Daddy Cool

I feel that last week was another beautiful week in our marriage. At present we have a lot of time for talking playing and singing. My wife Miriam is finding it difficult to sleep at night due to her being in her last 2- 3 weeks before giving birth to our first child. Therefore we even keep talking and singing late at night. No problems with neighbors. As many other situations in Gozo, many properties both on the left and right side of our home are empty.

During this week, both our memories went back to our own childhood. We narrated how straight after school we used to go in front of the TV waiting for the children's programmes to start. The school then used to finish at 4.30pm. Cartoons started at around 5.00pm. On a black and white TV she used to watch the Rai from Zebbug. I did the same in Gharb. This goes back to early 70's!

I told her how I loved 'Mazinga Z', the gigantic Japanese super robot used as a secret weapon against the forces of evil. Miriam said she liked it very much too.

I switched on my synthesizer and played the tune. Miriam looked for the lyrics on Google Search. We found it. I played and she sang with her beautiful soprano voice.
Watch what we liked then:


We also remembered other kid's TV programmes. One of them was Dolce Remi. This was shown on Italia Uno. We both like the song very much. I forgot what the TV series was about but remembered the tune easily and yes we played and sang this Italian tune for hours....almost daily.
Don't you like it? it's cute:


Another children's TV series of our age was Heidi, a novel about the events in the life of a young girl in her grandfather's care, in the Swiss Alps. It's also a nice tune to sing but I still find it a bit hard to play the doodle dee on the keyboard. Don't blame me please:



One tune we remembered very clearly and easily to play is that of Family Adams. Miriam likes to sing this a lot, so much so that I played it every time we had a visitor to our house this week - Aunty Vitorja, our friend Anglu, parents in law even Arnold Cassola who payed a short visit over this week-end. They all thought we were a bit crazy except little Christina - our little niece who kept smiling while Miriam was singing.


It is amazing how nature prepares parents-to-be like ourselves to adapt to the new lifestyle a new born will bring. Cool.

I will write more about my feelings of becoming a daddy soon.

Gozo and Orkney Islands

My colleague Perit Carmel Cacopardo did a very interesting blog entry this week. He called it

Island generates sustainable future

I have a feeling that one day more than 300 Gozitans will see that Gozo' sleepy pace of life, the rural scenery, natural beauty, historical assets will attract more holiday makers than the present policy makers.

Don't you agree?

Cheers

Victor

Xoghol li ta' min ifahhru

Xoghlijiet infrastrutturali u ta’ tisbih qed isir fit-triq li mir-Rabat taghti ghal Marsalforn, Ghawdex.

Intant L-Awtorita tat-Trasport tghid li xoghol ta' restawr f'Marsalforn mhux sodisfacenti. It-Times of Malta irreferit ghat-tbazwira tal-famuza bankina li saret bil-barka ta' l-istess kunsill lokali taz-Zebbug. Kien sar xoghol illegali li milli jidher xi hadd (ukoll kunsillier fl-istess kunsill), hakem bicca mit-triq pubblika li milli jidher kellu f'mohhu li jaghmilha parti mill-kiosk. Jidher li ried jokkupa l-art sabiex jaghmel l-imwejjed u s-siggijiet f'din it-triq. Wiehed jipprova jaqla lira hux!

Il-Ministru tat-Trasport u l-Awtorita' kienet ordnat li x-xoghol jitwaqqaf minnufih anzi jerga' jigi irrestawrat.

Hemm partita kawzi ghaddejjin fil-Qorti tal-Magistrati wkoll mid-dehra.

Kont ktibt dwar dan HAWNHEKK. Xi hadd ikkumenta hekk:

L-unika haga li kien jonqsok tghid kienet li l-Ministru tat-Trasport huwa Austin Gatt u li flimkien ma' kuginuh Lou Bondi’ ghandu flat tefa’ ta’ gebla 'l boghod.

Tghid ghandu (jew ghandha) ragun?

Nerga' nistaqsi : Min se jhallas?

Agri turizmu f'Ghawdex

Hawn min jahseb li hemm bzonn nibnu xi rzizet (farmhouses) u postijiet ta' akkomodazzjoni iehor sabiex nibdew l-agro-turizmu f'Ghawdex.
Fl-opinjoni tieghi, min jahseb b'dan il-mod huwa zbaljat.
Nemmen li l-infrastruttura diga tezisti.

