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Is-sinjali tax-xjuħija kienu bdew jagħmlu tagħhom fuq in-nannu Ġużi. Beda jħoss saħħtu tonqos bil-mod il-mod. It-taraġ ma kienx għadu jitilgħu jiġri bħal qabel, u meta kien jimxi ftit fit-tul kienet taħkmu għejja kbira. Il-pressjoni u z-zokkor ukoll bdew juruh snienhom. Darba fost l-oħrajn in-nannu kien imissu jmur għall-viżta għand it-tabib Farrugia. Minbarra lin-nanna Marija, ħa miegħu wkoll lil Elise u lil Luca għax il-mamà u l-papà kienu nqabdu xogħol u ma kellhomx ma’ min joqogħdu.

It-tfal kellhom kurżità liema bħalha biex jaraw x’kien hemm fil-klinika tat-tabib għax qatt ma ftakru li qabel kienu daħlu hemmhekk. Malli sabu ruħhom ġewwa, ġew wiċċ imb wiċċ mas-segretarja li qaltilhom biex jistennew lit-tabib fuq is-siġġijiet tal-intrata. Qagħdu jduru mal-mejda tal-ħġieġ li kien hemm fin-nofs, u jaqbdu xi fuljetti, li kien hemm imferrxin ’l hawn u ’l hinn, u jaraw x’fihom. F’ħin minnhom in-nannu kellu bżonn imur sal-kamra tal-banju u n-nanna għenitu jasal s’hemm għax kellu jimxi kulitur twil. Wara ftit, it-tabib Farrugia ħareġ mill-kamra tiegħu u t-tfal mill-ewwel indunaw li kien qiegħed ifittex lin-nannu. Kien fih raġel b’żaqqu mdaqqsa u tonda qisha koppla, xagħru abjad qotna u ftit imwaqqa’ min-naħa ta’ wara, u wiċċu tond qisu sold u ruxxan. Fuqu kellu ġagaga bajda u kbira u f’idu l-leminija kellu n-nuċċali tal-qari. Luca u Elise ħarsu lejn xulxin u ma tkellmu xejn.

Hekk kif daħlu fil-kamra tal-viżti, it-tabib laqa’ lin-nannu bis-soltu daħka qawwija tiegħu li riegħdet ma’ kullimkien u meddu fuq sodda għolja apposta biex jinviżtah. Wissieh biex jistrieħ kemm jista’ jkun u ordnalu li jieħu xi pilloli wkoll. Wara, huwa ntasab bilqiegħda fuq l-iskrivanija, qabad il-pinna u beda jiktiblu r-riċetta tal-mediċina. Ma laħqitx għaddiet minuta li ma ħassx xi ħaġa qiegħda tiġbidlu l-qalza ta’ siequ x-xellugija. Għall-bidu ma tax kas, iżda meta l-ġbid issokta b’iżjed qawwa minn qabel, huwa ttawwal taħt l-iskrivanija. Wiċċu sar aħmar nar u tgħidx kemm kemmex xofftejh hekk kif lemaħ lil-Luca u lil Elise mejtin bid-daħk! Tistgħu taħsbu kif baqgħu n-nanniet meta raw lit-tfal ħerġin minn taħt l-iskrivanija tat-tabib! In-nanna qaltilhom biex jitolbuh skuża talli kienu daħlu hemm baxx baxx biex joqogħdu jinbxuh. It-tabib tbissmilhom u huma tbissmulu wkoll.

Malli ħarġu mill-klinika u rikbu fil-karozza tan-nannu, in-nanna indunat li Luca kellu xi ħaġa moħbija fil-komma tal-flokk. B’għaġeb kbir tagħha sabet li kien ħa n-nuċċali tax-xemx tat-tabib minn fuq l-iskrivanija tiegħu meta huwa kien medhi jinviżta lin-nannu. Hija tgħidx kemm irrabjat miegħu u n-nannu wkoll ma ħax gost, iżda ma kienx f’burdata li joqgħod jitbaqbaq. Kollha mistħija, in-nanna reġgħet daħlet fil-klinika u ħabtet fuq il-bieb tal-kamra tat-tabib. Ma damx ma fetħilha u hi newlitlu n-nuċċali tax-xemx filwaqt li spjegatlu kif kien spiċċa għandha. Huwa raddilha ħajr, tbissmilha kemm kemm, u weġibha li hija setgħet dejjem teħodhom magħha lil Elise u lil-Luca fil-klinika tiegħu basta joqogħdu jilagħbu fil-kamra magħmula apposta għat-tfal sakemm huwa jara lin-nannu. Mid-dehra t-tabib Farrugia ma riedx li jsiru aktar bawxati bħal ta’ dakinhar.

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

Ftit żmien ilu nqala’ battibekk wara li persuna tal-IRA (Irish Republican Army) allega li l-mexxej tas-Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, kien ordna l-qtil ta’ mara, talli għenet suldat Ingliż, ferut mill-balal. Għal dan l-għemil, hi nħatfet minn skwadra tal-qtil u ġiet maqtula. Madankollu, Adams għadu jiċħad.

