Senior Times (December 2017) by Times of Malta

SENIOR TIMES December 2017

Malta’s monthly newspaper for the elderly

never Too laTe Elderly people can also volunteer to help other elderly. SEE PAGE 6

‘Tis The season To be jolly… or is iT? A return to childhood can add a lot of happiness to Christmas. SEE PAGE 16

aCTive aGeinG aWarD Winner SEE PAGE 18

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2017

EDITOR’S WELCOME

IN THIS ISSUE

Every Who down in Whoville…

he Christmas tree is wearing a thin veil of gossamer; a little too thin for the cold season. But the cobwebs are not the grey, stuffy garden shed ones. Or the kind that would remind you of Miss Havisham, the jilted spinster in Great Expectations living as a recluse in her ruined mansion. Rather, the cobwebs are glitzy and sparkly. The kind that, in a Disney movie, would be parted with excited fingers to reveal a magical kingdom. And that is what Christmas is – a golden brick road that leads us back to festive seasons past. Switch on the fairy lights, close your eyes, and the flickering twinkles behind your eyelids will take you back to one Christmas, decades ago, when you waited for the white bearded man until the early morning hours. And then, when your consciousness was snoring in half sleep, you heard a rustle and there, in the corner, shimmering under the fairy lights, was a big box of wonder, just for you. Smell the warm mince pies baking in the oven. Open the oven door, just a tiny sliver, and the smell will snug you in blankets of memories. And there’s your mother, surrounded by you little ones, waiting for her to switch off her attention just for a second, so you can dip your sticky hands in the mince pie mix. And when you do, the sugar-coated taste will stick to your teeth for the rest of the week. Open a Christmas greeting from an old friend, and decades of old greetings start falling from the sky, like the fluttering, tumbling snow you saw in Paris years ago. It was so cold, you remember – you could swear the water was crackling into ice before your very eyes, as you walked across the Pont Neuf, hand in hand. And yet it was so warm as you huddled in woolly layers and hugged your hands around a warm cup of chocolate. Every fairy light you turn on, every mince pie you crunch, every greeting you read has a sense of déjà vu. Christmas is a closed text – it’s all about memories. So this Christmas, make sure it’s a memorable one so that next year, and the years after, you will remember it. I wish you and your loved ones a festive season to remember.

SENIOR TIMES DECEMBER 2017 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stanley Borg E-mail: seniortimes @timesofmalta.com CONTRIBUTORS Carmel Baldacchino Tonio Bonello Joseph Busuttil Tony C. Cutajar Dun Jonathan Farrugia Christine Galea Anthony Scerri Charlotte Stafrace Fiona Vella PUBLISHERS Allied Newspapers Limited Triq L-Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000 www.timesofmalta.com DESIGN Christian Busuttil

3. Ibgħathieli bil-posta! Saviour Busuttil jirrakkonta lil bintu Fiona Vella kif kienu jitqassmu l-kartolini tal-Milied fil-passat.

6. Never too late to start Volunteering is the act of providing a service to someone else for no financial gain. In the season of giving, Charlotte Stafrace explores how volunteering can help the elderly.

7. Christmas roast This festive season, cook something simple yet stunning.

8. A community that cares Older persons with dementia need to be engaged in meaningful occupation, says Anthony Scerri.

Stanley

9. Away in a manger Malta’s first large mechanical crib is 70 years old.

10. Żmien sabiħ, għal min? Il-ferħ qatt mhu ovvju, anke f ’dawn iż-żminijiet, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

13. L-Antikrist Mattew Silta minn rumanz ġdid ta’ Tony C. Cutajar.

15. For the love of vintage As another year comes to an end, Senior Times and Bay Retro celebrate other years gone by but never forgotten.

16. ‘Tis the season to be jolly… or is it? A return to childhood can add happiness to Christmas, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

17. Balls and jingle bells Foreign football teams were the stars of Christmas past, says Carmel Baldacchino.

18. Man on a mission Fiona Vella meets Angelo Zahra, winner of the Award for Active Ageing.

20. One man and his Hillman Spiridione Deguara’s love of Hillman models has translated itself into beautiful restoration projects, Joe Busuttil from the Old Motors Club says.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2017

noStalĠiJa

Ibgħathieli bil-posta! Saviour Busuttil jirrakkonta lil bintu Fiona Vella kif kienu jitqassmu l-kartolini tal-Milied fil-passat.

“I

l-Milied ta’ dari kien inqas kummerċjali minn dak ta’ llum u dan huwa saħansitra evidenti minn dak li tirċievi fil-posta,” jirrakkuntali missieri Saviour Busuttil li qatta’ 37 sena jaħdem bħala pustier. Infatti f ’dawn l-aħħar snin, hekk kif jibda joqrob il-Milied, il-kaxxi tal-posta tagħna jintlew b’għadd ta’ rivisti u riklami, b’kompetizzjoni bejniethom biex iħajjruk tixtri lprodotti tagħhom. Ftit li xejn għadna nirċievu kartolini talMilied mingħand qrabatna u ħbiebna. Ġeneralment illum dawn l-awguri jaslu bil-fomm, bit-telefon, b’xi e-mail jew b’xi SMS fuq il-mowbajl. “Sa ftit tas-snin ilu kont għadni nibgħat il-kartolini talMilied lill-ġenituri tiegħi u lil ħuti kollha, avolja ħafna

minnhom kienu joqogħdu viċin tiegħi. U naturalment jien ukoll kont nirċievi kartolina tal-Milied mingħand kull wieħed u waħda minnhom. Hekk kienet titlob l-użanza. Għaldaqstant tista’ timmaġina l-volum kbir ta’ posta li kien jinħoloq fi żmien il-Milied. “Konna nkunu mifqugħin bix-xogħol, tant li wara li konna noħorġu nqassmu l-ittri matul il-ġurnata u nistrieħu ftit id-dar, konna nidħlu lura x-xogħol biex nissortjaw l-ittri. Ġieli domna sad-9pm għaddejjin sabiex insibu x-xogħol lest biex jitqassam għall-għada filgħodu. Żmien il-Milied kien l-uniku perjodu li konna naħdmu is-sahra fih. “Biex inlaħħqu mal-kwantità tal-posta, fi żmien il-Milied konna noħorġu nqassmu mat-8am. Konna nippakkjaw il-barżakki tagħna sa ruħ

ommhom u nerħulha nduru mat-triqat dar, dar. Minbarra l-ittri konna nqassmu anki xi pakketti iżda f ’każ li lpakketti jkunu kbar wisq, konna nħallu avviż ħalli dak li jkun imur jiġborhom milluffiċċju tal-posta.” Matul il-bqija tas-sena, isservizz tal-posta kien jagħti garanzija li ittra li tintbagħat qabel is-7am kienet tasal għand ir-riċevitur dakinhar stess. “Dan kien impossibbli li tiggarantih fi żmien il-Milied għalkemm konna nagħmlu ħilitna kollha biex il-posta tasal malajr kemm jista’ jkun,” ikompli missieri. “Konna nkunu konxji li ħafna kienu jkunu qed jistennewna bilħerqa. Sa 40 sena ilu, mhux kulħadd kellu telefon id-dar u l-posta kienet l-uniku mezz ta’ komunikazzjoni. Ngħidu aħna fost l-ittri ġieli kien ikun

Saviour Busuttil. RitRatt: Fiona Vella

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2017

NOSTALĠIJA

hemm noti tan-namrati li kienu jiktbu lil xulxin biex jifthemu fejn u fi x’ħin se jiltaqgħu. Mur fehmielhom din liż-żgħażagħ illum! “Meta l-internet kien għadu ineżistenti, kollox bil-posta kien jasal u għalhekk in-nies kellhom ċerta relazzjoni ta’ ħbiberija mal-pustier. Hekk kif induru l-kantuniera konna ndoqqu l-qanpiena tarrota ħalli n-nies jindunaw li wasalna. Imma kien ikun hemm ukoll min ikun qed jistenniena fil-bieb tad-dar tiegħu. Fil-Milied in-nies kienu jilqgħuna b’mod speċjali u jpattulna tas-servizz li konna nagħtuhom matul is-sena kollha. Ħafna kienu jippreparawlna xi grokk u jekk ma noqogħdux attenti, nispiċċaw immorru kuljum fis-sakra d-dar! Kien hemm min jagħtina wkoll xi ħaġa tal-flus u konna ndabbruha tajjeb f ’dawk il-ġranet. Kont tħossok apprezzat u allura x-xogħol kien jagħtik aktar sodisfazzjon. “Illum ċerti affarijiet inbidlu qatiegħ. Il-mezzi ta’ komunikazzjoni żdiedu u allura l-funzjoni tal-posta ma baqgħetx daqshekk assoluta. Ħafna nies illum jaħdmu, inkluż in-nisa, u allura ssib inqas nies fid-djar filgħodu. Hemm ukoll il-fatt li llum meta jiżżewwġu ‘l ulied mhux neċessarjament qed jibqgħu joqogħdu fl-istess raħal jew belt fejn twieldu. Dan qed ninnutah fiż-Żejtun hekk kif m’għadux jikber bl-istess rata ta’ qabel. “Inbidel ukoll it-tip ta’ bini u allura fejn dari il-pustier kien iħabbat bieb, bieb, dar, dar, illum jidħol ġol-entrata ta’ blokk ta’ appartamenti u jħalli l-ittri ġol-kaxxi mingħajr forsi qatt ma jara lir-riċevituri.

Saviour Busuttil (it-tieni mil-lemin fit-tieni ringiela) mal-kollegi waqt żjara mill-On. Wistin Abela.

