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Miktuba minn Fiona Vella

Kont ilni nixtieq niltaqa’ ma’ Chev. Dr. Anthony J. Abela Medici minħabba li għal bosta snin, huwa kien id-Direttur tal-Laboratorju Xjentifiku Forensiku tal-Pulizija ta’ Malta. Madanakollu, hekk kif dil-ġimgħa rnexxieli nisraqlu siegħa, minflok dwar il-forensika, sibt ruħi nitkellem miegħu dwar passjoni kbira li daħlet f’ħajtu qajla qajla filwaqt li hu kien qiegħed isegwi passatemp ieħor.

Iffissat dwar l-istorja postali ta’ Malta

“Minn mindu kont żgħir kont iffissat dwar l-istorja postali ta’ Malta,” stqarr mill-ewwel Abela Medici. “Iz-ziju ta’ ommi kien jiġbor il-bolol u ħajjarni biex nibda nġemmagħhom jien ukoll. Dak iż-żmien, niftakar li Godwin Said kien ħareġ l-ewwel katalogu żgħir bi tliet fuljetti tal-marki postali tal-irħula u xtrajthom. U fost il-listi li kien fihom, nilmaħ dik ta’ Ħad-Dingli; ir-raħal li jien trabbejt fih man-nanna u maz-zijiet.”

“Fl-1964 kelli 14 il-sena u tħajjart nixtri l-ewwel bolla komuni iżda li kellha t-timbru ta’ Ħad-Dingli. Kienet tiswa erbatax il-xelin u għamilt sena u nofs inġemmgħa l-flus għaliha, sakemm fl-aħħar xtrajtha. Imbagħad dort għat-timbri l-oħra u maż-żmient, għaqqadt kollezzjoni kbira mhux ħażin. Biex insibhom, kont indur in-negozjanti kollha tal-bolol li kien hemm il-Belt. Dak iż-żmien kien hemm ħafna għalkemm illum ma baqa’ ħadd minnhom.”

Il-fieri tal-filatelija u l-kartolini postali

Il-kollezzjoni kompliet tiżdied u tespandi sakemm darba minnhom, huwa sar jaf bil-fieri tal-filatelija li kienu jittellgħu f’pajjiżna.

“Bdejna mmorru jien u l-mara nfittxu għal timbri differenti tal-posta ta’ Malta,” kompla jirrakkonta Abela Medici. “Issa dawn it-timbri ħafna minnhom kont issibhom fuq il-kartolini li kienu jkunu f’pakketti sħaħ. Min jaf kemm il-darba kelli nixtri pakkett sabiex nakkwista timbru wieħed li kien jinteressani! B’hekk ftit ftit, bla ma oriġinarjament kelli l-ħsieb, sibt ruħi niġbor kwantità kbira ta’ kartolini li finalment anki huma ħadu l-forma ta’ kollezzjoni u għalhekk bdejt nikkatalogahom.”

Minn dawn il-kartolini, huwa sab ruħu wkoll jinteressa ruħu fl-istorja ta’ pajjiżna, tant li huwa wettaq riċerka sfieqa, partikolarment fejn tidħol il-filatelija.

Katalogi tal-kartolini postali

“Meta fl-2008 bdejt naħseb biex nirtira, uliedi ħajjruni biex nibda nippubblika r-riċerka li kont għamilt ħalli b’hekk ix-xogħol kollu li għamilt matul diversi snin ma jtirx mar-riħ.”

Hekk tnissel l-ewwel volum ta’ Abela Medici fejn jidħlu dawn il-kartolini: Maltese Picture Postcards: The Definitive Catalogue (Volume 1: The Early Years 1898 – 1906).

“Għalkemm forsi ħafna minna jgħoddu l-kartolini bħala xi ħaġa komuni, fir-realtà, huma jiffurmaw parti mill-istorja viżiva ta’ pajjiżna. Kif spjega sewwa Dr Giovanni Bonello fl-introduzzjoni ta’ dan il-ktieb, dawn il-kartolini jipprovdu riserva sinifikanti ferm ta’ xbiehat ta’ niesna, tal-kultura tagħna u ta’ pajjiżna illi probabbli, li kieku ma kienx għal dan il-mezz ta’ kommunikazzjoni, kienu jintilfu kompletament. Barra minn hekk, għal ħafna minn dawk li għexu fil-perjodu ta’ qabel l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija, il-kartolini kienu l-uniku mod kif wieħed seta’ jara xeni ta’ pajjiżi oħra, speċjalment dawk li kienu pjuttost diffiċli biex iżżurhom,” spjegali.

