Page Status: Pending

Charles B. Spiteri

Aktar minn seklu qabel ma Elon Musk ħaseb li jagħmel il-Hyperloop, fl-Amerika diġà kien hemm sistema ta’ tubi pnewmatici rivoluzzjonarji, li fihom iġorru l-posta. Din kienet twassal il-posta f’kapsuli madwar il-Belt ta’ New York – minn ftit piedi taħt l-art.

Inawgurata fl-1897, is-sistema ‘sparat’ kważi 100,000 ittra kuljum madwar il-metropoli b’ħeffa ta’ 35 mil fis-siegħa – u ftit jiem ilu, l-inventur biljunarju Musk stqarr li s-super tube li jivvjaġġa bi 800 mil fis-siegħa  minn Los Angeles sa San Francisco, hu dixxendent dirett tas-sistema pnewmatika tal-posta.

Madankollu, bix-xewqa li jaraw min se jkun l-ewwel bniedem li juża s-sistema ta’ trasport b’ħeffa enormi,  li għad trid issir, sar magħruf li meta tħaddmu għall-ewwel darba t-tubi tal-posta fi New York, l-ewwel ‘passiġġier’ kien qattus iswed.

Dak iż-żmien kienet sistema avangardista li minn taħt l-art u fi żmien qasir titwassal il-posta minn Brooklyn għal Harlem għal Times Square u l-Grand Central Terminal. U meta nbniet, fis-snin 1890, is-sistema b’arja ppressata, swiet $4 miljun. Iżda minkejja li dak iż-żmien kien wasal tmiem is-seklu, is-sistema kienet effettiva mmens, hekk li rapport tal-Kungress, tal-1914 jirrakkonta kif  f’jum partikulari ta’ xitwa qalila, ‘mit-toroq ta’ New York ħadd ma seta’ jgħaddi, madankollu kulħadd irċieva l-ittri tiegħu fil-ħin!’

Dawn is-sistemi tant kisbu suċċess fl-ewwel għaxar snin, li Charles Emory Smith, Postmaster General  tal-Istati Uniti kien qal lill-Brooklyn Eagle fl-1900, li fil-futur, kull dar fil-pajjiż tkun imqabbda mat-tubi pnewmatiċi u eventwalment, jitqabbdu wkoll l-Ewropa u l-Amerika. L-ewwel posta pnewmatika fi New York intbagħtet fis-7 ta’ Ottubru tal-1897, mill-ħaddiem tal-posta Howard Wallace Connelly.

Fl-awtobijografija tiegħu, Connelly jiddeskrivi kif l-uffiċjali tal-posta qagħdu skantati jistennew it-tubi jaslu. Jikteb kif l-ewwel tubu li wasal u nfetaħ, ħoloq tbissima għax fih kien hemm ħawħa artifiċjali. Minuta wara wasal it-tieni tubu pnewmatiku b’suċċess. Minnu ħareġ qattus iswed li ntbagħat minn Manhattan sa Brooklyn.

Fuq l-istess sistema, Elon Musk qed jippjana l-hyperloop  tiegħu minn LA sa San Francisco. Hu beħsiebu jibni tubu għall-passiġġieri, li jidħol f’ieħor airtight u jiġi sparat għad-destinazzjoni tiegħu. Musk jemmen li permezz tal-ivvjaġġar li għandu f’moħħu, il-passiġġieri jaslu minn Los Angeles sa San Francisco fi 30 minuta. Anki l-karozzi jistgħu jintbagħtu bl-istess sistema. Din l-idea għandha tieħu bejn seba’ u għaxar snin biex tinbena u għaliha qed jaħseb li jonfoq erba’ biljun lira.

L-intraprenditur ħoloq il-fortuna tiegħu bis-sistema tal-ħlas Pay Pal fuq l-internet. Imbagħad qaleb għall-ħiliet tiegħu li jiżviluppa s-sistema tar-rocket Falcon għan-Nasa u l-karozza elettrika Tesla.

Jack Prentice operated an art and antique business from a small shop in the Sloan Street area of London. He bought his articles from auctioneers, car boot sales, heirs who wanted to clear inherited properties and from various other sources as they came long. 

He had a well-stocked shop, bursting at the seams. But he sold many of his antiques – mostly paintings, silver objects, ornamental pieces, small items of furniture, statues – to clients who regularly called at his shop to enquire what’s available. His daughter Jenny often assisted him or replaced him when he, for some reason or other, was not able to be present. But she was not much interested in the business. At the age of 25 she married and left to live in the suburbs. Jack, a widower, was left to carry on the business all alone.

When her father died a few years after her marriage, Jenny made arrangements to clear the shop and sell everything. The contents of the shop were snapped up by art and antique enthusiasts and collectors. The sale brought her a considerable sum of money which she invested in a Hair dressing shop. She had separated from her husband and wanted to invest in this shop to provide for her livelihood. She had however retained just one painting. It was a fairly large one depicting a lovely village scene in Cornwall. It was signed by the famous Richard Milton Hayes. She remembered her father telling her that this was an invaluable piece of art worth a fortune. The signature at the bottom of the painting confirmed its priceless value.

