Senior Times (September 2017)

SENIOR TIMES September 2017

Malta’s monthly newspaper for the elderly

Books

“A precious resource”

Meeting author Tony C. Cutajar

Interview with Anthony Agius Decelis

SEE PAGE 6

SEE PAGE 9

A man walks into Johnny’s Bar…

cArs Maltese at the Mille Miglia SEE PAGE 14

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEpTEMbER 2017

EDITOR’S WELCOME

IN THIS ISSUE

SENIOR TIMES

A sense of community

SEPTEMBER 2017

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here is one word which crops up frequently in our interview with Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing Anthony Agius Decelis: community.

There are various elements which define and bring a community together – from history and religious beliefs to socioeconomic factors and family, every community comes, and stays together through a sense of belonging.

One would think that given Malta’s size, as well as our strong sense of family, a sense of community is created by default. But it is not. There are still various factions divided by colour, race, politics, even different village feasts.

But that is not necessarily negative – having various and diverse communities sharing the space of a village, town and country is, indeed, what constitutes a society. The important element is dialogue between the different communities.

In this issue of Senior Times, Charlotte Stafrace writes about the importance of dialogue between the young and old, in themselves, different communities. She writes how an intergenerational approach can positively contribute to building active communities. Sharing a space, a history, a memory helps in promoting a greater understanding between different generations.

In his opinion piece, Tonio Bonello also pushes for an intergenerational agenda and proposes that young students visit homes for the elderly – this would help reduce loneliness and isolation.

In this issue of Senior Times, we also meet Joseph Farrugia, who runs the iconic Johnny’s Bar in Ħamrun. This is also another fine example of intergenerational ‘dialogue’ as Farrugia recalls how his family has owned this bar since 1919.

Farrugia himself took over from his father and, now nearing his own retirement, he laments how it would be a pity if the bar and all that it holds – from memorabilia to memories – is lost.

Stanley

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stanley Borg E-mail: seniortimes @timesofmalta.com CONTRIBUTORS Carmel Baldacchino Tonio Bonello Joseph Busuttil Anton B. Dougall Dun Jonathan Farrugia Christine Galea Charlotte Stafrace Fiona Vella PUBLISHERS Allied Newspapers Limited Triq L-Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000 www.timesofmalta.com

3. Wara s-sajf Ma nħallux ir-rutina ta’ kuljum tagħmilna indifferenti għall-weġgħat ta’ ħaddieħor, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

4. A man walks into a bar…

Joseph Farrugia tells Fiona Vella how he ended up serving drinks at Johnny’s Bar.

6. Once upon a time… … and a long time it has been as this year, Tony C. Cutajar celebrates 40 years since his very first publication.

8. Breaking down walls An intergenerational approach can positively contribute to building active communities while promoting a greater understanding between generations, says Charlotte Stafrace.

9. Active ageing Elderly people are a social capital, Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing Anthony Agius Decelis says.

11. International Day of Older Persons Celebrating the elderly on October 1, 2017.

DESIGN Christian Busuttil SALES Marion Muscat Tel: 2276 4331 E-mail: marion.muscat @timesofmalta.com © 2017. All rights reserved.

Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited.

12. Ir-rebħiet ta’ ġensna F’Settembru nfakkru diversi rebħiet għal Malta. Dawn kienu kumbinazzjoni jew interventi straordinarji, isaqsi Dun Jonathan Farrugia.

14. One thousand dreams Old Maltese motors have had mixed fortunes at the legendary Mille Miglia. But it’s all part of the classic competition’s appeal, Joe Busuttil from the Old Motors Club says.

18. Photo story This month’s news highlights captured in show-stopping photos.

20. Win some, lose some In life, it’s not whether you win or lose, but it’s about the journey and how it’s lived, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

21. Lażanja bil-brunġiel Anton B. Dougall jaħsiblu għall-ħarifa bi platt bnin u sħun.

22. The grand old man of Maltese football Ġianni Bencini gave Melita FC one of the greatest team spirits ever seen in Maltese football, says Carmel Baldacchino.

25. University of the Third Age Malta Registration for the 2017/2018 academic year.

26. Art, music and sculpture A spotlight on artist Philippe Agius.

28. Gone but not forgotten Malta in black and white still has a beauty that’s full of colour and a kind of innocence that the island has lost over the years. From trams and toy prams to vintage hotels and buildings long gone, Senior Times and Bay Retro celebrate a pretty past.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEpTEMbER 2017

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OPINJONI

Wara s-sajf

Ma nħallux ir-rutina ta’ kuljum tagħmilna indifferenti għall-weġgħat ta’ ħaddieħor, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

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ż-żmien igerbeb. Hekk kif ftit ġimgħat ilu biss, ħafna tfal kienu ħerqana li wara l-uġiegħ ta’ ras tależamijiet, se jibdew, kif jixraq, il-btajjel tas-sajf, dawn bħal kollox fil-ħajja qed jersqu lejn tmiemhom ukoll. Ħafna drabi jiġri li nidħlu fi struttura jew rutina li qajla noħorġu minnha. Dan għajr meta x’imkien tfeġġ btala pubblika jew ikun ġej żmien partikolari bħal l-Għid jew ilMilied. Illum, mhux biss ġenituri, iżda l-istess ulied bħal ġew rassenjati f ’dan iċ-ċirku donnu bla tmiem.

Tajjeb? Sa ċertu punt iva.

Dik li bl-Ingliż tissejjaħ timetable, jiġifieri programm gwida taf x’għandek tagħmel, iħalli l-persuna attiva, konċentrata u mpenjata. L-agħar li jista’ jiġrillu bniedem hu li ma jkunx jaf x’ser jaqbad jagħmel bih innifsu.

Tajjeb? Sa ċertu mhux daqstant. Hemm raġunijiet ukoll.

Struttura formali twassalna ngħixu madwar numru ta’ temi, impenji mistennija minnha bħal li kieku qed ngħixu f ’dinja għalina.

Fejn allura konsegwenzi, ċirkostanzi, esperjenzi li jistgħu jiġu fuqna jew dawk ta’ madwarna, għalina ma hemmx posthom. Il-ġurnata diġa’ mimlija kif inhi.

Stil ta’ ħajja tali jista’ jwasslna nkunu ndifferenti għal weġgħat ta’ ħaddieħor.

Nistgħu ma nibqgħux niżnu dwar x’inhuma prijoritajiet, għajr dak ġa skedat. Hawn fejn tidħol id-dimensjoni umana.

Jekk il-ħajja tal-istudent u tal-ġenituri hi diġa’ mfassla, aktarx dawn mexjin fuq it-tifsila li ppreżentat l-iskola.

L-iskola ma tippreżentax tifsila hi iżda timxi fuq kurrikulu nazzjonali.

F’dan il-kuntest, anke skola għandha limiti kważi riġidi x’tista’ torganizza li hu extrakurrikulari jew li jwassal għal esperjenza differenti tal-ħajja.

Forsi wasal il-mument li nieqfu ħesrem għal ftit. Naraw min aħna, għalfejn qed ngħixu, kif qed nikbru, kif qed tiżvolġi l-ħajja tal-ġenerazzjonijiet li ġejjin u naħsbu ftit, bis-serjeta’, illum qabel għada, qabel ikun tard wisq.

Ftit ilu semmejt l-importanza li l-anzjani jħossuhom utili u maħbuba. Dan billi familji – ġenituri u tfal – jaraw li jiftakru fl-anzjani tagħhom; iżuruhom, imorru jarawhom, jitkellmu magħhom, tali li dawn iħossuhom parti (anke jekk għal ftit ħin) minn dik il-familja.

L-istess għandu jiġri fil-kamp edukattiv. Ħafna drabi nitgħallmu ħafna teorija millkotba iżda forsi wisq ftit prattika mill-iskola tal-ħajja.

L-anzjani għandhom ħafna lezzjonijiet tal-ħajja x’jgħallmu lit-tfal.

U hawn fejn l-iskejjel u l-qafas edukattiv ta’ pajjiż forsi jista’ jinħtieġ jiġi mgħarbel u jekk hemm bżonn, modifikat.

Matul is-sena skolastika jsiru bosta attivitajiet esterni. Jum l-isport, żjarat f’ġonna, ċinema, mawra s’Għawdex. Kollha tajbin, bla dubju.

Iżda għaliex ma’ dawn ma tidħolx b’regola li klassi klassi, almenu darba f’xahar ma jmorrux ukoll iżuru dar tal-anzjani?

Jew xi sptar, dar tat-tfal u tant entitajiet oħrajn fejn bħal donnu qed jgħixu soċjetajiet wisq differenti minnha? Ħażin għal soċjeta’ fejn kulħadd jgħix għal rasu. Kif jgħidu l-Ingliżi, ħadd mhuwa gżira.

Illum, aħna ninsabu aljenati f ’din il-magna rutinali. Għada iżda, nistgħu nkunu aħna, forsi l-imwarrba, għalina, f ’soċjeta’ iżolata!

Tgħid, xewqa tagħna li meta nilħqu ċerta eta, suppost ta’ mistrieħ, ta’ paċi u serenita’, meta suppost qed ingawdu familja li rabbejna, f ’ħin bla waqt nispiċċaw waħidna?

Il-paċi miegħek.

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.

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NOSTALGIA

A man walks into a bar…

Joseph Farrugia tells Fiona Vella how he started serving drinks at Johnny’s Bar.

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or some, stepping into Johnny’s Bar in Ħamrun might feel like a journey back in time.

The black and white marble floor is a period surface for small dark wood tables. Matching chairs with curved backs are placed around the intimate space. Framed mirrors promoting a variety of spirits make their appeals from grooved pale brown walls. It is a bar from a distant era.

“We have owned this bar since 1919,” says Joseph Farrugia. “My father Johnny took over the business from a previous owner. He used this place as a casa bottega. He lived in the floor above the shop. In that way, he was able to handle the business better especially when bars often stayed open until 3am in those days.”

“My father’s bar was called St Joseph’s Bar. Like every other business, there were times when it was very busy, others when it was so-so, and at times when it did not do so well.

Nonetheless he coped, perhaps because he was always on the lookout for ways to improve the business. In fact, this was the only bar to acquire a permit to place tables in the square across the road in order to offer a better service and boost the clientele. This was also the first bar to have a licence for the national Rediffusion wireless system. During the war, people still called at the bar to drink because he covered the bar’s window with sacks so that the light would not show during the blackout.”

Since his father married at the age of 45 and Joseph was

the youngest child in the family, he remembers his father when he was already quite old.

“We lived in Marsa and I recall mum sending me to the bar at around 9pm to take him some food. She used to place a piece of meat in broth in a plate and then she would wrap it up in a napkin which she tied with two knots on each side so that I could carry it without spilling it. In that way, my father could eat something, especially when he had to stay here till the early morning.”

At one point in time, to increase his income, his father decided to lease the floor above the bar to a notary.

“There was another entrance into the premises through which people, particularly women, could go upstairs to see the notary. At

the time, it was not considered appropriate for women to be seen in bars and so in this way, they could go straight up to the notary, receive the service required and leave. However some men tended to come and have a drink while they waited their turn at the notary or after they were ready.”

Yet on May 1, 1969 fate would change the family’s life, both at home and in the bar.

“On that day, my father felt sick and told us that he was not going to open the shop. It was a pity to leave the shop closed on that day because the

Battle of Flowers which was organised by the Malta Labour Party, was going to be celebrated in the street in front of the bar. A huge crowd always came for that event to see the floats like those we have in Carnival but decorated with colourful paper flowers. We always did extremely well at the bar on that day. Although our father insisted that money was not important and that we did not have to go, my brother Victor and I opened the shop instead of him. Who could tell us that from then on, we were going to stay there?”

Who could tell us that from then on, we were going to stay there?

Their father died two days later and they had to take over the business. Yet Joseph had a problem because at the age of 15, he was too young to do this kind of work. However, they managed to smooth things out with a police inspector who called at the bar when his older brother declared that he would be responsible for him.