L-ewwel kartolina postali

“Fatt interessanti huwa illi l-ewwel kartolina postali ħarġet fuq rakkomandazzjoni ta’ Dr Emanuel Herrmann, li kien Kanċillier tal-Ministeru tal-Kummerċ Awstrijakk. Huwa ssuġġerixxa din l-idea f’artiklu tiegħu li ġie ppubblikat fl-1969 u hekk kif il-gvern tal-imperu Awstrijo-Ungeriż aċċettaha, bdew jiġu stampati dawn il-kartolini li ħarġu għaċ-ċirkulazzjoni. Ma għaddiex wisq żmien biex tħajjru pajjiżi oħra u b’hekk bdiet din id-drawwa li jintbagħtu l-kartolini. Ftit ftit, in-nies bidlet din id-drawwa f’passatemp hekk kif ħabta u sabta, nibtu bosta kolletturi u l-kartolini bdew jiġu stampati fi kwantitajiet kbar. Hekk jew hekk kienet ferm irħas li tibgħat kartolina milli li tibgħat ittra bl-envelop.”

L-ewwel xbieha ta’ Malta li ġiet użata bħala kartolina

“L-ewwel stampa li nafu biha s’issa bi xbieha ta’ Malta li ġiet użata bħala kartolina, ġiet impustatata fl-1872 u kienet turi xena tal-Port il-Kbir. Din l-istampa kienet tifforma parti minn serje ta’ ritratti li ġew ippubblikati minn kumpanija tat-tbaħħir fl-1857.”

“Min-naħa l-oħra, l-Uffiċċju Postali ta’ Malta ġie trasferit lill-gvern kolonjali lokali f’Jannar tal-1885 u l-awtoritajiet postali Maltin ħarġu l-ewwel kartolini postali fl-istess xahar. Dawn kienu juru xbieha ta’ ras ir-Reġina Vittorja.”

Kartolini jgħinu biex tiġi rkuprata l-istorja

Qallibt dan il-katalogu b’interess hekk kif bdejt nara dawn il-kartolini b’għajnejn oħra. Fhimt illi ktieb bħal dan ma kienx iservi biss għall-kollezzjonisti u n-negozjanti tal-kartolini postali imma anki għal dawk li kellhom interess fl-istorja u fis-soċjetà Maltija.

“Għandek tkun taf li mhux darba u tnejn li dawn ix-xbiehat għenu sabiex tiġi rkuprata l-istorja ta’ pajjiżna, ngħidu aħna fejn jidħol ir-restawr ta’ xi bini antik,” għarrafni Abela Medici. “Każ minnhom kien dak tal-funtana li tinsab ir-Rabat Malta, filwaqt li eżempju ieħor kien il-proġett ta’ Biagio Steps fejn kien hemm il-ħtieġa li jiġi kkonfermat kif kienu t-twieqi oriġinali tal-post li kienu waqgħu waqt il-gwerra.”

Ħadt gost nifli x-xeni Maltin li kienu jidhru fuq dawn il-kartolini ta’ dari hekk kif bdejt inqabbilhom ma’ dawk ta’ llum. Uħud għarafthom imma oħrajn ilhom snin li għosfru mill-ambjent Malti u għaldaqstant, apprezzajt il-kartolini aktar u aktar għax kieku ma kien ikolli qatt iċ-ċans li narahom b’għajnejja.

Meta ntebaħ bl-entużjażmu tiegħi, Abela Medici beda jurini partijiet mill-kollezzjoni tiegħu ta’ kartolini li llum tlaħħaq il-fuq minn 40,000 kartolina!

“Ħassejtni obbligat li naqsam dak kollu li rnexxieli niġbor u niskopri flimkien mal-pubbliku,” huwa stqarr. “Permezz ta’ din il-kollezzjoni vasta, ħarġu kartolini antiki ferm li qatt ma kienu ddokumentati qabel. M’għandix dubju li hemm ħafna individwi li se jsibu din il-kollezzjoni utli jew interessanti għalihom, speċjalment dawk li japprezzaw il-Melitensia.”

Abela Medici poġġieli f’idejja t-tieni volum li għadu kif ħareġ – Maltese Picture Postcards: The Definitive Catalogue (Volume 2: The Divided Backs 1904-1914 (A-G)).

“Wara tant ħidma, issa lestejt ukoll it-tieni volum. U hekk kif kiteb Dr William Zammit fl-introduzzjoni ta’ dan il-ktieb, din il-pubblikazzjoni dokumentata b’riċerka dettaljata, mill-llum il-quddiem se tibda tifforma parti mill-memorja kollettiva nazzjonali ta’ pajjiżna għall-ġenerazzjonijiet li jmiss.”

