October 2017 - Week 3

Monday 16 to Sunday 22nd October 2017

Monday I parked in Floriana and walked into Valletta for a cappuccino. The crowds have thinned a bit now that the main season is behind us. I walked back and on to Blata L-Bajda to Gattard House to register for an e-ID which means I should be able to access government “stuff” online. As a first step I have applied for an EHIC, so we will see if that works. Sam spent the day preparing for her trip. The big local news today was the murder by car bomb of a local blogger who exposed corruption and other goings on amongst Malta’s political leaders, criminal gangs and money launderers. You have to be careful who you cross in Malta. For dinner we had blackened chicken with chips.

Tuesday I did a supermarket shop while Sam packed. Late afternoon I dropped her at the airport for her flight to Birmingham. On the drive home there was a bit of a delay as a learner driver had driven into the back of another car. For dinner I had stir fried courgettes, peppers, baby sweetcorn and cashew nuts with a black bean sauce (from a packet). The veggies were great but the sauce was a waste of time!

Wednesday I did a long walk all around the local towns, stopping at Clara May for an excellent cappuccino. I made a cauliflower soup for lunch and macaroni cheese for dinner.

Thursday there were a few black clouds around so I stayed near home on my walk. Along the way I had an excellent cappuccino in a packed Donut Factory. It is by far the most popular café in St Paul’s Bay, even though their donuts are not very good! For dinner I had left over macaroni cheese.

Friday I walked along Ghadira promenade. The sea was peppered with white tourists, standing knee deep like candles on a cake. In a few short weeks they’ll be gone and the water will be at peace again. I wonder what the fish make of it all.

Sam is away so I took myself out to dinner, going to the New Madras. I had papadums (poor as always, but I keep forgetting they are poor there), then a vegetable biryani with a pishwari naan, both good. I’m enjoying a decent stretch of nearly-vegetarianism. I don’t object to meat eating in general; after all, that’s what we humans do, and pork is a guilty pleasure of mine now and then, but I find red meat suits me less and less these days. Chicken once a week and fish (invariably salmon) now and then are okay but mostly I like vegetables, pasta, rice, pulses, fruits, salads etc.

Saturday I went walkabout and stopped off at Victoria Café for a change. It shares a kitchen with Miracles and I have to say the breakfasts looked very good. On this occasion though, I contented myself with a cappuccino. I took advantage of the fab weather and did another walk after lunch. For dinner I made jerk vegetables in my slow cooker. Basically, it was like a ratatouille flavoured with allspice, cinnamon, ginger and chilli. It was pretty good but I’m not sure I would bother again.

Sunday I did a long hike all around our three towns. It was hot work with the temperature knocking up against 30°C again. For dinner I had pizza.