Sadanittant kien rappurtat każ ieħor. Eamon Molloy, imbikki u mtertaq bl-uġigħ, kien jaf li ma kellux tama ta’ ħelsien wara li nħataf mill-iskwadra, magħrufa bħala ‘The Unknowns’ li kienu jwettqu l-ordnijiet tal-ogħla awtorità tagħhom.

Molloy, ta’ 22 sena, ittieħed minn Belfast għall-interrogatorju li sar f’caravan f’għalqa diżabitata. Hu talab bil-ħniena lil dawk li ħatfuh u qalilhom li kien membru leali tal-IRA u li qatt ma kkoopera mat-truppi Britanniċi. Iżda kien hemm rapporti xejn fondati li Molloy seta’ kien qed jgħin lill-għadu.

Minkejja l-protesti għall-innoċenza tiegħu, Molloy induna li s-sentenza tiegħu kienet il-mewt. Hu ġie ttorturat minn irġiel lebsin il-balaklavi, li ma emmnux l-innoċenza tiegħu, waqt li membri oħra tal-iskwadra qagħdu jilagħbu l-ballun tul it-tortura msemmija.

Iżda fl-aħħar tas-swat, dawk li ttorturawh tawh ċans għal xewqa. Din kienet li jinġieblu saċerdot. Saret sejħa lil Fr Eugene McCoy, qassis tal-lokal. Membri tal-iskwadra marru għalih u qalulu li r-raġel weġġa’ gravi f’inċident tat-traffiku u kien jeħtieġ il-Griżma tal-Morda. Iżda s-saċerdot ma sab ebda inċident. Kien hemm caravan mitluqa, fejn sab żagħżugħ kollu demm, imneżża’ għarwien għajr għall-qalziet ta’ taħt, fl-aħħar mumenti ta’ ħajtu. Dan kien f’Mejju tal-1975. Minn dak iż-żmien, is-saċerdot qatt ma żvela xejn jew irrapporta.

Iżda l-każ jaħraq li jinvolvi lil Adams hu dak tad-deċiżjoni li tinħataf, tiġi ttorturata u maqtula l-omm żagħżugħa ta’ għaxar ulied. Din l-akkuża saret f’rekording minn Brendan Hughes, magħruf bħala ‘The Dark’ Deputat Kmandant tal-IRA, li miet fl-2008. Hu kien qal li Admas għandu jġorr ir-responsabbiltà tal-qtil tal-omm u l-futur inċert u ta’ biża’, li kellhom jiffaċċjaw l-għaxar uliedha, tul ħajjithom kollha.

L-omm, Jean McConville, kienet tgħix ma’ uliedha ta’ bejn sitta u 16-il sena f’appartament tal-Kunsill. Hi nqatlet fl-1972 meta xi ġirien infurmaw lill-mexxejja tal-IRA li hi kienet simpatizzanta Britannika. Dan ġara wara li ntlemħet tagħti l-għajnuna tagħha lil suldat milqut u ferut quddiem darha. Ftit wara l-att ta’ karità mas-suldat, Jean, ta’ 37 sena, instabat imsawta brutalment u kollha dmija fit-toroq viċini.

Żewġha kien miet sena qabel u għalhekk uliedha stess kellhom joħduha d-dar u jnaddfulha l-feriti li kellha. Iżda ma fiqitx. F’inqas minn 24 siegħa, aktar minn 12-il ruħ, uħud mistura fil-balaklavi, waslu f’darhom u bdew jgħajtu li riedu jaraw lil ommhom.

Huma kaxkruxa mill-bieb, b’uliedha mqabbdin ma’ saqajha biex jippruvaw iżommuha magħhom. Iżda uliedha ma rnexxilhomx. Ġimgħa wara, raġel li qal li kien mill-IRA mar f’dar it-tfal u qalilhom li kien mibgħut biex jagħtihom il-portmoni t’ommhom u ċ-ċurkett tat-tieġ. Fuq it-‘tape’, Brendan Hughes, li darba kien l-id il-leminija ta’ Adams u figura leġġendarja tal-kmand tal-IRA jinstema’ jgħid: “hemm bniedem wieħed biss li ta l-ordni biex dik il-mara tinqatel. Dak ir-raġel hu l-kap tas-Sinn Fein.”

Mill-inqas, kien hemm 16-il persuna li ‘sparixxew’ minn ‘The Unknowns’ qabel ma fl-1972 ittieħdet deċiżjoni li ma jintremewx l-iġsma mutilati fit-toroq ta’ Belfast, ta’ dawk li tqiesu bħala tradituri.

Ulied Jean qed isostnu li l-qtil t’ommhom ma jistgħu jinsewh b’xejn u qed jallegaw li dan għandu jitqies bħala krimini tal-gwerra u min kien responsabbli għalih għandu jitressaq quddiem il-Qorti f’The Hague, biex jieħu li ħaqqu.
 

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Żwieġ fil-Palazz tal-Arċisqof

Victor Mario Abela, Ħamruniż, qabad ma’ martu Carmen b’imħatra ma’ ħabibu għal flixkun cola. Kien student fil-Kulleġġ De La Salle u l-ħabib tiegħu Guido Camilleri, li darba raha l-Kalkara fejn kienet tgħix, qallu li xtaq ikellimha, iżda kien jistħi. Victor inkoraġġieh jersaq lejha u fl-aħħar għamlu l-imħatra bejniethom li allura jkellimha hu.

