After a week of half days work and afternoon swims, I woke to a morning of just me against the world. Bearing in mind shops all close (apart from supermarkets and the chain stores) at midday in summer in Malta. Today I had some tasks to do! But first it was find the All Blacks test on one of the 500 internet channels, and tuned into the second half…happy to miss the first half by all accounts!
After lunch yesterday at Alice Springs Cafe in Senglea…the day was really heating up!
A coffee and an omelette on far too much ftira (Maltese bread) I then inhaled a bottle of water, as even sitting in the shade, I was perspiring faster than I could replace! The plan was to head to my charity shop to stock up on some more books, then head for a dip in the sea!
Vivienne, (the car) decided it was also too hot for her, and refused to start after my very short visit to the closed charity shop! I held my breath..tried not to panic as my phone was also nearly flat, gave her a rest and managed to get her firing. Nervous to repeat the experience, I headed straight home, parked her up in the garage and hosed myself on the terrace, giving the plants an extra drink too.
Needless to say one of my tasks this morning was to take her to the battery garage (I have been there before) and check the battery, which google told me was open from 8-1 on a Saturday. But first, there was the wee job of eradicating the ant attack that had crept up on me overnight, spray, wipe, vacuum and clean out all bins….they had roared in from the terrace, under the sofa and crawled along the kitchen and up into the drawers!
This done, it was off to the battery place…which sported a big “handwritten” sign “ closed on saturdays” in true summer spirit!
As Vivienne was today behaving, I circled back to my charity shop once again…carefully choosing 4 books. Upon taking them to the counter, the lovely English volunteer spied one she had not read! And was insistent she had no change of my 20€ bill, knowing I only had 3€ in change (each book being 1€ and needing to pay 4€) hoping I would leave the one she wanted behind! Nope it had taken me half an hour to choose, and she could either take my 3€ for 4 or find change, no surprise…she found change!
My next stop, the Chinese shop for some supplies for Roland, and then finally a coffee at an old favourite “Rouge Cafe”
In the shade and very pleasant while I watched live updates as our Netball girls bowed out of the World Cup.
Being my old stomping ground, I needed to visit the ATM machine in Bormla, being still a bit of a cash society. Then a thought struck me to pop into the local hairdressers and see if I could make an appointment (the same one Trudi had a great cut when she was here) They weren’t too busy and my new best friend Sharron, shampooed, conditioned and cut (short) for the grand sum of 15€ (NZ$30)….
I actually suggested shorter, but this is what she wanted to do! Kinda like the Stevie Nicks Shaggy look (finally!)
I contemplated jumping on the ferry for a trip to Valletta, as I had a park right by, but still needing a visit to the supermarket decided to save this for another day..
So a Saturday evening ahead of launching into one of my new books! Ready for an early start tomorrow at the Sunday Birgu Car boot market!
All who wander are not Lost girls 