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They met again after seven years. Julie and Tonette were school friends at St. Margaret School in Portsmouth – inseparable friends to be exact. They studied together, went to dances and the pictures, met boyfriends, cried and laughed together. At the end of their last school term, Tonette and her family moved to the Isle of Wight. After some months, both friends lost touch and went their separate ways.

Julie embarked on a career in accountancy. After obtaining her degree, she found employment with a local audit firm, continued her post-graduate studies, achieved promotion and was looked upon as a respected member of her profession.

Tonette, in a different way, also had a successful career. She exploited her artistic ability as a piano teacher and gave lessons in music to children and young persons. She was looking to opening up a school in town in order to fulfill the large demand from parents of children wanting to further their musical career.

Julie had met her boyfriend soon after she left school. They courted each other assiduously. Their love was passionate and without reservations. There was no two ways with Julie. If she set her mind on something, she would not rest until she achieved it. They were married soon after and set up home in Portsmouth were they both worked.

The honeymoon over, it did not take her much time to realize that she and her husband were not compatible with each other. They had different views on life and on most other subjects. They suffered each other for a couple of years and then agreed amicably to divorce and live their separate ways.

Tonette was more conservative in her nature. She enjoyed life like any young girl of her age, but was not tied down to any one boy in particular. She was in no hurry to get married. As her mother used to tell her – “See the field first Tonette, there are so many fish in the water, do not hurry, marriage is for keeps, take your time darling!”

She enjoyed travelling abroad and every year without fail visited a different country. She enthused about the art in Italy, the easy life in Spain, the discipline in Germany, the mountains of Switzerland and the boulevards of France. She loved mingling with the people, learning about their culture and their way of life. She was fascinated by the fact that people were so diverse – different language, religion, culture, way of life – just because they were born in a different part of the world. However after all her travels and her inclination to remain single, she finally met her man. It started as a chance meeting in the park, continued with occasional dates for lunch or dinner, and finally developed into a love relationship with marriage in mind. They had set their date on the last Saturday in June.  She was convinced that he was, kind, gentle, unselfish and reliable.

Seven years had passed since both Julie and Tonette had last seen each other. They met again by chance, through facebook on the internet. “That must be the Julie Johnson I know,” thought Tonette when she saw her page. She was, and they were both happy to have made contact again after so many years. They had decided to meet at Hugo’s Café situated in the main street of the Isle where Julie happened to have a scheduled meeting with an accountancy firm there. They hugged and kissed when they met. Their exclamations of “Oohs” and “Aahs” showed their joy at seeing each other after so many years. Then they sat down and, while sipping their coffee, described their life and adventures during their separation. They talked about their careers, their families and their friends. There was so much to catch up on. Then they recalled their childhood and school exploits. “Do you remember when Miss Adams caught us smoking during the break?” “Do you recall when she asked us why our essays were always on the same lines? ‘Do your brains think the same!’ she had said.” “Do you remember when the maths teacher caught you drooling over that Elvis Presley photo?” “Have you met any of our teachers since?”

Tonette told Julie that she had made some bad judgments in her life, but she hoped that she had now learned from them. At this point Julie felt the need to console her friend. “You are not alone there Tonette. We all have our faults, we all make mistakes. I know that I’ve made a good few of them myself in my time and they would not be the last I’m sure. But I don’t think that we’re bad. It just means that we are weak. And that’s something we all have to pay for, one way or another.”
“I wish I was a Catholic like you Julie,” said Tonette. “I envy you. You can get up to all sorts of mischief and then just go to church, confess and get your slate wiped clean there and then!” “Oh no. It’s not as simple as that really,” replied Julie.

Then they came back to the present. They spoke about their loves and their heartaches – Julie about her marriage and divorce, and Tonette about her travels and impending marriage. They talked, as girls do, about the men in their lives. Julie described her ex-husband, how her marriage had failed just two years after tying the knot. She did not know whose fault it really was, maybe they both were to blame or maybe they realized that they were not meant for each other. Whatever the cause, Julie reasoned, she had obtained her divorce now and therefore was again ‘a free bird’.

Tonette described her fiancé, who she will be marrying in a few weeks time. She will be settling down only because she believed to have finally found the man of her dreams. She extolled his virtues, described his handsome features and enthused about his gentle character. They sipped their coffee and ordered another cup. There was so much to catch up on. Tonette continued speaking about the man who will be her husband in a few weeks time. It seemed to Julie that nothing but marriage would satisfy her friend’s passion. “Mark and I”, Tonette said, “feel strongly about each other. We are so much in love; we must have been made for each other.”

“Your Mark,” interrupted Julie. “Tell me more about him”. And Tonette lost no time in continuing her description of the man of her dreams. “He’s tall, dark, brown eyes, an architect by profession, lives in Chichester, 33 years in December, name of Collins.”
Julie could not believe it! Her old school friend was to be married to her ex-husband! She smiled directly at her and said. “We did everything together Tonette. Shared everything for so many years but I could never have thought that we would also share the same man!”  

Ġuvni ta’ 23 sena bla xogħol, li jġorr miegħu isem ta’ super eroj, għadu kif intbagħat għal kważi tliet snin ħabs wara li nqabad jisraq u jieħu d-droga.