“Two years later, my brother and I decided to make some alterations to the bar to make it more appealing. This included changing the bar’s name to Johnny’s Bar as a dedication to our father.”

Joseph remembers the days when they introduced the first fridge in the bar. In reality it

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PHOTOS: ENRICO FORMICA

DOWN MEMORY LANE Time has an uncanny way of stealing things by simply fading them away from us. As we struggle to hold on to today’s fast paced world, some of us are simply left behind and the rest will only notice their loss when they are gone.

A close look at the core areas of our villages and towns will reveal a bygone world hidden behind closed doors of abandoned old shops which once were so popular. Their discoloured signs displaying the name of the business in large lettering and that of the original owner in smaller ones seem eager to remind us of their presence.

One of the main aims of Miranda Publishers’ latest publication Disappearing Malta: Crafts, Trades and Traditions 360° is to safeguard the memories of our dying local customs and the lives of those who were involved in them. Even if it is impossible to stop the steady advance of progress from making some of these crafts, trades and traditions no longer in demand, their documentation in narrative and pictures will defy their oblivion.

For more information visit www.mirandabooks.com.

Joseph Farrugia

was an ice-box since no electric fridges were available in those years. He has also witnessed changing trends in the type of alcohol consumed and its different uses.

“In the past, if they could afford it, every family would have a bottle of gin, rum, brandy and vermouth at home, and each spirit would have its own function. For example gin was used by women during their menstrual cycle in order to ease and help the flow.

Whisky or rum was mixed with honey and hot water to heal a cough. When someone had a headache and fever, they would give him some brandy, then cut a potato into round slices, put them in a handkerchief and tie it around his

head. It was said the potato would absorb the fever. Vermouth was available for the day when the parish priest came to bless the house and was offered a drink together with a packet of biscuits and some delicious pastries.”

At the age of 63, Joseph is thinking about retiring. His brother Victor retired years ago. No one from his family is interested to take over the shop.

“After all these years working here, I wish to dedicate some time to my wife and to enjoy my family, especially my nephews and nieces. Yet it would be a pity if everything there is here, including some objects which date back to 150 years ago, are lost.”

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AUTHORS

Once upon a time… … and a long time it has been as this year, Tony C. Cutajar celebrates 40 years since his very first publication.

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his year marks the 40th anniversary of Tony C. Cutajar’s very first publication, Id-Dubbien l-Abjad, a very modest book published

by Klabb Kotba Maltin recounting the exciting experience of a Maltese family living in Australia on their first visit to Malta.

This he wrote at 40 years of age. Now that he’s 80 he still spends his day on his laptop and in these past four decades, Cutajar has published well over a 100 fiction and nonfiction works, including children’s books, textbooks and translations, some of which won national prizes and are being used in schools.

He says there are another 30 or so novels on his laptop waiting to be published. Most of his books are mainly based on episodes and incidents taken from our local history. Cutajar has a way of building an exciting story from a little event, however unimportant or insignificant. His characters and dialogues are very down to earth and true to life.

Born at Gżira on July 28, 1936, Cutajar studied at Stella Maris College, the University of Malta and that of London and at Manchester Training College. He taught English and French up to sixth form level in the UK where he studied and taught for 10 years.

He also taught these subjects in Malta from 1969 till 1997.

He obtained scholarships in French at the Sorbonne, on Shakespeare at Stratford-onAvon and in teaching English through TV in London and Birmingham.

Cutajar is one of the most prolific local authors. He also produced a great number of books as well as the first four e-books in Maltese mainly for young adults. His radio plays and serials have been broadcast for several years on various radio stations and TV, while some of the plays have also won first place in drama festivals at the Manoel Theatre. He also produced radio and TV programmes, was mayor of San Gwann, belongs to the Order of St Lazarus and recently was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.

His last book, published in February of this year – Dan Ġesù Ieħor? – is an unusual and controversial novel. It’s not the run-of-the-mill story but still very powerful. It is an original story which keeps you wondering and speculating. The author says that it’s nothing but a parable of our times, an allegorical story about a good and sincere young man who is loved by many but accused and criticised by others. Manwel is certainly very different from anybody else, mysterious, religious and, according to some, even strange. As a teacher he is very popular not only with his young students but also

with the people of the village where he lives with his widowed mother. He starts meeting with a number of young men in a wine shop and they begin to call themselves “Manwel’s disciples”.

Cutajar always believed that teaching is a vocation

Many consider him an angel if not Jesus himself. His fellow teachers don’t agree among themselves and even have a fight when one of them accuses him of being gay.

Families come to a peaceful existence thanks to his intervention. Somebody even maintained that he had performed a miracle. A young woman is mad about him while another one, a missionary nun, encourages him to start a new life.

Is it possible that Jesus came back into the world in modern clothes to continue with his Tony C. Cutajar is often invited to give talks at schools

message of conversion and the love of one’s neighbour?

In his dedication, the author says that he’d been thinking about this subject for a very long time until he started writing it. As a teacher for many years in Malta and abroad, he often imagined himself taking the place of Jesus in his dealings with his students. He was a dedicated teacher of English and French but quietly he was also an educator in every sense.

Cutajar always believed that teaching is a vocation, and teachers, like nurses, have a special mission. He believed like the American politician Brad Henry that a good teacher can inspire hope, ignite the imagination and instill a love of learning. But he also followed author Bob Talbert’s famous quotation that teaching kids to count is fine but teaching them what counts is best.

Many old boys of his often ask him why he writes mainly in Maltese when they always remember him as a teacher of English and French. His reply is that he always loved the Maltese language and that during his 10-year-stint in UK he missed Maltese so much that he wanted to make up for it.

He has also translated a number of books from English into Maltese, among which are John Boyne’s Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Michael Morpurgo’s War Horse, Fey von Hassell’s Hostage of the Third Reich, Rudyard Kipling’s The Light that Failed and Joseph F. Girzone’s Joshua.

As a resident of San Ġwann for 45 years – and a former mayor of this town –Cutajar has written extensively about the history of this locality which was then very little known. Even the residents had little information about the cultural and historical heritage of what was originally known as Msieraħ. The Superintendent of Cultural Heritage has over the years maintained that of all the towns and villages around the harbour area, San Ġwann has the richest surviving collection of

Some of Tony C. Cutajar’s books

archaeological sites, comprising Punic, Roman Saracen and mediaeval remains. Cutajar always wanted to make sure that this important fact was known and acknowledged.

In one of his recent letters published in the Times of Malta, he complained that he had been a voice in the wilderness for nine years as mayor, deputy mayor and councillor in the local council as the authorities continued to neglect the locality’s historical remains. So he decided to form an NGO under the name of Wirt San Ġwann together with a number of knowledgeable people in order to promote the town’s heritage and encourage the better appreciation and protection of this patrimony.

Besides various articles and letters in the newspapers and magazines, Cutajar has published a number of books dealing with this subject, mainly San Ġwann u l-Istorja Tiegħu and San Ġwann u t-Toroq Tiegħu. He has also published novels with the history of San Ġwann as a background, among them Il-Misteru talMensija, Il-Misteru tar-Razzett Ta’ Xindi, Inkwatru Misterjuż and Castello Ta’ Lanzun.

For further information visit www.cutajar.net/tony.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

Tony C. Cutajar

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

AGEING

Breaking down walls An intergenerational approach can positively contribute to building active communities while promoting a greater understanding between generations, says Charlotte Stafrace.

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hen people of different ages are brought together in meaningful and mutually beneficial activities, there can be a greater understanding between generations. But that’s not all. The power of intergenerational practice can go much further.

Only the other day, a Facebook link directed me to another intergenerational project getting its go ahead. Some of these projects are really remarkable, grand in scale and require huge sums of public or other infrastructural funding.

But there are also many small projects which are still aiming to achieve great strides in communication between generations, building a bridge across the us and them, and creating a link to greater learning.

So what is the term ‘intergenerational’? Is it just a kind of buzzword or is it simply the bringing together of the elderly with the young in common activities to challenge ageist attitudes which could cause marginalisation in a society?

Ultimately both sides benefit.

Intergenerational approaches can positively contribute to building active communities, as well as promoting a greater understanding between different generations.

Some projects of late have gone one step further – the elderly got to share their environment, their homes, with the very young – kids not much older than toddlers!

While I know some who might shudder at the thought of screaming, running kids let lose in their space, it has had positive results too.

Researchers have noted that programmes which allow older adults to play with young children showed a marked improvement in lowering depression, renewed mobility, as well as cognitive stimulation.

But older adults also just enjoy the energy, enthusiasm and playfulness of children and often can reconnect with these qualities in themselves.

Even when teachers and children use intergenerational

opportunities as a basis for creative work within the classroom environment, the final outcome – which can be art, drama, a history lesson or creative writing – can be extremely gratifying for the older people involved, who feel that their lives can once again be recognised and honoured.

Globally, there have also been intergenerational projects with youths, where the latter get to have free accommodation in elderly residences, in return for offering their time spent with a resident. The two generations get to connect via relationships using books, games, TV and films, music and technology.

Even new friendships are sparked. Such projects too have shown various successes for both generations.

Of course, the local context is different. Due to our country’s size, our kids and grandchildren or other family members do not really live that far away. However there is still scope for intergenerational programmes to run in residencies. Loneliness is very much alive, and unfortunately thrives, and is not determined by the size of a country.

What I have seen is pure enjoyment when older adults become the speakers and share a knowledge of a long life lived.

It helps them to reconnect with a modern world. Their stories are also a big part of our living history, our heritage and culture – we can all benefit when we stop and give some of our time to listen to them.

We need to develop a renewed interest in listening.

That’s not easy in our generation. It’s not easy either for older adults to open up, share their thoughts, their ideas, their fears, their stories.

What’s on their side is time – a luxury we don’t really ascribe to. But anyone interested in stories or the inspiration for stories, could look no further. A good way in is to work through play – that’s why creativity works on all levels, every time.

On the other side of the coin, intergenerational work is also very informative and beneficial in the lives of our young. It gives youths an opportunity not to perceive older adults as simply old but opens up ways to have contact, listen to and interact with them. Youths engaging with older adults often express surprise at seeing how much life and narratives there are packed in these older adults, how much they have to share, and also how funny and entertaining they can be.

Intergenerational work also enables older adults to tune in

Older adults also just enjoy the energy, enthusiasm and playfulness of children and often can reconnect with these qualities in themselves to a modern world and take on new interests. Change is difficult at all times, but gradually you can introduce new ideas, which might be taken up by elderly persons if they feel that they add benefit to their lives.

After all, learning is not impossible – at any age. Creativity could also lead to learning, which in turn strengthens the mind and could enable further learning.

Psychoanalyst Erik Erikson’s concept of the later stage of life is that the key developmental task is to examine one’s past, come to terms with one’s losses, and celebrate one’s successes, thereby achieving a sense of integrity. To me that makes sense. I have seen and shared beautiful intergenerational moments, moving, talking and singing, inspired by past photos, objects and pictures. I feel lucky that I have shared in people’s celebration of their life.

Building intergenerational programmes could even

enhance a person’s later years.

In the longer term, such initiatives could also contribute to the development of a sustainable community.

The rewards, by far not conclusive here, are ample and beneficial to all. The aim is to try, no?

Charlotte Stafrace for Theatre Anon Arts Foundation has been running a two-year project, Active Age Intergenerational Dialogue, funded by the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation in collaboration with the Active Ageing and Community Care Directorate.

This project, through action research and creative workshops created a space for mutual learning and inclusion for both generations. An installation documenting this project can be seen as part of Spazju Kreattiv season programme at St James Cavalier from October 13 till November 12.

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INTERVIEW

Active ageing

Elderly people are a social capital, Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing Anthony Agius Decelis says.

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opular wisdom gives due importance to elderly people.

Despite the physical or mental frailty that might accompany old age, the words of the elderly are wise and their actions are driven by the wealth of their experience.