Fortunatament ghad fadal ftit bdiewa u rahhala gewwa l-irhula Ghawdxin u ma ninsewx li 48% tal-propjetajiet f'Ghawdex huma vojta. Allura hemm bzonn nibnu aktar? Ma jaghmilx sens. Li nirrangaw dawn il-postijiet qodma u nikkonvertuhom f'postijiet ta' akkomodazzjoni naqbel.

Akjar ma jghaddi z-zmien, l-istatistika turi li t-turist sar aktar jivjagga b'mod indipendenti. U dawn it-tip ta' 'independent travellers' ma jfittxux il-lukandi u l-flettijiet qishom gebubi fuq xulxin. Ifittxu dawk li tipiku Ghawdxi. U dan hu li nipprovaw noffru permezz tal-Fondazzjoni Ager.

Li hemm bzonn hu appogg lil organizzazjonijiet bhal din li mmexxi jien - li l-interess principali huwa li jinbnew niccec differenti ta' turizmu ghal matul is-sena kollha minghajr spekulazzjoni ta' aktar art.

Anke l-inkoraggiment mill-Awtoritajiet huwa mportanti. Jien per ezempju jiddispjacini li organizzazzjonijiet Ewropej jaghmlu kuntatt mieghi u jistednuni sabiex naghti tahrig f'pajjizhom dwar turizmu responsabbli. Mill-banda l-ohra.....hawn Malta hadd minn ebda Awtorita jew Ministeru (almenu s'issa) qatt ma indenja ruhu jindaga kif qed noholqu xoghol innovattiv f'dan is-settur!

Sa minn mindu waqqaft il-Fondazzjoni Ager xi sentejn ilu, investejt hafna mill-hin liberu tieghi nharreg u nhajjar familji Ghawdxin jidhlu ghal bicca xoghol bhal din. Mhux facli imma bdejna. U bdejna sew.

Halib tal-bodbod jew tal-muntun?

Hekk kif jaslu, Zeppi jistaqsihom: "Biex triduh il-kafe'? bil-halib tal-bodbod jew tal-muntun?"

U ghal mistoqsija bhal din ikollna diversi twegibiet:

"Xorta wahda ghalija"

"Nippreferi nduqhom it-tnejn jekk ma jimpurtax"

"Tal-bodbod OK."

"Ha nipprova tal-muntun. Mhux xorta?"

Imma jkun hemm min jinduna li r-rahhala taghna jghadduha fin-nejk.

Mill-bidu jindunaw li ser jghaddu gurnata relax.

Tiskanta imma fl-istess hin ma tistaghgibx.

Huma hafna dawk li jigu Ghawdex biex iwettqu wahda mill-esperjenzi li toffri l-Fondazzjon li hloqt jien: Il-Fondazzjoni Ager. Hawn numru ta' nies li tassew jinteressahom l-agro-turizmu. Wahda mill-esperjenzi l-aktar popolari hi meta jaghzlu li jqattghu gurnata ma' rahhal: Maltin, Turisti u studenti.

Jibdew il-programm billi jehdu naqra kafe tajba maghmula mic-cikwejra, hlewwa, qxur tal-laring, tacci tal-qronfol u hwawar ohra. Ikun hawn fejn ir-rahhala li jahdmu mieghi (fosthom Zeppi) jistaqsuhom x'tip ta' halib frisk iridu ma' dan il-kafe li r-rieha tieghu taqsamlek qalbek hekk kif tidhol fid-dar tar-razzett.

Ir-rahhala taghna jahilbu dak il-hin stess ftit halib tan-naghga jew tal-moghza. Ikun ghadu shun u ghidli int x'naqra kafe qed tixrob. Mal-kafe ma jonqsux ftit qriemec maghmulin id-dar stess.

Jibdew ix-xoghol fir-razzett u wara li jitimghu lill-fniek u liz-zrameg, inaddfu l-imxatar halli jitimghu wkoll lin-naghag u lill-moghoz. Marbut ghalih ikollna l-muntun u kulhadd jistaqsi 'l ghaliex. Izda bhalissa l-bodbod (jew il-wott) ikun mitluq mall-moghoz halli jkun jista' jghammar. Ma ghandniex hafna wtut. Wott wiehed bizzejjed ma' merhla moghoz. Kulhadd xortih fid-dinja ighidu. Bhalissa ghandna l-gidien. Il-hrief baqghalhom ftit. Ghandna l-abura u anke l-ghenieqa.

Sakemm il-merhla qed tiekol, inaddfu il-bitha mdaqqsa mid-demel. Jitghallmu kif id-demel jiffermenta u dwar l-uzu tieghu ghall-ucuh tar-raba'.

