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Għalqet is-sena u bdiet oħra. Mingħajr ma rridu nħarsu u niftakru, jew ninsew x’għamilna jew xi xtaqna nwettqu. Insibu li ħarbulna xi ġrajjiet, ħidmiet li ma għamilnihomx is-sena ta’ qabel u ta’ qabel, nixxennqu u nixtiequ u nibqgħu fl-istess ilma.

Meta ndaħħlu f’rasna li jekk niktbu u nagħtu ħin insibu li nlaħħqu u jibqgħalna ħafna ħin: ġrajja lanqas biss titwemmen. Dak li tagħmel sew u bir-reqqa m’għandekx għaliex terġa’ ddurru, għax wettaqtu sew u mill-ewwel.

Hekk ħu ħsieb saħħtek: tibżax mit-tabib, idħollu l-mixi. Xi darba se tmut, xi darba timrad, imma tistedinhomx b’idejk. Żur il-ħbieb u l-qraba, siefer, kul, għożż li għandek madwarek biex xħin tkun marbut ġo sodda jew mifxul min moħħok, dak li kellek tagħmel għamiltu u sew, u s-sena il-ġdida ma’ ġġiblekx uġigħ tal-qalb, imma tressaqlek ħidmiet ġodda.

Is-Sena t-Tajba.  

Minn Charles B. Spiteri

Għas-sajf, il-familji Grech u Busuttil kellhom dar kull wieħed maġenb xulxin qrib il-bajja ta’ Birżebbuġa. F’waħda kien joqgħod John iben Vincent u Marija, li fix-xitwa kienu joqogħdu fil-limiti ta’ Ħal Luqa, u fl-oħra Frida, bint George u Ginnie, li bid-dar residenzjali kienu joqogħdu Raħal Ġdid.

Minn tfal ċkejknin kienu jiltaqgħu għat-tliet xhur tas-sajf fil-villeġġjatura rispettiva tal-ġenituri tagħhom, li mhux biss kienu saru ħbieb ta’ xulxin, iżda b’uliedhom imorru wieħed għand l-oħra u viċi versa. Kien minn ewl id-dinja, li l-laqgħat għal tliet xhur sħaħ fis-sena, rawhom jikbru flimkien u jinġibdu lejn xulxin. Dan kien fil-bidu tas-snin ħamsin.

Frida tirrakkonta li meta ommha rat li bintha nisslet ċerta ġibda lejn John, żammitilha, minkejja li issa kellha 19-il sena. Kien żmien l-ubbidjenza u d-dixxiplina, tant li tiftakar li dak iż-żmien lanqas lipstick ma kien permess fuq ix-xebbiet. Allura, lanqas għall-quddies ma kienu jitħallew imorru weħidhom. Dan kollu kien iseħħ għat-tliet xhur sajfin.

Twassil ta’ messaġġi

Fix-xitwa ma kienu jiltaqgħu xejn, iżda qlubhom xorta sabu lill-kupidu li kien iwassal kull messaġġ ta’ mħabba lil xulxin. Dan peress li John kien għadu jattendi l-Kulleġġ San Alwiġi u hemm kien imur ukoll wieħed minn ħut Frida, iżgħar minnha. Kien hu li minn darba għall-oħra kien iwassal l-ittri minn dar għal skola u minn skola għad-dar. Jgħaddu d-disa’ xhur tax-xitwa u l-qlub safjin ta’ John u Frida, jerġgħu jitħeġġu għal xulxin hekk kif iż-żewġ familji jħejju biex jitilgħu fil-villeġġatura. Iżda l-ħruġ weħidhom ma kien permess qatt.

Huma għadhom jiftakru li biex darba marru jaraw filmat, marru magħhom il-ġenituri tiegħu u tagħha. Kienu jieħdu filliera sħiħa, u John kien jidħol l-aħħar wieħed, fid-dlam, biex joqgħod f’xifer ta’ filliera, ħalli meta jasal l-intervall joħroġ l-ewwel wieħed biex jiltaqa’ għal ftit sekondi max-xbejba tiegħu.

Frida għadha tal-fehma li s-sikkatura ta’ dari hi bżonjuża, għax minn kif qed naraw illum, mingħajrha jsaltan id-dnub u l-libertinaġġ, li qed jisfaxxa lil numru kbir ta’ familji.
Mitluba tgħid xi ħaġa fuq kif ħaduha l-ġenituri tagħha meta saru jafu li tixtieq tkellem lil John bis-serjeta’, Frida qalet li għall-ewwel ma tantx ħadu gost, peress li John kien għadu l-iskola, iżda ladarba temm l-istudju tieg[u u kellu mpjieg fis-sod, allura aċċettawh bil-qalb.

Min-naħa tiegħu John jirrakkonta li qabel l-għerusija tagħhom, u minkejja li l-familji kienu jafu lil xulxin, dari xorta waħda kienu jindagaw fuq xulxin, anki biex jaraw l-istat ta’ saħħa u jekk hemmx xi mard. Iżda fil-każ tagħhom, baqgħu għaddejjin bl-għerusija.

Riċeviment kbir

L-għerusija ta’ John u Frida saret fid-dar tal-ġenituri tagħha f’Raħal Ġdid, li kienet waħda enormi, peress li missierha kien neguzjant. Berkilhom iċ-ċrieket Dun Pawl Micallef, li jiġi minn Frida u wara kellhom riċeviment kbir fil-ġnien, li għalih kienu mistednin ħafna familjari, għax ħbieb ma kellhomx. Sa qassmu s-souvenirs u kellhom fotografu għall-okkażjoni li ġibdilhom album sħiħ tar-ritratti li għadhom jgħożżu sa llum.
Ta’ min isemmi wkoll li John u Frida kienu koppja minn tal-bidunett li bdiet tattendi l-laqgħat ta’ Kana. Jiftakru li l-ewwel laqgħa kienet saret f’Palazzo Caraffa. Wara, il-Moviment ta’ Kana beda jorganizza l-laqgħat tiegħu fid-djar tal-membri, f’kull pajjiż, iżda dan ma baqax isir.
Il-koppja Grech qaltli wkoll li xi snin ilu, il-Moviment ta’ Kana tahom tifkira peress li kienu minn tal-ewwel li attendew dawn il-korsijiet.
John u Frida damu għarajjes sentejn. Meta missier l-għarusa ra li kienu mexjin b’serjeta’ u rettezza, xtralhom dar fi Triq Żabbar, Raħal Ġdid, kif wara għamel ma’ kull wild ieħor mill-ħamsa li kellu. F’dik id-dar, il-koppja Grech damet tgħix 25 sena.

Iż-Żwieġ

Iżżewġu fid-19 ta’ Mejju, 1957, fil-parroċċa Kristu Re. Żewwiġhom il-Kappillan, Mons Francesco Xuereb, li kien jaf lill-ġenituri ta’ Frida mindu kienu għadhom tfal. Wara ż-żwieġ kellhom jistenniehom riċeviment mill-aqwa, fil-ballroom tal-Lukanda Phoenicia, il-Furjana.

Fis-sular ta’ fuq tal-Lukanda, intramaw xejn inqas minn 14-il mejda biex fuqhom jitqiegħdu r-rigali. Dari kienet id-drawwa li l-koppja ġġorr ir-rigali li tkun qalgħet fis-sala, biex il-mistednin jarawhom. Allura dan il-ġarr kien jippreżenta biċċa xogħol kbira għall-familja. Kellhom iqabbdu wkoll pulizija biex joqgħod għassa mar-rigali tul il-lejl.
Fost ir-rigali li qalgħu kellhom washing machine, makna tal-ħjata bil-cabinet, senduq, diversi oġġetti tal-fidda kif ukoll frames. Dawn kienu skjerati fis-sala ta’ fuq u jidhru fir-ritratti tal-album tat-tieġ li għadu jġedded il-memorja ta’ John u Frida.

