There is evidence that this government is the very epitome of vacillation, imitating a wind vane veering madly from north to south and points in between in the shifting breeze.

It is anecdotal, to be sure, but it exists.

For instance, some bright spark in the Department of Perceptive Traffic Management, also known as Transport Malta, just before Christmas thought it would be a good wheeze to shut off the right turn on a couple of junctions on the San Ġwann - Naxxar Road, thereby creating a perception of massive proportions that there was a traffic jam in the area on 24/7 basis.

Verily, there was much weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth and, a couple of weeks (few days?) later, the bollards were removed and traffic could turn right.

Apologists for the Labour Party in government naturally spun this as evidence that we have a listening government, oblivious to the fact that anyone with an ounce of memory (that should be a byte, in modern terms) would realise that, had this mess been made under the previous government, the world would have come crashing down upon us and Chicken Licken would have started running about like a mad creature.

There might even have been a couple of diminutive experts in everything ranging from breastfeeding to tapestry weaving screeching into megaphones, calling the minister concerned everything under the sun, up to and including being an adherent of Onan.

Hardly had the dusk settled on the perception that certain people in Transport Malta don’t know what they’re doing that new signs went up on assorted bus lanes, rendering them not usable by motorbikes. There was some growling and fuming within the two-wheeled fraternity and the problem was partially remedied by the installation of new signs which now include depictions of the most enjoyable mode of transport known to man.

Of course, they didn’t go the whole hog and make all bus lanes biker-friendly, especially not the one from Ta’ Sarria to the Phoenicia, meaning that we have to risk our neck on St Anne Street, Floriana, which if you’re not careful is a dicey ride in the rush hour, especially.

But back to the somewhat un-natural fondness someone seems to have for bollards.

In Msida, they seemed to be put up and taken down as if they were auditioning for Humpty Dumpty on Ice but it seems to have settled down there, somewhat.

Not so on the junction from the slip road heading from Valletta when you turn up into the direction of Mrieħel.

Quite apart from the fact that having an awesome intellect led someone to think that we drive on the right (rather than in the shade) here, creating an absolutely horrendous left into right (that is, fast lane) filter to negotiate, on Tuesday another genius had bollards put in, which meant that even if you wanted to, you couldn’t do the logical thing and filter carefully in.

On Wednesday, as if by magic, the bollards had gone, though the lunatic junction was still in place.

There is evidence this government is the very epitome of vacillation

Is it only coincidence that traffic is the ultimate responsibility of Minister the Hon. ‘No Fare Increase’ Joe Mizzi?

There’s more, of course, within other ministers’ portfolios.

How can we forget, for instance, the tent that had been put up in the Mater Dei Hospital car park, only to be taken down again, from what one hears on the direct orders of no less a luminary than the Prime Minister himself?

And merely days ago, what about the removal and almost instant reinstatement of the chap, by all accounts an excellent chap at that, from the leadership of the fostering service?

Some bright spark decided that John Rolè had to go, and so he went. Within minutes, there was an outcry and - once again from what one hears - the Prime Minister had to intervene to have the gent concerned reinstated.

This was a good thing, and I’m not gainsaying the Prime Minister on it, but, seriously, is this any way to run a railroad? The minister concerned should be blushing, or at least seeking out a head to make roll for this idiocy.

These are small matters, at least within the greater scheme of things, but they are symptomatic of a government that sees consistency as a luxury without which one can live, presumably on the ‘needs must’ principle.

This leads them into dark alleys and awkward places and no mistake.

Before the elections, Joseph Muscat and his band of brothers campaigned on a platform of open governance and full information to the people and then promptly resorted to the usual evasiveness when asked to make public the various contracts relating to electricity and power. The debate in the House of Representatives as I write is most illuminating, if you’ll pardon the pun, though how something can be debated when it is not public is beyond me.

Maybe the government can’t actually decide whether it’s in favour or against open governance.

One of the Labour Party’s gripes when it was seeking our votes was the price of fuel and its effect on the economy. No sooner were they in a position to do something about it than they managed to freeze the price of filling your tank, with or without a tiger, at a level many, many euros above what you can do that same little thing for all across Europe.

We didn’t get a press conference by the Prime Minister and his sidekick, Minister the Hon. ‘Shame on You’ Konrad Mizzi, who was always so eager to lambast PN ministers for conflicts of interest and dipping their hands into the public coffer to further their interests. It seems that the dear chap isn’t able to make his mind up about this, either, because he seems to have no compunction in having the family income nicely supplemented by the missus’ publicly-funded salary.

Oh well, as long as the government and its media lackeys can raise smoke about a couple of tickets for a soccer match being evidence of bribery and corruption at stratospheric levels, no doubt leading to the exorbitant fuels costs we’re paying today, that’s all right then.

What I want to know, though, is what matches were actually watched: were they super-exclusive ones (that is to say, when Chelsea play) or were they run-of-the-mill events with drudges like Man U or Juve involved?

Now here is a recommendation for cultural nourishment for you, before the usual culinary one.

If you’re in the area of City Gate, Valletta, walk across the bridge and marvel at the Piano masterpiece especially, but not only, the two majestic flights of steps. Then walk back out and go left in the direction of the Central Bank annex, go into the Polverista and look at the Pasmore works on permanent exhibition.

Because we’re friends of the estimable Palazzo Falson, we were privileged to be given a gallery talk by Richard England and Theresa Vella, which made it an altogether fine experience, but even on your own, the art and the architecture in the area make it very well worth an hour or so of your valuable time.

Food-wise, Da Manuel, the last eatery when driving out of Xlendi on the left (don’t head up Sannat way, keep going) repays a visit, though make sure you haven’t had lunch, because arty-farty nouvelle cuisine this ain’t.

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