As the years rolled by, Jenny’s shop had to close down. It lacked business because neighbours moved on to more refined areas. Also, younger hairdressers with much more modern ideas, opened up in the area. These were more popular. As a result Jenny lost the investment she had originally made in the venture. But even though money was now lacking, she kept hold of the Cornwall painting. She always told her daughter Bella that the painting would one day bring her a fortune. It was, she assured her, her nest egg for the future. She advised her daughter that it should only be sold in case of an emergency, when money was really needed.  

Jenny died when Bella had her 21st birthday. She had planned to marry her boyfriend Alan that same month but had to postpone the wedding for three months in order to get over her mother’s demise. Bella had noted that the worn-out frame of the painting was depreciating its appearance and had intended to change it with a new gold-edged frame to give the painting more effect. But she never did and left the painting with the old frame stored in the basement.As the date of the wedding approached, Bella and Alan agreed to sell the Cornwall painting so that they could buy a cottage outside where they planned to live and raise a family in quieter surrounding than London. She went down to the basement, stared down at the magnificent painting and felt sad at having to part with this heirloom. Reluctantly she brought it upstairs for careful packing and for showing to prospective antique and art dealers. Then she went to a renowned art dealer for valuation and to proceed with the sale of the painting. The dealer looked at it expertly, turning it around to observe it more closely. He told her that he needs to study it thoroughly so that he would be in position to give a proper valuation of the art object. He asked her to call on him in a week’s time after he would have made his studies and consultation with other experts. 

Bella spent an anxious week. She needed the money to start them up on their impending marriage. She did not, at first, want to part with the painting, it being an inheritance from her grandfather. But circumstances forced her hand. Her marriage was more important than anything in the world.  The week passed all too quickly. Bella and Alan called on the art dealer to finalize matters. As soon as he saw them he left his counter, greeted them profusely and asked them to follow him to the inner room. They sat down to discuss the painting. The art dealer run his fingers through his white hair, coughed and then said – “It has been established without doubt that it is not a Richard Milton Hayes painting. The signature is a fake. I’m very sorry to say this but, in the circumstances, the painting is worth only a few pounds”.

Bella and Alan stood open-mouthed. It was the surprise of their lives. Bella was always been made to believe that the painting was worth a fortune. What a disappointment! The dream of the cottage in the country would remain a dream. They would have to settle for an apartment in the city.  The art dealer was not finished. He continued – “But I’m interested in the frame of the painting. It is hand-made in Florence, 16th century, very rare and worth a fortune. I would estimate that it would bring more than a million pounds if put on the art market!” Bella and Alan were stunned. All of a sudden their fortunes had turned from disappointment to exhilaration. What they had thought to be worth a fortune was worth nothing but what they had thought to be worth nothing was worth a fortune!.

Charles B. Spiteri

L-istudentessa Charlotte Duggan qaxxret xagħarha biex ġabret €1,190 b’risq il-kampanja tal-kankru tas-sider. Iżda bl-atteġġjament tagħha qanqlet ir-rabja tal-iskola fejn tattendi f’Basingstoke, Hampshire, li pprojbietha tkompli tattendi fiha. L-iskuża li ġabulha kienet li bl-istil ta’ xagħar li għandha bħalissa, tmur kontra r-regoli tal-iskola.

It-tifla wettqet il-ħsieb tagħha wara li kienet ispirata min-nannitha, li rebħet b’suċċess il-marda terminali li laqtitha, disa’ snin ilu.

Meta marret l-iskola, ħasbet li se tkun imfaħħra għall-att karitatevoli li wettqet, iżda minflok, sfat umiljata u mkeċċija mill-iskola għal jumejn. Hi lanqas tħalliet fil-kumpanija ta’ ħbiebha tal-klassi waqt il-kolazzjon u fil-ħinijiet ta’ bla tagħlim. Kulma kienet permessa kien li tmur sal-canteen weħidha u lura.

Charlotte qaxxret xagħarha fil-bidu ta’ Awwissu, bil-ħsieb li jilħaq jitlgħalha, u biex ma titlobx il-permess tal-iskola. L-atteġġjament tal-iskola rrabja wkoll lil Kerry, omm Charlotte, li qatt ma stenniet li flok ma bintha tkun infaħħra għal dak li għamlet b’għajnuna għal ħaddieħor, spiċċat iżolata u pprojbita mit-tagħlim. Hi staqsiet jekk it-tagħlim tal-iskola kellux ikun biss dak akkademiku.

Charles B. Spiteri

Stħarriġ li għadu kif sar, juri li t-tfal li jqattgħu ġranet sħaħ f’ċentri tal-kura ma’ nies li jieħdu ħsiebhom, aktar ibatu minn problemi ta’ mġiba, fosthom imqarbezza żejda (iperattività).

