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minn Charles B. Spiteri

Waqt prietka kontra l-korruzzjoni, il-Papa Franġisku kien ferm iebes, u kkowta passaġġ mill-Evanġelu skont San Luqa, fejn Ġesù qal lil xi midinba, li ħaqqhom jintrabtu ma’ mażżra u jinxteħtu fil-baħar.

Din tqieset bħala omelija mill-aktar qawwijin lill-Insara, minn meta f’Marzu li għadda, kien elett il-Papa Arġentinjan. Hu enfasizza li min qed jgħaddi ħajja ‘doppja’ billi jagħti l-flus lill-Knisja waqt li jisraq lill-Istat, ikun qed jidneb u ħaqqu jkun ikkastigat.

Waqt li ma aċċennax direttament għall-korruzzjoni fi ħdan il-Knisja Kattolika, ir-rimarki tiegħu saru ftit jiem wara li faqqa’ skandlu f’ordni reliġjuża antika, marbuta mal-Vatikan. Madankollu l-Papa wera li hu determinat jieqaf lill-korruzzjoni u jeqred irregolaritajiet finanzjarji li sa tappnu lill-Bank tal-Vatikan.

Hu ddeskriva wkoll lin-nies imdaħħlin fil-korruzzjoni bħala ‘oqbra mbajda’ u qal li “minnbarra jidhru sbieħ, iżda minnġewwa huma gozz għadam mejjet u jinten.

Hu magħruf li l-Papa Ġiżwita kapaċi jkun ġentili f’diversi suġġetti sensittivi, bħall-omosesswalità u d-divorzju, iżda sa minnmeta ġie maħtur f’Marzu li għadda, il-prietki u l-omeliji tiegħu dejjem inkludew kliem iebes u referenzi għall-ħidma tax-Xitan.

Papa Franġisku għamel dawn ir-rimarki waqt il-quddiesa ta’ filgħodu f’Casa Santa Marta, id-dar għall-mistednin fil-Vatikan, fejn għażel li jgħix wara li rrifjuta l-appartamenti aktar kbar fin-naħa l-oħra tal-Bażilika ta’ San Pietru.

Kienet it-tieni darba fi ftit jiem, fejn hu attakka l-ħażen tal-korruzjoni. L-ewwel darba mar kontra l-Kattoliċi li stagħnew mill-korruzzjoni politika biex saħansitra jixtru rigali lil uliedhom u jibagħtuhom fi skejjel li jiswew ħafna flejjes.

L-aktar skandlu riċenti li laqat lill-Knisja Kattolika kien żvelat ħmistax ilu, fejn Dun Renato Salvatore ta’ 58 sena, u li jmexxi ordni reliġjuża ta’ 440 sena, kien arrestat fuq suspett li ħoloq xnigħat foloz kontra żewġ saċerdoti li kienu kontra n-nominazzjoni tiegħu biex jerġa’ jingħażel bħala s-Superjur Ġenerali tal-Camilljani, jew aħjar l-Ordni tal-Ministri tal-Morda.

Dun Salvatore kien magħżul għall-kariga mill-Papa Benedittu XVI biex jipparteċipa fis-sinodu ġenerali tal-isqfijiet f’Ottubru tas-sena l-oħra; ħames xhur qabel mal-Papa Ġermaniż iddeċieda li jirriżenza mill-papat.

George Hurley and his petite blonde wife Rebecca never saw eye to eye. They had been married for ten years but their union was always turbulent. They quarreled practically every day and neighbours heard their shouts and accusations even during the night. George and Rebecca Hurley’s marriage was definitely not a happy affair.

They had two children; a boy and girl, now five and six respectively. Neighbours wondered how they found time to make love. “Probably”, some said ironically, “they must have been drunk at the time!” Others said that maybe both children were the result of Rebecca’s many extra-marital affairs.

It was undeniably true that while George was at work, Rebecca was entertaining other men. This was no secret as practically everybody in town knew of her exploits. As also did her husband, of course. She did not hide what she was doing and did not care a penny who knew of her love affairs.

One day Rebecca was reported missing. She was not seen for a whole week while her husband continued as if nothing had happened. She was reported missing not by her husband but by the neighbours. When questioned by the Police, George told them that it was not the first time that she walked out of the house and returned some days later. He also told them that he was glad to have got rid of her. But the Police were not convinced. They continued with their investigations to see what had happened to Rebecca Hurley. They discovered that George had told his children, when they had asked him about their mummy, that she has gone away and maybe would not return back.

