Senior Times (January 2019) by Times of Malta

SENIOR TIMES PHOTO: JONATHAN BORG

JANUARY 2019

Malta’s monthly newspaper for the elderly

All the islAnd’s A stAge: PArt i Louis Gatt plays the recent history of Maltese theatre. SEE PAGES 4&5

memory lAne Back in the days, cars were limited in number but fantastically unique. SEE PAGES 8&9

LEFT HANGING Migrants out in the cold

il-merA tAl-PAssAt

SEE PAGE 6

SEE PAGE 14

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

EDITOR’S WELCOME

IN THIS ISSUE

What’s another year?

t’s been almost four decades since Johnny Logan conquered the Eurovision stage for Ireland with his song What’s Another Year. But the answer has not been forthcoming. And it’s no fault of the Irish singer – because that is one of the most open-ended questions that can be asked. And never answered. What’s another year? Answering that question is like trying to distil a barrel of Wikipedia in a one-shot sentence. Because we can all try and build a roadblock of diaries, anticipation and plans, but the future will steamroll through it and continue in its advance, unperturbed. The future will always have the capacity to surprise us. And that is its beauty. Be open to a future of surprises. It will hurt us with an unexpected cut, resulting in a scar which will hurt us for years. But it can also bolt us with serendipity. In the new year’s first issue of Senior Times, Christine Galea also refers to a song – Baby it’s Cold Outside – and links it to the Christmas drama which saw migrants stranded on the Dutch-flagged Sea-Watch 3 off Malta’s coast. How can we allow human beings, fleeing from pain, death and suffering, to be left out in the cold, she asks. In this issue, we also retell the historic encounter between Malta’s Hibernians and the legendary Manchester United, see how photography holds up a mirror to the past, and look back at Francis Ebejer’s contribution to the Maltese stage. Read on and enjoy.

4. All the island’s a stage: Part I

SENIOR TIMES JANUARY 2019

Louis Gatt plays the recent history of Maltese theatre.

6. Baby it’s cold outside How can we allow human beings, who are fleeing from pain, death and suffering, to be left out in the cold, asks Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stanley Borg E-mail: seniortimes @timesofmalta.com

7. A good yarn: Russia’s Insta-grannies take knitting skills online

CONTRIBUTORS Carmel Baldacchino Tonio Bonello Tony C. Cutajar Christine Galea Louis Gatt Joseph Scicluna

Back in the days, cars were limited in number but fantastically unique. Senior Times and Bay Retro get in the passenger seat.

8. Driving down memory lane

PUBLISHERS Allied Newspapers Limited Triq L-Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000 www.timesofmalta.com DESIGN Christian Busuttil SALES & SUBSCRIPTIONS Amanda Gauci Tel: 2276 4332 E-mail: amanda.gauci @timesofmalta.com

12. Kenn mal-lejl fix-Xagħra, u aktar... Inizjattivi bejn Gvern u Knisja qed jgħinu lill-anzjani jgħixu ħajja ahjar, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

Stanley

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

14. Ir-ritratt: Mera tal-passat fil-ħajja tagħna l-Maltin Joseph Scicluna jiżviluppa aktar dwar l-arti tal-fotografija f ’pajjiżna.

16.United we stand

Carmel Baldacchino recalls Hibs’ historic encounter with Manchester United.

20. Not just for kids

A leap for seniors at Las Vegas tech show.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

NEWS

Enhanced security for the elderly in residential homes A safe to secure personal valuables

or the first time, elderly living in residential homes run by the Government will be able to have a personal safe in their rooms in which they can keep cash and other valuable objects. Recently, the Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Anthony Agius Decelis, launched a pilot project to further strengthen security in residential homes for the elderly. This project was introduced at Dar il-Mistrieħ, better known as the Floriana Home, which involves the introduction of the use of safes. The Parliamentary Secretary responsible for elderly care announced that residents in this home will have the option to start making use of a safe for their personal use to hold up to a maximum of €250 in cash, as well as goods

worth €250. The limit was put to safeguard the residents and their belongings. This way cash and other valuables will

not be left unattended every time they had to leave their room as they can be kept in the safe.

To make use of this safe, residents will be asked to fill out an application and a safe will be installed in their room. To

address cases where the code might be forgotten, a label was affixed to the safe with the details of the person responsible to assist on behalf of the Welfare Committee, which will be easily visible to the resident. Additionally, this residential home saw an increase in the number of CCTV cameras in public space on the inside and outside of this home. While ensuring that the privacy of the residents is respected, these cameras will enable collection of information during an investigation and protect both the residents and staff members. While thanking the Welfare Committee so that this initiative is implemented, Mr Agius Decelis, stressed that this is only a pilot project with a view to assess how this initiative can be managed and eventually be open to all residential households in Malta and Gozo.

In public The faithful greet Pope Francis and take photos of him with their mobile phone upon his arrival for the weekly general audience on January 9, 2019 at Paul-VI hall in the Vatican. PHOTO: ANDREAS SOLARO/AFP

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

THEATRE

All the island’s a stage: Part I Louis Gatt plays the recent history of Maltese theatre.

believe it was the distinguished actor Godwin Scerri who once said: “Francis Ebejer, singlehandedly, dragged Maltese theatre, kicking and screaming into the 20th century.” And he wasn’t far wrong there. For too long, at least up until the early 1960s, our theatres had existed on a saccharine diet of teatrin, plus a smattering of grand opera and operetta. But I think it may be a little harsh to completely discount all theatrical produc-

tions here before the genesis of Ebejer. True, audiences were mainly offered comedies and farces, but the good stuff still existed if only you looked for it. Two main protagonists stand out: Maleth and the MADC. I am aware that a number of, what I’m assured were very good other smaller companies also existed, but I never saw any of their productions – my loss – so am unable to assess them for myself. The MADC (Malta Amateur Dramatic Club) is the oldest

theatre company still in existence today. Formed in 1910, the club was originally the preserve of the British forces stationed in Malta and their dependants and offshoots. Two notable gaps in their progress were the results of the two world wars of the 20th century. After the end of World War I, the MADC was revived in 1920 by the formidable Warren sisters. Kathleen (Kay) Warren was an outstanding actress who appeared in countless produc-

(Left to right): Godwin Scerri, Paul Xuereb, a very young Mario Philip Azzopardi, Maryanne Scerri and Karmen Azzopardi in Francis Ebejer’s The Cliffhangers.

tions right up to the mid 1980s. Her elder sister Ella didn’t act but was a dedicated and highly competent honorary secretary of the club for many years. The MADC produced an eclectic mix of theatrical fare from modern straight plays, through Shakespeare’s comedies and tragedies, musicals, pantos and revue. For most of their existence they put on works in the English language, but in 1969 they did eventually present a Maltese language play: IrRaħeb, by Erin Serracino Inglott, directed by Lino Farrugia. I am delighted to report that the MADC is very much still around, strong and vibrant and still producing some very good stuff. Maleth (Malta Amateur Light Entertainment Theatricals) came into existence just after World War II. It was apparently established by Ivo Muscat Azzopardi and noted for mainly presenting plays in the Maltese vernacular. However, by the time I was old enough to frequent the theatre they were mostly airing Maltese translations of English texts. However, I am reliably informed that in their earlier days they were much more cutting edge. Of course there’s nothing wrong with translations, if they are well done. But most observers agree that once Malta teetered into the swinging 1960s it was good and ready for something a little more stimulating.

Enter Francis Ebejer. In fact, the first grown-up play I saw was Ebejer’s Il-Ħadd fuq il-Bejt at the Manoel Theatre. It was also my first visit to our iconic and beautiful national theatre. I was taken by an aunt who had apparently taught at the same school as Ebejer. My only recollection of the production is that it had a very effective set, dressed to look like the roofs of Sliema. I’m afraid the main thrust of the piece went completely over my head. I’ll put that down to my age at the time, but I did later grow to appreciate Ebejer’s works much more. The playwright himself was a complex man, clubbable and friendly up to a point, but secretive about himself and his private life. In his later years I got to know him reasonably well… or as well as he would permit one to know him. I often took a coffee with him in the Allies Bar at the Ferries in Sliema, a popular morning call for Ebejer. There is no doubt that he was a very accomplished self-

The playwright himself was a complex man, friendly up to a point, but secretive about himself and his private life

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

Francis Ebejer

A still from the MADC’s 1955 production of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice.

publicist and sold his plays and his novels skilfully. He usually directed his work himself and could apparently be quite difficult to work with. An actress friend once told me

that if he decided in rehearsal that things weren’t right, he could walk out of the rehearsal in a mega-sulk, only to return the next day as though the incident had never

happened. Ebejer was a strange and troubled man, but extremely talented for all that. 1974 saw the welcome genesis of the Atturi Theatre Group, which I covered in

detail in previous articles. Also in the 1970s two other theatrical companies did good work in our theatres. The late Joe Zammit Cordina’s Malta Talent Artistes presented mostly English language fare. I particularly remember a fine production of The Lion in Winter at the Manoel Theatre, which featured that accomplished actress Madeleine Attard Montaldo and a very young Mario Philip Azzopardi. Malta Talent Artistes were also responsible for providing extras for a number of feature films and TV series shot in Malta.

