On the dot...

This is one of the many spots scattered around the island which have been turned into illegal rubbish dumps by irresponsible persons. The case in point, depicted in the photograph, is at Prof. Carmelo Coleiro Street, in Tal-Handaq, l/o Qormi.

Boarded Out

We have the billboards asking us the equivalent of Have You Hugged Your Child Today? and we have billboards advertising one locally-produced tinned product. The good that these may do is offset by the many others advertising sundry goods and services - as well as the fact that they are allowed to deteriorate before being replaced with new posters.

Enveloped...

The staff at the Hamrun sub post office "has no idea" what the competition involving postage paid envelopes is about. They do not know, either, the address to which these ought to be sent and suggest to customers that they look up the address "in the leaflet they received at home". This is neither here nor there. Why weren't posters supplied for the public's information?

... But Not Posted

Meanwhile one notes that blank sheets upon which children may design their own cards and then send them to Maltapost plc as yet another competition are not available at the Dar l-Annona post office in Valletta, on either side of the curiously-cleaved counter. These could have been used by children who have spoiled the one given at school but were too embarrassed to ask for another, as well as those who have not been given one.

Crash Course

On December 10 four more cars were involved in accidents in the stretch of St Anne Street, Floriana, mentioned in a previous column, and officially classified as a black spot. Unless the road surface is dug up and replaced in such a way that evenly perfectly balanced cars will not veer to the left on clear, dry, days, accidents will continue to happen.

Rest Assured

A group of relatives of recent and present patients in Ward M8, of St Luke's Hospital, have written in, on behalf of their loved ones. The staff, they say, is gentle, kind, caring, understanding and calm, making a painful experience just that much better.

Window Dressing

Are tinted windows in vehicles illegal or are they not? One notes that whereas, ironically, the Police Force appears to accept them as long as the owner of the car has the necessary ADT permit, this entity states adamantly they are illegal.

Safety Net

Yet another on-site fatal accident has happened, with the relevant health and safety reports being duly drawn up as necessary. Whereas one may almost believe that some accidents may never be foreseen, and therefore perhaps prevented, the fact remains that not enough is being done to safeguard the lives of workers.

Fine Feathers

Cats were removed from public gardens because they suddenly became a nuisance. Yet, pigeons are still allowed to breed prolifically and gather in droves were well-meaning people provide them with too much food that, left uneaten, provides sustenance for vermin.

Courting Time

People who decide to give evidence of their own accord, and not because they have been called as witnesses, find that very often, their employers insist they have to use up precious time off when they have to appear in court. Imagine their chagrin when, having made this sacrifice, they find that cases have been put off because of no-shows by others.

Block Votes

Much fuss was being made recently of a specific gel that was said to be able to block STDs. Included in the fulsome praise was the phrase "... prevents transmission of... a strain of the virus related to HIV...", wording that might easily be misconstrued to mean it afforded total protection from HIV itself. Are the health authorities aware of this?

Fare Stage

One of the annual boasts of whoever is Minister of Education is the ever-increasing number of students in tertiary education and the encouragement the state gives them to be there. Someone appears to have forgotten this; for students over the age of 16 will not be benefiting from the freeze after the increase in bus fares.

Rest Awhile

One notes with pleasure that despite the chronic lack of funds, Ir-Razzett tal-Hbiberija has once more started its winter programme. This happens, in part, because the team of professionals is backed by many volunteers. The general public can help this worthy cause not only by donations but by asking whether they can organise family occasions - including weddings - there.

One for the Road

Recently traffic police have become more conspicuous on the roads. Can one or two be spared and deployed to the Mriehel By-pass stretch where the road leads to Qormi? Traffic often grinds to a halt due to the chaotic situation there.