On the dot

This column has already referred to the pavement and road surface in Valletta, at the place where people take the minibus to the Park and Ride. This time, the accident that happened was not merely a slight fall or a twisted ankle: a lady broke her leg because of the uneven street surface. Are the powers that be awaiting the overhaul of the whole City Gate area to level this four-metre stretch of road?

Wardens

Environment wardens patrolling the Sacred Heart Avenue area in St Julians are to be lauded for stemming the ever-escalating problem of some residents throwing rubbish outside a skip placed near a rubble wall by fining them. Last week, the skip had been removed, thanks to the local council; yet selfish people kept returning to dump their garbage there. Incredibly, one of the culprits had the gall to put up a sign stating that whoever was responsible for removing the skip was a nosey parker.

Sunshine

The same reasoning must be behind the fact that another summer has come and still City Gate bus terminus remains with bus-stands open to the elements. It is all very well for passengers to be able to climb into their bus and wait in its (relative) comfort. However, there are long periods of time when there are no vehicles waiting to take the trip and long queues form in the sun.

Missing?

During the hot weather, dog owners often take their pets with them along to the beach; some dogs are also occasionally seen having a swim. However, it would seem that hygiene takes a break during these times because, on rocky beaches, owners are heard to complain that it is "impossible" to collect what the dogs leave behind and throw it away. This is unfair on others using the beach, some of whom, incidentally, do not like it when dogs off their leash zoom in upon them.

Drinking

It is patently obvious that the under-age drinking laws are not being enforced. If children are not allowed to be patrons in bars, why is it that they are allowed to buy alcoholic beverages from grocer shops and other outlets? It is only a simple matter to take the bottles and cans home, place them in the freezer and consume them on a night out after taking them to the venue in a handbag or other type of carrier. On-the-spot fines must apply to the streets as well as to inside buildings.

Appointments

There are patients who take appointments at Mater Dei Hospital and health centres very seriously, to the extent that they arrive at their appointed clinics well before they are supposed to do so. However, others could not care less and never send word to this effect so that others could be fitted in the schedule instead of them. Perhaps it is time to start fining people who fail to turn up for their appointments, with a view to lessening abuses.

Manners

Despite assumable grounding in basic etiquette, many people persist in selfishly ignoring the needs of others. It is hard to believe that all the cellular phones that ring during church services, cultural activities and other public venues are urgent. One would think that some find being with real people so annoying that they leave their phones on to have an excuse to leave the place if someone calls them.

Lines

Whatever happened to the grandiose project through which all overhead telephone and other cables had to be removed from the streets of Valletta? Looking up, it is easy to see that this was a half-boiled initiative that may take root again when local council or general elections are drawing near.

Tunnelled

The idea behind sticking white tiles on the inside walls of tunnels was that they would both refract and reflect light and give the place a clean appearance. However, it is obvious that in many tunnels, tiles have either fallen off, have been stolen or are covered with dark, sticky dirt. Surely some kind of paint may be found which, when hosed down - not in rush hours - would be as good as new?

Shown

This column had predicted that despite the goodwill and the promises the re-building of the opera house would not take place within this decade. There are still, however, 18 months in which we may be proved wrong; and then the question will be whether a building without a roof, if it happens, could be said to constitute an edifice.

Computerised

Bank clerks have a tendency to ask clients whether they would not be more comfortable with internet banking, conveniently forgetting that not everyone has access to the internet, and of those who do, there may be some who would not readily like to discuss their private needs with others, since they would require help in using the service. How about getting more clerks to man the desks; it is not unusual to find a queue of 10 people waiting because only one cashier would be serving customers.

Stonework

Some time ago, a few stone slabs were changed from the boundary wall of a building at the right side, going to Birkirkara, in the Fleur-de-Lys roundabout area. The work stopped abruptly and, since then, it has kept on deteriorating, with bits and pieces falling off - or being literally knocked off by passers-by. Should the wall collapse, it could easily kill a pedestrian.

Roadworks

What used to be a motor mechanic workshop in Birkirkara Road, St Julians became a factory for manufacturing metal garage doors. Now this has become a tyre vulcanising business and used car tyres are being placed on the pavement to draw people's attention to it. This, however, is not the only thing that is irritating residents; some other businesses do not close shop before 10 p.m.