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Evans was his name. Peter John Evans. He woke up one fresh and healthy morning and decided to end his life. It is true that sentimentalism and emotion were part of his character but today they had no room in his decision. In fact Peter was today calm and reserved. Those who saw him that Monday morning would not have guessed that this was his last living day and that he was indeed busily preparing for his demise.   

It was a very hot day in June as the scorching sun laid its canopy over the city. Through the open window of his nice apartment room he could scent the sweet perfume of dahlias. He got up and looked over the window. Children were playing and laughing on their way to school; they were like little creatures living in an earthly paradise; they had parents to look after them and give them the wonderful gift of love; they were therefore justified in being happy and carefree.

The clock on the wall ticked the hour. The day was already in full swing in Ransville; the children were now at school; the workers at the factories; the housewives on their chores and the busy birds that regularly greeted the morning, had stopped their chatter. 

It does not really matter what time of day it was; what other people were doing with themselves; it was his last day and he felt gay about it. No more bored sittings behind a desk studying endless papers in the office of the ‘Merchant Marine Co. Ltd.’; no more waiting for the slow-moving minute hand to pass away the time; no more loneliness.  

Peter Evans had no friends to rely upon. His parents were long dead and his remaining relatives were settled away from his city. In any case, they hardly ever contacted him. Through all his life, Peter thought, he had seen little of man’s kindness and of human brotherhood. 

Nobody ever made friends with him; nobody ever treated him like a man; nobody ever noticed him. He was completely lost in this world. Other human beings were not interested in his friendship or his love. His life was a colourless episode of a man striving for his decent happy place in this tireless and selfish world. There was a time when he was temporarily happy but that was some twelve years ago when he was still a student at Christ’s College in nearby Portland. But even then, he wasn’t completely happy either; he missed the comforting love and affection of his parents and he often envied his other classmates. 

Why had they to die in his childhood and leave him an infant to be cared by a stranger? If only it was not so, he wouldn’t be thinking such thoughts today; his life might have been worthwhile then and his actions appreciated by somebody. There was not even a girl. Girls did not particularly fall for sullen men with blue eyes hidden shyly behind thick glasses. And also, they don’t usually go for men with a salary of one hundred pounds a month. Yes, he had to agree with them, he did not particularly like himself either. 

Suddenly he felt happy and free from life’s insistent demands on him, free from the everyday commitments and pressures. He stretched himself up and yawned, then he continued planning his last day very carefully. 

Peter Evans had two hundred pounds in the bank which he would withdraw early this morning. He would buy himself a nice elegant suit and dress himself up as he had never done before. Then, in the evening, he would go to the best restaurant in town and have a good tasty meal. He would order roasted turkey decorated with savours and sauce, then go round the menu again and order some delicious dessert. He would close the celebration with red vintage wine and then a tot of fine French cognac. No more ham sandwiches at cheap second rate snack bars; no more stale teas and coffees as he broods his life’s misfortunes; no more work with the stress that deadlines bring with them; no more waiting for the weekends that held no meaning and were as monotonous and as dull as the days behind the desk. 

What was he waiting for? He could go out now and demand a room at the Impressive Ritz hotel. He dressed himself up and walked his way out. The first thing to be done was to draw the money from the Bank. He hailed a taxi and went there, collected the money and directed the driver to the hotel. There he demanded one of the best rooms on the top floor. The most comfortable commodities were now at his disposal and he intended to use them as best he could. He took a nice warm bath and then aired himself in front of the open window looking over Ransville’s main park. 

He walked around the magnificent room and laughed out loudly and heartily. Peter Evans had everything he had ever dreamed about, soft covered chairs, comfortable well-laid bed, a push button which would bring servants running to his needs, snacks and drinks were his at any time from the frigo bar. He had never had it so good nor dreamed that it would be so.  Should he sleep for a couple of hours? Should he rest and prepare himself for his end? Of course not! He wouldn’t waste two glorious hours in bed when he could make good time of them. He went over the window once again and looked downwards. Fifteen stories down, traffic was forming up around the park. It was the evening schedule and cars and buses were busy with their trade.  People thronged the surrounding streets, some in a hurry, some walking casually looking at the gay shop windows. The fresh evening air brushed his face and he felt in high spirits. In all his life he had never lived like today. But now he had to die. In about two hours time he would come again to this window, feel the fresh air again and then drop. But that is two hours more and until then he would enjoy himself with all the delight and sweetness of life’s extravaganza. 