In addition there was Malta Theatrical Enterprises, run by Michael Bonello. This company also produced a number of plays throughout the 1970s at the Manoel Theatre. I particularly remember their production of Neil Simon’s comedy, Plaza Suite. This took the form of three one-act plays set in the Plaza Hotel in New York City. As I recall it was notable for a very funny performance by the late Charles Thake in the third play. Of the other significant companies staging productions in the 1970s and 80s, Mario Micallef ’s Talenti deserves a mention. Micallef is an exceptional talent as an actor, but his company’s annual production of a Maltese translation of a Shakespeare play suffered from a palpable lack of talent in most of the smaller roles. Which explains why Micallef himself usually took the lead. The recent history of Maltese theatre is, to say the least, somewhat chequered and in the second article on the subject I will deal with the scene from the 1980s up to today.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

OPINION

Baby it’s cold outside

R I S T IN E GA LE A

How can we allow human beings, who are fleeing from pain, death and suffering, to be left out in the cold, asks Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

ecently there was some todo on the social media with respect to this popular holiday melody which has been immortalised in several recordings by many famous stars. I read somewhere that certain radio stations went as far as completely removing the song from their playlists. This melody gained wide recognition in 1949 when it was first performed and since that time, is has been released over and over again. Critics and some sectors of the general public have highlighted parts of its lyrics as being controversial, in the sense that it presumes, or rather suggests, sexual harassment or even date rape. Personally I think this is a huge exaggeration. At face value, the musical discourse involves two people sizing each other up, and it’s more of a flirtation than a serious proposition. One can almost hear the smile in their voice. To me, it sure doesn’t sound like entrapment or anything more ominous. At the end of the day, cultural expectations at the time of the song’s writing were different to those of today and societal norms were stricter. One thing’s for sure: It’s highly unlikely that the composer, Frank Loesser, ever imagined that his musical piece would cause such a ruckus. Humming the tune, as I’m writing, leads me to ponder over a far more serious issue which was doing the rounds in the media. Yes, it’s cold outside, very cold, and 49 migrants were recently at

A migrant who jumped from the Dutch-flagged Sea-Watch 3 rescue vessel swims by a buoy thrown by crew members on January 4, 2019 in the cold Mediterranean off Malta’s coast, after he attempted to reach the shore by swimming. PHOTOS: FEDERICO SCOPPA/AFP

For these unfortunate souls, sometimes only one option remains in life: the sea

sea on the ship Sea Watch 3, waiting for the powers that be to determine their fate. A few days ago, an Italian news portal uploaded a video of one of the men who jumped into the sea, only to be taken up again on board. It appears that his plan was to try and reach our island, but the icy water, as well as the distance between the vessel and the shore would have made his task impossible. Eventually, the ship was allowed by Malta to enter its waters to shelter from the storm. Sitting snugly with an electric heater at my feet, I cannot even entertain the

thought of stepping outside on a chilly day like today, and I dread to think of how cold, how hungry, how desperate these poor people must be feeling. While I appreciate the implications that any political decision might have under these circumstances, the point I would like to make is: as a society, how can we allow human beings, who are fleeing from pain, death and suffering, to be left in such unacceptable conditions, and then cause a commotion over some silly song lyrics? Seems to me pretty much that we have our priorities all mixed up in life. We are at the beginning of a new year. Although the Christmas festivities are over, I have no doubt that while thousands of desperate migrants continue to undertake the relatively short, but highly dangerous voyage from Libya to Europe, we are still merry-making and celebrating galore: parties, dinner dances, family gatherings. While we are snug and warm in our safe homes, and resting under a cosy quilt at night, they are out on the treacherous seas, struggling with the waves and hoping in their hearts that somehow, somewhere, people with a heart will feel compassion and take them in. These are people who are fleeing from an unendurable situation in order to try and build a tolerable, and better, life. For these unfortunate souls, sometimes only one option remains in life: the sea. Are we the ones – a nation who has just raised millions over the Christmas period in philanthropic donations – who are going to let them perish?

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

NEWS

A good yarn: Russia’s Insta-grannies take knitting skills online

lderly women across Russia are often seen selling their hand-knitted wares on pavement corners for a few rubles to supplement meagre pensions. Now a new Instagram project aims to change the public perception of their homely skills by promoting “granny chic” and help the women sell their knitted mittens, socks and other items online. Grandmother and participant Nina Lozhkova said she’d long wanted to sell her knits. “But it’s a bit humiliating to sell things by the metro. Here, I feel like I am a creator and not a poor person,” the 58year-old said of the Instagram initiative, Granny’s. Lozhkova, who has a sixyear-old grandson, is one of around 40 retirees to have so far joined Granny’s, which is based in the northwestern city of Saint Petersburg. More than 5,000 people follow the project’s Instagram account, @russiangrannies, which displays a sleek selection of stylish photos of adults and children in knitted clothing. “By buying our wares you are supporting someone’s grandmother,” it says, revealing, too, some heart-warming details about the knitters themselves, their lives, families and past careers. Aged between 55 and 87, its enterprising pensioners can earn between $450 and $1,000 (€390 and 870) a month. An average monthly pension in Russia is about $200. Behind the Instagram account is Yulia Aliyeva, a 27year-old who recently quit a job working for the city administration to launch Granny’s. “Of course, the fact that grandmothers can make money online smashes stereotypes,” said Aliyeva, whose 85year-old grandmother is one of the knitters. “All of them say that if it was not for the project, they would not be able to do this by themselves,” she told AFP. Many Russians have to work past the state pension age to afford living costs, or rely on financial help from their children.

Last year, President Vladimir Putin sparked a huge outburst of public anger by opting to gradually raise the state pension age by five years, to 60 for women and 65 for men. Yelena Tretyakova, the first pensioner to join Granny’s, is already retired so the state pension age changes will not affect her. But she said that the knitting project was still crucial to keeping her afloat. “If you are retired it is nearly impossible to find a job,” said the 56-year-old, who helps her daughter raise a 14-year-old disabled son. “And my situation is even more complicated – I can only work from home,” said Tretyakova, whose monthly pension is around €150. With the help of Instagram, she said she earns up to 70,000 rubles ($1,005) a month, a “huge” amount for her, by knitting jumpers and other often expensive items. As word spreads, new women have joined the project from regions as far away as the Urals and northern Russia. The site offers a range of clothing and accessories, some priced as little as a few dollars, while other more luxurious items sell for up to around $180. The most expensive are usually made of merino or Peruvian wool. Sometimes the women use the online site to directly sell the knitwear they have already created, charging a price they themselves have set. Others knit the specific orders placed by customers, in which case Aliyeva sets the price, buys the necessary wool and takes 10 percent commission. Besides helping the elderly women, Aliyeva said she wanted to draw public attention to the “sacred role of the Russian grandmother.” “Traditionally in Russia, grandmothers play an important role — they babysit grandchildren, make tasty food and knit socks,” she said. “But their pensions are small, their post-work social life is pretty much over and it is very hard for them to find a job.” (AFP)

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

PHOTOS

Driving down memory lane Back in the days, cars were limited in number but fantastically unique. Senior Times and Bay Retro get in the passenger seat. PHOTOS COURTESY OF BAY RETRO

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

1. A few cars drive in central Żabbar four decades ago. 2. A driver has a lucky escape after his car ends up falling down the seafront steps at Balluta Bay in St Julian’s in 1955. 3. Sta Venera without its trademark traffic jams in the 1970s. Photo: Bertold Schmitt-FeuerBAch 4. A nostalgic look along the Strand, Sliema in the 1950s. 5. A car tries to squeeze its way through as children play in narrow carmel Street, Żurrieq in the 1960s. 6. one of malta’s first double-decker buses hits the streets from Valletta to St Julian’s more than a century ago. 7. A much quieter Sliema – and no traffic – in the 1960s. 8. Past meets present in 1950s marsalforn. Photo: Peter J Shield 9. A Sliema radio Store repair van makes a stop at Xemxija seafront some 60 years ago. 10. Families enjoy a sunny day out at the il-menqa harbour at St Paul’s Bay in the 1960s.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1

EASY CROSSWORD 1

26.Of greater age (5) 27. Cooker (5) 28.Small coin (5) 29.Artist’s studio (7) 30.Confuse (5) 31. Pale (5)

20 24

26 27

29 30

ACROSS 1. Could start to whip in a fight (5) 6. Poetry of the silver sea (5) 9. Hesitated to make a friendly gesture to a leftist (7) 10. Being nice means very little, in a way (5) 11. Checks a broken siren (5) 12. A rule that breaks the heart of singers (5) 13. Lazes around, that is, with sticky sweets (7) 15. Play for today, outwardly? (3) 17. Top numbers, each unique (4) 18. Wild moors, right on the map, dark and gloomy (6) 19. Open up possibilities for Edwin (5) 20.Sort of shirt for a slave, that’s all (3,3) 22. Easily handled, thanks to me (4) 24.She’s less than motherly (3) 25. Incite riot about a Zionist leader named Kane (7) 26.Go round upsetting some strikers (5) 27. It’s goodbye to Dai, maybe, who’s so backward (5) 28.During the day, left a trainee to be idle (5) 29.Might he rush ahead with an operation? (7) 30.Look exhausted and fall out of the ring (5) 31. He’s in textiles (5)