Batman bin Suparman, inqabad darbtejn fuq kamera tas-CCTV jidħol f’sala tas-snooker f’Singapore, u fiż-żewġ okkażjonijiet seraq total ta’ €299. Hu ammetta bosta akkużi, fosthom li seraq il-‘card’ ta’ ħuh, tal-Bank, biex ġibidlu bla ma qallu €388 biex jixtri l-eroina. Għalhekk, Batman intbagħat il-ħabs għal 33 xahar.

Batman, li kien arrestat fid-19 ta’ Awwissu 2013 u mibgħut il-ħabs, sar sensazzjoni soċjali tal-midja, wara li b’xi mod, il-Karta tal-Identità tiegħu, li turi l-istrambezza f’ismu, dehret fuq l-Internet. Minn kif jirriżulta, Batman bin Suparman twieled fit-13 ta’ Mejju tal-1990.

F’temp ta’ ftit ħin inħolqot ‘fan page’ fuq il-‘Facebook’ bl-isem ‘Batman bin Suparman Fan Club’, li kisbet aktar minn 11,000 ‘like’. Ċertu Kevin Yang kiteb: “L-idolu tagħna jinsab maqful il-ħabs. Hemm xi ħadd li jista’ jħarrbu?”

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Pawlu u Maria huma t-tnejn Għawdxin, għalkemm ilhom madwar 56 sena jgħixu Malta. Huma wkoll, bħal numru kbir ta’ Maltin ta’ snin oħra jagħtu xhieda ta’ mħabbithom li diġà daħlet fil-66 sena tagħhom. Kif jirrakkuntaw, l-imħabba tagħhom ma kinitx ward u żahar biss, iżda kellhom ukoll il-morr ta’ dak kollu li jħabbat ma’ wiċċ il-bniedem. Madankollu, l-imħabba tagħhom rebħet kull ostaklu u jemmnu f’dak li kien jgħid San Ġorġ Preca, li l-veru għani hu dak li ma jixtieq xejn.

Kien ix-xahar ta’ Lulju u kienu għadhom kif temmew l-eżamijiet tal-iskejjel. Marija kienet f’Form II tas-Central School. Jiftakru ż-żmien meta minn Malta kien jitla’ s-Sur Cauchi, li kien Inspector. Dan kien jagħti xi lectures fil-British Institute ta’ Għawdex, u bl-iskuża tagħhom kienu jiltaqgħu ftit.

Maria kellha dawk l-14-il sena u Pawlu kien ftit akbar minnha. Ta’ 17-il sena, Pawlu kien diġà laħaq għalliem. Kien mar sena l-Kulleġġ St. Michael’s, għax kien hemm kors u aċċettawh. Kien jgħallem klassijiet ta’ filgħodu u ta’ filgħaxija, għax l-istudenti kienu jagħżlu liema klassi jmorru. Għal tliet snin kien jgħallem fl-iskola Sta Ubaldeska, f’Raħal Ġdid. Kien joqgħod Malta l-ġimgħa kollha u nhar ta’ Ġimgħa wara nofsinhar imur Għawdex.

Jiftakar sew it-traġedja tad-29 ta’ Ottubru, 1949. Hu kien wieħed minn dawk li ċemplu għal dgħajsa biex twassalhom Għawdex. Meta mar il-Marfa sab li kienet diġà mimlija. Mit-tlieta li kienu ċemplu, kien rikeb biss Pawlu Zammit — li baqa’ ħaj u ieħor li kien il-lukanda Belleview, ċertu Karmnu mill-Qala, ġuvnott ta’ xi 15-il sena. Dan meta ra lil Pawlu offrielu li jersaqlu biex jitla’. Iżda Pawlu ma telax u telaq bil-mixi sal-Mellieħa mal-ieħor li baqa’ l-art. L-għada semgħu bl-għarqa tad-dgħajsa. Kienu mietu 23 ruħ. Fuq id-dgħajsa kien hemm ukoll kelb li salva u baqa’ jistenna lil sidu sa wara li tellgħuh mejjet.

It-trobbija

Maria, ir-raba’ minn disa’ aħwa, ulied Ġużeppi u Maria Anna Scicluna mir-Rabat Għawdex, tirrakkonta li waqt li ommha kienet omm ħabiba, missierha kien ta’ dixxiplina kbira. Kien wieħed min-neguzjanti ewlenin tal-gżira Għawdxija. Kellhom ħanut tal-għamara, ieħor tal-fajjenza, li kien jimporta u ieħor tad-drappijiet. Lil uliedu ma kien iħallihom imorru mkien, iżda fejn jidħlu suġġetti ta’ skola, kien iħeġġiġhom jattendu. Kien b’riħet hekk li hi u Pawlu kellhom dawk il-mumenti flimkien, waqt il-lezzjonijiet.
Madankollu taf li kien hemm raġel li kien iċempel lil missierha u jgħidlu biex imur jara bintu Maria ma’ min kienet qiegħda.

Il-quddiesa wkoll kienet toffrilhom iċ-ċans li jħarsu ftit lejn xulxin u jitkellmu b’għajnejhom, għax dak iż-żmien, l-irġiel kienu jinqatgħu għalihom f’naħa u n-nisa naħa oħra.

Min-naħa tiegħu Pawlu kien it-tieni wild minn 14 aħwa. Il-ġenituri tiegħu kienu Ġorġ u Regina. Huma wkoll kellhom in-negozju u Pawlu minn dejjem kien meqjus bħala l-breadwinner. Isemmi li fl-antik, l-Għawdxin kienu jgħixu ħajja ta’ family economy – dak kollu li jiggwadanja wieħed, imur f’borża waħda u minnha tiekol il-familja kollha. U allura anki l-paga tiegħu kienet meqjusa bħala hekk. Jiftakar li għall-bidu kien jaqla’ Lm17 fix-xahar u aktar tard tela’ għal Lm27.

