Enthralled by the beautiful Karmela, a young Ġużeppi Camilleri sat himself down with her father and sister to join them in a game of rummy, which he used as an excuse to get himself close to Karmela.

As the game went on, Mr Camilleri would mischievously stretch out his leg under the table and brush it against his beloved... or so he thought, until her irate father suddenly snapped: “Ħa ddum titmellaħ?” (“Will you quit fooling about?”)

I had a bit of a dilemma at the time as I was dating two other girls!

Mr Camilleri, now 94, burst into a hearty laugh as he recalled his courtship of his wife, now 90. The couple were surrounded by several family members in their Balzan home yesterday as they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Mr Camilleri is as devoted to his wife as ever, lovingly caring for her now that she has developed dementia and has been a wheelchair user for the past three years.

Ġużeppi Camilleri, 94, lovingly caresses his wife of 70 years, Karmela, 90. Photo: Jason BorgĠużeppi Camilleri, 94, lovingly caresses his wife of 70 years, Karmela, 90. Photo: Jason Borg

And he still never fails to put a smile on his wife’s face, making light of his own ailments.

“We’re big devotees of Jesus Christ and I often converse with him – and complain as well, as we are wont to do.

“I told Jesus: ‘I can’t walk, my knee is in tatters.’ And he replied, telling me: ‘Don’t you worry, you have the other one at your disposal',” he grinned, as his family burst into fits of laughter.

It is clear that one of the secrets to their long and happy marriage is ample doses of humour. Another is their shared love for music. Ms Camilleri was a pianist while Mr Camilleri played classical guitar.

He often serenaded his wife and he loved to belt out għana verses, often sung in a humorous strain. The couple have six children, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. They first met during the Feast of the Annunciation in Balzan, Mr Camilleri explained.

As Ms Camilleri heard the word “Annunciation”, she held up a holy medal bearing the Virgin’s effigy, by way of demonstrating how dear she held the Annunciation of Our Lady.

Mr Camilleri, who hails from Qormi, reminisced how he was joined by a friend as they visited the feast – where he spotted the teenage Ms Camilleri in her grandmother’s balcony together with other girls.

Ġużeppi and Karmela Camilleri on their wedding day on July 16, 1944.Ġużeppi and Karmela Camilleri on their wedding day on July 16, 1944.

Mr Camilleri and his friend entered the nearby band club and climbed to its balcony, which was adjacent to the one Ms Camilleri was in.

“My friend struck up a conversation with Karmela’s sister, Maria Assunta. When he met up with her later on, they asked for me. So over I went – although I had a bit of a dilemma at the time as I was dating two other girls!” he chuckled.

Fondly remembering their first kiss, Mr Camilleri recalled how he had accompanied Ms Camilleri and her father as they took a stroll among the fields.

They encountered a farmer and as Ms Camilleri’s father was engaged in deep conversation, the young couple sneaked away and hid behind the water wheel, where they shared their first kiss.

However, they were suddenly interrupted by Ms Camilleri’s seven-foot father, who grabbed Mr Camilleri by the collar and ordered him to get out of his sight. His future father-in-law strode off and fainted with the shock of witnessing the yet unmarried couple smooching in public.

The couple were married 11 months later, on July 16, 1944.

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