Dak iż-żmien Victor, l-uniku wild tal-familja, għax l-erbgħa l-oħra ta’ qablu kienu mietu, kellu xi 17-il sena u kien Form V. Carmen, li kellha xi 16, kienet tattendi l-iskola sekondarja l-Belt. Fil-Kulleġġ kienet id-drawwa li l-istudenti jaqbdu xogħol ta’ Shakespeare u joħorġu play għall-palk. Il-klassi tiegħu kienet se tippreżenta l-Merkant ta’ Venezja, u Victor kellu l-parti ta’ Antonio.

Sadattant sar jaf li ħuha l-kbir Joe (illum Professur tax-xjenza teknika) u ż-żgħir Vanni, (magħruf bħala bużullottist ewlieni), kienu wkoll studenti f’De La Salle. Peress li Victor kien ikun spiss fit-tuck shop ibigħ u jagħti palata lill-brother, meta kien imur Vanni, kien jagħtih il-ħelu mingħajr ma joħodlu flus. Iżda dan il-‘pjaċir’ kien jagħmlu bi ħsieb!

Stedina

Allura meta ngħata l-erba’ biljetti li kull attur kien jingħata biex jistieden lil min ried, Victor sab l-opportunita’, waqqaf lil Carmen, qalilha li hu ħabib ta’ ħutha, u li japprezza ferm kieku tattendi għar-reċta. Hi weġbitu li l-problema kienet il-mama’ tagħha, iżda hu għeleb din il-problema billi taha żewġ biljetti, biex tieħu lil ommha magħha.

Carmen u ommha attendew u wara l-play kellhom xi drinks fejn seta’ jitkellem kemm magħha kif ukoll ma’ ommha. Aktar tard bdew jiltaqgħu fit-triq u jsellmu lil xulxin.

Darba, Victor, li t-tagħlim tiegħu kien jispiċċa qabel dak ta’ Carmen, mar il-Belt jistennieha tiskola u qagħdu jitkellmu fit-terminus. Maż-żmien bdew jitkellmu regolarment sa ma titlaq il-karrozza għall-Kalkara. Ħbiebu, li bi ftehim miegħu kienu marru jittawlu hux tabilħaqq kien qed ikellimha, kellhom iħallsulu l-cola li rebħilhom.

Fil-frattemp il-kulleġġ kien joħroġ il-gazzetta Il-Kewkba u fiha kien hemm ritratt ta’ Victor mal-kast. Vanni, ħu Carmen, li ġieli ħaditu magħha meta kienet tiltaqa’ ma’ Victor, ħa din il-gazzetta d-dar u qal lil ommu li dak tar-ritratt, kien qed joħroġ ma’ Carmen. L-omm qabdet u marret għand Bro. Robert, id-Direttur, li lissnilha l-kelmiet: ‘‘irringrazzja lil Alla u ixgħel xemgħa lill-Bambin. Dak tifel tajjeb.’’

Jiġu minn xulxin

Wara ftit, Victor ta l-aħbar lil ommu u saru jafu li l-ommijiet kienu jiġu minn xulxin mill-bogħod. Iżda missieru ried ikun jaf min huma l-ġenituri tax-xbejba. Għalhekk Victor inqeda bi Bro Michael Buttigieg, li mar ikellem lil missieru meta hu ma kienx id-dar. U mhux talli missieru ma qallu xejn meta rritorna, talli staqsieh meta se jlaqqgħu ma’ Carmen. Min-naħa ta’ omm Carmen, din qalet lil Victor li kienet lesta ddaħħlu d-dar, ladarba l-ġenituri tiegħu jkunu jafu li qed ikellem lil bintha.

L-għerusija ta’ Victor u Carmen damet madwar seba’ snin, u dan għall-fatt li hi daħlet il-College tal-għalliema mill-ewwel u hu baqa’ barra minħabba li marad missieru. Xtaq jattendi l-Universita’ biex jaqbad il-professjoni ta’ avukat. Meta ra applikazzjoni għal għalliem, tefagħha, u ngħażel. Għamel żmien jgħallem ukoll lill-persuni neqsin mid-dawl. Wara, mar il-College, intbagħat jgħallem fi skola primarja u aktar tard intbagħat jgħallem fis-sekondarji.

Victor jirrakkonta li meta qabad jaħdem, missieru kien qallu ‘‘il-paga trid tagħtiha lil ommok, għax dawk il-flus m’humiex tiegħek.’’ Jien obdejtu, u kont nagħtiha kollox.

Dar f’Ħal Balzan

Darba waħda staqsieh kemm kien se jdum jaħsibha biex jiżżewweġ u Victor wieġbu li ma kellux flus biex jixtri post, u li la ried joqgħod f’dar il-ġenituri tiegħu u lanqas f’dik tagħha. Missieru qabel miegħu u qallu li kellu l-flus fid-Defence Bonds. Il-Ħadd ta’ wara l-missier reġa’ qabadhielu u staqsieh fejn xtaq imur joqgħod. Victor ħatfu fil-kelma u qallu li l-isbaħ post għalih kien Ħal Balzan, viċin San Anton. Kien hemm xi reklam f’gazzetta u marru jċemplu għalih minn barra, għax dak iż-żmien ma kienx hawn telefons fid-djar.