Then he went down to the lobby and sat cozily on a chair. He was smoking an expensive cigar and looked interestingly at people passing by. He felt important. This was life indeed, without worries, without problems but a life of comfort and luxury. He wanted to get up and talk to anybody, mingle with the prominent businessmen that patronize the hotel, discuss with them in a friendly manner about life and its implications.  These were strange out-of-place thoughts coming from Peter who was a shy reserved little man who bitterly hated any sort of contact with other human beings let alone discussing with them personal matters. He wondered about the many people he had seen these last few minutes; he wondered if they were all as happy as he felt at the moment. Some few yards to his side, the girl in the foyer kiosk was selling the evening papers and magazines. He would get one, read about people and places and see how the world is getting on. The sales girl looked filled to the brim with life and shone with happiness. She was a sweet girl, particularly polite. He looked at her, a deep unshaken look, not without interest. But she did not even notice him! 

“The Chronicle, please”, he asked her, expecting a smile or some form of conversation. She handed him the paper and continued serving other customers. It was as if he was not there; as if he did not exist. The paper was full of sad news – wars, disasters, crime, and deaths. What was there to look forward to? What was there to live for? He looked at his watch. It was five minutes past eight. The decisive hour was closing near. No more time to lose. He took the lift back to his room. He’ll savour for some more time the luxury and comfort of the Ritz.  This is a celebration after all. He would soon be free of problems, fear, illness, work, loneliness, boredom ………… He relaxed on the sofa of room 910, cigar in his mouth and a glass of champagne in his hand. His mind started to wander on the little episodes of his short life, like different photo slides changing from one episode to another.

Then it struck him! He had Myra! She had been his sincere friend these last six months. She was lovely – green eyes, soft skin and very cuddly. She had a marvelous character. She never angered him or nagged him or made excessive demands. In her white fur coat she looked like a real princess. He thought about her. He loved her so much and she loved him in return. How could he leave her? How did he not realize that she was special to him? He was not alone in this world after all!

He looked again at his watch. It was past nine o’clock now. He was supposed to have ended his life fifteen minutes ago. Myra had distracted him. She had filled his thoughts. Why did he forget her? He was sure that she would be waiting for him and would be so happy to see him back. 

“No”, he exclaimed. “I’ll start again; there is so much to live for after all!” He will return to Myra, take her in his arms and kiss her. He’ll spend the evening with her at home, put on some romantic music or maybe watch television while she sits beside him.

John left the hotel room, went down the lift, settled his bill at the reception, took a taxi, arrived home, opened the door and called her, “Myra! Myra!, I’m home.” She came to him as if she was expecting him; he took her in his arms; kissed her gently; then put her down again. She purred, tail in the air and exclaimed “Miaow! Miaow!”

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?”

Maha Al Musa, mara ta’ 51 sena, għadha tredda’ lil bintha ta’ ħames snin, għax temmen li r-rabta bejniethom tkun aktar sħiħa. Tkun fejn tkun; anki f’postijiet pubbliċi; jekk bintha tkun trid tixrob… treddagħha.

Hi qalet li ma tagħtix kas li ġisimha qed jitpaħpaħ. L-importanti li tissodisfa l-ħtieġa ta’ bintha.

Maha, li hi omm Awstraljana ta’ tlett itfal, kienet belly dancer  u bħalissa qed tipprattika t-treddigħ estiż biex tippermetti lil bintha tkompli terda’ sa ma jidhrilha li tkun trid taqta’ mill-ħalib t’ommha.

L-omm, qed timxi fl-istess passi ta’ Jamie Lynne Grumet, l-omm ta’ 26 sena minn Los Angeles li xxukkjat lid-dinja meta ppużat b’sidirha barra, tredda’ lil binha ta’ erba’ snin, għall-qoxra tal-magazin Time. Hi baqgħet għaddejja treddgħu sa ma għalaq ħames snin. Dan peress li skont ma nkiteb, Jamie nnifisha damet terda’ l-ħalib minnsider ommha sa ma kellha sitt snin.

