On the dot...

Parking for persons with disability is already a problem in the St Julians/Paceville area. During the weekend of May 7-8, the parking space at St George's Bay, reserved for disabled people, was taken up by a skip. This was filled up with debris from the works being carried out on the bay across the road. Is this fair?

Mirror Mirror

A traffic mirror in Triq Dahlet it-Tlitt Ibliet, Cospicua went missing this winter during a freak storm. Months have passed since reports were lodged about the danger being caused to traffic exiting Triq San Gwann (side street), which is a blind corner with Triq Dahlet it-Tlitt Ibliet (a main road). But the mirror is still missing.

Visiting Ours

The Maria Addolorata Cemetery at Paola is said to be the most beautiful in Europe. That may well be; however, the paths and stepped pavements leave much to be desired. Hearses must find it a bumpy ride sometimes and those who throng to visit their loved ones have been hoping for years that the place will be given a revamp, to no avail. Incidentally, why are there no road signs indicating the direction to the place, seeing that not all drivers know which way to go?

Road to Perdition

The Salina to Naxxar road took years to complete and one may also say that it is, meanwhile, already in need of repairs. There are gaping holes in the pavements as well as at least three large potholes. One of them is at the manhole in front of the chapel on the way up from Salina; the others are on the way down, with one of them being at a rain grille. Every drop of rain, and every passing vehicle, mean the damage is exacerbated.

Bay Streets

In St Paul's Bay there are a number of roof tanks overflowing and wasting precious water. Given the current trends for best of judgement assessments by staff of the Water Services Corporation, summer residence owners will not be going to meet meter readers and simultaneously check on their properties. This state of affairs will therefore remain until summer.

Book Reviews

Many schools made library week a memorable one for their students. Besides conducting activities meant to further pupils' interest in reading, some of them also invited well-known children's authors as part of the learning process, complete with a book-signing session. Inevitably, some schools also looked upon this week as a good time to hold a fund-raising activity through the sale of books.

Bus Pass

One notes that during the coming scholastic year, new bus routes are envisaged for the itinerary that will serve students at MCAST as well as the Junior College, to supplement the service being given to university students. One hopes the suggestions given in these columns helped bring this about.

Flying Low

About three months ago, Air Malta issued a call for applications for the post of Financial Controller. Hopefuls were told they would be contacted at a later date, with a view to being informed of the results. So far, they have been kept in the dark, even if it's just to be informed that they have not been accepted for the job.

Cat-a-Logues

Nice old ladies residing at the Floriana rest home are in the habit of feeding the pigeons that regularly gather near the fountain across the road from the Sarria church and at the steps by the Health Centre. What does not get eaten gets trampled into the ground by passers-by and since even some of this dirty pancake has often disappeared by the morning, one may only assume it is being prised off and eaten by rats during the night.

Dangerous Minds

Another swimming season has started and still the Chalet, or what's left of it, stands at Sliema. Suggestions that it be demolished last year brought about cries of protest and the intimation that it was going to be restored; however, it is getting progressively worse. Will it take the death of a foolhardy diver to change things?

Wild Things

Yet again, workers armed with revolving blades are going around scything down every bit of wild plant that grows unbidden in the verges of roads and the countryside, since these are broadly classified as weeds. Several types of wildlife are thus being sentenced to death; while, ironically, thousands of liri are being spent on perishable, non-endemic flowers that require constant coddling, yet do not support the local fauna adequately.

Seat of Wisdom

The recruitment of non-academic staff at the university appears to have come to a standstill a long time ago. Apart from that, it would seem that promotions have been stopped, too. As a result, some of the employees have ended up performing duties way above and beyond their job descriptions, with nothing to show for it.

That's IT

Now that the first Maltese font computer keyboard has been launched with much fanfare, one dares hope these keyboards will gradually find their way into classrooms as soon as possible, if not in all government departments. Perhaps a token keyboard will make an appearance between May 23 and 25, when parents will be invited at schools to watch their children use their class computers.

Safe Passage

Thanks to Her Majesty and Commonwealth heads of state and of government, the wide pavement leading from Portes des Bombes to the Lions Fountain, in Floriana is being done up. A makeshift "path" was created for pedestrians. The question is: Does it provide safe passage? Apart from the fact that this "path" was nowhere to be seen yesterday!