Raw id-dar, bil-garaxx u għoġbithom, iżda missieru ried li qabel jiftiehmu fuq prezz, jarawha l-għarusa u ommha, biex wara ma jkunx hemm tgergir. Hekk ġara u l-proprjeta’ xtrahielhom missieru għall-prezz ta’ Lm2,500. Dan il-prezz kien 46 sena ilu.

Missier Carmen kien Chief Engineer fuq is-sottomarini fit-Tarzna. Kien raġel kwiet, tant li Victor jirreferi għalih bħala ‘San Ġużepp il-mutu’. Iżda kien kapaċissimu għax il-Commander-in-Chief dejjem jirrikorri lejh f’kull problema. Kien ukoll l-ewwel chargeman u peress li kien iħobb jara lil min jistudja — lil Salvu Debono u lil Nazju Abela, — li kienu jaħdmu t-Tarzna, kien jagħlaqhom f’kamra u jħeġġiġhom ikomplu jistudjaw biex isibu post aħjar. Xogħolhom kien jagħmilhulhom hu.

Victor jgħid li kien jistħi minnu u l-biża’ tiegħu kienet biss meta jilagħbu t-Taljani, għax kien partitarju kbir tagħhom. Darba sa kellhom joħdulu tabib id-dar!

Victor u Carmen damu għarajjes erba’ snin. Fl-għerusija, berkilhom iċ-ċrieket Dun Carmelo Xuereb, li kien kappillan tal-Kalkara u aktar tard Vigarju Ġenerali.

Żwieġ fil-Palazz

Iżżewġu fis-6 ta’ Novembru, 1966 fil-Palazz tal-Arċisqof il-Belt, peress li l-Arċisqof Gonzi kien jiġi z-ziju ta’ missierha. Qaddsilhom hu stess fid-9.00 a.m. Wara marru għall-festin, li dam sat-3.00 p.m. u sar fil-Lukanda Phoenicia, fejn kellhom madwar 600 ruħ mistednin.

Il-familja ta’ Carmen hi waħda numeruża, u biex Victor ikollu l-mistednin, stieden lil tal-familja u lill-ħbieb li kienu miegħu l-Kulleġġ tal-Għalliema. It-tie; ħallsuh l-għarajjes.

Dari, meta ħaddiema mal-Gvern tkun se tiżżewweġ, kienet obbligata tieqaf mix-xogħol li jkollha, u tingħata somma flus. Carmen kienet se tingħata Lm300 iżda sat-tieġ dawn il-flus kienu għadhom ma ħarġux. Allura marru għand ziju tagħha, issellfu Lm600 u bejn iċ-ċekk tagħha u xi flus li qalgħu fit-tieġ, ħallsu għalih.

Il-qamar il-għasel qattgħuh id-dar, għax ma kellhomx flus. Wara t-tieġ, Victor qal lis-sewwieq biex joħodhom Ħ’Attard. Dak ħaseb li kienu sejrin il-Corinthia, iżda ftit qabel waslu hemm, Victor waqqfu u qallu li kienu waslu.
Għamlu ġimgħa xalata. Filgħodu jieklu għand ommu u filgħaxija għand ommha u f’jumejn minnhom marret għalihom kuġina ta’ Carmen, li żewġha kellu karrozza Anglia, li ħaduhom magħhom għal dawra u kielu barra.

Ra ’l missieru jibki

Meta ġew għat-twelid tat-tarbija tagħhom, Victor xtaq li jkollhom tifla, peress li fil-familja ta’ missieru kien ilu ma jkollhom waħda għal tliet ġenerazzjonijiet. U meta mar iħabbarlu li twelditilhom tifla, ra lil missieru bid-dmugħ f’għajnejh għall-ewwel darba f’ħajtu.

Bint Victor u Carmen twieldet il-Ħadd u l-omm xtaqitu jmur iħabbarha fil-gazzetta. Meta mar sab tfajla li staqsietu x’kien beħsiebhom isemmuha. Peress li kien għadu ma jafx, staqsa lilha x’kien jisimha. Dik qaltlu Rosanne u hu qalilha li se jsemmiha bħalha.

Lura d-dar, Carmen staqsietu wkoll x’se jsemmu lil binthom u hu għarrafha b’dak li ġara ftit qabel u li se jsemmu lit-tarbija Rosanne. Illum, binthom hi miżżewġa lil Stephen Calleja u għandhom żewġt itfal, Luke u Sarah.
Rigward il-valuri Nsara jemmnu li dawn kienu hemm, għadhom hemm u jibqgħu hemm. Il-biċċa xogħol hi kemm qed ikunu pprattikati. U min jipprattikahom irid jagħmel hekk mhux biex jidher iżda għax iħoss minn qalbu li għandu jimxi magħhom.