Isfel, fil-ballroom sar ir-riċeviment, li għalih kienu mistednin aktar minn 800 ruħ. Iddoqq kellhom lill-orkestra ta’ Vinny Valente u l-kejk tat-tieġ kien oriġinalissimu. John, li hu dilettant ħafna tad-disinji, kien mar għand id-dulċier Carmelo Borg Bonaci u ordnalu kejk forma tal-knisja li tidher fis-santa ta’ Kana. Dak għamilhulu kif xtaq u kien tabilħaqq għaxqa fuq il-mejda tar-repo’.
Fit-tieġ qassmu wkoll is-santi ta’ Kana bit-tifkira taż-żwieġ tagħhom fuq wara u wkoll is-souvenirs.

Meta wara nofsinhar intemm ir-riċeviment tat-tieġ, John u Frida rħewlha għas-Seabank Hotel u l-familjari kellhom biċċa xogħol iebsa, jittrasportaw ir-rigali kollha fid-dar tagħhom!
Aktar tard filgħaxija, il-koppja miżżewġa friska kellha żjara mill-familjirispettivi u meta telqu, huma qattgħu l-ewwel lejl tagħhom fil-lukanda. L-għada niżlu fid-dar ġdida tagħhom mnejn bdew iħejju għas-safra ta’ qamar il-għasel.

Marru ġimgħa Napli u wara telgħu ġimgħa Ruma, fejn marru l-Vatikan. Ftit qabel xtraw kwadru tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesu’ u l-Qalb ta’ Marija. Kellhom udjenza mal-Papa Piju XII, li mhux talli berkilhom il-kwadru talli tahom ukoll rigal. Il-kwadru għadu mdendel fil-kamra tal-ikel, fid-dar tagħhom t’issa, f’Birżebbuġa.

It-tfal

Wara sena żwieġ kellhom lill-ewwel tarbija tagħhom Marika, illum miżżewġa lil Frank Gauci. Huma għandhom żewġt ibniet, Alison u Bernice. Tliet snin wara twieled Noel, li hu miżżewweġ lil Marthese nee Cassar u għandhom żewġ subien, Ryan u Ian. Wara tliet snin mit-twelid ta’ Noel kellhom lil Josiah li żżewweġ lil Lilian nee Balzan u għandhom erbat itfal Juanita, Andre’, Stefan u Philip. L-aħħar tarbija tifel tal-koppja Grech twieldet tmien snin wara l-aħħar wild u dan kien Bernard, li hu miżżewweġ lil Anne Marie nee Micallef u għandhom żewġt itfal; Maria u Neil. B’hekk, John u Frida huma nanniet ta’ għaxar neputijiet.

F’għeluq il-25 sena żwieġ it-tfal organizzawlhom festin b’sorpriża. Ħaduhom għal quddiesa fil-parroċċa ta’ Birżebbuġa, fejn qaddsilhom il-ħabib tagħhom Mons Victor Grech. Hemm sabu wkoll lill-familjari, lill-bridesmaids li kellhom, lix-xhieda u liż-żewġt iħbieb li kellhom. Wara ħaduhom f’sala f’Birżebbuġa stess, fejn sabu numru ta’ mistednin oħra jistennewhom.

Kellhom sala armata bi fjuri, waiters iqassmu l-ikel u x-xorb, santi bħalma kellhom fit-tieġ, biex jibqa’ l-istess simbolu taż-żwieġ u souvenirs. Kien qisu tieġ ieħor.
L-istess reġgħu għamlulhom f’għeluq il-50 sena. Krewlhom karrozza bis-sewwieq u wara li ħadu minn moħħ missierhom fejn xtaq li jkollhom il-quddiesa ta’ tifkira, organizzawhielu fil-Kulleġġ San Alwiġi. Il-knisja kienet armata bit-tapit aħmar u qaddsilhom ħabib ieħor – Patri Ugolin Scerri. Jgħinuh kellu lil Dun Vinċenz Deguara u Patri Krispin Tabone. Jiftakru li kellhom quddiesa mill-isbaħ, fejn Patri Ugolin reġa’ berkilhom iċ-ċrieket u talab fuqhom.

Mill-knisja ttieħdu l-Lukanda Suncrest, fejn kellhom ikla familjari. Waqt l-istess festin, uliedhom ippre]entawlhom ċertifikat tal-Papa, imbierek minnu stess u bl-ismijiet ta’ uliedhom fuqu. Kien jum li jibqgħu jiftakruh għal dejjem.

Parir

Mitlubin jgħaddu parir lill-għarajjes żgħażagħ, Frida hi tal-fehma li għandhom ikollhom tħejjija soda, inkella ma jersqux lejn żwieġ. It-tieni; meta jkunu fuq l-artal u jaħilfu mħabbithom lil xulxin għal dejjem, iridu jiftakru li fosthom hemm Alla għal dejjem. Jekk f’kull mument ta’ ħajjithom ma jgorrux lil Alla magħhom, iż-żwieġ ikun impossibbli jirnexxi. Bil-ħila tagħna m’aħna kapaċi nagħmlu xejn. Nimxu biss, bil-ħila ta’ Alla. Barra minn hekk nippruvaw nevitaw dan id-diżastru li għandna bħalissa, fl-ilbies; fit-televiżjoni, li m’hu jagħti ebda tagħlim tajjeb għall-erwieħ tat-tfal.

Min-naħa tiegħu John jgħid li l-miżżewġin għandhom jevitaw lill-ħbieb, għax dawn mhux dejjem ikunu ħbieb. Min se jiżżewweġ għandu jkun jaf li se jwiegħed imħabbtu lis-sieħeb jew sieħba tiegħu għal dejjem, u għalhekk, għal deċiżjoni bħal din bilfors tinħtieġ preparazzjoni qawwija. Jitbiegħdu kemm jista’ jkun mid-dubju, għax id-dubju hu ħabib ix-xitan u kapaċi jħassar familja. Ħafna jistgħu jgħidu li n-nanniet huma antikwati, iżda l-proverbji kienu ta’ tagħlim minn dejjem u jibqgħu għal dejjem.

Finalment, il-koppja Grech tħeġġeġ lill-koppji ta’ llum biex jekk ikollhom xi diżgwid bejniethom, isolvuh qabel ma jidħlu jorqdu, għax jekk iħallu għall-għada, dan jista’ jikber aktar.  

Aħna rridu nibqgħu hawn. Ma rridux ninqalgħu ukoll jekk għemilna bla ħsieb iqarribna lejn il-mewt. Aħna bħal vapur irridu l-ankra biex insorġu, nieqfu, inkunu marbutin għax nafu li rridu nparpru. Għalhekk inħallu tifkiriet.

Il-kittieb jaħseb u jaħseb fuq li jaħseb u jnaqqas u jiġbor u jlaqqam u joħroġ fi ktieb dak li jaħseb jew dak li ma jaħsibx skont il-qarrejja xi jkunu jistennew. Bis-saħħa tal-kittieb għandna tifkiriet u ġrajjiet li kieku ntesew u marru mar-riħ.

Il-kittieb ibati, jgħeja, jitħabat, iħabbat wiċċu ma’ bosta saram biex fl-aħħar joħroġ il-ktieb li fl-aħħar ma jinxtarax mhux għax ma jkunx tajjeb imma għax min jixtiequ, il-but tiegħu ma jasalx.

Grazzi kittieb ta’ dejjem li tħabbatt u ġbart ħsibijiet u kitbiet li bis-saħħa tagħhom aħna aħjar.

Aqra l-kitttieba Griegi, Rumani, Taljani, Ingliżi, Franċiżi, Spanjoli, Russi u ssoff id-dehen mistur u miġbur fil-karti li jferrħu lilek u lili.  

Miktuba minn Fiona Vella

Riċentement, bħala rikonoxxenza għal numru ta’ artikli li ktibt fit-Torċa dwar iċ-Ċina, iċ-Ċentru Kulturali taċ-Ċina f’Malta rrakkommanda lill-Ministeru Kulturali f’Beijing sabiex jistedinni nżur lil pajjiżhom. U f’ħin bla waqt, sibt ruħi naqta’ xewqa kbira li kelli li nara liċ-Ċina u li nsir naf aħjar lil niesha.

