Senior Times (January 2018) by Times of Malta

SENIOR TIMES JANUARY 2018

Never too old to learn

Maltaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s monthly newspaper for the elderly

LeARN MORe Fiona Vella meets Martin Diacono, President of the Association of the Members of the U3E. SEE PAGE 3

New begiNNiNgs This is the year for change, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement. SEE PAGE 14

The AjAx LegeNd SEE PAGES 20 & 21

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

EDITOR’S WELCOME

IN THIS ISSUE

And now for the forecast…

he last strips of turkey meat have been nipped and tucked into a leftover sandwich, the Christmas tree has shed its last glitz of tinsel and dragged away – like a protesting criminal – to storage, and the last notes of Do They Know It’s Christmas? have faded away, like the rest of the old year. And now onwards and bravely to a brand new year. We always welcome January with a bit of a cough – but that’s another story – and the strong intent of becoming better people. We want self-esteem and the happiness to which we are entitled. We want to be masters of our fates, captains of our ships, destroyers of all that is bad – or slightly grey – about us. We want to be thinner, fitter and yoga masters. We will go for a daily walk, try out snazzy new recipes with quinoa, make new friends and kick all our bad habits where it really hurts. But despite the good intentions, the 10-point list and new resolutions hatching every minute, rest assured that by the end of next week, the new year will start looking a lot like the old one. And that’s to be expected. Because admittedly, you never really believed that, at the stroke of midnight on the very last day of the year, circumstances would change as if touched by the wave of a Disney magic wand. The calculation of time, after all, is a human construct. The hours, minutes and seconds are just a weak dam, trying to stop the immense gush of time. Yet time flows on, sweeping away our calculations like dead branches, swelling from one year to the next, not stopping and certainly not giving us the chance to regroup our good qualities, abandon our bad habits, and start afresh. So, yes, this year will be like the one before it. People will disappoint us and we will disappoint people. We will gain weight and then lose it. The daily walk will become a weekly one. That new lasagna recipe you tried isn’t as good as the old one. You will lose friends and make new ones. New books will take you to the future and old ones will remind you of a precious past. Your favourite team will lose, win and draw. Like last year. And the one before it. And that’s not a bad thing.

Stanley

SENIOR TIMES

3. A thirst for knowledge Fiona Vella interviews Martin Diacono, President of the Association of the Members of the U3E.

JANUARY 2018 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stanley Borg E-mail: seniortimes @timesofmalta.com CONTRIBUTORS Carmel Baldacchino Tonio Bonello Joseph Busuttil Tony C. Cutajar Anton B. Dougall Dun Jonathan Farrugia Christine Galea Charlotte Stafrace Fiona Vella PUBLISHERS Allied Newspapers Limited Industrial Estate, Triq L-Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000 www.timesofmalta.com DESIGN Christian Busuttil SALES Marion Muscat Tel: 2276 4331 E-mail: marion.muscat @timesofmalta.com © 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited.

6. Għin ruħek, u Alla jgħinek... Il-karozza l-ġdida tal-Papa hija eżempju klassiku ta’ responsabbiltà korporattiva, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

8. L-Antikrist Mattew Silta mir-rumanz ġdid ta’ Tony C. Cutajar.

9. Season’s cold greetings This year’s influenza strain has hit Malta hard. Here is how to help ease the symptoms.

9. Risotto fil-forn bil-faqqiegħ u qlub talqaqoċċ Anton B. Dougall iħawwar platt ross.

10. Rewind but don’t erase As another new year gets in gear, Senior Times and Bay Retro throw it in reverse and remember the good old years.

14. New beginnings This year is another opportunity to start making some longterm transformations to improve our lives, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

15. Ħarsa lura... u oħra ‘l quddiem Fil-bidu ta’ kull esperjenza ġdida jeħtieġ li ma tintesiex l-esperjenza li tkun għaddiet, jgħid Dun Jonathan Farrugia.

16. The Ajax legend Carmel Baldacchino recounts the rise and rise of the Floriana Ajax legend.

18. Activities for persons with memory loss Even if persons at an advanced stage of dementia seem locked in, we owe it to them to still try to interact with them, says Charlotte Stafrace.

20. …Then nostalgia came along A passion for old cars came late for John Farrugia, but he is certainly catching up, Joe Busuttil from the Old Motors Club says.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

INTERVIEW

A thirst for knowledge

Fiona Vella interviews Martin Diacono, President of the Association of the Members of the U3E.

t is never too late to learn something new. Evidence of the benefits of lifelong learning is overwhelming. Feeling connected to life and to others, being eager and motivated to explore different themes, keeping active intellectually, socially and physically are just some of the rewarding factors. Martin Diacono has been attending lectures at the University of the Third Age for the past 10 years. “It is mostly my thirst for knowledge which urges me to follow these lectures. I even attend the lectures which are offered to the general public by the University of Malta. I have a deep interest in art and these lectures provide me with the opportunity to acquire more information about this subject and involve myself in related study tours abroad,” explains Diacono.

During a symposium with guest speaker Prof. Olga Mikhailova from Moscow.

The University of the Third Age, also known as U3A, was launched in Malta on January 23, 1993 under the auspices of the University of Malta. “The main aim of U3A is to promote a yearning for knowledge and creativity. Although the lectures are held at university, their purpose is different from those intended to coach students to obtain academic qualifications and find a job. There are no admission requirements and anyone above the age of 60 may apply, irrespective of the level of education. There are no assignments to work on and no exams to sit for. Lectures are there for the sheer pleasure of learning new things in the company of a group of people who nourish similar interests. The cost for the lectures covering from October to June is €12.” U3A operates from four centres: three in Malta and one in Gozo.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

INTERVIEW

U3E members during a cultural visit to Sicily.

First Friday Mass at the University Chapel on the opening of the academic year 2017.

“The head centre is at the Catholic Institute in Floriana. Lectures are held from Monday to Thursday from 9am to 11am. The Sliema Centre is at the Salesian School of St Patrick’s. Lectures are held from Tuesday to Thursday from 5pm to 7pm. The Cottonera Resource Centre is located in St Edwards Street, Vittoriosa. Lectures are held every Thursday from 9am to 11am. The one in Gozo is at the Għajnsielem Day Centre, where lectures are held every Friday from 9am to 11am.” Shortly after the launching of the University of the Third Age, its first members felt the need to establish a foundation in order to organise a number of social activities together. “This foundation eventually turned into a formal association which was named the Association of the Members of the U3E. A statute was set up to define it and a committee was elected democratically. The committee has a term of two years, after which an election is held to form a new one. “The association’s objectives are to promote and safeguard the aims and activities of the

The sheer pleasure of learning new things in the company of a group of people who nourish similar interests

U3E, to establish a point of social contact and support to its members, and to organize extra-curriculum activities for its members. Moreover, the association is responsible for the publishing of a quarterly newsletter and for the organisation of a biennial conference on third age learning.” Membership in the association is only open to U3A members. The membership fee is €3 annually, however members will be asked to pay a nominal fee if they wish to attend to the activities which are organised by the association. Since most lectures are held from Mondays to Thursdays, social activities take place on the first and third Fridays of each month. “On the first Friday of each month we attend mass followed by lunch. Each month we go to a different parish in

order to give the opportunity to our members to visit various parishes. Lunch will be booked in a restaurant which is close to the particular area selected in that month. “The third Friday of each month is dedicated to a cultural tour, again followed by lunch. The excursions generally consist of visits to sites of historical and cultural interest, both in Malta and Gozo. Guides accompany the members during such visits so that they can appreciate the full value of each place. Some of the places which we have visited in Valletta are St John’s Co-Cathedral, the Archaeological Museum, the War Museum and St Elmo, the Fine Arts Museum and Casa Rocca Piccola. Other sites include the Mdina Cathedral and its Museum, and Wignacourt Museum in Rabat, Malta.

“From Mondays to Thursdays, further activities are also organised throughout the academic year right after the lectures end. Fitness classes held by qualified persons take place from Mondays to Wednesdays and these consist of keep fit, line dancing and ballroom dancing. On Thursdays, members of the association’s choir attend to rehearsals under the leadership of Dame Marie Therese Vassallo. This choir performs in the mass which is held on the first Friday of each month, at various care homes for elder persons, and also at the national event of the Active Ageing Awards. “Annual milestones for our association are the Christmas buffet lunch, the Malta round trip boat cruise, and tours abroad. In 2015 and 2016 we organized a day trip to Sicily where we visited different places of interest. In 2017 we

went for a five-day tour to Sicily where we visited Palermo and its surroundings. This year we intend to take our members to a five-day trip to Paris.”

U3E members on a cultural tour of Sicily.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

NEWS

Addressing complex and delicate issues

For the past four years, Diacono was elected as the president of the Association of the Members of the U3E. “It is a privilege to be able to form part of the committee of this association which provides so much opportunity to elders to enrich their quality of life and their social development. From 1993 to 2017, this association has worked very closely with Prof. Joseph Troisi who was the director of the University of the Third Age. Since his retirement, we are now looking forward to establish a strong relationship with Prof. Marvin Formosa who is the new director.” Applications from persons who are interested to attend lectures at any of the Centres of the University of the Third Age, and to join the Association of the Members of the U3E open in September. However, one can also register throughout the academic year. Lectures cover a wide range of topics and each module consists of eight lectures.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW Between February and June 2018, the following modules will commence at: The Floriana Centre: Malta Marittima by Dr Timmy Gambin, The British Period in Malta by Richard P Agius, Government systems in Malta and abroad by Lawrence Grech, Il-Folklor Malti bħala parti mill-Wirt Kulturali (Tieni Parti) by Marlene Mifsud Chircop, Interpretative Perspectives of Maltese History in Constructing National Identity by Dr Charles Xuereb, Voices of U3A members (sharing experiences), Għerf Missirijietna: riflessjonijiet filosofiċi fuq il-proverbji Maltin by Prof. Joe Friggieri, and Looking into art: How to discuss works of art from different standpoints by Dr Christian Attard. The Sliema Centre: The Constitution of Malta by Prof. Kevin Aquilina, The Medieval Millennium by Vincent Zammit, Historical, Literary and Theological aspects of the Bible by Rev. Dr Stefan Attard, and Understanding Dementia by Dr Anthony Scerri. The Cottonera Centre: Malta During the 19th Century by Vincent Zammit, and Ħajti tiegħi – nagħżel jien! by Marica Mizzi. The Gozo Centre: L-Iżvilupp tal-Edukazzjoni f’Malta by Joseph Xerri, and Ġrajjiet Malta u Għawdex: Storja u Letteratura by Kav. Joe M Attard. For more information, contact the U3E head office at the Catholic Institute in Floriana on 2124 3202 or e-mail diacstef@onvol.net.