Il-festa ta’ Santa Marija

Darba f’Awwissu, fil-festa ta’ Santa Marija taż-Żebbuġ, iż-żewġ familji kienu Marsalforn. Kellhom post hemm għas-sajf. Maria u Pawlu ltaqgħu fil-festa u qagħdu ftit flimkien. Wara ftit Maria rat lil missierha għaddej. Stenniet li meta tirritorna d-dar jagħmlilha xi xenata. Iżda minn dan kollu ma ġara xejn, għax kif taħseb hi, kien diġà jaf b’xi ħaġa minn xi ħadd. Iżda wara dik il-laqgħa, ma ħallihiex toħroġ aktar. Mhux hekk biss, talli peress li kien jaf li Pawlu kien jirreċta mas-Salesjani, lanqas sal-Oratorju ma kien iħalliha tmur.

Min-naħa tiegħu Pawlu ma kellux l-istess problemi. Jgħid li huma kienu familja kbira u midħla tad-drawweit ta’ dak iż-żmien. Li ġuvni jkellem xbejba u jiltaqa’ magħha regolarment, ma kinux jarawha bi kbira, la ommu lanqas missieru.

Il-ħanut ta’ Ġoġò

Ġoġò kien in-neputi tal-Isqof Pace u kien jaf bl-imħabba ta’ Pawlu għal Marija. Dan kellu ħanut tal-kotba bieb ma’ bieb mad-dar ta’ Maria u peress li Pawlu minn dejjem kien iħobb il-kotba, kien imur għandu.
Dak iż-żmien f’Għawdex ma kienx hemm wisq ħwienet tal-merċa u ħafna mix-xiri kien isir mis-suq. Iżda meta omm Maria ma kien ikollha bżonn tixtri xejn, bintha kienet tibqa’ d-dar. Allura biex Ġoġò juriha li Pawlu kien qiegħed għandu, kien iħabbtilha fuq it-tieqa ta’ barra u jgħidilha “bil-għatx il-gawwi”.

Missier Maria kellu xi ftit oppożizzjoni li bintu tkellem lil Pawlu u dan għar-raġuni li Pawlu kien ikun spiss Malta u b’hekk hi ma tkunx taf x’inhu jagħmel. Iżda minn hemm u minn hawn it-triq ta’ mħabbithom kompliet miexja ’l quddiem u Pawlu wasal biex daħal id-dar. Omm Maria kienet ferħana bl-għażla ta’ bintha, kif kienet ferħana wkoll li binha kien wasal biex jilħaq saċerdot. Madankollu għall-omm, dan il-ferħ ma damx bosta. Hekk kif binha ordna għal saċerdot, hi ma setgħetx tattendi għax mardet. Marru għall-ewwel quddiesa tiegħu, il-missier u ħutu s-subien. Imbagħad l-Isqof Pace tah permess iqaddes id-dar. Aktar tard dakinhar stess, lil omm Maria sarilha l-Vjatku. Dan kien ukoll ]mien xahrejn mindu Pawlu daħal għandhom.

Dixxiplina

Biex il-koppja Mizzi turi kemm kienet iebsa d-dixxiplina fi żmienhom irrakkuntatli li darba, Pawlu ftakar li Dun Alwiġ kien bagħat risposta għal Fr. Mangion. Ma kienx hemm tul ħlief tefgħa ta’ ġebla. Pawlu talab lil missier Maria biex iħalliha tmur miegħu ġirja u jirritornaw. Kulma wieġbu l-missier kien: “Jekk tmur l-Oratorju waħdek, se titlef it-triq!”

Namur ma kinux jafu x’inhu u baqgħu hekk sa jum iż-żwieġ. L-unika passiġġata li kienu jagħmlu flimkien kienet fl-1 ta’ Novembru – Jum il-Qaddisin kollha. Dak iż-żmien kienet festa kmandata. Kulħadd kien imur iċ-ċimiterju.

Maria kienet tmur ma’ oħtha, li dak iż-żmien kienet tinnamra wkoll. Bis-saħħa tal-erwieħ kienu joħorġu u għalihom kienet tkun passiġġata ta’ darba fis-sena.

L-għerusija

L-għerusija ta’ Pawlu u Maria kienet sempliċi ferm, minħabba li ommha kienet mietet. Ta’ 21 sena Maria kienet ħadet il-piż kollu tad-dar, peress li oħtha ikbar minnha kienet iżżewġet fis-sajf li kienu se jiżżewġu fih huma u oħtha l-kbira kienet diġà żżewġet u kellha żewġt itfal. Huma taw iċ-ċrieket lil xulxin u għal din l-okkażjoni kienu attendew biss il-ġenituri ta’ Pawlu fid-dar ta’ Maria. Minn dakinhar bdew iħejju għaż-żwieġ, li kien ippjanat għal Awwissu. Missier Maria kellu dar ċkejkna li ħallieha vojta biex jirranġaha għalihom. Tahielhom b’kera. Iżda kellhom jipposponu d-data peress li xahar qabel kien miet ħu Pawlu (aktarx fl-ewwel inċident stradali f’Għawdex). Ħuh, Ġorġ kien qed jirritorna d-dar wara l-festa ta’ Santa Margerita u ttajjar minn trakk.