Esperti mill-Università ta’ Oxford bdew jistudjaw it-tipi differenti ta’ influwenza fil-kura tat-tfal, fid-dawl taż-żieda drammatika fin-numru ta’ ommijiet li qed joħorġu jaħdmu, fl-aħħar snin.

Huma sabu li l-aħjar u l-aktar influwenzi b’saħħithom u konsistenti fuq l-imġiba tat-tfal ġew mill-ambjent tad-dar u mill-kura mogħtija mill-ommijiet.

Iżda huma sabu xejriet differenti għat-tfal mogħtija kura min-nies oħra barra mid-dar. Irrappurtaw li meta t-tfal iqattgħu perijodi twal fiċ-ċentri għalihom ta’ matul il-jum, jibda jkollhom numru ta’ problemi. L-istudju jġib il-firma tal-Professur Alan Stein, mid-Dipartiment tal-Psikjatrija tat-Tfal u Adolexxenti.

L-istudju, li kien pubblikat fil-magazin Child:  Care, Health and Development, stħarreġ 991 familja li bagħtu lit-tfal tagħhom f’kura barranija sa minn meta kellhom tliet xhur. L-ommijiet kienu lkoll fuq is-16-il sena meta welldu, bl-età medja tkun ta’ 30 sena.

Tfal oħra bi problemi fl-imġiba tagħhom kienu dawk li jinsabu f’familji fi stat soċjo demografiku baxx; kura nieqsa min-naħa tal-omm u għejja mill-ġenituri.

Charmaine Tanti M.A.

Meta qorob Jum l-Omm, il-papa` beda jiftiehem ma’ Luca u Elise fejn se jieħdu lill-mama`. Elise xtaqet tagħtiha rigal sabiħ, iżda l-ħruġ riedet tħallih f’idejn il-papa`. Luca kien bil-kontra għax lanqas laħaq fetaħ ħalqu l-papa`, li ma bediex jgħajjat li ried jieħu lill-mama` r-ristorant. Il-papa` xengel rasu, imma ħaseb li aħjar ma jgħidlux le għax idendel il-geddum.

Dakinhar ta’ Jum l-Omm, il-papa` qal lill-mama` biex ma tlesti xejn għall-ikel għax kienu ħerġin. Hija tefgħet fuqha t-tibdila tal-Ħadd, flimkien ma’ par imsielet kbar u kullana pariġġ. Xagħarha ħallietu mniżżel u rranġatu bil-gel. Meta l-papa` raha mbiddla daqshekk, ħassu tassew kburi biha daqslikieku kien ħiereġ magħha għall-ewwel darba. Luca u Elise wkoll ferħu ħafna bid-dehra eleganti tal-mama` u tawha bewsa fuq ħaddejha.

Kif poġġew fuq il-mejda tar-ristorant, il-mama` sabet warda ħamra mgeżwra f’karta bajda u pulita, u refgħetha fil-basket biex toħodha magħha d-dar. Il-papa` ordna flixkun inbid ta’ barra u ħa gost iċekċek it-tazza tiegħu ma’ tal-mama`. Elise u Luca kienu moħħhom biss f’żaqqhom u telqu jiġru għal fuq l-istands tal-ikel hekk kif beda l-buffet. Luca beda jimla kull platt daqsiex bl-għaġin, laħam u ħut. Il-mama` wissietu biex ma jtaqqalx il-platti wisq, u kellha raġun għax wara ftit waqqa’ kollox fl-art. Kif rat dik l-istraġi, qabdet tgħajjat miegħu, u nkisret xħin kulħadd beda jħares lejhom. Imbagħad ħaditu lura fuq il-mejda, u qaltlu biex iġib ruħu sew quddiem in-nies. Iżda Luca ma kellux kwiet, u beda jteftef fil-pakkett żgħir tal-butir li kien hemm maġenb il-qoffa tal-ħobż.

Qabad is-sikkina mill-ġenb, ċappasha bil-butir, u mar biha ħdejn il-mama`,  li kienet medhija tiekol. Kieku l-papa` ma kienx pront tajjarhielu minn idu, kien idellkilha xagħarha bil-butir. Luca nfaqa’ jibki u lill-mama` telgħulha n-nervi. Talbet lill-papa` biex imorru lura d-dar, iżda hu ma kellimha xejn. Elise marret ħdejn ħuha u aljenatu bil-logħob. Ma damx ma waqaf mill-biki u kulħadd kompla jiekol bil-kwiet.

Fi tmiem l-ikla, il-papa` u t-tfal taw ir-rigal ta’ Jum l-Omm lill-mama`. Ma setgħetx temmen lil għajnejha meta mill-kaxxa mkebba ħarġet ċurkett tad-djamanti, li tant kienet ilha tixtieq. Tgħidx kemm ħadet gost xħin libsitu f’subgħaha, u għannqet magħha lill-papa` u lit-tfal, it-tliet ġojjelli tagħha.

Għal ħafna u ħafna snin din il-barbuna (halibut) taf ħarbet minn kull theddida għal ħajjitha… iżda fl-aħħar, inqabdet ukoll… b’qasba u sunnara!

