award. This was rectified when the Selection Board fell in with the wishes of the public and awarded the Sliema skipper with the coveted award. It was perhaps a sentimental award but it was fitting that this honour should be awarded to Tony in a season when he led his team to the quadruple crown of League, Cup, Cassar Cup and Scicluna Cup Throughout his career, Tony won many honours but he received his biggest honours when he quit playing. On February 2, 1957, the Education Minister inaugurated the Nicholl Ground in his honour and in 1995 he was officially honoured with the ‘Ġieħ irRepubblika’ award by a grateful government for the services he rendered to his country. It was a fitting end to the career of the greatest footballer in the history of Maltese Football. Tony Nicholl died on the March 11, 1999 the last of the ‘Three Musketeers’ of Maltese Football, leaving the game all that poorer by his demise. ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

EASY CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1

26 27

28 29

26 27

29 30

ACROSS 1. Sort of song for the unenlightened? (5) 6. Out west, a bridge where the fish lay their eggs (5) 9. Promising special fuel for the flight (7) 10. Going to various parts, it can help with the luggage (5) 11. An army gesture? (5) 12. Takes care of some friends at Military Intelligence (5) 13. Something dug up by airmen at Leatherhead? (7) 15. A Franco-Spanish lettuce (3) 17. To do press work makes a girl breathless! (4) 18. Gift of a story book? (6) 19. Terry, perhaps, shows we’re in a lot of mess! (5) 20. Name for a tow-headed rover, possibly (6) 22. Wherein to be at home in the Yosemite Valley? (4) 24. Washerwoman? Not she! (3) 25. An offence which Manxmen take to heart (7) 26. Goodness, what a shame about the mine closure! (5) 27. Like a lamp or lantern (5) 28. It’s in the form of a ring (5) 29. Prominent visitor from abroad in the street (7) 30. It’s just right when one goes to town (5) 31. Making connection can be knotty (5) DOWN 2. In terrible doubt, I offered more money (6) 3. Ale house? Not entirely (6) 4. Move smartly in hotel work (3) 5. Lived up to a bad name! (5) 6. Timepiece with a long and shadowy past (7) 7. More cross? (4) 8. Duck possibly gone to the West Indies (6) 12. Building in the manner mentioned (5) 13. Where, in Ireland, I got me a new hat (5) 14. Cold hearted but perhaps more polite? (5) 15. A terrible deed by Charlie, that’s granted (5) 16. Hardly the only one in flight! (5) 18. A thing to goggle at? (5) 19. Coal pit catastrophe in the news (7) 21. Money put back in the drawer? (6) 22. Conceited, but not in a piggish place (6) 23. A wizard bird! (6) 25. Remained sound in first aid (5) 26. Is getting dad out of town (4) 28. Worker or peasant lacking food (3) SOLUTIONS WILL BE IN PUBLISHED IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF SENIOR TIMES.

ACROSS 1. Malice (5) 6. Extinguish (5) 9. Fish (7) 10. Handle (5) 11. Buffalo (5) 12. Organised sound (5) 13. Esteems (7)

15. 17. 18. 19. 20. 22. 24.

Lawfully (7) Italian city (5) Hell (5) Healthily plump (5) Editor (7) Yielded (5) Molars (5)

DOWN 2. Separated (6) 3. English river (6) 4. Devour (3) 5. Without (5) 6. Doubtful (7) 7. Of the ears (4) 8. Verbal (6) 12. Repasts (5) 13. Regal (5) 14. Edge (5) 15. Board (5) 16. Feeble (5) 18. Shelter (5) 19. Extolled (7) 21. Nullify (6) 22. Ripen (6) 23. Nearly (6) 25. Dead language (5) 26. Lake (4) 28. Wager (3)

19 20

25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31.

Church seat (3) Poems (4) Compassionate (6) Entreaties (5) Annoys (6) Honey drink (4) Man’s name (3)

WORD SEARCH F

Apples Belie Bents Borne Carat Cores Cribs Dressing Elder Emulated

Exert Extreme Fluid Guilt Impersonal Issues Limbs Maims Miens Milks

Mired Mistake Nears Oasis Pecans Peeps Premise Qualm Refining Representations

Rhino Slake Snakes Sterns Tilts Travels Undone Unique Vagary Victim

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

COMPETITION

Richard Ellis Archive and Book Distributors Limited (BDL).

Ngħidu kelma QWIEL MALTIN U XI JFISSRU Il-borża tal-beżżiegħ la timtela w lanqas tifriegħ. The wallet of the timid man stays the same. Il-bajtar tax-xewk ma jagħmilx ħawħ. Prickly pear trees don’t produce peaches.

Għall-Magħmul M’Hemmx Kunsill by Liliana Risiott.

Tagħmilx zalza qabel taqbad il-ħut. Don’t start preparing the sauce before you catch the fish. Bil-flus tagħmel triq il-baħar. With money you can build a road in the sea. Il-flus għandhom il-ġwienaħ. Money has wings. L-iblaħ jagħmilhielek. It’s the fool who will get you in trouble.

Presenting the past

Il-Bravu ta’ Venezja by Giuseppe Cumbo.

Richard Ellis is synonymous with photography in Malta during the Victorian and Edwardian periods. His legacy, in the form of an invaluable archive of images, constitutes a pictorial history of Malta and its people and portrays an image of how Malta changed from an agricultural society to one with a modern and industrialised look. To celebrate this photographic legacy, this month we are giving away a set of 12 replica prints by Richard Ellis. To win, identify the locations (street and city) of the photographs on this page and send your answers via e-mail to seniortimes@ timesofmalta.com or by post to ‘Senior Times Competition’, Allied Newspapers Limited, Strickland House, 341, St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1211. The first correct answer that we receive will win a set of 12 replica prints by Richard Ellis. The second, third and fourth runner-up win one of the above-mentioned books, courtesy of Book Distributors Limited (BDL).