“B’hekk jista’ jkun illi r-relazzjoni tan-nies mal-pustier ma baqgħetx dik li kienet. Madanakollu, jien li niftakar żminijiet oħra, għadni nilqa’ l-pustiera d-dar u ġieli noqgħod nitħaddet magħhom. Fi żmien il-Milied, kif ħaddieħor kien jagħmel miegħi, nagħtihom dik ix-xi ħaġa żgħira wkoll.” Missieri daħal jaħdem bħala pustier meta kellu 18 il-sena. “Iz-ziju Ċikku kien jaqra l-gazzetti kuljum u kien hu li qalli li kienu fetħu l-applikazzjonijiet għall-pustiera ġodda. Ta’ 16 il-sena temmejt l-edukazzjoni tiegħi u bħal għadd ta’ nies oħra spiċċajt nirreġistra. Kien ikun hemm ringieli sħaħ ta’ mijiet ta’ nies jirreġistraw għax ma tantx kien hemm xogħol. Biex tilħaq pustier kien ikollok toqgħod għall-eżamijiet bil-miktub fil-matematika, l-ingliż u l-ġografija u ridt tiġi minn ta’ quddiem. Meta dħalt jien kienu applikaw madwar 170 u għażlu 50. “Dħalt naħdem fl-uffiċċju tal-posta taż-Żejtun li dak

iż-żmien kien ikopri wkoll lirħula ta’ Ħal-Għaxaq, il-Gudja, Marsaxlokk u Birżebbuġa. L-ewwel 15 kont tqattagħhom titgħallem ir-rotta li tkun ġiet assenjata lilek. Kont tmur issegwi pustier ieħor ħalli tara kif jaħdem. F’dawk il-ġranet kont mistenni titgħallem lismijiet tat-toroq u tkun taf fejn huma d-djar. Jien ma kelli l-ebda problema f ’dan ilqasam peress li minn tfuliti kont nixtieq insir pustier. Kont affaxxinat bit-toroq u bl-ismijiet tagħhom u għalhekk kont diġà qbadt nitgħallimhom blamment. Imma xorta waħda kien hemm triqat jew sqaqien fiż-Żejtun li ssorprendewni għax qatt ma kont dħalt fihom qabel. Aktar il-quddiem imbagħad kelli l-opportunità li nsir naf it-triqat ta’ partijiet ta’ Ħal-Għaxaq u tal-Gudja peress li kont inqassam hemm ukoll. “Ix-xogħol mill-ewwel għoġobni. Toqgħod iddur fittoroq u l-isqaqien u tgħid ara das-sqaq qatt ma rajtu qabel! U n-nies kienu dħulin. Kienu

Saviour Busuttil mal-kollegi waqt mument ta’ mistrieħ (l-ewwel mix-xellug).

jħobbuna ħafna u jafdaw ħafna fina. Uħud meta jirċievu xi ittra kienu jistaqsuni ‘Ta’ x’hiex inhi?’ U ngħidilhom talincome tax jew tal-Awstralja per eżempju. “Kif ngħidilhom li talAwstralja kien ikun hemm min jistaqsini mingħand min għax kien ikollhom ħafna tfal hemm. U ġieli kien hemm min kien idaħħalni d-dar, jagħmilli belgħa tè, jpoġġi miegħi malmejda u joqgħod jismagħni naqralu l-ittra.

Konna nippakkjaw il-barżakki tagħna sa ruħ ommhom u nerħulha nduru mattoroq, dar, dar “Fil-bidu pustier ġdid ma kienx ikollu r-rotta tiegħu imma kien iservi bħala sostitut sabiex jagħmel tajjeb għal meta pustiera oħra jkollhom bżonn jieħdu l-leave jew ikunu ma jifilħux. Iż-Żejtun kien maqsum f ’erbgħa sezzjonijiet u ftit ftit kont tasal sakemm titgħallem ir-rotot kollha. Wara 5 snin kont tieqaf tissostitwixxi u jkollok ir-rotta tiegħek. “Ix-xogħol ta’ pustier kien jinkludi li jinġabru l-ittri mill-kaxxi tal-ittri pubbliċi kollha tażŻejtun, il-Gudja, Marsaxlokk u Birżebbuġa fis-7am u jittieħdu l-uffiċċju. Imbagħad l-ittri kollha kienu jitqassmu skont

id-distrett tagħhom. Dawk l-ittri li kienu se jitqassmu mill-posta taż-Żejtun kienu jinżammu filwaqt li l-oħrajn kienu jintbagħtu ma’ vann li jiġi jiġborhom biex jeħodhom fl-uffiċċju prinċipali tal-Belt. L-ittri li jinżammu kienu jiġu rranġati skont ir-rotot u kif inlestu noħorġu nqassmuhom fid-djar. Kollox kellu jitqassam dakinhar stess u kif tlesti stajt tmur lejn id-dar. Min kien imur idur bil-mixi u min bir-rota u għal dawk ir-residenti li kienu joqogħdu fl-imbiegħed, bħallinħawi tal-bajja ta’ San Tumas u Ħal-Far, il-pustier kien imur bilmutur. Għal xi l-10am kien jasal vann ieħor mill-Belt li kien iġib il-posta li jkunu rċevew l-uffiċċji tal-posta l-oħra.” “Qattgħajt 22 sena niġri bir-rota u nqassam l-ittri. Bħal kull xogħol hemm is-sabiħ u l-ikraħ tiegħu. Fis-sajf kont tbati mis-sħana u mill-qilla tax-xemx imma fix-xitwa kien wisq agħar għax kont tixxarrab jekk ikun il-maltemp u tirriskja li tlaqqgħat xi riħ. Kien hemm ukoll problema bil-klieb tan-nies li ġieli kienu jħebbu għalik kif jarawk riesaq. Darba minnhom gidimni kelb u ċarratli lqalziet tal-uniformi. “Wara 22 sena ngħatajt promozzjoni u lħaqt mail officer u xogħoli kien fuq ġewwa biss. Meta għaddew 10 snin oħra lħaqt mail inspector u hemm ġejt responsabbli mill-uffiċċju tal-posta taż-Żejtun. Matul is-snin rajt diversi żviluppi jseħħu fosthom l-introduzzjoni ta’ pustiera nisa li qabel kienu jiġu evitati biex ma jkunx hemm taħlit bejn nisa u rġiel. Finalment ta’ 55 sena ħriġt bil-pensjoni.” Illum missieri jgħodd is-70 sena iżda għalkemm għaddew 15 il-sena minn mindu waqaf

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2017

NEWS

Saviour Busuttil mal-kollegi (it-tieni mil-lemin ringiela ta’ quddiem).

mix-xogħol, għadu jiftakar ċar l-ismijiet kollha tat-triqat talinħawi li ħadem fihom, in-numri tad-djar u saħansitra l-kunjomijiet tas-sidien tagħhom ukoll. “Sal-bieraħ iltqajt ma’ waħda ġo ħanut li kellha madwar 40 sena. X’ħin ratni qaltli ‘Tiftakar kemm kont tagħtina posta?’ Għall-ewwel m’għarafthiex imma meta semmietli t-triq fejn kienet toqgħod, stajt ngħidilha

n-numru tal-bieb tagħhom u lkunjom tal-familja. Stagħġbet li kont għadni niftakar wara tant snin!” Meta tkun qattgħajt daqstant żmien taħdem bħala pustier diffiċli tinsa l-informazzjoni kollha li tkun immemorizzajt. Missieri jistqarr li kultant għadu joħlom li qiegħed idur bir-rota madwar it-toroq iqassam l-ittri lin-nies.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

AGEING

Never too late to start

There are many older adults who do volunteering on an unofficial or informal basis.

Volunteering is the act of providing a service to someone else for no financial gain. In the season of giving, Charlotte Stafrace explores how volunteering can help the elderly.

’ve met quite a few young people who volunteer their time and energy in various fields: in sport, for example, coaching the younger set of footballers; in the arts, leading a group of young people with various disabilities towards an artistic project, school staff helping to put a production together; or at our festas, where volunteering is the backbone of our village festivities, year in year out. There are many more examples out there, of what essentially is an intrinsic component of any society. But I’ve also come across quite a few older adults still chipping in towards a cause which they are affiliated to or have a strong affinity towards – through their religious or social connections. So, when do people start to think about volunteering in the first place? There are quite a few studies which map out when it is most likely that a person does any volunteering. I think it’s personal, influenced possibly by your background, upbringing, time available and religion. But I also think that why one decides to volunteer changes throughout the fabric of life. Why you determine to reach out to others in your thirties is not the same as when you are retired. I believe people volunteer mostly because of a genuine want to help but

also because they feel good about doing good. The benefits from volunteering, as identified in literature, are vast and difficult to determine. Volunteering can play a vital role in healthy ageing. When one remains active both physically and also connected within a community, it can have a positive impact on social, physical and emotional well-being. It can provide improved self-esteem, vitality and even longevity. Some state that good health predicts whether one takes the plunge to do volunteering, while others argue that volunteering improves health. This suggests that, at the very least, volunteers feel healthier through participation in volunteer activity. Could both be true? We are predisposed to take up volunteering in our later years not only based on whether we are still healthy but also on other factors, such as education and religious affiliation. Some even say that being married, socially active or experienced, can help us to feel ‘bold’

Volunteering can play a vital role in healthy ageing

enough to volunteer as we grow older. I’m not sure whether we have any local statistics about this sector – what I do know is that a lot of volunteering is still channelled through religious or nongovernmental organisations. The first time I met someone elderly doing volunteering on a regular basis, was in a day care centre. Aged 80, Carmen told me she was rushing off as she had another appointment. I offered to give her a lift to where she was going. She told me that twice a week, she assisted mass at the old people’s home, where according to her “they are really frail and can’t move about much. I try to make them laugh”, she chuckled’ “till now at least, my legs can still hold me up, and it’s good to have something regular to do. Besides I get to have a cup of tea with a different set of people”. There are also many other older adults who do volunteering on an unofficial or informal basis – like looking out for a disabled neighbour, or making sure they have food to eat. I have also seen older adults in a care setting, looking out for the new resident, in a bid to alleviate the loneliness and confusion that can hit at any time, but is very prevalent at a time of ‘moving in’ to care. It seems there are also added benefits to organisations in enticing or trying to entice older volunteers into a formalised programme.

Research has found various reasons why someone would want to utilise elderly volunteers: “maturity, availability, skills, loyalty, and pure numbers” (The Institute for Volunteering Research UK). Older volunteers could not only be more flexible in their schedules but could also come from an era based on ‘commitment’. They are also seen to be more likely to be content doing voluntary work and to pursue it. With the numbers of the aged growing continuously, and with benefits all around, volunteering points to a winwin situation. Perhaps addressing new retirees and highlighting the opportunities connected with volunteering needs to be more formally and regularly organised with schemes put in place, and information and educational sessions provided to highlight that giving is also receiving, and that older adults are still able and capable of contributing to society at large with years of wisdom and experience. Just find the causes and issues that matter to you, and go out and make a difference. It’s never too late. Charlotte Stafrace runs ActiveAge Malta, and is currently involved in a project called Making Memories, with persons with memory loss, funded by the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

RECIPE

Christmas roast This festive season, cook something simple yet stunning. ROAST TURKEY WITH CLEMENTINE BUTTER You need 5kg turkey 1 onion, halved For the salt mix 5 bay leaves 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaf, plus extra for scattering 1 tsp black peppercorn 85g sea salt 1 orange, zest

Method Salt the turkey from two days before. If you have a spice grinder, tip in all the ingredients for the salt mix and grind to make a wet salt. If you are using a pestle and mortar, grind the herbs and pepper together, then add the salt and orange zest, and grind well again. Set aside.

For the clementine and bay butter 100g butter 1 clementine, zest and juice Splash of sherry Thyme sprig 2 bay leaves For the gravy 4 tbsp flour 250ml dry sherry Water

Rinse the turkey and pat dry with kitchen paper. Sit the turkey in its roasting tin and use the salt mix to season the turkey generously all over. Put the turkey breast-side up in the tin, cover with cling film and leave in the fridge. To make the clementine and bay butter, simply mash all the ingredients

together in a bowl with some seasoning and set aside. Remove the turkey from the fridge and rinse off all the salt really well. Pat it dry, rinse out the roasting tin, then sit the turkey back in the tin and leave at room temperature for about an hour, uncovered. Heat oven to 180°C. You need to calculate a cooking time of 40 minutes per kilogram for the first four kilogram of the turkey, then 45 minutes for every kilogram after that. Rub the turkey all over with most of the butter – no need to season. Add the neck to the tin with the onion. Cover the tin loosely with foil and roast for the calculated cooking time.