Minn kif tidher, din il-ħuta ġganteska, li jingħad li għandha 150 sena, spiċċat inqabdet lejn il-kosta tan-Norveġja. Metattellgħet mill-baħar, instab li kienet tiżen 194 kilo.

Kien rappurtat li din il-ħuta ġganteska tiżen 20 darba l-medja tal-piż tal-ispeċi tagħha u minnha jistgħu jieklu aktar minn 500 persuna.

Dean Roberts, is-sajjied li qabad il-ħuta, iddeskrivieha bħala ‘mostru’.

Aktar tard bagħatha f’Hull, Yorkshire, fejn intiżnet biex bejn wieħed u ieħor jistabbilixxu l-età tagħha. Hu magħruf li għal kull sena, ħuta ta’ din il-kwalità tkun tiżen kilo, u mingħajr ras, wiżnet 169 kilogramm. B’hekk kien stabbilit li din il-barbuna avventuruża, u li dejjem beżgħet għal ħajjitha, għandha madwar 150 sena!

Roberts kellu diversi talbiet minn ristoranti f’Londra biex ibigħhielhom, peress li hi meqjusa bħala ħuta mfittxija. Għaliha ġa kien offrut is-somma sabiħa ta’ €3,567.

Minkejja l-kobor enormi tal-barbuna, intqal li mhix l-ikbar waħda li nqabdet s’issa. F’Lulju, il-Ġermaniż Marco Liebenow qabad waħda ta’ madwar 232 kilo. Kien ħa siegħa u nofs biex tella’ l-ħuta ta’ disa’ piedi f’wiċċ il-baħar u sab li kienet kbira wisq biex itellagħha fid-dgħajsa ċkejkna li kellu.

Il-qabda ta’ qabilha, li wkoll kienet tqieset bħala l-akbar waħda ta’ barbuna, inqabdet fl-2010 mis-sajjied veteran Ġermaniż Günther Hansel, ta’ 70 sena. Hi kienet tiżen 220 kg u nbiegħet għall-prezz ta’ €2,498.

Darba fost l-oħrajn, il-mamà marret il-Belt biex tixtri rigal għal għeluq snin in-nannu Ġużi. Luca u Elise qamu kmieni u marru magħha. Kif waslu, xammew riħa tfuħ ta’ mqaret. Il-mamà xtratilhom borża mqaret sħan u bnini, li niżlulhom għasel. Wara, komplew mexjin sakemm waslu quddiem il-ħanut tal-kotba. Malli daħlu, sabu quddiemhom kull xkaffa daqsiex mimlija bil-kotba ta’ kull daqs u għamla. Il-mamà staqsiet lil sid il-ħanut biex juriha l-kotba tal-istorja. Hija nfixlet bl-għadd kbir ta’ kotba li rat quddiem għajnejha, u riedet tiflihom sew qabel tagħmel l-għażla tagħha. 

Sadanittant, Elise u Luca qagħdu jduru mal-ħanut u jaraw xi kotba, iżda malajr bdew jixbgħu. F’daqqa waħda, lemħu bieb ftit `il bogħod mill-aħħar xkaffa. Ġrew lejh, u ma damux wisq jilagħbu mal-pum għax il-bieb infetaħ beraħ. Huma daħlu jiġru f’kamra mudlama tal-imbarazz u għalqu l-bieb minnufih ma jmurx jarahom xi ħadd. Bdew jidħku kemm jifilħu għax kienu ħarbulha lill-mamà, li kienet għadha mgħaddsa fil-kotba, u ttella’ u tniżżel liema wieħed se tixtri.

Meta sa fl-aħħar, il-mamà kienet għażlet il-ktieb, hija nqalgħet minn mal-ixkaffa. Bdiet tfittex lil Luca u lil Elise ma’ kullimkien, iżda ma sabithomx. Tatha rasha, u sid il-ħanut mar biex jgħinha. Dar ma’ kull rokna, imma t-tfal ma kienu jidhru mkien. Huwa beda jħokk rasu u kieku dak il-ħin kont taqtgħalha rasha, lill-mamà ma kinitx toħorġilha qatra demm. Elise u Luca kienu qegħdin jisimgħu kollox minn wara l-bieb, iżda riedu jibqgħu moħbijin hemm ġew għal ftit ħin ieħor.

Wara ftit, sid il-ħanut deherlu li sema’ xi ħsejjes, u qalbu għamlet tikk. Mar jiftaħ il-bieb tal-kamra, u kien għoddu nħasad hekk kif ra lil Luca u lil Elise ma’ wiċċu. Huma ħarġu jiġru `l barra, u l-mamà tathom ħasla papali talli kienu tawha qatgħa bla ħsieb. Anki sid il-ħanut wissiehom biex jobdu u ma jinkwetawx lill-mamà. It-tfal baqgħu ċċassati lejh u ma tkellmu xejn. Il-mamà ntebħet li kienu qegħdin jistħu wara t-twiddiba li qalgħu. Għalhekk hija qaltilhom biex jagħżlu ktieb sabiħ kull wieħed. Dakinhar nefqet flus aktar milli stenniet, imma aħjar għamlet hekk ħalli Elise u Luca jintilfu jaqraw minflok jagħmlu xi praspura oħra.