January 26 sees the Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing embarking on an extended mission to address complex but delicate issues rather than being contented to let such matters be swept under the carpet only to be faced by an ill-prepared future generation. In organising the first national conference on sexuality and intimacy in later life, the Parlia mentary Secretariat is addressing one of many elephants in the room of ageing policy. Indeed, national policies and programmes often neglect the sexual needs of older adults with healthcare providers often uninformed and poorly trained about the relevant issues, and thus uncomfortable discussing sex and sexuality with their elderly clients. Such programmes are often directed at younger adults of reproductive age. Despite the fact that sexuality, sexual health and the expression of sexual identity are recognised as central components of quality of life and wellbeing, older people are simply left out in the cold, research consistently shows that sexual-

ity remains important to adults over 65 years of age. Moreover, the importance of sexuality for older people, including those living with dementia, is often overlooked or underestimated, and there is even a tendency to accept ageist stereotypes of older people as sexless and undesirable. Moreover, age does not protect an individual from sexually transmitted diseases. Health promotion on such issues should also be promoted in this age group so that such older persons are adequately informed on risks for diseases such as syphilis, gonorrhoea, hepatitis and HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. This policy implementation is especially urgent considering that Malta’s rate of new HIV cases among people over 50 is in the top four for European countries. The national conference is certainly not to be missed as keynote speakers include Prof. Trish Hafford-Letchfield from Middlesex University, and Prof. Charles Savona Ventura and Prof. David Mamo from the University of Malta. Sexologist Dr Nicholoas Briffa will also address the audience.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

OPINJONI

Għin ruħek, u Alla jgħinek... Il-karozza l-ġdida tal-Papa hija eżempju klassiku ta’ responsabbiltà korporattiva, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

a nafx infisser il-ferħ kbir li bih ġiet tkellimni binti qabel marret torqod tard filgħaxija u l-qatgħa kbir li tatni x’ħin waqt li kont qed nikteb dan leditorjal fl-uffiċċju tiegħi iddar fettili qomt u ħriġt minn hemm biex mort għamilt kafe. Sadattant Kristina marret tfittex xi ktieb mill-librerija tagħna. Fetlilha tħares lejn il-laptop tiegħi u hemm sabet dan ir-ritratt ta’ din il-karrozza u taħt, il-caption: “Ilkarozza l-ġdida tal-Papa.” “Pa, pa, papa, int bis-serjetà?… Xtrajt karozza bħal din u lanqas tgħidilna?… Fejnha?… Fejnha, fil-garaxx?… Nista’ ninżel naraha u nidħol ftit fiha?…” Waqt li xraqt fil-kafe. li kont għadni kemm bdejt nieħu, staqsejtha x’qed tara, kif u fejn u weġbitni dwar dan li kien qed jidher fuq il-laptop. “Tridx tħallini u tmur torqod binti għax għada għall-iskola ħanini u tkomplix toħlom aktar meta għadek lanqas biss irqadt,” għedtilha bil-ħlewwa. Il-problema ta’ Kristina kienet doppja. Mhux biss li ħasbet li jien, missierha, b’dak li naqla’ stajt infaddal biex qatt xi darba nixtri Lamborghini ta’ aktar minn kwart ta’ miljun ewro. Talli din l-anġlu tiegħi lanqas biss irrealizzat li dak li kien hemm fir-ritratt fejn il-karozza ma kienx il-papa tagħha, missierha, iżda Papa Franġisku! Waqt li binti reġgħet qabdet ir-rotta lura lejn is-sodda b’geddum sal-art, jien bl-istess qies kelli nerġa’ mmur nintasab fuq is-siġġu skomdu u kiesaħ li fuqu kont aktar qabel biex inkompli nikteb dan. Ġrajjiet simili jiġru spiss. Fi Frar tas-sena li għadha kemm ġiet fi tmiem, mutur tal-marka famuża Harley Davidson li darba s-sid tiegħu kien l-istess Papa Franġisku nbiegħ f’irkant għal €241,500. Ifisser li min xtrah ħallas eżatt, 25 darba aktar tal-valur proprju ta’ dan il-mutur. Id-differenza kienet waħda. Dan kien Harley Davidson ta’ dak illum hu l-Papa! Bosta’ kumpaniji ġganteski multi-nazzjonali għandhom flistruttura tagħhom dak li jissejjaħ corporate social responsibility. Ifisser li dawn jieħdu

Papa Franġisku malLamborghini Huracan.

Din il-vettura mpressjonanti tinbiegħ f’irkant biex permezz ta’ flus li jinġabru se jkunu qed jiġu restawrati rħula fil-medda ta’ Niniveh fl-Iraq ħsieb jagħmlu għotjiet jew joħolqu inizjattivi li permezz tagħhom huma jgħinu persuni, entitajiet jew saħansitra pajjiżi li jistgħu jinsabu fil-bżonn. Forsi tistaqsu: “Dan jagħmluh għax fid-dinja baqa’ xi fidili? Jew, almenu, xi rwieh tajba?” Jista’ jkun. Pero’ fatt żgur li jsir dan hu proprju għaliex fih element qawwi u importanti ħafna ta’ strateġija. Jiġifieri, kif kumpaniji ta’ din id-dimensjoni jagħmlu kampanja ta’ reklamar daqstant qawwija, iżda bi frazzjoni tal-ħlas li kieku kien ikollhom iħallsu, li kieku ħallsu għal pubbliċità kollha li jkunu ngħataw permezz t’għotja simili. Ngħiduha ċara u tonda. Żgur li s-sidien ta’ din il-marka magħrufa tal-karozzi fid-dinja ma kellhom l-ebda dubju li Papa Franġisku mhux se

jagħmel użu minn xi Lamborghini fil-ħajja rutinali tiegħu, dejjem ikkaraterizzata fuq il-valur ta’ qadi u servizz lejn il-bniedem vulnerabbli. Fiżikalment ukoll, ma kellhom l-ebda dubju lanqas, li Papa Franġisku, fl-eta u l-istatura fiżika tiegħu, jista’ qatt joħlom li b’xi mod jaġġusta ruħu biex imqar jidħol f ’din il-karozza sportiva u jmur għal dawra. L-għan kien dak li din il-vettura mpressjonanti tinbiegħ f ’irkant biex permezz ta’ flus li jinġabru se jkunu qed jiġu restawrati rħula fil-medda ta’ Niniveh fl-Iraq, biex jiġu megħjuna vittmi tat-traffikar tal-bnedmin, kif ukoll b’risq ilħidma missjunarja fl-Afrika. Il-kunċett bla dubju ta’ xejn hu wieħed, kif jgħid il-Malti, ‘Bħal xafra li taqta’ miż-żewġ naħat’. Fil-lingwaġġ Ingliż, itterminu l-aktar viċin li sibt

kienet il-frażi ‘live and let live’. U hekk hu... Meta ħasbu biex jagħtu Lamborghini Huracan bħala rigal, l-uffiċjali eżekuttivi ta’ din il-kumpanija Taljana li timmanifattura dawn it-tip ta’ vetturi lussużi sportivi, dik l-istrateġija fl-opinjoni tiegħi wżata kienet waħda għaqlija u li tagħmel ħafna sens. Ippreżentaw din il-karozza lil dak l-aktar bniedem ta’ statura importanti flistorja tad-dinja llum. Dan hu l-bniedem magħruf l-aktar għal karattru grazzjuż tiegħu, għall-ġenerożità u l-karità li jagħmel. Hekk intagħżlu tlett proġetti delikati u kbar li dawn se jibbenifikaw mill-qliegħ li jsir meta din il-Lamborghini se tiġi rkantanta. Ma kien hemm l-ebda ħtieġa ta’ diskorsi fit-tul, qtugħ ta’ żigarelli, kxif ta’ lapidi talirħam jew ċerimonji żejda. Kull ma riedu kien biss il-presenza tal-Qdusija Tiegħu ilPapa jidher qed jiffirma ismu fuq il-karozza quddiem membri jirrappreżentaw il-komunikazzjoni soċjali. Hekk ġara u dik l-attività li ħadet mhux aktar minn 10 minuti waslet biex illum, anke f ’din il-gazzetta, qed jidher bi prominenza, Papa Franġisku mal-Lamborghini Huracan li ngħata bħala rigal.

Ir-riżultat? Ir-riżultat intlaħaq mija fil-mija. Dawn it-tlett proġetti partikolari tal-knisja issa qed ikunu megħjuna biex tittaffa tant tbatija kiefra li bosta kienu dawk li qed jesperjenzaw. Fuq in-naħa l-oħra talmunita, ir-riżultat għall-marka Lamborghini, bl-istess qies intlaħaq għaliex dawn ir-ritratti li ttieħdu f ’dawk l-għaxar minuti ta’ dik il-preżentazzjoni, fi ftit ħin daru mad-dinja kollha. Dehru fuq gazzetti, rivisti, siti elettroniċi awtorevoli u stazzjonijiet televiżivi. Tassew, dan hu eżempju klassiku mill-aktar fin ta’ ‘live and let live’. Li kieku ma sarx dan, dawk it-tlett proġetti tant meħtieġa għal kumplament tal-umanit. forsi qatt ma kienu jaslu li xi darba jimmaterjalizzaw. Fl-istess ħin, kieku ma sarx dan, il-kumpanija Taljana Lamborghini, forsi qatt ma kienet tasal ikollha dik il-pubbliċità massiva kollha madwar il-globu li tagħha ġiet ħallset biss kwart ta’ miljun euro. Live and let live. 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 ‒ JANUARY 2018

DENTAL CARE

How to decide on dental treatment!

atients head to dental clinics to fix their teeth or to get advice on their teeth. More often than not they have specific thoughts in mind. To us practitioners some of these thoughts make sense while others not so much. In close communities such as ours, word travels fast. Patients hear of different kinds of treatments carried out, what went wrong, timeframes, costs and more. They quote how this and that was done and how well it worked out for them but not so much for others. Patients approach their dentist quoting and demanding specific treatment regimes. The dentist then examines and proposes different treatments. Often patients seek a second opinion either because the dentist disagrees with their proposal or because the patient wishes to verify the new proposal with another dentist. Proposals often vary from one dentist to another.