F’intervista li kellha mal-magazin New, Maha, minn New South Wales,  qalet li bintha tagħlaq ħames snin dan ix-xahar, u madankollu, hi qajla tagħti kas x’jgħidu l-kritiċi għad-drawwa tagħha. Anzi lesta tippermetti lil bintha tibqa’ tieħu l-ħalib tas-sider sa ma tagħlaq għaxar snin…jekk tkun trid. “Dan għax nemmen li nsaħħilha s-sistema immuna tagħha. Sal-lum qajla mardet u t-temperament tagħha hu ferm aktar kwiet u rilassat minn ta’ tfal oħra tamparha.”

Liż-żewġt itfal ta’ qabel; Kailash ta’ 16-il sena u Tariq ta’ 13, Maha waqqfitilhom it-treddigħ meta kellhom sentejn.

Djamant abjad, daqs bajda ċkejkna, għadu kif inbiegħ għall-prezz ta’ €22m f’irkant li sar dan l-aħħar f’Hong Kong. Dan il-prezz sebaq dak meqjus bħala rekord għal sett djamanti oħra li nbiegħ sitt xhur ilu.

Kienu tnejn in-nies li f’sitt minuti kkompetew u għamlu l-offerta tagħhom għal dan il-mineral  Afrikan ta’ 118-il karat, permezz tat-telefon.

Għaċ-Ċiniżi, il-bejgħ bl-irkant ta’ minerali li jiswew konsiderevolment isir darbtejn fis-sena u sar jitqies bħala ritwal. Għalihom jattendu l-kolletturi għonja miċ-Ċina u mill-pajjiżi Ażjatiċi, tant li għamlu lil Hong Kong wieħed mill-aktar ċentri importanti u attivi għall-irkantijiet.

Id-djamant ovali, bla ebda difett, li kien imminat u maqtugħ sentejn ilu nbiegħ għal €22m, inkluża l-kummissjoni ta’ Sotheby. Din il-kumpanija qalet ukoll, li d-djamant instab fin-naħa t’isfel tal-Afrika, iżda ma semmietx f’liema pajjiż, peress li l-bejjiegħ xtaq jibqa’ anonimu.

Madankollu, ir-rekord dinji għall-prezz ta’ ġojjell, inkiseb fl-2010, meta l-ġojjellier Londiniż Laurence Graff, ħallas €34m għal djamant roża qawwi, li kien jiżen 24.8 karat.

Issa qed jingħad li dan ir-rekord jista’ jinqabeż meta x-xahar id-dieħel, Sotheby se tirkanta djamant roża ieħor ta’ 59.60 karat, li mistenni jġib aktar minn €44 m. L-irkant se jsir f’Ġinevra.

The tall elegant building in Merchants Street comprised the departmental offices of the ‘World Travel Agency’. The cruel scorching sun of a Maltese summer seemed to have spurned people to seek a shadier and a cooler spot for their holidays.

Indeed the efficient busy clerks of the agency were having a rather hectic time. One by one they booked their eager clients to spend their holiday in different Mediterranean countries. 

In the queue, a shy young girl was anxiously anticipating her first holiday abroad. “One sea ticket to Sicily please, on the first departure next week”. The tone of her voice gave away her eagerness and her anxiety. 

On that lovely day in June, the ‘Star of Malta’ cut through the waves like a sharp baker’s knife, forging ahead unobstructed by the calm and friendly Mediterranean sea.   With her hands resting on the cold railing of the good ship, Maria was thinking of home. 

She had just lost her job as a dentist’s nurse in Valletta. Maybe it would be for the best. She had hated her job, the patients, the sight of blood, the cries of the children afraid of the dentist; the whole clinical environment was not to her liking. On her return she would seek a different job, a salesgirl, a stationery assistant maybe, but certainly she did not want anything to do with dentists. 

Sicily was a beautiful island, her friends had told her, not far away from Malta. She would see the little towns, climb the slopes of Mount Etna, dip in the blue sea, enjoy her meals of Italian pasta, admire the beautiful architecture, buy some souvenirs for her family and friends.

When the ship berthed in Siracuse, Maria, tired and weary, sought refuge at the ‘Albergo Amigo d’Italia’. She had a lovely room there, overlooking the bright twinkling lights of the port. From here she could see the little passenger boats as well as the smaller fishing crafts, coming and going like a beehive of activity. 