Għalhekk, Pawlu u Maria qatgħuha li jiżżewġu l-Ħamis filgħodu tas-27 ta’ Diċembru, 1956. Għal-libsa tat-tieġ Maria kienet niżlet Malta ma’ Ġanna ta’ Pawla, li kienet il-ħajjata Għawdxija magħrufa ghal kif tivvinta l-ħwejjeġ tat-tiġijiet. Xtraw id-drapp mingħand Camilleri ta’ Triq Merkanti, l-Belt. Oħtha Maryrose, li kienet il-bridesmaid kienet għamlitilha libsa miksija bil-biċċiet tal-madreperla.

Iżżewġu fil-knisja ta’ San Ġorġ u qaddsilhom ħu Maria stess, Fr Salvinu Scicluna u kien Maġistrat tas-Sagra Rota fil-Vatikan, għal 40 sena.
Bħala xhud għaż-żwieġ Pawlu kellu lit-Tabib Anton Tabone, li kien prinċipal tal-Isptar Ġenerali ta’ Għawdex u tabib tal-familja u Maria kellha lit-Tabib Nicholas Scicluna, li barra milli kien zijuha, kien ukoll prinċipal ta’ Chambray.
Bħall-familji kollha Għawdxin ta’ dak iż-żmien, it-tieġ sar fid-dar tal-għarusa u r-ritratti ġibidhomlhom il-ħabib tagħhom Francis Cremona. Imbagħad fuq l-insistenza ta’ Fra Ġorġ, Agostinjan iz-ziju ta’ Pawlu, kellhom jin]lu Malta għand Cassar Photo Studio, il-Ħamrun u jieħdu ritratt tal-okkażjoni. Fra Ġorġ qasam il-fliegu magħhom għax kien ħabib ta’ Giuseppe Cassar.

Għal qamar il-għasel niżlu jumejn Malta, fil-British Hotel, il-Belt. Mhux qabel, imma, ħadu l-bukkett tat-tieġ tagħhom lill-Madonna ta’ Pinu. Hekk kienet id-drawwa tal-Għawdxin.

Maria tirrakkonta li wara t-tieġ, u sewwasew għall-going away, reġgħet xiddet il-libsa sewda għal tliet snin u magħha ġabret lil oħtha ż-żgħira Mary Rose kif kienet ix-xewqa ta’ ommha. Maż-żmien, missierha reġa’ żżewweġ u oħtha Mary Rose baqgħet għal kollox ma’ Maria u Pawlu. Meta waslet biex tiżżewweġ, sa ħarġet ukoll mid-dar tagħhom.

Il-Ħajja miżżewġa

Għalkemm kellhom id-dar mikrija ta’ missier Maria, Pawlu minn dejjem xtaq li jkollu d-dar tiegħu. Sab art qrib ħutu u daħal għaliha. Dak iż-żmien ma kienx diffiċli ssib l-art u l-prezz għaliha ma kienx ikun għoli. Terġa’ l-War Damage kien jislef Lm750 għall-bini, li minnhom jieħu lura Lm350 biss. L-art stajt toħodha b’ċens ta’ xi Lm5 fis-sena u wara żmien tifdih.

Fl-ewwel dar tagħhom, u sena u xahar wara ż-żwieġ, lil Pawlu u Maria twelditilhom l-ewwel tarbija – Annamaria, li għandha żewġt itfal, Andrew u James. Imbagħad, fit-tieni dar, li issa kienet proprjetà tagħhom tweldulhom Ginette, illum miżżewġa lil Mario Grima, l-ispiżjar tal-Vittoriosa Pharmacy u għandhom żewġt itfal oħra; Yan u Maria. Wara sitt snin, Pawlu u Maria kellhom lil Joseph, illum gradwat u direttur tal-Klabb Kotba Maltin, li hu miżżewweġ lil Suzanne u għandhom lil Nicholas. B’hekk, Pawlu u Maria huma nanniet ta’ ħamsa.

Residenza

Illum il-ġurnata il-koppja Mizzi toqgħod l-Imdina. Faċċata tagħhom joqgħod l-Arċisqof Emeritus Ġużeppi Mercieca. Darba sejjaħ lil Maria u qalilha: “Intom, fi żmienkom ma kellkomx Moviment ta’ Kana, iżda nara li bħala familja ssudajtu. Kif żammejtu dan?”

Meta Maria semmietlu l-valuri reliġjużi u s-sagrifiċċji, l-Arċisqof fehem u weġibha: “Għedtli biżżejjed. Illum il-kelma sagrifiċċju, ħadd ma jrid jaf biha.” Biex jispjegali aħjar Pawlu rrakkuntali li peress li l-paga kollha kien jagħtiha lil ommu, meta ġie biex imur għal qamar il-għasel ma kellux flus, u qal lil missieru jagħtih xi ħaġa. Meta l-missier kien jaf li ibnu ma kellu xejn, tah Lm40. Missieru ma ridhomx u moħħ Pawlu għadu jtektek li beda l-ħajja miżżewġa b’dejn ta’ Lm40.

Mistoqsija kif sabu ruħhom Malta, qaluli li Pawlu ried jagħmel kors universitarju u ma riedx iħalli lil martu Għawdex bi tlett itfal. Allura telqu minn Għawdex u ġew hawn. Terġa’ Pawlu minn dejjem kien iberren li ’l quddiem f’ħajtu kellu jiftaħ l-ewwel Dar tal-Pubblikazzjonijiet – ħaġa li rnexxielu jwettaqha fil-milja tagħha.