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

Patients often insist and quote how well a treatment worked for their friend or family member and wish that for themselves. In Maltese we have a saying ‘mitt bniedem, mitt fehema’ meaning that a hundred people will give a hundred different opinions. This also applies to dentists but luckily most dentists should agree on at least two to three lines of different treatment for that specific patient. Obviously patients cannot be seen by so many dentists to decide on the best for them. General dental practitioners should be in a position to recognise whether the patient in their chair can and should be treated by them, or whether they should be referred to their more experienced and qualified colleagues. At times general dental practitioners may also perform procedures done by specialists. Ongoing dental education and professional development courses help expand our skills and experience allowing us to take on and offer more treatment modalities. All this is very confusing! To top it up, prices for the

same treatment also vary. This is due to a number of factors; experience, qualifications, materials used, set-up, guarantee given and most of all service offered. For example patients quote ‘but the other dentist said it can be done for this amount and now you are saying it will cost more and must be done differently’. Believe it or not this is often done by email or telephone. Patients call the clinic or send radiographs by email and say ‘I need this and that, how much will it cost’. They expect to get a concrete figure without even getting to the clinic or even without taking a radiograph. This is very frustrating for a dentist who wishes to offer the best advice and perform the right book-standard treatment, assuring the patient that their treatment will last. Sometimes old-fashioned ways of treating patients, not referring to techniques but to good chair-side manners, is the better way to advise patients, to be honest to patients, to have piece of mind that the patient will walk out happy and would have received what was best for them not for the dentist or practice. It’s a very fine line. Don’t rush into things, get the information and make rational decisions with the help of a trustworthy dentist. Ask your dentist!

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

RUMANZ

L-Antikrist Mattew

Silta mir-rumanz ġdid ta’ Tony C. Cutajar.

uddiem l-Inkiżitur Ludovico Gualtieri tressqu tliet każijiet marbutin mas-seħer u s-superstizzjonijiet. L-iżjed każ ikrah kien dak ta’ Katerina Azzopardi, xebba ta’ 20 sena miż-Żejtun, li resqet quddiem l-inkiżitur minn jeddha. Hi rrakkontat li kienet saret taf li ċertu Franġisku ra kif akkwista għadma minn id il-leminija ta’ katavru. Wara, huwa ħa miegħu lsir Tork fiddar ta’ mara jisimha Tereża. Fil-preżenta ta’ għadd ta’ persuni, l-ilsir għamel dik lgħadma frak. Lil waħda mara preżenti jisimha Modesta huwa qalilha biex tħallat ilfrak mal-ilma u tnewwel ittaħlita lil żewġha biex tikkaġunalu l-mewt. Dan kien sar bit-tama li Modesta tieħu ‘l Franġisku bħala żewġha. L-Inkiżitur sejjaħ waħda waħda l-persuni kollha li ssemmew imma ma rnexxilux jaqbad tarf dwar min kien dak l-ilsir. Infatti, ħadd minnhom ma semmieh b’ismu. Kemm dam l-Inkiżitur Gualtieri dan il-każ għalaq billi nstemgħu biss id-denunzji ta’ numru ta’ persuni li kienu kollha nisa. Quddiem l-istess Inkiżitur resaq minn jeddu Angelo de Piro, ta’ 36 sena, iben il-Baruni Giovanni Pio de Piro. Huwa rrakkonta li fi tfulitu l-familja tiegħu kellha lsir Mislem. Dan kien tah bħala rigal figura taċċomb bis-salib ta’ Malta fuqha. Kien qallu li jekk jilbes fuqu

dik l-għamla ta’ amulet, jeħles minn xi periklu li jiġi millarmi. It-tfajjel refa’ dak lamulet b’attenzjoni kbira iżda ma libsux u mbagħad intiliflu. Fl-età ta’ 31 sena, De Piro akkwista mingħand qassis karta b’kitbiet ta’ seħer (kabala), u hu kkupjaha u għamel xi esperimenti biha. Iżda ma għamilx użu minnha skont il-liġijiet stabbiliti tasseħer, iżda vvinta kitba li mingħalih imsaħħra biex jara jakkwistax xi ħaġa biha. Biex jerbaħ fil-logħob huwa qiegħed ma’ ħwejġu riġel niexef ta’ brimba jew ta’ ġurdien iżda xorta waħda ma rebaħx. Kien ukoll jaqra kotba pprojbiti li kienu jgħallmu kif isiru s-sħarijiet. De Piro nidem minn dawn ilħtijiet u ħtijiet oħra u ġie mogħti penitenza li tiswielu ta’ ġid għal ruħu. Għal erba’ snin kellu jersaq għas-sagrament tal-qrar, jitqarben fil-festi l-kbar tal-Knisja u jgħid irrużarju kull nhar ta’ Sibt.

Biex jirbaħ fil-logħob huwa qiegħed ma’ ħwejġu riġel niexef ta’ brimba

Il-każ l-ieħor kien dak ta’ Klement Mallia ta’ 30 sena minn Bormla. Huwa resaq quddiem Gualtieri biex jistqarr il-ħtija tiegħu. Huwa kien beda relazzjoni ma’ Berta mill-Birgu iżda wara xi żmien din xebgħet minnu. Huwa ried jinqeda b’seħer biex jerġa’ jressaqha lejh. Għalhekk, ra kif wasslilha platt minestra li fiha kien ħallat l-isperma tiegħu. Iddispjaċih milli għamel u mar iqerr, imma l-konfessur obbligah jersaq quddiem l-Inkiżitur. Kif kien quddiemu ftakar ukoll li darba waħda lil Berta kien qatagħlha troffa xagħar u ħaraqha flimkien ma’ ftit suf mill-ġenitali tiegħu biex mingħalih din ma titilqux. Klement qala’ lmaħfra mingħand l-Inkiżitur bil-kundizzjonijiet tal-qrar, tqarbin u r-rużarju għal sentejn sħaħ. Din is-sentenza nqatgħet tliet xhur wara li tressaq il-każ. Lippu Farrugia mill-Qrendi deher quddiem l-Inkiżitur Paolo Passionei u qal li billi martu żammitilha riġlejha u mardet ħafna, huwa mar għand wieħed Mislem li kien għadu kif sar Nisrani li wiegħdu li jfejjaqlu lil martu. Tah tliet biċċiet karti b’ċertu taħżiż li l-mara kellha żżomm fuqha biċċtejn minnhom. Il-biċċa l-oħra kellha titqiegħed fl-inbid li tkun se tixrob. Iktar tard qallu biex iqiegħed isem martu f ’buqar tal-ħġieġ, kif ukoll isem ilmara li fil-fehma tiegħu kienet għamlitilha l-magħmul.

Is-saħħar tefa’ l-ilma filbuqar li l-marida kellha tixrob. Qal lil Lippu biex iġiblu wkoll ftit trab minn ħdejn il-bieb taddar ta’ dik li għamlet il-magħmul. Meta l-marida ma fiqitx, is-saħħar talbu maktur u żewġ xagħriet minn tagħha kif ukoll biċċa drapp tal-mara l-oħra. Qallu biex jaħraq il-maktur u jitfa’ l-irmied fil-knisja fejn martu kienet tisma’ l-quddies. Meta l-mara baqgħet marida, żewġha stqarr ħtijietu u lInkiżitur tah il-penitenzi tassoltu tul erba’ snin. Minkejja l-inkiżizzjoni, lgħemejjel ta’ seħer baqgħu komuni wisq f ’pajjiżna, speċjalment minħabba l-preżenza tal-Misilmin Torok. Is-seħer baqa’ jiġi mfittex f ’kull bżonn sew biex jakkwistaw xi ħaġa jew oħra, kif ukoll biex ipattuha jew jeħilsu minn xi ħadd. L-ewwel każ li kellu l-Inkiżitur Giovanni Mancinforte Sperelli kien ftit wara l-wasla tiegħu, meta Madalena Guido mill-Belt Valletta xliet mara oħra jisimha Vitorja mill-Isla li marret għandha biex tkellem lil ommha. Billi ma kinitx hemm, qalulha biex titlaq. Hi għamlet ta’ birruħha ħierġa imma daħlet f ’mezzanin f ’nofs it-taraġ, ħadet xi affarijiet, qegħdithom ġo sorra u kienet ħierġa bihom. Bint Madalena qabditha ħierġa, għalhekk ħadulha s-sorra u ġegħluha turihom x’kellha. Hija neħħiet maktur qadim magħmul mill-qoton tal-Indja,

ħallietu fit-tarf ta’ mejda ċkejkna u telqet. Huma sakkru b’ċavetta l-kxaxen kollha imma sabuhom miftuħin b’kollox imqalleb u bl-affarijiet mixħutin mal-art. Għallewwel ħasbu li dik il-mara kienet reġgħet lura u fetħet bi ċwievet foloz. Irraportawha fil-kastellanija u ġiet arrestata. Imma l-għada reġgħu sabu kollox imqalleb. Għalhekk Madalena mill-ġdid sakkret kollox, qiegħdet stanga malbieb u żammet iċ-ċavetta fuqha. Imma hi u wliedha semgħu ħafna ħsejjes u kif niżlu reġgħu sabu kollox imqalleb. Baqa’ jiġri hekk għal tmint ijiem sħaħ, darbtejn kuljum, filgħodu u filgħaxija. Fl-aħħar issuspettaw f’dak il-maktur li Vitorja kienet ħalliet warajha. Infatti, il-maktur beda jibdel postu u kultant anki jgħib. Madalena u wliedha bdew iwerżqu bil-biża’. Marru għandhom in-nies u wieħed barrani qabad il-maktur u ħarġu f ’nofs il-pjazza. L-għada reġgħu sabu l-kamra mqallba u Madalena sejħet patri biex jeżorċita l-post. Dan qalilha biex tirraporta kollox lillInkiżitur iżda Mancinforte ma kienx jaf x’jaqbad jagħmel b’dan l-ewwel każ tiegħu li kien tassew każ misterjuż. Din is-sena huwa l-40 anniversarju minn meta l-awtur Tony C. Cutajar ippublika l-ewwel rumanz tiegħu, Id-Dubbien l-Abjad (Klabb Kotba Maltin).

