I am visiting Malta early next month and it has reminded me of a happy memory when I first visited the island 30 years ago, two weeks before Christmas.

I can’t remember where I was going but I was on a local bus when a group of about 20 – all in dark Amish-type dress, and some carrying musical instruments – got on. As their engaging young leader was humorously negotiating the purchase of tickets for them all, I asked one of them who they were and when she replied that they were a Dutch choir I jokingly suggested they should give us a song.

To my surprise, and delight, she took me literally and, after a word with her colleagues, proceeded to regale the crowded bus with five magnificently sung carols, each to warm applause.

The bus timetable must have been completely wrecked because when the choristers finally got off their departure took even longer than when they got on, so many and prolonged were the handshakes and Christmas greetings that were exchanged!

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