For the final half hour, remove the foil, baste the turkey, scatter with the reserved thyme and orange zest, and increase the oven temp to 200°C When the turkey is beautifully brown and cooked through, remove from the oven and leave to rest on a warm platter covered loosely with foil and a tea towel. To make your gravy fresh, pour off most of the fat but leave the juices in the tin and put it on a low heat. Stir in the flour to a paste. Pour in the sherry and sizzle for one minute, then gradually add 850ml water and simmer until you have a thick gravy – make sure to scrape up the sides of the tin to release any bits. Sieve the gravy into a saucepan and reheat to serve.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

AGEING

A community that cares Older persons with dementia need to be engaged in meaningful occupation, says Anthony Scerri.

t is well established that the number of older persons with dementia and cognitive impairment is set to increase dramatically in the coming years. Coupled with the increase in population ageing, the number of older persons with cognitive impairment and dementia worldwide is expected to double every 20 years to reach 74.7 million by 2030 and 131.5 million in 2050. Similarly, in Malta, it is estimated that currently there are around 6,500 persons with dementia in Malta but this is expected to rise to 10,000 by 2030. This increase in the number of persons with dementia necessitates a reorganisation of care services to cater for the specific needs of these people and their family members. Persons with dementia require five psychological needs: the need for inclusion, comfort, identity, attachment and meaningful occupation. While older persons with dementia may have cognitive limitations that impair them from engaging in some of the activities that they used to perform, they still feel the need to be occupied and have a purpose in life. Thus, there is an increased recognition nowadays of engaging persons with dementia in meaningful activities. There are various meaningful activities that persons with dementia can still be able to be involved in such as music, reminiscence, gardening, recreational therapy, crafts, exercise, and art therapy. Although for many years, these activities have been mainly considered as a way to reduce behavioural and psychological symptoms (such as agitation or anxiety) and thus reduce carer burden, there is increasing evidence of their benefit to the persons with dementia themselves. While engaging in these activities, persons with dementia have been found to become more alert, more socially engaged and in the end, improve their subjective well-being. In view of their benefit, the National Strategy for Dementia in the Maltese Islands, Empowering Change, has recommended that persons with dementia living in community as well as those residing in long-term care residential homes are given the opportunity to remain activity and be provided with meaningful occupation. It is sometimes wrongly assumed that older persons with dementia living in the community are not ‘fit’ enough to engage in activities that are organised for older persons with noncognitive difficulties and are at times excluded from attending activities

There are various meaningful activities that persons with dementia can still be able to be involved in such as those available at local day centres. This can also happen in their own homes where family members do not give them enough opportunity to continue engaging in some of the activities and hobbies they enjoyed doing, for fear that they of hurting themselves or others. Older persons with dementia especially those with mild cognitive impairment should be given the choice to engage in activities they enjoyed attending to. Likewise, they should be given the choice to continue attending activities organised at the local day centres. However, these activities may become increasingly challenging to follow for persons with dementia in moderate to severe stages. A practical alternative for these people and their family members are dementia activity centres. There are currently two dementia activity centres in Malta, one found at

St Vincent de Paul Residence and the other one at Dar Padova in Għajnsielem, Gozo. The aim of these centres is ‘to help to reduce caregiver stress, while providing therapy which help people with dementia to stay active’. Without doubt these centres require the need of carers that are trained in dementia care and that have the necessary enthusiasm and creativity. Activities can be either individualised or in group, although evidence shows that activities that are personalized are more effective. Thus, carers need to be familiar with the person’s life history, past hobbies and interests and provide activities that are meaningful and engaging for the person. Moreover, staff need to have the appropriate skill mix and organisational resources and support. The engagement of meaningful occupation is equally needed in residents with dementia living in long-term care settings. Lack of engagement in meaningful activities can result in boredom and frustration leading to negative feelings such as depression, apathy, anxiety or agitation. Attempts are being made to instil active ageing activities for residents in long-term care settings including for persons with dementia. However, this requires a paradigm shift in many residential homes – from the traditional task-centred approach that is focused primarily on the physical needs, to one that is more person-centred and caters for the complex biopsychosocial needs of the older residents.

While policy directives may indicate what needs to be changed, staff working in residential care need to be better supported to sustain this transition. This can be achieved by empowering staff in residential homes to be directly involved in the development of these meaningful activities rather than dictating what needs to be done by the management. Secondly, staff needs to be trained about the importance of meaningful occupation and about the challenges that these residents face during the course of the day. Consequently, staff may become more sensitised to the experience of living with dementia and to their psychological needs rather than remain focused only on the burden associated in caring for these residents. Finally, in order to maintain staff commitment, residential care staff need to be better recognized and valued for their contribution. Engaging older persons with dementia in meaningful activities is one of the ways of showing respect to these people and remain included in society. By focusing on the moment of joyful activity, providing meaningful occupation also helps in maintaining the person’s identity as well as keeping strong relationships that are so crucial in dementia care. Dr Anthony Scerri PhD (Gerontology) is a lecturer at the Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

CRIBS

Away in a manger

PHOTO: JONATHAN BORG

Malta’s first large mechanical crib is 70 years old.

n 1947, the late Bishop Emmanuel Galea built Malta’s first large mechanical crib, recreating the nativity of Jesus Christ at the Institute and orphanage of Jesus of Nazareth in Żejtun. After several weeks of dedicated work, the crib was inaugurated during the festive season. His nephew Paul Pavia provided the mechanical works for the figures. The crib was built with whatever material was available in the post-war era. Since paper offers the possibility of building a crib with very few expenses and a great deal of

rewarding work, newspaper and glue were used. Eventually, the platform of the crib was constructed from several pieces of assorted wood such as random parts of broken doors and windows found on the streets. This crib, which is now 70 years old, has attracted many tourists and Maltese over the years. It depicts the story of the nativity and other scenes from the five Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. The site of Angel Gabriel announcing the birth of Jesus to the Virgin Mary is displayed in the forefront of the left window of the crib,

whereas in the background Our Lady is depicted meeting her cousin Elizabeth. Through the main window in the centre, one can admire the graceful tableau of the birth of Jesus in a grotto at Bethlehem, while the three

Wise Men and several shepherds adore the newly born Divine Child. The third window opens upon the scene of the presentation of the Child Jesus in the Temple at Jerusalem. Finally, Joseph and Mary, holding her child in her

arms, are shown fleeing to Egypt on a donkey. The crib is open from Sunday, December 17 to Thursday, January 4 from 9.30am till 12pm and from 4 to 7pm. During this period, there will also be a bazaar in the adjacent hall.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

OPINJONI

Żmien sabiħ, għal min?

Il-ferħ qatt mhu ovvju, anke f’dawn iż-żminijiet, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

insabu lejn tmiem sena li, bħal kull sena offrietilna tant tajjeb u forsi tant anqas tajjeb ukoll. Qed nersqu wkoll lejn żmien ta’ ċelebrazzjoni, ta’ ferħ, ta’ għaqda, meta l-familja tinġabar, tieqaf ftit mir-rutina ta’ ġenn u tieħu sura aktar umana. Il-Milied hu l-isbaħ ċelebrazzjoni annwali tagħna l-Maltin. Jum mistenni b’tant ħerqa miż-żgħar, aktarx għar-rigali li tant ikunu ilhom joħolmu bihom, pero’ daqstant ieħor mill-kbar li jfittxu festini u attivitajiet, bosta drabi f ’ambjenti ta’ familja estiża. Mhux kulħadd iżda jkun f ’dawn l-ambjenti. Hawn min jinsab waħdu, anke jekk mhux anzjan. Għandna ħafna fostna li jinsabu tassew waħedhom, anke jekk imdawra b’tant ‘ħbieb’ madwarhom. Uħud oħrajn li proprju din is-sena, dan ix-xahar, din il-ġimgħa setgħu tilfu lil xi ħadd għażiż għalihom. Ma nistax ninsa’ hawn lill-missjunarju Għawdxi, Monsinjur Ġorġ Grima li proprju miet ħesrem ix-xahar li għadda f ’eta pjutost tenera. Qassis ta’ veru li ħalla l’art twelidu, lill-istess qraba u ħbieb tiegħu biex kif qal Kristu, mar jitma lil min hu bil-ġuħ, ilibbes lil min hu għeri, iżur lil dawk l-aktar morda u jsabbar lil dawk fis-solitudni. Dan iżda mhux jingħad biex aħna ma niċċelebrawx, ma neħdux gost b’din it-tifkira tant għażiża għalina. Lanqas biex ma napprezzawx dawk l-aktar mumenti sbieħ li se nkunu qed ngħaddu ma’ familjari u ħbieb tagħna. Qed ngħid dan għaliex għandna kultura fejn bħal donnu sar kollox jitqies normali. Meta fil-fatt, normali ma baqa proprju xejn. Ftit tal-jiem ilu kont qed inwassal lil binti Kristina liskola. Kienet qed tirrakkuntali x’għamlet il-jum ta’ qabel biex setgħet tlaħħaq ma’ kollox. Deherli li fil-lista sħiħa li semmiet kienet ħalliet xi ħaġa barra. Is-soltu, ta’ importanza assoluta għalija. Staqsejt lil Kristina l-jum ta’ qabel kenitx kielet u hi, pronta pronta wieġbet, “Mhux ovvja!” Wasalna proprju hawn. Kollox sar; “Mhux ovvja!” Hekk hu. Kollox sar ovvju, sakemm

Ejjew, meta jasal il-jum magħruf għar-riżoluzzjonijiet, naħsbu ftit kif tassew nistgħu nagħmlu dik id-differenza.