Meta jitrattaw id-dixxiplina, jaqblu li saret taqliba enormi tul 50 sena. Dari, il-qofol ta’ kollox kienu: il-kappillan, in-nutar, is-surġent u l-għalliem. Għan-nies, dawn l-individwi kienu qishom il-Kunsill Lokali. Isemmu li fl-istess żmien, meta ssir il-Parents’ Day, minkejja li ħafna ġenituri ma kinux jafu jiktbu, kienu jattendu biex jaraw kif sejrin uliedhom. Illum ftit huma dawk li jagħtu kas uliedhom. Mhux biss, talli dari, studenti li ma joqogħdux sew, kienu jingħataw xi daqqtejn bir-riga. U ebda ġenitur ma kien imur għas-sodisfazzjon, għax kien jemmen fid-dixxiplina, iżda llum, anki jekk iżżiegħel b’xi student, jakkużawk li qed tabbuża minnu.

L-għaks kien deheb

Anki l-għaks tal-antik ħdejn il-lussu ta’ llum, jitqies bħala deheb, għax it-tfal ma kienu jippretendu xejn. Illum tixtrilhom x’tixtrilhom, ukoll b’liri kbar, jifirħu ftit biha u jwarrbuha. Ir-raġuni għal dan kollu hi li l-progress dejjem ġab rigress.

U l-agħar ħaġa bħalissa hi meta ssib ġenituri li jkunu f’qagħda finanzjarja batuta u jridu jikkupjaw lil ħaddieħor, għal dak li jqisu bħala benefiċċju għal uliedhom. Mhux sew li familja tipprova tagħmel aktar milli tiflaħ. Lit-tfal u liż-żgħar irridu ngħallmuhom li l-imħabba ma tissarrafx fi flus.

Victor semma eżempju tipiku ta’ studenti universitarji li għandhom l-isbaħ karrozzi għax strawhielhom il-ġenituri tagħhom, meta għadhom lanqas bdew jaħdmu. Iżda ġenituri hekk qajla jaħsbu fil-ħsara li jagħmlu f’uliedhom ladarba jiġu biex jiżżewġu. Għax żgħażagħ li jkunu draw f’ċerta ħajja lussuża, ma jkunu lesti għal ebda sagrifiċċju. U ż-żwieġ għandu jitfassal fuq is-sagrifiċċji.

It was to be 21 year old Jenny Stevens first day at work. She had graduated as a Secretary following a two year course at the Secretarial College a few months ago. Her dream had finally been fulfilled, well, partly at least. She still had to find a job. She had filed several applications for secretarial job vacancies appearing in the papers. But she received no feed-back. As the days passed into weeks and the weeks into months, she began to lose heart. Her dream would not be fulfilled after all. In her depressive mood Jenny lamented with her Mum – “Don’t you think that life is strange Mum? I had studied so hard, obtained my certificate, yet I am being turned down everywhere!”

Her Mum sympathized with her daughter, especially knowing the sacrifices she had endured to qualify. “Life is full of surprises my dear. One can never be sure of anything in this world. It is wise to take each day as it comes. But your day will come.”
It was some days later that she noticed an advert for a secretary with Johnson’s Import & Export Company Ltd. She put her application immediately but with not many expectations. She was however surprised and jubilant when they requested her to call at their offices for an interview.

On her way for her first day at work at Johnson’s she recalled when she had sat for the interview. She had faced the three partners of the Company who asked her many questions and observed her closely to assess her suitability for the post. The older man, the Chairman of the Company, appeared not to favour her very much.

He had told her that they would prefer an older girl with experience rather than a young one who was after her first job. He could not be blunter than that! But Jenny got the job nevertheless. As Secretary to Mr. Johnson himself, the Chairman of the Company! Apparently, on the insistence of the other directors, it was agreed that she be given a chance to prove herself. She was determined to prove Mr. Johnson wrong and the other partners right. On this, her first day at the office therefore, she wanted to give a very good impression of herself, especially to Mr. Johnson – dress her best, hair in place, arrive early. She took out her car from the garage and, to avoid the early morning traffic, headed for the ring road from where she would take the one leading directly to the company offices. It was normally a three-quarter of an hour trip. 

But half way down the motorway she saw what appeared at first glance to be an accident of sort – a stationery car on the wayside and a woman with her head slumped on the steering wheel. She stopped immediately and went to her aid. She opened the car door, looked at the woman, an elderly one, and saw that she was unconscious. She felt her pulse. It was not beating. Her heart must have stopped. Without losing any time, she phoned emergency to the ambulance services and the Police. Then she laid the well-dressed woman on the ground and commenced to give her mouth-to-mouth artificial respiration. She had a life-saving certificate from her girl guides days and knew what to do in such circumstances.
Jenny repeated the process at intervals, trying with all her will power to breathe life into the lungs of the unfortunate woman. It was a trying process but she continued without losing heart. Time was of utmost importance. It was a question of life and death.
Then, when she was about to stop, she felt the woman’s chest heave. She was coming to. Her heart started beating again, slowly at first and then more rapidly.