ACROSS 1. Clearly expressed (5) 6. Dog breed (5) 9. Nasal opening (7) 10. Sharp (5) 11. Rustic (5) 12. Is unsuccessful (5) 13. Pilfers (7)

15. Decompose (3) 17. Nagging (2,2) 18. Corsair (6) 19. Evil spirit (5) 20.Hang around (6) 22. Liquid measure (4) 24.Star (3) 25. Envious (7)

DOWN 2. Roguish child (6) 3. Untouched (6) 4. Female deer (3) 5. Book of maps (5) 6. Cut of beef (7) 7. In addition (4) 8. Kitchen item (6) 12. Ague (5) 13. Frustrates (5) 14. Ancient language (5) 15. Proportion (5) 16. Canvas shelters (5) 18. Card game (5) 19. Use up (7) 21. Expelled (6) 22. Gripping tool (6) 23. Subtle difference (6) 25. Wobbly dessert (5) 26.Egg-shaped (4) 28.Vegetable (3)

DECEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 1. Arabic 7. Recouped 8. Alto 10. Hollow 11. Facade 14. Sow 16. Gored 17. Scot 19. Fired 21. Diver 22. Fated 23. Step 26. Cream 28. For 29. Hoarse 30. Ruling 31. Undo 32. Swelling 33. String. DOWN: 1. Arches 2. Ballot 3. Crow 4. Voyager 5. Spear 6. Added 8. Also 9. Tow 12. Cod 13. Dense 15. Rivet 18. Cairo 19. Fit 20. Red 21. Damsels 22. Far 23. Solder 24. Trio 25. Paging 26. Chase 27. Eager 28. Fun 30. Rugs.

WORD SEARCH

DOWN 2. As chancellor, Nigel made rules in advance (6) 3. Toffs properly included among saints? (6) 4. Derby, perhaps (3) 5. Special occasions that help to make life testing (5) 6. Come close to being governed no end badly? (5,2) 7. Heavenly place, a noted haunt (4) 8. Emergency message about a theatre where Pele played (6) 12. Right to issue pay (5) 13. In Ireland, a clumsy fellow, hot-headed (5) 14. Bar the clever bit (5) 15. Stone is best - start to finish! (5) 16. The old-fashioned fellows abroad (5) 18. The “Order of ––” could be “12 Down” (5) 19. Agitates to make artistic creations more lofty (5,2) 21. Perhaps a capital attempt at scoring (6) 22. In teas one may find an exotic infusion (6) 23. Fruit served in medium large portions (6) 25. Rocky locations good to manoeuvre cars round (5) 26.Thus again is only fair (2-2) 28.Little Miss Morse? (3)

DECEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 1. Proper 7. Under age 8. Dawn 10. G-rat-Is 11. Thrice 14. Let 16. Oasis 17. Stir 19. S-Op.-py 21. Halle 22. Hotly 23. Herb 26. Screw 28. Baa 29. C-hurls 30. Mouser 31. Able 32. Naturals 33. Hiding. DOWN: 1. P-urges 2. P-L-ater 3. Runs 4. New hope 5. P-aris 6. Lewes 8. Da-L-i 9. W-it 12. Ray 13. CID-er 15. Holly 18. Tor-Ch 19. Sat 20. Ply 21. Howlers 22. Her 23. Hauled 24. Ease 25. B-a-ring 26. Scan-t 27. Rusty 28. Bob 30. Mash.

Brash Cheetah Clefs Dashes Dozed Duels Eddies Elegy Ended Escaped

Essays Hazel Hierarchy Honks Lamer Lunacy Madly Media Misguide Moments

Negate Ought Overdo Pound Primps Receive Reconciliation Revue Scaly Sited

Sneer Staffs Stoves Stunk Toasted Varying Venues Wrist Yacht Yokel

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

Ngħidu kelma

COMPETITION

QWIEL MALTIN U XI JFISSRU Fid-dinja pinta ħelu u bittija morr. Life is a pint of sweetness and a barrel of bitterness. Aħjar il-bard ta’ Jannar milli xemx li ma ssaħħanx. The January cold is better than a sun that doesn’t have warmth. Castille by Henry F. Coppini

Illum jien u għada int. Today it’s me, but tomorrow it will be your turn. Tixtrix ħut fil-baħar. Don’t buy fish that is still in the sea.

The Lie by Oliver Friggieri

Historic Times

Bil-qatra l-qatra timtela l-ġarra. Drop by drop, the pot fills up.

This month, we are giving away three bestselling paperbacks. To win, tell us the date when this Times of Malta front page was published. 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. Last month’s winners are Mariella Gatt who wins a copy of The One You Really Want by Jill Mansell, Joseph Brown who wins a copy of The Unexplained Plus by Vanessa Macdonald and Alfred Calleja who wins a copy of Towelhead by Alicia Erian. The correct answer was December 24, 1978.

SUDOKU 4 7 6 8 1 9 5 3 2

9 2 5 3 4 6 1 8 7

2 4 7 9 8 1 3 5 6

6 5 1 4 2 3 9 7 8

Previous Convictions by A. A. Gill

8 9 3 6 7 5 2 4 1

1 6 4 5 9 8 7 2 3

5 8 9 2 3 7 6 1 4

7 3 2 1 6 4 8 9 5

6 9 6 1 4

Qabbilli waħda Ara ġejja l-mewt għalik! Ara ġejja l-mewt għalik, biex tixwik, biex taqlik, ara ġejja, ara waslet, din id-daqqa min tahielek?

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

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

3 1 8 7 5 2 4 6 9

Il-bogħod mill-għajn, il-bogħod mil-qalb. Out of sight, out of mind.

8 7

Dawra durella Dawra durella, qasba żigarella, ċoff tal-bellus, ċaqċaqhielu lill-għarus. Axxa! Axxa! Għax missieru għamel kaxxa. Norqod u nistrieħ Norqod u nistrieħ, noffri ruħi lill-erwieħ. Norqod u nirpoża, noffri ruħi ’l Santa Roża. Norqod u nimtedd, noffri ruħi ’l San Ġużepp. Sant’Anna Sant’Anna u San Ġwakkin, il-Madonna u l-Bambin. X’xorti kellha dik Sant’Anna, li l-Bambin sejħilha nanna.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

OPINJONI/NEWS

Kenn mal-lejl fix-Xagħra, u aktar... Inizjattivi bejn Gvern u Knisja qed jgħinu lill-anzjani jgħixu ħajja aħjar, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

tit tal-ġimgħat ilu, fir-raħal tax-Xagħra ġewwa Għawdex kien inawgurat ċentru ta’ kenn għal matul il-lejl għall-anzjani tal-post. Dan iċ-ċentru – li kien inawgurat mill-Onorevoli Justyne Caruana, Ministru għall-Għawdex fil-presenza talEċċellenza Tiegħu l-Isqof t’Għawdex Mario Grech – sar b’impenn bejn il-Gvern u lKnisja bil-għan li l-pubbliku Għawdxi, partikolarment dawk anzjani jkunu moqdija f ’dawk l-aktar ħinijiet siekta tal-ħajja. Ċentru Ġesù Nazzarenu, kif issemma dan il-post kien possibbli bi spazju li l-Knisja flimkien mal-Komunità Ġesù Nazzarenu provdew biex setgħet saret il-binja waqt li lGvern daħal għall-ispejjeż rikorrenti biex jitmexxa l-post u biex jingħataw dawk is-servizzi meħtieġa lill-anzjani. Din però

mhix l-unika inizjattiva attwali ta’ bejn Gvern u Knisja. Fit-tieni nofs tas-sena l-Gvern u l-Knisja laħqu wkoll ftehim ta’ kollaborazzjoni bil-għan li persuni u/jew familji li jinħtieġu servizzi ta’ counselling, issa se jkunu jistgħu jitolbu dan isservizz mill-Moviment ta’ Kana mingħajr ebda ħlas. Permezz ta’ dan il-ftehim, ilGvern, bis-sehem tal-Ministeru għall-Familja, Drittijiet tat-Tfal u Solidarjetà Soċjali se

Aktar tisħiħ f ’dik li hi familja u s-soċjeta’

L-inawgurazzjoni ta’ Ċentru Ġesù Nazzarenu fix-Xagħra, Għawdex.

