On the Dot...

You would think that with rubbish skips available for use in various places, no one would discard waste in as public a place as near the war monument in Floriana. But the prominence of the place was no deterrent yesterday. There must be something to the claim that with really stiff fines for such contraventions, people would think twice about offending.

Reef Knot

In Triq il-Qroll, Bugibba, there is an unbuilt plot which is already serving as a rubbish dump and fire hazard. A little way up, a part of the retaining wall has collapsed, and the blocks of stone covering the pavement exactly below it often catch pedestrians unawares, because they wobble unsteadily. Since cars usually occupy the whole stretch of street, and drivers negotiate it carelessly, the broken, dangerous pavement remains the only option for pedestrians.

Baby Faze

Unfortunately, sometimes it happens that mothers-to-be receive bad news at the antenatal or post-natal clinics at Karen Grech Hospital. It is not the first time that some of them are seen crying at the entrance, in full view of passers-by making their way to the car park, the cardiac clinic, or the Institute of Health. Could a room not be set aside where they could have the privacy they need, albeit for a short while?

Clean Away

It used to be said that substances like marijuana had no cumulative effect on the human brain, so the slogan Legalise Pot was considered cool to repeat; until events proved otherwise. With ecstasy, even one tablet of which may have disastrous consequences, the dangers are even worse. Undoubtedly, stringent measures, including shock tactics (taking potential users to visit real-life cases of abuse) and sky-high fines will do something towards lessening the problem. But in the end, it is all a question of inculcating values in our youth and backing this with a nationwide campaign.

Thorn Bird

On May 26, this column reported a bougainvillea shrub at the end of Pietru Xuereb Street, corner with Mountbatten Street in Guardamangia, which was overflowing its porch and therefore obliged pedestrians to take to the busy stretch of road there. This plant has now developed thorns that are exactly at eye-level for passers-by, making the problem worse.

Pillars of Strength

The base set up for one of the statues decorating St Joseph High Road, Hamrun, for the feast of San Gejtanu, at the corner of Dun Nerik Cordina Perez Street, was positioned in such a manner that anyone using a pushchair or wheelchair had to step into the middle of this busy intersection. The space left between it and a child's ride-on toy was too narrow. One hopes that the organisers of the external feasts, in conjunction with shop owners, will take these niceties into account the next time around.

Built In

A tiny trench by the side of the chaplain's residence of Our Lady of Victory Church in Valletta was immediately filled in and the road resurfaced in no time at all after it was dug. However, the pavement remains as slippery as it always was; it is not the first time tourist guides stop to inform their charges about the historic buildings in the area, only to have to halt their speech while one of them regains his footing.

Laddie Luck

Much ado was made about the national lottery when those taking part in it could thereby also take part in the European lottery. The demise of the national lottery has put paid to this, no doubt. But with people finding it easy to place their bets in other foreign lotteries, and the incessant hyping of the Super Five lottery, one wonders where this induced gambling fever will lead.

Wooden Know

A part of the pavement along Psaila Street, in Birkirkara, corner with St Elias Street, has been broken for a very long time now. It would seem that it will remain in disrepair for a much longer time, since now it has been patched up with a sheet of plywood. Because this, however, has not been made fast, it is displaced with the vibrations of passing cars; soon, the gaping hole will be uncovered again, and an accident will happen; and perhaps someone will also trip heavily on the edges of the patch.

Dark Thoughts

On Saturday, August 10, cars were being redirected from the top of Mosta (near Eurosposa) towards Targa Gap, rather than being allowed to drive through the town. This meant that for the most part, until they arrived at the road junction of Rabat and Attard, they had to drive in pitch darkness save for their headlights, with the Ta' Qali floodlit grounds for a general sense of direction. Since the diversion was surely worked out beforehand, surely steps could have been taken to position at least temporary lights with a view to making them permanent later.