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

HEALTH/TISJIR

SeaSon’S cold gReetingS This year’s influenza strain has hit Malta hard. Here is how to help ease the symptoms.

t the end of last year, there were growing concerns that this season’s influenza strain will be much more virulent, caused by the sudden drop of temperatures expected after the multiple heatwaves last summer. The severity and pattern of influenza infection and disease varies from one year to the next, depending on the characteristics of the virus. The most significant impacts of influenza viruses on humans are those arising from the influenza A strains. The Health Department warned that influenza A, the most severe strain, will be the most predominant, with January seeing the highest influx. Predictions were proven correct at the start of the new year as the flu hit the island hard, seeing a surge in people admitted to hospital. Influenza is an infectious disease with mostly respiratory symptoms caused by influenza viruses. The effects of the influenza can range from mild to very severe. Each year there are many avoidable deaths from influenza. Death and complications are more common in older people and those with chronic illnesses. These include people with metabolic diseases (such as diabetes); chronic lung con-

ditions (such as chronic bronchitis); cardi vascular disease (such as coronary artery disease); liver di ease; haematologic cond tions; chronic kidney diseases (such as chronic renal failure); chronic neurological conditions and physical handicap (such as cerebral palsy); and conditions and treatments that suppress the immune function (such as chemotherapy). The elderly on average have a greater risk of developing severe complications, such as pneumonia. In addition, they also are more likely to have chronic diseases, have underlying diseases which reduce their resistance to infection, and their immune response may also be less effective. Very young children also have an increased risk of being infected because they have not developed immunity to the virus. The Health Department advised people suffering from influenza to seek advice from their family doctor, especially if they had high fever, the symptoms did not improve after seven days, the patient was a young child or aged over 65, pregnant, had a chronic medical condition, or had a weakened immune system. The family doctor will then assess the patient and refer them to further secondary

Seek advice from your family doctor, especially if you have high fever

COMFORT FROM FLU SYMPTOMS

care as required. Urgent referrals to hospital included sudden chest pain, difficulty in breathing and coughing up blood. The flu vaccines are still available for free from all health centres for anyone aged six months and over. The vaccine takes between two and four weeks to be fully active.

Stay home and get plenty of rest. Also, mind your flu manners. Flu is contagious so stay home and get plenty of much-needed rest. Sit on the couch, read a favourite novel, watch TV and nap while your body battles the virus. Drink plenty of fluids. Make sure you get more liquids than usual. It doesn’t have to be water – fruit juices, soup and broth are all nutritious and keep your respiratory system hydrated. Treat aches and fever. When you have a high fever, it means that your body has turned up the heat to fight off the flu virus. Treat it and the accompanying aches. Ask your doctor which medicine is right for you. Care for your cough. Lozenges and over-the-counter treatments will calm your cough. Breathe in steam. Fill the bathroom sink with hot water, add some menthol rub or eucalyptus oil and breathe in the steam for a few minutes until you feel better. Salt treatments. Saline nose drops and sprays help unblock your nose.

Risotto fil-forn bil-faqqiegħ u qlub tal-qaqoċċ Anton B. Dougall iħawwar platt ross. Għandek bżonn: 200g faqqiegħ 220g ross arborio 200ml inbid aħmar 2 basliet Bott qlub tal-qaqoċċ

Din ir-riċetta meħuda mill-ktieb Fil-Kċina ma’ Anton: Ikel Bnin Għall-Kontroll tal-Kolesterol (BDL Publishing).

Kif issajjar: Saħħan il-forn 150°C jew gass numru tnejn. Aħsel il-faqqiegħ u qattgħu f ’biċċiet imdaqqsin. Qaxxar il-basal u qattgħu fin. Qiegħed l-inbid f ’taġen fond u poġġih fuq nar baxx sakemm jibqa’ biss żewġ mgħaref minnu. Neħħi t-taġen minn fuq in-nar u żid il-faqqiegħ. Kompli billi tħawwad u ħalli f ’post sħun.

Qiegħed ir-ross f ’dixx tal-forn taċ-ċaqquf jew tal-pyrex. Imbagħad itfa t-taħlita talfaqqiegħ mal-basal. Roxx ftit bżar u melħ u ħawwad tajjeb. Żid il-ħalib tal-bott u ħawwad ftit ieħor. Aħmi ir-ross għal 20 minuta, neħħih millforn, ħawwad sew u erġa’ daħħlu fil-forn għal 20 minuta oħra. Meta toħroġ ir-ross mill-forn irid ikun sar qisu soppa. Qattar tajjeb il-qaqoċċ u aqsam kull qalba f ’erba’ biċċiet. Żidhom mar-ross u ħawwad tajjeb mingħajr ma tkisser il-qaqoċċ. Sajjar fil-forn għal ħames minuti oħra. Servi mill-ewwel.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

Photos the triton fountain still hadn’t been built when this photo of floriana was taken. Photo: Bay retro

Dust roads, beautiful houses and gardens, and a slower pace – Balluta Bay in years gone by. Photo: Bay retro one of the earliest nostalgic postcards of Mġarr harbour when it was still just a tiny hamlet. Photo: Bay retro

Rewind but the Veċċja area in st Paul’s Bay. Photo: John Portelli/Bay retro

As another new year gets in gear, Senior Times and Bay Retro throw it in reverse and remember the good old years. Photos courtesy of Bay retro

Maltese families search through the rubble of their bombed homes in Valletta in 1942. Photo: frank BowMan/Bay retro

a beautiful ornamental fountain on kingsway, opposite where Malta’s law courts stand today. Photo: Bay retro

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

A rare glimpse of rural life in Gozo in the 1920s with a spread of prickly pear trees lining the fields between Victoria and Marsalforn. PHOTO: BAY RETRO

don’t erase

A train pulls in at Attard Station. PHOTO: PAUL GALEA/BAY RETRO

Victory Street in Senglea in the 1880s, long before the horrors of World War II. PHOTO: BAY RETRO

Massive crowds watch the carnival floats on Kingsway in Valletta in the early 1960s. PHOTO: MELVYN SEYCHELL/BAY RETRO

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1

34. Movable (6) 35. Plot a course (8) 36. Former Spanish currency (6)

7 8 10

EASY CROSSWORD

9 10

15 17

1. Banquet (5) 2. Fiend (5) 3. Eyelid inflammation (4) 4. Assumed name (5) 5. Go by (4) 6. Broad street (6) 9. Drives too fast (6) 11. Sing with closed lips (3) 12. Worth (5) 13. Country (7) 15. Circuit (3) 16. That woman (3) 18. Introduce gradually (6) 20. Boy’s name (5) 21. Alcoholic spirit (3) 22. Court (3) 23. Relegate (6) 25. Jewel (3) 28. Stadium (5) 30. Backless sofa (5) 31. At no time (5) 32. Use one’s teeth on (4) 33. Bucket (4)

DOWN

13 15

35 36

ACROSS 4. Spheres, it seems, can be flat! (6) 7. A queen’s husband whose twins were healthy (8) 8. In the throes, there are always options (6) 10. Relieve everybody on some days (5) 13. Debatable beastly utterance by an East Ender (4) 14. The charge comes to fifty quid (4) 15. A humble, down-to-earth turner (4) 16. Figure to hearten the Hottentot (3) 17. Used bad pork pies (4) 19. Bit of a nonentity, but soon one gets ahead (4) 21. Of an electrifying performance? (9) 23. Old sayings observed by Socrates initially (4) 24. Sack the lot, hiding nothing (4) 26. Is extracting this from jojoba a difficulty? (3) 27. In the music trade, it’s jazz (4) 29. It may feed you a little but tell you nothing (4) 32. A drop of tea – right? (4) 33. A plate, mate? (5) 34. Elbow benders (6) 35. Painted face showing a bit of sporty characteristic (8) 36. A little man’s deputies (6) DOWN 1. Kind of vessel apt to sink a lot (5) 2. Maybe sat on the corner again to waste time (5) 3. Move various ways (4) 4. Knock down for consuming half a loaf (5) 5. Borrowed from German, it’s true (4) 6. Put in the shade? (6) 9. Otto cunningly gets round mum for something to eat (6) 11. One highly apt to lead to a smash (3) 12. You’ll admit there’s nothing in demolishing a wall (5) 13. Formed of units mostly produced from a mould – right? (7) 15. United – or possibly Wednesday? (3) 16. The height of rhetoric (3) 18. One’s own part arranged for spinet (6) 20. Nick’s not a companion (5) 21. Its driver usually has the knowledge (3) 22. Fish, fox or fool (3) 23. Broadcasting on a farming matter? (6) 25. A deity for all (3) 28. Tools for fixing broken spars (5) 30. Name incomplete on account of a bloomer (5) 31. Upright supporters of old-fashioned sea travel (5) 32. International flier? (4) 33. Not so much a sweetheart as pretty shrewd (4) DECEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 4. M-Al-ice 7. Hon.-O-Lulu 8. Space-k 10. Cliff 13. H-E-ad 14. Kill 15. MA’s-s 16. Rig 17. Open 19. Spot 21. R-O-undhead 23. Turn 24. Best 26. Cab 27. Dean 29. Cr.-AB 32. Wing 33. Shore 34. Debits 35. Underarm 36. St-od-ge. DOWN: 1. Chic-K 2. Anvil 3. C-L-EF 4. M-u-ses 5. Load 6. Credi-t 9. Passes 11. LI-p 12. Floor 13. Handbag 15. Men 16. Rod 18. Pu-ndi-t 20. P-atch 21. Rub 22. Hen 23. Talent 25. FAR 28. Ensue 30. Rot-as 31. Beams 32. Wind 33. She’d.

