On the dot...

It was most delightful to follow the Epiphany concert on national television. The event provided the audience present and those at home with a fine interpretation of works by foreign and local composers. The orchestra helped enrich the audience's cultural perception by introducing beautiful works by Maltese composers. Well done to the National Orchestra and to those involved.

Branching Out

Every so often employees of the Department of Agriculture take it into their heads to prune trees, barely leaving enough branches upon which new leaves may sprout. One notes, however, that the wood of which the trees are left bereft is apparently not being wasted; some time after the exercise, notices are seen "sprouting" here and there advertising the sale of firewood logs.

Work to Lure

Despite the fact that flexitime and job-sharing are rather thin on the ground, there is a current drive to encourage women back to the workplace. This includes a tax holiday for those who have not held down a paid job for five years. Ironically, although information may be obtained from the Help Desk at the Department of Inland Revenue, the call is not to be made to a freephone number, but to a landline where each pulse counts.

Cross Zebra

Last Sunday, just before the 10.30 a.m. Mass at St Theresa's Sanctuary in Birkirkara, a fatal accident was narrowly avoided; this happened not even a week after the nearly-obliterated zebra crossing was featured in this column. Short of purchasing a pot of white paint and going over the white strops themselves, passers-by were wondering what else they could do about it.

Chimney Sweep

The chimneys of the St Luke's Hospital incinerator still spew out black smoke whenever they feel like it. Since it appears that the transfer of patients to the new hospital will not happen for quite a while, one hopes that this will not continue ad infinitum.

Hazy Corners

Vandalism has become a commonplace act in the general Paceville area. This time, in the line of fire once again were the public conveniences in St Julians. There was a time when each public convenience had an attendant. Failing this, one wonders whether the time has come to include the place in a warden's or policeman's beat, or whether the installation of a CCTV camera would eventually pay for itself.

Record Breakers

Every so often, we are regaled with the news that police officers would have descended upon some flea market stall owner, seizing a number of counterfeit CDs or DVDs. What the long arm of the law does not seem to realise is that many more fake audio-visual material is to be readily found in shops that hire them out at ridiculous prices; sometimes, even the sleeves of the discs do not fit properly into the covers, because the colour photocopies from which they are made have not been trimmed.

Feathering the Nests

The Food and Veterinary Division within the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment has issued a notice whereby it is stated that untreated feathers from Turkey and adjoining countries is hereby suspended, failing the production of official commercial documentation indicating that the feathers would have been treated. Since some sources have indicated that the avian flue virus might have been prevalent in Turkey since before the first official death announcements, one wonders whether retroactive measures will be taken with regard to previously imported goods as well.

Postal Ardour

Rain or shine is the motto of Maltapost plc employees; they have been known to turn up even in the most inclement of weathers. However, last Monday was an exception, because of the inclement weather. The bad news is that their enforced day off will now be deducted from their vacation leave allowance. This is a downright shame, seeing that it was just a once in a blue moon occurrence. All of us have reason to be grateful to our postmen - including the people who came up with this ridiculous idea.

Cutting Corner

Everybody - meaning the local council and the police station complement - knows that Triq it-Turisti in Bugibba has become one big one-way accident trap. This week, even some stones off the wall were dislodged and thrown a good distance away, thankfully without injuring anyone. Residents have been startled long enough by the squeal of breaks when motorists who do not know of the situation drive through.

Open Plan

It has become the norm to make tickets for weekend parties more expensive than ever with the excuse that the promoters have to cover expenses that go with open bars. Unfortunately, the money they earn from their cupidity does not appear to cover the purchase of a few snacks based on complex carbohydrates, and a ready supply of water. These would not stop people getting drunk - that is the bartenders' job to a certain extent - but they would help lessen the damage to the young people's health.

Line Dancing

Several people report having had problems with their e-mails systems. Sometimes incoming mail from usual contacts is treated as spam, sometimes, mail is delivered as a garbled series of letters, and sometimes, it does not get through at all. Since this has happened with the services from different providers, one wonders what the cause behind this is.

Fire Blanket

Despite the ban on smoking in public places, it is not unusual for potential clients to leave a place of entertainment as soon as they enter it because they do not want to go through the hassle of complaining to the management about the infringements in their establishment. It would seem that smokers, then, have more money to burn, literally and figuratively, than non-smokers. At least, up to the time they are able to do so.