How much of this is translated into real life is a different story. Frequently, old age is seen as a regressive process while the elderly are portrayed as a burden on families and on society in general.

“Elderly people are a precious resource,” Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing Anthony Agius Decelis says. “Rather than a burden, they are a resource that we must recognise, acknowledge and make use of, for the benefit of society.”

As with most countries in the world, Malta has an ageing population. Worldwide, United Nations data shows that the elderly population is 900-million strong. With advances in healthcare, this figure is expected to grow.

In Malta, those aged 60 and over amount to around 105,000, which constitutes roughly 25 per cent of Malta’s population.

“Those figures are not a burden but a resource,” Parliamentary Secretary Agius Decelis says. “Elderly people have so much potential. It would be interesting to see researchers embark on studies to actually cost, in financial terms, the contribution that elderly people give to society.

Just consider the numerous elderly people who continue working beyond their pensionable age, or those who take care of their grandchildren,

thus allowing parents to pursue their jobs and careers.”

The educational background that Mr Agius Decelis has – he successfully read for a Masters degree in Gerontology and Geriatrics at the University of Malta – allows him a deep understanding of the elderly sector. On a political level, he has also been active in the same sector for long years. In the last administration, he played a pivotal role in achieving the ageing-related commitments in the electoral manifesto. In this legislation, he is directly responsible for active ageing, as part of his wider remit with also includes persons with disability.

This background affords him a clear way forward.

“From the opening of new homes for the elderly – the latest one is in Mqabba – to the launch of this year’s edition of the award for active ageing (Premju Anzjanità Attiva), we are doing a lot. It is also encouraging to see the increasing number of elderly people working beyond their pensionable age or else pursuing academia at the University of the Third Age,” he says.

“However, we must and should do more. We are at the start of a new legislation, for which the manifesto includes 38 initiatives for active ageing. We are committed to successfully complete all these initiatives.”

Mr Agius Decelis acknowledges that further achievements in the elderly sector depends on a collective effort.

“As parliamentary secretariat for active ageing, we are the obvious leaders of all elderly-related projects and initiatives. However, this is also a government-wide effort that

PHOTO: CHRIS SANT FOURNIER

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

INTERVIEW

Making sure the elderly are close to the community is crucial.

involves all the other ministries. It is a holistic approach.

Other ministries – such as that for education, health, finance and transport – are important stakeholders. Moreover, this does not only involve central government – local councils also play an important role as they are closer to the needs of the elderly in their own communities.”

Making sure that the elderly are close to the community is of primary importance.

“On one hand, a sense of community gives a sense of worth to elderly people while helping to combat the feelings of loneliness that the elderly frequently feel. On the other hand, the community and all genera-

tions can avail of the potential that elderly people have.

“That is why we, as government, need to do more to help the elderly continue to live in their homes. We should also open homes for the elderly and day care centres which are closer to the community.

“We must not uproot someone who has been living in the same town or village, and expect them to settle down easily in a home for the elderly in a different location. The way forward is to open smaller homes for the elderly, in more localities. This would encourage elderly people to keep active and contribute to society, and would allow society to support our elderly.”

It would be interesting to see researchers embark on studies to actually cost, in financial terms, the contribution that elderly people give to society

PREMJU ANZJANITÀ ATTIVA 2017 Dan il-premju huwa ċelebrazzjoni għallammont kbir ta’ xogħol, impenn u dedikazzjoni meħuda minn nies fis-settur tal-anzjanità attiva. Dan huwa avveniment annwali li ser ikun parti miċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet li jseħħu fix-xahar ta’ Ottubru li huwa ddedikat għall-anzjani. Din is-sena il-bord tal-premju qiegħed jilqa’ applikazzjonijiet ukoll għal nominazzjonijiet ta’ tliet premjijiet ġodda: Premju Anzjanità Akkademika, Premju Anzjanità Sportiva u Premju għal-aktar koppja anzjana li ilha miżżewwġa.

L-għan li jingħata dan il-premju huwa biex jiġu ċċelebrati il-kisbiet ta’ individwi u organizzazzjonijiet li jappoġġjaw il-kunċett tal-anzjanità attiva kif ukoll d-drittijiet talpersuni anzjani.

Id-dmir tal-Gvern huwa li jesprimi lapprezzament tiegħu lil kull min qiegħed jaħdem għal soċjetà iżjed inklussiva, fejn persuni anzjani u l-familji tagħhom ikollhom aċċess għal firxa ta’ komunitajiet iżjed inklussivi u li jinkoraġġixxu l-għajxien indipendenti.

Il-prinċipju li ser jiggwida dan il-premju huwa li jkollna komunitajiet aktar ġusti fejn il-persuni anzjani jieħdu sehem attiv fil-komunità.

L-ismijiet uffiċjali tan-nominazzjonijiet ser ikunu: 1. Premju Anzjanità Attiva (Ambaxxatur ta’ soċjeta inklussiva u attiva 2. Premju Anzjanità Sportiva (L-aktar anzjan jew anzjana involuta sportivament) 3. Premju Anzjanità Akademika (L-aktar anzjan jew anzjana b’ħiliet fuq livell akademiku terzjarju) 4. Premju koppja miżżewwġa (L-aktar koppja nominata li jkun ilha miżżewwġa) Persuni b’eta’ ta’ 60 sena ‘l fuq huma eliġibli li jkunu nominati għal dawn il-premijiet.

Dawn iridu jigu nnominati min żewġ persuni differenti li ma’ jkunux qraba tan-nominat.

In-nominazzjonijiet huma miftuħa u jagħlqu nhar il-Ġimgħa, sitta’ ta’ Ottubru 2017. L-għażla tal-premijiet ser ssir min kummissjoni indipendenti mmexxija min Profs. Carmel Borg. Iċ-ċerimonja ser sseħħ nhar il-Ħamis, 26 ta’ Ottubru 2017.

Għal aktar informazzjoni żur is-sit www.activeageing.gov.mt

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

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NEWS

International Day of Older Persons, October 1, 2017

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he theme of International Day of Older Persons 2017 is: Stepping into the Future: Tapping the Talents, Contributions and Participation of Older Persons in Society.

This year’s day is about enabling and expanding the contributions of older people in their families, communities and societies at large. It focuses on the pathways that support full and effective participation in old age, in accordance with old persons’ basic rights, needs and preferences.

This year’s theme underscores the link between tapping the talents and contributions of older persons and achieving the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing, which is currently undergoing its third review and appraisal process.

Between 2015 and 2030, the target date for the Sustainable Development Goals, the number of older persons worldwide is set to increase by 56 per

cent, from 901 million to more than 1.4 billion. By 2030, the number of people aged 60 and above will exceed that of young people aged 15 to 24.

Stepping into the future with pledges that no one will be left behind, it is starkly evident that the need to tap into the often over-

looked and under-appreciated contributions of older persons is not only essential to older persons’ well-being, but also imperative for sustainable development processes.

The 2017 theme will explore effective means of promoting and strengthening the participation of older persons in various aspects of social, cultural, economic and civic and political life.

The objectives of the 2017 UNIDOP are to draw attention to: enabling conditions and measures that influence the readiness of older persons to participate including securing healthcare, regular income, legal protection and access to financial services; and means to facilitate contributions and participation in old age, including technology, education and lifelong learning, access to information, as well as overcoming barriers that exclude or discriminate against older persons.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

RELIĠJON L-abside tal-bażilika tal-Isla li turi l-interċessjoni tal-Madonna waqt l-Assedju l-Kbir (Frank Portelli, 2008)

Ir-rebħiet ta’ ġensna F’Settembru nfakkru diversi rebħiet għal Malta. Dawn kienu kumbinazzjoni jew interventi straordinarji, isaqsi Dun Jonathan Farrugia.

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an l-aħħar fl-aħbarijiet kulturali ta’ pajjiżna ssemmew ħafna tlett xbihat ta’ Marija Bambina li ġew irrestawrati matul din is-sena, u peress li l-intervent ta’ konservazzjoni li sar fuqhom reġa’ ħareġ dettalji mill-isbaħ li kienu tgħattew bis-snin, dan qajjem ħafna interess, b’mod speċjali minħabba li f ’dal-aħħar ġimgħat it-tlett statwi reġgħu ttieħdu lura fil-parroċċi tagħhom f ’atmosferi festivi sabiex fit-8 ta’ dan ix-xahar dawn reġgħu ħarġu fit-toroq tal-bliet u l-irħula tagħhom nhar il-festa tal-Vittorja.

Qatt ħsibna għalfejn it-8 ta’ Settembru fostna huwa magħruf bħala jum il-Vitorja?

Il-Knisja madwar id-dinja dakinhar tfakkar it-twelid tal-Madonna, imma f ’Malta u Għawdex dakinhar, apparti din il-festa, nfakkru wkoll ir-rebħiet li – skont ma kienu jemmnu missirijietna – ġabitilna lVerġni Mbierka.

Imma x’kienu sewwasew dawn ir-rebħiet?

Probabbilment il-maġġoranza tan-nies isemmu li dakinhar telqet il-flotta tat-Torok minn Malta fi tmiem l-Assedju l-Kbir, u dan huwa minnu. Din kienet ir-raġuni ewlenija għala

t-8 ta’ Settembru ħa dan illaqam hekk sabiħ ta’ “Jum ilVitorja”. Imma l-Madonna ftakret fil-poplu Malti aktar drabi f ’dik l-istess ġurnata.

L-ewwel rebħa li tajjeb li nfakkru hija appuntu dik tal-Assedju l-Kbir ta’ Malta.

Gżiritna, grazzi għall-post strateġiku li fih tinsab, eżattament fin-nofs tal-baħar Mediterran, setgħet faċilment tiddomina dawn l-ibħra, kif fil-fatt kienet tagħmel sa minn żmien il-Feniċi sat-tmien talħakma Ingliża.

Sulejman il-Kbir kien fehem li jekk jirnexxilu jaħkem fuq din iċ-ċkejkna gżira, huwa seta’ faċilment iġib il-qawwiet navali tal-Ewropa fuq irkubbtejhom u b’hekk, minn Malta jitlaq lejn

Mal-qniepen ta’ din il-belt ingħaqdu l-qniepen talknejjes kollha ta’ Malta

Sqallija, l-Italja u l-bqija talEwropa. B’hekk lejn l-aħħar ta’ Marzu tal-1565, l-ikbar flotta li qatt rat id-dinja sa minn żmien ir-Rumani, telqet minn Kostantinopli lejn Malta, fejn waslet fix-xatt ta’ Marsaxlokk nhar it-18 ta’ Mejju.

L-assedju beda ftit ġranet wara u fi kliem li ħallielna lkavallier Francesco Balbi di Correggio fid-Diario dell’assedio di Malta, naraw il-ħruxija li biha kienu jitwettqu l-attakki: “Id-dlam tal-lejl inbidel fiddawl tal-jum bl-isplużjonijiet tal-bombi. Tant kienet qawwija u kontinwa d-dija li mill-Birgu stajna naraw sewwa l-forti Sant’Iermu u minn Sant’Anġlu l-pistolieri setgħu jimmiraw sewwa t-tiri għal fuq it-Torok li kienu qed joqorbu.”

F’Ġunju l-forti Sant’Iermu fuq l-għolja Xiberras waqa’ f ’idejn it-Torok, u f ’Awwissu saret ħsara kbira fis-swar talPrexxa ġewwa l-Birgu, iżda s-swar tal-Isla żammew sħiħ.

Wara xhur ta’ ġlied mill-iqlel ta’ stennija nhar is-7 ta’ Settembru waslet armata minn Sqallija biex tgħin lill-Maltin, u hemm l-għedewwa fehmu li sehemhom kienet it-tlefa.

Sebaħ il-jum tat-8 ta’ Settembru u Balbi ħalla miktub li “ebda daqq ma nsema’ hekk

ħelu f ’widnejn il-bniedem, daqs il-qniepen isejjħu lillKavallieri u l-Maltin biex iroddu ħajr lil Alla bil-quddiesa f ’ġieħ it-twelid tal-verġni Marija fil-knisja ta’ San Lawrenz”.