Tlajt iċ-Ċina flimkien ma’ erbgħa Maltin oħra: Anna Maria Gilson mid-Dipartiment tal-Edukazzjoni, il-fotografi Wistin Baldacchino u Mary Attard, u l-artista Ray Axiaq. Qattgħajna tnax il-ġurnata mill-isbaħ niskopru l-bliet ta’ Beijing u Shanghai. Il-ġranet għaddew bħal ħolma u mn’Alla li ħadt kwantità kbira ta’ ritratti u ta’ filmati, għax kieku ma kontx nemmen li kont tassew hemmhekk.

Dokumentarju u Esebizzjoni Artistika dwar iċ-Ċina

Meta rritornajna lura Malta, iċ-Ċentru Kulturali taċ-Ċina f’pajjiżna talabna nagħmlu preżentazzjoni lill-membri tiegħu sabiex naqsmu magħhom l-esperjenza tagħna.

Jiena pproduċejt dokumentarju ta’ madwar siegħa bl-isem Travelogue: The Colours of China li issa jista’ jiġi segwit fuq Youtube permezz ta’ dan il-link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlHIDVjYzGQ

Min-naħa l-oħra, sħabi tellgħu esebizzjoni ta’ ritratti u xogħolijiet artistiċi fil-Gallerija tal-Arti taċ-Ċentru Kulturali taċ-Ċina li jinsab f’173, Triq Melita l-Belt. Din il-wirja bl-isem ta’ Chinoiserie II se ddum miftuħa sad-9 ta’ Jannar 2015.

Ħafna minn dawk li jafuni u partikolarment dawk li qatt ma żaru liċ-Ċina, ħajjruni sabiex nikteb sensiela ta’ artikli dwar din l-esperjenza tiegħi. L-Editur Prinċipali tat-Torċa, Sandro Mangion, laqa’ mill-ewwel din il-proposta u għalhekk, minn din il-ġimgħa, se nkun qed naqsam magħkom dak li jiena skoprejt waqt iż-żjara tiegħi fiċ-Ċina.

Id-daħla tal-Belt Ipprojbita

Iddeċidejt li niddedika l-ewwel artiklu lill-Belt Ipprojbita…. Kont ilni s-snin naqra u nara d-dokumentarji dwarha. Imma nassigurakhom li hekk kif sibt ruħi fil-wesgħa ta’ quddiem id-daħla prinċipali tagħha li ġġib l-isem ta’ Wumen jew Il-Kanċell tal-Meridjan, bqajt bla kliem. Għaldaqstant, nista’ nimmaġina x’kienu jħossu dawk il-priġunieri tal-gwerra li kienu jinġiebu f’dan il-post sabiex jiġu ppreżentati lill-Imperatur jew dawk l-imsejkna li kienu jingħataw il-piena kapitali proprju f’dan il-lwog.

L-ogħli tal-binja ta’ din id-daħla jilħaq it-38 metru u infatti hija l-ogħla struttura fil-Belt Ipprojbita. Nistqarr li bla ma trid, tħossok imċekken ħdejn dak il-kobor kollu u hekk kif tibda ddawwar rasek u tilmaħ ħames torrijiet jgħassu fuqek minn kull naħa, bilkemm jagħtik li titniffes. U dan meta għadek barra….

Il-funzjoni ta’ din il-belt

Il-Belt Ipprojbita kienet tintuża bħala l-Palazz Irjali minn fejn l-imperaturi kienu jamministraw il-pajjiż u wkoll jgħixu flimkien mal-familji tagħhom fi żmien id-Dinastiji Ming u Qing. Infatti, għal madwar 500 sena, hija serviet bħala r-residenza ta’ 24 imperatur sakemm finalment Aisin Gioro Puyi, l-aħħar imperatur tad-Dinastija Qing, abdika fl-1911.

Din il-belt bdiet tinbena fl-1406 mill-Imperatur Chengzu tad-Dinastija Ming u ħadet 14 il-sena biex tlestiet. Ħadmu fuqha mal-100,000 tekniku u miljuni ta’ ħaddiema. Dan il-kumpless inbena mill-injam u huwa l-akbar wieħed tax-xorta tiegħu fid-dinja.

Intuża wkoll għadd ta’ rħam abjad li nġieb minn Fangshan li jinsab fil-limiti ta’ Beijing u anki ammont kbir ta’ granit mill-Provinċja Hebei. F’dawk il-perjodi, ma kienx faċli biex dan il-materjal jitwassal sa dan il-lwog minħabba li ma kienx jeżisti l-makkinarju adatt. Madanakollu, iċ-Ċiniżi rnexxielhom iwettqu dan il-proġett grandjuż billi ġarrew il-ġebel fuq rombli tal-injam matul l-istaġun tas-Sajf, filwaqt li fl-istaġun bikri tax-xitwa, huma ħaffru bjar kull nofs kilometru u minnhom tellgħu l-ilma li kienu jxerrdu mal-art sabiex dan isir silġ u jżerżqu l-ġebel fuqu.

9,999.5 binja

L-art li nbient fuqha din il-belt tkopri l-arja ta’ 720,000 metru kwadru u għandha forma rettangolari. Fuqha nbnew palazzi, paviljuni, pjazez u ġonna mill-ifjen u b’kollox, wieħed isib 9,999.5 struttura fejn l-iżgħar waħda, tesa’ biss taraġ tal-injam.

M’hemmx 10,000 struttura minħabba li f’dak iż-żmien, iċ-Ċiniżi kienu jemmnu li l-imperatur alla Hade kellu dan l-ammont ta’ kmamar fil-Palazz tal-Ġenna u għalhekk l-imperatur ta’ din l-art, li kien meqjus bħala ibnu, b’rispett, ma setax ikollu palazz kbir daqs ta’ missieru. Ta’ min isemmi li dawn il-kmamar kollha kienu maħsuba biex itawwlu kemm jista’ jkun il-ħajja tal-imperatur.

Il-kobor ta’ din il-belt

Matul is-snin, partijiet mill-Belt Ipprojbita ġew restawrati jew mibnija mill-ġdid iżda t-tqassim oriġinali tagħha dejjem inżamm. Fil-fatt, l-istrutturi tagħha nbnew b’mod ordnat fuq ass ċentrali li jaqsam bejn il-parti tat-tramuntana u dik tan-nofsinhar. Dawn il-partijiet jirriflettu il-filosofija tradizzjonali tal-yin u l-yang u tal-Ħames Elementi filwaqt li jindikaw ukoll il-ġerarkija fewdali.

Ħitan ta’ 10 metri jdawwru l-belt kollha u f’kull kantuniera wieħed isib torri tal-għassa. Foss wiesgħa 52 metru mimli bl-ilma, jdawwar dawn il-ħitan fuq in-naħa ta’ barra sabiex b’hekk dan il-lwog ikun protett aħjar.

Mhux ta’ b’xejn li jingħad li dan il-lwog huwa wieħed mill-aktar imfittxija mit-turisti għax qatt ma rajt daqstant nies ta’ kull pajjiż deħlin f’post wieħed f’ħajti! Infatti, f’ħin minnhom saħansitra ltqajna ma’ grupp turisti Maltin. Iżda ħaġa tal-iskantament, din il-belt tant hi kbira, li jirnexxielha tibla’ lil kulħadd ġewwa fiha bla ma tintela’ qatt.

L-akbar pjazza fil-Belt Ipprojbita hija Taihe Dian u għandha arja ta’ 30,000 metru kwadru. Fiha għadek issib ammont ta’ kontenituri kbar tal-bronż li kienu jimtlew bl-ilma bħala protezzjoni kontra n-nar. L-ilma kien jiġi provdut permezz ta’ xmara li ġiet mgħoddija minn naħa minnhom tal-palazz. Fl-istess ħin, din ix-xmara kienet tilqa’ fiha wkoll l-ilma li kien jinġabar fil-post wara xi ħalba xita, apparti milli kienet isservi wkoll bħala dekorazzjoni arkitettonika, l-aktar minħabba l-pontijiet sbieħ li trikkbu fuqha.

Min-naħa l-oħra, fi pjazza magħrufa bħala l-Kanċell tal-Armonija Suprema wieħed isib il-binja li quddiemha l-imperatur kien iħaddem il-poter tiegħu, itella’ ċerimonji u jilqa’ l-ministri tiegħu. Hawnhekk, wieħed isib ukoll l-ikbar statwi ta’ par iljuni fil-belt kollha fejn l-iljun maskili għandu ballun taħt idejh filwaqt li dik femminili tidher tilgħab ma’ ferħ ta’ ljun.