ACROSS

19. Fencing sword (4) 21. Explosive mixture (9) 23. Perishes (4) 24. Price (4) 26. Farmyard bird (3) 27. Mexican snack (4) 29. Paradise (4) 32. Kind of ballpoint (4) 33. Chief, most important (5)

4. Ask earnestly (6) 7. Ultimate (8) 8. Editions (6) 10. Push (5) 13. Charts (4) 14. Fish type (4) 15. Fail to win (4) 16. Cabin (3) 17. Fibber (4)

DECEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 4. Gospel 7. Helsinki 8. Rhebok 10. Scowl 13. Blip 14. Sari 15. Oast 16. Auk 17. Dads 19. Mars 21. Lose heart 23. Newt 24. Fang 26. Keg 27. Rout 29. Omit 32. Earl 33. Snare 34. Paella 35. Throttle 36. Renege. DOWN: 1. Chess 2. Floor 3. Kill 4. Girls 5. Seep 6. Exodus 9. Hit man 11. Cat 12. Widow 13. Bashful 15. Ode 16. Art 18. Astral 20. Argon 21. Leg 22. Eat 23. Negate 25. Fir 28. Orate 30. Marti 31. Tepee 32. Else 33. Spot.

WORD SEARCH J

Abound Ascended Baser Bulks Bumpy Clues Cobra Collaborates Comics Cones

Crews Cubic Denim Detects Dungeons Dwells Ecosystem Erosion Exams Farce

Flunks Gullet Inlets Knocked Lapping Operations Papyri Pence Quark Renews

Sewer Sheik Skews Squid Tapes Ticket Timidity Trail Whiter Yoked

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

Ngħidu kelma

COMPETITION

QWIEL MALTIN U XI JFISSRU Min ma jġarrabx il-ħażin ma jafx it-tajjeb. He who has no experience of evil cannot know the worth of what is good.

Climbing the Bookshelves by Shirley Williams

Tifla sabiħa tinqala’ b’ġieħa, tifla kerha tinqala bil-mera. A beautiful girl uses her good looks to attract attention, while an ugly girl does so with the help of a mirror.

The Malta Contract by E.L. Begbie

Id-dbielet twal ikarkru t-trab, imma d-dbielet qosra jkarkru l-erwieħ. Long skirts drag dust but short skirts carry away souls.

Historic Times

This month, we are giving away these three bestselling paperbacks. To win, tell us the date when this Times of Malta front page was published. To give you a hint, we recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of this historic event for Malta. Send your answers via e-mail to seniortimes@timesofmalta.com or by post to ‘Senior Times Competition’, Allied Newspapers Limited, Triq L-Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000. The first three correct answers that we receive win a paperback each.

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

1 4 5 9 8 6 3 7 2

2 6 9 5 3 7 4 1 8

8 3 7 2 4 1 5 6 9

7 2 8 4 5 9 1 3 6

9 1 4 3 6 2 7 8 5

6 5 3 7 1 8 2 9 4

3 8 2 1 9 4 6 5 7

5 7 6 8 2 3 9 4 1

4 9 1 6 7 5 8 2 3

How to Cook Better by Shaun Hill

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

Tagħmilx iz-zalza qabel taqbad il-ħut. Don’t prepare the sauce before catching fish.

Qabbilli waħda

4 8 6 5

Kaxxa ġugarelli Għandi kaxxa ġugarelli, din mimlija sa fuq nett, Għandi l-pupa u l-karozza, u tat-te jien għandi sett. Ballun ċkejken u safrani, ors jiċċaqlaq u vapur, hemm xadina qisha ħajja, pupu ħelu fuq mutur. Banni bannozzi Banni bannozzi, ġejja n-nanna Nozzi. Nozzi ta’ ħdejna, biċċa ħobż bil-ġbejna. Ċuff ċuff il-baħar Ċuff ċuff il-baħar, ommi mir-raħal. Missieri miż-Żejtun, għandu baqra u karettun.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

OPINION

Every new year stands before us like a blank book.

very end of December, as the year comes to a close, I generally find myself reflecting upon the year that’s gone and the months ahead. Yet no matter how hard I try to envisage what lies ahead, I must admit that every new year stands before me like a blank book, the pages of which remain there for me to fill in gradually as the days unfold. I guess like most people, I make resolutions: I pledge to get in fitter shape, declutter my home, maybe dedicate more time to reading, or for the greater part, become a better person. A New Year’s resolution is a common tradition in the Western world. People resolve to change an undesired trait in their character or a particular behaviour; they promise that they will try to enhance their life by accomplishing a personal goal. They are convinced that this is the year when they’ll become more patient, give up eating carbs, go for a run every morning, or quit drinking. Yet, inevitably, three weeks into the new year, like me, many find themselves

right back where they started. Indeed, by the time February rolls around, my own resolve to improve this and do that, is totally and utterly dissipated. According to a CNN News report, it’s only in very rare cases that these good intentions are retained for the whole year: in fact, it’s reported that 80 per

Determining tangible measures and setting a deadline

cent of resolutions fail by the second week of February. It seems that the odds are against us, but could it be that it’s because when setting New Year’s resolutions, most of us tend to shoot for the moon? Do we resolve to reach unattainable goals or make unrealistic changes? This could well be the case. In a selfhelp attempt, I googled “how to reach attainable goals” and a very interesting technique came up. It’s called “S.M.A.R.T.”. This seems to be a popular method for goal-setting in the world today. There are a number of variations of this technique but basically, the most common version states that a well-set goal should meet the following criteria: one’s goal should be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Time-based. Approaches to this technique include writing down the specific goal, determining tangible measures and setting a deadline. If the goal involves other people, then they will need to know this too. Of course, there are goals and goals. It’s one thing trying to achieve more

This year is another opportunity to start making some long-term transformations to improve our lives, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

NEW BEGINNINGS T C HR I S

success at work, for example, and a totally different kettle of fish to improve upon or change a longingrained behavioural trait. A friend who is trained in psychology tells me that the best approach to achieve this new level of equilibrium is not by trying to transform behaviour radically and immediately, but through small wins each day. Trying to change all at once could possibly lead to being pulled back into the same pattern as before. However, if the person focuses upon improving gradually on a daily basis, then the behaviour will adjust itself as naturally as a side effect. So, now that 2018 is well on its way the days are rolling by, and your sense of re-evaluation and retrospection may already be fading into the background, may I encourage you reconsider sticking with the list of important lifestyle changes you may have decided to pursue, because after all, New Year resolutions are the perfect opportunity for us to start making some long-term transformations to improve our lives.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

RELIĠJON

Ħarsa lura... u oħra ‘l quddiem Fil-bidu ta’ kull esperjenza ġdida jeħtieġ li ma tintesiex l-esperjenza li tkun għaddiet, jgħid Dun Jonathan Farrugia.

l-bidu ta’ sena ġdida huwa żmien partikulari ħafna, u dan għax bħal kull bidu ieħor iġib miegħu ħafna aspettativi – jista’ jkun tajbin u jista’ jkun ħżiena. Għal min għandu xi negozju il-bidu tassena huwa żmien ta’ stock taking: iħarsu lura biex jaraw x’mar tajjeb fil-bejgħ u fil-proġetti, jaraw ukoll x’mar ħażin, u jikkunsidraw x’baqagħlhom f ’idejhom. Minn dan it-tagħrif, imbagħad, millesperjenza li jkunu għamlu, ifasslu l-pjan għas-sena li tkun ġejja. L-idea li fil-bidu tas-sena ssir din it-tip ta’ evalwazzjoni ġejja mill-antik u jekk nagħtu daqqa t’għajn ħafifa lejn ilmitoloġija marbuta mal-bidu tas-sena, nistgħu nifhmu xi ftit aktar l-importanza ta’ dan il-jum li jinsab bejn sena u oħra. L-isem tal-ewwel xahar tas-sena – Jannar, jew bil-latin Januarius, ġej mill-isem ta’ alla Ruman li n-nies kienu jemmnu fih madwar erba’ sekli qabel it-twelid ta’ Ġesù. Kien jismu Janus u li għandu nteressanti ħafna hu li fix-xbihat kollha tiegħu (statwi, pitturi, tinqix fuq muniti antiki) dan Janus dejjem huwa ppreżentat bħala raġel b’żewġ uċuħ iħarsu f ’direzzjonijiet opposti: wiċċ iħares ‘il quddiem u l-ieħor iħares lura. Għar-Rumani dan kien l-alla tal-bidu tat-tmiem, l-alla tal-bidla minn ħaġa għall-oħra u kien anke meqjus bħala lalla tal-bibien – għax hemm differenza bejn dak li hemm barra u dak li hemm ġewwa. Minn dan kollu dan l-alla kien ifakkar lin-nies ta’ Ruma tal-qedem, qabel ma saret imperu, li fil-bidu ta’ kull esperjenza ġdida jeħtieġ li ma tintesiex l-esperjenza li tkun għaddiet. U l-ewwel xahar tas-sena ingħata isem dan l-alla appuntu għax xejn ma juri

b’mod aħjar bidu ġdid mill-bidu ta’ sena ġdida. U minn dan l-ispunt aħna l-insara wkoll għandna lezzjoni x’nitgħallmu. Waqt li nħarsu lura lejn is-sena li għaddiet, tajjeb naraw sewwa sew x’kien fiha sabiħ u x’kien fiha ikrah. Żgur li kellha xi ftit mit-tnejn. Forsi kien hemm mumenti ta’ fallimenti fix-xogħol, firrelazzjonijiet, fil-ħbiberiji, fl-ambizzjonijiet personali, forsi kien hemm mumenti ta’ niket minħabba t-telfa ta’ xi ħadd għażiż. Forsi kien hemm ukoll mumenti ta’ dnub fejn ippreferejna nimxu wara dak li jogħġobna jew jaqblilna flok wara dak li huwa tassew ta’ ġid għalina. Imma s-sena li għaddiet żgur li ma kienx fiha biss dawn. Forsi kien hemm mumenti ta’ sorpriżi sbieħ, xi telefonata wara żmien twil minn xi ħadd li nħobbu, xi ħbiberiji jew relazzjonijiet ġodda, forsi xi opportunitajiet li qatt ma ħlomna li se jiġuna, suċċess flistudju jew fil-karriera, forsi kien hemm anke xi rebħiet personali żgħar