jkun qed jiffinanzja dan isservizz bi ħlas ta’ €30,000 kull sena. Dan il-ftehim jorbot liż-żewġ partijiet għal terminu ta’ tlett snin. Is-servizz ta’ counselling se jkun qed jiġi offrut lil kull min jiġi bżonnu, kemm jekk familji, kif ukoll individwi ta’ kull eta. Kull min se jkun qed jagħmel użu minn dan is-servizz se jkun qed jintalab biss donazzjoni. Minkejja dan, familji jew individwi li lanqas ma jistgħu iħallsu donazzjoni, is-servizz lilhom ser jingħata xorta waħda mingħajr ebda obbligi ta’ xejn. Il-Ministru Michael Falzon faħħar lil kull min kien involut fil-proċess biex ftehim tali seta’ kien possibbli u sostna li dan il-pass għandu jwassal lejn aktar tisħiħ f ’dik li hi familja u s-soċjeta’ nġenerali. L-Avukat Arthur Galea Salomone, il-president tal-Movi-

Ftehim bejn il-Gvern u l-Knisja għal servizz ta’ counselling mill-Moviment ta’ Kana.

ment ta’ Kana qal li sal-lum, ilperċezzjoni tas-soċjetà dwar ilMoviment kienet li dan jagħmel biss ħidma f ’dik li hi preparazzjoni għaż-żwieġ, iżda sostna kif dan hu eżempju ieħor tal-attività kostanti u diversifikata talistess Moviment. Din hi waħda fost numru ta’ inizjattivi u proġetti bil-għan li f ’kuntest nazzjonali u f’numru ta’ oqsma tas-soċjetà jkompli jkun hemm tisħiħ u sostenn

għal dawk bi bżonnijiet speċifiċi bħal m’hu l-counselling. Tonio Bonello hu l-editur media kif ukoll information and communications executive responsabbli millcorporate-wide media and communications fl-Uffiċċju tas-Segretarju Permanenti fi ħdan il-Ministeru għallFamilja, Drittijiet tat-Tfal u Solidarjetà Soċjali.

Comprehensive hearing care service

ichael Wall is a highly qualified audiologist who has been serving Malta and Gozo for over five years. Having previously visited the islands several times on holiday, Wall fell in love with the culture which led him to the conclusion that he would like to work and retire here. He is passionate about audiology and is keen to deliver a professional and personal caring service to all the customers of Cleartone Hearing. Collaborating closely with the world’s leading hearing aid manufacturers has allowed Hall to gain an extensive knowledge of the latest developments in hearing aid technology.

Cleartone Hearing is situated at 360, St Joseph High Road, Santa Venera (beside the Labour Party Club and conveniently located near the Santa Venera bus stop). The state-of-the-art practice is fully equipped to offer clients the most comprehensive hearing care service. The clinic and Hall offer a lifetime of free aftercare and advice along with a complete range of professional hearing care services. In the UK and Ireland Cleartone Hearing has been successfully operating since 1994. To contact Cleartone Hearing and to book an appointment call on 2704 0839 or 7777 1659.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

RUMANZ

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

“M

a tridux tisimgħuni, hux? Jaqaw qed tniggiżkom il-kuxjenza? Iva, anke dik is-sengħa l-għalliem kien li għallimhieli...” “Turina kemm int saħħar tajjeb?” staqsieh Pierre. “M’iniex daqshekk tajjeb għax kieku kont nibdilkom ilkoll fi qżieqeż. Mur arakom imbagħad tixorbu l-inbid.” “Urina xi ħaġa milli taf tagħmel u nagħtik tazza nbid oħra,” reġa’ qallu Pierre. “Mhux aħjar ngħidilkom xi ħaġa dwar dak li tgħallimt mill-kotba u millgħalliem li kelli? Intom mhux żgur tafu taqraw u għandkom ħafna x’titgħallmu minni, veru, Sur Isqof?” “Mattew, tkellem bir-rispett malisqof għax ma natukx iktar inbid,” qallu Alessandro. “Mhux sewwa titkellem hekk...” “Huwa ftit wera rispett lejja u lejn missieri. Issa min jaf x’għandu lest għalija! Insomma, tridu taraw xi ftit mill-kapaċitajiet tiegħi? Tajjeb. Mela ġibuli lenbija ilma u kobba ħajt twil.” Tnejn mill-qaddejja li kienu jservu waqt l-ikel ġew mitluba jġibu lenbija blilma u kobba ħajt twil filwaqt li Mattew talab li jneħħulu l-irbit tal-ktajjen. Għalkemm l-għassies neħħilu l-ktajjen, huwa baqa’ b’seba’ għajnejn għassa tiegħu. Mattew żamm tarf il-ħajt talkobba u l-kobba għaddieha lil wieħed mill-Kavallieri biex iżommha f ’idu. “Żomm din il-kobba f ’qiegħ idek,” qallu, “u erħilha tinħall mingħajr ma żżommha.” F’daqqa waħda Mattew qabeż għal rasu ġol-bettija u ma deherx iżjed. Ilkobba baqgħet tinħall sa ma spiċċat iżda Mattew baqa’ ma deherx aktar! Kulħadd qam minn postu biex iħares fil-bettija iżda fl-ilma ma kien hemm xejn u ħadd. Fittxew mal-kamra kollha, wara l-purtieri, taħt l-imwejjed. L-Isqof qabdu ferħ ta’ ġenn u sejjaħ lill-qaddejja. “Morru iġru u qabbdu lillgħassiesa l-oħra u lill-qaddejja kollha biex ifittxuh kullimkien, fil-ħabs, filpalazz kollu, fil-ġnien, kullimkien, u tiġux lura mingħajru.” Il-mistednin baqgħu kollha b’ħalqhom miftuh u offrew li jmorru jfittxu huma wkoll. Ħassewhom responsabbli għax kien minħabba fihom li ġara dak li ġara. Ittamaw li Mattew ma kienx irnexxielu jaħrab. Iżda l-isqof bagħthom ‘il barra bil-pulit u wieħed wieħed talbu skuża u bewqu ‘l barra, imbellhin b’dak kollu li raw. L-Isqof Dusina talab l-għajnuna talGran Mastru D’Homedes li bagħat innies tiegħu l-Imdina biex jaraw jekk Mattew kienx għand missieru. Iżda baqgħu b’xiber imnieħer u ħlief rabja, tgħajjir u

L-Isqof Dusina talab l-għajnuna tal-Gran Mastru D’Homedes li bagħat in-nies tiegħu l-Imdina biex jaraw jekk Mattew kienx għand missieru.

kliem ħażin ma ħadux mill-missier li issa kien tilef il-pożizzjoni tiegħu u anke ħafna mill-proprjetà li kellu. Ftit wara din il-ġrajja misterjuża, iżżewġ Kavallieri Francesco Nibbia u Alessandro Braccelli ltaqgħu fil-kmamar tagħhom fil-berġa tal-Italja. Huma kienu jafu lil xulxin mill-età ta’ 14 -il sena meta kienu fis-servizz tal-Konti Alfredo del Castellemmare di Stabia, qrib Napli. Ta’ dik l-età huma ntbagħtu mill-familji nobbli tagħhom biex jitħarrġu bħala paġġi u iktar tard bħala Kavallieri ta’ Malta. Flimkien ma’ seba’ subien oħra huma kienu taħt il-gwida ta’ Kavallier li kien jgħallimhom jaqraw u jiktbu, u jsiru jafu r-regoli tal-eraldrika u l-armi tal-familja. Huwa kien iħarriġhom flimkien ma’ Kavallier ieħor fis-sewqan taż-żwiemel, l-użu tal-armi u dak kollu mistenni minn Kavallier. Wara seba’ snin f ’dan it-taħriġ, ta’ wieħed u għoxrin sena, huma kienu jiġu maħturin Kavallieri mill-Konti nnifsu li kien wieħed mill-kbarat talOrdni ta’ San Ġwann. Kienet ċerimonja mill-isbaħ meta quddiem il-Kavallieri kollha tal-provinċja u dawk tal-madwar u fil-preżenza tal-ġenituri tagħhom huma kienu jirċievu l-mantell bis-salib ta’ San Ġwann. Dan kien l-aħħar stadju tal-proċess li fih it-tifel isir raġel u minn persuna komuni jsir nobbli. Din kienet ċerimonja importanti ħafna ta’ tlitt ijiem li kellha tifsir simboliku għal dawn iżżgħażagħ u għall-ġenituri tagħhom.