"X'inhi d-differenza bejn bajda-bajda u bajda-kannella?" Ftit huma dawk li jafu!

U wara li jingabar il-bajd immorru biex nahilbu.

Hawnhekk jibda l-ghors.

Imhatra min jahleb l-ahjar jekk hux l-irgiel inkella n-nisa. Hafna jahsbu li l-irgiel. Mhux dejjem il-kaz. Xi drabi it-tfal ahjar mill-kbar!

Anke dawk li ghall-ewwel ighidu "jaqq", x'hin jigu biex imissu l-bezzul donnhom jithajjru ghax ighidulek li din esperjenza ta' darba.

Wara li jingabar il-halib kollu, immorru insaffuh. Bil-qtar tat-tames, inhallu l-halib isir baqta. Anke din tat-tames, qed insibu li huma ftit wisq dawk li jafu kif isir it-tames mill-istonku tal-haruf ta' xi 10 jew 15-il jum.

Kollu taghlim dan, kemm ghat-tfal u anke ghal kbar. Jiehdu gost il-familji kollha li jigu. Anke dawk il-genituri li jigu bl-intenzjoni li ser jiehdu gost it-tfal taghhom - fl-ahhar jispiccaw jitghallmu u jiehdu gost huma wkoll.

Sakemm jghaqad il-halib ikun beda jirrumba. Forsi ma tafx xi tfisser jirrumba. Ma ntikx tort li ma tafx il-brejku, izda tinsiex li jien mill-Gharb u naf xi kelma 'l hawn u 'l hemm. Ikun sar hin l-ikel. Il-Fondazzjoni Ager hija membru tal-Moviment Slow Food. Ghalhekk it-tip ta' tisjir huwa tisjir li jsir bil-mod - fil-forn.

U l-esperjenza ma tieqafx hawn.

Issa li l-halib sar baqta, irridu naghmluh gbejniet. U allura b'idejn nodfa, irridu naqbdu l-qaleb u naghmlu l-gbejna. F'dixx s'intendi halli johrog ix-xorrox.

U mbaghad irridu ngizzu xi naghga bil-gelem. Is-suf tan-naghag ikun hemm min jigbru halli jnaddfu u jibqa' tifkira.

Mhux biss familji jaghzlu li jqattu jum b'differenza f'Ghawdex permezz ta' l-agro turizmu, izda anke ghalliema bil-klassijiet taghhom. Gieli gew studenti Universitarji tal-Home Economics u anke mid-dipartiment tal-Malti peress li waqt esperenza bhal din ikollhom ic-cans jitghallmu kliem Malti safi li illum tista' tghid li ftit li xejn ghadu jintuza. U x'hemm isbah milli titghallem il-lingwa minn fomm dak li jkun?
Illum, perezempju, gew studenti mill-iskola ta' Stella Maris (Gzira). Hadt gost li l-Kap ta' l-iskola giet ukoll flimkien ma' l-ghalliema tal-klassi. Kienu ppreparati sa snienhom. L-ghalliema anke ipproduciet workbook. Il-Kap ta' l-iskola kienet tassew intiza fis-suggett. Kienet tidher mara li ghandha passat qrib in-natura. Wriet interess liema bhalu. Skoprejt li hija Ghawdxija. Omm J'accuse - Jacques Rene' Zammit. Ghandha tibghatlu ritratt ghal fuq il-blog tieghu. Omm J'accuse kienet taf ezatt li la l-bodbod u lanqas il-muntun ma jahilbu.

Keeping Promises: Ramla and Ta' Cenc

The Malta Independent journalist David Lindsay, today wrote about the 'Ulysses Lodge, Ta’ Cenc appeals slated for 27 June'.
Well well...

May I remind what I wrote specifically before the last general election a few weeks ago. Click HERE.

In my blog entry of the 21st February 2008, then I wrote about the fate of Ramla, ta' Cenc and Hondoq if Gozitans would not vote strongly to The Greens.

We were talking about the prospects of turning Gozo into an ecological island thus creating sustainable jobs and quality tourism infrustructure. Alas! also the GonziPN propaganda was mentioning AD's idea of turning Gozo into an ecological island.

Now we have it: Appeals from the developers of two of the most controversial proposed developments in Gozo, if not the country – Ta’ Cenc and the Ulysses Lodge – are to be heard by the Malta Environment and Planning Authority appeals board on the same day, 27 June.


I can proudly say again: "Not guilty" so should be the 300 Gozitan AD voters.

Where there is support and unity there is strength. Where there is fear and selfishness, our island is to lose.