Dr. Wendy Nicholls was a cardiac specialist at Royal Brompton Hospital in London. She was a meticulous doctor and was held in high esteem by the directors of the hospital. She was, in fact, considered as one of the best heart surgeons in the city. She also gave lectures and demonstrations to doctors and nurses at the hospital school on cardiopulmonary resuscitation, whether by the mouth to mouth method on dummies or by the more effective chest compression in order to make the heart beat again. Indeed Dr Nicholls was an expert in her field and was frequently consulted by other hospitals on the subject. 

She was also pregnant. At the age of 35 she was delighted that finally she was to become a mother. Her husband, also a specialist at the same hospital, had told her to slow down in her work schedule. For this reason she had reduced her hours of work at the hospital but, in loyalty to her patients, she felt that she could not stay completely away. The hospital and the patients were grateful to her.

Dr. Nicholls travelled daily to and from the hospital by bus, due to the fact she lived only half an hour away from the hospital. It was more practical and convenient to use the buses than to take out her car from the garage and join the frustrating long line of traffic every day. Pregnancy or no pregnancy, she was a dedicated surgeon. Heart problems were her forte. She had studied and researched extensively on the subject. Her success rate at the hospital was phenomenal. Her name gave an image to Royal Brompton hospital that was the envy of other hospitals. 

One fine day, she was on the bus going to the hospital. The bus was full and she had to stand on her feet and hold on to the overhead strap during the journey. She did not normally mind. Both seats near her were occupied by noisy foul-mouthed youths who, even though noticing her condition, did not offer her their seat. On the contrary, they made nasty references to her condition which she ignored. An elderly couple in front of them was the butt of some of their jokes too. They laughed and joked, were rude and made a nuisance of themselves throughout the journey annoying everybody in the bus. 

The bus moved slowly on. All of a sudden, one of the noisy youths fell off his seat clutching his chest in pain. It was, obviously she thought, a heart attack. One of his friends, realizing that the situation was grave, was shouting – “A doctor, somebody get a doctor urgent. We need a doctor!”

Dr. Wendy Nicholls, still holding on to the overhead strap, looked down unmoved on the scene. When the bus stopped, she ignored the commotion around her, got out and walked calmly the remaining few yards to the hospital. It was, for her,  just another day.    

Għal dawk kollha li tinteressahom l-Istorja ta’ Malta, din is-sena hija waħda sinifikattiva ħafna, peress li qed jiġi kkommemorat l-450 anniversarju mill-Assedju l-Kbir li seħħ fil-gżejjer tagħna fl-1565. Diversi kotba, lekċers, blogs, u attivitajiet relatati ma’ din it-tema, qegħdin ikomplu jqanqlu l-entużjażmu sabiex wieħed isir jaf aktar dwar din il-battalja qalila, fosthom għaliex seħħet, kif żvolġiet, min ħa sehem, x’kienu l-istrateġiji użati, u kif finalment il-Kavallieri ta’ San Ġwann u l-Maltin ħarġu rebbieħa akkost id-diffikultajiet kollha.

Sabiex jirrakkuntaw dawn il-fatti, nibtu wkoll numru ta’ paġni fuq Facebook u permezz tagħhom, wieħed jista’ jara biċ-ċar li mhumiex il-Maltin biss li qed jinvolvu ruħhom f’din il-kommemorazzjoni, imma anki għadd ta’ individwi minn madwar id-dinja kollha. B’hekk, din il-ġrajja tal-Assedju, qed isservi wkoll biex tiġbed l-attenzjoni tal-barranin lejn il-gżejjer tagħna u possibbilment, uħud minnhom jafu jitħajru jżuruna.

Mudell li juri l-attakk fuq l-isperun tal-Isla

Waħda minn dawn il-paġni tal-Facebook hija ‘The assault on the Spur, Isla, 15th July 1565’ li permezz ta’ bosta ritratti, qed turi u tispjega pass pass, it-tnissil u l-kostruzzjoni ta’ diorama, jew mudell, tal-isperun tal-Isla. Għall-ewwel, segwejt dan il-grupp permezz tar-ritratti li kien qed itella’. Iżda eventwalment, tant sibt ix-xogħol li kien qed jitwettaq intriganti, li deherli li kien jixraq li mmur nagħtih titwila ħalli narah b’għajnejja.

“Huma ħafna dawk li qed juru x-xewqa li jiġu jaraw dan il-mudell,” stqarr Alex Schembri, President ta’ Society for Scale Modellers – IPMS Malta. “Napprezzaw ferm li l-pubbliku qiegħed isegwi x-xogħol tagħna b’tant ħeġġa u qed nagħmlu minn kollox biex sal-15 ta’ Lulju, inkunu nistgħu nvarawh ftit billi nippreżentaw diversi ritratti tiegħu.”

