On the Dot

• Wardens spend much of their time booking drivers and redirecting traffic. It would seem they have no jurisdiction over dirty householders such as those who feel free to take out their garbage bags on Saturdays, in the early afternoon, in Sir Luigi Camilleri Street, Sliema. These bags are collected on Monday mornings. The local council has been informed but no tangible action was ever taken.

Bootleg

• Are there any statistics on how many children were caught drinking alcohol in the streets since the law about under-age drinking came into effect? Judging by appearances, it would seem that the education campaign had little or no effect among those not yet old enough to drink inside establishments. Moreover, these young consumers appear not to know that cheap (read counterfeit) brands of alcohol may contain anything from methylated spirit to bleach, isopropanol and chloroform, which may cause liver failure, blindness, cancer, coma and even death.

Bargains

• Stephen Hester, group chief executive of Britain’s state-rescued Royal Bank of Scotland, has been lauded as a hero in some quarters for bowing to political pressure and waiving his annual bonus, which would have been worth almost £1 million. Other people thought it was merely the logical thing to do. There must be a moral here, somewhere.

Bussing

• Did anyone think of constructing public conveniences of bricks and mortars by the new Valletta bus terminus and in all termini across Malta? Port-a-cabins are merely a temporary solution; they stink after a few uses. They cannot be expected to serve hundreds of commuters a day. A place where babies’ nappies can be changed would be welcome, too.

Blocked

• Some business establishments boast that their buildings are “accessible”, whatever this means, probably in an effort to attract more clients. However, when one turns up and discovers that there are steps to negotiate in front of lifts one feels let-down by this pathetic, risible way to drum up business.

Beached

• During this time of the year, several beaches are covered with a thick layer of seaweed. Seeing that in certain countries this is processed and used as an organic fertiliser, could not the same be done here? This would lessen the use of chemical agents and be more environmentally-friendly.

Borrowed

• A convoy of trucks and trailers is parked regularly along the narrow pavement on one side of Major Anthony Aquilina Street, in Birkirkara. This renders it perfectly feasible and safe for people wanting to abuse of drugs, or commit other crimes, since they are hidden from view. Apart from that, some of the vehicles leave nasty engine oil leaks.

Bumpers

• What is the procedure for streets and roads in residential areas to be considered eligible for speed-bumps? Each time a street surface is newly-laid with tarmac and motorists realise it may be used as a faster than a by-pass, the chances are that they will change their daily route. Sleeping policemen would at least prevent them speeding past at all hours, annoying the residents, and, occasionally, running over stray cats.

Bagged

• It would be very interesting to find out the number of discarded Frott Artna cartons given to children in schools, when compared according to the contents of the servings. Citrus fruits, despite being packed in airtight containers, tend to deteriorate from the moment they are peeled.

Bicycles

• Cyclists are supposed to dismount and manoeuvre their bikes through tunnels, walking on the pavements. Yet, the yen for convenience and speed sometimes means that they nonetheless ride through. Thus, such practice is not a good idea, especially in the dark and even more so in the Kirkop tunnels. In any case, footpaths tend to be obstructed by traffic signs. One shudders to think of what might happen if a cyclist fell into the path of an oncoming car.

Borrowing

• British Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke has informed the public that motorists found guilty of speeding crimes will be fined £100, with the added £20 ploughed into support for victims. This move, if emulated here, would mean that fewer drivers would be tempted to behave badly on the roads.

Beginning

• Phone calls made by HSBC Bank to clients whose accounts are at the Fleur-de-Lys branch included the inevitable question about whether the closing of the outlet there would constitute a hardship. The inevitable affirmative reply elicited the comment that the ATM would still be available.

Broached

• The breast-screening programme is proceeding at a swift pace. However, it is amazing that people who had two or more relatives die from any form of cancer, rather than only breast cancer, were not shunted to the front of the queue. But at the rate the examinations are taking place, this will happen soon anyway.

Breathing

• One of the plus points of the Arriva bus service is the fact that the vehicles have air conditioning, according to people who consider any negative comment to be “anti-government” rather than anti-Arriva. Yet, surely it is not the correct way to do things keeping a good number of people in a closed environment with the heat turned up without any circulation of air, only for handfuls of them having to get off and out on bus-stops into the cold weather.