SUDOKU EASY MEDIUM HARD

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9

6 7 9 2

1 5

9 1 2 3 7

Kull lingwa tirrifletti l-użanzi, xewqat, u taqlib li kull soċjetà tgħaddi minnhom. Skond ilpaġna tal-Facebook ‘Kelma’, li jieħu ħsieb Michael Spagnol, għalliem fl-Università ta’ Malta, dawn il-kliem, u ħafna oħrajn, qed isiru ferm popolari. Stessu

4 7 9 9 3 3 5 6

Kliem ġdid

2 4

Stessu Ritratt tiegħek li tieħu inti stess bil-mowbajl.

Tixxerja Li taqsam storja, ritratt jew kumment ma’ ħaddieħor fuq sit tal-medja soċjali.

Tistremmex Li tistrieħ fix-xemx.

Wiċċinu Dak li bl-Ingliż insejħulu ‘emoticon’.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

TISJIR

X’riħa tfuħ ġejja!

Anton B. Dougall jixtieqilkom l-ikla t-tajba. STuFFAT TAl-ħARuF Għandek bżonn: 350g ħaruf mingħajr xaħam, imqatta f ’biċċiet kwadri żgħar • 350g patata miz-żgħira, maħsula sew u mqattgħa f ’biċċiet kbar • 200g polpa tat-tadam • 100g piżelli • 150g fażola twila • 250ml stokk tal-ħaxix • 150ml inbid abjad • 12-il karrotta żgħira, imnaddfin sew • 12-il basla żgħira • 3 werqiet tar-rand • Mgħarfa tursin imqatta rqiq • Mgħarfa żejt taż-żebbuġa • Bżar u melħ.

Kif issajjar: Qaxxar il-basal. Ferra’ ż-żejt ġo kazzola kbira u saħħan fuq nar moderat. Żid il-basal u l-ħaruf u aqli għal madwar 10 minuti, sakemm jieħdu kulur kannella ċar. • Żid il-bqija tal-ingredjenti minbarra t-tursin u l-piżelli. Roxx ftit bżar u melħ, ħawwad u ħalli fuq innar sakemm it-taħlita tiftah tagħli. • Baxxi n-nar, għatti l-kazzola u kompli sajjar għal mhux anqas minn 30 minuta jew sakemm il-ħaruf u lħaxix ikunu saru sew. • Żid il-piżelli u kompli sajjar għal ftit minuti oħra. • Ara tridx iżżid ftit bzar u melħ. Ferrex it-tursin fil-wiċċ u servi millewwel. • Ma’ dan l-istuffat tista’ sservi xi biċċa ftira sħuna jew ħobż tal-Malti frisk u jqarmeċ. ●

KOMPETIZZJONI Din ir-riċetta hija meħuda mill-ktieb Fil-Kċina m’Anton: Ikel Bnin Għall-Kontroll talKolesterol maħruġ minn Book Distribution Limited (BDL). Biex tirbaħ kopja ta’ dan il-ktieb, semmi ħames ingredjenti li jintużaw f’din irriċetta tal-istuffat tal-ħaruf. L-ewwel risposta tajba li nirċievu tirbaħ. Ibgħat irrisposti tiegħek fuq seniortimes@timesofmalta.com jew bil-posta lil ‘Senior Times’, Allied Newspapers Limited, Strickland House, 341, Triq San Pawl, Valletta VLT 1211.

“Improving people’s lives”

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Grandparents who help care for grandchildren live longer

randparents who occasionally help out with childcare or provide support to others in their community tend to live longer than seniors who do not care for other people, according to a recent study. Having full-time custody of grandchildren can have a negative effect on health, but occasional helping can be beneficial for seniors, the researchers write in a recent issue of the journal Evolution and Human Behavior. “Having no contact with grandchildren at all can negatively impact the health of grandparents,” said lead author Sonja Hilbrand, doctoral student in the department of psychology at the University of Basel in Switzerland. “This link could be a mechanism deeply rooted in our evolutionary past when help with childcare was crucial for the survival of the human species,” Hilbrand told Reuters Health. The findings are drawn from data on more than 500 people over age 70 in the Berlin Aging Study. The researchers did not include any grandparents who were the primary caregivers for their grandchildren, only those who cared for grandchildren occasionally. The study team compared this group with seniors who provided support for non-family members, such as friends or neighbours, and seniors who did not provide any care to other people. Overall, after accounting for grandparents’ age and general state of health, the risk of dying over a 20-year period was one-third lower for grandparents who cared for their grandchildren, compared with grandparents who did not provide any childcare. Half of the grandparents who cared for grandchildren were still alive ten years after the initial interview. The same was true for participants who did not have grandchildren but supported their adult children in some way, such as helping with housework. In contrast, about half of the participants who did not help others died within five years of the start of the study. Caregiving was linked with longer life even when the care recipient wasn’t a relative. Half of all childless seniors who provided support to friends or neighbours lived for seven years after the study began, whereas nonhelpers lived for four years on average. “Caregiving may give caregivers a purpose of life because caregivers may feel useful for the others and for the society. Caregiving may be thought also as an activity that keeps caregivers physically and mentally active,” said Bruno Arpino, an associate professor at Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain, who was not involved in the study. “Caregiving is not the only activity that can improve health, and too many caring responsibilities can take away from other beneficial activities like working, being in social clubs, or volunteering. Children should take into consideration their parents’ needs, willingness and desires and agree with them on the timing and amount of childcare. Previous studies suggest that caregiving may improve cognitive functioning, mental and physical health. It is very important that every individual decides for him/herself, what ‘moderate amounts of help’ means,” added Arpino. (Reuters) ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