Mal-qniepen ta’ din il-belt ingħaqdu l-qniepen tal-knejjes kollha ta’ Malta, kif ukoll tal-knejjes fl-Ewropa minn Palermo sa Pariġi u kullimkien saru festeġġjamenti biex tibqa’ mfakkra r-rebħa ta’ Malta.

Gwerra oħra li fiha l-intervent matern ta’ Marija baqa’ msemmi mill-Maltin hija t-tieni gwerra dinjija. Bħalma rajna xahar ilu, is-sena 1942 kienet liqlel waħda fil-gwerra, fejn ma naqsux l-attakki diretti fuq ilknejjes, fosthom il-bażilika talIsla li kienet inbniet bħala monument għar-rebħa tal-1565.

F’Awwissu seħħet il-ġrajja talKonvoj ta’ Santa Marija, li salva lil Malta milli ċċedi, iżda lattakki komplew. Sena wara nhar il-festa tal-Vitorja seħħ fatt kurjuż fl-Isla proprju nhar il-festa. Għal dik is-sena l-arċipriet ta’ dik il-parroċċa ddeċieda li wara nuqqas ta’ sentejn jerġa’ jagħmel il-purċissjoni bl-istatwa tal-Bambina li kienet ittieħdet Birkirkara. Ġabha lura lejliet il-festa u lgħada waqt il-purċissjoni, meta l-vara waslet fix-xatt tal-belt

meqruda, daħlet dgħajsa li minn fuqha niżel uffiċċjal Ingliż li ħabbar li dakinhar l-Italja kienet ċediet, u għalhekk ilperiklu imminenti għal Malta kien spiċċa.

Apparti daż-żewġ rebħiet nistgħu nsemmu wkoll li t-8 ta’ Settembru 1813 kienet l-ewwel ġurnata wara aktar minn ħames xhur li fiha ma ġewx rappurtati każijiet ġodda ta’ nies morda bil-pesta, wara li limxija kienet għamlet ħerba sħiħa f ’Malta, fejn ħalliet 4,500 mejtin, minn meta x-xini San Nicola daħal Marsamxett minn Lixandra nhar it-28 ta’ Marzu.

Kollox ma’ kollox... kumbinazzjonijiet feliċi jew interventi straordinarji li permezz tagħhom Marija turina li għadha tindaħal fl-istorja ta’ ġensna jekk aħna nduru lejha?

Missirijietna ma kellhomx dubju li l-ispjegazzjoni għal dalġrajjiet kienet it-tieni waħda: Marija daħlet għalihom biex teħlishom mill-ħsara (gwerra, mard, invażjoni...) għax kienu jduru lejha. U naħseb daż-żewġ kelmiet – iduru lejha – għandhom piż kbir ħafna. Forsi aħna llum m’għandiex naraw dawn is-sinjali għax bdilna lmoda u ma għadniex induru lejn Alla u lejn l-omm imqaddsa tiegħu bil-fidi?

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

DENTAL CARE

Lack of faith and overcoming your fears!

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or some dentistry is a sore point and not a topic of conversation. It could be a subject that makes you worry and even sweat. Why? A history of bad dentistry? Repeated toothache? Is it true to say that not everyone is blessed with good teeth? I believe it is partly true.

According to Darwin we are both what our environment makes us to be and what our parents made us to be. Fifty-fifty! The environment includes sugary diets and lack of hygiene while in some, genetics may predispose them to weak teeth. Some patients brush and brush religiously and yet still develop cavities or have gum disease. Others rarely or never brush and yet have intact teeth with no gum disease.

Some patients say they have been let down by their dentist. This could be due to poor treatment, pain during treatment, lack of communication and cosmetic end result. They may have never been offered the right treatment plan that suits them. These scenarios are not necessary associated with old age. Some patients have real dental problems early on in their adult lifetime. Some mothers say that their teeth degenerated during pregnancy and early motherhood. An old wife’s tale? Maybe, however there might be some truth at least in timing as young career mothers have less time for themselves and their daily needs resulting in a possible decrease in dental care amongst others.

It is never too late to fix your smile. All ages matter! Previous failure in fixing your teeth is nothing but the opportunity to start again.

Ask your dentist!

A CASE SCENARIO A young woman in her late 40’s, presents with a poor-looking heavily treated dentition. She is unhappy, disappointed and has almost given up on finding a solution to her troubled smile. She was given a few options, from jaw repositioning to removable dentures, which were too extreme for her. Her saving grace was that she wasn’t expecting any miracles.

She was realistic in what she wished to achieve and more than anything determined to get it done. 3D radiography showed more obstacles; the presence of a large cyst, lack of bone quantity both in width and height, all difficult factors to deal with. Her wish was not to have a Hollywood smile

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

Extra-oral before treatment

(almost) but to be able to smile again, with confidence!

THE TREATMENT CONSISTED OF 2 STAGES: STAGE 1 Cosmetic crowning and veneering of the lower dentition Removal of remaining upper teeth and cyst Placement of six implants with simultaneous bone grafting STAGE 2 Provisional fixed bridge to assess new tooth angulations, colour and contour.

Conversion of provisional fixedbridge to a definitive porcelainbridge.

Lateral view before treatment

Lateral view after treatment

Extra-oral after treatment

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

CARS

PHOTOS: MARICO SAMMUT, OLD MOTORS CLUB

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SU TT

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One thousand dreams

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Old Maltese motors have had mixed fortunes at the legendary Mille Miglia. But it’s all part of the classic competition’s appeal, Joe Busuttil from the Old Motors Club says.

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ootball has its World Cup, tennis has its Grand Slam, modern cars have their Grand Prix – and old motorcars have the Mille Miglia.

An icon of classic car competitions, this annual Italian event started in 1927 as a race on the normal roads between Brescia to Rome and back.

After 1957, for safety reasons, the organisers turned the race into a rally. To be eligible, a participating vehicle must be the same type of car that had raced in the first 30 years of the event. Competition for places is cutthroat,

for hundreds of applicants from all over the world vie for the limited number of available places.

Throughout the years, many Maltese aficionados dreamt of taking part in the Mille Miglia, but the logistics, physical and mental demands of the rally, as well as financial considerations always kept them back.

However, in 1990, a Maltese team made up of Gaston Mifsud and Dr Joseph Xuereb, accompanied by Albert Mamo, successfully applied to participate with a 1955 TR3 belonging to Gaston. Thus they became the first Maltese ever

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

The three Maltese men held a crisis conference, and having already lost too much time, they reluctantly decided to leave the TR3, trailer and tow car in a hotel in Messina, and drive to Brescia in a rented car. The race organisers emphatised heartily with the unlucky Maltese team, and consequently invited them to participate officially in the rally with their rented vehicle in the group of supporting cars that follow the participating old motors.

Malta remained without an official participant completing the Mille Miglia in a classic car until 2014

to be officially registered as Mille Miglia competitors.

The three men agreed on a division of the multiple tasks.

Gaston, the car driver, looked for and restored a trailer for the TR3. Joseph, the co-driver, undertook the provision of a reliable tow car. Albert, the tow car driver, focused on his forte – local and overseas insurance for all their vehicles. Come the second week of May 1990, the Maltese team, the TR3 – Mille Miglia registration number 243 – trailer and tow car boarded the ferry to Catania.

On the first day, as they proceeded to Messina, they noticed that the tow car – an old Land Rover – was overheating. Next day, the tow car broke a rear shaft. Luckily they found a mechanic in the area, and after a while they could move on. They had not gone very far when the temperature of the tow car soared again, and to complicate matters, it was then the turn of the rear shaft on the other side to break.

Gaston, Joseph and Albert drove the leased vehicle along the official rally route as if they were driving the TR3. Over the next three days, they journeyed from Brescia to Vicenza, to San Marino, then on to Rome, from where they returned to the starting destination. On arrival in Brescia, they were involved in all the official functions, including dinner and presentation. After the closing ceremony, they made their way back to Messina, recovered the repaired tow car, and with the TR3 and trailer, travelled to Catania where they boarded the ship back to Malta without a hitch.

Malta remained without an official participant completing the Mille Miglia in a classic car until 2014. The man who changed all that was Joe Said, who many years ago had been mesmerised by the event as a spectator, and consequently had previously unsuccessfully applied to take part in 2007.

Determined and single minded, he applied again in January 2014, and this time he was accepted. Preparing his Jaguar XK 120 – Mille Miglia registration number 196 – his choice as co-driver fell on Claude Panesai, a close friend from Florence, who knew the rally roads well.

Arriving in Brescia in midMay, the Maltese team were in good time to take in the prerally social events, including a meeting for the 31 Jaguar teams in that year’s edition.

The lengthy scrutineering process followed, after which the rally drivers passed through the old centre of Brescia on their way to the first stage in Padova.

The next journey was a lengthy one to Rome, with a brief stop at San Marino.

Bologna beckoned next, where Joe, who did all the driving, and Claude arrived on the third day. The fourth and final lap saw the participants leaving Bologna for Brescia. Averaging a speed of 60mph, the Maltese team placed 220 out of 441 vehicles, a mid-race position in the event, which has now been significantly extended beyond its original distance.

Naturally, Joe is thrilled to have fulfilled a long cherished dream by taking part in this iconic event, as well as for being the first Maltese to have done so. Moreover, it gives him great satisfaction to have had his XJ 120 among the cream of the old motoring brigade crop, as well as having Malta included in the very small group of countries participating with one car only.

Both Joe and Claude – recalling their experience, as

well as Gaston, Joseph and Albert – reminiscing with nostalgia 28 years after their attempt – are unanimous in describing the Mille Miglia as a unique experience. They all picked up the reaction of the massive crowds of spectators everywhere, along the streets, in the centres, and in the countryside, as one of the highlights of the rally. Projecting the passion of Italian people for old cars, schools along the route were closed, enabling teachers and students to come out in force.

Italian hospitality reigned supreme, especially at the lavish social events both before and after the rally. Additionally during the rally, when the

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cars slowed down, the locals came forward presenting the participants with food and drinks, typical delicacies of their region.

The red carpet treatment was literally spread out on the roads in their honour. Even the police stopped traffic to help the participants, who could also go through red lights in order to proceed unhindered.

The Maltese teams also mentioned the element of danger, as the rally is run through normal roads, and accidents, sometimes fatal, do occur. But this does nothing to mar the myth of the Mille Miglia as a magical and indelible event, both for participants as well as spectators.

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CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1 8

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34 36

26

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31

33

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35

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37 38

ACROSS

3. A choice question (5) 8. Lager for the boys! (5) 10. Leave mine at the back of the house (3,2) 11. An exclusive joint? (3) 12. Pieces of land there’s a reason not to be on (5) 13. Does it make you storm more wildly than the other chap? (7) 15. A warm tone (5) 18. An abbreviated moniker (3) 19. Cut out part of a rude passage (6) 21. Can they arrange resale at the trading centre? (7) 22. Inferior piece of work by the post office (4) 23. Nips back for the ride (4) 24. Undertakes to go east to the Ganges, possibly (7) 26. Gather mistakenly it’s something to chew (3,3) 29. Master Charlie’s little coat (3) 31. As taken to show favouritism? (5) 32. Pull back in the rear as usual (7) 34. River tours by arrangement (5) 35. Some ladies kiss sloppily (3) 36. A fun time for drunken peers (5) 37. Silk cotton always gives a good finish (5) 38. Stray carriers? (5)

3. Defeats (5) 8. Tarnish (5) 10. Rustic (5) 11. Raised edge (3) 12. Boy’s name (5) 13. Seaman (7) 15. Based on truth (5) 18. Shade of brown (3) 19. Picture house (6)

AUGUST ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 1. P-rism 6. Rotas 9. Tick-Les 10. I-deal 11. (get) Along 12. CellO 13. Sa-MP-led 15. His 17. Ares 18. Street 19. D-ally 20. Chaser 22. Alan 24. (can-)Yon 25. Com-par-e 26. Sit up 27. M-Adam 28. I-ceni 29. Mac-beth 30. Level 31. S-ense.