Neighbours reported to the Police that George had made a large bonfire in his back-garden where they saw him burn Rebecca’s clothes. Furthermore, the Police also learned that someone with a detailed knowledge of the missing woman’s bank accounts had forged her signature and took everything out of her savings accounts. The Police found that George had tapped the telephone at home to record conversations between Rebecca and her lovers. The Police inspector questioned him thoroughly. They told him that they knew that his wife had a string of lovers and was a bad wife. “We can understand that sometimes pressure like that can drive a man to murder,” he told George. But he denied murder or that he knew what happened to his wife.

George Hurley, who had a history of poor health and heart ailments, never faltered once during the long sessions of interrogations. Although they pressed him, the Police did not want to use excessive pressure because of his health condition. The Police dug out his garden and searched his bungalow and surroundings in an attempt to find the body but they did not find any clues whatsoever. They knew that circumstantial evidence pointed directly at him – the frequent quarrels; the fact that he did not report her missing; that he told his children that their mother would not return; that he burned her clothes in the garden; that his wife’s bank accounts were withdrawn by an unknown person with intimate knowledge of her particulars.

But where was the body? Unless the Police found the body and examined it for clues like fingerprints, they would have difficulty in putting up a case of murder against him. But they did not lose heart. They went to the bungalow again. They ripped the floorboard, probed the brickwork for hidden cavities, scanned the gardens around the house using tracker dogs and plugged lakes, streams and ponds in the vicinity. They interrogated him repeatedly hoping that he would finally break down and admit to the murder. But they did not find anything and he did not admit. George had told the Police that she had walked out of the house and he did not know where she was. In the circumstances, the Police through newspapers, television and radio, issued calls for her or for people who might have seen her, to contact them immediately. But they failed to produce any response either from the missing woman or from people who might have seen her. The Police were therefore convinced that she was murdered and her body was hidden somewhere. 

After three months, George Hurley could not stand it any longer. He was under continuous pressure from the Police and shunned by his neighbours. Everybody was convinced that he had murdered Rebecca. No, he did not admit to the murder but he died of a heart attack. The murder inquiry on Rebecca Hurley was closed, the Police case file was marked ‘suspect deceased’.

George Burley’s funeral after the ceremony was carried out in a quiet chapel outside the town. The police saw no useful purpose to attend. They never saw the wreath besides his coffin with the strange message – “Have a nice flight to Paradise George – R.”
When the funeral service was over, the last prayers said, the earth sprinkled on top of the coffin, the stone slabs laid down and the grave closed and sealed, none of the few people present noticed the petite blonde woman across the road who, with a broad smile on her face, turned and went away.

I looked forward to meeting my two friends Shirley and Norma at the restaurant on the High Street this morning. I put on my favourite red knee-length dress, my pearl ear- rings and matching necklace and looked in the mirror. I liked my appearance.

It was a reunion lunch. We did it every year for the last five years. Each one of us recounting what happened to her during the past twelve months. We would talk about our children, our grand children, our likes and dislikes. We would bring back memories of long years past. We would enjoy being together another year.

We had met for the first time at St. Mary’s Hospital in London – there was also Sally – while we were having treatment for breast cancer. We were together during the long-suffering ordeal – surgery, ward patient, hospital visits and recuperation. All four of us gave encouragement and hope to each other. We had cried and laughed together. We held hands when the end of the road seemed to be near. We laughed when things looked brighter and we seemed to be winning. We were there for each other. And we survived!

We had all four of us met for lunch every year, since our discharge from hospital five years ago. But this year we would be three. We would miss Sally. She had been the life and soul of the group. She was always recounting some funny story, or cracking  a joke, or waving her hands in dramatic fashion. She was the conductor during these lunches. It was the first year that we would be meeting without her. She would definitely be missed, terribly missed this year.

An image of her face filled my mind – blue eyes, blonde hair, rosy cheeks, upturned nose – a jovial, laughing face which would make all around her happy. “Keep your chin up” she would say to any of us who were passing through a rough patch. I was amazed how she could joke about even the darkest of things. That was Sally.

We had promised that, rain or shine, we would try to make this reunion every year. For old time’s sake. For becoming friends when we needed so much love, comfort, encouragement and understanding. We gave all of these to each other as we battled with that life-threatening disease. And we survived!

Shirley and Norma were waiting at the restaurant when I arrived – Shirley with her white wide-brimmed hat on her head and several bangles around her wrists, and Norma the quite one, looking prim and proper, always listening and smiling in agreement, but always positive. Shirley, Norma and I all had different characters. But Sally, bless her, had the best character of us all. She always used to make us laugh.

The place had started to fill up around us. The waitress bustled over for our order. “Are you waiting for someone else?” she said looking at the empty place. I shook my head but when she moved to clear the extra cutlery I stopped her. “Please could you leave them?” The waitress looked puzzled but nodded and left.