FOREIGN NEWS

Brain games linked to delayed cognitive decline in elderly

Pope signals elderly married men could become priests

ope Francis has recently said he is willing to consider ordaining older married men as priests in isolated communities, but has ruled out making celibacy optional in order to tackle a shortage of clergy. The shortage has prompted calls from some progressives to end the ancient tradition of celibacy for Roman Catholic priests. Such a move would represent revolutionary change for the Catholic Church and would likely face massive resistance. Reformers, however, have long suggested that the Vatican could ordain viri probati – Latin for men of proven character – who tend to be older, with grown-up families if married. In an interview with Germany’s Die Zeit newspaper, the Pope said this option could be considered. “We have to give a thought to whether viri probati are a possibility. We then also need to determine which tasks they could take on, such as in isolated areas, for example,” he was quoted as saying. He ruled out, however, opening the priesthood to all married men or watering down the Catholic Church’s commitment to celibacy, which is seen as a virtue that frees priests to devote their lives fully to serve God. “Voluntary celibacy is often discussed in this context, especially in places where there are shortages of clerics. But voluntary celibacy is not a solution,” the Pope said. Prominent Catholics representing both the progressive and conservative wings of the US church voiced support on Friday for the Pope’s suggestion, with both camps seeing the move as a practical solution to the chronic shortage of priests. A US university report published in 2015 said the world’s Catholic population had increased by 57 per cent, or 445 million peo-

ple, between 1980 and 2012, while the number of priests over the same period had dropped by 17 per cent, or 20,547. In Brazil, the nation with more Catholics than any other, the faithful also expressed support for the viri probati idea. “If he (a priest) had a wife and children, he may have a much fuller experience, which could help those around him,” said Paulo Franca, when attending an afternoon Mass at the Santa Luzia Church in Rio de Janeiro. The church has already sought to address a potential shortage of priests by promoting the use of deacons – male clerics who can be married and sit just behind priests in the church hierarchy. They can officiate at baptisms, funerals and weddings, but are not allowed to celebrate Mass, hear confessions or anoint the sick. The growth in the number of deacons has made US Catholics more comfortable with the idea of married men playing an important role in services, said Bill Donohue, chairman of the conservative-leaning Catholic League. “My only concern is how this will impact on those priests who are single,” Donohue said in a phone interview. “You have a lot of funerals on the weekends, there are weddings and what not. I can see a situation where a married priest would say, ‘I have to go to my kids’ soccer game, I have responsibilities that you don’t have.’ They have to think this through a bit more.” In Buenos Aires, where Pope Francis was formerly archbishop, some locals applauded his more progressive leanings. “I think Francis is causing a great revolution in the church... if other religions have it (marriage), why not? Maybe priesthood could even be offered to women,” said Mirta Cortizo. (Reuters) ●

lder people who engage in mentally stimulating activities later in life may have a lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment than their peers who don’t challenge their minds, a study suggests. For adults 70 and older without cognitive problems, playing games was associated with a 22 per cent reduced risk of what’s known as new-onset mild cognitive impairment, a condition that can happen before age-related declines in brain function give way to full-blown dementia. Working on crafts was tied to a 28 per cent lower risk of mild cognitive impairment, computer use was linked to 30 per cent smaller odds and social activities were associated with 23 per cent decreased risk, the study also found. “Mentally stimulating activities perhaps in combination with known healthy lifestyles such as exercise are simple and inexpensive activities that can potentially protect people against the development of mild cognitive impairment,” said senior study author D. Yonas E. Geda, a psychiatry and neurology researcher at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. To see how different activities might influence the odds of developing impairments, researchers examined data on 1,929 adults aged 70 and older who didn’t have any cognitive problems at the outset. They evaluated participants every 15 months. Half of their subjects stayed in the study for more than four years. In surveys, participants reported how often they did various activities. Researchers then compared the risk of new-onset mild cognitive impairment based on whether people did activities at least once or twice a week or no more than two or three times a month. At the start of the study, half of the participants were at least 77 years old. By the end of it, 456 people had developed new-onset mild cognitive impairment, according to a report in JAMA Neurology.

Researchers took a closer look at a subset of 512 people who had an increased risk of cognitive decline because they carried a version of the apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene that is a risk factor for mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s dementia. For carriers of the high-risk APOE gene, only computer use and social activities were associated with a decreased risk of mild cognitive impairment. The study wasn’t a controlled experiment designed to test whether or how different activities might directly prevent or delay the onset of cognitive decline, the authors note. “Some previous research has found that repeating familiar activities, even challenging ones, may not necessarily be enough to ward off cognitive decline”, said Dr Denise Park, a longevity researcher at the University of Texas in Dallas. “Playing games or socialising at home may not protect the brain against decline, but devoting several hours a week over several months to learning new activities may be associated with better brain function. Our research suggests mentally demanding, novel tasks like quilting or learning photography are worthwhile. Learning how to use a computer and many apps also helped,” Dr Park added. Her advice to elderly people who want to keep their mind sharp: “Do something that is engaging and fun for you that you want to spend time on.” (Reuters) ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

COLLECTIONS

The private collector One should invest and build a collection to, above all, enjoy and not speculate for it is those who acquire art by following their hearts who tend to build the best collections, says Sarah Chircop.

here are many ways of defining who the collector is, even more so the nature of his collection, yet it can be agreed that the collector is usually someone who is stimulated by a passionate need to satisfy an intellectual, aesthetic and/or emotional interest. A successful collector is often an innovator and their collection is often somewhere between a creation and process, constantly evolving and refining its key elements. The modern form of art collecting and the rise of the collector himself began during the time of the Renaissance when patterns of patronage were gradually changing. The collector was becoming increasingly different from the patron by being more and more interested in the artwork itself. Yet the question of taste persevered and continued to play an important role in determining what art was produced. By the 18th century, many homes of the affluent were expected to have a selection of objects that could make up a substantial and praiseworthy private collection. However, the serious

collecting of art and objet d’art from all historical periods developed during the 19th century, or at least dating to the Age of Enlightenment, yet collectors also increasingly specialised in collecting one or two types of works.

Modern section - Vanity, Profanity and Worship, 2013.

Bombola – Antique Sicilian Maiolica, 2001.

With time, the collector likewise established a responsibility of giving the artist and their reactions to the world around them a voice. Being this ‘spokesperson’ is nowadays also a role that the collector shares with the curator, for a good collection often responds to its surrounding context and frequently reacts to it. When a collection is so connected to worldviews, possessing a coherent theme and not being too disparate, collectors tend to be tempted to make their collections public. At the very heart of Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti’s mission statement, as a non-profit organisation, is the necessity and need to expose art, history and culture both locally and internationally, specifically and purposefully from Malta’s private collections that have never before been viewed by the public.