Kien rit bi tliet aspetti importanti talKavallieri: ir-reliġjon, il-lealtà lejn ir-re u l-kodiċi tal-gallanterija. Ġurnata qabel iċ-ċerimonja kien hemm pranzu speċjali u diskussjonijiet mal-Kavallieri, il-kleru u s-superjuri dwar ir-rwol u r-responsabiltajiet ta’ Kavallier. Lejlet iċ-ċerimonja, kull kandidat imur waħdu fil-kappella fejn kien iqerr u jqatta’ llejl fit-talb u s-sawm biex jitnaddaf minn kull ħtija. Kien jilbes tunika bajda li tissimbolizza lindafa ta’ ruħu u fuqha mantell aħmar li jissimbolizza ħajja rjali. Imbagħad filgħodu jinħasel bħala sinjal tal-indafa ta’ ruħu u ġismu. Waqt iċ-ċerimonja l-kandidati jirċievu rigali bħal tarka, xabla, xpruni u kultant anke armaturi. Kull kandidat ikollu l-parrinu tiegħu li jkun jew xi kavallier jew xi nobbli li jippreżentalu dawn ir-rigali. Imbagħad huwa jieħu ġurament fuq il-Bibbja quddiem ilKonti u jwiegħed lealtà lejn Alla u lejn ir-re u fedeltà lejn il-kodiċi tal-galanter-

F’daqqa waħda Mattew qabeż għal rasu ġol-bettija u ma deherx iżjed

ija. Il-parti ritwali taċ-ċerimonja tispiċċa meta l-parrinu imiss x-xabla tiegħu fuq spallejn il-kandidat u jintroduċieh lill-udjenza bħala kavallier. Imbagħad, il-parrini jgħannqu u jbusu lill-Kavallieri l-ġodda li jgħannqu lil xulxin. Wara, kull min ikun preżenti jiġi jgħannaq u jbus kull Kavallier ġdid. Iċ-ċerimonja tispiċċa bi pranzu kbir. L-għada jkun hemm turnew fejn ilKavallieri l-ġodda juru l-kapaċitajiet tagħhom fil-ġlied bix-xwabel u fl-irkib taż-żwiemel. Kienet f ’din l-okkażjoni li Francesco apprezza l-ħbiberija li Alessandro wera lejh meta waqa’ minn fuq iż-żiemel tiegħu li sfratta. Alessando kien pront qabeż minn fuq iż-żiemel tiegħu u mar jgħin lil sieħbu li kien ħabat rasu mal-art u ntilef minn sensieh. Ġarru fuq dahru u ħadu ġewwa biex jiġi kkurat. Huwa baqa’ jdur bih sakemm irkupra għalkollox. Huma t-tnejn dejjem kienu ħbieb u kienu jsejħu lil xulxin Sandro u Cesco. Iżda minn dak iż-żmien, Francesco, li kien bniedem sensittiv u sentimentali ħafna iktar mit-Taljani l-oħra, kien jgħannaq u jbus lil sieħbu kull meta jiltaqa’ miegħu. Ħass li qatt ma seta’ jħallsu biżżejjed għal dak li kien għamel miegħu. Dejjem baqa’ jsejjaħlu Caro Sandro. 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).

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

MEMORJI

Replica prints by Richard Ellis, courtesy of Book Distributors Ltd (BDL).

Ir-ritratt: Mera tal-passat fil-ħajja tagħna l-Maltin Joseph Scicluna jiżviluppa aktar dwar l-arti tal-fotografija f’pajjiżna.

ara li jkun għadda żżmien, mħux l-ewwel darba li l-bniedem jinsa avvenimenti u okkażjonijiet tal-passat. Imma jekk ikollu ritratt ta’ dawk il-ġrajjiet, jiġu quddiem għajnejħ u jkunu qishom qegħdin jiġru dak il-ħin stess John Herschel, studjuż u ta’ għerf kbir fil-matematika u flastroloġija, kien ‘ħareġ’ bilkelma ‘fotografija’, li ġejja millGrieg ‘tpinġija permezz tad-dawl.’ Il-Franċiż Daguerre kien skopra l-proċess kif joħroġ ir-ritratt meta l-immaġni ma tibqax imċajpra, fil-waqt li lIngliż Fox Talbot sab il-metodu kif issir kopja tar-ritratt permezz tan-negattiva. L-ewwel ħanut jew studju speċjalizzat tal-fotografija infetaħ minn Leandro Preziosi filBelt Valletta għall-ħabta tassena 1849, għalkemm qabel kien ħawn xi fotografi fil-Kottonera, il-Belt u l-Furjana. Nistgħu ngħidu li numru ta’ ħwienet tal-fotografija kienu fi Strada Stretta, il-Belt. F’din ittriq kien hemm il-qliegħ talflus, bil-ħwienet tax-xorb mimlija bil-baħrin u s-suldati. Dawk li kienu jiġbdu r-ritratti kell-

hom klijentela tajba bin-nies tas-servizzi li ħafna minnhom kienu jibgħatu ritratti lil qrabatħom barra minn Malta. Xi snin wara insibu li infetħu postijiet oħra Raħal Ġdid, ilĦamrun, ir-Rabat u tasSliema. Fost dawk li kienu armati fi Strada Stretta, kien ħemm Grech Ċumbo, John Cancio, Davison u Ciantar Preziosi, Distefano li kellu lVernon Studio u J. Critien. James Conroy u l-mara tiegħu, li wara li għalqu l-ħanut, kien ħadu Augusto Felice taħt l-

Għal aktar minn 50 sena Ellis kien wieħed millprotagonisti li ħalla impatt qawwi filqasam tal-arti tal-fotografija

isem The Black and White Studio. Fis-sena 1871, Richard Ellis li qabel kien assistent ma James Conroy, fetah għal rasu u baqa’ jagħti servizz għal aktar minn 50 sena sakemm miet fl-1924. Ellis kien ġie Malta mal koppja Conroy għall-ħabta tal-1860 u marru joqgħodu l-Isla. Twieled lIngilterra u ta’ eta’ żgħira mar jaħdem ma’ kumpanija taċċirklu u fl-istess ħin kien tgħallem is-sengħa tal fotografija. Iżżewweġ mara Maltija minn Bormla, u b’kunjom Inġliż, kien qabad sew u mfittex ħafna għax-xogħolu. Bdew jiġu Malta ukoll xi fotografi barranin minn Franza u l-Ingilterra, li kienu jafu li l-klima f ’pajjiżna kienet toffri vantaġġ li ritratti meħudin hawn, kienu jġibu prezz tajjeb. Il-Kottonera kienet bejta tan-nies tasservizzi Ingliżi, u ma segħtax jonqos li fit-tlett ibliet bdew jitfaċċaw ħwienet tal-fotografija li qabdu sew f ’dan il-mistier. F’Bormla kien hemm Thomas Fenech li kien jinsab bil-ħanut viċin il-kwartier tassuldati ġo Verdala, u kellu ieħor ma’ ġenb The Soldiers and Sailors Rest. Aktar tard fetħu

postijiet ta’ J. Fenech u Michele Żaħra fi Strada San Paolo. Ma dawn insibu li kien ħawn tnejn Taljani, Umberto Adinolfi li kien armat l-Isla u Domenico Foti, li barra li kien fotografu kien jippublika xi kotba. F’dan il-lokal, S A. Ħarrison kellu studju fi Strada della Marina u ċertu Serracino rama’ taħt l-isem The Fine Art Studio. Adinolfi ġie Malta f ’Ottubru tas-sena 1891 u sab fejn joqgħod fl-Isla. Twieled fl-1870 f’Salerno fl-Italja u fetaħ studju fi Strada San Francesco. Snin qabel it-Tieni Gwerra irnexxilu jieħu ċittadinanza Ingliża. Kien imqabbad jagħmel xogħol għan-navy Ingliża, jieħu ritratti u joħroġ kartolini tal-vapuri navali li kienu ibbażati f ’Malta u fil-Greċja. L-isem ta’ Richard Ellis huwa assoċjat mal-fotografija f ’pajjiżna. Għal aktar minn 50 sena Ellis kien wieħed mill-protagonisti li ħalla impatt qawwi filqasam tal-arti tal-fotografija. F’arkivji tal-familja hemm kważi mal-40,000 kopja ta’ ritratti fuq in-negattiva, fosthom kollezzjoni ta’ ritratti ta’ kull vapur li kien isorġi fil-Port il-Kbir mill-1870 sas-sena 1939. Nistgħu ngħidu li kien is-sur-

mast tal fotografija. Ix-xogħol tiegħu juri d-dettal, il-ħila li kellu kif kien jikkreja ambjent bi sfond adattat għal kull ritratt li kien jiġbed. In-numru kbir ta’ ritratti jixħdu il-ħila u s-sengħa li kien kapaċi ‘jaqbad’ il-fattizzi naturali tal-persuna. Ritratti li bihom forsi ried iwassal li iġibulna quddiem għajnejna kif kienet il-ħajja f’pajjiżna fis-seklu 19. Il-kuntrast bejn is-sinjuri, u dawk tal-klassi l-baxxa, il-ħaddiema u l-familji tagħhom, li għalkemm fqar, jidhru jgħixu ħajja sempliċi u kuntenti. Ħafna mill-ħwienet kellhom l-isem tal-fotografu fuq ilfaċċata, waqt li oħrajn kienu jippreferu li ipoġġu isem li jolqot lgħajn biex iħajru n-nies. Għadna insibu ritratti fil-Belt ta’ The Grand Studio u The Empire Studio fi Strada Reale, The Fine Art Studio fl-Isla, il-ħanut li kellu Azzopardi Preziosi The Sun Gallery u The Modern Studio f’tas-Sliema. F’Bormla, il-ħanut The Light and Truth Studio żgur li kien iqajjem kurżita ma’ dawk li kienu jgħaddu minn quddiemu. Kien hemm ukoll min kien jarma barra, għalkemm dawn kienu ftit. Ipoġġu il-kamera tar-ritratti, li kienet tkun goffa, fuq tripid, u joqgħodu f’xi

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

NEWS

In-nanniet tal-awtur fit-tieġ tagħhom, Ottubru 1903.