Għandna kultura fejn bħal donnu sar kollox jitqies normali ix-xorti ma tmissx xi darba ħażin lili jew lilek. Spjegajtilha li fid-dinja m’hawn xejn li hu ovvju għal kulħadd. Miljuni kbar ta’ trabi u tfal madwar iddinja, l-ovvju tagħhom hu li ma jieklux. Jgħixu f ’faqar indeskrivibbli. Għandhom fuqhom mard li ħafna drabi, bi ftit ċenteżmi tal-ewro, faċilment jista’ jitfejjaq. U dan minkejja li jistgħu qed jgħixu f ’pajjiż b’riżorsi naturali kbar. Anke jekk ftit mili biss bogħod minnhom jeżistu ftit komunitajiet multi-milljunarji, bħal donnu għal dawn, m’hemmx lanqas injezzjoni jew pillola biex jieħdu saħħithom. Aktar u aktar li jirċievu l-ħobżna ta’ kuljum! Tassew, xejn m’hu ovvju. Nitgħallmu dan, biss, u forsi, meta nikbru, nimmaturaw. Forsi meta jkun tard wisq. L-istess mhux ovvju l-ferħ. Kif tista’ tippretendi li għax ilMilied, dawk madwarek ilkoll għandek issibhom ferħanin? Faċli ħafna ssir taf. Tkellem mal-persuna, isimgħu, ifhmu, apprezza l-uġiegħ tiegħu,

poġġi ruħek floku, daqs li kieku kont int f ’dik is-sitwazzjoni, u ipprova ifhem li kieku dak ġara lilek, minkejja li hu żmien ta’ ferħ, int kontx tkun ferħan jew le. Anke l-istess Kristu u lgħeżież tiegħu, ommu u missieru ġarbu dan. Kellna tendenza li llum qed tersaq lejn it-tmiem, dik li nibagħtu lkartolini lil xulxin. Ħafna drabi dawn aktarx kien ikollhom xeni jew episodji tannatività. Xenarji mill-isbaħ, tpinġijiet tal-ħolm li tassew iwassluk tħoss li għandek tifraħ bit-twelid ta’ dik it-tarbija, Ġesu’. Pero’ jekk tħares sew lejn dik ix-xena, għandek tinduna li din ma tirrifletti lebda ambjent ta’ ferħ. Għaliex? Ġesù Kristu twieled f ’għar ġewwa Betlehem. L-iskrittura tgħid li fil-qrib tat-tqala ta’ Marija, Ġużeppi ħaseb jgħabbi lħmara fi triqthom biex isibu kenn, almenu għal matul il-lejl. L-istorja tgħid li mxew fuq li mxew u ħabbtu l-bibien ta’ ma nafx kemm-il post jippruvaw isibu post sigur, bogħod mill-kesħa ta’ barra, speċjalment fil-possibbiltà ta’ twelid imminenti. Minkejja dan, Ġesù, Alla, sid l-univers u l-kreatur divin baqa’ barra m’ommu u missieru, bl-irdoss li setgħu sostnew naqra ta’ baqra u

ħmara. Twieled f ’maxtura, fuq it-tiben. Mhux talli hekk. F’ħafna mill-kartolini nsibu dettal ta’ xi ragħja bil-merħliet tagħhom, kif ukoll dawk ittlett slaten maġi. Niftakru li dawn kienu mitluba minn Erodi jispjegawlu fejn kien jinstab eżatt dan il-wild ġdid. Għal xejn għajr biex joqtlu! Tidher sitwazzjoni kontrastanti. Jidher simboliżmu mpitter u sabiħ kemm trid jirrappreżenta ferħ meta waqt li tħares bejn il-linji tinduna li dawn l-imsejkna kienu qed jgħixu traġedja! Traġedja li qed jgħixu bl-istess qies illum ukoll, dawk li jħallsu ġidhom (il-ftit li għandhom) biex jirkbu dgħajsa u f ’maltemp kbir, f ’perikli tal-biża qed jivjaġġjaw. Qed jerħulha lejn artna u artijiet oħra bit-tama li huma wkoll isibu min jilqagħhom, itihom kenn, juri ħniena magħhom. Fejn hu l-ovvju tal-għażiża binti f ’dan il-kuntest? Fejn hu l-ovvju li d-dinja plastika madwarna, ir-radju, it-televiżjoni, is-siti soċjali li f ’ġieh il-konsumeriżmu jinteressahom biss u xejn aktar milli juruna modi varji kif nistgħu inberqbqu flusna f ’dan iż-żmien sabiħ tal-Milied biex, ‘suppost’, imbagħad, (jiġifieri bla sold fil-but) inħossuna ferħanin!

Fejn hu l-ispirtu tal-Milied meta f ’dawn iż-żmenijiet, kull ġenitur tal-affari tiegħu, kull min b’xi mod responsabbli ta’ xi ħadd vulnerabbli, ilkoll fuq ix-xwiek, bla paċenzja, nistennew lil uliedna, ħbibna jaslu lura d-dar qawwijin u sħaħ? Għax l-ispirtu f ’dawn il-festi sar abbundanti ħafna, ikkunsmat ħafna, iżda mhux l-aktar dak tal-ferħ, il-paċi u l-kuntentizza. Aktarx dak fil-fliexken... Ma rridx ninstema negattiv. Bla dubju li le. Iżda ejjew, meta jasal il-jum magħruf għarriżoluzzjonijiet, qabel nibdew infajru x’se naqbdu nagħmlu u ma nagħmlux, naħsbu ftit, nirriflettu naqra, naraw aħna stess, jien l-ewwel wieħed fejn ninsabu, u naraw kif aħna, u dawk madwarna, tassew nistgħu nkunu aħjar, tassew nistgħu nkunu differenti, tassew nistgħu nagħmlu dik id-differenza, f ’soċjetà fejn kollox sar biss, ovvju! Nixtieq lilkom ilkoll, ilfamiljari tagħkom u l-kulħadd, il-Milied it-tajjeb u sena ġdida mimlija saħħa, imħabba, kuntentizza u paċi f ’qalbna. Tonio Bonello huwa l-editur ta’ Veterani, pubblikazzjoni ta’ kull xahar maħruġa mitTaqsima Informazzjoni u Komunikazzjoni tad-Direttorat għall-Anzjanità Attiva u Kura fil-Komunità.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

RELIĠJON

Mill-Milied sa San Stiefnu Il-Milied ifakkarna li Alla lest li jibqa’ jieħu paċenzja bina, jgħid Dun Jonathan Farrugia.

iċembru jġib miegħu l-festa tal-Milied, it-twelid tal-Iben ta’ Alla. L-għada niċċelebraw il-mewt (vjolenti) ta’ San Stiefnu, l-ewwel wieħed fost l-insara li xerred demmu għal dak li jemmen fih. Huma kważi żewġ festi opposti: waħda ċelebrazzjoni ta’ twelid ta’ tarbija (li dejjem iġġib il-ferħ), l-oħra tifkira tal-qtil makabru ta’ wieħed mid-dixxipli ta’ din it-tarbija. Iżda l-mewt ta’ Stiefnu wkoll hija okkażjoni ta’ ferħ għax hu nistgħu ngħidu li wera t-triq lil tant xhieda ta’ warajh li wkoll għażlu li jitilfu ħajjithom basta jżommu mal-prinċipji tagħhom. Dan huwa wieħed mill-paradossi li tippreżentalna l-fidi nisranija: mhux biss il-paradoss fil-kliem ta’ Ġesù “min jitlef ħajtu għall-imħabba tiegħi, isibha” (Mt 16,25), imma anke l-paradoss li l-ferħ ta’ festa bħalma hi l-Milied jiġi estiż bil-ferħ ta’ martirju. Forsi huwa ħabba l-viċinanza ta’ dawn iż-żewġ festi li l-Maltin tal-imgħoddi ħolqu l-espressjoni “mill-Milied sa San Stiefnu!” Din tingħad b’referenza għal xi proponiment li jsir imma li malajr jinkiser. Jista’ jkun ta’ kull tip. Xi ħadd li jipproponi li ma jiekolx aktar ħelu u kif jiftaħ il-friġġ isib dak id-daqxejn kejk talMilied u jdamdmu. Jew xi ħadd li jiddeċiedi li jieqaf jidgħi imma kif joħroġ mill-bieb taddar u jsib il-karozza mibruxa jniżżel ilqaddisin kollha mill-ġenna. Jew inkella xi ħadd li wasal fi stat f ’ħajtu li jiddependi minn ħaddieħor u li dejjem igerger għax jippretendi aktar minnhom, jipprova juri aktar apprezzamnt, imma kif iġibulu t-tè kiesaħ jerġa’ jibda l-litanija ta’ qrid u kritika.... Nistgħu ngħidu li hija espressjoni li tirrifletti difett li għandna aħna lkoll: ir-rieda tajba li ntejbu l-qagħda tagħna mhix nieqsa (għax il-proponimenti nagħmluhom!) imma l-perseveranza biex inżommu ma’ dak li nippropnu, spiss hija nieqsa (appuntu għax jirnexxielna nżommuha “mill-Milied sa San Stiefnu” biss!). Issib min jgħidlek, bl-onestà kollha, “nipprova, imma nitlef il-paċenzja!” Ejjew nieqfu u naħsbu ftit fuq dan kollu. X’jiġri li kieku Alla jitlef il-paċenzja magħna? Mhux se nidħol fil-cliché ta’ dari u ngħid “jibgħat lil ta’ denbu twil biex ikaxkarna l-infern”. Alla tagħna mhux Alla tal-vendetti. Wieħed mill-kuntrasti fundamentali bejn Alla tal-insara u d-divinitajiet tar-reliġjonijiet arkaiċi tal-qedem kien proprju dan: l-allat tal-Griegi u tar-Rumani kienu mpinġija bħala allat għajjurin għal xulxin u għal bnedmin u għal kull ħmerija jaraw xi flaġelli jistgħu jibgħatu fuq l-art biex jikkastigaw lill-bnedmin. Alla tal-insara huwa Missier li juri l-kura lejn uliedu b’żewġ modi mill-aktar essenzjali: l-imħabba u d-dixxiplina.

Alla ma jibgħatx kastigi lill-bnedmin biex ipattilhom ta’ dak li jagħmlu, imma jippermetti li fl-iżvilupp tal-istorja tagħhom jiġu mumenti meta jkollhom iħallsu tal-azzjonijiet ħżiena tagħhom. Il-“paċenzja” ta’ Alla nistgħu ngħidu li tidher ukoll fil-festa importanti li niċċelebraw fl-aħħar ġranet tas-sena – it-twelid ta’ Ibnu. It-tifkira ta’ kull sena li Alla bagħat lil Ibnu biex isalvana għandna tfakkarna ħaġa: li Hu dejjem lest itini ċans, li minkejja l-waqgħat u

Xi tgħidu jekk għal dal-Milied nagħtu rigal lilna nfusna u nippruvaw nikkontrollaw ftit aktar il-paċenzja

t-tradimenti tagħna, minkejja li forsi għal żmien twil inwarrbuh u noħduha kontrih, xorta waħda jibqa’ jfakkarna ta’ kull sena li Ibnu ġie fid-dinja biex ilkoll kemm aħna fl-aħħar ta’ ħajjitna mmorru mill-ġdid fil-post li kien ħaseb għalina fil-bidu u fejn kien jgħix il-bniedem qabel ma dineb. Il-festa tal-Milied tiġi għall-ferħ, għarrigali, għall-ikliet u biex ngħaddu l-ħin flimkien... imma mhux biss. L-ewwel u qabel kollox tiġi biex niftakru li Alla lest li jibqa’ jieħu paċenzja bina, li l-paċenzja tiegħu ma tibdiex fil-Milied u tispiċċa nhar San Stiefnu. U li jekk xi darba jew oħra taqbiżlu għax vera nkunu esaġerajna, xorta waħda lest li jibda mill-ġdid daqs li kieku qatt ma għamilnielu xejn. U dan ma jurihulniex biss fil-Milied, imma jurihulna ta’ kuljum bil-preżenza ta’ Ibnu fl-Ewkaristija u fil-maħfra li hu jagħti lil kull min jitlobhielu fil-qrar. Xi spunt nistgħu nieħdu għalina minn dan kollu? Żgur li lkoll kemm aħna għandna dawk il-persuni jew dawk iċ-ċirkus-

tanzi li kif inxommuhom resqin lejna mill-ewwel immorru fuq l-automatic pilot u l-livell tal-paċenzja jinżel. Xi tgħidu kieku għal dan il-Milied nagħtu rigal lilna nfusna li fih nippruvaw insaħħu r-rieda tajba tagħna għal aktar kontroll f ’dawn iċ-ċirkustanzi? Bil-Malti ngħidu “bniedem avżat, nofsu armat”: jekk aħna nafu li hemm persuni u ċirkustanzi li jġagħluna nitilfuha, nistgħu nippruvaw inkunu dejjem lesti għalihom biex meta jippreżentaw ruħhom quddiemna nkunu kapaċi – almenu għal ftit aktar missoltu – inżommu l-kontroll u ma nitilfux id-decorum. Sforz hekk jista’ anke jwassalna li ma nibqgħux inħarsu lejn dawn in-nies jew ċirkustanzi b’mod superfiċjali, imma naslu biex nidħlu taħt il-qoxra u, minjaf, abbli nsibu xi ħaġa pożittiva hemm ukoll. Mela ejjew nippruvaw, u min jaf forsi xi darba l-paċenza tagħna tkun kapaċi żżommu flok mill-Milied sa San Stiefnu, minn San Stiefnu sal-Milied! Il-Milied it-tajjeb.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1