Gentleman’s dress, coat and waistcoat – Costume in Malta, 1998.

Originally started by a group of people who were passionate about the island’s cultural heritage and concerned with its welfare, the importance of making private collections accessible to the public was immediately recognised by Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti. This ensued a series

The modern form of art collecting and the rise of the collector himself began during the time of the Renaissance

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

of academically researched and professionally staged exhibitions and publications, centring around various hidden treasures and thus fulfilling this concern till today. Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti’s first exhibition out of private collections was dedicated to the Maltese wall clock, commonly known as LArloġġ tal-Lira. This unique clock consists of a coloured and gilded wooden case, containing a locally produced mechanism. Commonly found in palaces, convents, stately homes and Auberges of the Knights of the Order of St John, especially during the late 18th century, the clocks’ dials were usually adorned with scenes such as seascapes, harbour scenes, landscapes with figures or intricately painted flowers, thus also serving a decorative purpose. The exhibition was held in the great hall of the Auberge de Provence in Valletta where 73 examples of such clocks went on display, together with a selection of mantel and grandfather types. Clock movements including one from a turret clock, various sundials, and a full-scale diorama of a fully equipped clockmaker’s workshop, were also exhibited. Following the success of Antique Maltese Clocks in 1992, Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti staged many more exhibitions out of private collections including The Sedan Chair in Malta, Portable Altars, Antique Furniture, Costume, Silver and most recently a major exhibition held at the Casino Maltese on Jewellery. Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti is currently working on their next major exhibition for 2018, when Valletta will be the European Capital of Culture, titled A Musical Journey through the Mediter-

Brown and gilt two-handed wall clock – Antique Maltese Clocks, 1992.

ranean, working closely with local private, public and church collections in search of musical instruments to tell the story of music in Malta and the Mediterranean. This drive to learn more about art and objet d’art has created some of the world’s most exceptional collections and one would do well to remember that the royal collections of most countries were originally private collections that now belong to public ownership. If you would like to find out more about Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, visit http://www.patrimonju.org/ or follow them on Facebook and Instagram for their latest news and events. ●

Gold filigree Maltese cross pendant – Vanity, Profanity and Worship, 2013.

Cockatiel brooch – Vanity, Profanity and Worship, 2013.

Coffee pot – The Silver of Malta, 1995.

Victorian Section – Vanity, Profanity and Worship, 2013.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

HEALTH

Tips for your toes Walk this way with the Senior Times guide to buying the right walking shoes.

here is one exercise that doctors always recommend – walking. And that is no coincidence because walking is one of the best exercises you can invest your time and energy in. Walking is fuelled by various advantages. First of all, you can set your own pace according to your level of fitness, age and, let’s admit it, mood – there are days when you want to stretch your feet far, and

others, especially when it’s cold or raining outside, when you feel like postponing your daily stroll. Walking also helps you maintain a healthy weight and manage conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Moreover, it is a fun way of spending time with your friends and family while enjoying the fresh air and beautiful outdoors. And the best thing is that it is a cheap form of exercise.

You don’t need to invest in fancy gym equipment or gear – all you need is a good pair of walking shoes.

walking shoes are worth the money you invest in them – they protect your feet, give you support and keep you walking.

CHEAP IS NOT CHEERFUL

THE RIGHT CHOICE

There is always the temptation to skimp on your walking shoes – however, when you consider the damage that a cheap pair of shoes can do to your feet and back, the savings are just not worth it. The right

PULMAN SHOES

19, Triq il-Kbira San Ġuzepp, Ħamrun - 2743 4318 (near San Ġorg Preca Church, B’Bajda) 6/2, Alpha Court, Upper Constitution Str, Mosta - 2143 4318 www.facebook/pulmanshoes.com

Spend time in choosing the right walking shoes. One main thing to consider is that as we age, we lose the fat pad protection on the bottom of our feet – this means that the heel needs the protection of a good, supportive sole. Shoes that have a thin sole can lead to heel pain, which can affect your mobility.

THE WAY YOU WALK Another thing to consider is your pronation, that is, the way your foot rolls inward for impact distribution upon landing. There are three main types of pronation. The first is the normal kind – in this case, you have a normal arch and therefore you can go for a shoe with good stability and moderate pronation control. The second kind is overpronation – in this case, you have a flat arch and ankle with a tendency to roll when you walk. If you fall in this category, then you will need shoes with motion control. The third kind is under-pronation, where your ankles roll out when you walk – to address this condition, you need shoes with thick heels and flexible midsoles. If you have doubts, consult your podiatrist who will help you choose the right pair of walking shoes.

The right walking shoes are worth the money you invest in them – they protect your feet, give you support and keep you walking PREVENT PAIN If you have knee, back or heel pain, you should consider walking shoes with heel cushioning. If you have bunions, go for a wider, softer shoe. When choosing walking shoes, don’t go for the first sporty-looking shoe you find, assuming that it is right for you. Keep in mind that while a running shoe might address some of your specific needs, specialised shoes like tennis or basketball shoes might do you more harm than good, as they have been designed for specific athletic needs.

