Heard in he hive

On November 24, the Embassy of Malta in Berlin was both guest of honour and host of "Malta Night - Dancing Diplomats" - an event organised together with DasCorps, an agency supporting the networking between foreign embassies in Germany and German society as well as Diplomatischer Stammtisch and Welcome in Berlin - two organisations supported by the German Foreign Office.

The event was held in the Felix Club, a well-known and trendy nightspot, which forms part of the prestigious Adlon Hotel, touching the Brandenburg Gate.

On entering the VIP lounge, patrons and guests were welcomed with a Kinnie-based cocktail aptly called BiKinnie.

Following a fully fledged fashion show featuring a promising young Berlin fashion designer, the Ambassador of Malta, Dr John Paul Grech, greeted the lively audience, highlighted Malta's multiple tourist attractions, particularly the effective combination of climate, history and English language learning, and invited everyone to access Malta's main Internet portal on visitmalta.com.

Guests also participated in a raffle with a one-week stay for two in a five-star hotel in Malta as the main prize.

Tourism promotion posters, boards and material were strategically placed at the entrance and throughout the floors of the Felix Club.

Over 500 guests, patrons, diplomats and foreigners danced to the tunes of the Maltese band the Beangrowers and Ira Losco, with accompanying videos.

The "Malta Event - Dancing diplomats" at the Felix Club was such a success that plans are already in hand to organise a similar event next year featuring a Maltese fashion designer now active in Berlin.

Christmas Supplement cover painting auctioned for charity

The original painting by Sicilian artist Salvatore Montanucci, which graced the front cover of this year's Christmas Supplement, published by The Sunday Times on December 3, fetched Lm320 when it was auctioned during a Caritas Malta fund-raising event yesterday week.

The painting was given by the artist to The Sunday Times, which in turn donated it to Caritas.

The auction was conducted by Winston Zahra Sr during the annual Caritas Co-operators' fund-raising event held at the Hilton Portomaso Suite.

Druing the event, the annual super lottery was held in aid of Caritas, with Mgr Victor Grech, the director of Caritas Malta, distributing ten prizes to the lucky winners, with the top prizes being a pearl necklace donated by The Gram and a large silver frame donated by Victor Azzopardi Jewellers. All prizes were sponsored by various firms.

Entertainment was provided by George Curmi's trio, with a special performance by George Curmi, Il-Pusè, himself.

St Andrew's ball

The annual St Andrew's ball, organised by the St Andrew Society (Malta), was held recently at the Dolmen Resort Hotel to mark not only St Andrew's Day but also Scotland's National Day.

Members and guests were welcomed by the skirl of the pipes of J. van Dyke and a welcome drink, then took their places as the top table was piped in by Mario Farrugia.

The president of St Andrew Society, Helen MacLachlan, said a few words of welcome, followed by the Grace given by Rev. Colin Westmarland.

A fine, traditional Scottish repast, prepared and presented by Chef Derek Abbott (himself a Scot) included the Great Chieftain piped in by piper Farrugia with Chef Abbot carrying the haggis, David Christie the quaich, and the Ballantine's Scotch Whisky. Duncan MacLachlan addressed the haggis with more animation than usual, and was very well received.

After-dinner toasts followed the five-course meal. Deputy British High Commissioner Jane Hancock toasted the President, Dr Edward Fenech Adami, society patron Professor J.J. Cremona and the Queen. Ms Hancock read out a message from Scotland's First Minister Jack MacConnell before proposing the toast to Scotland.

In a welcome to the guests, John Lejman painted a rather bleak, but tongue-in-cheek, picture of Scottish hospitality before inviting the members of the society to stand and raise their glasses in a toast to the guests.

Dr Mark Diacono regaled the crowd with tales interspersed with witty anecdotes of his years as a student in Scotland. This was a moment of nostalgia for Mr Diacono and those present.

Piper Charles Giacomotto played a medley of fine tunes over coffee and shortbread with fudge.

Mrs MacLachlan thanked those involved in the evening and reminded those present of the society's next function - the Burns Supper on January 25. She gave the evening over to dancing, which included Scottish Country dancing led by the Scottish Country Dance Group.

The sponsors for the evening were Messrs Wands Ltd and Emanuel Delicata Ltd for the wines.

Cornerstone Shopping Complex launched

The Cornerstone Shopping Complex in Mosta was officially inaugurated recently by Prime Minister Dr Lawrence Gonzi.

Lauro Abela, the man behind the complex, spoke proudly about this new concept of shopping, which offers its customers a rich assortment of goods reflecting the requirements of today's lifestyle.

At Cornerstone one can find Malta's top local retailers, namely the New Franks Concept Store (featuring Franks, The Designer Shop, Home Décor, Caffé Café and the Wine and Cigar Boutique), 57 Franks, Gajet, Label and Sterling Jewellers.

"I want people to relax and have a good time while they are at the complex; hopefully they leave feeling better than they were before visiting," Mr Abela explained.

The team behind the Cornerstone Shopping Complex had good reason to celebrate the opening of a new complex that houses different aspects of luxury living and promises their guests and customers a holistic shopping experience that is different from the norm.