32. Nobleman (4) 33. Trap (5) 34. Spanish dish (6) 35. Strangle (8) 36. Go back on a promise (6)

7 8

EASY CROSSWORD

15 17

23 31

DOWN 1. Board game (5) 2. Room’s lower surface (5) 3. Slay (4) 4. Lasses (5) 5. Ooze (4) 6. Mass departure (6) 9. Assassin (3,3) 11. Popular pet (3) 12. Bereaved wife (5) 15. Lyric poem (3) 16. Skill (3) 18. Of the stars (6) 20. Inert gas (5) 21. Lower limb (3) 22. Chew and swallow (3) 23. Nullify (6) 25. Tree (3) 28. Address the public (5) 30. Boy’s name (5) 31. Native American tent (5) 32. Otherwise (4) 33. Pimple (4)

34 35

ACROSS 4. Rodents having a name for spitefulness (6) 7. Where to make honourable love to a girl (8) 8. Sissy’s room for the weekend (6) 10. To fall over him could be fatal (5) 13. Had to go out East with the boss (4) 14. Finish with some skill (4) 15. The sheer size of the master’s swollen head (4) 16. Could it give you a bit of a fright on the road? (3) 17. Start by being honest (4) 19. Mark’s dog? (4) 21. Not one in a hundred, strangely, could be a Parliamentarian! (9) 23. Go on the rota (4) 24. Handiest of tube stations (4) 26. Could you call one a mini? (3) 27. He may have a chapter to himself (4) 29. Could you credit a sailor catching one? (4) 32. One on the flighty side? (4) 33. Prop up a broken-down horse (5) 34. Discreditable charges? (6) 35. Was this style of bowling such sweat? (8) 36. Gets upset about half the food being starchy stuff (6) DOWN 1. Informal girl, very stylish, at the King’s Head (5) 2. Smith’s property under the hammer? (5) 3. In music, does it mean you’ve left three notes out? (4) 4. Divine females get some of you in a terrible mess (5) 5. Prepare to shoot what may be shot (4) 6. Cried sadly upon finishing last, would you believe? (6) 9. More than one permit is acceptable (6) 11. Fifty-one pence? What cheek! (3) 12. Basically, the shop has one (5) 13. A womanly weapon (7) 15. Old boys of the same name (3) 16. A famous sculptor took him in (3) 18. Know-all put out about the terrible din (6) 20. A little area for a quiet chat, maybe (5) 21. A letter from Ruby at the massage parlour? (3) 22. She’s the party type (3) 23. Latent flair? (6) 25. A long way to rise in the air force (3) 28. Follow in a manner almost unseen (5) 30. Nonsense like duty lists (5) 31. Looks delighted at the strong support (5) 32. It can be quite a blow (4) 33. The woman had been dropped (4) NOVEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 1. Crust 6. Sport 9. Tri-VI-al 10. Car-Ry 11. Cat-CH 12. Milky (way) 13. Related 15. Get 17. A-dam 18. Angel-a 19. Being 20. C-hives 22. Tire 24. Hen 25. Bet-wee-n 26. V-it-al 27. Ski-E-d 28. Angie 29. Seating 30. Beats 31. Death. DOWN: 2. Rear-Ed 3. Stream 4. Try 5. A-void 6. Sacking 7. Play 8. R-acheL 12. Me-Des 13. Ran-ch 14. Lat-i-n 15. Genie 16. Ta-Ken 18. Angel 19. BeSid-es 21. Heck-le 22. Twin-ge 23. Res-is-t 25. Barts 26. Vest 28. And.

35 36

ACROSS 4. Unquestionable truth (6) 7. Finland’s capital (8) 8. Antelope (6) 10. Sullen or angry frown (5) 13. Short sharp sound (4) 14. Indian dress (4) 15. Hop-drying kiln (4) 16. Diving bird (3)

17. Fathers (4) 19. Planet (4) 21. Become disillusioned (4,5) 23. Amphibian (4) 24. Pointed tooth (4) 26. Small barrel (3) 27. Overwhelming defeat (4) 29. Leave out (4)

NOVEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 1. Scrap 6. Falls 9. Glasgow 10. Story 11. Lauds 12. Belly 13. Ordered 15. Rep 17. Used 18. Demise 19. Lyres 20. Rascal 22. Deer 24. Eve 25. Berates 26. Sonar 27. Green 28. Again 29. Mixture 30. Relic 31. Trays. DOWN: 2. Caters 3. Agreed 4. Ply 5. Asked 6. Follies 7. Away 8. Ladies 12. Beryl 13. Outre 14. Dense 15. Rivet 16. Pears 18. Defer 19. Laconic 21. Averse 22. Danger 23. Eerily 25. Baits 26. Semi 28. Art.

WORD SEARCH K

Aimed Alleges Annexes Azure Bashes Bedlam Blurt Cliques Complementary Debunk

Dented Drawl Erects Estimates Figuratively Fleeced Flights Flukes Gaudy Hearse

Hooter Locate Medal Message Mutely Nodes Odder Organ Patch Pesky

Praise Rests Seams Shrank Smack Sofas Spades Teared Wafted Yearned

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

RUMANZ

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

1 4

Silta minn rumanz ġdid ta’ Tony C. Cutajar.

7 9 3 2 6

2 4 3

1 2 9 8 4 2 1 6 8 9 6 7 5 3 9 1 7 6 2 4 8

8 1 7 2 5 4 9 3 6

6 2 4 3 9 8 1 5 7

3 4 8 6 2 7 5 9 1

1 6 5 8 3 9 4 7 2

9 7 2 5 4 1 8 6 3

7 5 1 9 8 3 6 2 4

L-Antikrist Mattew

2 8 3 4 6 5 7 1 9

4 9 6 7 1 2 3 8 5

The winners of the November Senior Times competition are Anton Saliba (who wins a copy of Adelaide (rumanz originali ta’ Paolo Olmi) by Charles B. Spiteri) and Joe Cordina (who wins a copy of A Taste of Maltese Folklore by Joseph C Camilleri).

Ngħannu waħda tal-Milied Ninni la tibkix iżjed Ninni Ġesù Bambin Ħallih għalina l-biki Għax aħna midinbin.

Ejjew araw o rgħajja F’kemm faqar, f ’kemm tbatija Is-sid ta’ kollox twieled Bin Alla, il-Messija.

Ejjew, ejjew ja anġli Mis-sema, mija mija Ħdejn Alla li ħalaqkom Bambin ġewwa l-fisqija.

Ejjew kbarat tad-dinja Ejjew mingħajr kburija Araw kif Alla Sidna Iċċekken sar tarbija.

Ejjew taraw b’għajnejkom Lil Alla Kbir tal-ħniena Bambin sabiħ u ħelu Ininni ġo benniena.

Sar bniedem, sar tarbija Biex jiġbed il-qlub tagħna Biex bl-aqwa ġid tas-sema Ħinjin bla qies jarana.

i hu żgur hu l-fatt illi fost dawk li dehru quddiem l-inkiżituri biex jistqarru dnubhom jew biex jiġu kkastigati bħala saħħara, l-ikbar numru kien ta’ nisa. Ġeneralment, dawn kienu xjuħ, barranin jew tallaba. Kien hemm oħrajn li kienu jagħmluha ta’ sħaħar għall-pjaċir sesswali. Nafu eżempji ta’ sħaħar bħal Orsola li ħarbet lejn Sqallija biex twelled tarbija illeġittima, Giovanna li kienet qaħba magħrufa, u Katerina, armla mill-Isla, li tant kienet imwarrba minn nies li ħadd ma ried jikrilha fejn toqgħod. Din kienet konkubina ta’ Michele Arrigo u kellha relazzjonijiet mat-Torok b’mod speċjali ma’ Salem ta’ 60 sena. Kienu nisa anti-soċjali b’ilsien ħażin u li kienu jheddu lin-nies. Waħda minnhom daħlet għand xi ħadd mill-ġirien, fajritilha bilħarta u ferrgħet barmil ilma fuq rasha – jekk mhux vas awrina! Dan l-inċidenti jwassluna għal konsiderazzjoni importanti, li lakkużi kontra dawn l-hekk imsejħa sħaħar ġeneralment kienu magħmula minn nies li kienu jafu lil xulxin sew. Ħafna drabi kienu sitwazzjonijiet tal-familja bħal meta wieħed xtaq jara lil oħtu “għaxar xibriet taħt il-ħamrija”, l-omm li riedet tneħħi lirraġel ta’ bintha minn din id-dinja għax kien jaħqar lil martu, raġel li kellu xi jgħid mal-kunjati minħabba l-wirt, bint li riedet tpattiha għax inżammet id-dar. Kultant kienu wkoll ġirien bħal Pasquale Dimech u Tommaso Dimech tal-armla mill-Mosta li kellhom xi jgħidu dwar ġnien. Is-superstizzjonijiet tal-Maltin kienu superstizzjonijiet Insara għax fihom kważi dejjem daħal xi talb, ir-radd tas-salib, iddomni, eċċ. Ġieli donnhom kienu jaqtgħu qalbhom minn Alla u jikkonvinċu ruħhom li ħadd ħlief ix-xitan ma seta’ jgħinhom. Waslu biex anke sejħulu għax konvinti li kien jismagħhom, jgħinhom u anke jidħol fihom. Meta mbagħad jintebħu li kulma għamlu kien għalxejn, kienu jħossu ruħhom bħal mitlufin. Ilkuxjenza kienet tniggiżhom u jkunu jridu jbiddlu ħajjithom. Kienu jersqu quddiem l-inkiżitur biex jitolbuh maħfra u jwegħdu li jżommu ruħhom ‘il bogħod minn dak it-twemmin bla sens. Infatti, kienet l-inkiżizzjoni f ’Malta li wrietna kemm kienu jemmnu fis-sħaħar il-Maltin ta’ dawk iż-żminijiet. L-ewwel

L-akkużi kontra dawn l-hekk imsejħa sħaħar ġeneralment kienu magħmula minn nies li kienu jafu lil xulxin sew.

pro-inkiżitur, Monsinjur Pietro Dusina, għall-ewwel intbagħat Malta mill-Papa Gregorju XIII biex jagħmila ta’ intermedjarju bejn il-Gran Mastru La Cassière u l-Isqof Martin Royas. Iżda fis-sena li għamel Malta fl-1574-5, huwa ltaqa’ ma’ ħafna każijiet ta’ ereżija u ta’ seħer. Insemmu biss żewġ każijiet fost il-ħafna. Minbarra li Katarin Borg minn Birkirkara kienet meqjusa minn kulħadd bħala saħħara, Anġela Cassar minn Ħal Kirkop, ġiet akkużata quddiem l-inkiżitur li għamlet seħer lil żewġha biex jersaq iktar spiss lejha meta jkunu fis-sodda. Is-superstizzjonijiet u xi riti ta’ seħer kienu fost il-problemi liżjed komuni għal kull inkiżitur. Għalhekk kien meħtieġ li kulma kien marbut mas-seħer ma jibqax jiġri fl-idejn. Il-Vatikan ordna lill-inkiżituri biex jaħarqu kull kitba superstizzjuża jew ta’ seħer. Sakemm il-każijiet ikunu għadhom pendenti, dawn il-kitbiet għandhom jinżammu f ’post imħares sewwa b’mod li ħadd ma jkun jista’ jarahom u jaqrahom u wara jinqerdu għalkollox billi jinħarqu.