Psychodrama therapy at Jasmine nursing home

ġnien jew ħdejn monument jistennew lil dak li jkun jieqaf biex jieħu ritratt. L-anzjani żgur li jiftakru wieħed fil-ġnien tal-Barrakka ta’ Fuq, u ieħor ħdejn ilmonument ta’ Kristu Re quddiem il-lukanda Phoenicia. Orazio Agius, fotografu millKottonera, msemmi għal ritratti ta’ llbies bil-kostumi partikulari, xeni u veduti tal-Port il-Kbir, kellu ħanut fil-Birgu. Mażżmien biddel ismu għal Horace u nafu li kien wieħed minn ta’ lewwel li kien jiġbed ritatti ta’ listess post. Minn naħa l-oħra, wieħed jinnota fil-bidu tal-karriera tiegħu, Preziosi kien iġib il-figura kollha fir-ritratt, ħafna drabi bil-wieqfa, u mill-viċin. Ħuwa twieled f ’Venezja u lfamilja aktar tard kienet marret toqgħod fil-gżira ta’ Corsica. Meta ġie Malta mar joqgħod ilFurjana, u fetaħ ħanut f’numru 19 fi Piazza Bretanica. Kien studja l-fotografija, u ritratti tiegħu huma ta’ livell ta’ fotografi Franċiżi u Ingliżi ta’ żmienu. Il-maġġoranża tal-klijenti tiegħu kienu familji nobbli u ta’ klassi ġħolja, prelati u lkleru u uffiċjali tas-servizzi. Miet f ’eta’ żgħira u n-negozju xtraħ Giuzeppi Lorenzo Formosa, ta’ triq it-Teatru, viċin ilkatidral Anglikan ta’ San Pawl. Dan kellu ħafna parruċċani Ingliżi u kien joffri servizz li klijent jinqeda malajr u r-ritratt kien ikun lest dak in-nhar stess. Propjetarji ta’ dawn ilħwienet kienu jistampaw reklami bit-Taljan dwar ixxogħol tagħhom. Ir-ritratti kienu jitwaħħlu fuq kartun, kemmxejn iebes, li kien jinġieb minn barra. Kien ikollu burdura lewn id-deheb u meta r-ritratt

jitwaħħal mieġħu, kien jista’ jitpoġġa immejjel fuq xi mejda jew xkaffa biex iżejjen il-post. Fuq ilquddiem tar-ritratt kien hemm l-isem ta’ l-istudjo u fuq wara, reklam b’ disinn dekorattiv ta’ persuna jew veduta ta’ Malta. Reklam ferm gustuż li kien għamlu Christopher Burck li kellu ħanut f ’Bormla juri mara bil-qegħda, b’tarbija f ’idejha, il-fotografu b’rasu mgħottija taħt biċċa drapp, qiegħed jiġbed ir-ritratt. Fuq dak ta’ Michele Zahra ta’ Strada Britannia fil-Belt Valletta, hemm skeċċ jew tpinġija ta’ studjo, bil-fotografu liebes ġakketta twila, baxxut wara kamera ta’ l-injam, taħt ċarruta sewda, jipprepara biex jieħu irritratt. Dawk li kienu jippużaw għar-ritratt jidhru dejjem b’ħarsa serja fuq wiċċhom. Kienet drawwa li lanqas kienu jitbissmu ħalli ‘jiġu tajjeb’. Ma rridux ninsew li f ’dawk iżżminijiet ħafna minn nies kien ikollhom is-snin neqsin u forsi għalhekk ukoll kienu jagħlqu ħalqhom b’xuftejħom marsusin ma’ xulxin. Kienu bosta dawk li fetħu studjo u maż-żmien saru

magħrufa bħal fotografi rinomati mal-poplu Malti. Min qiegħed jaqra forsi lanqas jiġieħ il-ħsieb li dak iż-żmien kien hemm nisa li kienu joffru servizz f’dan il-qasam. Jidher li l-ewwel waħda li bdiet tieħu rritratti f ’Malta, kienet il-mara ta’ James Conroy u li semmejt aktar il fuq f ’dan l-artiklu. Hemm min jaħseb li din kienet it-tieni mara tiegħu, imwielda l’Italja, li huwa żżewweġ wara li mietet l-ewwel waħda. Millbanda l-oħra għandna indikazzjoni f’ritratt li qiegħed f’kollezzjoni privata, ta’ raġel liebes uniformi, li juri li huwa meħud minn ċerta sinjura S Harrison għall-ħabta tas-sena 1864 , li żewġha kellu studjo fi Strada della Marina fl-Isla. Illum għandna f ’idejna teknoloġija avvanzata u nieħdu ritratti kemm nifilħu mingħajr lanqas biss jgħaddilna l-iċken ħsieb min kienu dawk li min jaf kemm esperimentaw u għaddew xhur u snin sakemm irnexxielhom jagħtuna din il-meravilja li ikollna dak il-ħin stess li naraw xbieħa jew immaġini wara ftit sekondi li nagħfsu buttuna.

History of Photography, Kevin Casha Il-Ġbid tar-Ritratti f’Malta, Charles Spiteri, PIN, 2011 The History of Photography, Anne Devanport, Preview, 1991 British Photographic History Malta: the Richard Ellis Archive 1862-1924, January 2011 The Last of the Ellises, Business Today, May 2008 More Notes for a History of Photography in Malta, Giovanni Bonello, The Sunday Times of Malta, August 2015 Richard Ellis: the Man, his Times and his Pictures, Marika Azzopardi

s part of its cognitive stimulation therapy offerings to its clients, Jasmine Nursing Home includes psychodrama sessions. The use of creative arts therapy groups with the elderly is achieving increased recognition as technical and theoretical dimensions of these modalities are being described with greater sophistication. Creative arts therapies provide unique and additional benefits in group work with the elderly group members. A traditional psychodrama session at Jasmine Nursing Home involves three main parts, starting with warm-up uses exercises to help the group (including the leader, also called ’the director’) get in touch with their spontaneity. As the first section of a psychodrama, it should support group interaction and through the promotion of play, help lessen any sources of anxiety. The enactment or the action is when a stage is set allowing the protagonist to work with different issues, practice new roles, see oneself and other significant people from different perspectives and overall gain insight. In the safety of the psychodrama stage everything is allowed. In other words, the stage should provide the protagonist with a sense of freedom: “freedom from unbearable stress and freedom for experience and expression.” Sharing is the final part of a psychodrama or the conclusion of the action. It is the time for the protagonist to sit back and take in reflections from the group members who are instructed to share from feelings that have been awakened during the drama or from insights gained from the auxiliary roles (helper roles) that they have played. Sessions are filmed and later seen by the participants and the director, to enable them to achieve constant improvement. The question of whether or not the group therapy method psychodrama can respond to and meet the institutionalised elderly person’s longing for meaning is rhetorical. During the past year staff at Jasmine Nursing Home have seen how effective it can be. At the same time, from a research and experiential standpoint it is necessary to maintain a problem-oriented approach: the psychodramatic method must continuously be transformed because of the various physical barriers and personal histories, and persistently questioned as to what are the consequences of therapeutic quality in the long run? These cognitive sessions at Jasmine Nursing home are also offered to outpatients and not only for in-house clients. For more information follow Jasmine Nursing Home on Facebook or visit www.jasminenursinghome.com.mt.

Provides protagonists with a sense of freedom

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

SPORT

UNITED we stand

Carmel Baldacchino recalls Hibs’ historic encounter with Manchester United.