The other window, nicely fitted with venetian blinds, overlooked the grand Via Umberto – a long wide road attractive with the colour of shop windows and the striped curtains squeezing out the hot sun.  

She met him on the next day while strolling down the ‘Corso Matteotti’. He came on her from nowhere. “You are a stranger” he said as if she had a notice pinned on her giving away that information.

“Allow me signorina to show you some of the lovelier spots of my island”. Even if he had not said ‘My island’ she would have guessed that he was a Sicilian.  

He was a typical Italian youth as Maria imagined Italian youths would be, different in character from the youths she normally met in Malta.

His black tousled hair matched perfectly with his dark Latin complexion and his manners were definitely local. What an imprudent young man he was, she thought at first. But she soon changed her mind as he engaged her in amiable conversation. He was, in fact, such a nice young man, with good manners.  

“My name is Antonio” he said “and I come from Ragusa, some few miles away from here”. Maria pursed her lips and did not know what to do, then she looked straight at him and snapped back “Thank you; please tell me from where I can get a taxi”.

He did not like these words, they did not show any compliment at all. “Forget about the taxi; there aren’t any for strangers” he said “but do you want a guide?” 

then she smiled at him. How could she help it? Antonio was not only a good looking young man but he never lost heart either, she thought.

“Very well” she replied “show me around”. “Wait a minute” he said “You have not yet told me your name”. “Maria” she said “Maria”. 

They crossed over from Corso Matteotti to Piazza Archimede in the centre of the old town. They found themselves before an imposing monument of great historical importance. 

“That is Guiseppe Garibaldi” said Antonio proudly. “He was instrumental in uniting Italy”. Maria went near to the monument and touched the cold hard marble. “What a grand monument, he must have been so loved by his people”. 

“He certainly was signorina, to this very day” replied Antonio with a proud smile on his face. He was pleased that Maria was taking interest in Italian history. “Please tell me more about him” she said.  

Both of them sat on the beautiful marble steps that form the pedestal of this great monument. They watched the people moving around the Piazza and Antonio was telling Maria all about Giuseppe Garibaldi and his adventures. 

He narrated how, with his one thousand red-shirted soldiers, he embarked from Sicily towards the Italian mainland, freeing different states, then meeting King Vittorio Emanuele in Rome. 

Garibaldi, along with Vittorio Emanuele and Cavour, are the architects and fathers of united Italy.  “But he was more than a soldier” said Antonio. “He was always willing to help oppressed people everywhere and was unaffected by the lure of wealth and power.”

Then he took her hand and showed her around the fine places of his island – the long sandy spiaggias, the indoor lidos, the big piazzas with statues in the centre on which white pigeons played on their heads. He showed her the old churches, all artistically decorated with marble monuments, paintings and tapestries. 

He also took her around the many lovely gardens that make this island so beautiful. She liked all these things and wanted to see more. Perhaps she wanted to see more of Antonio than these places; she did not know exactly what her heart actually wanted. 

Ten days of a lovely holiday passed so swiftly. She liked to have more time to stay with Antonio, wandering all around his island. But she couldn’t! Maria had to go back to Malta tonight. 

She met Antonio that evening and went to the beautiful ‘giardino’ just behind the hotel. That evening, passing through all the lovely scenery, Maria felt Antonio’s hand grasp her even tighter. If only he lived in Malta or if only she lived in Sicily, she thought. 

The fresh scent of fresh flowers filled her with delight.  “When will you come back?” said Antonio trying hard to hide the feelings of a man madly in love for the first time. Maria looked lovingly into Antonio’s eyes, piercing them through and reading their feelings. “Soon” she said “Very soon”. He took her in his arms and both lovers were engrossed in a passionate embrace. She felt the strong supporting arms of this friendly Italian and she remarked. “Tell me something Antonio, do you go up to all strangers and introduce yourself?” He looked at her questioningly and smiled. “No Maria, not to all strangers, but I could not help doing so to such a lovely Maltese girl as you!”