Kien hemm min kien aħrax fost l-inkiżituri. Insemmu lill-Monsinjur Fabio della Lagonessa li kien magħruf bħala bniedem sever. Quddiemu tressqu żewġ patrijiet li l-kastig li tahom kien deskritt bħala eżaġerat anke mill-Vatikan. Il-Patri Dumnikan Wistin Barbara kien waqqa’ fuqu xi suspett ta’ ereżija u għalkemm ġie ttorturat ma rriżulta xejn. Il-Patri Franġiskan Konventwal Pawlu Meliti kien qal biċ-ċajt li ried jaqleb Tork ħalli jġib lit-Torok biex jieħdu f ’idejhom l-Imdina. L-inkiżitur ittorturah, żammlu l-qrar u kkundannah għall-eżilju. Il-Vatikan bagħat jiċċensura lillIsqof della Lagonessa u ddikkjara li ma kienx hemm provi biżżejjed ta’ ħtija u ż-żewġ patrijiet ġew meħlusa. Quddiem dan l-istess inkiżitur tressqet mara Maltija blisem ta’ Sulpizja Di Lango blakkuża li waqgħet f ’għemejjel ta’ seħer għal iktar minn darba. Minħabba li ma riditx tikxef lillkompliċi tagħha, l-inkiżitur ħass li kellha tintuża magħha t-tortura. Hija ġiet ikkundannata biex tissawwat bil-ħbula, kif ukoll għal tmien snin ħabs. Irid jingħad

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

RUMANZ

hawn li fil-ħames snin li dam Malta, dan l-inkiżitur sar iżjed moderat fil-ġudizzji tiegħu u dejjem baxxa rasu quddiem deċiżjonijiet ta’ min kien fuqu. Fi żmien l-Inkiżitur Onorato Visconti kien hemm proċess sensazzjonali meta huwa arresta 40 mara bl-akkuża li kienu mdaħħlin f ’għemejjel ta’ seħer. Dawn in-nisa Maltin ilkoll mill-Belt Valletta kellhom xi nisa u rġiel Sqallin kompliċi magħhom. Kienu nisa bla skola u għalkemm għemilhom ġie kkundannat, huma ngħataw sentenzi ħfief ta’ talb u penitenzi. Ma kienx ikun l-Inkiżitur della Lagonessa li jħallihielhom għaddejja lixxa. Nisa Maltin kemm -il darba resqu quddiem l-inkiżitur biex jixlu xi lsiera li riedu jwebbluhom b’ħafna sħarijiet. Waħda minn dawn kienet Isabellica Andrianuzzo, mara mhix miżżewġa ta’ 50 sena mill-Belt Valletta. Fost l-oħrajn hija xehdet hekk: Ġie f ’dari infidil ta’ xi 40 sena u li jitkellem l-Għarbi. Huwa saħaq miegħi biex inkellem persuna ħalli infidil ieħor jeħles mill-ktajjen. Jiena għedtlu li dak li darba kien namrat tiegħi issa jinsab miksur miegħi. Hu staqsieni jekk kellix xi ħaġa minn tiegħu għax hu kellu l-ħila jerġa’ jagħmilni paċi miegħu. Dak iż-żmien jien kont għadni mitlufa wara n-namrat li kelli, għalhekk tajtu kalzetta. Wara xi jumejn dak l-infidil ġiebli xi ftejjel u qalli biex nixgħelhom biż-żejt biex in-

Part of the Vassalllo Group of Companies

namrat jerġa’ jinħabb miegħi. Jien għamilt kif qalli. Darb’oħra ġiebli xi fuljetti mitwija u qalli biex nilbes waħda mill-karti u l-oħrajn naħraqhom. Imma kulma sar ma sewa għalxejn. L-Inkiżitur Antonio Pignatelli kien talfehma li l-Maltin li waqgħu f ’xi għemil ta’ seħer kważi qatt ma kellhom f ’moħħhom li jitbiegħdu mill-fidi Nisranija. Għalhekk, il-pieni li kien jagħti lil nies bħal dawn kienu pieni ħfief. Ġużeppi Deguenara, waqt tqanqil ta’ passjoni senswali, sejjaħ lix-xitan għal erba’ darbiet. Pignatelli rah niedem u tah din issentenza: Nobbligawk biex għas-sentejn li ġejjin tqerr erba’ darbiet fis-sena u, bilparir tal-konfessur tiegħek, titqarben flerba’ festi kbar tal-Knisja. U matul dan iż-żmien nobbligawk ukoll li tgħid irrużarju kull nhar ta’ Sibt. Din is-sena huwa l-40 anniversarju minn meta l-awtur Tony C. Cutajar ippublika l-ewwel rumanz tiegħu, IdDubbien l-Abjad (Klabb Kotba Maltin).

Kien hemm min kien aħrax fost l-inkiżituri

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

PHOTOS

For the love of vintage As another year comes to an end, Senior Times and Bay Retro celebrate other years gone by but never forgotten. Pretty Bay in the summer of 1969. PHOTO: BAY RETRO

The Fondatore Lido, now Beachaven, in Xemxija in the 1960s. PHOTO: BAY RETRO The Ta’ Xbiex yacht marina in the 1960s. PHOTO: DIANA BORG CARDONA/BAY RETRO

Queen Elizabeth at the opening of the original Malta Hilton in St Julian’s in 1967. PHOTO: VINCENT A GALEA/BAY RETRO

Thirsty customers stop for a drink at the Rising Sun Bar in Marsaxlokk, in the 1970s. PHOTO: BAY RETRO

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BAY RETRO

Children line up to feed the ducks and swans at San Anton Gardens in Attard in this postcard from the 1950s. PHOTO: BAY RETRO

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

OPINION

Christmas can highlight loneliness or isolation from loved ones.

ne of the most popular Christmas carols is a Welsh melody, dating back to the 16th century, called Deck the Halls. I was very surprised to discover that originally, carols were dances and not songs. The tune would have been used as a setting for the dance, and singers would compete with each other to compose the lyrics, impromptu. Eventually carols became separated from the original dances, but retained their traditional designation as “carols”. Anyway, Deck the Halls remains the carol which officially announces to one and all that the “season to be jolly” is here! However, Christmas is not always a happy season for everyone. As one doctor wrote, “There’s nothing like the festive season to force you to face that fact that life isn’t always as joyful and as triumphant as we are led to believe”.

Indeed, although for many people, Christmas is a happy and joyous feast in which they celebrate and are reunited with family and friends, for others, it can be a very sad time, one which highlights their loneliness or isolation from loved ones. Not to mention the stressors of a financial or physical nature on most people, whose daily lives are interrupted by the undue pressure to purchase gifts, cook lavish lunches and dinners, and so many other things to catch up with outside their normal already-too-busy routine. Actually, if you come to think of it, the first Christmas was such a stressful event. Joseph and Mary encountered a very arduous experience as a family. Not only were they low on financial resources, but they could not even use what little they had to rent out a room, in order for Mary to give birth to their baby in comfort. Separated from the rest of their extended family, they

had to settle for a stable, far away from their hometown, where Mary found only a manger in which to lay her new-born son. Certainly, were it not for the great joy which the birth of the Messiah brought to the world, it would have been a very dismal Christmas indeed. But this wondrous joy outweighed all the difficulties and drawbacks. The rest is history. But I do believe that we need to take a realistic look at this first Christmas to put into perspective as to how we should celebrate “the season to be jolly” in our present time.

If you come to think of it, the first Christmas was such a stressful event

Let’s start by considering those endless holiday parties. The definition of the word “party”” is “a social gathering of invited guests, typically involving eating, drinking and entertainment”. In the first instance, who’s to decide that those guests shouldn’t include one or two people who may not receive any invitations at all; people who would possibly welcome some company, rather than sit at home feeling lonely? Secondly, with regards to the food and drink, how about “pot-luck” dinners, where everyone brings along his or her signature dish, rather than lavish banquets for which one person (traditionally, the mother!) slaves away for days and days over a hot stove to produce masses of food which is enough to feed an army. As for the entertainment, this doesn’t necessarily have to feature the consumption of litres of alcohol in order to be fun. Rather, parties could be an

A return to childhood can add happiness to Christmas, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

‘Tis the season to be jolly… or is it? CH

IN R I ST

opportunity to network with people whom we don’t normally have time to talk to, and be entertained by their stories. Gifts. They can be such a headache! How about trying to create warm memories rather than spend a lot of money on expensive presents? In my family, we have adopted the ‘Secret Santa’ tradition – everyone receives one gift from one family member, and before opening it, we have to guess who it’s from. It’s quite fun actually and leaves some money left over to donate to a charitable cause. In many ways, Christmas is about being a child again. So, sing some carols, drink eggnog, make some underprivileged members of the community happy and see the Christmas holidays through new eyes. There will be nothing but gratitude and less stress, with the result that it may indeed turn out to be a season to be jolly for one and all.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

SPORT

Balls and jingle bells A

Foreign football teams were the stars of Christmas, says Carmel Baldacchino.

lthough foreign teams had been visiting Malta since 1923, the first tourney connected with Christmas was organised in 1925 when Floridsdorfer of Austria visited the island. Before this date however, there were many traditions connected with the Yuletide period. The British Services introduced these traditions locally. From the very first days of the game on our islands, the British celebrated Christmas with all the pomp and enthusiasm with which we celebrate our town and village feasts. Before the turn of the 20th century it was the custom to play football matches on Boxing Day at Corradino and the parade ground of Floriana. The officers played against the ratings in boisterous and sometime hilarious matches. To add to the fun, the teams were chosen from among the less gifted players. It was an occasion for those who never kicked a ball before in their lives to win some football glory. The players wore fancy dress and smudged their faces with soot and colour. But, although the dress was fancy, there was always a keen sense of rivalry between the teams. After all, one does not often get the chance to tumble his commanding officer in the mud or kick his NCO on the shin! It was all good fun however, and there were rarely any serious incidents. Thousands of people used to attend these spectacles. A row of benches was lined up around the parade ground for the more distinguished guests while the rest of the spectators hustled and jostled each other for every vantage position. Popular music and marches would be played by the Regimental band who, for the occasion, would also be wearing fancy dress. For the thousands of Maltese who attended, the occasion probably seemed more like carnival than Christmas but they enjoyed every minute of it. After the game, the sports officer presented the cup to the winning team’s captain and medals to the losing team. The huge cup was made of battered tin cans and the medals of jam jar lids adorned with ribbons. The