THE WIGGLE TEST To make sure that the shoes you are considering have the right fit, take the wiggle test. This is pretty simple – wiggle your toes and check that you can do so without pressure or without having so much space that your feet slide around. While shoes do give after a while, don’t expect them to stretch out. If the shoes feel too tight, don’t buy them. ●

SENIOR TIMES â&#x20AC;&#x2019; MaRch 2017

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

INTERVIEW

A man for all seasons A former national tennis champion and one of the oldest persons ever to graduate from the University of Malta, 95-year-old Edward ‘Eddie’ Spiteri is undoubtedly a man with an interesting life story to tell.

ddie Spiteri nowadays spends his days residing at Roseville in Attard, just a stone’s throw away from San Anton Palace. Having just turned 95, he is a father to three sons, Robert, Paul and Jojo, and a daughter Margaret. He is also a grandfather to nine and a great-grandfather to six. His loving wife, Josephine, passed away in 2002 only two days after their 55th wedding anniversary. Eddie has been through many ups and downs in life and only his faith in God kept him going. “When I graduated PhD in Economics in November 2004 at the age of 82, I was probably one of the oldest, if not the oldest, to ever graduate from the University of Malta. I used to lecture Pure and Applied Economics at the University back in the late 1960s and some of my lecturers this time around happened to be my students back then. “Graduating at such an age was a very proud and happy moment though this was unfortunately tarnished by one sad factor – the absence of Jessie, my beloved wife. I found it very hard to rejoice without her. I nearly gave up on life when she passed away but my family and friends encouraged me to continue studying and working on my thesis,” says Eddie with a hint of melancholy. In his younger days, Eddie attended Sliema Primary School and later St Albert’s Central, a school that was purposely set up to train teachers. At 17, he was employed as a teacher. He was in fact the last teacher to be employed before the start of World War II. He

Wedding day – 1948.

Graduating at such an age was a very proud and happy moment

was conscripted a year later and returned to teaching in 1943. Sometime later, Eddie decided to sit for the examination to join the executive and administrative class of the civil service. This was undoubtedly one of the toughest examinations he has ever sat for in all his life since one had to obtain a minimum of 60 marks in each of 12 papers and an average of 65 or more overall to pass such an examination.

A top tennis player in his days.

50th wedding anniversary – 1998.

While the passing of such an examination was no guarantee that one would make it to the civil service, Eddie was nonetheless successful and joined the civil service in 1947. Being an avid sportsman, he celebrated his achievement by going to watch a football game where he got talking to a man who told him he was studying to become an architect because he had sat for the civil service examination and had failed. “In those days, people would opt to go to University to study for a profession if they failed the civil service examination,” remarks Eddie. After some years in the civil service, Eddie asked to be allowed to further his studies in Economics. He studied for his ‘A’ level in Economics, teaching himself for six months, and after passing his exams, he proceeded to continue his studies at Hull University in the UK as a Commonwealth scholar. At the time, he was already married with four children so his family joined him in Hull. After a three-year course, Eddie obtained a BSc (Hons) in Economics in 1966. Back in Malta, he rejoined the civil service and lectured part-time at the University for around four years and at

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

Eddie today.

Up Close and Personal Date of birth: February 23, 1922. Birthplace: St Julians. Spouse: Josephine ‘Jessie’ nee Sapiano (late). Married on: January 11, 1948. Where did the marriage take place? St Julians Parish Church (Lapsi) followed by a reception at the Savoy Hotel in Sliema. Where did you and Jessie spend your honeymoon? At the Riviera Martinique (the original hotel) in beautiful Għajn Tuffieħa.

the College of Arts, Science and Technology. He retired from the civil service due to health reasons in 1977 at the age of 55. At the time, he occupied the role of Head of the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. “On retiring in 1977, I studied for and obtained a diploma in Sacred Theology and then a degree in Religious Studies. I read for a BA in History and my tutor, Henry Frendo, encouraged me to continue studying for my Master’s, which I did. In 1987, I was asked to return to the service to sit on the Board of Special Commissioners of Income Tax. This board heard and decided income tax cases. I was chairman of the board until I left in 2000,” Eddie says. Eddie is the author of two books dealing with Malta’s economic history, namely Malta – An Island in Transition 1954-1974 and Malta – From Colonial Dependency to Economic Viability 18002000. As the saying goes, “no play makes Jack a dull boy”. And indeed, it has not been all study and no play for Eddie who in the 1950s was Malta’s tennis champion. He holds 76 cups to his name and has his name carved on every Challenge Cup. ● Eddie celebrating his 95th birthday with friends at the Marsa Sports Club.

Back row, from left: Margaret, Eddie, Robert, Jessie. Front row: Jojo and Paul.

Children: Robert aged 68, Margaret 67, Jojo 65 and Paul 63. Favourite sports? Football and tennis. My interest in sport, particularly football, dates back to the age of 14 where I played goalkeeper with the Boys’ Brigade team at the Salesian Oratory and with the Sliema Amateurs, a second division team at that time. Injury forced me to give up goalkeeping and I then pIayed as a centre forward with Melita Football Club. After the war, my interest shifted to tennis and during the 1950s, I won every existent tennis competition on the island. I also represented Malta in tournaments in Tripoli and Messina.

From left: Robert, Eddie, Paul, Margaret and Jojo.

Favourite food? Imqarrun fil-forn. It was my wife’s favourite dish too. Favourite book of all time? The Bible, simply because it provides a first-hand look at Christ’s teachings. Favourite song of all time? Anima e Cuore. A famous song that belongs to the traditional music of wonderful Naples. It translates into ‘Soul and Heart’ – a beautiful song I used to enjoy dancing to with my wife at the Chalet in Sliema during the hot summer months. Favourite pastime? Reading and socialising. Even though I now finding reading rather tricky. Any wartime memories you would like to share with readers of our newspaper? Firstly, meeting up with Jessie, the woman I married. Secondly, serving in the Third Battalion Kings Own Malta Regiment where I spent most of the time living in camps in Qrendi. And thirdly, watching RAF airplanes chasing Nazi Stukas from my family roof in St Julians. The most beautiful country ever visited: Australia, the first country I ever visited. I spent two months there. If you had to choose a life motto, what would it be? As a rule, my motto has always been “you have to fight your own way through to achieve your goals”.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

MOTORING

US UT

TI L

Father and son

JOE B

Joe Busuttil finds that restoring vintage beauties is a family affair for Laurence and Stephen Ciappara.