Society for Scale Modellers – IPMS Malta

Society for Scale Modellers ġiet imwaqqfa f’Jannar tal-1981. L-għan prinċipali ta’ dan il-klabb dejjem kien li jgħolli l-livell tal-iscale modelling f’pajjiżna sabiex jikkompara ma’ dak internazzjonali. Infatti l-klabb huwa affiljat mal-International Plastic Modellers Society li għandha rappreżentanti tagħha f’diversi pajjiżi madwar id-dinja.

L-iscale modelling jieħdok sa fejn trid

“Għalkemm dan il-qasam ġeneralment jitqies bħala passatemp, aħna xorta waħda nagħtuh attenzjoni kbira billi naraw li x-xogħol isir bi professjonalità. Imma fir-realtà, l-iscale modelling jieħdok sa fejn trid u infatti fost il-membri, għandna numru minnhom li huma esperti tassew, tant li rebħu diversi kompetizzjonijiet barra minn Malta. Oħrajn saru jipproduċu l-prodotti tagħhom u jbigħuhom.”

Kull sena, din is-Soċjetà torganiżża esebizzjoni bix-xogħlijiet li jkunu saru mill-membri tagħha u f’dak iż-żmien, ikun hemm numru ta’ nies li jitħajru jingħaqdu magħha.

“Idealment l-età tal-membri tagħna tibda minn 17-il sena sabiex wieħed jilħaq jitrawwem f’dan il-qasam. Niltaqgħu darba f’ġimgħa ħalli nuru x-xogħlijiet li qed nagħmlu u flimkien niddiskutu x’jista’ jsir aħjar. Hawnhekk kulħadd ikollu l-preferenzi tiegħu: min jaħdem il-mudelli tal-ajruplani, min il-figuri, min il-karozzi, oħrajn inġenji tal-baħar eċċ. U għalhekk, wieħed jgħin u jgħallem lill-ieħor sabiex il-mudell tiegħu jkun aktar perfett u komplet.”

Proġett li ġabar flimkien lill-membri kollha

Fil-fatt, matul dawn l-aħħar xahrejn, prattikament il-membri kollha qegħdin jagħtu daqqa t’id biex jissawwar dan il-mudell imdaqqas tal-isperun tal-Isla.

L-għażla ta’ din it-tema oriġinat minn Ivan Cocker, wieħed mill-membri.

“Dehrilna li peress li dis-sena qed nikkommemoraw l-450 anniversarju mill-Assedju l-Kbir, kien jixraq li niddedikaw xi biċċa xogħol għalih. Wara li ddiskutejt din l-idea ma’ sħabi u mal-Kuraturi ta’ Heritage Malta, Emmanuel Magro Conti u Liam Gauci, l-għażla tagħna waqgħet fuq l-isperun tal-Isla minħabba li fuq dan il-post ta’ Don Francisco de Sanoguera kien hemm il-konċentrament tal-attakk u anki peress li dan il-lwog kien l-uniku wieħed waqt dan l-assedju li ġie attakkat kemm mill-art u kif ukoll mill-baħar,” spjegali Ivan.

Ir-riċerka involuta biex isir dan il-mudell

Hekk kif intgħażel il-lwog li kienu se joħolqu l-mudell tiegħu, bdiet riċerka sfiqa ħalli tinkiseb kemm jista’ jkun informazzjoni, l-aktar minħabba li llum ftit li xejn fadal minn dan l-isperun.

“Irreferejna ma’ għadd ta’ kotba, mapep, mużewijiet, u pitturi sabiex inkunu nistgħu noħolqu mudell kemm jista’ jkun viċin għal dak li kien jeżisti tassew f’dak il-perjodu. Ngħidu aħna biex bdejna nibnu l-isperun, imxejna mal-ktieb ta’ Balbi, li kien suldat li ħa sehem f’dan l-assedju. Rajna wkoll pjanti ta’ llum tal-Isla peress li sirna nafu li l-pedament tal-isperun għadu hemm. Fittixna wkoll kotba tal-istorja u tal-fortifikazzjonijiet li jsegwu dak li seħħ wara l-assedju ħalli b’hekk nagħrfu x’kienu dawk ix-xogħlijiet li saru wara, kemm mill-Kavallieri nfushom u kif ukoll mill-Imperu Ingliż.”

Mudell maħdum fuq skala 1:72

Huma użaw ukoll il-pjanti biex jiffurmaw l-iskala tal-mudell 1:72 ħalli b’hekk janalizzaw ukoll sa fejn se jkopri.

“Ma stajniex nagħmlu l-Isla kollha, naturalment. Għalhekk iffukajna fuq l-isperun, u permezz tal-pjanti, ħriġna bl-iskala. Ħdimna b’reqqa kbira imma mbagħad kien hemm mument fejn kellna nagħlqu għajnejna. Dan seħħ pereżempju fil-każ tal-mitħna li fir-realtà kienet tinsab aktar lura minn fejn tidher fil-mudell. Madanakollu, peress li l-imtieħen lagħbu parti importanti f’din il-battalja, anki peress li biswithom, l-Ordni kellha l-kanuni, ma kienx jagħmel sens li nħalluha barra,” infurmani Oliver Mifsud hekk kif beda jurini kif qed jinħadem dan il-mudell.