Muntun minn naha taghna?

Illum Anglu hadni mieghu naraw il-kampjonat tal-European Championship Cup. Qalli mmorru narawha l-Awrora. Qatt ma mort mieghu nara loghba futbal l-Aurora. Gieli mort mieghu fil-Liverpool club fix-Xewkija. L-Awrora hemm big screen tajjeb hafna u iehor hdejh. Il-loghba tal-Liverpool vs Arsenal kienet fuq il-Big Screen bis-sound mentri fuq l-iscreen l-iehor kien hemm ic-Chelsea kontra xi tim tork.

L-Awrora kienet mimlija irgiel. Xejn nisa hlief wahda mill-bartenders kienet tfajla. Irgiel pjuttost imdahhlin fl-eta', ghalkemm kien hemm xi ftit guvintur. Kien hemm hut anglu minn Nadur u maghhom kien hemm iehor li qalli li hu minn ta' Kappuna ghandu jkun. Hdejhom kien hemm siggu vojt li jien hsibt li merfugh ghal Anglu. "Le huj...Anglu fuq quddiemnett jaqghad"

U spiccajna fuq quddiemnett jien u Anglu. Hassejtni qiesni go knisja bis-siggijiet ....bil-kemm tista' thares lura ghax tara ghexiren ta' ghajnejn iharsu fuqek. Bdejt noqghod attent kif incaqlaq rasi li ma mmurx intellef il-veduta lil ta' warajja. Kelli flixkun birra u gelgiltu bil-mod.

Fl-ewwel half l-Arsenal laghbu vera tajjeb. Skurjaw l-ewwel l-Arsena u qrib it-tmiem tal-half time skurjaw il-Liverpool. Anglu qam minn postu jghajjat u jgholli jdejh - qisni jien kieku rbaht is-Super 5!

Fil-halftime hrigna barra halli nisimghu ftit il-kummenti. kien hemm il-bicca l-kbira tan-nies li jzommu mal-Liverpool, xi ftit ma' l-Arsenal u hafna li la jzommu ma' l-Arsenal u lanqas mal-Liverpool. Kien hemm xi erba' nies li nafhom imma l-bicca l-kbira le. Kien hemm Pawlu li ta' sikwit ikun id-dar taghna jirrangalna xi switch jew xi kanna ta' l-ilma. Tkellimna tikka qabel beda it-tieni half. Ghadda wkoll Salvu Grech, hu l-mara ta' hija Lino.

Skurjaw il-Liverpool u mbaghad l-Arsenal u mbaghad penalty li skurjaw il-Liverpool u goal iehor il-Liverpool. Gew 4 bi 2. Ragel imdahhal fiz-zmien tela' bil-wieqfa fuq mejda jghajjat hekk kif skurjaw ir-raba' goal il-Liverpool. Kienet ovvja li issa rebhu il-Liverpool.

Kif spiccat il-loghbha kulhadd donnu sparixxa f'sekonda. Wiehed li ma nafux minn Adam gie fejni u staqsieni waqt li pponta subajgh lejn xwejjah liebes gerzi griz: "Dok il-muntown minn naha taghkim jew?"

Ippruvajt inhares lejn wiccu biex nara jekk nafux. 'Il-muntun' baqa' l-hin kollu dahru lejja. Ma stajtx naghraf min hu. Iddejjaqt nghidu li hu minn naha taghna bhallikieku tan-naha taghna mhumiex imtaten.

"Ma nahsibx li mill-Gharb" ghidtlu jien.

"Miz-Zebbug mene jew?"

"Jista jkiwn" ghidtlu jien.

Imma mbaghad kelli kurzita' l-ghaliex dan il-povru ragel ta' xi 70 sena huwa muntun skond dan.

"Isma' siehib. Ghalex muntown?"

"Ghax ge warajna u spicca qaghad bil-qieghde quddiemne...u minfowq il-hejn killiw ilablab fuq il-leghbe l-ohra. Muntown miz-Zebbiwg dok"

"Hmm" ghidt f'qalbi. "Mhux difficli tkun muntun hawnhekk" hsibt jien.

The Gozitan Acting Prim Minister

Maltastar reported that:
"In a move that smacks of political abuse of power, Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono who was Acting Prime Minister on Thursday, when Lawrence Gonzi was away, shockingly approved the expropriation of a strip of land in Nadur, Gozo, right in front of her own driver’s and relatives’ houses."
Need I comment further?
NO. Yet, I can proudly say again: "Not guilty" so should be the 300 Gozitan AD voters.