Local Social

Friday morning after work time, I took myself off to the bank to sort out frozen accounts, since I haven’t used them in over two years, I had to suffer though a very manual reinstatement to reactivate! An hour of updating details (where nothing had changed except my Maltese phone number) culminated in not being able to activate the (new) Visa card. In short account is now open but I have to wait for replacement card and pin by post! Another week! That’s one admin job ticked, now onto the next 5 things!

The afternoon was spent preparing for a drinks evening with the neighbours. Celebrating Rols becoming a Maltese citizen, Kevin spent the afternoon scrubbing the deck (in 40 degrees) Rols prepared nibbles, and my task was to make a fruit platter and asparagus rolls (something I do with my eyes closed) The fruit platter ✅ but the worst asparagus rolls I have ever made…the only bread available was toast thick and hard – consequently when rolled they looked like cracked pavements! I did need to explain to our guests that they do taste better than they look! A great evening socialising with all the apartment block residents, neighbours from across the road and both sides! Late night for me almost midnight!

The evening party setting with fairy lights – and fireworks banging away in the next town until 11pm!

A little sleep in until 7am (being a Saturday) but had arrangements to head to the Irish pub (Lemon and Lime) in Marsacala by 9am to watch the All Blacks play Ireland live (NZ time 7pm) They very kindly opened half an hour early for Kevin and I (somewhat reluctantly at first)

Kevin and I donned the Rugby shirts having travelled with me for just these occasions!

No one else was interested and we had the place to ourselves, a few stragglers (locals) by half time were sitting at the tables outside. Nevertheless – great coffee and great breakfast…

Just with three minutes to go – the pubs cable TV lost reception to the UK channel! The barman scrabbled to get it back in vain, and just managed to get on to the Italian channel for the last minute! Yay Italian is good when you have watched 78minutes and don’t get the end, one only needs the picture!

Full to the brim with English breakfast, we stepped out into a balmy 39degrees at 11am. Contemplated a walk along the promenade…

But opted for the air conditioned comfort of Kevin’s Citroen! The black Shirts a bit of an overdress for Maltese temperatures!

We drove south for a bit of a look around the hotspots (literally) and reminded me of all the places I need to share with Jill when she joins me in August!

The southern tip of the Island looking down on Marsaxlokk (the fishing villages) and some fabulous swimming spots off the cliffs behind!

I have just realised looking at these photos that I may have left my favourite black cowboy hat at the pub as a tip! Oh well in a weeks time I will do it all over again (the 2nd test) with George.