I came to Malta with my parents for 13 consecutive years. These last few years I lost one parent and my remaining one went blind. I gave Malta a miss for four years and I am afraid I will be giving it a longer miss in the future after the disgusting state I found my beloved island in.

My first shock was Valletta. What on earth is going on? People have tried to explain the new face of the city but it has nothing to do with the Valletta we knew and loved. The new Parliament building is too modern to sink in with the otherwise beautiful buildings of the city and as to a roofless theatre – it is so absurd!

I teach drama back home and I cannot comprehend the concept of an open air theatre at the entrance of a busy city with a very hot climate in summer and unpredictable weather in winter.

My second shock was Gozo. The last time I went there I always said that the sister island had better roads than Malta but now they are in a shocking state! I was told that they are being improved but not now in the busy tourist season!

My third shock was the “jewel in the crown Mdina. I was there at the weekend and on looking over into the ditches I was met with devastation galore! Gone are the citrus trees and the beautiful olive trees; instead it looked like cart ruts. I did look around to see whether there was anything to explain all this but all I saw was something like “work in progress”. I was also informed that one could see the details in the local council office. When I went it was shut.

Then I was taken to my beloved “little bit of heaven” – Mistra Bay. I do not mind admitting that I cried real tears. There were just two people swimming near where the boat ramp is. The rest of the “once lovely” bay was full of mounds of smelly seaweed, nothing else. I have read about the three new available swimming spots created around the island. Mistra is a natural bay and it once used to be swarming with happy bathers enjoying themselves. I used to see lots of disabled people coming there because of the short distance from the road to the sea. Now you have to be a mountaineer to reach the sea from the road. Is it possible that no one in charge ever ventures to this lovely bay to inspect the state it is in? Is the whole island in a deep sleep?

When I came before I always rented a car. I have been staying in my usual haunt Mellieħa but when I realised that it was too difficult to venture around these congested roads I had to put myself in the hands of my friends to take me around. What is going on in Mellieħa? I am told that it has a very good council. God help other areas with bad councils.

It is the first time that I am not upset to be going back to rainy England. I am trusting my friends to let me know when all is well with the island and I shall come back and maybe then I will be in a position to reverse what I said above and will write a letter with praises of my once “dream island in the sun”.