Frans ‘Ċikku’ Mifsud, Hibs’ 17-year-old wonder boy, started his international career in a rather strange way when he got lost in London on the team’s journey to Manchester. He finally managed to find his way to Old Trafford to play against English champions Manchester United.

he 1967-68 season will always be remembered as the one in which a local club had the effrontery to pit its puny strength against the mighty champions of England and come up trumps. Hibernians will always occupy a special niche in the history of Maltese football for the way they held world famous Manchester United to a 0-0 draw in the first round of the European Cup of Champions and with some luck, they could have even beaten them. Hibs’ feat grew in stature at the end of the season when United defeated Benfica in the final to be crowned champions of Europe. Hibernians’ historic encounter with Manchester United has been written with letters of gold in the myths and legends of Maltese football. It all started in August 1967, when the draw was made for the first round of the European competitions. The incredible news flashed around the island that Hiber-

nians were drawn to meet mighty Manchester United in the first round of the competition. The cry, ‘United are coming’ echoed around every street and alley of the island as the Rediffusion announced the sensational news to the football-crazy population. The old visitors’ balcony at Luqa Airport bore witness to the hysteria, which gripped the Maltese on that occasion. Thousands of United fans fought for every inch of space for a chance to see and cheer their heroes. Thousands of liri changed hands as bets were placed – not on the eventual winners, no one had any doubt about that, but on the number of goals United would score against the local champions. Up to the 1950s the Maltese in their majority supported English teams. It was only with the advent of television in 1958 that they started to follow the fortunes of Italian clubs. Their favourites in those days were mostly clubs which have since gone out of

Group photograph taken before the classic Champions Cup encounter on September 27, 1967. Note the way the crowd filled every nook and corner of the old Empire Stadium.

fashion. Portsmouth with its connection with the Navy, Wolves, Sunderland and Preston North End were the bestknown foreign teams in Malta prior to and immediately after the war. Then, in the 1950s clubs like Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and of course Manchester United became more popular with the Maltese. I would not be exaggerating if I say that Manchester United have the biggest following in Malta. The Reds however, only came into the picture in the 1950s when the famous ‘Busby Babes’ dominated English football. Then came the horrible air-crash disaster of 1958 which ironically helped to make Manchester United a household name all over the world. The Red Devils first came to Malta in 1961 when they defeated an MFA selection 2-0 at the Gżira Stadium. Then, six years later, they were back in Malta to play Hibernians in the European Cup of Champions. This was, up to that time, the biggest thing that had ever happened in Maltese football. Hibernians were drowned under the wave of enthusiasm, which engulfed the island. But the Paolites had nothing to lose and everything to gain from this encounter. No one gave them a grain of a chance, but this suited them fine. They pooled their meagre resources. Everybody did his part. The players, the technical staff composed of Father Hilary Tagliaferro and Lino Bugeja, the committee and their loyal supporters bit their lips and went on with their

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

On the hard ground of the Empire Stadium, Bobby Charlton met his match in Salvu Gatt. Hibs’ iron-man shadowed the great man to such an extent that at the end of the game he ran out of the pitch frustrated and embarrassed.

preparation for the encounter. Hibs started training early in July, something unheard of in those days, but they found great difficulties to organise friendly matches. Lino Bugeja brought the team to peak physical fitness. This, later on stood the team well on the field of play but the team badly lacked match practice. Hibs’ only real test before the big match was the Independence Cup final against Floriana and Father Hilary had to struggle to bring the team mentally fit for its tough encounters. Present at the Stadium for the match against Floriana was Manchester United’s manager Sir Matt Busby. As things worked out, however, he might as well have stayed home. It was a poor match, devoid of any semblance of good football, which at the end justly ended in a 0-0 draw. The way Hibs rose to the occasion is common knowledge, but there is another side of this story. It hinges around my friend, Francis ‘Ċikku’ Mifsud. It all started on Friday, September 16, 1967 when the Hibs’ party left for the UK. Before going to Manchester the players and officials stopped for a couple of nights in London. On Saturday, the group went to Highbury Stadium to watch the league derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspurs. After the match, as the players were returning to their hotel, ‘Ċikku’ Mifsud, then barely 17 years old and the baby of the party, got lost in the crowd. Mifsud found himself in a rather awkward situation,

especially since he forgot the name of his hotel. Luckily for him, a Maltese resident who happened to be in the area came to his rescue. Taking pity on the youngster, he took him home with him where he spent the night. The next morning he took him to Euston Station and put him on a train to Manchester. Fortunately for Mifsud, in the same compartment there was a certain Miss Davies travelling home from a holiday in Italy. When they were about to leave the train, Mifsud asked Miss Davies to show him the way to Old Trafford. Miss Davies’ realised his difficulty. Being late in the evening, she took him home to spend the night with her family. The next day she took him to Old Trafford to the relief of the Hibs’ contingent who were by now sick with worry and had already reported his disappearance to the London Police. The newspapers got wind of the story and needless to say, Mifsud suddenly found himself a celebrity. All’s well that ends well, so goes the proverb. Hibs entered Old Trafford, that great temple of English football, like a lamb to the slaughter. A good crowd stood by to witness the sacrifice but the goals did not come as a matter of course as had been expected. In fact, United were made to fight every inch of the way. The defensive plan adopted by the Maltese part-timers checked the professionals. Hibs toiled long and hard to obtain a creditable result.

Frans Scerri standing to the left of the picture watches in dismay as Alex Stepney saves on the ground what should have been a certain goal.

Manchester United opened the score in the 10th minute through David Sadler. Just before the interval, Dennis Law hammered in another. In the second period, Sadler diverted a low shot past Freddie Mizzi and Law dived brilliantly to head in the final goal. United dictated matters but the Hibs defence, led by a brilliant Freddie Mizzi, did not yield an inch. It was a respectable result for Hibernians and they came back to Malta with their heads held high and a lot more confidence in their abilities for the return match. Returning to my friend ‘Ċikku’ Mifsud, Hibs’ coach Fr Hillary Tagliaferro took a big gamble when he included the youngster in the team. ‘Ċikku’ did not play badly but he was too bewildered by his surroundings or perhaps by his unexpected adventure to give Hibs his full output. However, let’s go the return match at the Stadium. Once

Scerri had one of the hardest and most accurate shots in football but to his dismay, Stepney miraculously saved on the ground

again huge scores were mentioned, and thousands of pounds changed hands in bets. The English Lion was angered, and everyone expected a massacre as referee De Marchi of Italy led the teams on to the pitch of the Stadium on Wednesday September 27, 1967. A record crowd of over 25,000 filled the stadium. However, despite their star-studded side, Manchester United were unable to take full control of the game. Doing most of the attacking they came up against a nononsense defence, which spoilt all their efforts. Both sides had their chances. United, clearly the sharper and more accurate side had to face Freddie Mizzi at his best. He was well assisted by a cool and confident defence. After a good start, United desperate for that vital opening goal lost their heads and their passes started going astray. It was at this stage, that Frans Scerri was handed the chance to become a football immortal. A long clearance found the Hibs’ inside right out on his own on the left. He cut in unopposed and with only Alex Stepney between him and goal drove hard and true to the right-hand corner of the net. Now Scerri had one of the hardest and most accurate shots in football but to his dismay, Stepney miraculously saved on the ground. We speak of ‘the goal, the game, and the player of the century’, but what about ‘the miss of the century’? That distinction probably belongs to my friend Scerri, with whom I was brought up in Paola. We played football together with the Paola Youth Centre FT but while he went on to play big

time football, I had to content myself with watching him play for Hibs and Valletta. A product of Hibs’ minors’ team, Scerri was one of many fine footballers reared by that shrewd judge of football, Fr Hillary. Scerri, however, was something of a misfit, and he clashed many times with the Fr Hillary, mostly because he refused to conform to the strict rules laid down by the soccer maestro. I remember one Sunday morning when Scerri turned up to play for the De Paul FT in the Paola District League. That afternoon Scerri was due to play for Hibernians but he still turned out for this amateur encounter. Someone phoned Fr Hilary who lost no time to come down to Corradino and pull Scerri out of the game. United later became European Champions but they had to run off the pitch of the stadium with their heads held down in shame accompanied by the whistles of derision of the crowd. It was a great moral victory for Hibernians, but things could have been even bigger if Scerri did not fumble that great opportunity to give Hibs a famous victory. The end came a few minutes later with both sides still level at 0-0. This extraordinary result made Hibs firm favourites of retaining the championship. However, four days after this epic game they lost their opening league game against Valletta. In fact, Hibs failed to win a major honour that season. They finished third in the league and were beaten finalists in the FA Trophy. What a contrast to that glorious afternoon in September, 1967.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

NEWS

Min hu l-Ispirtu s-Santu?

il-bidu ta’ kull sena u f ’kull okkażjoni importanti oħra, dejjem jitkanta Veni Creator Spiritus, innu magħruf li jiġbor fih it-teoloġija dwar l-Ispirtu sSantu. Dan l-innu hu attribwit lil Rabano Mauro, abbati ta’ Fulda, fil-Ġermanja, u arċisqof ta’ Magonza. Dan għex bejn tmiem is-seklu tmienja u lewwel nofs tas-seklu disgħa. Min hu l-Ispirtu s-Santu? L-Ispirtu sSantu hu t-tielet persuna tas-Santissima Trinità. Dan l-Ispirtu hu Alla daqs il-Missier u l-Iben, u kif nistqarru filKredu: “Hu, Mulej li jagħti l-ħajja; li ġej mill-Missier u mill-Iben.” L-Ispirtu sSantu hu r-rigal ta’ Kristu Rxoxt lillKnisja. Għalhekk, Ġesù, dakinhar stess li qam mill-mewt, deher lill-appostli u filwaqt li nefaħ fuqhom, qalilhom: ‘Ħudu l-Ispirtu s-Santu’. (Ġw. 20:22) Ġesù kien jaf li l-missjoni li ta lit-12 qabel tela’ s-sema, kienet missjoni tqila għall-aħħar u ma kinitx possibbli li jwettquha waħedhom. Għalhekk, Ġesù nsista ma’ dawn it12 biex ma jitilqux minn Ġerusalemm qabel jiġi fuqhom l-Ispirtu s-Santu. Huwa dan l-Ispirtu qaddis li ried ifakkarhom dak kollu li għamel u għallem Ġesù. (Ġw. 16:12) U mhux biss, iżda Ġesù baqa’ magħhom u jibqa’ malKnisja sal-aħħar taż-żminijiet permezz ta’ dan l-Ispirtu. (Ġw. 14:16) Fit-Testment l-Antik, insibu li dan lIspirtu kien jingħata biss lil xi indi-

