While visiting Valletta last week I was handed a booklet by a lady in traditional costume with a cheery smile. When later I was able to look at it I found a wealth of information about all the Christmas events taking place in Gozo, every detail about venues and times, covering all the villages, including things like the lighting of a Christmas tree, street parades and concerts.

The publication was beautifully put together with lots of illustrations and photographs and all the information was in Maltese and English, which is wonderful.

Being inspired to find out what was happening in Malta, I went to the Information Centre and picked up a ‘What’s On’ and ‘Day by Day’, neither of which were very informative apart from the usual tourist attractions. I know it will be said that such information can be found online but this is not the same as having all the details in one booklet at your fingertips, especially for the many who do not have computers.

One last thing, with all our much vaunted connections with Europe, surely we could call on one of our friendly northern nations to supply a beautiful huge pine tree to enhance our noble city and impress citizens and visitors alike, instead of that horrible overstretched bedspring in the corner of Palace Square.

Perhaps we can also find someone who knows how to decorate it professionally as well.