For the next half hour we talked on this, that and the other. We brought ourselves up to date with each other’s life during this past year. As I looked with pride at my two friends, I could not help but think how lucky we all were. That bad experience of the past had bonded us together like childhood friends.

After we had eaten, we ordered champagne as was our custom at the end of the meal. “Could we have four glasses please?” I asked the puzzled waitress. “What are you celebrating?” she asked us as she laid out the glasses and then, at my request, put the fourth glass in front of the empty space.

It was Shirley who spoke in her exuberant melodious voice. “We are celebrating being alive. We’re all survivors of breast cancer, you see. We met for the first time in hospital and went through our treatment together.”

“We encourage each other. Each year we get together and celebrate another bonus year”, I added. “This is our fifth year” put in Norma. The waitress looked at us, admiration on her face now. “That’s amazing”, she exclaimed. Then she looked at the empty chair, the unused cutlery and the empty champagne glass. “Oh I’m very sorry, I ……..” She broke off, clearly did not know what to say.

I looked at my two smiling friends, then at the bewildered waitress and said. “Sally got married and emigrated to Canada last year. She could not make it this year but we hope that she would join us again next year. We promised that we would always save a place for her.”

It was at that moment that Shirley made a toast. “To our dear friend Sally, whatever she’s doing, wherever she is, wishing you good health, see you next year!”  

minn Joseph Henry Abela, Qassis

It-toroq iżjed ma jkunu meħlusin minn gandotti, karozzi weqfin, inċidenti, protesti, u bejjiegħa weqfin f’kantuniera iżjed in-nies jiltaqgħu.

Inqas nervi, għadab u ġenn u l-kotra tas-sewwieqa jkunu f’sikkithom. Imma f’moħħna jrid ikollna li hemm sewwieqa oħrajn. Hemm sewwieq iżomm max-xellug u l-ieħor li ġej bil-maqlub jagħmel l-istess, jista’ jkun hemm wisgħa f’nofs it-triq biex tgħaddi, ambulanza jew karozza tal-pulizija jew ħaddieħor li jrid jasal l-isptar.

Jekk ma taħsibx minn qabel tista’ teħel. Hemm żebgħa fl-art fit-triq biex ma tieqafx fuqha, kaxxa safra waħda minnhom, oħrajn il-faxxi bojod tal-passiġieri jew kaxxa safra merfugħa għal min għandu diżabilita. Il-mitt xejn qatlu ħmar.

Forsi wasal il-waqt li tagħlim u t-tagħrif fuq il-karozza, fuq sewqan bil-karozza jibda jsir minn għaxar snin sa ħmistax-il sena. B’hekk regoli u mġieba jkunu daħlu żgur fil-moħħ u nħarsu bosta ħajjiet ta’ sewwieqa u passiġieri.

written by Fiona Vella

China’s art sector is probably one of the most dynamic today since Chinese artists are constantly re-imagining the boundaries of art as they question their country’s role in the world. These artistic works can be viewed in the several popular art districts, key galleries and museums which are located in various areas around China.

751D Park – Beijing

I had thought that a visit to Beijing would only comprise an itinerary to historical sites. Therefore, this bustling contemporary art centre proved to be quite a surprise.

Having been transformed from an industrial plant into an artistic hub, 751D Park boasts an area of 40,000 square metres and is now a very renowned area for art lovers. Its distinguished Bauhaus-style architecture has succeeded to blend harmoniously with the places’s new character which now houses many art galleries, bookshops, cafes and restaurants.

Although I am not an avid art enthusiast, a stroll around the various shops and art exhibitions of this park served as a portal to another facet of China and its culture. Each outlet provided the opportunity to discover and purchase works of unique styles, original designs and ultimate creativity.

Liu Fei – An enchanting war (1) – Photo by Fiona VellaI was particularly captivated by Liu Fei’s artistic exhibition named ‘An Enchanting War’. The artist described his sharp creations as his contemplation of future wars. Through them, he attempted to engage in social and political life in order to express his distaste and criticism on war. His main theme examined whether future warfare would be a performance of pretences? In his strong and bizarre artworks, there was no boundary between beauty and ugliness, and violence and contention were combined cruelly.

The National Art Museum of China – Beijing

The National Art Museum of China is dedicated to collection, research and exhibitions of modern and contemporary artistic works in China. Although this structure started to be constructed in 1958 and was open to the public in 1963, its architecture features the traditional Chinese style as the main building is roofed with yellow glazed tiles and surrounded by corridors and pavilions.

This museum covers an area of more than 18,000 square meters and it includes 17 exhibition halls throughout its 5 storeys. It prides itself with more than 100,000 pieces of various collections, most of which are representative works of different periods and great artworks of Chinese art masters from the end of the 19th century till today.