Is-sagrifiċċji u l-pjaċiri tal-imperatur

Fatt kurjuż huwa illi f’din il-belt, wieħed isib ukoll il-Palazz tal-Astinenza, magħruf hekk minħabba li fih l-imperatur kien jinġabar matul il-perjodu meta huwa kien ikollu jsum għal tliet ijiem qabel iwettaq iċ-ċerimonja sagrifikali lis-sema u lill-art.

Naturalment, l-imperatur kellu wkoll lok għall-pjaċiri, fosthom id-dritt għall-ammont kbir ta’ konkubini li kienu jgħixu ġewwa din il-belt. Dawn il-konkubini kienu jkunu tfajliet sbieħ li jintagħżlu biex jagħtu gost bil-preżenza tagħhom lill-imperatur. Iżda mhux kull konkubina kienet torqod b’mod regolari mal-imperatur, tant li kien hemm min minnhom jesperjenza dan darba f’għomru jew qatt! Il-bużillis kien li ġaladarba tfajla tkun konkubina, f’każ li l-imperatur ma jieħux grazzja magħha, din kienet titwarrab f’rokna tal-belt u tiġi njorata, iżda ma titħalla qatt tiżżewweġ lil ħaddieħor! L-uniku skop ta’ dawn il-konkubini kien li jirnexxielhom ikollhom wild mill-imperatur għax b’hekk huma kienu jitilgħu ‘l fuq fil-ġerarkija u jiżdidilhom il-poter tagħhom. Infatti dik il-konkubina li binha jirnexxielu jilħaq imperatur wara l-mewt ta’ missieru kienet saħansitra ssir l-Imperatriċi Armla.

Miljun oġġett prezzjuż

Minħabba l-kobor enormi ta’ din il-belt, mhux possibbli li taraha kollha iżda ċertament għajnejk għandhom biżżejjed fuqhiex jitpaxxew b’dak li tilħaq tara. L-irfinar tad-diżinji fl-injam tal-binjiet u d-dekorazzjonijiet b’kuluri mill-isbaħ huma meravilja fihom infishom. Daqstant ieħor huma sbieħ l-oġġetti li l-kmamar huma mżejjna bihom.

Meta din il-belt kienet għadha tiffunzjona, ħadd ma seta’ jidħol fiha mingħajr permess u għalhekk hija magħrufa bħala l-Belt Ipprojbita. Imma wara li ntemmet id-Dinastija Qing, fl-1925, dan il-lwog ġie stabbilit bħala mużew tant li llum hemm min isibu wkoll bħala l-Mużew tal-Palazz. Intant, minn din il-belt, inġabru madwar miljun oġġett prezzjuz li ġew esebiti fis-swali tagħha. Dawn jikkonsistu f’oġġetti maħduma mill-bronż u mill-fuħħar, arti u tradizzjonijiet tad-Dinastiji Ming u Qing, arloġġi, tpinġijiet, skulturi u teżori oħra.

Fl-1961 din il-belt kienet waħda mill-lwogi li ntagħżlu biex jiġu kkonservati u preservati bħala parti mill-wirt kulturali tal-pajjiż. Fl-1987, il-UNESCO għarrfitu bħala Wirt Kulturali Dinji.

Il-Ġnien Imperjali

Fuq in-naħa ta’ wara tagħha, din il-belt tinkludi wkoll il-Ġnien Imperjali li fih kienu jistrieħu l-Imperatur u l-familja tiegħu flimkien mal-konkubini.

Hemm madwar 20 struttura ġewwa dan il-ġnien, fosthom paviljuni, kmamar, torrijiet u swali. Kollha ghandhom l-istil distint tagħhom u kollha ġew mibnija b’mod simmetriku u f’ordni ta’ ġerarkija.

Għadd ta’ pjanti u siġar tħawwlu f’dan il-lwog, b’uħud minnhom evidentement illum jgħoddu żmien żemżem. Inbniet ukoll vaska sabiex tinħoloq atmosfera ta’ serenità u paċi.

Barra minn hekk, f’naħa minnhom, issawwret għolja artifiċjali bil-blat tal-Għadira Taihu. Fin-nofs tagħha ġie ffurmat għar, mentri fil-ġnub ttellgħu turġien li jwasslu sal-quċċata. Hemmhekk l-imperatur flimkien mal-familja tiegħu kienu jitilgħu waqt ċelebrazzjonijiet partikolari sabiex igawdu x-xenarju mill-isbaħ tal-inħawi li toffri din l-għolja.

(Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fis-sensiela IL-KULURI TAĊ-ĊINA (L-1 Parti) fit-Torċa tal-4 ta’ Jannar 2015)

Betty Parker, now in her forties, had been living in this street for a good number of years. A distinctive character of a woman, she carried her buxom figure majestically. She had left school at a very early age and, as result, she could neither read nor write.

Her family consisted of Bill, her small-framed husband and a brood of five small children whose ages ranged from six months to twelve years. She could outshout any market trader or anybody else for that matter. This notwithstanding, Betty had a heart of gold, always at the front to help anybody in need of any assistance whatsoever.
Mary Simmons was a different woman altogether. For one thing, she was older, past her sixtieth year, and a dedicated spinster. She was an ex-school teacher having dedicated her life to teach the children of the community at the town’s primary and later secondary schools.
As all dedicated teachers everywhere, she had remained a teacher at heart, even after her retirement. Everybody loved Mary, not only because she was often sought by her neighbours to fill in their various forms and read and write their letters, but also because she was a genuine woman through and through.
Although Betty Parker and Mary Simmons appeared to be so different from each other, their willingness to help others and their cordial nature were similar. They had become firm friends since Mary came to live here some ten years ago.

 Betty frequently called at Mary’s place for a fresh cup of tea and to recount news and views as well as the gossip going round the neighbourhood on this, that and the other. But during these visits she also brought two or three of her children along with her. Mary, childless and family-starved, loved these children especially Dennis who, though a bit of ragamuffin who everybody called Dennis the Menace because of his many exploits, had a genial and endearing nature.
One fine day, while Mary was reading the latest Daniele Steel novel, she heard a knock on her front door. It was a hard impatient knock, so she laid down her book and hurried up to open the door. It was Betty with a face as gloomy as an English dark night in winter, holding the youngest of her brood in her arms. “I have been summoned to go to Court Mary! To court!!”
Mary ushered her inside, made her sit down on the chair and tried to calm her nerves as much as possible. “Let’s make a cup of tea, then we’ll see about the problem and what to do about it, shall we Bett?” Bett would never say no to a cup of freshly-made tea, though today there was a more urgent matter to see to.
“It’s my son Dennis, the eldest one; he’s got me into trouble once again; I’ll have to tell my Bill to give him a hiding when he returns from work this evening; he needs to learn his lesson you know,” said Betty obviously agitated and in a state of shock.
Mary did not want to show Betty much sympathy as that would only serve to embarrass her. “But what’s it all about Bett? You haven’t told me why you are going to Court yet,” interjected Mary as she served tea.
“The inspector came to warn me last week that next time I’ll have to be brought to court. Like some criminal! What a cheek!” said Betty as furious as a Spanish bull in front of a matador.
Mary still did not know what the demented soul was going on about. She could not fathom it out at all. So she insisted. “Bett, you’ve mentioned ‘Dennis’, ‘Inspector’ and ‘Court’; what in heaven’s name is it all about? Tell me clearly.”
Bett looked at Mary with a surprised expression. “My Dennis must have missed school again, the rascal. The inspector had warned me that if he does it again, I’ll be dragged to court. That is it Mary. As clear as crystal is it not?”
“But who asked you to go to court Bett? Did the inspector call again to give you the summons for a court hearing?” asked Mary.
“Here, here, see the letter. The postman gave it to me just now. He seemed to sympathize with me, bless him. The school inspector had told me that my boy had missed school. He must have done it again. Now it’s court you see. Court Mary! Like a criminal! What shall I do? I have never been to court in all my life. What shall I say?” answered Betty.
Mary knew how serious the matter was. Her thoughts went back to parents who were slack in seeing their children to school. The authorities took an exceptionally tough line when it comes to children missing their lessons.
But Mary also knew that Betty’s son Dennis was not a bad boy. And he was very intelligent too. He always impressed her whenever he came to her house to assist him with his homework. Maybe he was laid astray by some of his school friends.
Betty sat quiet for a while searching Mary’s thoughtful face. “He’ll not listen to a word I say. Now he’s brought me to this trouble. My Bill will punish him. I’ll make sure of that. I will! Here, read the letter Mary, read it and tell me what to do. Will you come with me to the court? I’ve never been there you know, what shall I say, tell me?”
Mary took the letter from her hands. It had the school mark on the envelope. She opened it and withdrew the official-looking document. She cast a speedy eye along the wording and with each line her heart turned somersaults.
“Mary what is it? Tell me when I have to go?” said Betty now very anxious. Mary gathered her composure and smiled at Bett, a wide grin on her face.
“It’s from the school all right Bett; it says that young Dennis has passed his exams with flying colours and that he has been awarded a scholarship to attend the secondary level at St. Martin’s next term. It says that he’s a very intelligent boy and that the school authorities have congratulated you on Dennis’s success.”
Betty was stunned, could not believe what Mary was saying. She got up swiftly from her chair, embraced her in her arms and said “My Oh my! Thank you Mary! Thank you Dennis! Thank you Lord!”  