Some cars had by now stopped, their drivers looking at the scene and offered their help. But Jenny was now in control of the situation. Then the Ambulance and the Police cars screeched to a halt beside her. Out came the paramedics with the stretcher. She explained to both Police and paramedics what had happened. The paramedics told her that her immediate response in giving her artificial respiration had definitely saved the woman’s life. Then they transferred the woman to the ambulance and sped to the nearest hospital. The Police then took Jenny’s personal details for their report. Still in a state of shock, she went back to her car, rested for a few minutes, arranged her hair in the car mirror, dusted down her clothes, started the car and continued her journey to the office.
Her first day. And what a day!! She looked at her watch. It was now 10 am. She would be more than an hour late at least. What would Mr. Johnson say? She expected to be given a dressing- down at least or be fired on the spot. She worried what fate awaited her.

She arrived at the office breathless, saw the receptionist busy on the telephone, murmured “Good Morning” and sat down on a chair waiting for her to finish the call. When the receptionist hang down the phone, Jenny informed her that she was the new Secretary to the Chairman, apologized for being late as she had met a car accident on the way and enquired whether Mr. Johnson had asked for her. The receptionist welcomed her to the office but told her that Mr. Johnson had not arrived yet. Jenny felt relief. Thank the Lord! Mr. Johnson would find her at her desk when he arrives and he would be none the wiser that she came late. The receptionist looked at her, saw her somewhat disheveled and informed her that she could use the bathroom if she wished. Jenny grasped the opportunity with both hands. She definitely needed to put on some make-up and do her hair properly. When she came out of the bathroom, the receptionist accompanied her to her office and made her a cup of tea. Jenny looked at the office, it seemed nice and comfortable. But would she be here tomorrow?

An hour later she heard Mr. Johnson come in and head straight to his office. He buzzed her immediately and Jenny entered his office. With a smile on her face she murmured – “Good morning Mr. Johnson” The Chairman looked somewhat agitated. He told her that he was delayed because his wife had been admitted to hospital earlier this morning but is now well and should be discharged later this morning.

“Miss Stevens”, he continued, “Contact the Police and get the details of the young woman who apparently gave my wife artificial respiration while she was unconscious in her car on the ring road. We are both indebted to her and wish to meet her and thank her personally for saving my wife’s life!”

Miktuba minn Fiona Vella

Dan l-aħħar, għaddiet ġrajja minn għala widnejja li qatt ma kont smajtha qabel. Tikkonċerna traġedja li seħħet fil-Karnival tal-1823, fil-ġurnata tat-11 ta’ Frar, li fiha, għadd kbir ta’ tfal mietu fil-Kunvent tal-Franġiskani, fil-Belt Valletta.

Iddeċidejt li nistħarreġ dan ir-rakkont aktar fil-fond sakemm irnexxieli nsib id-dettalji kollha ta’ dan l-inċident miġburin fl-arkivji tal-Librerija Nazzjonali tal-Belt. Inizjalment, l-aħbar ta’ din it-traġedja twasslet permezz ta’ nota li nkitbet mis-Segretarju Prinċipali tal-Gvern, Richard Plasket, fil-Malta Government Gazette (Num. 557) tal-14 ta’ Frar 1823, fejn dan fosthom informa illi kienet qed issir inkjesta dwar dan il-każ. Sussegwentement, id-dettalji kollha tniżżlu f’Suppliment (paġni 3391 -2) marbut mal-istess gazzetta li jġib l-istess data msemmija hawn fuq.

F’din il-kitba dettaljata tiegħu, Plasket jinkludi informazzjoni li waslet għandu minn tagħrif tal-Arċisqof ta’ Malta, minn evidenza ta’ persuni li dehru quddiem il-Maġistrat tal-Pulizija (li kienu jinkludu kemm familjari tal-vittmi u anki individwi oħra li kienu preżenti waqt dan l-inċident), u kif ukoll minn rapport mediku relatat mal-każ.

Huwa jibda billi jagħti sfond lil din il-ġrajja, hekk kif isemmi illi f’dawk l-aħħar snin, f’Malta, kienet nibtet id-drawwa illi fil-ġranet finali tal-Karnival, kienu jinġabru għadd ta’ subien tal-età bejn it-8 u l-15 il-sena li kienu ġejjin mill-klassi baxxa tal-inħawi tal-Belt u tat-Tliet Ibliet (Birgu, Isla u Bormla). Dawn it-tfal, li kienu jipparteċipaw għal din l-attività minn jeddhom, kienu jinġabru f’purċissjoni u jittieħdu l-Furjana jew f’xi inħawi oħra fejn wara li jisimgħu quddiesa, huma kienu jirċievu xi ħobż u frott. Dan l-ikel kien jiġi provdut permezz ta’ ftehim li kien isir bejn il-gvern u xi benefatturi oħra. L-għan prinċipali wara din l-attività kien li jżomm lit-tfal protetti mill-ġlied u mill-konfużjoni tal-Karnival li kien ikun hemm f’dak il-perjodu fl-ibliet imsemmija. L-arranġament ta’ din il-purċissjoni kien jaqa’ taħt ir-responsabbiltà tad-Diretturi Ekkleżjastiċi tal-Istituzzjoni li kienet tgħallem il-Katekiżmu.