Għal għeluq il-50 sena miż-żwieġ, Maria u Pawlu xtaqu jmorru Ta’ Pinu jirringrazzjaw lil Madonna, iżda dakinhar tal-50 anniversarju bdew jirċievu telefonata wara oħra. Kienu t-tfal li għamlulhom reklam f’ġurnal bla ma qalulhom. Imbagħad Ginette qaltilhom ma jmorru mkien peress li kienu se joħorġuhom u filgħaxija kellu jasal Malta Fr. Fabio Attard u jqaddsilhom id-dar, peress li kien maltemp. Imbagħad marru jieklu f’ristorant fl-Imdina.

Mitlubin jagħtu parir lill-koppji tal-lum, Maria qalet li meta koppja jkollha xi tilwima, għandha ssolviha fid-dar matrimonjali bejnietha. Jekk jonqos il-kliem, xi ħadd minnhom għandu jibni l-kuraġġ u jibda jitkellem.

Min-naħa tiegħu Pawlu hu tal-fehma li s-sagrifiċċji huma s-sisien għal ħajja ta’ mħabba vera. Isostni li bis-sagrifiċċju u bla mħabba żwieġ iżomm, iżda bl-imħabba biss mingħajr sagrifiċċji, kollox jaf imur il-baħar.  

Pat and Jenny Rawlings and Rod Maudling had known each other for almost all their young lives. The two families had been close friends for as long as any of them could remember. They experienced their childhood years being pushed in their buggies by their mothers, their teen years playing together in the park, going to school and so many other things besides. 

Both families had hoped that Rod would end up marrying Jenny. So they were surprised when Rod and Pat started living together. Indeed, Pat’s father did not hide his disapproval. Both felt disappointed at this hurdle in their life. But Pat, always the philosophical of the two, told Rod – “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain, to accept things as they are, to adapt to the situation and live as best you can.” So they set up house in another town and only occasionally visited their families. On the other hand, Jenny appeared to have overcome her disappointment over Rod and had since married. She was in fact expecting her first child and had asked Pat and Rod to be her godparents.

The christening of Jenny’s little girl was an occasion for members of both families to meet. For Pat and Rod, who had been away for some time, it was an ordeal. Even though Jenny had eventually found her love and settled down well with her husband, her father still resented that Pat took up with Rod and were living together. In fact he hardly spoke to both of them. When they returned home that Sunday evening after the christening, they resolved to continue living their life as they felt it. Both were in love with each other. They professed, during romantic moments, that they could not live without each other. “Love”, said Pat, “is that new feeling which surmounts any obstacles found along its path.”

Prior to settling down with Pat, Rod had a somewhat turbulent life–dropping out of college, changing several jobs, experimenting with drugs. But Pat had now stabilized his life. They were good together. “I just wish that I could turn the clock back,” said Rod. Pat looked at him directly and replied – “You will never be able to do that. Most of us have done things in our lives that we later regret and wish that they never happened. But Rod, what’s past is passed now.” These wise words encouraged Rod considerably. They felt like soothing balm on a fresh wound. He felt confident and ready to face anything. Pat’s words had that effect on him.

Their apartment, in the most fashionable area of the town, was tastefully furnished and decorated. Both were book worms and also loved operatic music. There were, naturally, books everywhere. They often relaxed reading or rereading a good classic story and later enjoy the music of Chopin, Verdi or Mozart. Evidently, both had good tastes. There were times, as always happens in life, when one of them, or both of them, felt somehow below par. That was when the genuine love and affection for each other become evident. Love is the strong bond that unified and fulfilled the lives of Pat and Rod.

The years rolled by. Jenny had another child. Pat’s father died and both Pat and Rod attended his funeral and wake. They mingled freely with the visitors accepting their condolences. It was on the day after, when his obituary, appeared in the local paper, that the neighbours raised a few eyebrows – “Jack Dawson, died on January 28 at the age of 70. He is survived by his wife Sue, his daughter Jenny and her husband John, his son Patrick and his partner Rod.”

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Ħażna ta’ aktar minn biljun lira Ingliża f’pittura għadha kif instabet fl-appartament malandat ta’ Cornelius Gurlitt fi Munich.

L-investigaturi rrappurtaw li fost il-pittura nstabu xogħlijiet mhux magħrufa ta’ Matisse, Marc Chagall u Otto Dix. L-uffiċjali tad-Dwana li sabu dawn ix-xogħlijiet ta’ pitturi ‘modernisti’, mill-ewwel ikkonfiskaw is-sejba mir-residenza ta’ Gurlitt, li għandu 80 sena.

Uħud mill-1,500 pittura – uħud minnhom b’valur eċċezzjonali – kienu rappurtati li nqerdu fin-nirien meta l-ajruplani tal-Alleati bbumbardjaw Dresden fl-1945.

Siegfried Kloble, il-Kontrollur tad-Dwana fi Munich f’konferenza tal-aħbarijiet żvela li fost ix-xogħlijiet mhux magħrufa qabel hemm ‘self portrait’ ta’ Dix, maħsub li sar fl-1919; pittura ta’ mara, magħmul minn Matisse u xogħol allegoriku ta’ Chagall.

