October 2017 - Week 2

Monday 9th to Sunday 15th October 2017

Monday we went to Sliema. As you drive into Sliema from the north, the sea is on your left. Today the horizon was dotted with container ships and tankers, like giant Lego bricks on a wall. They were all queuing up to refuel tax-free, I suppose. We sorted out our phones out at Vodafone. European roaming charges have been scrapped so there is no longer any need for complicated contracts. We had cappuccini at Giorgio’s – average on this occasion – visited a couple of shops and went to Greens on the way home. For dinner we had a roast chicken, baked sweet potatoes and sweetcorn.

Tuesday I finally got around to ordering online the nine birth, marriage and death certificates I need to register my birth in Ireland as a precursor to applying for an Irish passport. We’ll see what turns up! We had a busy day with work as Sam is trying to get ahead of things before her trip away to the UK next week. I managed a good walk after lunch and another long walk after dinner. For dinner we had left over roast chicken with roast potatoes and stuffing.

Wednesday Sean came around to update our android box. He says a recent change in European law means he can no longer upload software onto new boxes but it is okay to update existing software. Sounds odd but he’s the expert. We went to The Apple’s Eye for cappuccini. There were quite a few tourists on the beach at Golden Bay and also at Riviera Bay. For dinner we had a firm favourite; roasted vegetables with feta and olives.

Thursday I did a walk through Qawra and along the waterfront by the salt pans. Just past the ducks that live in some bushes by the water there is a wooden walkway that runs several hundred metres through to Kennedy Grove and straddling it was a large snake about 5 feet long. I subsequently Googled it and found it was a Western Whip Snake, black as polish, and one of only four breeds of snake in Malta. There was no way I was going to step over it; snakes in Malta may not be poisonous but they can still give you a nasty bite! These snakes can swallow rats whole. I went as close as I dared and eventually it got the message and slithered off into the shrubbery.

There is a children’s’ playground by Kennedy Grove and at the entrance is a sign warning of banned activities. No BBQs, no dogs, the usual things. But also no hunting (an image of a man in the bushes aiming a shotgun). Only in Malta!

In the evening we popped next door to the 23 New Steps for a couple of ice cold beers.

For dinner Sam had a pizza topped with left over vegetables with feta and olives. I made a savoury rice dish with onions, celery, sweetcorn, spices, cashews and raisins and it was excellent.

Friday I got a haircut and a monologue on divorce. Back in the real world we worked. But then we welcomed a Spanish lady to our flat for afternoon cava and snacks. Sam had met her the other night in Valletta. She is in Malta doing an intensive English course. In the evening we went to the Square and bumped into our Dutch friends so had a couple of beers with them at Miracles. For dinner we had take-away pizzas from Portobello.

Saturday morning we went for a walk along the prom at Mellieha, stopping for cappuccini at a beachfront café along the way. There are still quite a few tourists about and water sports are still going strong; windsurfing, water bikes, paragliding and even a speedboat trailing a large inflatable sofa. For dinner Sam had a steak with chips; I didn’t want meat so I made an egg curry with roasted potatoes, courgettes and peppers.

Sunday Sam and Tina went to Armier Bay to swim, talk and drink cappuccini. I went for a walk and stopped off for an excellent cappuccino at the Donut Factory. The main excitement of the day was that I booked our flights to Valencia for next February. Six suitcases, of course! For dinner I had left over vegetable curry with corn fritters and Sam had a rice salad.