President visits Maltese Cross Corps

President and Mrs Fenech Adami recently visited the Maltese Cross Corps (MCC) offices at Guardamangia.

They were welcomed by the president of the Maltese Cross Corps and officials of the executive committee.

The mayor of Pietà, Santo Attard, and his wife also attended.

Mr Portelli delivered a short address of welcome and thanked the distinguished guests for their presence. He explained the work performed by MCC and stated that since its inception in l991, it had always managed the Meals on Wheels Service on behalf of the Government. The service, Mr Portelli added, is fully subsidised by the Ministry of Health, the Elderly and Community Care.

He also explained that a committee within MCC also operates the Preca College Foundation. Through the foundation, nearly Lm5,000 has already been passed on to the Society of Christian Doctrine, MUSEUM, for the maintenance and upkeep of Preca College in Albania, and an appeal for funds is at present being made.

The President congratulated MCC on the success achieved in the management of the Meals on Wheels service since its beginning. He said that this is an example of how NGOs can be of service to the country and a satisfaction to them by helping those in need.

Finally, Mr Portelli made a small donation to the Community Chest Fund. He stated that MCC are short of funds but still they felt they had to make a small contribution to those in need.

Original painting of Pablo Casals presented by Richard Saliba

Contemporary artist Richard Saliba recently presented an original painting of Pablo Casals, the famous Spanish cellist, to the Sliema Band Club.

Mr Saliba presented the painting to the society's life president, President Emeritus Dr Censu Tabone, at the end of a concert by the National Orchestra on December 1 during the grand finale of the Sliema International Arts Festival organised by the Sliema Band Club.

Pablo Casals was born in 1878 and died in 1973. He is considered to be the most famous cellist of all time.

This is the second important donation by Richard Saliba to the band club since in the main hall there is already an original painting showing the landscape from his roof in the centre of Sliema with the church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at its centre.

The President and Mrs Fenech Adami's engagements December 18-23

Tomorrow
9 a.m. Mrs Fenech Adami visits schools in Gozo as part of the L-Istrina piggy bank collection campaign.
10.30 The President presides over the Nazzareno Vassallo Award presentation ceremony at Villa Messina, Rabat.

Tuesday
9 a.m. The President receives the Prime Minister at the Palace, Valletta.
10 Mrs Fenech Adami attends a concert at the Guardian Angel School, Hamrun.
10.30 Presentation to the President of Bil-Varloppa, a collection of poems and prose by Louis Briffa, at the Palace.
11 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami pay an official visit to the Wignacourt Museum, Rabat, to view the Neapolitan crib.
5 p.m. Mrs Fenech Adami attends the Corona Society's tea party at the Malta Union Club, Sliema.
6.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami preside over the Malta Community Chest Fund board meeting at San Anton Palace, Attard.

Wednesday
10.30 a.m. Judge Giovanni Bonello presents his latest book Histories of Malta, Vol. VII - Closures and Disclosures, to the President at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President attends the monthly meeting of the Commission for the Administration of Justice at the Palace, and later hosts Christmas drinks for members of the Commission.
7 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend the Premju Haddiem tas-Sena at Robert Samut Hall, Floriana.

Thursday
9.30 a.m. Presentation of credentials to the President by the ambassador-designate of the Czech Republic, Vladimir Zavazal, at the Palace, Valletta.
9.30 Mrs Fenech Adami presents gifts to residents at St Vincent de Paul Residence.
10.30 Presentation of credentials to the President by the ambassador-designate of Qatar, Saad Nasser Al-Homidi, at the Palace.
11.30 Presentation of credentials to the President by the ambassador-designate of Mali, Ousmane Tandia, at the Palace.
1.15 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host a luncheon in honour of the newly accredited ambassadors of the Czech Republic, Qatar and Mali at San Anton Palace, Attard.
7.30 The President and Mrs Fenech Adami host a Christmas concert by Mro Buhagiar at San Anton Palace.

Friday
10 a.m. The President is presented with two publications World Heritage Sites in Malta and Museums of Malta by Tony and Eddie Aquilina at the Palace, Valletta.
5 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend a reception hosted by the chairman and board of directors of Middlesea Insurance at their premises in Floriana.

Saturday
6 p.m. The President and Mrs Fenech Adami attend the opening of Kampanja Milied Fimkien at Freedom Square, Valletta.

For your diary

The Eden Foundation in collaboration with the Catholic Action of Senglea is organising a Christmas party for children at the Catholic Action in Senglea today from 10 a.m. till 2 p.m. All children will be given a Christmas present.

Tickets are on sale at Lm3.50 from the Eden Foundation. For more information and bookings call 2180-7708, 9980-7702 or 9928-0780.

As part of the present series "Rediscovering Valletta", the Malta Historical Society is organising a lecture 'The Cappella Nani and the Cappella Bugeja - Rivalry at Valletta', delivered by Joe Vella Bondin at the La Vallette Band Club tomorrow at 6 p.m.