Il-kollezzjoni tinkludi wkoll pittura ta’ Picasso, Auguste Renoir, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Max Beckmann, Max Liebermann, Ernst Ludwig Kirchner u Carl Spitzweg.

Appena l-pitturi kienu konfiskati, Gurlitt għeb, bil-pulizija tissuspetta li għandu flus bla rażan. Barra milli biegħ il-pittura ‘The Lion Tamer’, biegħ ħafna pitturi oħra – xogħlijiet li ma ġibdux wisq attenzjoni – qabel mal-uffiċjali tad-Dwana Ġermaniża, interveniet.

Ftit metri ’l bogħod mid-dar ta’ Elise u Luca kien hemm villa antika u kbira, li kienet maqtugħa mid-djar l-oħra. Fil-faċċata tagħha mhux biss kienu jispikkaw iż-żewġ kolonni m’għola sular bis-salib ta’ Malta mpinġi fuqhom, iżda anki r-rixtellu iswed miksi bis-sadid. Fuq in-naħa ta’ wara tal-villa kien hemm għalqa miżgħuda bis-siġar tal-frott. Kien faċli li wieħed jidħol fiha għax kulma kellu jagħmel kien li jaqbeż ċint m’għola xibrejn.

Il-villa u l-għalqa ta’ warajha kienu ta’ ċertu Baruni Magro Conti, li kien wiritha minghand missieru. Iżda billi tfal ma kellux, kollox tħalla mitluq wara mewtu. L-għalqa kienet saret il-post tal-mistrieħ għar-residenti tal-madwar u għat-tfal tagħhom, li kienu jmorru jilagħbu fiha u jaqtgħu l-frott fil-ħin liberu tagħhom.

Għodwa waħda, Luca u Elise ma kellhomx skola għax l-għalliema tagħhom kellhom laqgħa importanti. Il-homework kienu lestewh il-jum ta’ qabel u ma kinux jafu kif se jqattgħu l-ġurnata. Malajr ġiethom idea brillanti. Wara li ħadu l-kolazzjon niżlu sal-għalqa tal-Baruni fejn xi kultant kienu jiltaqgħu ma’ sħabhom għal xi logħba noli. Il-mamà ma qaltilhomx le ħalli jħalluha ftit fil-kwiet. Fl-għalqa ma kien hemm ħadd dak il-ħin u għalhekk setgħu jiġru ma’ kullimkien bil-kumdita`. Iż-żiffa ta’ Mejju bdiet tħabblilhom xagħarhom huma u jiġru, u jidħku ferħanin qishom żewġ għasafar meħlusin mill-gaġġa. Kienu ilhom ma jieħdu gost daqshekk fil-kumpanija ta’ xulxin għax l-istudju kien dejjem jillimitalhom il-ħin.

F’daqqa waħda, Luca rifes xi ħaġa iebsa u kieku ma qagħadx attent, kien jaqa’ fiha. Għelbitu l-kurżità biex jara x’kienet, u ġab għajnejh wara widnejh meta, minn qalb il-ħaxix salvaġġ, ġabar ġmiel ta’ ġiżirana bir-rubini kbar u ħomor ta’ kull daqs u għamla. It-tifel ħassha tqila f’idejh u xħin urieha lil oħtu hija wkoll baqgħet miblugħa. Marru jiġru dritt biha għand il-mamà u hija baqgħet sejra biha l-għassa tal-pulizija. Wara xi stħarriġ, irriżulta li xi ftit ġimgħat qabel, xi ħadd kien daħal fil-villa tal-Baruni u seraq xi ġojjelli. Il-ġiżirana tar-rubini kienet waqgħet fl-għalqa filwaqt li l-ħallelin kienu qegħdin jaħarbu minn hemm. Is-sejba li kien għamel Luca ġiegħlet lill-pulizija jitfgħu rashom fuq il-każ bis-serjetà.

X’ma jifirħux Elise u Luca meta ftit tax-xhur wara ħarġet l-aħbar li kien tkisser ċirku ta’ ħallelin li kien qiegħed jiffrekwenta n-naħa tagħhom! Kull wieħed minnhom kiel ikla ħabs talli kien wettaq diversi serqiet. Tassew li l-qawl jgħid li d-dnub ma jorqodx għax illum jew għada min jagħmel il-ħażin irid ipatti qares ta’ għemilu.

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Il-koppja Saver u Olga Camilleri minn Ħ’Attard jistgħu jgħidu li l-aħħar gwerra dinjija kienet katalista biex laqqgħethom flimkien, iżżewġu u ilhom flimkien għal 69 sena.

Olga, flimkien mal-ġenituri u ħutha – li kienu 13, kienu joqogħdu Tas-Sliema, iżda fi żmien il-gwerra spiċċaw evakwaw ruħhom u sabu refuġju Ħ’Attard, f’dar – quddiem il-Villa ta’ Strickland – li serviethom ukoll bħala xelter. Imbagħad, ommha kellmet lill-Kappillan Balzan, li kien minn Tas-Sliema, u tahom joqogħdu fil-kappella u s-Sagristija tal-Museum ta’ Ħ’Attard. Kien hemm numru ta’ familji, li ħadu kamra kull wieħed.