Sabiex il-mudell ma jkunx tqil wisq, il-pedamenti tiegħu tfasslu mill-ġablo u mbagħad fuqu beda l-kisi ta’ materjal ieħor ħalli jiġu ffurmati l-art u l-fortifikazzjoni. Imbagħad, biex il-lewn ta’ dawn jiġi jixbah lill-ġebla tal-franka Maltija, ġie xkatlat il-ġebel fil-wiċċ, megħjun ukoll miż-żebgħa ħalli joqrob aktar lejn ir-realtà.

Kull parti tal-mudell għandha l-istorja tagħha

Dawruni ftit mal-mudell biex inkun nista’ nifli d-dettalji li fih. Intbaħt li skont minn fejn tħares lejn dan il-mudell, tkun tista’ ssegwi parti mill-ġrajja ta’ dak li seħħ f’dan il-post waqt l-assedju.

“Biex inkunu aktar preċiżi, segwejna wkoll mill-qrib kif saru l-attakki fuq dan l-isperun, ħalli b’hekk nagħrfu aħjar fejn saru l-ħsarat u t-tifrik, fejn tpoġġa ċertu lqugħ għad-difiża, fejn kien hemm il-katina biex iżżomm ix-xwieni tal-għadu milli jidħlu, u fejn il-Gran Mastru Jean de la Valette ordna biex isir l-ostaklu fil-baħar li kellu jtellef lit-Torok milli jersqu bid-dgħajjes tagħhom,” qalli Ivan.

Minkejja t-tiftix u r-riċerka, xorta jibqgħu numru ta’ mistoqsijiet dwar uħud minn dawn li semmejt peress li issa għadda ħafna żmien u wieħed ikollu joqgħod biss fuq dak li jirnexxilu jsib.

Skoperti fatti kurjużi waqt il-ħidma ta’ dan il-mudell

“L-ostaklu fil-baħar huwa eżempju minnhom,” fissirli Ivan. “Biex fassalnieh, qgħadna ħafna fuq id-dettalji ta’ Balbi. Imma aħna u naħdmuh, ma stajniex nifhmu l-għala dan l-ostaklu ma sarx biex ikopri t-tul kollu tal-art imma tħalliet parti mikxufa minn fejn wieħed seta’ jidħol.”

“Intant, meta bqajna niflu dan id-dettall, sibna li fejn inbena l-ostaklu, il-baħar kien aktar baxx, filwaqt li fil-parti l-miftuħa, il-baħar kien fond. Għalhekk, komplejna deħlin nistħarrġu l-istorja u ma domniex ma skoprejna li għall-attakk tal-15 ta’ Lulju 1565 fuq dan l-isperun tal-Isla, il-Kmandanti Ottomani kienu bagħtu suldati li ma jafux jgħumu ħalli b’hekk ma jkunux jistgħu jirtiraw billi jgħumu lura.”

Uħud mill-membri li nġabru ħdejna ammettew illi qabel bdew jaħdmu fuq dan il-mudell, ftit li xejn kienu jafu dwar din il-parti tal-istorja ta’ Malta. Imma issa kien xort’oħra hekk kif bdew jinteressaw ruħhom dejjem aktar u l-għatx għall-informazzjoni kulma jmur dejjem jikber.

Parti mill-mudell tal-mitħna maħdum minn disinjatur industrijali Amerikan

Biċċa xogħol oħra li qanqlet riċerka kienet il-mitħna.

“Ma stajniex noqogħdu biss fuq l-affreski ta’ D’Aleccio peress li fix-xogħlijiet tiegħu, dawn l-imtieħen ivarjaw. Jidher ċar li f’dan il-każ, l-artist uża l-immaġinazzjoni tiegħu u għalhekk aħna ridna nsibu x-xbieha reali tagħhom,” fissirli Alex.

“Inxtħetna nirriċerkaw dan is-suġġett u sibna li l-imtieħen tar-riħ ma kinux inbidlu wisq matul is-snin. Dorna anki diversi eżempji ta’ mtieħen li jinsabu hawn Malta kif ukoll f’xi pajjiżi tal-Mediterran, sakemm finalment, ħriġna b’disinn li jqarreb kemm jista’ lejn l-oriġinal.”

Fatt li ta’ min isemmi huwa illi meta dan il-grupp wasal biex jaħdem din il-mitħna, il-parti ta’ fuq, li hija l-aktar diffikultuża, spiċċat saret minn sors li ma kinux qed jistennew.