Artist Liu Xia besides her work at the National Art Museum of China – Photo by Fiona VellaSince its establishment, this national museum has organized thousands of various artistic exhibitions which reflect the development of Chinese art. These activities have attracted millions of visitors each year and so this museum has also served as a significant platform for the artists involved.

During my visit, amongs its selection of expositions, this museum was holding the exhibition ‘Beautiful China: Call of Humanism’ which entailed the First National Fine Art Exhibition to help the disabled. The ensemble of 200 pieces of artworks included masterpieces of top artists of the contemporary art world,as well as works of disabled calligraphers and painters. Funds from the sales of these artworks were collected in order to assist the needs of the thousands of disabled Chinese individuals.

M50 – Shanghai

50 Moganshan Road or M50 art district as it is more popularly known, was a former textile mill in central Shanghai which has now been converted into a major zone of artistic galleries and exhibition spaces.

This quarter started to become popular with artists in the year 2000 when the first individuals were initially attracted by the cheap rent of the disused industrial space. Soon, other artists followed suit and nowadays this complex has become known for its trendy and high art quality.

Outdoor sculptures at 751D Park – Photo by Fiona VellaArt lovers who visit this place get a chance to enjoy and purchase some fantastic and unusual works directly from the artists themselves. The allure of this zone lies in the variety of displayed works using several mediums.Prices range from affordable to really expensive but one is expected to negotiate.

Popular with both local and international visitors, this art quarter is unpretentious but interesting and often thought provoking. Amongst the wide selection of creations, it is engaging to notice also some works of a rebellious nature.

(This article was published in the Travel, Leisure and Food Supplement in the Sunday Times of Malta dated 15 March 2015)

Ħajjitna tiġbor ħolm, stħajjil, ħsibijiet, xewqat, kilbiet, ħlewwiet, imrar, dieqa, hena u stennija – kollha stampi żgħar li jgħaqqdu xbieha kbira.

Jista’ jkollna qrusa għax ma rnexxejniex f’li xtaqna u ninsabu ssikkati meta kieku konna ferħana.

Il-kokka ’l uliedha tara l-isbaħ, u fil-ħajja moħħok jgħinek iżżid jew ifixklek. Tħallix lil moħħok jgħasrek imma ntelaq u ħadmu moħħok. Jekk għadek ma fhimtx, fittex kemm kemm lil EPICURUS (Twieled 341 BC u miet 270 BC), filosofu li jagħtik tagħrif li jista jkun ta’ siwi.

Ħajtek tifhimha meta aktarx tħares lura. Bħalissa madwarek tara ċaflis maż-żmien joqgħod kollox, u tibda tara li rnexxejt int ukoll mhux kif ħsibt imma aħjar!  

Aħna min aħna neħtieġu lil ħaddieħor, jew parir, jew xogħol, jew ħidma, jew għajnuna, jew ħdejna. Xi drabi nersqu bil-ħerqa għall-għajnuna u jkollok nies li bil ħlewwa jgħidulek “ħalli f’idejja”.

Ibża’, twerwer, iksaħ għax aktarx tibqa’ fejn kont għax fil-fatt ikun: milli għedna m’hemm xejn.

Int trid tieħu ħsieb tiegħek innifsek. Int trid taqdef, int trid tisħaq u tinsisti. Dak li temmen fih int mhux bilfors jgħożżu ħaddieħor u dak li tixtieq int mhux bilfors iridu ħaddieħor daqsek.

Ilqa’ u ħares lilek innifsek, staqsi, ipprova dur, għarbel, erġa’ agħti daqqa t’għajn għax ħafna straħu fuq ħaddieħor u baqgħu b’xejn. Idejk qegħdin hemm, użahom. Ipprova biċċa u tasal, u uġigħ tal-qalb ikollok mill-inqas u xejn.
 

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Kien rappurtat li Spetturi tat-Taxxa fl-Ingilterra qed jużaw il-mapep mill-Google biex jispjunaw fuq id-djar ta’ dawk li huma suspettati li mhumiex iħallsu taxxa kemm suppost.

Ir-ritratti mill-‘Google Earth’ jagħtu l-opportunità lil min jużah, biex permezz tas-satellita jifli d-djar u jagħti l-faċilità lill-kolletturi tat-taxxa jsiru jafu bil-kwalità ta’ ħajja li jgħixu l-individwi u s-sinjurija tagħhom; bħal kemm-il karozza għandhom u t-titjib li jagħmlu fi djarhom.