L-imgħoddi veru ma jistax jinbidel, imma nistgħu nużawh bħala għodda biex iż-żmien li ġej ikun aħjar minnu

fl-imġieba tagħna u fil-kontroll tagħna nfusna u fi kliemna. Forsi kien hemm ukoll xi mumenti meta konnha qawwijin biżżejjed biex nagħżlu t-tajjeb filħajja tagħna. U jalla kien hemm mumenti wkoll meta tajna palata lil min kellu bżonn: jew permezz ta’ xi offerta jew inkella billi konnha hemm biex nisimgħuh u nsabbruh fil-mumenti iebsin li hu kien għaddej minnhom. Insomma, fi ftit kliem, żgur li għandna lejn xiex inħarsu lura lejn din is-sena li għaddiet. U forsi tgħiduli: “Tajjeb, mela għandna koċċ tifkiriet lejn xiex inħarsu. X’se nagħmlu bihom la limgħoddi ma nistgħux nibdluh?” L-imgħoddi veru ma jistax jinbidel, imma nistgħu nużawh bħala għodda biex iż-żmien li ġej ikun aħjar minnu. Nieħdu l-esperjenzi koroh: minn kull waħda minnhom żgur li xi ħaġa tgħallimna. Jekk l-esperjenza kienet qarsa minħabba l-imġieba ħażina tagħna, minħabba żball tagħna jew inkella minħabba nuqqas ta’ responsabbiltà min-naħa tagħna – mela suppost tgħallimna li għall-għażliet ħżiena li nagħmlu xi darba jew oħra se nbatu l-konsegwenzi. Dan għandu jgħinna biex fix-xhur li ġejjin nippruvaw naħsbu ftit aktar qabel nagħmlu xi ħaġa biex kemm jista’ jkun ma jkollniex inpattu għallazzjonijiet tagħna ‘il quddiem.

Janus dejjem huwa ppreżentat bħala raġel b’żewġ uċuħ iħarsu f’direzzjonijiet opposti.

Jekk, bħalma spiss jiġri, għaddejna minn xi esperjenza kerha minħabba l-irresponsabbiltà ta’ ħaddieħor, dan għandu jgħinna nitgħallmu safejn nistgħu nafdaw lil xi nies u naħsbuha aħjar qabel ma nagħmlu dak li jgħidulna jew qabel ma nitkellmu magħhom fuq affarijiet personali tagħna. Ċirkustanzi hekk jgħinuna nagħrfu aħjar min verament jixtieqilna l-ġid u min irid iqarraq bina... waqt li joffrulna opportunità biex nitgħallmu naħfru lil min iweġġagħna u nagħdru lil min jiżbalja. Mill-esperjenzi sbieħ żgur li tgħallimna li minkejja t-tbatija, il-ħajja fiha wkoll is-sabiħ, mela nistgħu nistinkaw biex dan is-sabiħ u t-tajjeb li hemm f ’kull wieħed u waħda minnha, nuruh aktar u nkabbruh. Ejjew nużaw dan kollu biex din issena li qed tibda tkun sena aktar għaqlija, u għalhekk, aktar sabiħa, u jalla nitgħallmu nużaw kull esperjenza f ’daż-żmien li ġej biex ningħarfu tassew bħala ċittadini responsabbli li nixtiequ nimxu lejn dak li tassew jgħodd.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

SPORT

The Ajax legend Carmel Baldacchino recounts the rise and rise of the Floriana Ajax legend.

ay back in 1944, a group of youngsters from Floriana could be seen every day kicking a ball on Granaries Square. In those days when life was starting to pick up pace after the World War II, boys had very little toys to play with. A rag or rubber ball was all that one could hope for. For long hours, the boys of Floriana played their favourite game with no rules or referee to interfere with their love of the game. Soon however, grown-ups began to take notice, as bound to happen in a football-mad district like Floriana. One was a certain Sgt. Lippu. He divided the boys into two teams and arranged a match for a cup between them. Then, in a stroke of genius, he asked the well-known Floriana and Malta full-back Frankie Tabone to referee the game. On June 12, 1944, a large crowd assembled on the Granaries to watch the match. It was a historic occasion and the crowd seemed to sense it. Amid great enthusiasm, one side eventually beat the other 3-2. Tabone was so impressed by the natural skills of the youngsters that after the match he gathered the boys around him and expressed his wish to start coaching the team. Naturally the boys accepted his offer and the following day a meeting was held at the Granaries. This was the start of the Ajax legend. Lectures were given in a store in Pinto Wharf belonging to Tabone’s father-in-law. Tactics and plans were expounded. Following a period of physical preparation and ball control, on November 12, 1944 the boys played their maiden match against the Valletta Minors, winning 2-1.

The team was an immediate success and fame began to spread. The team entered for the Anglo-Maltese Minors competitions, finishing runners-up in the league and reaching the semi-finals of the cup competition. The following season, the team improved beyond recognition. The boys matured and their control of the ball became more pronounced. Teamwork was the secret of their success. Great diligence was exerted in that direction. Future opponents were watched by all the team. Two days before a match they were brought together again to discuss the opponents’ failings and mistakes. Discipline was enforced and there were no distinctions. Speed and accuracy, an effective long pass, a killer square pass, and perfect inter-changing were the ingredients of their success. Their defence’s first-class positioning and covering gave the impetus to their scheming forwards. Few teams put up any sort of challenge to the Ajax. Other-

Frankie Tabone, the coach and mentor of the famous Floriana Ajax, the team that was to blossom into the greatest football team in the history of Maltese football is in the centre of the photograph. The first two players in the back, unfortunately are not known. The others are: Joseph Grech, Ronnie Tabone, Tony Vella, Pullu Demanuele, Benny Camilleri, Lolly Borg, Nicholl, Lolly Debattista, Tony Dalli, Charlie Azzopardi, Micallef.

wise they hardly exerted themselves in the league. In charity matches they came up against older and stronger opposition but again their splendid teamwork always proved superior. It is no wonder that the English sportswriter, Scott Hall described the Ajax in the Times

of Malta as ‘Malta’s Magnificent Miniatures’. The team usually lined up as follows: Fucile, Lolly Debattista, Micallef, Tony Vella, Tony Dalli, Joseph Grech, Nicholl, Benny Camilleri, Charlie Azzopardi, Lolly Borg and Pullu Demanuele.

The Ajax team at the height of their career in 1952-53. That season, Floriana won the elusive triple of the League Championship, the FA Trophy and the Cassar Cup.

This was one of the earliest Ajax formations. In 1945, Roll, John Alamango and Balzan were roped into the team. Later formations included outside-right Victor Farrugia and goalkeeper Ronald Tabone. So was born one of the greatest-ever Maltese football teams which did honour not only to Floriana but to Maltese football in general. Ajax were essentially an attacking side always looking for more goals and this sometimes led to their downfall. In their three-year reign in youth football they played 104 matches, winning 88, drawing 10 and losing six. They scored 368 goals and conceded 53. This record shows their attacking instinct. Ajax became a legend in Maltese football, synonymous with all that is good in football. Before the war a victory for Valletta against Floriana was unheard of but things improved greatly when the game was resumed in 1943. In 1948 Valletta registered one of the best-ever results

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

The Ajax at the start of their career when they dominated Youths’ competitions: Nicholl, Benny Camilleri, Joe Grech, Tony Dalli, Lolli Debattista, Ronnie Tabone, Micallef, Lolly Borg, Pullu Demanuele, Tony Vella, Charlie Azzopardi.

There was now very little hope left for Valletta as the ‘babies’ began to give their opponents a lesson in football

against their neighbours. The second-round defeat against St George’s left Floriana’s title hopes hanging by a thread. The team was ageing and changes had to be made if the club was to retain its reputation. Yet, despite all its shortcomings the team still had enough talent to keep its head above water, at least until the crop of youngsters waiting in the wings would reach maturity. This view however was about to change dramatically. Valletta, who in the past played second fiddle to Floriana, on February 4, 1948 beat the Greens by the incredible score of five goals to nil. Playing fast and flowing football Valletta completely shattered their opponents. Pawlu Vassallo opened the deluge in the 26th minute. Then it was the turn of Salvinu Schembri who hit in two quick goals to send the Whites’ supporters to wild with joy. Floriana did not know what hit them and at half-time they eagerly sought the refuge of their dressing-room for a much-needed respite. The worse was still to come however and midway through the second half, goalkeeper Frankie Busuttil tumbled over Fredu Preca and dislocated his shoul-

der. His place was taken by Ġużi Bennetti. In the circumstances Bennetti did not do so badly but he still had to pick up the ball from the back of his net twice. Salvinu Schembri completed his hat-trick and five minutes from the end Ġużi Vassallo scored the fifth goal to complete Floriana’s humiliation. The match against Valletta had severe repercussions for a number of Floriana players. The Greens could not stomach such a humiliating defeat against their deadliest enemies. Something drastic had to be done. A few days after the game, Leli Cauchi, the brothers Willie and Ġużi Bennetti, and the league’s leading scorer Pawlu Galea, ‘Il-Ħamiemu’ were put on the transfer list. Others like Fredu Preca, John Zahra, Freddie ‘Nemusa’ Micallef and Arthur Micallef Podesta never played again for Floriana. On Saturday, February 28, 1948 the whole team was dropped and the Second Division team which consisted entirely of Ajax players was roped in. It was a historic moment. The young Ajax players made a successful debut in the First Division beating Melita 2-0 under the most difficult conditions. Despite the

strong wind which made ball control very difficult the youngsters played delightful football. The next season, the young Ajax players were showing tremendous promise but overall the season was a great source of disappointment for the Greens’ supporters. By the time Valletta met Floriana on March 12, 1949 for their second round encounter the Citizens had played 10 games and won nine of them. At the same time, Floriana were stranded in the middle of the table. To make matters worse for Floriana they had to make do without the services of fullback Lolly Debattista who was serving a one-match suspension. Valletta had already beaten Floriana 3-2 in the first round. That day, the Valletta supporters made merry by waving huge dummies at the young Ajax players. They also distributed fliers with pictures of babies, dummies and nursery rhymes. Floriana were not amused. They did not take these insults kindly and they vowed to get their own back at the first opportunity. Their chance came on that chilly afternoon in March 1948. The Greens were determined to take their own back on their tormentors and they entered the arena like a pack of hungry lions. Valletta dominated early exchanges. The atmosphere at the Stadium was electric as the City players threatened to