DOWN: 2. Red-car 3. Stamps 4. Mil 5. Skied 6. Real-it-y 7. Oslo 8. A-untie 12. Cedar 13. Sa-UC-y 14. Megan 15. Hek-L-a 16. S-ton-e 18. Sloop 19. Decimal 21. Horace 22. Apache 23. Arenas 25. Cur-b-s 26. Same 28. It’s.

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ACROSS

1. For a start, is it socially acceptable to be in debt? (5) 2. Not exactly a carrier plane? (7) 4. A fast runner – or does one hear different? (4) 5. Rushes boxes of wine round for the hotel (6) 6. Washed down a suitable dose at the hospital (5) 7. Copy a key for a girl (5) 9. An old-fashioned gangster’s gun? (3) 12. Lo, an egg may be a thousand years old! (3-4) 14. Initials used as an “alias” (3) 16. Footwear for emergency use at sea? (5) 17. Make restitution at lunchtime (5) 19. One possibly rearmed with fancy ideas (7) 20. Places notices (5) 21. Could a great ball be held under such a roof? (5) 23. Profane clause rewritten right (7) 24. Feast on an egg! (6) 25. A less than engaging witticism (3) 27. Free-living type broad in the beam? (5) 28. Replaced damaged trees (5) 30. Historically, a son upset about a kiss (5) 32. Girl from Bury? (4) 33. Bit of a race, but it gets you nowhere! (3)

1. Drinking tube (5) 2. Having restrictions (7) 4. Water jug (4) 5. Petty details (6) 6. Girl’s name (5) 7. Axiom (5) 9. Ventilate (3) 12. Indicates, designates (7) 14. Horse (3) 16. Fruit (5) 17. Beau (5) 19. Fortified building (7) 20. Inexpensive (5) 21. Premium (5) 23. Wicked or unprincipled (7) 24. Wish or long for (6) 25. Hiatus (3) 27. Sham (5) 28. Number (5) 30. Frighten (5) 32. Complain bitterly (4) 33. Anger (3)

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DOWN

DOWN

17

23

35 37

16

19

24 30

36. Purchaser (5) 37. Operators (5) 38. Recently (5)

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21

25 29

6

15

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28

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12

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22 24

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31

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21

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26

1

7

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11

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EASY CROSSWORD

21. Plant (7) 22. Cowl (4) 23. Virtuous (4) 24. Ten-sided figure (7) 26. Maltreats (6) 29. Father (3) 31. Sits for an artist (5) 32. Exact copy (7) 34. Essential (5) 35. Epoch (3)

AUGUST ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 1. Scrap 6. Samba 9. Balding 10. Giddy 11. Ounce 12. Fibre 13. Hatchet 15. Gel 17.

Exit 18. Revere 19. Flail 20. Operas 22. Bare 24. Nor 25. Shelter 26. Giant 27. Craig 28. Attic 29. Rubbish 30. Cycle 31. Senna.

DOWN: 2. Climax 3. Abduct 4. Pay 5. Admit 6. Snorkel 7. Ague 8. Backer 12. Feels 13. Heron 14. Tiber 15. Get at 16. Lever 18. Right 19. Fatigue 21. Poorly 22. Blithe 23. Region 25. Snubs 26. Girl 28. Ass.

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Accumulations Awards Between Bolts Cartels Cremate Dated Edifice Encroach Evoke

Excels Harked Hurls Irises Jeers Joint Khakis Lucky Masts Mires

Newsprint Nonconformists Nutshell Oblong Pastas Peruse Ravage Rinks Ruddy Salon

Scram Shucks Snubs Sparred Sting Symbolic Tangle Tufts Warps Washed

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

COMPETITION

Richard Ellis Archive and Book Distributors Limited (BDL).

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Ngħidu kelma QWIEL MALTIN U XI JFISSRU Wara l-maltemp jiġi l-bnazzi.

After the storm, the sun will shine.

Meta ddaħħal iċ-ċurkett, tgħaddas rasek għal kull mhu meħtieġ.

When you get married, you need to do everything that needs to be done.

L-Imnara (Folklor Minn Malta) by BDL.

Il-qalb tal-bniedem bosk.

Man’s heart is like a forest.

L-iblah jagħmielhielek.

A foolish man will get you in trouble.

Malta, a Brief History

by Joseph S. Abela.

Presenting the past This month, we are once again giving away a set of 12 replica prints by Richard Ellis.

To win, identify the locations (street and city) of the photograph on this page and 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 correct answer that we receive will win a set of 12 replica prints

by Richard Ellis. The second and third runner-up win one of the above-mentioned books, courtesy of Book Distributors Limited (BDL).

The winners of the August Senior Times competition are Mel Saliba (who wins a copy of Għaġin by Anton B. Dougall and Joe Vella Gregory (who wins a copy of Malta During the First World War by Anthony Zarb-Dimech.

Kull tajra tifraħ b’rixha.

Every bird flaunts its feathers.

Tmiem tajjeb isewwi kollox.

All’s well that ends well.

SUDOKU

7 3 6

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

7 1 8 4 3 6 2 9 5

9 5 3 7 1 2 4 6 8

6 2 4 8 5 9 7 3 1

2 9 6 1 8 4 5 7 3

4 7 1 5 9 3 6 8 2

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Qabbilli waħda Tar-rizzi waqa’ l-baħar, Tal-imħar qabeż għalih, Tar-rizzi tela’ jiġri, Tal-imħar baqa’ fil-qiegħ.

5 9 1 7 9

Missieri w ommi keċċewni, Jiena qbadt il-bieb u ħrigt, Kif ilwejt il-kantuniera, Tajtu l-kelma w iżżewwigt.

Il-pespus pespes tpespisa, U mat-pespisa tal-pespus, Il-pespusa pespset.

Zija Mer urini l-bloomer, Zija Mer għidli kemm hu, Zija Mer għidli m’nejn xtrajtu, Ħalli nixtri wieħed blu.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

NeWs

A man looks up at the hole in the ceiling of the ta’ Ġieżu church in Rabat after part of the ceiling collapsed on August 23.

Photo: JoNAthAN BoRg

Photo story

This month’s news highlights captured in show-stopping photos.

Marabou storks stand on a pile of recyclable plastic materials at the Dandora dumping site on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya on August 25. Photo: ReuteRs

People march and chant slogans against President Donald trump’s proposed end of the DACA programme that protects immigrant children from deportation at a protest in front of trump International hotel in New York City, us on August 30, 2017. Photo: ReuteRs

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

A man climbs a pole to cover it in grease and hammer flags during the annual ġostra in St Julian’s on August 29.

PHOTO: MARK ZAMMIT CORDINA

England players on a walk about at the Ta’ Qali national stadium, before their 2018 World Cup qualifier game against Malta. England won four-nil. PHOTO: MATTHEW MIRABELLI

Pope Francis talks with former White House Press Secretary and Communications Director Sean Spicer during a special audience at the Vatican on August 27. PHOTO: REUTERS South Korean troops fire a Hyunmoo missile into the waters of the East Sea at a military exercise in South Korea on September 4. PHOTO: REUTERS

Actors Jane Fonda and Robert Redford pose during a photocall for the movie Our Souls at Night at the 74th Venice Film Festival in Venice, Italy September 1. PHOTO: REUTERS A vehicle sits amid leaked fuel mixed in with flood waters caused by tropical storm Harvey in the parking lot of Motiva Enterprises LLC in Port Arthur, Texas, US on August 31. PHOTO: REUTERS

The TV debate between German Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Christian Democratic Union and her challenger Germany’s Social Democratic Party SPD candidate for chancellor Martin Schulz in Berlin, Germany. PHOTO: REUTERS

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEpTEMbER 2017

OPINION

AL

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WIN SOME, LOSE SOME

In life, it’s not whether you win or lose, but it’s about the journey and how it’s lived, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

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y old-time favourite board game is Scrabble.

I’ve been playing this popular word game since my teens and if I may say so, over the years, I’ve honed my skills considerably and I prove to be a worthy opponent.

What I love most about this game is that the way the game opens, develops and concludes is never the same. The combination of different words that are created is always so surprising and diverse, and although much depends upon one’s level of play, luck plays a great part when it comes to which tiles are drawn out of the bag.

But more than that, for me it’s not just about who wins or loses in the end.

Rather, it depends upon how the game develops. It could turn out to be a spiritless game during which, in spite of extreme luck, or one’s supreme spelling ability, many of the moves are frustrating. Or else it could prove to be a real challenge, in that the nature of the vocabulary generated by the players, could leave you wiping sweat from your brow, with the result that it becomes irrelevant who ultimately wins or loses.

Incidentally, unlike my five-year old grandson, I don’t care that much about winning a game. I place more value upon the camaraderie between the players. Not him! In the course of playing his favourite game, he’s developed a penchant for slithering up snakes, and not just climbing the customary ladders, in order to gain undue advantage over his opponent – much to the disdain of his elder sister, who is always so prompt to declare as vehemently as possible: “But nanna, he’s cheating”.

As if!

But before I bore you with further chronicles of Scrabble and Snakes and Ladders, let me get to the point of my reflection: in life, it’s not whether you win or lose, but it’s about the journey and how it’s lived. It’s about living fruitfully and building meaningful relationships, as you learn about yourself and the world. It’s about giving all you’ve got and leaving your mark upon those people you are privileged to live and work with.

You win some situations, lose others.

Sure, winning is great, but if you are really going to make something of your

Life is like a game of Scrabble: you build meaningful relationships.

Every heartbreak, every loss, contains the seed of growth

life, then the secret lies in learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time, but it’s a matter of picking up again after every crushing defeat, to go on and win next time round.

There’s a famous slogan in the Bavarian dialect which says “mia san mia”.

Literally this may be translated as “we are we” but it means “we are who we are”. It’s all about being confident and embracing a winning mentality; but unfortunately, victory is not always the case.

Yet victory can also lie in defeat. It’s a fact that part of our human nature tends only to learn and grow from a place of emptiness. When one is winning and on top of the world, it’s hard to learn; but those who have suffered struggles, experienced great losses and have managed to find their way out of those depths, can vouch that every heartbreak, every loss, contains the seed of growth, and this in itself is a lesson on how to improve and set new goals.

Indeed, my own goals have shifted somewhat throughout recent years of my life. At one time, it was all about succeeding in my studies and building (albeit late in life!) a career, as well as to travel around as much of the world as possible. Now, my goals are to see my grandchildren grow, live a healthy life and nurture my relationships with my daughters and loved-ones.

I’ve decided that I’d much rather spend my life as a tortoise, as opposed to being a hare. Aesop made a good point, but in real life, it’s normally the hare that wins the race. Yet hares have no time to read, to look around and appreciate the beauty of creation, to stop, to love and care for those who need them – they’re too busy winning the race, leaving no space to enjoy what they have. It can be very wearisome trying to be a winner all the time.

Winning can be fun, but those moments in which you can touch someone’s life in a very positive way, are better.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEpTEMbER 2017

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TISJIR

Lażanja bil-brunġiel Anton B. Dougall jaħsiblu għall-ħarifa bi platt bnin u sħun.

Ghandek bżonn: 800g tadam tal-bott 200ml yoghurt 3 brunġiliet 2 sinniet tewm 4 mgħaref ħobż abjad imfarrak Mgħarfa ġobon parmiġġjan maħkuk Kuċċarina rignu Bżar u melħ Kif issajjar: Saħħan il-forn 190°C jew gass numru ħamsa.

Aħsel tajjeb il-brunġiel u qattgħu fi slajsis.

Qaxxar il-basla u qattagħha biċċiet żgħar. Qaxxar it-tewm u qattgħu rqiq.