“Kif taf inti, huma ħafna dawk li qed isegwu x-xogħol tagħna permezz tal-Facebook. Fosthom hemm Pete Hamann, disinjatur industrijali Amerikan, li tant apprezza dan il-proġett, li offra li jagħtina daqqa t’id. Hekk kif ġietna x-xoqqa f’moxtha, issuġġerejna li jaħdmilna l-parti ta’ fuq ta’ din il-mitħna li kienet tinsab fuq l-għolja tal-Isla u fi ftit taż-żmien, hu pprovdiena bil-mudell 3D li ħadem apposta għalina.”

Numru kbir ta’ figuri jagħtu l-ħajja lill-mudell

Dettall ieħor li jien apprezzajt ferm kien in-numru kbir ta’ figuri li kienu qed ikomplu jagħtu l-ħajja lil dan il-mudell. Skoprejt li kien hemm madwar 400 figura mqassma bejn Kavallieri u Ottomani.

“Dawk xtrajniehom bħala kits u issa qed niżbgħuhom skont il-perjodu,” wrieni Alex hekk kif tani f’idejja numru minnhom.

Id-dettall li kien fihom kien straordinarju u bla dubju maħdum b’ħila u b’paċenzja kbira.

Mudell li jgħinek tara l-Istorja b’għajnejk

Bħala waħda minn dawk li qed insegwi ġurnata b’ġurnata l-ġrajja tal-Assedju l-Kbir, nistqarr li apprezzajt ferm il-possibbiltà li nara b’għajnejja dan il-mudell u nifli d-dettalji li fih, hekk kif permezz tiegħu, stajt nifhem aħjar dak li kont qed naqra dwaru.

“Meta jitlesta dan il-mudell, nixtiequ ħafna nagħtuh bħala donazzjoni lil Heritage Malta sabiex b’hekk huwa jkun jista’ jservi bħala għodda edukattiva kemm għall-istudenti kif ukoll għall-pubbliku li jżuru. Qed nittamaw li forsi dan il-mudell ikun jista’ jiġi nvolut ukoll fl-esebizzjoni internazzjonali li Heritage Malta se tkun qed torganizza fil-Palazz tal-Gran Mastru l-Belt bejn l-4 ta’ Settembru u s-6 ta’ Diċembru 2015.”

Infatti mill-ġimgħa d-dieħla, fil-blog tal-Assedju l-Kbir ta’ Heritage Malta, www.heritagemalta.org/1565, wieħed se jkun jista’ jibda jiskopri uħud mill-oġġetti li se jkunu qed jiġu esebiti f’din l-esebizzjoni, li hi maħsuba li se tkun waħda mill-avvenimenti l-aktar importanti ta’ din is-sena relatati mal-ġrajja tal-Assedju tal-1565.

Aktar tagħrif dwar Society for Scale Modellers – IPMS Malta jista’ jinkiseb minn SSM House, Sulphur Lane, Ħamrun, inkella permezz tas-sit www.ipmsmalta.com u l-email [email protected], jew permezz tal-Facebook.

(Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fis-sensiela MINN RITRATT (17 il-Parti) fit-Torċa tat-12 ta’ Lulju 2015)

The first time he had seen her she was standing outside the shop in the piazza. What a girl! An hour-glass figure, long golden hair and an inviting smile on her smooth face. 

Paul had gone to the piazza on several other occasions if only to feast his eyes on her. Unfortunately, she was not always there. When he saw her, he felt weak at the knees. It did not take long for him to realize that he wanted her to be his own.

He saw her again sometime later. She was again outside the shop watching the people pass by. He noticed that, on that particular occasion, she had a pigeon sitting on her head but her expression did not change. How beautiful she was! What a girl! 

At 25 years of age, he had not yet met the girl of his dreams. ‘Truth be told’, some colleagues had commented sarcastically – ‘the Lord must have been feeling particularly ungenerous on the day Paul entered this world’. 

However he did take one or two of his office girl colleagues out to dinner or to the picture or to a disco. But there it stopped. The necessary fatal attraction was not there. He was no longer interested. 

But now he was smitten. He felt to be in love at first sight. He had always thought that his girl, when he comes to make the choice, would look like her – the model girl of his dreams. 

His elderly mother used to chide him that it was about time he had a steady girl, got married and settled down. But he always replied that he was in no hurry to tie the knot, that there was still time for marriage and, with a smile on his face, that he’ll still make her a granny one day. 

When they were having tea together one day, she told him how she had met his father and other events from her early life. “You live too much in the past Mum. You can’t bear to leave it all behind,” he replied. 

His mother was hurt by these words. “When you get to my age son, you spend an awful lot of time sitting in a chair just thinking – thinking about the past, all the things you used to do and all the things you wished you could have done but never got round to doing”. 

But back to the girl in the piazza. He had decided at last to approach her and, if things got right, to bring her home to meet his mother. He had decided to make that girl his own. 

There’s no doubt that the neighbours, but more particularly the men, would be envious when they see her. That would suit him fine. 

His decision already made, he dressed properly, put the special after-shave on his face, combed his hair and with a stride that betrayed his eagerness, made for the piazza. He entered the flower and garden shop, sought the elderly owner and anxiously asked him. – “What is the price of that garden statue of the girl outside the shop please?”