Infatti, jidher illi fl-10 ta’ Frar 1823, skont din it-tradizzjoni, xi tfal kienu ttieħdu jisimgħu quddiesa l-Furjana u mbagħad kienu twasslu lejn il-Knisja ta’ Ġieżu l-Belt Valletta fejn hemmhekk ġew irregalati xi ħobż u frott, mingħajr ma nqala’ l-ebda inċident.

Iżda dan il-pjan sfratta għal kollox l-għada, meta akkost li din l-attività kienet mistennija li tirrepeti ruħha bla problemi, sensiela ta’ żbalji, wasslu għal traġedja kbira li ħadd qatt ma kien basar li għad tiġri.

Għall-ewwel, fil-11 ta’ Frar 1823, kollox kien miexi ħarir u kif suppost. It-tfal inġabru bħas-soltu u ttieħdu jisimgħu quddiesa l-Furjana. Madanakollu, did-darba, iċ-ċerimonja damet ma ntemmet siegħa aktar mis-soltu u għalhekk meta dawn it-tfal twasslu sal-Knisja ta’ Ġieżu, il-festeġġjamenti tal-Karnival kienu laħqu spiċċaw. B’hekk, il-wasla tagħhom ħabtet mal-ħin meta n-nies li kienu qed jieħdu sehem fil-briju tal-Karnival, bdew jirritornaw lejn djarhom. U l-bużillis inqala’ meta numru ta’ tfal u adulti oħra li saru jafu b’din l-attività f’Ta’ Ġieżu, tħalltu baxx baxx mat-tfal l-oħra bil-ħsieb li jieħdu xi ħaġa anki huma.

Issa, skont il-pjanijiet tas-soltu, is-subien kienu mistennija jidħlu mill-bieb tas-sagristija tal-Kunvent ta’ Ġieżu u kellhom joħorġu mill-bieb ta’ faċċata li kien jagħti għal Triq Sant’Ursula, fejn hemmhekk, huma kienu jirċievu l-ħobż u l-frott. Sabiex jiġi evitat illi ċertu tfal jidħlu dabtejn, huma kienu jitħallew jistennew f’kuritur u l-bieb tas-sagristija kien jingħalaq warajhom.

Però ġara li f’din il-ġurnata, il-bieb tas-sagristija tħalla miftuħ aktar mis-soltu minħabba li kienu qed jistennew lit-tfal ġejjin mill-Furjana, b’konsegwenza illi nies oħra, apparti t-tfal tas-soltu, baqgħu deħlin. B’hekk, minflok madwar mitt tifel, kif kien ikun hemm fi drabi oħra, inġabar ammont ħafna akbar ta’ nies u din il-folla bdiet kull ma tmur timbotta lit-tfal li kien hemm aktar il-quddiem. Dawn bdew jingħafsu kontra bieb li kien jinżamm nofsu magħluq, biex it-tfal joħorġu minnu wieħed wieħed.

Hekk kif sar il-ħin, min kien responsabbli milli jagħlaq il-bieb tas-sagristija, sakkar din id-daħla u peress li kien qabad jidlam, dan ma ntebaħx li kienet daħlet miġemgħa mhux mistennija. Biex tgħarraq is-sitwazzjoni, lampa li s-soltu kienet titħalla mixgħula f’dan il-kuritur, għal xi raġuni ntfiet, u b’hekk kulħadd spiċċa fi dlam taqtgħu b’sikkina.

Hekk kif sabu ruħhom fid-dlam, in-nies bdew jimbuttaw lil xulxin biex joħorġu mill-bieb l-ieħor, u t-tfal li kienu l-eqreb tal-bieb l-ieħor, tgerrbu fit-tmien tarġiet li kienu jinsabu biswit l-entratura, u waqgħu fuq xulxin. B’hekk, l-uniku bieb minn fejn setgħu joħorġu, kompla jiġi mbarrat u minħabba li dan kien jinfetaħ il-ġewwa, aktar żdied il-paniku.

 L-individwi li kienu fuq barra jqassmu l-ħobż u l-frott lit-tfal ma damux ma bdew jisimgħu t-twerżiq tat-tfal l-oħra li nqabdu f’dak is-saram. L-għajjat wasal anki s’għand il-ġirien tal-madwar u minnufih in-nies ħarġu sabiex jaraw x’ġara u biex jagħtu l-għajnuna. Naturalment, huma ppruvaw jiftħu n-nofs l-ieħor tal-bieb li kien jagħtu fuq Triq Sant’Ursula iżda dan ma seta’ jinfetaħ b’xejn peress li kellu t-tfal mixħutin fuqu. Għalhekk, xi wħud ġrew lejn is-sagristija biex isibu ċ-ċavetta tal-bieb l-ieħor u meta għamlu dan, huma daħlu minn fost in-nies li kien hemm fil-kuritur sabiex jilliberaw lit-tfal mill-bieb ta’ wara. Iżda, sfortunatament, għal ċerti tfal, kien diġà tard wisq!

Infatti, numru ta’ tfal inħarrġu barra t-triq mejta, oħrajn b’ħass ħażin kbir fuqhom u oħrajn fi stat pjuttost ħażin. Eventwalment instab illi 110 tifel tal-età bejn it-8 u l-15 il-sena kienu mietu fgati billi ġew magħfusa fi spazju żgħir jew minħabba li ntrifsu waqt il-konfużjoni li nqalgħet.