Infatti l-kartolini maqsuma fi stampi, diżinji, pitturi u ritratti li ħarġu matul is-snin imsemmija jservu bħala vetrina ħelwa ta’ dak kollu li jagħmilna Maltin.

Kien impossibbli li nara l-kartolini kollha minħabba l-ammont kbir li għandu Abela Medici u għalhekk se jkolli nistenna l-pubblikazzjoni tal-volumi li jmiss. Min jaf jekk hux il-volumi kollha, bħat-tnejn li diġà ħarġu, hux ser ikunu ddedikati lil Snoopy, il-kelb tiegħu li ma telaqx għal mument wieħed lil sidu u li għal siegħat twal akkumpanjah matul dan ix-xogħol tiegħu.

(Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fis-sensiela KOBOR IL-MALTI (29 Parti) fit-Torċa tal-21 ta’ Diċembru 2014)

Jack and Jill were preparing for their first long voyage to the United States. They were ticking the list of necessities to put in their luggage – dresses and suits, shirts and scarves, coats, underwear, presents and other items required for their month long stay with their daughter Marge and her American husband Chuck.

“Don’t forget the raspberry cake,” he reminded his jittery wife. “Our Marge liked them so much when she was here.” “OK Jack, and the mince pies and the apple pie too!” she added. Their only daughter, now five years living in the States, was their treasure and they were so excited to see her and their granddaughter Cindy, now six months old.

Marge, a typical English rose, had met Chuck when she was working as a stenographer with the London legal firm of ‘Saunders and Anderson’. Chuck, a lawyer by profession with an American firm in New York, had been assigned a six month period of practice with the London firm in order to learn the intricacies of the British legal system.

They fell in love as soon as they clapped eyes on each other and were married after a six month courtship. They immediately set sail for the United States where they set up home in Albany near Chuck’s parents. Jack and Jill missed her terribly. When their granddaughter Cindy was born, they decided to visit them in New York.

This would be Jack’s and Jill’s first experience of a sea voyage and, indeed, of visiting any other country. They had never left the shores of England before. Therefore they made essential arrangements for their long sea voyage as well as preparations to ensure that everything goes according to plan.

After preparing their suitcases and travel documents, they went to sleep intending to catch an early train to Southampton on the morrow. When they woke up however they found that they had overslept. They panicked, hurried downstairs, dressed in a flash, grabbed their suitcases, went to the station and took the first train to Southampton. All throughout the journey, they prayed that they would be in time.

As soon as the train arrived at the station, they took a taxi to the port from where they would board the ship for their long voyage. They insisted with the taxi driver to drive faster. Everything was done in a hurry as time was running out.

As soon as they arrived, they saw that the ship was just sailing out. They were too late! The passengers on board, all in a happy mood, were lining the ship’s deck and waving to relatives and friends on the quay. A band was playing a marching tune. It was a joyous departure. They had just missed it! With tears in their eyes, they both stared sadly at the big passenger ship “Titanic” as it sailed away to her fateful destiny in history.  

Dawn huma ritratti bħal f’dar tal-ispirti, iżda l-affarijiet li jidhru huma kollha kif ħallewhom is-sidien aktar minn ħamsin sena ilu. Magħrufa bħala d-Dwejra l-Imgħawġa, din id-dar ċkejkna u misterjuża f’Hertfordshire, għad fiha fost l-oħrajn, is-sodda ta’ bi tnejn, vażetti biċ-ċawsli u kalendarju, bis-sena u xahar ta’ Diċembru 1956.

Jingħad li fiha kienet toqgħod koppja miżżewġa. Meta r-raġel miet, martu baqgħet tgħix fl-istess dar sakemm ittieħdet toqgħod f’għar.

Oġġetti oħra fid-dwejra huma rota tan-nisa, forn antik ferm u ritratti tal-familja, li lkoll juru li tħallew kif kienu, is-snin fuq is-snin.

L-affarijiet f’din id-dwejra nstabu minn Toby Batchelor, fotografu tal-ambjent urban li jħobb jesplora postijiet mhux tas-soltu. U kif sabhom, qal li qatt ma kien jistenna xi ħaġa aħjar!

Żied jgħid li għall-ewwel ħaseb li kien jinsab f’dar ċkejkna tal-films, għax kien hemm ilbies ta’ żminijiet qodma maħruġin mill-kxaxen u dak kollu li l-produtturi tal-films ifttxu għall-filmati tagħhom.

Id-dwejra, li fis-sular ta’ fuq fiha kamra waħda biss għandha l-pedament mikul b’mod li mielet u għalhekk ħadet l-isem tad-Dwejra l-Imgħawġa.

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.