Wara krew mezzanin fit-triq tar-Rabat, li kellha xelter ukoll. Damu fiha xi sitt xhur, għax twaqqgħet fl-attakki tal-għadu. Minħabba f’hekk allokawhom fil-knisja tas-Salvatur, li kienet faċċata tad-dar fejn kienu. Wara xi tmint ijiem, il-knisja wkoll twaqqgħet mill-bombi tal-għadu u hi, ħutha u l-familja spiċċaw mirdumin taħt l-art, għax ix-xelter tal-knisja kellu bokka waħda, li ġiet imblukkata. Madankollu ħadd ma weġġa’ bil-goff, u ġew salvati mill-ħaddiema tas-salvataġġ.

Saver minn dejjem kien joqgħod Ħ’Attard u jirrakkonta li kienu familja ta’ ħamsa min-nies: missieru u ommu, hu u żewġt aħwa bniet. Iżda fi żmien il-gwerra u f’temp ta’ tliet snin mietu l-ġenituri tiegħu u oħtu l-kbira.

L-introduzzjoni

Darba, waqt li kien f’passiġġata mal-kuġina tiegħu Carmelina, li llum tinsab l-Amerika, lemaħ lil Olga u talabha tintroduċih magħha. Din qablet max-xewqa tiegħu u qalet lil Olga li kuġinuha xtaq ikellimha. Min-naħa tagħha, Olga weġbitha li lesta tkellmu iżda bi prova, għax ħasbet li l-kuġin li qaltilha bih Carmelina, kien ġuvni ieħor. Dan kollu seħħ fl-1944.

Għal dawk is-snin, in-namur kien ikun l-ewwel pass għall-ħajja tal-imħabba, fejn in-namrati jippjanaw biex jagħtu l-aħbar lill-ġenituri. Saver jgħid li madankollu, fin-namur tagħhom kien diġa’ beda jidħol fid-dar tan-namrata. Miegħu kien jieħu lil oħtu iżgħar minnu Ġuża, għax huma biss kien fadal mill-familja. Missier u omm Olga, li sadattant kienu saru jafuh sew, ma oġġezzjonawx għall-imħabba ta’ binthom lil dan il-ġuvnott.

Bħala namrati kienu jitħallew joħorġu flimkien, bil-patt li fis-7.30 p.m. ikunu rritornaw id-dar. Kienu jmorru passiġġata sal-istazzjon tal-ferrovija f’Ħ’Attard u xi kultant, nhar ta’ Sibt jew Ħadd imorru jaraw xi film il-Prince inkella r-Roxy, Birkirkara. Il-films kienu jintemmu fit-8.00 p.m. iżda għal okkażjonijiet bħal dawn kienu jkunu permessi jittardjaw dik in-nofs siegħa. U jmorru fejn imorru, magħhom kienu jieħdu lil oħtu Ġuża u lil waħda minn ħut Olga.

Xi xhur wara ħadu l-għerusija, fejn xtraw iċ-ċrieket u tawhom lil xulxin. Riċevimenti ma kinux jeżistu, peress li kien żmien il-gwerra.

Wara sena u erba’ xhur mindu ltaqgħu, ħasbu li jiżżewġu. Kellhom l-ewwel dar tagħhom fi Triq San Antnin, Ħ’Attard stess. Olga tiftakar sew li l-libsa tat-tieġ tagħha, li kienet simili għal dawn ta’ llum, kienet bagħtithielha zijitha mill-Amerika. Saver, li kien daħal minn jeddu mal-Air Force biex ma jinġabarx bil-lieva u jispiċċa fl-Armata – li ma kellux grazzja magħha, kien ħa kors mal-Uffiċċju tal-Posta u daħal bħala Postal Clerk. Naturalment, kellu l-uniformi u allura, dak iż-żmien, kulmin kien jaħdem mal-Ingliżi u kellu uniformi, kien obbligat jiżżewweġ biha.

Għallmu u żewġu

Saver u Olga żżewġu fid-29 ta’ April, 1945 fil-Parroċċa Santa Marija ta’ Ħ’Attard. Żewwiġhom Dun Pawl Said, li lil Saver kien jgħallmu meta kien għadu student is-Seminarju. Wara ż-żwieġ, il-miżżewġin friski rikbu l-karrozza u marru l-Ħamrun għand Cassar Photo Studio, biex jiġbdilhom ir-ritratt tal-okkażjoni. Kienu marru bil-biża’ fuqhom, minħabba li l-attakki tal-gwerra kienu għadhom jimmiraw fuq Malta. Mill-Ħamrun telgħu d-dar tal-ġenituri ta’ Saver, fejn kellhom riċeviment familjari u kienu mistednin xi ħbieb.

Għat-tieġ, Saver kellu ħabib li sablu tliet mużiċisti li marru jdoqqulhom u ħolqu ambjent ferrieħi fost il-mistednin.

Minkejja li kien żmien il-gwerra, Saver u Olga marru għal qamar il-għasel f’lukanda Birżebbuġa, li kienet ta’ Dowling.

Lura fid-dar matrimonjali, bdiet ħajja ġdida għall-koppja Camilleri, li xxettlet bl-ulied. L-ewwel ma kellhom kien lil Philip, armel ta’ Nathalie u għandu tlett itfal: TracyAnn, Adrian u Audrey. Imbagħad kellhom lil Tony, li hu miżżewweġ lil Rosemary u għandhom żewġt itfal: Stefan u Michelle.

Saver, li serva fl-Air Force għal 26 sena, kellu jsiefer fuq ix-xogħol tiegħu. Dan għamlu fl-1949. Ħadem fil-Lvant Imbiegħed, fil-Lvant Nofsani, fl-Ingilterra u f’Ċipru. Meta kien l-Ingilterra, martu Olga kienet miegħu u hemm tweldilhom Peter, li llum hu miżżewweġ lil Irene u għandhom tlett itfal bniet: Hayley, Ashley u Natasha.