sweep the Irish off their feet. However, the Greens’ defence held fast. The game was barely a few minutes old when Alfie Pearson took a free-kick from just outside the penalty area. Frankie Busuttil dived full length to stop the ball which seemed to squirm out of his grasp. The Valletta supporters were already on their feet but Busuttil jumped back on the ball before it could trickle over the line. At the other end, Pullu Demanuele smacked the ball against the post which Wenzu Gabaretta well beaten. The biggest scare however came for Floriana. To their dismay, referee Joe Cassar Naudi signalled for a penalty for a handling infringement. A great hush fell over the ground as Salvinu Schembri. Salvinu was an expert penalty-taker and he rarely ever missed from the spot. Imagine therefore, the dismay of the City supporters when he kicked the ball to the wrong side of the left upright! To make matters worse for Valletta, the shouting was barely over when Lolly Borg opened the score for Floriana. Valletta now made a great effort to level the score and a few minutes from half-time Vassallo scored the equaliser. For the second half, Valletta reshuffled their forward-line but these changes failed to make an impact. Floriana started to move forward with more purpose and it was no sur-

prised when Pullu Demanuele scored his side’s second goal. Scenting victory, the young Ajax players grew more confident. A minute had barely gone by when Charlie Azzopardi hit in another goal. The City fans went dead silent as their neighbours started their celebrations. There was now very little hope left for Valletta as the ‘babies’ began to give their opponents a lesson in football. The final minutes were a nightmare for the Citizens and then to cap the cream on the cake Pullu Demanuele completed their misery with another spectacular goal. The final whistle came with the score 4-1 in favour of Floriana. The Greens had their revenge as thousands of green and white fliers rained down over the Stadium bearing the following stanza. ‘Aj aj aj Marija Spiċċat il-frattarija Ma dendlux gażażi Issa mal-gallarija’ For an accurate translation I suggest that you ask someone from Floriana or better still, someone from Valletta! From that moment on, the team continued to flourish until it became the greatest-ever in the history of Maltese football. It is enough to say that between 1949 and 1953 the team won the championship a record four times in succession and the FA Trophy three times.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

AGEING

Activities for persons with memory loss Even if persons at an advanced stage of dementia seem locked in, we owe it to them to still try to interact with them, says Charlotte Stafrace.

t’s a hard question to ask oneself: If it were me, would I want to be left alone with no interaction? I know how I would answer. In my work with the elderly, I have come across a number of cases of older adults with memory loss, and some with full-on dementia. Here’s some practical advice I would like to share. Firstly, if you suspect that your family member is showing challenging signs to normal ageing, please go for a proper diagnosis. This is vital for a number of reasons: to ask questions, to see if there is medication which could benefit them, but also to learn about the condition. There are also other forms of help and information, some on a practical level – so check out the Freephone number 1771 and also places like the Dementia Society, an NGO which strives to make the latest information accessible. Inform yourself also by attending the memory cafes which are being set up. You can rest assured you won’t feel alone, and talking about your real situation with others who can sympathise can work wonders. On the threshold of a diagnosis of a family member, I would say that the first necessity is support.

Getting the right support could mean giving better assistance to the person with memory loss.

Support can be found either through other family members, the social structure, or in a long-term care support system. Taking care of a partner or a loved one is very demanding and not everyone is healthy or strong enough to take on the task. There is still a lot of debate whether it is wise to move a dementia suf-

ferer into assisted care or keep living in your own family environment for as long as possible. Every case is different of course. Some stay in the home, and get an extra carer to help out, while others attend the dementia day care centres, which undoubtedly need to increase to cater for the large and growing demand.

Getting the right support could mean giving better assistance to the person with memory loss and avoiding the reallife tragedy of carer burn out. Learning about dementia and how to interact and connect through activities has been a real eye-opening experience in my work. In this issue, I will be looking at home activities for persons with memory loss who are still living within the family home. Knowing at what stage of dementia your family member or partner is, and to be in tune and knowledgeable about any changes, is very important for you as a caregiver. Not every dementia case progresses in the same way either – being in the moment and making special moments matter is now more significant than ever. Having lived with a partner or family member, you hold the key to some very insightful information. Document all that know about that person, because, if need be and your

loved one moves to long term care, it would be very beneficial to the caregivers there to know their client and how to connect with them. Try to split your loved one’s day into various activities, creating a fluid routine, as otherwise the temptation could be to spend endless hours in front of the TV. Anything can be an activity, of course, even going for a drive or a walk by the beach, or picking up pebbles. Anyone who loved the outdoors would welcome this, so take the opportunity to go outdoors, as it will be therapeutic for all. Try throwing a ball on the beach – most people suffering from memory loss that I have met relish the idea of revisiting the idea of play, and the majority of us have played with a ball and have enjoyed ball games throughout our lives. You might also try your hand at making pebble sculptures, or painting pebbles, or even flying a kite. Yes, it’s fine

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

NEWS

to play. Actually, it’s important to play. It is not infantilising the situation, but rather finding a way to reconnect with the past, remembering happy times, or it could just mean having sheer fun being in the moment. Some people enjoy gardening, and, I believe, seeing something grow can be very rewarding, and also reassuring. So with the right measures in place, and if you have access to a garden, or can even manage some pots in a yard, it can enliven the mood and preserve dexterity. If a person is still mobile, and enjoys being in the kitchen, try to programme help to get some simple baking or cooking organised. Continuing with regular tasks for as long as possible can be a bonus. Maybe this would be a good time for added help to be factored in, just to make the kitchen environment safer. If you enjoyed doing sports together, you might want to spend some time doing simple movements or chair exercises on a regular basis, as this could improve some mood changes as well as maintain mobility. If someone still enjoys stories, try to involve them in reading. This can take the form either of a story read by the person with memory loss (depending on the stage), or else you can read – and animate – any piece of writing. It is important to try and maintain speech activity, and to try and make the most of time available. Another useful activity, which we sometimes forget because it is obvious, is maintaining a conversation. A useful tool I have come across is to make conversation scrapbooks. Simply by putting pictures related to a theme, you can create endless conversations or stories. You can talk about what is in the picture, but also how the food used to be in the past, how it is used, likes and dislikes. Bear in mind to keep it light hearted and to ask open-ended questions to

encourage dialogue. Any form of dialogue can be a blessing as there will come a time when it will falter. There is a lot of information about the importance of reminiscing. We all do it at some point in our lives and I think it is healthy as well as fun. You might want to look up some old items in a forgotten cupboard, items that you had used or used to enjoy in a different era, and see if it opens up some dialogue or movement related to it. There are a multitude of ideas online – get help if you need to access it as it is truly inspiring, and a good way to connect with others in similar situations. You might want to familiarise yourself with pet therapy or doll therapy – they can both be reassuring and soothing ways of connecting. There are even people trying out meditation and mindfulness. There are also, of course, various gadgets and items that can be purchased in order to provide play opportunities, like adult colouring books, stacking blocks or activity blankets. There is also plenty of information out there about setting up your own support group if you know of others who would welcome an opportunity to share ideas or to keep talking. Doing meaningful activities in a safe, homely and encouraging environment can be very rewarding to both carer and cared for. The key element is to try – most activities are free and can rekindle your own artistic flair. They are nonmedicated but can make a significant difference. And if something doesn’t work today, you might want to revisit it tomorrow or indeed try a different one too. The important thing is to keep trying. 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.

Being in the moment and making special moments matter is now more significant than ever

Magħna għal missjoni F’soċjetà fejn l-individwaliżmu u l-egoiżmu qed jiddomina, il-Fondazzjoni U permezz tal-maratoni (u programmi ohra) mxandra fuq it-TV qed tipprova tippromovi kultura tal-You, fejn kif jindika l-isem tal-fondazzjoni, il-“U” jigi qabel l-“I”. Il-Fondazzjoni U teżisti propju għalik, int il-fqir, l-batut, il-bniedem fil-bżonn, ta’ liema razza, kulur, u reliġjon int. Aħna talFondazzjoni U neżistu għalik. Kun magħna nhar il-Ġimgħa 26, is-Sibt 27 u l-Ħadd 28 ta’ Jannar għal maratona ‘Il-missjoni bżonnok’. Din hi maratona ta’ 42 siegħa b’risq diversi proġetti u ħidmiet li diversi gruppi u individwi Maltin jixtiequ jwettqu f ’diversi pajjizi tal-missjoni fit-2018.

Kun magħna fil-maratona tas-26, 27 u 28 ta’ Jannar għat-tfal foqra tal-Missjoni (filKenja, fl-Uganda, fil-Filippini, u fl-Indja) li qed imutu bil-guħ u li m’għandhomx min iħallsilhom l-iskola. Kun magħna fil-maratona ta’ Jannar biex inwasslu ilma nadif fl-Afrika permezz tallifesaver jerry cans, borehole u filter għalilma nadif Kun magħna fil-maratona tas-26, 27 u 28 ta’ Jannar għal persuni morda serjament fil-missjoni tal-Peru u l-Pakistan biex almenu jmutu b’dinjità. Kun magħna fil-maratona ta’ Jannar u għin fil-formazzjoni ta’ sorijiet ulied il-Qalb ta’ Ġesu fil-pajjiżi tal-missjoni.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

CARS

JOE B

US UT

TI L

…Then nostalgia came along A passion for old cars came late for John Farrugia, but he is certainly catching up, Joe Busuttil from the Old Motors Club says.

hroughout a lengthy period spanning more than five decades living and working in England, John Farrugia hardly ever needed to buy a car, as a vehicle always came along in the remuneration package of all the various jobs that he had. There was one significant exception, when he bought a 1958 Austin Cambridge A55 from his brother-in-law, Mario Conti, a classic car that he kept for eight years. “The Austin had been restored to an impeccable condition by Mario, who used to work as a mechanic with a car maintenance company that serviced the vehicles of the British royal family. He spent a lot of time and money on the project, leaving no stone unturned to bring it back to its original state,” recounts John. “It instilled in me a genuine love and affection for old motors.” Many years later both men returned to Malta to settle down here. About five years ago, Farrugia was accompanying Conti’s son, Stephen, to a car dealer, when he spotted an old Vauxhall Victor gathering dust in the garage. “I was suddenly overwhelmed by a pressing and powerful nostalgia to lay my hands again on a classic car. One of the immediate attractions of the Vauxhall was that it reminded me of the American Chevrolet,” he explains. He bought the old car, which had been in the hands of only one owner for 25 years, and it had to be sold after he had suffered a heart attack. Having been idle for many years, a