n local old motors circles, the name of Ciappara immediately conjures up the image of Pawlu ‘il-Melbourne’, a name synonymous with all the various aspects of the classic car scene. However, very few are aware that his brother Laurence, known as Lorry, was bitten by the classic car bug earlier than him – the quiet, low profile and unassuming Lorry acquired his first old car way back in 1975, when he bought a Fiat Topolino. “My father Salvu told me I was crazy to get such a model, built in 1955, and that I was wasting my time,” rememberes Lorry, laughing. This car has a long story, with Lorry working on it at intervals over the years. At one time, he gave up and even offered it for free to his brother in law Paul, who was going to take it but then found something else. Over the years, as the appreciation of the Topolino soared, Lorry got various offers to sell it. But once his son, Stephen, became intrinsically involved in old cars, Lorry decided to hold on to it. “Believe it or not, after all these long years, this Italian icon is still a work-in-progress case,” he admits. A long time elapsed before Lorry looked at another classic car. About 20 years ago, he got a call from his brother Pawlu, who was in England and had encountered two Austin Healey vehicles. “I bought one of them, not in a very good condition, unfortunately, as it was being cannibalised. The engine was in a mess, the cylinder head had been removed, there was no distributor – the list was tall! However, I got all the missing parts, and now the vehicle is in an advanced state of restoration.” Lorry says the final product will be sprayed in old English white, with matching red upholstery.

I made an appointment for the afternoon, went there with my father, and came back driving the Morris

The 1973 MGB in citron yellow.

His busy business in the car repair and spraying sector leaves Lorry very little time to complete restoration projects. Another beauty from the past demanding attention is a 1965 black Sunbeam. So at times he quenches his classic car appetite by acquiring an old vehicle in a good condition – like the 1969 red body and black coloured roof Morris Cooper.

“I had always dreamt of owning a Mini Cooper. However they were very scarce and actually I had given up hope of acquiring one. So much so that as a substitute, I bought a 1961 Mini. As soon as I got it, the Cooper turned up!” Pride of place in Lorry’s classic car collection goes to a 1973 MGB, painted in the unusual and attractive citron yellow.

“It was in a good roadworthy condition when I bought it in 2007, with only a small mudguard task to be undertaken. However, as happens so often, when I started to work on it, one thing led to another, and I ended up with a full restoration project on my hands that took nearly four years to complete – not that I regret any of it,” says a satisfied Lorry.

The appreciation of the restored MGB is not to be found in the opinion of its owner alone, but also in assessments of respected classic car critics like Jon Pressnell from the UK MG Owners Club, who in September 2012 came to Malta to judge MG vehicles taking part in a concourse d’elegance, organised by the Old Motors Club to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the marque. Writing in the UK Club official magazine, Pressnell stated that points were awarded to the participants for presentation and originality: “In the end it was a tightly fought quarter that emerged at the top of the pack. In first place, there was no doubt: the superb roadster of Laurence Ciappara was close to flawless, having emerged from a four-year restoration carried out by Laurence and vehicle painter brother Paul”. With credentials like these, other comments are superfluous. Lorry has three children, but only one, Stephen, has inherited his father’s devotion to old vehicles, as well as his technical skills and dexterity.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

“This development took a long time coming, for experiencing the heavy demands of my work, I was determined to keep my two sons and daughter as far away from the business as possible,” he explains. “I wanted them to do something completely different from my line of work. So much so that even during the lengthy summer holidays, I would prohibit them from approaching the workshops.” Stephen was attracted to catering, and so attending ITS and eventually acquired a diploma. He even worked for a couple of years in one of the island’s leading hotels. However, he started to entertain doubts about his choice of career. “I started to realise how awkward my working hours were, and that while my friends were free and having fun, I had to be working,” says Stephen. Subsequently, he asked his mother to act as intermediary with his father, and eventually joined the family business. Stephen was not allergic to old cars, and had always fostered a soft spot for the Morris marque. In fact, while 18 and still an ITS student, he bought his first car, a black 1958 Morris 1000. “It was not in a bad condition, but eventually I started to dismantle it, and did quite a lot of restoring to it, far away from the critical eyes of my father, who initially did not approve much of my purchase.” Eventually, Lorry went to see what his son was doing, and was pleasantly surprised and astonished at what Stephen had accomplished technically in an area that was not his line of study and work. The Morris mania continued unabated. Stephen then got two Morris Traveller cars, dating from 1957 and 1972, in order to restore them into one complete car. An advert in a Sunday paper also led him to a 1961 Morris van. “I saw the ad in the morning, phoned, and found the van was in Gozo. I made an appointment for the afternoon, went there with my father, and came back driving the Morris!” The vehicle had a blue body with light blue mudguards, but Stephen intends to change it to the original Post Office red colour – he leaves no stone unturned to research the orig-

The restoration of the MGB took nearly four years to complete.

Lawrence Ciappara (left) receiving acknowledgement from Jon Pressnell of the UK MG Owners Club.

inal colour of his old cars, in order to bring them back to what they looked like when they emerged brand new from the factory. Influenced by his uncle Paul, Stephen bought a 1965 red Sunbeam, which is still awaiting a future restoration project for, as he describes it, it resembles more of a shell at the moment. Other purchases

include a 1965 wood paneled, sandy beige Mini Traveller Countryman, in good condition, but requiring attention. Similarly a 1965 Austin Healey was bought as roadworthy and not needing much work, but as so often happens, there was more than meets the eye once repairs on an old vehicle begin in earnest. In contrast, a 1990 John Cooper, also known as a

Rover Special Product, was bought by Stephen in mint condition. Although still a few years away from becoming a classic, the vehicle is dear to him as he states that the red body, red roof model is one of a limited edition of 1600. While father and son enjoy participating in OMC events, they intentionally limit their attendance, as both are of the opinion that after working on cars full time during the week, they need some other form of outlet as relaxation. Lorry and Stephen have another pastime that is also very dear to their hearts – breeding coloured canaries. They have dozens of cages with canaries of every hue and colour. They also take part in competitions, both in Malta but mostly abroad, and have won some very prestigious prizes, including first and second place in different editions of the World Show. Both state

that birds make a bigger demand that old cars on their time, as one can leave the work on a classic vehicle for another day, but the feathered species need daily, constant and regular dedicated attention. Finally Lorry expresses his satisfaction at the explosion of interest in classic cars locally, although he rues the fact that many leave their old vehicles tucked away in garages, unseen by the public. He says that more should be done to encourage such owners to go public, and participate in events, like the Mdina Grand Prix. However, he also adds that the event organisers should also give feedback and constructive criticism to participants, as lack of explanation for final placements in competitive events leave the car owners bewildered, and not eager for future participation. ● WWW.OLDMOTORSCLUB.COM

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

MEMORIES

Watercolours by Paul Caruana.

and narrow...