L-uffiċjali tad-Dwana u tat-Taxxa jdaħħlu l-informazzjoni f’kompjuter qawwi u jiddeċiedu għandhomx jinvestigaw lil sidien ta’ djar, li skont huma jkunu qed iħallsu inqas taxxa minn dak li dovut.

‘Google Earth’ hi l-aħħar arma fil-battalja tal-HMRC (Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs), li għandha timla l-ħofra ta’ €42 biljun f’evażjoni tat-taxxa.

Is-‘supercomputer’ bl-isem ta’ ‘Connect’, li kważi sewa €60 miljun, inbena tliet snin ilu mill-‘BAE Systems’ u diġà fih aktar minn biljun informazzjoni fuq individwi li huma suspettati li ma ddikjarawx id-dħul kollu tagħhom.

Intqal li l-uffiċjali tal-HMRC se jindagaw kemm kull persuna qed tħallas taxxa u jqabbluha kemm mad-dħul finanzjarju li jdaħħlu kif ukoll mal-kwalità ta’ ħajja li jgħixu. Bla dubju din se tkun mossa li ma togħġobx lill-elettorat!  

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Ma kinux għadhom iż-żminijiet fejn ġuvni jixħet għajnejh fuq xbejba, isegwiha minn ġimgħa għal ġimgħa, jew minn jum għall-ieħor, jara f’liema bar tidħol u joffrilha drink biex jipprova jaqbad magħha, kif isir illum. Kienu għadhom is-snin erbgħin. Il-ħruġ għall-ġuvintur kien għadu limitat u għax-xebbiet ferm u ferm aktar. Iżda meta ġuvni kien jitfa’ għajnejh fuq xbejba, kien jipprova jsib ħabib u jinqeda bih biex iwassal il-messaġġ tiegħu.

Fil-każ tal-koppja intervistata għal-lum – Pawlu u Carmela Ciappara mir-Rabat – l-imħabba tagħhom taf il-ħidma ta’ Ġużi Galea magħruf bħala l-Windsor mill-Imtaħleb, li kien ħuttab.

Pawlu hu r-raba’ wild minn ħdax ta’ Pawlu u Pawla, waqt li Carmela hi l-unika tarbija li baqgħet ħajja fiż-żwieġ ta’ Pawlu u Giovanna.

Meta Ġużi tarraf lil Carmela bil-ħsieb ta’ Pawlu, għall-ewwel ma tatu ebda tweġiba. Kienet drawwa li qabel ma xbejba tgħid l-iva tagħha, kienet speċi titlob il-kunsens tal-ġenituri. U meta qalet lil ommha, din weġbitha li jekk hu skond il-pjan ta’ Alla, li għandu jsir, isir. Għalhekk, meta rat lil Ġużi qaltlu li aċċettat l-istedina ta’ Pawlu. Ovvjament, il-ġenituri ta’ Carmela kienu jafu lill-ġenituri ta’ Pawlu, u għalhekk kienu jafu wkoll li l-ġuvni li miegħu kienet se titħallat binthom, kien ġuvni serju u bil-għaqal.

Laqgħa bil-ħatfa

Lura għal dik is-sena, Pawlu kellu 21 sena u Carmela 18. Mill-għada tal-aċċettazzjoni, Pawlu u Carmela bdew jiltaqgħu għal ftit mumenti – kemm ‘jisirqu’ bewsa, hekk kif Pawlu kien ikun sejjer għax-xogħol u Carmela tistennieh fil-bieb tad-dar tagħha. Mit-triq tiegħu kien jinżel l-erba’ tarġiet taz-zuntier tal-knisja ta’ San Pawl u jasal ħdejha fi Triq Gusmana Navarra.

Beda jidħol id-dar għandhom mill-ewwel u minkejja li Carmela kienet l-unika tifla tal-familja Saliba, il-ġenituri tagħha kienu jippermettulha toħroġ weħidha għal passiġġata ta’ ftit ħin mal-għarus tagħha. L-għerusija ta’ Pawlu u Carmela ħadet tliet xhur. F’dan iż-żmien huma xtraw iċ-ċrieket ta’ għarajjes u kellhom ukoll festin biex iltaqgħu flimkien il-ġenituri tagħhom. Fejn imorru joqogħdu ma kienet problema xejn, għax il-ġenituri ta’ Carmela offrewlhom imorru joqogħdu magħhom fid-dar tagħhom. U qatgħuha li jaċċettaw l-offerta.