PHOTOS: TONY VASSALLO, OLD MOTORS CLUB

With one old car successfully restored under his belt, Farrugia was easy prey to the pervasive classic car collecting fever pickup was required to tow the 1969 Vauxhall to his large garage in Marsascala. The wheels were completely jammed, and six men were needed in order to manoeuvre it inside. He was astounded by the fact that despite all the years of service, the classic car retained all its original parts. Moreover, the previous gentle owner treated it with much tender loving care, and as a result, not a trace of rust or

scratches were to be found on the grey body. The red upholstery also retained its brand new appearance. There was no difficulty in restarting the 1600cc engine. Only a few tasks were required, like new brakes and some gas-

ket replacement when the engine was taken out in order to spray its hold. Farrugia did all the work himself. “I am no technical genius, but with Mario by my side directing operations, a task that I originally thought

would take me six months, was completed in just four weeks, and the Vauxhall was back on the road.” The Victor model – with the original becoming Britain’s most exported car – was a large family car produced by Vaux-

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

hall Motors, the British subsidiary of General Motors, between 1957 and 1976. Farrugia was so pleased with the end result of his labours that he wanted to know how much the restored classic car would now fetch, and so he put it up for sale on a local internet site. Not that he wanted to sell it, for among the many people who contacted him, there was the original owner of the Vauxhall congratulating him on a job well done. With one old car successfully restored under his belt, Farrugia was easy prey to the perva-

sive classic car collecting fever. His nephew Stephen was again the prime mover, for while visiting him, Farrugia noticed that the young man had bought a Fiat 124 Special T with the intention of customising it to participate in local hill climbs. Despite the fact that the car was crumbling and had changed many hands, he fell in love with it and bought the 1971 vehicle from his relative. “Contrary to the Vauxhall, the body was full of rust and dents, and a panel beater worked hard to rectify the damage. I then

took it to a sprayer who painted it in the original yellow colour. Thankfully, the 1400cc engine still worked perfectly,” says a relieved Farrugia, who also admits to buying a spare 1600cc engine as well as many spare parts for it just in case that in future, he would like to take this fast car through its potential paces. The 124 was a mid-sized family car built from 1966 to 1974. A year after coming off the production line, it won the European Car of the Year award. A few years ago, Conti’s son, Stephen had a Fiat 850 Special

which he sold to a certain Salvo. By pure coincidence, Farrugia saw the car, and eventually bought it. “Many people tried to put me off, saying it was a small vehicle and lacking in strength. But I saw its potential, and I not regret going for it,” he states, adding that the 1967 blue vehicle with brown upholstery was in excellent condition, with the only headache being finding a suitable dynamo replacement, which took him time and expense to procure.

Described as a sports sedan, the 850 was a small longitudinal rear engine, rear wheel drive model produced between 1964 and 1973. Farrugia says that one of the things he enjoys most is having British tourists admiring the restored Vauxhall Victor, and Italian visitors gaping at his two finely finished Fiats. “There is nothing better than sharing my experiences with these people, who appreciate with nostalgia these vehicles from their homeland.” On the other hand, he is irritated by people who instead of buying an original old car, go for replica models or kit cars. Having retired and with a lot of spare time on his hands, Farrugia makes it a point to ensure that his three classic cars are kept in a showroom condition in his garage. Sometimes he regrets not having something more to do on them. This leads him to ponder on whether he should go for another old vehicle of his dreams – a Rover P5. “I have always admired this model, for this outstanding car has been the preferred mode of transport for members of royal families, government ministers, captains of industry and their ilk. It is not easy to find one, and even if I do, I would have space problems, meaning that at least one of the other classic cars would have to make way,” he concludes.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2018

NEWS

Missio u San Pawl fostna Id-direttur ta’ Missio, Mons Salvinu Micallef.

ix-xahar ta’ Jannar niċċelebraw il-festa tal-konverżjoni ta’ San Pawl. Żgur li lkoll nafu li l-katidral talArċidjoċesi tagħna, fl-Imdina, huwa dedikat lil San Pawl, kif juri l-kwadru titulari tal-konverżjoni tal-qaddis, impitter minn Mattia Preti. Ftit ġranet wara, fl-10 ta’ Frar, infakkru n-nawfraġju u l-miġja ta’ San Pawl fuq gżiritna. San Pawl, li aħna nsejħulu missierna fil-fidi, hu marbut mal-evanġelizzazzjoni ta’ missirijietna. Imma dan il-qaddis hu l-‘appostlu tal-ġnus’. Ġera kemm felaħ biex iwassal lil Kristu u l-Aħbar it-Tajba tiegħu lil ħafna popli. Qed insemmi lil San Pawl mhux biss għax hu marbut ma’ miġjietu fostna, miġja li ma kinitx bħal ta’ xi kolonizzatur, għax hu ma ġiex biex jaħkem fuqna imma biex iwasslilna l-libertà u l-verità tal-Vanġelu. Qed insemmi lil San Pawl għaliex Missio għandu, bħala wieħed millgħanijiet tal-ħidma tiegħu, ilmandat ta’ Ġesù biex immorru u ngħallmu l-verità talVanġelu lill-ġnus kollha.

Filfatt, Missio, kif inhuma magħrufa l-Opri Missjunarji Pontifiċji, jinsab fil-pajjiżi kollha tad-dinja. Fosthom, elf mija u ħamsin djoċesi huma meqjusa bħala art tal-missjoni. F’dawn id-djoċesijiet mifruxa mal-ħames kontinenti, imma b’mod speċjali flAfrika, l-Asja u l-Amerka ta’ Isfel, Missio jħeġġeġ biex imorru missjunarji u volon-

tiera u biex jinġabru fondi għall-ħidma tal-evanġelizazzjoni u għajnuna fil-qasam edukattiv u soċjali. Għal Missio (Malta), imma anki bħala ulied San Pawl, l-evanġelizazzjoni tingħata attenzjoni kbira. Għalhekk, fost ħafna oħrajn, Missio jħeġġeġ biex jiġu sponsorjati kappelli żgħar, magħrufa bħala mission stations, f ’żoni rurali

fl-Afrika u l-Asja. Din is-sejħa qed issir għal qlub ġenerużi li jkunu lesti jisponsorjaw waħda minn dawn il-kappelli fil-missjoni, li l-parroċċa tagħhom ikollha estensjoni kbira, ġieli iktar minn mitt kilometru miċċentru, bil-ħtieġa li jkollhom bżonn ta’ għoxrin jew iktar minn dawn il-mission stations. Propju jumejn qabel ma spiċċat is-sena li għaddiet,

irċevejt telefonata minn għand raġel anzjan, li ried jagħmel donazzjoni ta’ €8,000 biex jisponsorja waħda minn dawn il-kappelli. Il-post li din il-kappella ser issir huwa fid-Djoċesi ta’ Gokwe, fiż-Żimbabwe, ġewwa l-Afrika. Dan ir-raġel ried li din il-kappella ssir bħala offerta lillMulej u b’memorja ta’ martu li ħallietna, wara iktar minn 50 sena miżżewġin. Huwa kien konvint li dan l-investiment, waqt li għadu ħaj, fi proġett li se jibqa’ u jagħti l-frott, jiswa quddiem il-Mulej bħala offerta għal martu, ħafna iktar missuffraġju ta’ quddies li qed jagħmel ukoll għal ruħha. Din kienet is-sitt donazzjoni għal mission station minn wara l-Ġurnata Missjunarja ta’ Ottubru li għadda. Grazzi mill-qalb lill-benefatturi ta’ Missio. Kull min jixtieq ikompli jgħin fil-ħidma ta’ Missio jista’ jagħmel donazzjoni f ’numru 7, Triq il-Merkanti, il-Belt Valletta, permezz tal-website tagħna www.missio.org.mt jew f ’wieħed mill-kontijiet bankarji. Tista’ tagħmel kuntatt magħna fuq 2123 6962.

The Valletta Ticket: simple access to the national museums in the capital

his year is a special one for our capital city as Valletta is recognised as the European Capital City of Culture. Heritage Malta is an important player in promoting the cultural heritage of Valletta and visitors can visit the agency’s museums and sites in the capital city with just one ticket. The Valletta Ticket includes admission to five Heritage Malta sites situated in the surroundings of the fortified city. These sites are the National Museum of Archaeology which exhibits a spectacular range of artefacts dating back to Malta’s Neolithic period up to the Phoenician Period; the Palace Armoury which hosts one of the world’s largest collections of arms and armour of the Knights of St John in its original building; the Palace State Rooms which are the show piece of the Presidential Palace used during the years as the official residence of the Grand Master, the Governor’s Palace, the seat of Malta’s first constitutional parliament in 1921 and today

as the seat of the Office of the President of the Republic of Malta; Fort St Elmo at the tip of Valletta was built in 1552 and it took a month to be defeated by the Ottomans during the Great siege of 1565 and played also an important role during World War II; and the National War Museum housed in Fort St Elmo, which explains the military history of Malta from prehistory till today. The Valletta Ticket is more convenient and cheaper and as part of its social responsibility and to ensure that its museums and sites be accessible to all, Heritage Malta offers further concession rates to seniors (60+), youths and students. The ticket price for seniors is €20 thus benefiting from a €9 reduction since this ticket includes also the Malta5D Show, a new generation theatre which explores the colourful and impressive episodes of the Maltese history and culture. The Valletta Ticket can be bought from every Heritage Malta museum and site. For further information visit www.heritagemalta.org.

SENIOR TIMES â&#x20AC;&#x2019; JANUARY 2018

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JaNuaRy 2018

17-IL EDIZZJONI

MARATONA MISSJONI

26-27-28 TA TA’ JANNAR 2018 INTI TISTA:

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