minn Charles B. Spiteri

Urna antika Ċiniża, li sidha kien jużaha biex iqiegħed fiha l-‘pot pourri’, inbiegħet f’irkant għal aktar minn €177,085.

Is-sid, li għandu ftit aktar minn ħamsin sena, wiret fan il-vażun mingħand qarib tiegħu snin ilu, iżda peress li ħaseb li ma jiswiex wisq, għal madwar għoxrin sena wżah biex jaħżen fih petali nexfin u jfuħu u qiegħdu fuq gwardarobba.

Kien meta ġie biex jibdel daru u ddeċieda li jbigħ numru ta’ affarijiet li kellu fid-dar il-qadima, li rkantatur qallu li dak l-oġġett, jaf kien artiġjanat tas-seklu 18, meta ċ-Ċina kienet taħt ir-renju tal-Imperatur ta’ Quianlong u jiswa eluf ta’ ewro.

Meta l-esperti komplew jeżaminaw il-vażun tal-porċellana, taħt saff oħxon ta’ trab sabu disinn pinġut bl-idejn, bi fjuri roża, ħodor, blu u ħomor.

Għall-bidu, l-irkantaturi stmaw l-urna għal bejn €1,180 u €1,483, iżda tant ġibdet interess mix-xerrejja potenzjali, li dan l-artefatt Ċiniż inbiegħ għal €18,087.

Sid l-urna, minn Shaftesbury, Dorset kien preżenti għall-bejgħ u ddikjara li dik kienet l-aqwa ġurnata ta’ ħajtu, wara li l-artefatt antik inbiegħ għal 75 darba iżjed mill-prezz stmat.
 

I lived with my grandparents since when I was ten years old when mum and dad had divorced, which makes it more than twelve years now. I loved both grandma and grandpa immensely. They were everything to me throughout my childhood, youth and adult years. But I was especially very close to grandpa in so many ways. We spent so much time chatting and laughing together in the small garden at the back of our house.

“What’s up with you?” grandma used to shout at us, from the kitchen window when she saw us in one of our jolly moods. “It’s grandpa telling me a funny story grandma” I used to reply, without losing concentration to what he was saying. But both of them were good honest-to-God characters who instilled in me the importance of love, of honesty and of religion.

My grandfather was an artist, a painter to be more exact. He was considered to be a fine oil painter by many in our community. He frequented the artistic circle of friends and had known and mingled with some of the famous painters of his day.

Our house, small as it was, was full of his paintings. They covered an entire wall and visitors often mistook our home for an art gallery.

Painting was not only my grandpa’s hobby; it was his love and obsession. It helped him express his feelings, his love of nature and his different moods. How I loved to stay by his side while he used the brushes after dipping them in the paints on his slate.
“What are you going to do when you grow up?” he asked me one day. “I’d like to take medicine, become a medical practitioner but …………?” I stopped in mid-sentence, while conjuring all the difficulties that might lie ahead. “There is always a ‘but’ dear. Life is full of buts. But you must have the determination to surmount them” said my grandpa, obviously speaking with the experience of his years.

But our house was too small for the three of us and for his many paintings. He was always saying that now, that he was getting on in years, we have to move to some other larger place where he could enjoy life more and he could indulge in his favourite art.
I was fifteen years old when my grandparents finally decided to move to the little town of San Giminiano, in the beautiful Tuscan hills of Italy. Apparently grandad had an old friend living in that area, another painter no doubt, who encouraged him to move there where several foreign painters were located.

Both my grandparents had always wished to retire in the sun and my grandfather enthusiastically anticipated painting the lovely hilly countryside so famous in Italy and all over the world. “It would inspire my creativity and imagination!” he told me.
All the arrangements for our transfer and of the furniture and belongings were completed in a short time. As our furniture was being packed, we watched grandpa’s paintings being taken down and carefully placed into crates, which were then nailed down and stored in the basement, ready for the shipping.

As one particular painting, which my grandfather was still working on, was being put into the crate, grandpa said to me – “I know that you like this painting very much Carol. I will therefore dedicate it especially to you. It will be yours!”
It’s true. I liked this unfinished painting. It showed the portrait of a craggy old man, weather-beaten and wrinkled but a charming face all the same. Although still unfinished, it looked to be a beautiful painting. I loved it and anxiously awaited grandpa to complete it and hang it in my room.

“The first thing I will do when we get to Italy is finish this painting. Before I start another one” my grandfather told me, as we looked at it being patiently crated by the removal men.

But a week before our departure, tragedy struck. He was involved in a horrific road accident and lay in a coma at the local hospital. Grandma and I were at his bedside every day and as often as we could. He was all we had.

I did not believe, as the doctors assured us, that he was unconscious, not knowing what’s happening around him. I strongly thought that although he could not move a muscle, or murmur a sound, he was still conscious of us and what we were saying. I was firm in my belief and I spoke to him as I used to do in the garden at our home. I also mentioned his paintings, as I knew that he would love that.

I prayed fervently to God that he would live. My faith was strong that the good Lord would hear my prayers. However he died six months after the accident and I was bitterly disappointed that my faith had let me down.

It was some months after his death that grandma made the decision that, in the circumstances, we should not relocate to Italy but should remain in England where we were born and bred. After this decision was taken, the cases of all our belongings were brought back from the basement. They were unpacked and silently restored to their old places in our house, where they had been before grandpa had decided to transfer our family to the Tuscan hills.

It was after some time that grandma engaged some experienced workmen to open gently the crates where grandpa’s paintings were packed. We both stood by them supervising the unpacking to ensure that no damage whatsoever was done to any of the paintings.
“What are you going to do with them?” I asked grandma as we stood watching the men remove the nails, open the tops of the crates and gently uplift the paintings one by one. “We’ll hang some in the house certainly, they will then always remind us of grandpa” she said “but I am afraid that there is no room for the others. We’ll have to donate them to the art gallery where the curators will look after them.”

Then grandpa’s unfinished painting was removed from the crate and the workmen asked grandma – “Where shall we put this painting Madame?” We both looked at it at the same time and were utterly astounded and stunned speechless.
The painting, which grandpa was to finish in Italy, was now completed and, what’s more, at the bottom right hand side of the canvas, was grandpa’s distinctive signature and, in small words – ‘To my lovely Carol’.

“How was that possible?” was the only thought that passed through our minds at that surprising moment.  

