On the Dot...

It must be the policy, or rather the strategy, of the two main commercial banks, to limit queues while at the same time increasing the number of ATM users. However, what they do not realise is that people are generally wont to enter the premises anyway when their transactions may not be carried out through an ATM. This often results in there being one cashier available per five people with transactions that are not straightforward. This is patently not enough.

Sunshine Days

The Sunshine Snacks factory at Mriehel industrial estate appears keen to live up to its image. It is easily the best-kept establishment in the area, and one notes that a worker from this factory regularly cares for the oleanders in the four big planters in front of the factory, which, however, are on the main road and as such not the factory's direct responsibility. All the rest along the street are bare of plants, mostly used to collect rubbish, with cracked soil bare except for bits of weeds.

Trough To Tell

Across the road from the Lower Barrakka side of Mediterranean Street, all the way down to the Siege Bell Memorial, is a huge trench that has been there for a long time now. This area is used by hundreds of vehicles a day, and the residents and their visitors are irked that no one seems keen enough for the work to go on around the clock so that it gets done sooner.

Time Table

Around this time last year, when mention was made of the terrible state of the Corradino area, some people deliberately misconstrued the comments and intimated that this column had ulterior motives for pointing out the obvious. However, the fact remains that the retaining wall on the side of St Joseph's College still needs repairing.

Streets Ahead

Holy Trinity Street, on the Marsa side, has been resurfaced. However, the work stopped short a little way off St Joseph Main Road, in Hamrun. One wonders whether this area is under the jurisdiction of the Hamrun, or the Marsa, local council. If this is unclear, it could well be the reason behind the delay.

Lights Ahoy

On Sunday, May 11, some of the lights in Floriana were switched off at 12.30 a.m. A few more remained on until it would have been time to switch them on again in the evening. One would have thought that with automatic switching systems, this type of sheer wastage would have become a thing of the past.

Playing Ball

The recent outcry about a particular toy made scary reading. However, there are many more toys that could be classified as dangerous even if they are used properly. What about toys that spin and ricochet with enough momentum to actually sear flesh by friction? Or those that are spring-loaded to fire tiny missiles? Will these toys be banned only after quite a few children are injured?

Sun Flowers

Members of The Malta Hospice Movement have indeed been sunflowers for many of us in times of need. One hopes that their sunflower appeal will be treated in the same way as the annual Poppy Day, with school children being given an option about sharing their pocket money with such a worthy cause. Perhaps potted sunflowers could be planted in school gardens, in parallel with collections being made by those who are willing to give.

Zero Options

The recent cases of violence or intimidation against staff in schools indicate that not much has been done in the way of providing security measures. Parents with a violent turn of mind can easily walk into buildings that are left open. Others time their entry to when outside gates are open to let in school buses. Ironically, in some cases teachers are being bullied because they do their duty.

Skip and Jump

When roadworks are being carried out, traffic is often re-directed through residential streets. People unfamiliar with the area, especially if they have to drive in the dark, often come upon potential hazards such as sleeping policemen, irregularly parked vehicles, hitherto one-way streets with drivers assuming no traffic will be coming towards them, or skips placed exactly at corners. How about making sure that any necessary reflective strips or cats' eyes, or temporary traffic signs, are in place before any such re-routing is done.

Food For Thought

Several parishes encourage regular donations of food and/or specific items for the poor in the parish. It would be a good idea were each family to contribute to this initiative by making one day a week a "pasta day" - cheap and cheerful food, rather than a meal with more expensive ingredients, to enable one to put similar ingredients in the hampers in church.

Misnomer

Bank tad-Demm Nazzjonali, reads the name in Maltese of the National Blood Bank, over the entrance to it at Guardamangia. Surely it should be Bank Nazzjonali tad-Demm? It is, after all, the blood bank which is national, not the blood.

Roman Villa

Many tourist coaches park in the relatively spacious Museum Esplanade in Rabat, but not for tourists to visit the Roman Villa situated there - the villa is being renovated, but works seem to be at a standstill. It was supposed to have re-opened last October but seems at present to be lying in a complete state of neglect.

The Loser

Congratulations to Sliema Wanderers for winning this year's football championship. Alas, the trail of blue-coloured confetti all the way from Ta' Qali to Sliema underscored one other reality - the environment is always the loser in this land of ours!