Christmas wishes

Christmas is a time for giving but Finance Minister John Dalli has made sure I could not be anything but stingy with my gifts. Still, I would like to honour a few personalities for their wonderful deeds throughout the year.

Peppi Azzopardi: Three cheers for being man enough not to rub in the fact that the MLP had to bow their head in shame and return on programmes produced by Where's Everybody.

Emanuel Cuschieri: Love and kisses galore go to my friend Manuel who has been a real sport when most of the jealous MLP delegates decided not to vote for him, denying him a post on the Labour executive.

Daphne Caruana Galizia: Wet and sloppy kisses plus a hard slap on the back for her mean writings about the Leader of the Opposition.

Justyne Caruana: Congratulations to the young Labour MP on her wedding. May her drive and energy not be reserved only for your husband but used to help more Gozitans.

Marisa Micallef Leyson: May this year be her wake-up call to really address the housing problem.

Joe Grima: A resounding slap is what Joe actually deserves but I might get hurt in the process. Joe's U-turn surpasses any U-turns the MLP ever made.

John Dalli: My favourite. Hearty applause goes to Johnny Boy for renaming the Maltese dog "the great Dane" (dejn) instead of the Maltese terrier.

Alfred Sant: Congratulations Dr Sant, for being the most convincing of the trio of party leaders (the others being Harry Vassallo and Eddie Fenech Adami) on the Xarabank programme discussing Black Monday's budget.

Eddie Fenech Adami: A standing ovation for the man who gave birth to a new saint this coming year, San Batu.

Dom Mintoff: One kiss after another to the marvellous lion from Delimara who tried damn hard to cause a rift between the Leader of the Opposition and Karmenu Mifsud Bonnici but failed miserably. May my kisses and hearty applause mellow his aggressive nature.

Mgr Victor Grech: May he live to be a hundred. And never-ending applause for all the love and care he has shown for drug addicts throughout the year.

Louis Deguara: This man is to patients what Quasimondo was to the man in the street, terrifying with his elimination of the yellow card and patients paying for services rendered. Hooray for his social conscience.

David Casa: David often buys me a coffee at my favourite cafeteria. Unlimited applause goes to this guy who smiles as he sees me drinking the coffee hoping it would choke me but being too nice to tell me so!

A merry Christmas to all.