Fl-aħħar, Saver u Olga kellhom lil binthom Maria, illum miżżewġa lil Francis Pisani u huma l-ġenituri ta’ Ephrem u Victoria. Maria twelditilhom f’Aden, fejn marru għal sentejn minħabba s-servizz ta’ Saver. Illum, Olga u żewġha huma bużnanniet ta’ żewġ pro neputijiet, li huma Maria u Harley.

Meta Saver iħares lura lejn ħajtu jiftakru jwettaq ix-xogħol mitlub minnu mill-Air Force, tant li l-aktar li għandu għal qalbu huma l-medalji kommemorattivi li ngħata u li apparti milli jilbishom f’ċerti okkażjonijiet, huma esebiti f’vetrina.

Medalji kommemoratti

Għas-servizz li ta, Saver irċieva l-Africa Star, id-Defence Medal, Il-Long Service u Good Conduct Medal, żewġ General Service Medals, mogħtijin f’perijodi differenti u l-Victory Medal . Barra minhekk għandu medalja oħra mogħtija mill-Gvern Malti lil dawk li taw servizz f’Malta.

Mitluba tirrakkonta fuq id-differenza bejn il-ħajja ta’ tfulitha u dik ta’ llum, Olga tgħid teżisti differenza kbira. Illum hawn ħafna aktar divertiment. Dari, biex familja tiddeverti kienet tmur għal xi opra milli kienu jiġu Malta, u li kienu jkunu preżentati fil-Gaeity jew fir-Radio City, il-Ħamrun.

Il-ħajja tal-mara tbiddlet ukoll u b’rata mgħaġġla. Dari, mara miżżewġa kienet tieħu ħsieb id-dar u lil uliedha, meta mhux ukoll lill-ġenituri. Illum, mhux talli kulħadd jirsisti biex joħroġ jaħdem, talli qed tinbet il-pika bejn il-miżżewġin għax f’xi każi l-mara taqla’ aktar flus minn żewġha. U dan qed joħloq il-problemi u ġieli jwassal għas-separazzjonijiet.

Olga hi tal-fehma li problema ewlenija oħra fost il-miżżewġin ta’ llum hi ma jafux jistennew. Iridu kollox fil-pront, sew f’kulma jeħel ma’ moħħhom kif ukoll f’dik li tiqies bħala lifestyle u oġġetti tad-dar.

Forsi problema oħra li l-koppja Camilleri tara fit-tfal li telgħin illum hi n-nuqqas ta’ ħeġġa li għandhom għall-attivitajiet b’rabta mar-ruħ. Hawn numru kbir ta’ żgħażagħ tal-ġabra u li jagħtu sehemhom kollu b’riżq il-proxxmu, iżda hawn numru ieħor li huma berdin għall-ħwejjeġ tal-Knisja.

Olga tirrakkonta li meta kienet żgħira, qatt ma kienet titlef quddiesa u din id-drawwa sabiħa għaddietha wkoll lill-erba’ uliedha. Tiftakar żmien meta kienet tattendi quddiesa b’xi tarbija milli kellha fi ħdanha. Illum, li qabżet it-80 sena, tmur mill-inqas darbtejn fil-ġimgħa. Żewġha Saver kien l-istess, u jgħid li anki meta kien imsiefer, kien ifittex biex jara fejn kienet se titqaddes xi quddiesa, ħalli ma jitlifhiex.

F’Malta u Għawdex m’aħniex imxaqilbin fuq il-mixi jew is-sewqan tar-roti; għalkemm hawn ġibda u xewqa u ħajra għaċ-ċaqliq tal-ġisem: tlielaq, roti. Maratona li seħħet fit-22 ta’ Frar 2015. Hemm waqtiet fejn ikollna nħallu l-karozza u nimxu: il-mixi hu sagrosant, bih ngħixu, bih niltaqgħu, tajjeb li niftakru u nwettqu mġiba ta’ ħarsien.

Int u miexi ħares ’l hemm u ’l hawn. Ara fejn miexi ħaddieħor, tiqafx titkellem taħt il-bankini; hemm jgħaddu l-karozzi suppost jarawk u jevitawk. Imma mhux kull sewwieq ta’ karozza jagħmel hekk.

Ara daqsxejn il-gazzetti, isma’ r-radju jew televizjoni u tintebaħ kemm tfal, żgħażagħ, mdaħħlin fiż-żmien ħallew ħajjithom jew huma u jaqsmu fuq il-faxxi bojod tat-traffiku jew fuq bankini jistennew tal-linja u dak li qabel kien ġisem sabiħ u b’saħħtu jew jgħaddi, issa jinsab mkisser jew bla ħajja.

Ħadd ma jaħsillek wiċċek biex tkun aħjar minnu u anqas fit-toroq u fuq il-bankini. Ħu ħsieb saħħtek, ilbes ħwejjeġ jixegħlu bil-lejl fejn tagħti fil-għajn u tidher: b’hekk sewwieqa ta’ karozza u roti jarawk. Taqsamx bl-addoċċ! Ieqaf u ħares u erġa’ ħares. Aħjar uff milli ahh. Saħħtek tiswa: ħarisha u ħalliha sħiħa.

Is-Saħħa t-tajba !

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.