On the Strait

E O RG

Author George Cini has woven a multi-hued tapestry of the shenanigans in Strait Street, Valletta, by interviewing protagonists who lived or worked along this entertainment strip.

here’s simply no question about it. When push came to shove, Strada Stretta came up with the jollies. A brisk brigade of barmaids, painted ladies, transvestites, tattooists, cooks, waiters, bartenders, lodginghouse owners and not a few shady characters eked a living out of this surreal world. The street gained an international name for live music besides other, less gracious but somewhat, more strenuous activities. The seminal seeds to its flowering into a spicy district were sown in the last decades of the 19th century despite the strict discipline laid down by the British authorities. In the early 1950s,

however, the street started on its seedy decline. Because the narrative of this famous lane could not be found elsewhere, author George Cini has woven a multi-hued tapestry of its shenanigans by interviewing protagonists who lived or worked along that entertainment strip. The excerpts in English being reproduced here are from the book Strada Stretta: ‘The Gut’ which for many years lit up Valletta published in 2013. The passage in Maltese comes from the book Strada Stretta: Aktar dawl fuq it-triq li darba xegħlet il-Belt published in 2015. Let’s travel in time through these extracts and may we

ask you to let us know what memories they rock from your vivacious days.

NINA WITH HER HEART ON HER SLEEVE Nina recalls: “There were instances, when I took somebody home, some American. When Marie is-Sewda (Marie the Black Woman) and Irene Johnson were killed, it was their fault because they didn’t keep a lookout, whom we call ruffjan. “Whenever I took men home, I ‘employed’ a ruffjan. I’d give him £2 and tell him: ‘Karmenu keep watch’ outside the door. Let’s say I’ve taken a

man home. I tell Karmenu: ‘If you see the man’s taking a long time, you knock on the door.’” As she says this, Nina bangs on the wooden tabletop with her knuckles as the veins in her neck bulge blue. She tells Karmenu to shout: ‘Time up, police comin’.’ So that whoever is with me would know he’d better leave.” How long will the lookout wait before knocking on your door? “Oh come on! What do you mean, how long? Maybe after 10 minutes? Because you meet all sorts. Once I took home a man who had just been released from the Frankuni, the mental hospital in Attard. He was Maltese. We charged Maltese men £5 and Ameri-

cans $15 or £10 and the same for Englishmen. It was good money but no one stashed it away for a rainy day. Maybe there are three owners from those days who are well off and run hotels now.” What did you spend the money on, Nina? “I wore dresses that I bought for £70. I’d spoil one every day. I was covered in gold jewellery which I’d leave here and there. “Necklaces I’d leave with another woman, sometimes in the fridge. Sometimes, someone else would take them and give them back later because I was covered in gold. We earned bags of money. We even found money on the ground.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

Omm il-klarinettist u bniedem tal-ispettaklu Oscar Lucas, u ħuh Charles, li kien idoqq il-vjolin.

I was pregnant because I got pregnant every so often. Seven times, one after the other

A young Nina.

Ġannina tiftakar

Nina in 2004 with her pet Jackie.

I was pregnant because I got pregnant every so often. Seven times, one after the other. “Six, no seven, because I miscarried once. No, that child was by my husband. I was always pregnant. I loved the Americans. One time I’d shack up with an American and then with another. No stable relationships. Sometimes, I’d go with Norwegians. That’s how it was, because I loved them. In the evening the dance halls would open. We’d work in the bars till one and then go dancing at the Folies Bergere till two in the morning. There were times when the bar would still be busy by closing time and we keep going. But you had to make sure the police didn’t nab you.” ▷

Nina aged 19.

In the evening, the dance halls would open.

“Omm iz-ziju Oscar, Ġannina, kienet tislef il-flus lill-barmaids. Niftakar kienet tislef ukoll lil Żeża lMonki. Iddejjinhom u tiċċarġjahom tmintax irbiegħi fil-lira” – li jiġu tnax u nofs filmija imgħax. “Kienet tmur kuljum tiġbor limgħax ta’ tmintax irbiegħi sakemm jaqtgħu d-dejn. Illegal ta, jiġifieri.” Hekk jirrakkonta Harry Cutajar dwar nanntu Ġannina. Oscar Lucas. Kellha ktieb tniżżel fih jew kienet iżżomm amment? “Le, xej’, xej’. Kollox fuq moħħha kienet iżżomm. Kellha erba’ barmaids jisselfu mingħanda. Niftakar ġiex aħwa barmaids, insejt x’jisimhom mid-Diju Balli li kienet tislifhom il-flus. “Jien kont ninżel man-nanna Strada Stretta u d-Diju Balli nżommilha l-basket. U kienet titlob is-sigaretti lill-Ingliżi biex ittihom lil missieri, allura. Sigarett ta, dak iż-żmien. Missieri Ċikku. Kien fl-Air Force. “In-nies kienu jfittxuha lin-nanna biex jissellfu l-flus għax kienu jafuha. Kienet toqgħod magħna fuq il-Fosos, il-Belt, faċċata ta’ Sant’Iermu. Kienet purtinara l-iskola tal-Gvern, Strada Zekka. Kellha l-klijenti tagħha. “Jien kont nakkwista wkoll. Min itik il-ħelu, min itik sold. Ir-raġel tagħha miet żgħir u Oscar u ħuh Chalie trabbew is-St Patrick’s.” Harry, Strada Stretta kien hemm il-bulijiet għallġlied. “Strada Stretta kellek il-bulijiet li kienu tajbin għal meta tinqala’ xi ġlieda bħalma kien Lurjanu. Lurjanu kien jiġi ħu nannti u kien il-bodyguard ta’ Pawlu Dowling, missier Jimmy. Bodyguard kien bħal bouncer tallum. Joqgħod fil-bieb għal meta jinqala’ l-ġlied għax l-Ingliżi dejjem bil-ġlied. Kien wieħed mill-aqwa da’ Lurjanu għax kien jinnukkjahom. Bid-daqqa kien imiddhom. Lurjanu kien famuż ħafna. Kien jaħdem ma’ ta’ Dowling dak iż-żmien. Kien tajjeb ħafna għal hekk. Kienu hu u Harry Bianco.” Bianco li kellu il-ħanut Charlie’s Bar Strada Stretta kienu jgħidulu Gerbibhielu. “Lurjanu kien l-aqwa wieħed li jiġġieled hemm isfel. Kien jismu Lorry Borg. Kellu l-ħwienet Bormla u darba qala’ daqqa ta’ sikkina Bormla. “Strada Stretta kien hemm l-iktar nies b’qalbhom tajba. Għajnuna dejjem issibha mingħandhom.” Strada Stretta kulħadd isemmi l-pulizija li kien hemm. “Strada Stretta kien hemm 11 jew 12 puluzija ġganti u ma kienx haw’ irġiel daqshom fid-dinja, jiġifieri. Bħala rġulija qed ngħid kienu rġiel għax huma ma kinux tfal, kif taqbad tgħid, ta’ skola, kitba u da’. Bħala saħħa, irġiel ġganti. Kienu b’saħħithom. Daqqa ta’ ħarta u jniżżluh Ingliż. “Kien hemm Nikol mill-Mellieħa, il-Lofty, Ġakkinu minn Ħal Luqa. Kienu erbat itfal hekk – l-għada jmur jaqlagħlek għalqa patata u wara jibqa’ ġej għax-xogħol. Kienu b’saħħithom. Saħħa biss, hu’. Dak iż-żmien kienu vera b’saħħithom. Minnhom mhux bit-training. “It-trankwillità li kien hawn, dik kienet tgħin. Kulħadd kien trankwill.”