Għalhekk bdew iħejju għat-tieġ. Carmela, oħt Pawlu il-kbira, li kienet ħajjata prima, ħietet il-libsa tat-tieġ tal-għarusa. Il-bridesmaids kienu Doris u Annie, ħut Pawlu u bħala flowergirl tqiegħdet Marija, kuġina ta’ Carmela.
Iżżewġu nhar il-11 ta’ Jannar, 1948, filgħodu, fil-knisja kolleġġjata ta’ San Pawl u wara kellhom il-festin fil-każin tal-Konti Ruġġieru, ir-Rabat stess. Għar-ritratti tat-tieġ niżlu għand Cassar, il-Ħamrun.

Il-qamar il-għasel

Wieħed u sittin sena ilu, il-qamar il-għasel kien diġa’ popolari, iżda mhux bħal dak li nafu llum. Tant li l-għada tat-tieġ, Pawlu u Carmela marru għal dawra ma’ Malta u Għawdex bil-karrozza ta’ missier ir-raġel, li kien wieħed minn tal-bidu li kellu vettura f’Malta. Sena wara, Pawlu kien xtara wkoll l-ewwel karrozza tiegħu – Morris. Dawn kienu jiġu Malta fil-kaxxi tal-injam, u min jixtriha ma jkunx jaf x’lewn u x’tip ta’ karrozza tkun. Hu jiftakar li f’ħajtu kellu tmien karrozzi differenti, li kiseb bi tpartit u fl-aħħar kellu waħda ġdida, li żanżanha hu.

Wara l-honeymoon marru d-dar, fejn bdew il-ħajja ġdida ta’ miżżewġin, li matulha kellhom tlett itfal: Pawlu, miżżewweġ lil Jessie u għandhom tlett itfal, li huma Mario, Rosemarie u Joanna; Janie miżżewġa lil Joe Spiteri u għandhom żewġt itfal, Kevin u Mark. Fl-aħħar kellhom lil Joe, li hu miżżewweġ lil Joyce u għandhom żewġt itfal, Amanda u Denise.

Apparti milli Pawlu u Carmela huma nanniet ta’ seba’ neputijiet huma bużnanniet ta’żewġt itfal oħra, Andrea u Antonia. Fir-rigward tat-trobbija fl-antik, Pawlu u Carmela jsostnu li lil uliedhom tellgħuhom f’dixxiplina, ubbidjenza u valuri sodi. B’ħarsa, gidma tax-xufftejn, jew b’tisfira, kienu jikkwietawhom. Jgħidu li xejn ma hu l-istess illum, fejn jekk issaffar lit-tfal, iħalluk fil-veru sens ‘issaffar’.

Karrozza privata

Pawlu u Carmela ma tantx kienu jħallu lil uliedhom jilagħbu u jiġru barra mat-tfal, għax peress li kellhom il-karrozza privata, spiss kienu joħorġuhom dawriet ’il bogħod, fejn ftit nies setgħu jmorru. Fis-sajf kienet drawwa li kull nhar ta’ Ħadd imorru għal jum baħar l-Għadira u jarmaw il-kamp. Sajf sħiħ kien ikun hemm erba’ sa ħames kampijiet, dejjem l-istess nies. Sas-snin sittin, il-kampijiet żdiedu għal sa bejn sebgħa u tmienja tul il-bajja kollha.
Ġieli wkoll, il-Ħdud kienu jaqbdu t-triq u jieħdu lil uliedhom sal-bajja ta’ Birżebbuġa, biex jgħumu hemm. Ħajjet il-koppja Ciappara tista’ tgħid li kienet ‘gżira’ għal xulxin għall-61 sena li ilhom magħqudin fiż-żwieġ. Pawlu mix-xogħol għad-dar u mid-dar għax-xogħol u t-tfal mid-dar għall-iskola u l-Museum u viċi versa. Meta jsir il-ħruġ, dejjem joħorġu familja sħiħa bil-karrozza tagħhom, tant li uliedhom qatt ma marru mkien bil-karrozza tal-linja.

Pawlu jgħid li hu kellu l-vantaġġ li kien jaf it-toroq kollha ta’ Malta, għax xogħlu kien sewwieq mat-telefons, li kien jaqa’ taħt id-dipartiment tal-Post and Telephones. Kien jew iwassal lill-formen fil-postijiet li jgħidulu, jew inkella lill-kolletturi li kienu jiġbru l-flus mill-coin boxes li kien hawn imferrxin ma’ Malta, u jwassalhom lura d-dipartiment.

Rispett kbir

Meta mitlubin jiddeskrivu l-imħabba wara 66 sena flimkien, Pawlu u Carmela wieġbu li huma baqħu jirrispettaw lil xulxin bħal meta ltaqgħu l-ewwel darba, minkejja li kultant jitlewmu. Iżda kif qalu: “anki l-imsaren fil-ġisem igorru!” U kultant, tilwima ħafifa, tiswielhom ta’ ġid għax tkebbsilhom imħabbithom aktar!