Maria returned home after a week of bliss. As she rummaged in her handbag, she saw the card Antonio had put in her bag before they parted and gasped – “Dott. Antonio Speranza –Dentista”

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Toninu Falzon mill-Birgu, li fi ċkunitu l-familja tiegħu marret tgħix il-Marsa, kien tifel li jattendi l-Museum b’mod regolari, iżda meta faqqgħet l-aħħar gwerra, inġabar bil-lieva u serva bħala suldat. Tul l-erba’ snin ta’ tħarbit ħadd ma kien jaf x’sar mill-għaqda tad-duttrina, għax il-laqgħat waqfu. Kien f’dan l-istess żmien li Toninu beda jinġibed lejn is-Sagrament taż-żwieġ. Meta ntemmet il-gwerra tkellem fuq hekk ma’ ommu u staqsieha kinitx taf b’xi xbejba għaż-żwieġ.

Mingħajr titubar, ommu Katy nee Forte, semmietlu lil Lucy, bint Tereża, li kienu bil-ħanut maġenbhom. Qaltlu li kienet tifla bieżla u li kienet temmen li hi addattata għalih. Mhux hekk biss, talli Katie għarrfet hi stess lil żewġha Ġużeppi bil-ħsieb ta’ binhom.

Għalhekk, Toninu nqeda biż-żewġ ħutu bniet, Tereża u Mary li spiss kienu joħorġu ma’ Lucy, biex iwasslulu l-istedina għall-imħabba.

Min-naħa tagħha, Lucy, bint Francesco, neguzjant u Tereża, qaltli li hi kienet l-unika tifla fil-familja. Għandha żewġ ħutha oħra, wieħed akbar u l-ieħor iżgħar minnha. Minħabba f’hekk kienet il-mimmi tal-ġenituri tagħha.

Passiġġati u talb

Spiss, matul il-ġimgħa, flimkien ma’ ħut Toninu, kienu jpassu mill-Marsa għall-kappella ta’ Lourdes fil-Furjana, fejn jgħidu xi talb. Darba waħda, f’Marzu tal-1945, waqt li kienu għal din il-passiġġata, Tereża qaltilha li ħuha Toninu kellu ġibda għaliha. Lucy ssummat u ma weġbitha xejn, għax qabel riedet tieħu l-permess tal-ġenituri tagħha.

Meta marret id-dar qalet b’kollox lil ommha, li staqsietha x’kienet wieġbet lil Tereża. Hi ammettiet li ma weġbitha xejn, għax xtaqet tara x’tgħidilha hi. U ommha weġbitha “issa naraw”. Sadattant marret tgħid lil żewġha Francesco bl-aħbar ta’ binthom u kulma qalilha kien “dak jogħġobni”. Lucy ssemmi li xi xahrejn qabel, kien mar xi ħadd ieħor ikellem lil missierha biex jitolbu jiżżewweġ lil bintu u missierha mhux talli ma riedx, talli kien bagħatha l-knisja biex lanqas tara min kien.

Bi tbissima tirrakkonta wkoll li wieħed minn zijietha, ġuvni, li kien ikun sikwit għandhom; meta sema’ mingħand ommha bil-ġibda ta’ Toninu lejn Lucy, qal lil missierha “lil dan ma tgħidlux le, ta!” U missierha wrieh li lest jaċċettah.

B’hekk, omm Lucy qaltilha biex meta terġa’ tiltaqa’ ma’ Tereża tistaqsieha jekk dak li kienet qaltilha, kienx minnu, u jekk tgħidilha li kien tassew, tweġibha “iva”. Għamlet hekk u mill-ewwel kienet aċċettata bħala waħda tal-familja u bdiet tidħol id-dar għandhom. Matul dan l-episodju, Lucy kellha 19 u Toninu 25 sena.

Aħwa ’l-aħwa

In-namur ma kienx jeżisti. Ladarba l-ġenituri jkunu jafu bil-ħsieb rett, kienet tibda l-għerusija, b’data fissa għaż-żwieġ, li ta’ dawn l-għarajjes kienet it-28 ta’ April tal-1946. Bħala għarajjes kienu joħorġu għal xi passiġġati, iżda dejjem iġorru magħhom lil oħt Toninu, li inċidentalment, spiċċat biex iżżewġet lil ħu Lucy.