Is-sajf kien ilu li beda ġmielu. Luca u Elise kienu tassew ħerqanin biex jibdew igawdu l-btajjel. Darba fost l-oħrajn il-mamà ddeċidiet li teħodhom il-baħar. Wara li libset il-malja, Elise ħejjiet il-basket tal-baħar u poġġiet fih il-brieret, in-nuċċalijiet tax-xemx, il-ballun, it-tajers, ix-xugamani u s-sunblock. Iċ-ċkejken Luca qagħad attent li oħtu ma tinsa xejn warajha. Sadanittant il-mamà kienet qiegħda fil-kċina tlesti basket ieħor mimli bl-ikel u x-xorb. Ir-riħa tfuħ tal-ħobż bil-kunserva u ż-żejt taż-żebbuġa kienet taqsamlek qalbek. It-taħlita ta’ kuluri tal-insalata tal-frott, li kienet tinkludi dulliegħ, bettieħ, ħawħ u ċiprisk kienet tagħti dehra tassew sajfija. Qabel għalqet il-basket, il-mamà qiegħdet ukoll żewġ fliexken kbar bil-meraq tal-larinġ imħallat bl-ilma.

Kienu għadhom kif daqqu d-disgħa xħin il-mamà telqet lejn il-bajja tal-Ġnejna ma’ Luca u Elise. Fi triqithom għaddew għan-nanna Marija u n-nannu Ġużi għax kienu miftehmin magħhom li jqattgħu ġurnata l-baħar flimkien. Malli waslu, in-nanna ramat l-umbrella l-kbira tax-xemx u s-siġġijiet tal-injam u n-nannu għen lill-mamà toħroġ il-basktijiet mill-karozza. It-tfal bdew jiġru fuq ir-ramel. Kienu fuq ix-xwiek sakemm il-ommhom dilkithom bis-sunblock u libbsithom it-tajer tal-għawm.

 Sa fl-aħħar kulħadd niżel iċafċaf fl-ilma baħar frisk, iżda n-nannu baqa’ bilqiegħda taħt l-umbrella jaqra ktieb oħxon. In-nanna u l-mamà qagħdu jilagħbu bil-ballun ma’ Luca u Elise. Xi kultant kienu jgħajtu lin-nannu biex forsi jinżel ħdejhom, imma huwa kien ixejrilhom filwaqt li jerġa’ jilbes in-nuċċali tal-vista u jkompli jaqra l-ktieb.

Xħin saru nofsinhar beda jagħfas il-ġuħ u l-kisra ħobż bnina għoġbithom ilkoll. L-insalata tal-frott niżlet għasel ukoll, iżda Luca u Elise riedu ġelat. Il-mamà malajr qatgħetilhom xewqithom u xtratilhom ġelat kbir tal-vanilla kull wieħed bil-gallettina fin-nofs mingħand tal-gabbana viċin il-bajja. Luca, li kien aktar żaqqieq minn oħtu, ried ġelat ieħor. Iżda l-mamà qaltlu li ġelat wieħed kien biżżejjed għax ħafna zokkor jagħmel il-ħsara lis-snien.

Wara l-ikel it-tifel kien għajjien u qagħad bilqiegħda ħdejn in-nannu. It-tifla qagħdet tagħmel il-kastelli tar-ramel bil-pala u l-barmil. In-nanna u l-mamà ħarġu jgħumu fil-fond. F’ħin minnhom Elise niżlet il-baħar bil-ballun f’idejha. Riedet taqdef mhux ħażin biex tasal fejn in-nanna u l-mamà. Il-ballun beda miexi ġmielu ’l quddiem qisu riħ, u Elise ħaffet sew warajh. Iżda l-għeja bdiet tagħmel tagħha wara ftit, u bdiet tħossha bla saħħa. Infexxet tgħajjat għall-ajjut, u n-nanna u l-mamà ħadu l-qatgħa ta’ ħajjithom meta sabuha qiegħda tgħum f’dak il-fond kollu. Qabadhom paniku qawwi għax it-tifla qabdet tistordi. Fil-pront tfaċċa raġel li tahom l-ewwel għajnuna. Huwa refa’ lil Elise sax-xatt, u meddha fuq xugaman tal-baħar. Wara huwa taha tazza luminata friska li għamlitilha tajjeb, u qalilha biex tistrieħ għax kienet ħadet kedda kbira fil-baħar. Il-mamà u n-nanniet ma damux ma saru jafu li dak ir-raġel li għen lil Elise kien infermier.

Kulħadd baqa’ miblugħ wara din il-ġrajja, u fi ftit tal-ħin il-mamà, in-nanniet u t-tfal irħewlha lejn id-dar. Malli l-mama fetħet il-bieb tad-dar, sabet lill-papà ferħan se jtir għax kien rebaħ ġita għal erbgħa persuni wara li kien ħa sehem f’kompetizzjoni fuq ix-xogħol. Din l-aħbar niżlitilha għasel, u l-inċident tal-baħar malajr intesa. Issa bdiet taħseb biex tibda tipprepara l-bagalji ħalli fi ftit ġranet oħra tieħu lil Luca u lil Elise għall-ewwel btala tagħhom fl-Italja.

We had always wished to spend Christmas in some foreign land in order to see how this event is celebrated in other countries. Ideally this place had to be similar to the ones that we saw on Christmas cards; that is with wooden log cabins, fire-places and much much snow.

Eventually, a brilliant idea came to our mind! What if we went to visit Santa’s land itself in Lapland, Northern Finland?

Although many of us have grown up to believe that Father Christmas is just a legend, my daughter and I are sure that he is real. Well, he comes to visit us each year and he always leaves a lovely present for Martina. So surely, after ten annual visits to our home, we decided that it would be nice of us to exchange the courteousy.

That was how we found ourselves at Gatwick airport being led away from the usual crowded queues by a special officer who rang a bell in order to call for those whose destination was Ivalo airport.

Soon, several families with excited children joined the group and off we went on a charter airplane which was waiting to take us to this magical land. Everything was superb from the start, even this flight which was completely dedicated to entertain the children with enjoyable games. Then, when we were approaching land, all the children turned to the airplane’s window in order to watch for Santa’s flying sleigh. We did not succeed to see it but deep beneath the fluffy white clouds, there appeared a strange landscape of dark land, remarkably patterned with plentiful shiny rivers and lakes. So that was how the Arctic Circle looked!

Our airplane landed smoothly down at Ivalo’s minute airport in Lapland, North Finland and soon we found ourselves walking in the crunchy snow. Mischievous, brightly dressed elves slid out together with our luggage and greeted us with playful tricks, whilst a traditionally dressed Finnish Sami, who forms part of the indigenous people of this area, welcomed us to his land in the company of a large reindeer. A coach transferred us to the tourist resort in Saariselkä which was only 25 minutes away.

Since in Saariselkä, the temperature goes down well beyond zero degrees, we had to pack a couple of cosy clothes in our luggage. However, on arrival, everyone was provided with a complimentary thermal outer-suit, along with woolen socks, snow boots, outer gloves and hats, in order to guarantee a comfortable stay since there the temperature could go down to -30 degrees celcius.

There is a good choice of hotels wherein to spend this holiday: starting from Santa’s Kieppi which is built in the traditional Finnish style, and moving on to the modern style Santa’s Holiday Club which includes an indoor pool with waves and chutes. We chose to stay in Hotel Kieppi because we considered it to be more authentic. Its owner, Matti Välitalo, informed us that in Finnish, the word ‘kieppi’ referred to the burrow where animals hibernated during winter, and surely this place was warm and snug contrasting to the icy coldness outside.

Between the beginning of December and the first days of January, Saariselkä experiences the polar night as the sun does not rise. However the place does not lie in total darkness since the light of the moon, the stars, and the magnificent Northern Lights are reflected by the snow, and therefore one can move around easily at whatever time. During this period, at about ten in the morning, the dusky blue sky turns into an unusual blend of silver and blue colours which is later imbued with different hues of blue and red, until at about three in the afternoon, when it starts getting dark again. This entire ambience felt strange at first but once we got used to it, it enhanced each and every moment and turned it into a unique Christmas experience. We really felt as if we had stepped into another world.

Even the activities that we could do were extraordinary and it didn’t take very long to see the adults being transformed into joyful and happy children. It’s bound to be! For how can one resist the feeling of a true white Christmas whilst squishing or toboganning in the milky Arctic snow? We were provided with free toboganns from our hotel and Martina took the opportunity to be pulled all along the way. I have to admit that it was somewhat frightening at first because we had never experienced this sport. But when we saw very young children shooting down confidently, we walked up the small snowy hill and off we went. Oh my! It felt like flying! An amazing experience! Anyhow, we lost count how much rides we did.

