November 2016 - Week 4

Monday 21st to Wednesday 30th November 2016

Monday meant shopping as usual. For dinner we had a roasted chicken with baked sweet potatoes and roasted parsnips.

Tuesday we met a local lawyer who has an office nearby to get passports and driving licences certified. Oh the joys of opening new bank accounts these days! We had surprisingly good cappuccini at Acquitca. The weather is just about perfect again – mostly sunny with temperatures into the mid/high twenties – and I did a great power walk to Café del Mar and back. This is a time of year of contrasts. Locals strut about in knee-high black boots, black jeans and black puffer jackets. Expats sport long shorts, shirts and light jackets. Tourists wander about in little more than swim suits and t-shirts. Only the cats (of which there are many) seem unchanged from one season to the next.

For dinner I made a chilli con carne using minced beef. I haven’t used beef in a chilli for ages. Sam loves it but I must say I do prefer my vegan version using Puy lentils.

Wednesday I went for my 6 weekly haircut and philosophy lesson. After a cappuccino at Eatetna I went home, donned my walking boots, grabbed my Leki stick and drove to Mistra Bay. I was shocked to see how badly even Mistra Bay had been damaged by the recent storm; Mistra Bay is in a tight horse shoe and usually protected from the elements. The road is buckled, great blocks of stone are flung about, the hopeless hulls of upturned boats float aimlessly in the shallows and seaweed is strewn everywhere, in places as high as a house. But, on the bright side, the recent rains have bought the green with them. Once more the hillsides look fertile. What with the turquoise sea, impossibly blue sky and green hillsides, you really feel as though you have slipped through the gateway into paradise.

The weather now is what Malta promises in November. Warm sunshine, blue skies, gentle breezes and no humidity. November is a favourite month with the locals who liken it to a second summer. We like to sit on our terrace late into the night, knocking on midnight’s door, listening to the sea upon the shore, watching the lights twinkling on the fish farms and the blinking of the incoming jets and marvel at the peace and quiet, so unlike the recent summer months.

Tonight we went to Lovage for dinner. We do like the ambiance there, the low lighting, modern finish, comfy chairs and warm service. And it holds many fond memories from our courtship with Malta. But once again the food fell short and I’m not sure how much longer we will persevere with it.

Thursday I picked up our free water from Pama; another 108 litres! I did a short walk, some shopping and stopped for a good cappuccino at Miracles. Sam went for a three hours hairdo ahead of her trip to the UK on Friday. For dinner we had left over chilli con carne with Aunt Bessies crinkle cut oven chips which were tasteless.

Friday our second summer continued. It was already 20° when I got up at 7am. I dropped Sam off at the airport for her trip to the UK then drove on to Pretty Bay for a cappuccino and a short walk. For dinner I went to Malet, a nearby Maltese restaurant which was good. For my starter I had a Caesar salad, definitely the best salad in Malta. For my main BBQ spare ribs which were okay and for pudding, small date cakes with vanilla ice cream and honey. The restaurant is very old fashioned and Sam’s not too keen on it which is why we don’t usually go there. There were only three of us there which is pretty poor for a Friday night. Maybe the various rabbit dishes on the menu put people off!

Saturday I went to Eatetna for brunch – ricotta and almond cake with a cappuccino. I had a gentle walk, cooked a sweet potato and prune tagine for dinner and generally chilled out.

Sunday I did a long walk around the area, checking out some vintage cars along the way. Summer is back so I sought out shade as much as possible. I had a good cappuccino at the improbably named Clara May Café, two doors down from my hair dresser. In the evening I went for a beer at O’Reilly’s which was packed as there was some big deal football match on. I went to Churchill’s for dinner and had their set menu. Bruschetta, chicken liver pate, bragioli (beef olives) in a rich tomato sauce, roasted potatoes, carrots and green beans and vanilla ice cream. All excellent and only €14.50 to boot!

Monday I went shopping at HomeMate, the Atrium and Scotts, did some work, had a walk and watched movies! For dinner I had home-made baked beans with roast chicken. Yummie!

Tuesday I drove to Armier Bay in the morning but just as pulled into the car park and enormous thunderstorm struck with unbelievably heavy rain. It was like sitting under a waterfall. There seemed to be no let up so I drove home again and the rain stopped the minute I parked. I guess I was fated not to have a cappuccino! For dinner I had left over roast chicken.

Wednesday I had one of those days where nothing seemed to go right. First, my power went off last night and it took about half an hour of fiddling with the fuse box – in the dark – to finally get the lights on again. I was sitting in bed reading at about 11pm when the power went off again and nothing I could do would bring it on again. This morning, after a lot of trial and error with umpteen fuses I finally found the culprit and it doesn’t seem to control anything! So the power is back on. It is a particularly big deal here as our water doesn’t work without a pump and our pump doesn’t work without power. And it’s just as well I “fixed” it as our landlady and our handyman are both off-island at the moment.

With the pump working I jumped in the shower but the shower tap fell off in my hand! I fixed it eventually.

I decided to go to Valletta via Sliema and set off for the car. But then I realised it was cold out with a wind blowing off the sea so I had to go back home to get a coat. When I got to Sliema I got caught up in some impossible road works and diversions. Anyway, I finally got parked and went to get the Valletta ferry only to find it was cancelled due to “adverse weather conditions”. So, I thought I would go to my favourite book store but it was closed! I went to Georgios for a cappuccino; it was luke-warm and when I paid my bill they tried to short change me. What have I done to upset the Gods so? I drove home, shut myself in and watched a movie.

For dinner I went to HOS for great papadums, poor lamb chops (too salty) and great biryani.