Saħħan nofs mgħarfa żejt taż-żebbuġa ġo taġen kbir u qalli l-basla u t-tewm. Kompli ħawwad biex ma jinħarqux. Itfa

ir-rignu u kompli sajjar għal ftit minuti.

Mat-taħlita, żid it-tadam. Għatti u kompli sajjar għal 15 -il minuta jew sakemm iz-zalza tibda tinġibed.

Sadanittant, saħħan il-grilja.

Idlek il-brunġiel bi ftit miż-żejt li jkun baqa’, poġġieh fuq dixx u ixwi taħt il-grilja.

Ferrex ftit zalza fil-qiegħ ta’ dixx tal-forn. Agħmel saff brunġiel fuq iz-zalza. Irrepeti il-proċess sakemm tuża l-ingredjenti kollha.

Spiċċa b’saff brunġiel fil-wiċċ.

Ferrex il-yoghurt fuqu u roxx il-ġobon parmiġġjan flimkien mal-frak tal-ħobż.

Aħmi għal madwar nofs siegħa.

Itfi u ħalli il-lażanja tibred għal madwar ħames minuti qabel isservi.

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

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

SPORT

The grand old man of Maltese football Ġianni Bencini gave Melita FC one of the greatest team spirits ever seen in Maltese football, says Carmel Baldacchino.

O

ne sweet memory which still lingers in my mind is that of ‘Is-Sur Ġianni’ Bencini standing in the enclosure of the Stadium in the mid1960s when he was already in his sixth decade. Known as the ‘Grand Old Man of Maltese Football’, he was the longestserving football official in Malta. Whenever he appeared at the Stadium in those days, he was always surrounded by well-wishers and he, with his characteristic smile, warmly greeted everybody.

Bencini was born on March 21, 1889 in Valletta and was educated at St Paul’s Institute, the Lyceum and the Royal University of Malta. A philanthropist, politician, trade unionist and football

administrator, he was one of the most loved personalities of this century. Bencini however, was best known in football circles as the founder of Melita FC. Bencini started his football career before World War I with St Barbara FC. Between 1912 and 1915 he served as vice-president of the MFA. He later served on the committee of Floriana FC and he used to recall with a smile the day he was involved in the first big

money transfer deal when Floriana paid £12 for the service of Ruġġieru Friggieri (iż-żibġa) from Sliema.

Football has attracted into its fold many types of people, sportsmen, doctors, lawyers, politicians, gamblers and every once in a while a thoroughbred sportsman. Bencini was surely one of the latter.

This can be clearly seen in the case of Hibernians who in the 1940s rocked Maltese football from its foundations.

Ġianni Bencini, founder of the famous amateur club Melita FC.

The club never looked back, gaining a reputation for fairness, sportsmanship and good football

Melita captain Joe Griffiths and vice-captain, A. Curmi receiving the Third Division League trophy in 1933-34. Looking on the right is club president Ġianni Bencini.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

The first-ever Melita FC team: V. Bencini, K. Bencini, W. Doublet, J. Fasanelli, A. Attard, unknown, V. Vella, J. Critien, E. Cole, P. Attard, H. Pillow, A. Curmi and A. Cortis.

In 1937 Hibernians were disbanded by the MFA because the club was in debt. Hibs took the case to court, and the dispute dragged on until the end of the 1939-40 season when the MFA asked Hibs to drop the case in return for a place in the First Division. Hibs accepted, but World War II intervened and the club could not avail itself of this opportunity. Hibs were assured however that after the war they would be re-instated.

When football was resumed in 1944, Hibs applied for a place in the league. The MFA accepted their application but some of the clubs led by Gianni Bencini who was president of the Clubs’ Standing Committee op posed Hibs’ application. There were many heated discussions and at one stage the council resigned en bloc. The game was disrupted and Hibs threatened to take the case back to court. At that point however, Mr Vella of Tarxien Rainbows asked Mr Bencini if he was present before the war when the MFA re-instated Hibernians.

Being a perfect gentleman he admitted that this was true

and since all the records were lost during the blitz it was his word against everyone else’s.

No one doubted his word and the case was decided in favour of Hibernians.

It is a well-known story how, in 1933, the three boys of Ġianni Bencini, Karl, Victor, and George, asked their father for the loan of his cellar to use as the headquarters of their new football team.

‘Is-Sur Ġann’, after some thought, accepted and the three boys, together with a gang of others from the area around the house in Rudolph Street, Sliema, made the cellar spotlessly clean. When the boys asked their father to become their new team’s president, Mr Bencini, although a very busy man, accepted.

In a famous speech made on that occasion, he told the youngsters that they must be obedient, disciplined, and love the game more than anything and that one day in the near future he would lead them to play in the First Division.

The boys were awed by this speech but they believed every word. So the famous amateur club of Melita FC

was born on April 28, 1933 when the first general meeting was held in the afore-mentioned cellar. During this meeting the following committee was formed, with John Bencini as president, Victor Bowman as secretary, Anthony Curmi as treasurer and Paul Attard as member.

In an important resolution taken at that first meeting, it was decided that the club’s name would be Melita and that the club would always retain its amateur status.

Being formed so late in the season, the club only had time to play a few friendly matches but, in November 1933, the club sought affiliation with the MFA and were placed in the Third Division.

From that moment on the club never looked back, gaining a reputation for fairness, sportsmanship and good football. Mr Bencini’s prophecy started to materialise when Melita won Section B of the Third Division in their first competitive season. During that season Melita showed the qualities that, in a few seasons, were to take them to the top of Maltese football.

The other section of the Third Division was won by Valletta City who beat Gzira Amateurs 1-0 in the last match of the competition. Since Section A was the senior section, Valletta City were declared Third Division champions and promoted to the Second Division and Melita were promoted to Section A of the Third Division.

The next season Melita won their section and were promoted to the Second Division.

In 1935-36, Bencini’s dream continued to materialize when Melita finished runners-up in the Second Division League and won promotion to Section B of the First Division.

Bencini’s dream finally came true in 1937-38 when Melita won Section B of the First Division league.

That season the First Division was divided in two sections. Section A was made up of Sliema Wanderers, Floriana FC, Valletta City and St George’s. Section B was made up of the four leading amateur clubs on the island, that is, Melita FC, Sliema Rangers, Floriana Tigers and Msida St Joseph’s When in 1937, the famous Austrian player and coach, Leo Drucker left St George’s, Ġianni Bencini shrewdly lured him to his club. With Melita, Drucker found a fertile ground in which to sow his vast knowledge of the game and under his guidance the team developed into a formidable combination.

Melita won their first game in the First Division on Sunday, October 18, against St Joseph’s FC. Their chief challengers that season were Sliema Rangers. The Blues met Melita’s challenge with a 2-0 victory over the Tigers.

The two Sliema clubs met in a thrilling top of the table clash on November 14. Rangers scored first when Victor Meli rushed in to head a freekick past Doublet. Melita however, were not beaten yet. Podesta equalised and Maurice DeCesare scored the winner from the penalty spot.

Melita retained their unbeaten record by beating the Tigers 2-0, with both goals scored by Maurice DeCesare, who would soon make a name for himself as one of the best forwards of the pre-World War II era. He was the younger brother of defender and later sports journalist, Robbie DeCesare.

One of the best matches of the season was that between Sliema Rangers and St

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Joseph’s. Rangers won 1-0 but St Joseph’s deserved at least a point for their efforts. Rangers however came a cropper in their next match against the Tigers. The Greens unexpectedly beat the Blues 4-2. This result should have given the championship to Melita but Rangers successfully protested that the Tigers had made use of ineligible players. The Rangers chances however, evaporated on March 13 when they lost 1-3 against Melita.

The race was now as good as over. The Amateurs only needed a point from their last two matches to make sure of the championship.

The championship was decided on Sunday, April 3, when Melita became worthy champions after beating St Joseph’s 1-0 with a goal headed

by Pulicino.

The big moment came on Sunday, April 3 when Melita beat the Tigers 1-0 to carry off the championship. At last, Bencini’s prophesy had come true. It was a great year for Melita – apart from winning promotion to the Premier Division the club also won the Amateur Cup for the second year in succession.

The Amateur Cup was the showpiece of the season at least as far as amateur football was concerned. One must keep in mind that in those days nearly all the league clubs were amateurs. Therefore, they were eligible to take part in the Amateur Cup which made the competition the most avidly contested football event of the season.

The 1938-39 football season was played under the gathering clouds of war. From the moment that Adolf Hitler seized power in Germany in January 1933, the world started on a roller-coaster ride, which was to lead it to World War II. By 1938 Hitler and Mussolini were ready for war. During this period the Mediterranean was a hotbed of activity, the Maltese however, refused to heed the warning. Many believed that, if it came to war, it would not involve our islands. In September 1938 the Maltese had more pleasant things on their minds. King football was back again and it resumed its sway over the local sporting public.

That season was characterised by the appearance in the senior division of newcomers Melita FC. The Amateurs made their presence felt with a series of first-class performances,

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

SPORT

NEWS

Royal Opera’s The Magic Flute

Melita FC winners of the First Division B in 1937-38.

Melita FC FA Trophy Winners: C. Andrews W. Laferla, K. Bencini, F. Mizzi, H. Martin, E. Mizzi, V. Camilleri, J. Griffiths, J. Bencini (president), L. Drucker (coach), V. Vassallo, L. Borg, A. Cremona and G. Bencini.

which took them within an inch of winning the League Championship. The Reds only relinquished their claim after the narrow 2-3 defeat against their neighbours Sliema Wanderers. Melita however, hid their disappointment and reserved their revenge for the FA Trophy.

Melita kicked off the competition with a 3-2 victory over their old amateur rivals, Floriana Tigers. They scored the first goal through Vassallo but Victor Miller levelled the score from the penalty spot. Eddie Miller then gave the Tigers the lead but Camilleri restored the balance from another penalty. A little later the Tigers missed a golden opportunity when Victor Miller blasted wide another penalty. The Tigers paid dearly for this lapse because a few minutes later Laferla scored the winner for Melita.

In the quarter-finals the Amateurs were not expected to fail against Sliema Rangers. Yet the Reds were held to a 1-1 draw. In the replay however, they left no doubt about the decision. The 6-1 margin hardly left any room for argument.

The semi-final draw brought together Melita and St George’s. It seemed certain that the final would be contested between Sliema Wanderers and St George’s but while the Wanderers beat Valletta City in a troublestrewn game, the Saints lost 0-3 against Melita after a replay.

It was therefore an all-Sliema final.

The Blues were confident of beating the Amateurs to complete the triple crown of League, Trophy and Cassar Cup. All the bets were placed on them and although many sympathized with the underdogs, few gave Melita a chance.

The Amateurs however, had other ideas.

Trained to the hilt by the great Leo Drucker and encouraged by their mentor Ġianni Bencini, they trotted out on the Stadium’s pitch on Sunday 28 May 1939 brimming with confidence and gave the favourites a lesson in football.

Within a couple of minutes of the start Melita were already on the road to victory.

Borg miss-kicked the ball and Martin was quick to pounce on the ball and score.

This goal should have meant nothing to a formidable forward line like that of Sliema but Melita’s defenders worked like Trojans to stop the waves of attacks which the threatened to overwhelm them. Those hectic assaults however, did not wear down Melita’s defence, which held on to their lead up to half-time.

During the second half the game went through a dramatic transformation.

From the besieged Melita became the aggressors. They took the game in hand and it was not long before George.

Bencini cracked in a dazzling left-footer.

From then on Melita never looked back.

Sliema tried to stage a rally but Melita had them at their mercy.

A cross from the right led to Victor Vassallo scoring the third goal with a shot, which threatened to rip the rigging. A few minutes later George Bencini scored the fourth and last goal for Melita. The Amateurs could have doubled the score in the remaining minutes but they seemed content with the 4-0 score-line.

At the end the Melita clan was intoxicated with their success; a veritable triumph of teamwork and club spirit if there ever was one in the history of Maltese football.