Each time we travelled by coach, our guides made their utmost in order to help us feel the Christmas spirit. Once more, we found the atmosphere quite captivating as we sang heartily a couple of old Christmas songs along with people coming from various countries around the world, under a sky packed with twinkling stars.

However surely, the best moment of this holiday for each visitor, whether adult or young was the special visit to the village of Father Christmas in the Arctic Circle. Here, with activities ranging from ice fishing, toboganning, reindeer sleigh rides, snow hockey, skidoo rides, and an igloo bar, who can wish for more? Yet there was more! In fact, after providing us with the required instructions, we were offered to drive a pack of huskies in the snow. My husband controlled the huskies and my daughter and I huddled up in the sleigh wrapped up in reindeer skin. What a delight!

Still, more followed since each family, at some point or another, was secretly and quickly hurried upon a snowmobile-sled in order to search for the elves who knew how to point the way to Santa’s log cabin which was craftily hidden in the icy woods. It was a really enthralling experience to enter into the warmth of Santa’s magical hut and to find him sitting in his huge wooden chair amid a multitude of colourful presents. Martina was dumbfounded as she noticed that Santa was holding and reading her own hand-written letter which she had sent him some days ago by post from Valletta! When she found some courage, she told him that many of her friends told her that he did not exist.

“Well now you have seen that I do!” he told her warmly as he laughed heartily and gave her a beautiful teddy bear. Martina hugged Santa as if to check that she was not dreaming and she even kissed him on the cheek. Once our private meeting with Santa was over, we were taken back to the rest of the group but Martina was simply entranced by this experience.

On Christmas day, we attended a gala dinner where we discovered that in Finland, ham is the Christmas food specialty. However we were treated to a bountiful meal of different meats and fish, together with a selection of pastries and delicious wild berries.

We surely missed the company of our dear family members and the sweet presence of baby Jesus in his crib which was nowhere in sight in these locations. Yet in Saariselkä everything was designed to entertain visitors and one will absolutely not have time to feel a trace of sadness.

We spent only four days in Santa’s Lapland but the surrealism of the place mystified the aspect of time and we felt as if we belonged there. Surely no other Christmas will ever match this one.

(This article was published in the Travel Supplement of The Sunday Times of Malta dated 2nd November 2014)

Minn Charles B. Spiteri

Joseph, li ħafna jafuh bil-laqam tal-lanċa, twieled is-Siġġiewi, iżda l-familja tiegħu marret toqgħod Ħaż-Żebbuġ meta hu kien għadu tarbija. L-ewwel kienu joqogħdu fi Triq Ebona u eventwalment fi Triq de Rohan. Min-naħa tagħha, Teresa hi Żebbuġija proprja, dejjem għexet hemm, u ġejja mir-razza pjuttost kbira magħrufa bħala tal-kaxxettier.

Meta kien għad kellu dawk il-15-il sena, Joseph beda jinnota lil Teresa, xbejba sabiħa u kwieta. Kien beda jilgħab bħala goalkeeper ma’ Żebbuġ Rangers; li f’dak iż-żmien kellhom il-każin fi Triq il-Kbira, eżatt maġenb id-dar fejn kienet toqgħod Teresa. Induna li filgħaxijiet fis-sajf, il-familja ta’ Teresa kellhom id-drawwa jitilgħu għall-arja fuq il-bejt tad-dar. Allura Joseph beda jitla’ fuq il-bejt tal-każin tal-futbol, idoqq il-kitarra u jkanta ma sħabu, filwaqt li jimraħ lejn il-bejt l-ieħor.

Meta sar jaf li ta’ kull filgħodu kienet tmur ma’ ommha Agnes u ma’oħtha Carmena għall-quddiesa tas-sitta, beda jmur hu ukoll l-istess quddiesa biex ikun jista’ jaraha aktar. Darba sar jaf li Teresa kienet se toqgħod bridesmaid f’tieġ, u daħal fis-sala tar-riċeviment bla ma kien mistieden u talabha tiżfen miegħu. Aktar tard, billi kien jaf li Teresa kienet ħajjata flimkien ma’oħtha fid-dar tagħhom, biex aktar jipprova jaqbad magħha, mar jistaqsiha tħitlux qmis.

Teresa tirrakkonta li hi u oħtha kienu tgħallmu l-ħjata mingħand oħt Dun Salv Caruana, li kienet ħajjata prima. Teresa kienu tlett aħwa, żewġt ibniet u tifel, Ġużeppi. Missierha Philip miet ta’ 34 sena u ħallieha ltima minnu meta kellha biss ħames snin. Allura daħal jgħin jieħu ħsiebhom zijuha Manwel Azzopardi, Superjur tal-MUSEUM li kien involut fit-twaqqif tal-fergħat tas-Soċjeta’ fis-Siġġiewi, H’Attard u r-Rabat. Tgħid li meta Joseph kellimha għall-ewwel darba ma tantx tat kas tiegħu, għax kienet tarah moħħ ir-riħ.

Joseph jammetti li, meta kien żgħir, kien xi ftit fuq tiegħu. Kien dilettant kbir tal-muturi u kellu Matchless 350 u Norton 650, minbarra li kien itellaq muturi anki akbar għal ħaddieħor, fit-triq tal-Armier u f’postijiet oħra. Darba kellu inċident ikrah u spiċċa mweġġa’ serjament. Ittieħed l-isptar, iżda fortunatament irkupra.

Jemigra

Meta irrealizza li ma kienx qed jagħmel progress bit-tentattivi tiegħu, Joseph ħadha bi kbira u ddeċieda li jemigra lejn l-Awstralja. Sab lil ommha u qalilha, u din tagħtu tweġiba xotta; “il-vjaġġ it-tajjeb”. Mar u dam xahar sħiħ sa ma wasal bil-vapur. Hemmhekk għamel tliet snin. Kien jaħdem ma’ Nuffield’s tal-karozzi u sa kiseb il-liċenzja ta’ pilota tal-ajruplani żgħar. Iżda ma’ kull kisba li għamel, lil Teresa ma seta’ jinsieha qatt.

Kien jistaqsi għal aħbar Teresa lill-emigranti Maltin ġodda li jaslu fl-Awstralja u li jkunu marru minn Ħaż-Żebbuġ. Darba, wieħed li ma fehemx eżatt għal min kien qed jirreferi, qallu li dik kienet iżżewġet. Dakinhar filgħaxija, Joseph siker sakra nobis u kisser kulma kien hemm fl-appartament fejn kien joqgħod ma’ ġuvintur oħra sħabu.

Għadda ftit taż-żmien, u wieħed mill-ħbieb Żebbuġin ta’ Joseph fl-Awstralja niżel Malta għal vaganza, għall-ħabta tal-festa ta’ San Filep. Meta rritorna l-Awstralja ltaqa’ ma’ Joseph u qallu li, mhux talli Teresa ma kinitx iżżewġet, talli saħansitra kienet għadha xebba weħidha. Aċċerta lil Joseph dwar dan, għax qallu li anki ma’ familjari tagħha tkellem.

Jirritorna u jitgħarrsu

Għalhekk dak il-ħin stess Joseph qatagħha li jiġi Malta u jipproponi ż-żwieġ lil Teresa. Jekk tgħidlu le, kien deċiż jerġa’ lura lejn l-Awstralja għal dejjem. Fittex l-għajnuna u immobilizza xi qraba u ġirien tagħha biex jgħaddulu kelma ma’ ommha. Qalilhom li hu kien għadu interessat f’Teresa.

Meta Teresa ndunat kemm l-intenzjonijiet ta’ Joseph lejha kienu sinċieri u serji, allura qablet li tibda toħroġ miegħu, iżda b’żewġ kundizzjonijiet: waħda li jaqta’ l-muturi, u l-oħra li jibqgħu Malta. Ferħan se jtir, Joseph aċċetta minnufiħ, daħal għarus u f’anqas minn sena żżewġu.