Toninu u Lucy jiftakru li kienu xtraw iċ-ċrieket tal-għerusija u tawhom lil xulxin waqt riċeviment fejn tlaqqgħu l-ġenituri. Matul din il-laqgħa kienet saret diskussjoni fuq id-dota, fejn l-għarajjes ingħataw kulma kellhom bżonn għad-dar…tant li wara 68 sena għad għandhom bosta tifkiriet tad-dotarju.

Il-koppja Falzon qaltli li peress li dak iż-żmien kienet għadha kif intemmet il-gwerra, ma tantx kien hawn postijiet fejn imorru jabitaw tabita fihom, għax ħafna kienu ġġarrfu. Iżda l-familja ta’ Lucy, li kellha dar kbira, offritilhom imorru joqogħdu għandha sa ma jsibu fejn joqogħdu. Min-naħa tagħhom, Toninu u Lucy kienu diġa’ qabbdu sensara biex issibilhom dar għalihom.

Ġara iżda li l-familja ta’ Lucy kellhom dar mikrija l-Marsa u min kien joqgħod fiha kien se jmur l-Afrika ta’ Isfel. B’hekk ingħataw din id-dar biex imorru joqogħdu fiha.

Toninu u Lucy żżewġu fil-jum tal-Ħadd, peress li minħabba l-ħwienet li kellhom il-familja ta’ Lucy, din kienet l-aktar ġurnata ideali. Il-kunsens taż-żwieġ sar filgħaxija, fil-knisja parrokkjali tat-Trinita’. Żewwiġhom Patri Ġużepp Falzon, Dumnikan, li hu l-prim kuġin ta’ Toninu u li kien għadu kif ħa l-quddiesa tliet xhur qabel. Bħala xhieda kellhom ziju minn kull naħa, it-tnejn jisimhom Carmelo.

Ir-riċeviment

Ir-riċeviment tat-tieġ għamluh f’sala fi Triq Balbi, il-Marsa. Kellhom tieġ sabiħ minkejja li kienet għadha kif spiċċat il-gwerra.

Wara t-tieġ marru għall-qamar il-għasel fil-lukanda Riviera, Għajn Tuffieħa u mbagħad niżlu fid-dar ġdida tagħhom biex jibdew ħajjithom.

L-ewwel tarbija li kellhom kienet tifla, illum Suor Olivia, Dumnikana. Imbagħad kellhom lil Catherine, miżżewġa lil John Calleja u għandhom żewġt itfal, Christian u Clarissa. Wara kellhom lil Tessie, miżżewġa lil Twanny Cutajar u għandhom tlett itfal; Norbert, Ruben u Maria Alexia. Fl-aħħar kellhom lil Joe, li hu miżżewweġ lil Josette u wkoll għandhom tlett itfal; Nicholas, Daniel u David. B’hekk, Toninu u Lucy huma nanniet ta’ tmien neputijiet u bużnanniet ta’ żewġ pro neputijiet Samuel u Julia, ulied Nicholas, li hu bin Joe.

Mitluba jagħtu l-fehma tagħhom fuq il-valuri tal-passat u llum, il-koppja Falzon taqbel li fl-antik il-bniedem kien aktar reliġjuż u jfittex lil Alla. Illum, il-materjaliżmu kiber u qaċċat lill-ispiritwalita’. U qed naraw li aktar mal-bniedem jingħaqad mal-materjal, jinqata’ għal kollox mill-ispiritwal.
Biex Lucy tfiehem kemm kienet qawwija r-reliġjożita’ fi żmienhom, issemmi li f’pajjiżna kien daħal it-talkies. Ħafna żgħażagħ kienu jmorru biex jaraw xi filmat. Hi kienet tgħid lil missierha biex xi darba tmur, u hu kien iweġibha li xi darba joħodha. Darba, wara li reġgħet qaltlu, qalilha biex tmur tbiddel. Lucy ħadet gost kbir u rat lil ommha u lil ħutha mbiddlin ukoll. Iżda mbagħad kienu jispiċċaw iċ-ċimiterju, fejn kienu jitilgħu ħdejn il-kappella u jagħmlu l-Via Sagra u jitolbu għall-mejtin. Din kienet rutina regolari. U meta ma jmorrux iċ-ċimiterju, kienu jattendu l-knisja għall-prietka jew katekiżmu ta’ wara nofsinhar. Illum, tgħid Lucy, dawn l-affarijiet inqatgħu għal kollox.