On September 20, join Eden Cinemas at the launch of their exclusive live cinema culture season. Doors will open at 7.45pm to celebrate the season launch with a pre-production reception featuring drinks and freshly prepared nibbles. The cultural slate will then commence with the Royal Opera’s spellbinding production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, which will be broadcast live from the Royal Opera House directly to the big screen at 8.15pm.

Mozart’s glorious opera The Magic Flute is brought enchantingly to life in David McVicar’s production with beautiful sets by John Macfarlane. Prince Tamino promises the Queen of the Night that he will rescue her daughter Pamina from the enchanter Sarastro. He begins his quest, accompanied by the bird-catcher Papageno – but all is not as it seems. David McVicar’s classic production embraces both the seriousness and comedy of Mozart’s work.

The audience is transported to a fantastical world of dancing animals, flying machines and dazzlingly starry skies.

The setting provides a wonderful backdrop for Mozart’s kaleidoscopic score, from the Queen of the Night’s coloratura fireworks to Tamino and Pamina’s lyrical

love duets and Papageno’s hearty, folksong-like arias.

Eden Cinemas aims to create the feel of a theatre environment, whilst giving the audience a chance to experience Mozart’s The Magic Flute at a fraction of the overseas prices.

Tickets are available at €18 for adults and €10 for children under 16. This includes the pre production wine and nibbles, complimentary parking at the Eden Leisure Car park and 25 per cent discount at Waterbiscuit. For those unable to attend the live show, an encore screening will be held on Sunday, September 24, at 3pm. Tickets are priced at €15 for adults and €10 for children, including free parking and 25 per cent discount at Waterbiscuit.

The event is sponsored by Vivian Corporation, Villa Sandi, Casa Modena, Encore magazine, The Malta Arts Council and Waterbiscuit.

Tickets may be purchased from the Eden Cinemas box office or online at www.edencinemas.com.mt

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

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EDUCATION

University of the Third Age Malta Registration for the 2017/2018 academic year

T

he University of the Third Age (U3A) will be accepting applications from persons interested in attending the 2017/18 academic programme as from Monday, September 11 from 9am till noon, Mondays to Thursdays only.

Applications will be received at the U3A Floriana Centre at the Catholic Institute, Floriana (ground floor) and U3A Cottonera Centre at the Cottonera Resource centre, St Edwards Street, Birgu. Gozitan residents may apply at the Ministry for Gozo, St Francis Square, Victoria. The membership annual fee, covering from October 2017 to June 2018, is €12.

Lectures will be held from Mondays to Thursdays from 9am till 11am at the Floriana Centre, on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5pm till 7pm at the Sliema Centre, on Thursdays from 9am till 11am at the

Cottonera Centre, and Fridays from 9am till 11am at the Għajnsielem Day Centre, Gozo. The programme will start on Monday, October 9.

The programme of lectures will be available on registration. Any queries can be made at the U3A Floriana centre on 2124 3202 as from September 11 (9am till noon).

The opening Mass for the new academic year, celebrated by Mgr. J. Galea Curmi, will be held at the San Gorg Preca Hall at the Catholic Institute Floriana on Friday at 9am. The official opening will commence at 10am at the same hall. The Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Hon. Anthony Agius Decelis, Rector of the University of Malta, Prof. Alfred J. Vella, and Pro-Rector for Students and Staff Affairs and Outreach, Dr Carmen Sammut, will address the members present.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW LECTURES FOR THE 2017/18 ACADEMIC PROGRAMME Floriana Centre ▪ Malta’s economic history ▪ Music appreciation ▪ Malta marittima ▪ The British period in Malta ▪ Il-folklor bħala parti mill-wirt kulturali Malti ▪ Malta during the period of the Knights: 1530-1798 ▪ Government systems in Malta and abroad ▪ Health and social Issues in later life ▪ Interpretative perspectives of Maltese history in constructing national identity ▪ Aspects of Maltese history and law III ▪ Development of museums throughout the ages ▪ Għerf missirijietna: riflessjoniet filosofici fuq il-proverbji Maltin ▪ Looking into art: How to discuss works of art from different standpoints.

Sliema Centre ▪ Politics and Maltese society ▪ Imma min hu verament Vassalli (1764-1829) ▪ The Constitution of Malta ▪ The medieval millennium ▪ France in the Maltese collective memory: Perspectives, perceptions and identities ▪ L-iżvillup tal-edukazzjoni f’Malta ▪ Historical, literary and theological aspects of the Bible ▪ Understanding dementia.

Cottonera Centre ▪ Maltese archival heritage ▪ Farsa tal-karnival ta’ Dun Feliċ Demarco, awtur Bormliż tas-seklu 18 ▪ Malta during the 19th century ▪ Ħajti tiegħi – nagħżel jien!

Gozo Centre ▪ The British Period in Malta ▪ Teżori moħbija f’San Lawrenz ▪ L-iżvillup tal-edukazzjoni f’Malta ▪ Ġrajjiet Malta u Għawdex: Storja u Letteratura.

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ART

NEWS

Fine arts exhibition at newly refurbished Villa Messina

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fter 20 years of successful operation of Villa Messina, CareMalta has carried out a total refurbishment project to this facility as part of its ambition to offer the best quality services to our older population.

CareMalta appreciates the importance of the environment both from an accessibility point of view and also from a visual perspective. The refurbishment project has upgraded all the present bedrooms and bathrooms creating flexible options for accessibility in the bathrooms.

The new design has also incorporated dementia friendly measures while all beds were upgraded to nursing beds encouraging further independence and comfort.

Although the plan was to retain the ambience and character of the original property, the new design creates an environment where residents can enjoy a modern feeling, built to high specifications, based on the experience that the company has in providing this care environment.

The lounge area next to the reception has been enriched with a marvellous exhibition of fine arts donated by a unique Villa Messina resident, the famous Dame Françoise Tempra. Dame Françoise Tempra is an art historian and an author of around 60 art books and catalogues written in four languages.

Of Italian blood, Dame Tempra was born in Venice, brought up in France, and went to live in London after marrying a young English Baronet at the age of 20. She adopted the UK as her new home and she continued her university studies in London where she also taught for several years. Interested in all facets of artistic creativity, she founded with Gerald Payne the Tempra Academy in 1975 at Marble Arch, London. It organised between 30 and 50 yearly cultural events

from lectures, exhibitions to concerts, recitals, fashion shows and more.

She was a teacher in languages and literature in the U.K. for some eight years while preparing a doctorate in history of art.

She visited Malta to view the only signed Caravaggio painting in 1976 when she met Maltese artists and started promoting Maltese art all over the world. She moved to Malta in 1990 and later in 1995 founded the Malta International Arts Biennale (105 countries).

Her title of ‘Dame’ is the distinction ‘Dama de la Orden de Isabel La Catolica’, presented to her by the head of the Spanish State in 1975 for services rendered in the sphere of the arts and was approved by the Queen of England, since Dame Françoise is a British subject.

Villa Messina has also introduced a new multi-purpose room, a new chapel and a wellness centre in line with its active ageing philosophy.

The new home will feature services to meet the needs of both residents and staff. Additional new lifts have been installed whilst existing ones were also enlarged. This project has incorporated all the necessary alignments required by the current new legislation also exceeding clients’ expectations.

Based on CareMalta’s promise to continue to provide the best care to the residents, the newly refurbished facility also incorporates new features which will help the operation offer the person-centred approach that the company truly believe in.

Villa Messina is operated by CareMalta Ltd, the leading healthcare provider in Malta.

CareMalta also operates seven other homes across Malta: Casa Arkati (Mosta), Roseville (Attard), Casa San Paolo (St Paul’s Bay) as well as Zejtun Home, Cospicua Home, Mellieha home and Zammit Clapp Hospital Residential Home (St Julian’s).

Art, music and A spotlight on artist Philippe Agius.

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hat is your earliest memory of art?

I was born at Cospicua, the eldest of seven children, and my father George, a sculptor from Zebbug, worked as a restorer with the public works department.

He suffered permanent blindness when he was 45.

From a young age, I used to dabble in art – I remember scratching figures on the walls. I was also interested in music from a very young age.

My father’s cousin was Major Mro Anthony Aquilina, so I guess I inherited my love of music from him.

What inspired you to pursue art professionally?

I entered the minor Seminary in Floriana when I was nine years old and studied for

my matriculation exams. I remember making frequent visits to a studio where a certain Bonello would restore the Curia’s paintings.

Since my father was unemployed, and I was the eldest, I had to work part-time as a law clerk and then also joined the industry, working in various sectors.

When I turned 55, I left employment and read for a BA in theology and humanistic studies at the University of Malta. I also read for an MA in theology, without submitting my thesis. I also successfully read for an MA in baroque studies and a doctorate in art at the University of Arizona.

Apart from my art, one of my most precious belongings is a letter which Padre Pio sent me in 1964, in reply to one of

my letters. I still have that letter, near my bed. In 1975, I sent a painting to the Padre Pio convent, and it is still there – many Maltese see it on their pilgrimage. I have also sent paintings to Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II. What is the medium that you feel most comfortable using?

In 1983, I had the opportunity to attend a graphic design course in Florence. During my stay there, I also held a personal art exhibition at the Galleria Il Gabbiano.

I feel very close to the medium of graphic design.

Since my father was blind, I use graphic design as a tool to help blind people ‘see’ – for this, I use 3D models. I also opened the first art club in Malta, Ngħinu Bl-Arti.

This art club was very successful and various renowned artists – including Ruth Bianco and Jeni Caruana – were members.

What is the more challenging medium in art?

Oil painting is a challenging medium – and that is why I enjoy it, especially classical paintings in Caravaggio style.

What time do you usually paint and why?

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NEWS

Engaging care home residents in meaningful activities Charmaine Attard, director of care at Simblija Care Home, outlines the importance of activities, communication and friendship.

sculpture There is no time to paint.

When my mother was dying at the intensive care unit, I looked at her face and then at my face on the mirror, and this inspired me to paint two works.

Malta is one of your main artistic inspirations. What is it about Malta that inspires you?

Malta inspires all artists.

We have such a concentration of art that it cannot but inspire artists.

You also write poetry and play the accordion. Is there a ‘discourse’ between your art, music and poetry?

I started writing poems when I was at the minor Seminary – where Oliver Friggieri was in my same class – and my Italian teacher encouraged me

a lot. When I saw that Friggieri was publishing a newsletter for students, I was encouraged to write essays.

I took lessons in piano accordion wth Mro Carmelo Abela and at that time I bought the accordion from a shop in South Street, Valletta. The owner of the shop told me that this new Settimio Soprani Accordion Rialto was going to be bought by Mro Charles Camilleri, and knowing me, Mro Charles Camilleri, told them that I could buy it instead of him. Who knows where this accordion is today.

This year, I organised the first accordion festival with the great assistance of the Santa Maria Accordion Band, Attard – which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary – under the direction of Mro. Marthese Busuttil Cassar.

PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST The talent that Philippe Agius has in oil painting, graphic design and wood sculptures has been evident since his childhood. He first received recognition with his debut in Genoa in 1972, when he was awarded a gold medal, and a bronze medal for his participation in an Alessandro Manzoni-related competition about Alessandro Manzoni.

His work has been featured in various international art publications and some of his paintings are on permanent exhibition in Italy, Denmark, the US, the US, Switzerland and France.

Agius was awarded an MA in Baroque Studies from the University of Malta and a doctorate in culture by the University of Arizona. He also writes poetry and plays the accordion.

As the saying goes: “When I am in my head I am in a bad neighbourhood.”

People function better when they have plans and know what they are going to do and when.

When we just sit and think, often our thoughts will become negative. All of us like to have a goal, an incentive, something to look forward to, to make us get up and go.

Residents in care homes do not have to work, cook, clean, pay bills, or take care of other chores. When everyday chores do not take up most of the day, then we need to fill the day with other constructive activities. As a result, the importance of organising regular constructive activities for elderly in care homes cannot be underestimated.