Jafu li issa, li kibru fl-eta’, m’għadhomx fl-imħabba li kienu dari iżda llum jammettu li jridu jieħdu paċenzja b’xulxin. Minkejja dan, f’kull għeluq snin Carmela, u f’kull festa kbira, Pawlu għadu jibgħat kartolina lil martu. Interessanti jingħad li l-ġibda passjonali li nbniet tul il-ħajja miżżewġa tagħhom wasslithom li ma jgħixux mingħajr il-preżenza ta’ xulxin. Tant li dan l-aħħar, wara li Pawlu ġie rikoverat fid-Dar tal-Anzjani tal-Mosta, talab il-permess biex joħroġ daqsxejn. Kif sab ruħu barra, telaq lejn ir-Rabat biex jara lil Carmela tiegħu, u ma damux ma sabu akkomodazzjoni t-tnejn flimkien fl-istess Dar.

Dan l-attakkament flimkien wassalni nistaqsihom kif irriżulta, u Carmela rrakkuntat li żewġha, sa minn żminijiet missieru, kienu dilettanti tal-kaċċa tal-gamiem u s-summien – ħaġa li baqgħet nieżla mhux biss fuq uliedhom, iżda anki fuqha. Tistqarr li kienet tmur mal-familja kollha fl-għalqa privata tagħhom biex żgur dejjem ikunu magħqudin flimkien.

Madankollu dejjem imxew fuq programm għaqli. Tgħid li meta żewġha kien iqum kmieni għall-kaċċa, xorta kien jasal fil-ħin għax-xogħol u wara x-xogħol, iqatta’ ħinu mal-familja. Kaċċa u mhix, il-quddiesa ta’ kuljum qatt ma tilfuha, għax jew imorru qabel ma jmorru l-għalqa jew imorru filgħaxija. It-tqassim tal-jiem tagħhom kien jippermetti li jkollhom ħin għad-delizzju, għall-ħruġ, għall-knisja u għad-dar.

Iżżid li żewġha darba biss ħa s-sick leave kemm dam impjegat u wara li marlu t-tabib tax-xogħol id-dar u qallu biex ma joqgħodx jagħmel hekk, Pawlu qatt ma ħa sick leave aktar, għax kien iħoss li dmiru kien irid jagħmlu.

Id-dixxiplina lill-ulied

L-istess dixxiplina għaddieha kollha lil uliedu, tant li jekk kienu jkunu jridu jibqgħu ftit iktar għall-kaċċa, kien jgħidilhom “illum daqshekk, għada jerġa’ jisbaħ”. U t-tfal qatt ma kienu jwebbsu rashom. Anki għal-liċenzja tal-arma, kien jgħidilhom li qabel ma jkollhom iż-żmien, ma jmissu xejn. L-istess għas-sewqan tal-karrozza. Minkejja li hu kien sewwieq, qatt ma ħalla lit-tfal fuq l-isteering qabel ma kellhom iż-żmien tagħhom, għax kien jirraġuna li jekk ikunu involuti f’xi inċident, jibqa’ jħoss rimors tal-kuxjenza.
Meta ħdax-il sena ilu Pawlu u Carmela għalqu ħamsin sena miżżewġin, kellhom quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament fl-istess kolleġġjata ta’ San Pawl, fejn kienu tejġu. Wara kellhom riċeviment familjari.

Għar-rigward tal-messaġġ li jgħaddu lill-għarajjes tal-lum, Pawlu, li għandu 88 sena u Carmela, ta’ 78 huma tal-fehma li l-għarajjes għandu jkollhom ħajjithom ippjanata minn qabel iż-żwieġ. Illum il-miżżewġin għandhom ferm aktar prioritajiet u għalhekk jinħtieġ aktar ippjanar. Il-flus huma meħtieġa, iżda l-ħin għal xulxin – għall-mara, għar-raġel, għall-ulied u għad-dar huma fost l-aktar li għandhom jindukraw. L-ewwel attenzjoni trid tkun fuq dawn.

Illum qed tinbet id-drawwa ħażina li l-‘ħbieb’ isiru parti mill-familja, u fejn jiġri hekk qed naraw li tonqos l-attenzjoni lejn min għandu jkollna l-aktar għal qalbna. Finalment qaluli li d-dixxiplina fil-karattri wkoll tilgħab parti mill-aktar importanti fi żwieġ hieni u b’saħħtu. 

