The works at St Barbara Bastions, in Valletta, is on the same level as that on the Firth of Forth Bridge. Indeed, by the time the eroded stone slabs are replaced and all the weeds removed, the works would have to start again. Admittedly, restoration is a tedious and difficult job but does it need to be so slow?

Beat That

Policemen on the beat near the Detox Centre, in Guardamangia, can be seen regularly patrolling the area. They usually do a fine job and no sooner is a group casually assembled that they move up to disperse it. Visitors to hospital and those with appointments at the Outpatients' Clinics feel much safer now.

Jam Jammin'

It's jam yesterday and jam tomorrow but also jam today at Msida. Every weekday in the afternoon rush hour, coinciding with the exodus of hundreds of Junior College students, the great traffic jam goes all the way to Pietà. For a start, had public transport to use the bus lane in front of the BOV, things would run a lot smoother.

Alternative Route

Another hefty wedge of this problem would be solved were the wide part of the road in front of Tikams to be used as a temporary bus stop to distribute queues between 3 p.m. and 5.30 p.m. A direct route bus from the Junior College to Mosta, Paola, Sliema, and Valletta should also reduce queues no end, and make life easier for the students too.

Twin Mayors

The candidates elected in the latest round of local council elections earlier this month were sworn in a few days back. However, it seems the "old" councillors, including mayors, are still in office. Is this perfectly legal? Is it sensible to have two mayors and double the number of councillors even if for a brief period of time?

Budget Speech

The Chancellor of the Exchequer took something like 50 minutes to present his Budget to the House of Commons last week. In Malta, the Finance Minister takes about two hours! Is it a matter of verbosity or substance!

Race Trek

Stock car races were being held in Mgarr on March 18. It was an official event because policemen were evidently on duty. However, no proper steps were taken to advise oncoming traffic of what was happening, and divert it. Streets were not closed from enough distance away. This meant that some motorists found themselves in difficulties when they decided to turn tail.

Good Vibrations

A temporary blood bank unit was set up at RTK studios, in Blata-l-Bajda, on March 17. This enabled many people, even those who just turned up out of curiosity, to donate blood and help others during a time of shortage. It would be a wonderful idea were all radio and television stations to follow suit, turning the occasion into a sort of open day.

Heard This

One day last week a political radio station included in its headlines the fact that the European Commission found no fault in the government subsidising public transport. Of course, no mention was made of what the same Commission had to say on the spring hunting issue and on the car tax regime.

Ethics Galore

To remain in the broadcasting scene. The Press Ethics Commission has, for the second time in a few weeks, criticised the (mis)behaviour of a newsroom member of one of the political radio stations. What will happen now? Does the Broadcasting Authority have the authority to do something about it?

Boxed In

Press reports indicate that primary school children will be "doing duty" at bring-in sites in order to offer advice and assist the public in waste separation. One hopes someone will guard the guardians, making it obvious that this is being done. The fact remains that children may not be safe at all times if it is allowed to be known that they are unsupervised at any time.

Soft Cells

Companies involved in mobile telephony are constantly running advertising gimmicks that pit one against the other. The next sales pitch ought to be "what you see is what you get", meaning that a Lm5 top-up card entitles a client to exactly that amount of calls' worth, or at least only a little less. If a company subsidises a part of the tax payable on each card, it might make a difference as to which provider one selects.

Red Carpet

After decades of maltreatment, the inimitable collection of nearly 400 tombstones at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, will be safeguarded in part by a protective carpet. Most of the floor has still been left exposed for viewing. However, it would not hurt for the position of the carpet to be changed every so often and for posters illustrating the "hidden" tombstones to be placed strategically in the areas outside the cathedral proper, where they could still be viewed by visitors.