Engaging in activities which are structured and planned has a lot of benefits. Apart from the cognitive and physical benefits activities provide, they also provide a vehicle through which socialisation may happen. Residents in care homes get to meet and converse while doing activities, they get to know each other and also may meet people they once knew.

Residents frequently comment how, although they are living in a home for the elderly, there is no one to speak to. Socialising is directly related to quality of life and may be as vital as physical activities to some elderly. Loneliness is a common phenomenon in today’s world and just because clients enter a home does not automatically mean they will make friends.

Communication is a basic need, and everyone likes to have the opportunity to speak about themselves, share memories or experiences. Through interactive activities, or activities which encourage clients to speak up like in reminiscence sessions, clients find a way to talk about themselves and get to know others. These may act as ice breakers, encourage familiarisation for new residents and start friendships which can flourish beyond the activity session.

Therapeutic activities also allow residents to retain their identities and develop them further. In homes like Simblija Care Home activities are varied to cover a spectrum of activities and hobbies. In this way the elderly can continue to do that which they identified themselves with all their lives and also have the opportunity to teach others and show their accomplishments.

Often residents take items like handmade things to their rooms to show to relatives, staff

and friends. This also gives them a sense of satisfaction that they are still able to be productive. It is important that the home notices the strengths and interests of the residents in the home and uses those strengths or interests to organise and lead certain activities.

Regular entertainment is also important through dance, planned themed nights, music and similar activities. What can make people come together more than music or dance? The elderly still want to have fun and enjoy hearing their favourite melodies from the past. They are delighted when their relatives can also come along to join in and be part of the community they now live in. It is a time for the young and the old to meet and have fun together. It is a time for residents to dress up and have somewhere to go to which is not the usual daily routine.

These occasions also provide a way of forming bonds between residents and staff or other care givers and create friendship and stability, both which are important to anyone living in a care home setting.

It is well-known that increased frailty can be avoided through regular exercise and keeping active. It is also a well-known fact that exercise helps with our cardiovascular system, osteoporosis, and general well-being by delaying general loss in function or disability. It is therefore important that activities in a home are varied and have a physical side to them.

Exercise classes aimed at gait, balance and strength all help the elderly keep active in different ways. Held in a class scenario this helps residents come together and encourage each other. At Simblija Care Home exercise classes are an integral part of our weekly time table and are led by qualified physiotherapists.

Apart from the benefits already mentioned, this is a way of keeping our residents actively involved in their well-being and not acting as passive recipients to care.

The availability of activities may be a good gauge of the quality of care at a care home.

If a care home has the staff and procedures to organise daily activities, it is an unspoken bit of evidence that they offer quality of care.

It means that a care home like Simblija is investing in the total well-being of their residents and where they are being proactive in their care by finding ways to keep their residents active and interacted.

For more information visit www.simblijacarehome.com.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

PhotoS A man rows his dgħajsa tal-pass past Senglea Point in the 1960s.

Photo: DArren Mizzi/BAy retro

A tinsmith sits down to fix a toy pram in new Street in Sliema in the 1960s.

Photo: MAriA VellA WilSon/BAy retro

tower road in Sliema in the 1930s. only the sea hasn’t changed in over 80 years – the beautiful seafront buildings are long gone. Photo: BAy retro

Probably one of Malta’s earliest hotels: Dowdall’s hotel in Birżebbuġa in the 1890s. Photo: JoSePh Scerri/BAy retro

Gone but not Malta in black and white still has a beauty that’s full of colour and a kind of innocence that the island has lost over the years. From trams and toy prams to vintage hotels and buildings long gone, Senior Times and Bay Retro celebrate a pretty past.

PhotoS courteSy of BAy retro

A driver has a lucky escape when his car ended up in the sea at Balluta Bay in 1958. Photo: norMAn ScheMBri/BAy retro

A man poses on his karettun in Marsalforn, Gozo, in the 1970s.

Photo: BAy retro

SENIOR TIMES ‒ SEPTEMBER 2017

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A boy scrambles up the Haġar Qim temples in the 1970s. PHOTO: BAY RETRO

An RAF Police Land Rover parked outside the Rabat police station in the 1960s.

PHOTO: AndREw FARRugiA/BAY RETRO

forgotten A common sight more than 100 years ago: children play in St Anne Street in Floriana as an electric tram makes its way to the capital.

Young men stroll down Kingsway in Valletta more than a century ago. PHOTO: BAY RETRO

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NEWS

Marija Bambina u l-anzjani fil-Missjoni

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il-bidu ta’ dan ixxahar niċċelebraw waħda mill-festi nazzjonali tagħna: ilfesta tal-Vittorja fit-8 ta’ Settembru. Il-Knisja tiċċelebra l-festa tat-twelid tal-Verġni Marija magħrufa fostna bħala Marija Bambina.

Qed insemmi din il-festa għaliex propju ftit ġimgħat ilu kont fil-Parroċċa ta’ Lumezi fid-djoċesi ta’ Chipata fiż-Żambja fejn koppja mill-Mellieħa sponsorjat il-bini ta’ kappella f ’żona kompletament rurali u mbiegħda miċ-ċentru b’iktar minn 50 kilometru. Fuq xewqa ta’ din il-koppja l-kommunità nisranija ta’ din il-mission station, f ’żona jisimha Champhoyo, ser jiddedikaw il-Kappella lil Marija Bambina. Din il-koppja ħasbet biex tibgħat ritratt kbir sabiħ tal-istatwa tal-Bambina tal-Mellieħa. Ma nistax ninsa il-laqgħa li kelli ġewwa din il-Kappella mimlija bil-bdiewa tal-lokal jgħajtu Viva Marija Bambina!

Kull xahar tas-sena l-Papa jagħmel intenzjoni speċjali biex

l-insara jitolbu għal dik l-intenzjoni u jirriflettu fuq il-messaġġ li l-Papa jkun irid iwassal b’dik l-intenzjoni. L-intenzjoni għal dan ix-xahar ta’ Settembru hija: “Sabiex il-parroċċi kollha tagħna animati mill-ispirtu missjunarju ikunu l-postijiet fejn il-fidi tiġi kkomunikata u l-karità tiġi murija.”

B’kollox fid-dinja hawn madwar 200,000 Parroċċa u lKattoliċi fid-dinja jammontaw għal 1.3 biljun ruħ li jiġu madwar 17.5 fil-mija tal-popolazzjoni dinjija.

Il-Papa qed jibgħat messaġġ qawwi u ċar ħafna li jitkellem fuqu bl-istess qawwa fl-eżortazzjoni tiegħu Evangelii Gaudium. Huwa qed jerġa jagħmel appell biex kull Parroċċa li hija ċ-ċellola ħajja talknisja, ma tingħalaqx fiha nnifisha imma l-membri tagħha jagħtu xhieda ta’ dak li jemmnu fih u juru imħabba konkreta lejn in-nies filbżonn fi ħdan l-istess Parroċċa u fid-dinja kollha. Dan ikun sinjal veru li jemmnu flaħbar it-tajba li tiżġurana

mill-veru sens ta’ ħajjitna u timpenjana biex, kif insibu fit-talba missjunarja, ‘il-ġid li għandna ma jnessiniex ilfaqar ta’ ħafna oħrajn’.

Fil-parroċċi tagħna f ’Malta u Għawdex insibu nies ta’ kull età: minn trabi sa persuni anzjani. Numru sewwa millanzjani tagħna, illum qed jgħix fi djar tal-anzjani: talistat, tal-knisja u tal-privat.

In-numru tal-anzjani tagħna huwa kbir u grazzi għall-kura u l-mediċina li nirċievu ħafna qed jgħixu iktar fit-tul.

M’għadhiex xi eċċezzjoni li taqbeż id-disgħin.

Mhux hekk f ’ħafna pajjiżi tal-missjoni. Kuntrarju għal Malta ftit tara anzjani mexjin fit-triq. Pensjoni ma jafux biha u djar għall-anzjani jisimgħu biss bihom għal diversi raġunijiet, fosthom il-faqar, ħafna anzjani jispiċċaw bla saqaf fuq

rashom u jiġru fit-toroq. Xi ftit titjib f ’dan il-qasam beda jidher ukoll. Hekk diversi djoċesijiet fil-missjoni qed jaħsbu biex ikollhom dar għas-saċerdoti anzjani flok dawn jispiċċaw mitluqin f ’xi kamra ġo parroċċa. Ħafna kongregazjonijiet ta’ reliġjużi fosthom is-sorijiet ta’ Mother Tereża qed jiftħu djar għall-anzjani fqar u abbandunati u anke jien personalment kelli l-opportunità li nżur djar fqar fejn hemm l-anzjani li qed jirċievu servizzi ta’ saħħa u mediċini fl-iskema Home Made Care imwaqqfa fuq livell djoċesan jew Parrokjali.

Id-differenza mis-sitwazzjoni f ’Malta hi li dawn l-anzjani huma fqar u ħafna drabi abbandunati u ma jirċievu lebda għajnuna mill-istat.

Min jgħinhom biex isibu

x’jieklu kuljum, biex ikollhom saqaf fuq rashom, biex jingħataw kura fi djarhom jiddependi mill-providenza ta’ nies ġenerużi.

Missio Malta jirċievi ħafna talbiet biex ngħinu lil dawn l-organizzazzjonijiet li qed jagħtu servizzi nobbli lil anzjani u jtaffulhom ttbatija, jtawlulhom il-ħajja u jagħtuhom ukoll għajnuna spiritwali.

Fakkrana Mulej biex il-ftit ġid li għandna ma jnessiniex il-faqar ta’ ħafna oħrajn.

Forsi matul dan ix-xahar ta’ Settembru nagħtu widen għall-appell tal-Papa u matul ix-xahar ta’ Ottubru, ix-xahar tal-missjoni, nkunu ġenerużi mal-anzjani fqar anke jekk ‘il bogħod minn xtutna. Int tista’ tibgħat d-donazzjoni tiegħek lil Missio, 7, Triq ilMerkanti, l-Belt Valletta.

The George Cross and Operation Pedestal The people’s war at the National War Museum

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alta is commemorating the 75th anniversary of the award of the George Cross, which acknowledged the bravery and tenacity of the Maltese people during World War II, and of the arrival of the surviving four merchant ships and the tanker SS Ohio of Operation Pedestal into the Grand Harbour.

These two historical events are well explained at the National War Museum within Fort St Elmo. Two halls of the museum are dedicated solely to World War II, when the island’s strategic location made it centre stage in the theatre of war in the Mediterranean.

One hall of the National War Museum recounts the people’s war and Operation Pedestal. It also recounts the Maltese people’s courage and tenacity that contributed to the island’s survival

against all odds. Malta entered the war sharply and suddenly. The islands were under constant attack. In fact Malta holds the record for the heaviest sustained bombing attacks. On April 15, 1942 King George VI awarded the Maltese population the George Cross in recognition of their bravery.

The Maltese ended the war with being the only population awarded the highest civilian honour. The George Cross and a replica of the King’s message are found at the National War Museum.

In the first months of 1942 the island was pushed to the brink of capitulation since Malta was short on munitions, food and fuel, both for military operations and civil use.

For this purpose Operation Pedestal was launched. The supplies were carried by 13 merchant vessels, the most impor-

tant being the US tanker, SS Ohio. The convoy was under constant attack from air and sea. In fact only four merchant ships and the badly damaged tanker SS Ohio reached the ultimate destination.

The arrival of these ships ensured that Malta remained in the war. Since the arrival of the last ships of the convoy coincided with the feast of the Assumption, the convoy is also known as the convoy of Santa Marija.

A very good description of Operation Pedestal is given through well explained audiovisuals and various artefacts related to Operation Pedestal are also exhibited.

Hosted at upper Fort St Elmo, the National War Museum opens daily between 9am and 6pm.

For more information about Heritage Malta’s museums and sites visit www.heritagemalta.org.

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