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

MEMORIES

The Morning Star.

THE GIANT

Giovanna Schembri.

Giovanna Schembri’s granddad ran the Morning Star Music Hall, while her mother managed the Cotton Club. Giovanna relates: “I remember Każan, the transvestite. There was Oċello, another cross-dresser known also as Sugar who was a foreigner. There was Bobbie who played the piano. We used to call these men ‘sinjorina’ meaning ‘young or unmarried woman’. “Oċello was always smartly turned out. He was handsome. Then there was Frank. He got married. He was a drag queen and danced in the bars. His had a sister called Lina. He was Maltese, yes. His sister worked at my mother’s bar. He was a most attractive man. I remember him well. He used to say it would have been better for him had he been born a woman.” Was he that handsome? “He was and there were girls who were falling for Frank and there was this girl, Maria, and they were falling for each other. But he told her: ‘I am not cut out for marriage.’ But she didn’t believe him. And they went to a doctor together and the doctor told Frank: ‘You can get married because your inclination has been with you since you were young. “And they got married and had children. Then he fell ill

George Cini is a former PR and marketing practitioner, reporter and night editor at the Times of Malta, George lectures journalism at the University’s Faculty of Media and Knowledge Sciences. He may be contacted on gcini400@gmail.com or on 9943 0578. There’s a Facebook page on Strada Stretta where you can share your memories and learn about the other facets of the street.

and died. Like a young beautiful woman, he was. He would ask my mum: ‘Can you tell I’m a man?’ And she would laugh. “I never saw Bobbie, the piano man in drag. He was always in a black suit. But he was rather effeminate. “Oċello dressed smart too. These homosexual men didn’t bother me at all. “The Morning Star was in St Nicholas Street corner with St Joseph Street stretching to Old Hospital Street, save for, maybe, two mezzanines. “One day, Każan came to the bar. He told mum – here Giovanna changes the pitch of her voice to a falsetto to mimic Każan. ‘Marie, Marie, give me some gin.’ I looked, perplexed at my mother. Każan went on: ‘Marie, hurry up because I’ve got a tummy ache,” Giovanna says as she smiles heartily. “I asked mum what he was on about. I knew he was effeminate but I didn’t know how the minds of such men spin. We were innocent. And mum told me: ‘These men believe they are women.’ So she gave him gin to drink. “Sometimes Każan would come to the bar and tell mum that his Primus stove wouldn’t start. “And I would ask her what Każan was talking about. He was such a big man, like the giant at the palace.” ●

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017

MALTA’S CHAPELS

St Mary Magdalene Chapel, Dingli

erched on top of the Dingli cliffs, the little chapel dedicated to St Mary Magdalene is an impressive sight – despite its small size, it cuts a dramatic figure, sandwiched between the big sky above and the stocky cliffs below. The sea is a beautiful backdrop. The St Mary Magdalene Chapel, also known as ilkappella tal-irdum (the chapel on top of the cliffs) was rebuilt in 1646, on the site of an earlier one which had existed since at least the 15th century – in fact, the earliest reference we find is in 1446. The older chapel had collapsed and a newer one rebuilt in the 17th century – it was reopened by Bishop Miguel Juan Balaguer Camarasa on April 15, 1646. This is commemorated by a Latin inscription above its doorway. The chapel was deconsecrated by Bishop Gaetano

Pace Forno in the 19th century but was later reconsecrated. In 2005, it was restored – the roof was strengthened and the rendering was changed to a more sympathetic hydraulic lime. New paving for the church and the parvis was also laid. The restored chapel was inaugurated in 2007. The chapel’s simple architecture is typical of Maltese wayside chapels, with a rectangular structure, and a single doorway and circular window on its facade. Inside, the architecture is similarly simple, with an altarpiece of the Risen Christ by Paul Camilleri Cauchi. Originally used by farmers who lived nearby, nowadays, the St Mary Magdalene Chapel is an attraction in itself. After a long walk along the cliffs, the chapel provides shelter and a breather to sit down and think. ●

The wayside chapel dedicated to St Mary Magdalene in Dingli.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ MaRch 2017