Skont il-Lutenent Gvernatur, mill-inkjesta li saret u mill-informazzjoni li nġabret, ġie konkluż li dan kien inċident sfortunat li ġie kkawżat minħabba d-dewmien fiċ-ċerimonja tal-Furjana li ta lok lil dawk li kienu qed jiċċelebraw il-Karnival sabiex jingħaqdu ma’ dawn it-tfal. Kaġun ieħor kien in-nuqqas ta’ dawl fl-imsemmi kuritur li ċertament kompla żied fil-mortalità. Iżda, finalment ħadd ma ġie akkużat bil-mewt ta’ dawn it-tfal peress li xejn ma kien sar bi ħsieb ħażin li joħloq din it-traġedja.

Plasket kompla jsemmi kif f’dik il-ġurnata kerha, kulħadd kien ikkollabora biex jgħin kif jista’; anki l-familjari tal-vittmi li ħallew lill-pulizija u lis-suldati jaħdmu sabiex isalvaw kemm jistgħu individwi. Huwa faħħar ukoll lill-ġirien li għamlu minn kollox biex jagħtu daqqa t’id f’dak kollu li kien hemm bżonn.

Ma naqasx li jirringrazzja wkoll lit-tobba u lill-infermieri li kienu ġrew lejn il-post biex jagħtu l-għajnuna malli semgħu bl-aħbar. Huwa wera l-gratitudni tiegħu anki lejn l-uffiċjali tal-Pulizija u lejn il-membri tar-Reġiment Royal Malta Fencibleli kienu mmexxija mill-Kaptan tagħhom, il-Kulunell Markiż Giuseppe De Piro. Bis-saħħa ta’ dawn kollha, Plasket ikkonkluda, il-konsegwenzi ta’ din it-traġedja tnaqqsu drastikament.

Għall-ewwel bqajt bla kliem, inħares siekta lejn dawn iż-żewġ paġni antiki li kienu qed jitfgħu dawl fuq is-soċjetà Maltija ta’ dak iż-żmien u fuq il-faqar li kienu għaddejjin minnu wħud mill-Maltin. Ma stajtx ma nixxukkjax ruħi u nħoss għal dak l-għadd kbir ta’ familji, li f’jiem suppost ta’ ferħ u daħk bla tarf tal-Karnival, spiċċaw jgħixu ħabta w sabta din it-traġedja tal-waħx!

Xi ħaġa ġegħlitni nkompli nfittex u nixtarr din l-informazzjoni ħalli nsir naf kemm jista’ jkun dwar dak li seħħ. Għaldaqstant, tkellimt mal-ħabib tiegħi, il-Markiż Nicholas De Piro li mill-ewwel rama jgħinni billi għaddieli l-informazzjoni li kellu ħalli nkomplu nibnu din l-istorja.

Fil-fatt, huwa pprovdini b’immaġni tal-antenat tiegħu, il-Markiż Giuseppe De Piro li dakinhar tal-inċident, kien qed imexxi lir-reġiment tas-suldati tar-Royal Malta Fencible. Barra minn hekk, huwa għaddieli wkoll ritratt tal-Ġeneral Sir George Whitmore flimkien ma’ illustrazzjoni antika li probabbilment turi din it-traġedja, li pinġha l-ġeneral stess, peress li hu kien qed iservi f’pajjiżna f’dak il-perjodu.

Għalaqt din ir-riċerka tiegħi billi mort infittex ukoll il-Knisja ta’ Ġieżu ħalli nara b’għajnejja fejn kien sar dan il-fatt. U hemm, 192 sena wara, hekk kif ironikament fil-Belt kienu qed jippreparaw għall-Karnival tal-2015, bħal deherli li fil-bogħod, smajt it-twerżiq tal-imsejkna tfal…

(Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fit-Torċa tal-15 ta’ Frar 2015)

Tissue Paper Flowers are simple, quick, and inexpensive. They are a thoughtful hand made gift that is easy to customize, looks beautiful, and can last a long time. You can whip up a dozen flowers in about an hour. It’s a perfect gift or decoration for Valentine’s Day!

To get started you’ll probably have most of these items already laying around your house, if not you can find everything at your local Craft Store.

 This is what you need to make one dozen tissue paper flowers. One piece of tissue paper makes one flower. It’s easiest to make the flowers in multiples of three. Adjust what you need based on how many flowers you want to make.

You’ll Need:
12 Sheets of Tissue Paper (20″x26″ or 20″x30″)
12 Pipe Cleaners or other Flexible Wire
Scissors
A Vase

Optional:
Ribbon to decorate the Vase
Scotch Tape to attach the Ribbon to the Vase
A Ruler or Measuring Tape

Step 1.

Lay three sheets of unfolded tissue paper down on a flat surface. Stacking them on top of each other.

Step 2.

Place the tissue paper stack in front of you portrait style. Take the bottom edge and fold in over one inch. Then flip it over and fold it back on the other side. Continue folding your way up the paper one inch at a time. When you are done folding your tissue paper stack should look like an accordion.