vidwi li Alla kien jagħżel biex iwettqu missjoni importanti fi ħdan il-poplu tiegħu – slaten, profeti u mħallfin. Imma llum, dan lIspirtu jingħata lil kull min jemmen fi Kristu u jitgħammed. San Xmun jikteb li: “Dan kien l-għan u d-destinazzjoni tal-opra tas-salvazzjoni li wettaq Kristu; biex dawk li jemmnu jirċievu l-Ispirtu sSantu.” In-Nisrani hu dak li hu msejjaħ biex jagħti xhieda ta’ Kristu, kemm blgħemil u kemm bilkelma. Din il-missjoni qatt u qatt ma kienet faċli li titwettaq bil-ħila biss tagħna l-bnedmin. Nafu li matul is-sekli sal-ġurnata tallum, insibu ħafna martri li ssiġillaw ix-xhieda tagħhom għal Kristu bittixrid ta’ demmhom. Nistaqsu minn fejn dawn il-martri ġabu l-qawwa biex jibqgħu sodi filfehma tagħhom quddiem dawk li riedu joqtluhom b’mod mill-iżjed brutali u krudil? It-tweġiba hija sempliċi: lIspirtu s-Santu. Fil-fatt, l-Ispirtu sSantu hu dak li jgħinna fin-nuqqas ta’

ħila tagħna; hu dak li jgħinna nrabbu l-muskoli ħalli nkunu nifilħu għattiġrib li niltaqgħu miegħu. Għalhekk, meta nagħrfu x-xejn u d-dgħufijiet tagħna, m’għandniex naqtgħu qalbna, għax Kristu ħa ħsieb li jagħtina l-istess Spirtu qaddis tiegħu biex iwiżinna fin-

nuqqasijiet kollha tagħna. L-Ispirtu sSantu ma ngħatax lil dawk li waslu fid-destinazzjoni tagħhom, imma lilna li għadna hawn f ’dan ilpellegrinaġġ nitħabtu malirwiefen tal-ħajja sa ma naslu f ’Dar Missierna tas-sema. Il-Knisja mhux dejjem għandha ttweġibiet u s-soluzzjonijiet f ’kultura li dejjem tinbidel u toffri sfidi ġodda. Iżda lIspirtu s-Santu żgur li jgħinha ħalli fid-dawl tiegħu tagħraf issib toroq ġodda ta’ kif tista’ tgħix il-kelma ta’ Ġesù. Dan ma jfissirx li l-Knisja twarrab dak kollu li għallmet matul iżżmien, iżda li tagħraf ‘tinkarna’ l-istess kelma fiċċirkostanzi tal-lum. Għalhekk, jeħtieġ li l-ħin kollu nitolbu lil dan l-Ispirtu li jgħammar fina, ħalli kif waqaf mal-Knisja sa mill-bidu tat-twaqqif tagħha biex tkun tista’ taqdi b’fedeltà l-missjoni fdata lilha minn Ġesù, hekk illum tkompli taqdi din l-istess missjoni mal-erbat irjieħ tad-dinja, ħalli Ġesù jkun magħruf u maħbub minn kulħadd.

Is the ftira a marker of identity?

he Maltese ftira is undoubtedly the most popular local bread-based product. It can serve both as a full meal or as a light snack, and it could be filled with virtually anything to one’s liking. The mouth-watering ftira may be considered ordinary, however this artisanal bread product remains among the very few which necessitates manual preparation. On Thursday, January 24, Heritage Malta is inviting the general public to attend a discussion by food historian Dr Noel Buttigieg about the historical, artisanal and culinary qualities of the ftira, to the extent that it is being proposed for inclusion in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. For centuries, bread has been an integral part of Malta’s food

patterns. Not only was it essential to our diet, but it is intrinsically ingrained in historical consciousness and culture. Bread has strengthened historical political ties, was key in securing social control and has occasionally generated unrest, has been a social marker distinguishing classes, and has pen-

etrated in our language with numerous idioms and metaphors describing various life situations. The ftira falls perfectly in this scenario. Its distinguishable flat shape has baptised it as ftira, from the verb fattar, meaning to flatten (the dough), as described by the linguist Gio-

vanni Francesco Agius de Soldanis in his Damma – a 1766 dictionary, or the Italian equivalent schiacciata, as referred to when being prepared in the Order’s bakery in 1742. This points towards the artisan nature of ftira, which still remains at the centre of its production.

The lecture will be delivered in English at 7pm at the Inquisitor’s Palace and National Museum of Ethnography in Birgu. Attendance is free of charge. For reservations and more information call 2182 7006 or visit Heritage Malta’s website www.heritagemalta.org.

SENIOR TIMES â&#x20AC;&#x2019; JANUARY 2019

SENIOR TIMES ‒ JANUARY 2019

TECHNOLOGY

Not just for kids A leap for seniors at Las Vegas tech show

ith artificial intelligence to detect falls, virtual reality to combat isolation and powered clothing to assist the incapacitated, the tech world is stepping up its effort to disrupt ageing. At the Consumer Electronics Show last week in Las Vegas, exhibitors were showcasing new ways to help the elderly remain independent, mentally fit and connected. Some systems took a page from the gaming world of youngsters to help seniors travel to new places and connect with loved ones. “Everyone knows seniors get lonely but that isolation can also lead to a lot of medical problems, including the acceleration of dementia,” said Kyle Rand, founder and chief executive of Rendever, a startup which works with assisted living homes to give seniors a way to virtually visit remote locations. “They can stand atop the Eiffel Tower, they can go on an African safari, or revisit their childhood home.” Rendever was launched in the Washington DC tech incubator created by the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP),

which in recent years has been funding efforts to develop new technologies for seniors. In the consumer space from the AARP incubator, Alcove VR enables seniors to be part of a virtual world with loved ones who may be far away. “You can step into a virtual living room with a friend or family member and just hang out,” said Cezara Windrem, the AARP product manager for Alcove. Alcove was launched last week as a free application on Oculus, the Facebook-owned virtual reality unit. The AARP exhibit also included VRHealth, which offers cognitive behavioural therapy using virtual reality, and Pillo, a device which serves as a personal assistant and medication dispenser focused on health for seniors. Other exhibitors showcased technology that could help seniors remain in their homes, and give family members peace of mind by monitoring their condition, in some cases using predictive analytics to determine if they are at risk. Walabot, a wall-mounted monitoring system developed by the Israeli startup Vayyar, uses radio waves and threedimensional imaging to keep

tabs on seniors living alone. “You don’t need to wear anything, there are no cameras,” said Ofer Familier, head of business development for Vayyar. The company, which makes a range of sensor equipment, says Walabot can detect subtle changes in gait, movement or breathing which could signal a risk of a fall or other problem. “We can detect falls, but the predictive aspect of it is to monitor changes in behaviour so we can alert family members,” Familier said. Also launched at CES was the Addison Virtual Caregiver, a video-based assistant with a female avatar which can converse, offer reminders on medication and detect potential health issues. With the data gathered from the device, “we can classify people as high-risk or low-risk fallers,” said David Keeley, research director for Addison parent firm SameDay Security. “We can predict the rate of functional decline.”

Alicia Mangram, a Phoenixbased trauma surgeon who is an advisor to Addison, said the system can be useful in helping seniors remain independent. “Right now when we send people home (from a hospital) we don’t know what happens to them,” Mangram said. “This allows us to check on them.” Florida-based startup CarePredict exhibited its system based on a wearable band that helps monitor seniors in assisted living facilities. “We can passively and unobtrusively monitor the daily activities of seniors, and our predictive tools can help identify if they are at risk of falls, depression, malnutrition or urinary tract infections,” said CarePredict’s Jerry Wilmink. Tech firms see a promising market in these kinds of devices, with public attention focused by the Apple Watch’s feature of fall detection. According to research firm eMarketer, Americans of age

55 and older are the fastestgrowing group of electronic wearable users in the US, largely due to the devices’ enhanced health features. For those with mobility issues, the California startup Seismic unveiled its wearable tech body suit which can augment a user’s muscles and help them maintain posture. The “core wellness suit,” which weighs under five pounds and can be worn under street clothes, has robotic components that provide up to 30 watts of power to each hip and the lower back to support sitting, standing, lifting, or carrying — similar to an exoskeleton but without the bulk. Sarah Thomas, a Seismic vice president and advisor to tech startups, said the new product is designed not only for the elderly but for factory workers to ease fatigue and anyone with mobility issues. Thomas said tech products for seniors should not be “stigmatised” with unsightly products. “We should be designing with age in mind but without the ageist perspective,” Thomas told a CES panel. (AFP)

VR enables seniors to be part of a virtual world with loved ones who may be far away