Ix-xahar t’Awwissu kien iqanqal bosta tifkiriet lill-mamà u lill-papà. Kien proprju fil-bidu ta’ dan ix-xahar li huma kienu żżewġu, u fis-sena ta’ wara, il-Bambin bagħtilhom lil Elise, tarbija qisha anġlu tas-sema b’xagħarha qastni u bil-wardiet ta’ wiċċha ħomor peprin. F’għeluq is-sentejn mit-twelid ta’ Elise, il-ferħ tal-mamà u l-papà ssokta bit-twelid ta’ Luca, tifel fuq ruħu, b’xagħru u b’għajnejh suwed tuta donnu pupu minn dawk li jżejnu l-ħwienet tal-ġugarelli. Elise kienet wisq kuntenta b’ħuha u kien l-aqwa rigal li qatt qalgħet f’ħajjitha. Anki Luca kien iħobbha daqs id-dawl t’għajnejh.

Din is-sena, il-mamà u l-papà ħasbu li jorganizzawlhom festin bħal sħabhom tal-klassi lil Luca u lil Elise. Il-mamà talbithom biex iħejju l-lista tal-mistednin u meta tawhielha, hija marret tixtrilhom l-inviti. Xi ġranet qabel il-festin, il-mamà xtrat il-bżieżaq, il-karti tat-tiżjin, il-kpiepel tal-karti u basktijiet b’rigali ċkejknin għall-mistednin. Imbagħad marret għand id-dulċier u ordnat l-ikel u l-ħelu meħtieġ. Lejlet il-festin, il-papà qatta’ jum sħiħ jgħin lill-mamà fit-tiżjin tad-dar.

L-għada wasal il-jum tant mistenni, u Luca u Elise kienu mejtin bil-ferħ u bl-eċċitament. Il-ħin rawh għaddej bil-mod ħafna bħallikieku l-minutiera tal-arloġġ kienet għal btala dakinhar. Għall-ħabta tal-erbgħa ta’ wara nofsinhar kulħadd kien lest jistenna l-mistednin.

Madwar nofs siegħa wara, waslu n-nanna Marija u n-nannu Ġużi. Aktar ma beda għaddej il-ħin, aktar ġew nies, u fis-salott ma kienx hemm fejn toqgħod labra. Il-ħbieb ta’ Elise u Luca ntefgħu bilqiegħda fl-art f’nofs is-salott u għajnejhom kienu kollha fuq dak ir-raġel liebes qmis skura tleqq u qalziet pariġġ li kien qiegħed jagħmlilhom il-logħob bil-maġija. Il-qraba ntefgħu bilqiegħda fuq is-siġġijiet fil-ġenb tas-salott biex jgħidu kelma bejniethom. Id-diskors tal-papà u taz-ziju Bernard waqa’ fuq il-futbol. Iz-ziju Pawlu ma ndaħalx fid-diskursata u qagħad jibla’ u jiekol il-pastizzi u l-qassatati. Il-mamà, in-nanna Marija u z-zija Polly intilfu jitkellmu fuq il-faċendi tad-dar, u meta poġġew ħdejhom Miss Psaila u lil Miss Galea qalbu s-suġġett u bdew jitħaddtu fuq l-eżamijiet. Iz-zija Sunta qagħdet bilqiegħda ħdejn in-nannu Ġużi u tgħidx kemm daħket bil-praspar li rrakkontalha.

F’daqqa waħda daqqet il-qanpiena tal-bieb tad-dar. Luca u Elise ma setgħux jaqtgħu min ġie għax il-mistednin kienu kollha hemm. Iżda l-mamà u l-papà ma wrew ebda ħjiel ta’ sorpriża u bil-kalma kollha qalulhom biex jiftħu l-bieb. It-tfal għajtu għajta kbira bil-ferħ hekk kif lemħu lil Julie. Il-mamà u l-papà kienu stednuha bil-moħbi tagħhom biex jagħtuhom sorpriża għal għeluq sninhom. Din it-tifla kienet serqitilhom qalbhom meta għodwa waħda kienu ltaqgħu magħha l-baħar meta hija kienet għal btala f’Malta mal-mamà tagħha, Pamela. Qatt ma stennew li kienu se jerġgħu jarawha propju f’dak il-jum tant għażiż għalihom, u introduċewha mal-mistednin bħala l-ħabiba speċjali tagħhom. Hija u l-mamà tagħha kienu beħsiebhom iqattgħu jumejn għandhom u l-mamà u l-papà kienu diġà lestew kamra għalihom. Dakinhar Luca u Elise kienu qalgħu diversi rigali sbieħ fosthom dar tal-pupa u karozza ħamra tgħajjat bħal tal-Ferrari. Imma żgur li l-ikbar rigal kien iż-żjara bla mistennija ta’ Julie li żiditilhom bil-kbir id-doża ferriħija tal-festin tagħhom.