A group photograph taken before the start of the Christmas Tourney match between Floridsdorfer FC of Vienna and St George’s FC on February 6, 1926. The Austrians played five games in the first edition of the famous Yuletide tourney.

winning team would then be carried shoulder-high around the pitch for the lap of honour. Both teams would then retire to their respective messes for the traditional Christmas do. Stuffed turkey and duck would inevitably be on the menu, washed down by litres of beer or, in the case of the Navy, the traditional tot of rum. These receptions were usually held in open-air tents, erected for the occasion by the beer importers ‘Simonds’, later of ‘Simonds, Farsons, Cisk’. Of course, the traditional Christmas pudding always formed part of the celebrations. These festive occasions were continued well up to the early 1950s but with the introduction of the Christmas Tourney, they lost much of their popularity. I remember one occasion when I was about five or six years old, when my father who worked as a civilian with the Navy took me to Hal Far on Christmas day. I remember the football match and the

I remember the football match and the singing of sailors and officers during the Christmas dinner

hearty singing of the sailors and officers during the Christmas dinner. I remember the huge slice of Christmas pudding, which one of the cooks gave me to take home to share with my brothers and sisters and our surprise when we discovered that the pudding was full of sixpence coins. Those were happy days, full of childhood memories of a long gone but surely not forgotten era. Christmas in Malta was the time for football tourneys. It was the era of Il-ġodda, when some of the best Continental teams of the era came to Malta to spend the holidays here to play four, five or six matches against league club sides, MFA selections and UK Services XI’s. The league was stopped and the programme arranged in such a way as to fill the break in the Continental season when league football was suspended for the winter break. Though the fixtures were not competitive, the local teams vied with each other to register the best result against the visitors. The latter also did their best to go back home undefeated. The Continentals were keen to come to Malta because during winter most of their grounds became snow-bound and little football could be played. The tourneys gave these teams an opportunity to keep in shape while enjoying the warmer and more temperate climate of the Mediterranean. A good tour served as an excellent propaganda platform, which could be exploited in the future. When touring time

arrived, the clubs could offer their services to promoters to a better advantage. Starting in 1925-26, the Christmas Tourney was continued almost without a break up to the 1960s, when the introduction of European Club Competitions finally spelled the end of the traditional Christmas Tourney. During the pre-Christmas week, up to Epiphany, the local public was given the opportunity of seeing new faces, colours, and styles in confrontation with the footballers produced by the Maltese game. Sometimes there was an added attraction. Two clubs from different countries were invited to play against local opposition and then the tourney with a match between them. When these visits started in the early 1920s, Malta’s means of communication with other countries were quite restricted. People from Malta could only visit Europe by sea and then move from country to country by train. What the Maltese knew about soccer in other countries was what they read in the papers and heard over the radio. It is therefore not surprising that when crack Central European teams started to visit the island, displaying a superlative brand of soccer, the Maltese went mad with enthusiasm. Their precise passing, fine ball control, triangular movement towards goal, overlapping between defence and attack mesmerised local football enthusiasts. These tourneys had a profound impact on local football. The Maltese had

The men behind the introduction of the Christmas Tourney. Carmelo Scicluna and Joe Gasan brought to Malta some of the best Central European clubs before and right after World War II.

been reared on the typical English direct style of soccer by various Service teams stationed in Malta. Shorn of frills, quick and tough British soccer contrasted immensely with the skilful soccer which the Maltese began to see from the Austrian, Hungarian and Czech clubs visiting Malta. Encouraged by the success of these tourneys the promoters, ‘Meme’ Scicluna of the Stadium and sometimes, Joe Gasan brought to Malta some of the best Continental teams of the era. The tourney saw its best years in the 1930s when teams like Ferencvaros of Hungary and Rapid Vienna of Austria thrilled the Stadium crowd. The war ended all football activities on the island but at the end of the war, the tourney was resumed in earnest. One still remembers with nostalgia the tourneys of SK Austria, Rapid Wien and FC Wien of the late 1940s. Yet by the 1960s, the costs of bringing the teams to Malta forced the promoters to lower their standards. The Christmas Tourney lost much of its splendour and with the advent of European competitions it died a natural death, leaving behind it sweet memories of a long-lost era.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

INTERVIEW

Some of the residents. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANGELO ZAHRA

Man on a mission Fiona Vella meets Angelo Zahra, winner of the Award for Active Ageing. Angelo Zahra. PHOTO: FIONA VELLA

“A

geing should not be a barrier in life but a further opportunity to excel,” insists 80year-old Angelo Zahra who has recently won the main prize in the Premju Anzjanità Attiva (Award for Active Ageing) organised by the Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, for his voluntary management of three homes for the disabled. Zahra studied mechanical engineering at the Dockyard Technical College and for several years, he served in managerial roles. Before his retirement, at age 63, he was the Director of the Man-

ufacturing and Services Department with the Government of Malta. “I have known Fr Angelo Seychell since he was ordained and I have always admired his work,” Zahra says. “When he founded the Nazareth Foundation in 1995 and opened his house to provide a home for people with special needs, I supported his venture by collecting donations from my colleagues twice a year. However, I was not directly involved with Dar Nazareth.” Yet Fr Seychell had for long earmarked Zahra to help him develop his mission to create a warm family environment in which people with disabilities could lead a good and respectful

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

Dar Nazareth addressed a demand which had not been met for several years life – this, in turn, would give them the possibility to be happy and to achieve their full potential. “As soon as I retired, Fr Seychell approached me and asked me to consider serving as the administrator of Dar Nazareth. “I accepted on condition to start three months later since I had promised my wife that I would finally take a much-awaited break from work. “In the meantime, my wife and I booked a tour to Lourdes and to our great surprise we found out that the group we were going to travel with were none other than Fr Seychell, his volunteers and the residents at Dar Nazareth. This was a golden opportunity to get to know everyone better and soon, I was deeply involved with the Nazareth Foundation.” When Zahra joined, in September 2000, there were only five residents at Dar Nazareth. However, in a short time, the house received a further five residents and reached its full capacity. “A year later, the Foundation rented a workshop for our residents, who can attend daily and entertain themselves making crafts which could be sold to the public.” Dar Nazareth addressed a demand which had not been met for several years. Soon, its success led to the establishment of two other houses. “In 2004, the Foundation opened the second house, Dar l-Arċipriet Degabriele, which welcomed a further nine residents. Five years later, the third house, Dar Jean Vanier, opened its doors to another nine residents.” While in the beginning Dar Nazareth was operated by volunteers, the increase in residents and houses required the engagement of full-time workers.

Angelo Zahra meets Minister Justyne Caruana. PHOTO: JEREMY WONNACOTT, DOI

“The funding of such projects is always one of the major stumbling blocks. The Foundation had succeeded to purchase two properties and develop them into residential homes. It also managed to acquire enough money to fund the salary of 30 full-time workers. “Nevertheless, the sourcing of further income to sustain all the expenses required to keep these three homes functioning are a constant responsibility. Thankfully, in 2016, the Government signed an agreement with Nazareth Foundation through which it was given €1.4 million over a period of three years. This serves as a safety net for the Foundation’s administration to provide the best service possible to its residents.” For the past 17 years, Zahra has voluntarily taken in hand the management of these three homes and presently he also acts as President of the Nazareth Foundation Board. “This work has become my mission to do something worthwhile with my available time. It gives me great satisfaction to see our residents living in a friendly and family environment where they can feel safe, at ease, and loved. Their appreciation and happiness in return give me a sense of fulfillment and help me to feel much younger.”

Dar Nazareth. PHOTO PROVIDED BY ANGELO ZAHRA

Crafts made by residents. PHOTOS PROVIDED BY ANGELO ZAHRA

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

CARS

ONE MAN AND HIS HILLMAN U

T SU

T IL

Spiridione Deguara’s love of Hillman models has translated itself into beautiful restoration projects, Joe Busuttil from the Old Motors Club says.

lthough no member of his close and extended family had any association with old cars, Spiridione Deguara, known my most as Spiro, developed an interest in classic cars in his early teenage years. This came about as soon as he decided that his future career port of call was to join his uncle Emanuel in his business as a panel beater in Msida. ‘’I joined him when I was just 14, learning the trade from scratch, and stayed there for 15 years. Then I set up my own panel beating business in St Venera, where I have been working for the past 35 years,” says Deguara. ‘’During this time, I developed a keen interest in old cars, being intrinsically involved either in their restoration, which gave me great pride, or on the other extreme, dismantling them for required parts, which saddened me.’ He explains that in the 1970s and 1980s, there was a roaring local and overseas demand for automobile spare parts of all kinds and shapes, thus sounding the death knell for many old cars that time had long passed by. People wanted new, modern and attractive models, and seduced by slick advertising and the perceived need to keep up with the Joneses, waved farewell to their trusted but

The Englishman was a real gentleman, and we found the car as described

now tired old timer. Throughout this lengthy period of close encounters with classic cars, Deguara handled dozens of old vehicles from different brands. The list is long and never ending – Fiats, Minis, Hillmans, Fords, MGs and Triumphs. Many a time a strong temptation came over Deguara, especially as he was working on Hillman vehicles, as he ruminated whether to buy a classic car for himself and realise a lifelong dream. Only one thing kept him back – he had no garage space for it. However, as his 60th birthday was not far away on Deguara’s horizon, the jigsaw pieces started falling into place. For some time now, he had been joking with a client who used to bring his old Hillman for service at his garage, that one day he would buy this classic car from him.