Differenzi

Mitlubin jgħidu x’jaraw differenti mill-għerusija tal-imgħoddi għal dik tal-lum, Lucy tgħid li hemm baħar bejniethom. Illum, iż-żgħażagħ joħorġu, imorru fejn iridu u jdumu kemm iridu. Illum ma jġorru lil ħadd magħhom bħala chaperon. Barra minhekk, meta l-ġenituri l-antiki kien ikollhom lil uliedhom għarajjes, kien ikollhom seba’ mitt sena sakemm iżewġuhom, biex ir-responsabbilta’ tagħhom ikunu wettquha fil-milja tagħha.

Toninu jgħid li d-differenza kollha tinsab fid-dixxiplina. Dari, id-dixxiplina kienet serja. Illum, din battiet ukoll. U fejn ma jkunx hemm dixxiplina, il-bniedem jasal jiftaħ il-bibien tal-passjonijiet, u dawn jiġru bih u jwaqqgħuh f’kull tiġrib.

Toninu żied li eżempju tipiku tan-nuqqas tad-dixxiplina jidher sew fl-iskejjel Maltin. Fejn dari, jekk għalliem jikkorreġi student u jagħtih xi daqqa ta’ riga, il-ġenituri kienu jaqblu mal-għalliema – illum issib lill-ġenituri jieħdu l-linja tal-ulied u jmorru għas-sodisfazzjon, jekk mhux ukoll iħebbu għall-għalliem.

Ikompli jtenni li jekk il-ġenituri tal-lum ma jżommux il-bastun tad-dixxiplina, għad jiġi żmien li l-bastun ikun f’idejn ħaddieħor u jsawwat lilhom infushom minflok. Apparti dan, maż-żmien, l-ulied għad jisħtu lill-ġenituri tagħhom, għax la jkunu draw bla dixxiplina, ma jkunu lesti jbaxxu rashom għal ħadd.

Mitlubin jistqarru x’kienet ir-riċetta għal 63 sena żwieġ hieni, il-koppja Falzon taqbel mal-kliem ta’ Patri Paten, li “min jitlob flimkien, jibqa’ flimkien”. Jekk ma jkunx hemm Alla l-imbierek bejn ir-raġel u l-mara, il-problemi li jinqalgħu, iġarrfu kollox. Kulħadd kellu, għandu u jibqa’ jkollu l-problemi tul ħajtu. Id-differenza fis-soluzzjoni tagħhom hi biss fir-rigward ikunx hemm Alla fil-qalb tal-koppja. Jekk iva, kull problema ddub u tixxejjen, jekk le, il-koppja tasal tinfired. Għax ir-reliġjożita’ twasslek biex bl-umilta’, tagħraf, tagħder u taħfer, iżda jekk ma tkunx trid taf bir-reliġjon, ir-ras iebsa twasslek għad-dagħbien u t-telfien tar-ruħ.

L-għajnuna ta’ Alla

Min-naħa l-oħra jaqblu li meta koppja miżżewġa jkollha xi tgħid bejnietha, m’għandha qatt tirrikorri għall-għajnuna tal-ġenituri jew tal-ħbieb, għax dawn jafu jxaqilbu lejn xi parti u jagħmlu aktar ħsara milli ġid. Meta raġel u mara jiżżewġu, għandhom ikunu kapaċi li fin-nuqqasijiet tagħhom stess, jiddiskutu bejniethom u jsolvu d-differenzi ta’ bejniethom weħidhom, bl-għajnuna ta’ Alla.

F’għeluq il-ħamsin u sittin sena żwieġ, Toninu u Lucy iċċelebraw b’quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament. Għall-ħamsin sena, din tqaddset fil-Għar tal-Madonna Dumnikani, r-Rabat. Qaddsilhom l-istess Patri li żewwiġhom – Fr. Joe Falzon u wara marru għal ikla f’ristorant ir-Rabat. Fl-okkażjoni tas-sittin sena żwieġ, il-quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament għamluha fil-knisja San Ġorġ Preca u qaddsilhom Dun Gordon Refalo. Wara marru għal ikla f’ristorant f’Ta’ Xbiex. Għaż-żewġ okkażjonijiet, ġiet mill-Awstralja binthom Suor Olivia, fejn ilha f’missjoni snin sħaħ.