Sadanattant f’Malta, Joseph sab xogħol ta’ għalliem fl-iskola tal-Gvern ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ, iżda’ fil-vaganzi tas-sajf sar jaf li l-membri tal-militar Ingliż f’Malta dak iż-żmien kellhom paga bil-wisq aħjar mill-Ħaddiema tal-Gvern u tal-partikular. Għalhekk telaq minn għalliem u daħal fl-armata, fir-riġment tal-artillerija (RMA). Spiċċa biex għadda ħamsa u tletin sena f’dan ix-xogħol, tnax taħt l-Ingliżi u l-bqija fil-Forzi Armati ta’ Malta (AFM) fejn irtira bir-rank ta’ Surġent Maġġur (RSM).

Akkumpanjati minn ommha

Kemm damu għarajjes, il-ħruġ tagħhom dejjem kien ikun akkumpanjat minn ommha. Issa Joseph kellu karozza tat-tip Studebaker. Dak iż-żmien ħaġa bħal din kienet pjuttost rari u fil-fatt Joseph jiftakar li kienu biss erba’ ġuvintur fir-raħal kollu li kellhom karozza. Normalment hu kien iħobb jipparkjaha quddiem id-dar ta’ Tereza. Darba qalilha tmur miegħu biex jipparkja l-karozza fil-garaxx. Din marret, u Joseph jistqarr li kienet l-unika darba li kellhom ftit minuti weħidhom flimkien tul l-għerusija kollha. Iżda meta waslu lura d-dar ta’ ommha, din uriethom ċar li ma ħadet gost xejn u ġabitha bi kbira mmens.

Teresa tkompli tirrakkonta li meta Joseph kien jeħodhom xi dawra bil-karozza tiegħu, hi u oħtha kien ikollhom jintasbu dejjem fuq is-seat ta’ wara u ommhom toqgħod quddiem, maġenb Joseph.

Żwieġ

Meta beda joqrob it-tieġ, Teresa u oħtha ħietu l-ilbiesi kollha għall-okkażjoni huma stess, minn dik tal-għarusa għal dawk tal-membri tal-familja. Peress li d-dar fejn kienet toqgħod Teresa kienet bi tliet sulari, iz-ziju tagħha offrielhom li jkollhom is-sular tan-nofs għalihom. U Joseph u Teresa baqgħu jgħixu f’din id-dar sal-lum.

Jiftakru li l-karozzi għat-tieġ krewhom mingħand tal-Coronation Bar. Bħala sala, krew waħda f’Ħaż-Żebbuġ fl-istess triq fejn kienet toqgħod Teresa, u kellhom ukoll orkestra għad-daqq u żfin. Kien iż-żmien li kienet għadha qed tidħol f’Malta l-użanza tal-wedding cake u, għax kellhom wieħed, kienet qisha xi ħaġa kbira għall-mistednin.

Intant, Joseph u Teresa ingħaqdu fis-Sagrament taż-Żwieġ fil-knisja parrokjali ta’ San Filep f’Haż-Żebbuġ fil-quddiesa tat-tmienja ta’ filgħodu, nhar il-Ħadd 8 ta’ Frar, 1959, li ħabat jum il-karnival. Żewwiġhom Dun Salv Caruana. Eżatt wara l-quddiesa marru għand Blackman għar-ritratt fl-istudio kif kien isir dak iż-żmien, u wara fis-sala kellhom fotografu ieħor li ġibdilhom ir-ritratti għall-album li għandhom u għadhom jgħożżu.

Ir-riċeviment baqa’ għaddej sa wara nofsinhar u kif intemm kollox, bħala qamar il-għasel, Joseph u martu Teresa marru s’għand oħtu Inez fil-Gżira. Teresa spjegat li huma ma tantx setgħu imorru qamar il-għasel, peress li hi kellha tkompli tagħmel ix-xogħol tal-ħjata li kellhom ordnat min-nies. Aktar tard, kif kienet id-drawwa dak iż-żmien, omm Teresa qalet lil Joseph biex imur jorqod fid-dar ta’ missieru għal xi ġimgħa oħra, iżda hu irrifjuta definittivament; issa li Teresa fl-aħħar kienet martu, ma kienx beħsiebu joqgħod ’il bogħod minnha.

Familja

Wara għaxar xhur miż-żwieġ kellhom l-ewwel tarbija, Carmen, li llum hi miżżewġa lil Edgar u għandhom żewġt itfal, Marilena u Alex. Dawn ilhom 17-il sena emigrati l-Belgju, peress li r-raġel sab xogħol fl-Aġenzija tal-EuroControl hemmhekk, u eventwalment Carmen u bintha daħlu jaħdmu mal-Kummissjoni Ewropea. Wara kellhom tifla oħra, Elizabeth, miżżewġa lil Nigel u tinsab Singapore. It-tielet wild, Philip, hu inġinier u Direttur fis-Servizz Pubbliku, miżżewweġ lil Nathalie u għandhom tifel jismu Robert. Imbagħad hemm Hilda, miżżewġa lill-vjolinista George Curmi “l-Puse’” u għandhom tlett itfal, li huma Miriana, Joseph u Bernard. Fl-aħħar ġie Craig, illum accountant u Manager mad-Deloitte, miżżewweġ lil Claudine u għandhom tarbija ta’ ftit ġimgħat jisimha Elizabeth. Joseph u Teresa huma ferħanin ferm b’xulxin u kburin bil-familja li rabbew u li issa qed tiżdied.

Dixxiplina u reliġjon

Mitlubin jagħtu l-fehma tagħhom fuq id-dixxiplina fil-passat u llum, il-koppja Schembri stqarrew li fi żmienhom, f’pajjiżna kien hawn sens ċiviku u dixxiplina stretta, li llaxkaw sew maż-żmien. Fejn tidħol dixxiplina spiritwali, Joseph ifaħħar lis-Soċjetà tal-MUSEUM, li għenet lil bosta żgħażagħ fil-formazzjoni tagħhom għall-ħajja. Kemm Joseph kif ukoll Teresa isemmu wkoll li minn tfulithom sal-lum rari tilfu quddiesa jew naqsu milli jgħidu r-rużarju. Joseph jistqarr li l-uniku żmien meta ma setax jattendi quddiesa kien xi drabi meta kien imsiefer, għax mill-bqija dejjem mar. Mhux biss, talli kemm ilha li nfetħet il-Kappella taċ-Ċenaklu fiċ-ċentru ta’ Ħaż-Żebbuġ, jgħin billi xi kultant jalgħaqha hu tard filgħaxija.

Sorpriża tal-50 Anniversarju

F’għeluq il-50 sena miż-żwieġ tagħhom, uliedhom li għadhom Malta għamlulhom sorpriża. Għat-8 ta’ Frar 2009, li nzerta l-Ħadd u għalhekk eżatt bħal fit-tieġ tagħhom, organizzaw għalihom il-quddiesa tal-11 ta’ filgħodu fil-knisja ta’ San Filep, fejn kienu żżewġu. F’dak il-ħin kien hemm ħafna nies, u xħin Joseph u Teresa daħlu l-knisja sabu għalihom żewġ siġġijiet bil-bellus aħmar armati fin-nofs quddiem l-artal, bħal ta’ żewġ għarajjes friski. Għall-ewwel Teresa tgħidx kemm stħat, iżda s-sens ċajtier ta’ Joseph għamlilha l-kuraġġ u kollox mexa kif suppost. Dun Alfred Agius qaddes il-quddiesa b’radd ta’ ħajr għal kull m’ghamel Alla għalihom tul dawn is-snin kollha, u għamlilhom diskors tal-omelija li apprezzaw ħafna. Wara, il-familja marret flimkien għal ikla f’ristorant.

Bħala messaġġ lill-koppji tal-llum, Joseph jgħidilhom ma joqgħodux ’il-bogħod minn Alla l-Imbierek u jitolbuh iżomm idejh fuqhom, għax kollox jiddependi minnu. Teresa tħeġġiġhom biex joqogħdu bil-għaqal u jkunu beżlin, għax tqis li b’dawn il-kwalitajiet jista’ jkollhom ħajja aħjar u feliċi.