PHOTOS: TONY VASSALLO, OLD MOTORS CLUB

“A decade ago, the owner suddenly offered to sell the 1951 Hillman Minx Mark V 1200cc model to me,” says a surprised Deguara, who then rented a garage to start a restoration project on it. The body was in a good shape, but most of the other components – engine, differential, upholstery, wheels – had been replaced. He bought two other Minxes to cannibalise for spare parts. The packing, tyres, and red upholstery were sourced from overseas. The bumpers were also chromed abroad, but luckily the original grille

was untouched by time, wear and tear. Finally the four door saloon was resprayed in the original black colour. The Hillman Minx was a series of middle-sized family cars produced by the UK Rootes Group from 1932 to 1970. The Mark I to Mark VIII spanned 12 years, and differed from the pre-war models by the introduction of a protruding boot which replaced the flat back look, as well as by a much more modern looking body. In his search for spare parts from abroad, Deguara was helped in no small way by his daughter Svetlana, who while surfing the net for some chrome parts, came across a 1961 Hillman Minx Series III convertible. She immediately fell in love with it, and left

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

no stone unturned until she persuaded her father to buy it. ‘’It was a shot in the dark, because although the old vehicle looked fine on the screen, I could not go to Yorkshire in the UK to see it,” he explains. “I had to trust the owner, who described the vehicle as in good but not perfect condition. The Englishman was a real gentleman, and we found the car as described.’’ In fact, Deguara did nothing to the red-coloured Minx, except for patching a small tear on the front seat. When in the mid-1950s Rootes involved the design company of Raymond Loewing – that had been involved in the drafting of the Studebaker coupe – the Minx underwent a significant facelift. There was a new

engine with valves, the body became elongated with finned end tails, while the models changed their identity from Mark to Series. If his daughter was responsible for Deguara’s second classic purchase, then his wife Mary was instrumental in his third. Assisting an elderly couple on a regular basis, she was asked by the woman to find a buyer for her now infirm husband’s car, as he was no longer able to drive it. “It was a 1958 Wolseley 15/60 that I had seen being driver around,” says Deguara. “The owner used to take it out on weekends until he was too old to drive anymore. Still in impeccable condition, the two tone beige body with light brown sides needed no touching up, except for an original low set replacement tyres.” He now has two big garages for his three classic cars, as well as for another three Hillman vehicles awaiting restoration once time is found – a 1955 Hillman Minx station wagon, a 1956

Hillman Minx Mark VI, and a 1963 Hillman Hunter Sceptre. “Now it is more a question of time than space,” says Deguara, who is still very busy with his panel beating business, in which he has been joined by his son Malcolm. A close family further cemented by a shared interest and enthusiasm for old motors, it is not an unusual sight to see the Deguaras on a Sunday with Spiro, Mary and younger daughter Vanessa driving around in the Wolseley in front of Svetlana in the Hillman Minx convertible, and Malcolm making up the rear of this classic car trio in his 1962 Ford Anglia 105E, which he has restored himself. Deguara points out that the significant interest in old motors can be gauged from the fact that today, not only have old cars disappeared from scrap heaps, but also it is close to impossible to find any original spare parts for old motors locally. While it is time consuming to source items from abroad, he considers this to be a good omen for the future of classic cars in Malta.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2017

NEWS

Rigali li jagħtu l-ħajja Id-direttur ta’ Missio, Mons Salvinu Micallef.

egħdin fiż-żmien li niġu bbumbardjati biex nixtru u nixtru. Kulħadd armat biex iħajjarna nixtru mingħandu. Ta’ qabel il-Milied ikunu bi prezz pjuttost għoli, imma b’għażla iktar wiesgħa; ta’ wara l-Milied bi prezz ridott, imma b’anqas għażla, għax tixtri minn dak li jibqa’. Dan hu ftit mir-ritmu tal-bejgħ u x-xiri li f ’dan iż-żmien jikber u jinfirex sewwa. Il-Milied jiġi lejn l-aħħar tassena. Għall-bniedem li jemmen fl-istorja vera tal-Milied, li seħħet ġo għar fqir fir-raħal ta’ Betlehem, il-Milied iwassal messaġġ biex ifakkar fl-akbar rigal li Alla ta lill-umanità. U, ta’ dan, il-bniedem tal-fidi jifhem li għandu jgħid grazzi kbira lil Mulej. Grazzi lejn laħħar jiem ta’ sena oħra. Hekk ukoll nagħmlu aħna, u ħafna bħalna fis-soċjetà tagħna. Lejn l-aħħar ta’ sena oħra nuru l-apprezzament u l-ħajr tagħna b’xi rigal. Iż-żmien tal-Milied hu verament żmien sabiħ biex

ngħaqqdu l-ħajr tagħna lillMulej mal-ħajr tagħna lil xulxin. Iżda, hemm ukoll rigali differenti u speċjali li nistgħu nagħtu. Rigali li jagħtu l-ħajja lill-Bambin tal-missjoni. Rigali li, fil-Vanġelu ta’ San Mattew, Ġesù jirreferi għalihom: “Kulma għamiltu ma’ wieħed mill-iżgħar fost dawn ħuti għamiltuh miegħi” (Matt. 25:40). Rigali li, flimkien ma’ dawk li nagħtu lill-bniedem filbżonn f ’pajjiżna, nagħtu wkoll lil nies fil-bżonn fl-artijiet talmissjoni, fejn il-bżonn ħafna drabi huwa aktar radikali minn dak ta’ pajjiżna. Missio jħobb jirreferi għal dawn l-għotjiet bħala ‘rigali li jagħtu l-ħajja’ (life giving gifts). Nistgħu nsemmu xi ftit minn dawn: €20: Basket tal-iskola bilkotba u stationery lil tifel/tifla fi skola primarja €45: Xahar akkomodazzjoni, ikel u kura lil tifel/tifla f ’orfanatrofju €35: Rota lil tifel/tifla jew katekist

Id-direttur ta’ Missio jkellem lit-tfal fl-Indja.

€100: Ħlas għal sena kors lil katekist fil-missjoni €125: Magna tal-ħjata u banketta lil mara jew tfajla minn ambjenti ta’ faqar €140: Siġġu tar-roti għal persuna b’diżabiltà €150: Tisponsorja sena skola lil tifel/tifla minn familja fqira €500: Tħaffir ta’ bir €600: Tħallas parti minn

borża ta’ studju lil seminarist fl-Indja jew l-Afrika €8,000: Dan hu l-akbar rigal. Tibni mission station f ’żona rurali fl-Afrika. Numru ta’ benefatturi ta’ Missio kull sena jżommu lappuntament tagħhom malkarità fil-missjoni u jiġu birrigal tagħhom li jagħti l-ħajja. Nittama li din is-sena jkollna

aktar minn dawn il-benefatturi li jixtru minn dawn ir-rigali. Tista’ tagħmel ċekk pagabbli lil Missio u tibgħatu f’Nru 7, Triq il-Merkanti, Valletta, jew iċċempel fuq 2123 6962 (2155 0267 għal Għawdex) u volontiera ta’ Missio jiġu jiġbru d-donazzjoni tiegħek minn darek stess. Grazzi kbira mill-Bambin tal-missjoni.

A Christmas museum experience

hristmas is just a few days away and by now we are usually busy thinking about our Christmas shopping, the presents we would like to receive or the gatherings we will be having with family and friends. But Christmas is also a cradle of spiritual meaning and traditions which have along the years become one and inseparable. Traditions linked to the festive season have strong roots in Malta, and many can still connect with crib making, liturgical sermons, processions with baby Jesus and the traditional Christmas lunch. Besides recalling our nostalgia for the younger days, these traditions are today part of our national identity and should be consolidated and passed on to future generations. When speaking of heritage, we are normally quick to recall our prehistoric temples, churches, historic cities and their artistic treasures, at times omitting the thriving legacy of intangible heritage – language, food, dress, trades, superstitious customs, religious traditions and all the little things which have shaped us as Maltese with a rich religious socio-cultural artistic patrimony. While many might be familiar with Heritage Malta’s work to preserve and

give value to the tangible heritage in its custody, not everyone had the chance to appreciate its input in the consolidation of intangible heritage through various permanent displays in its museums, outreach initiatives to secure collections and document valuable ethnographic data and a busy calendar of thematic events and educational programmes – most of which seasonal. As part of its permanent display, the Inquisitor’s Palace and National Museum of Ethnography in Vittoriosa has an exhibition illustrating Christmas

as a universal theme and its traditional reflections in Malta. With miniature cribs from the five continents from the Albert and Lina McCarthy collection and dioramas of the main local Christmas traditions on loan from Austin Galea, this exhibition should not be missed, particularly by grandparents who are keen to spend quality time with their grandchildren as they share their nostalgic memories during holidays. But this exhibition calls for all those fond of Christmas, since it helps put Malta’s Christmas legacy in its historical context.

Among the themes explored in this exhibition is Saint George Preca and the Society of Christian Doctrine’s contribution in strengthening the cult of baby Jesus and the Maltese crib. This through processions of baby Jesus on Christmas eve, and the presentation of cribs, produced by the Society members, to all the children attending catechism. The display also delves into some of the crafts and skills needed to build a traditional crib, and produce crib figurines in clay, wax, papier-mâché and plaster before the introduction of plastic. Along the years Malta has also embraced traditions from the Continent, including the Christmas tree and Father Christmas who originates from Santa Claus or St Nicholas. This exhibition and the Inquisitor’s Palace offer a good educational and cultural experience. It can be visited during the museum opening hours between 9am and 5pm, with last admission at 4.30pm. Heritage Malta museums and sites are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and also on New Year’s Eve and on New Year’s Day. For more information and details visit www.heritagemalta.org.

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

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2017

DENTAL CARE

Comfort first!

any patients consider the idea of having their teeth fixed. Some go ahead with it and others don’t. The main reasons why patients choose not to undergo the treatment are the following.

DENTAL PHOBIA This is the most common reason for not visiting the dentist. A history of a childhood or even adulthood experience with a dentist that didn’t go too well may put someone off from seeking dental help for life. Tooth deterioration proceeds and things get worse. Years go by and one day the situation gets too dire and the visit is a must. The phobia can only be overcome with a dentist that understands your fear and one that gives you the necessary time and effort to help you overcome your fear. For those that need some additional help, sedation works wonders! TIME Just like with other body parts, our mouth requires maintenance and at times treatment. Lack of maintenance may lead to breakdown, in this case dental caries, gum disease or worse. A bi-annual visit involving a check-up and scaling may help reduce dental treatment. Nowadays clinics send out reminders and even call you to make appointments. Online booking makes it even easier. Time however is something that only patients can supply dentists with. EXPENSE Dentistry can be an expensive affair. Fillings and cleaning will surely not break the bank but when it comes to tooth replacement or alignment with braces, the expenses can reach four or five figures. Luckily some dentists offer payment plans and leeway for payments. Lengthy treatment plans spanning six to nine months allow patients to feel more comfortable knowing the payment is not done all at once. LACK OF EDUCATION If it ain’t broken don’t fix it. Right? Wrong! Nowadays with so much awareness we know better. We must start by taking our children to the dentist from a young age and get them into the habit of taking care of their teeth. Don’t allow the first appointment of your child to be one when he or she is in pain. This makes the whole experience a much more enduring one. The above reasons may lead patients to have a very uncomfortable dentition. Lack of comfort on eating and drinking may lead to a lower quality of life. With patient willingness and dedication on both sides of the dentist-patient relationship this scenario can be managed very well. Ask your dentist! Extra-oral pre-op

Extra-oral post-op

Intra-oral pre-op

Intra-oral post-op

A CASE SCENARIO DR JEAN PAUL DEMAJO IS A DENTAL AND IMPLANT SURGEON. HE HAS TRAINED IN LONDON AND WORKS IN PRIVATE PRACTICE IN MALTA.

A middle-aged lady seeks to improve her dentition and overall smile. She wishes to replace a few missing teeth and also have her remaining teeth look better. Redoing her old crowns and bridges as well as replacing her missing teeth made her feel more comfortable both smiling and eating.