The other day, at 8 a.m., I received a phone call from a police inspector informing me that I had to attend court the following day at 9 a.m. to sign and take an oath on a report I had written, covering a court investigation which I conducted some weeks ago, even though I had already done so when I delivered the report.

The inspector was extremely polite and apologetic about such a short notice, and even considered the inconvenience it was causing me, to be absent from the University, when he informed me that he would provide me with a paper to show the Rector, confirming I had attended court.

Well, the next day, knowing there would be heavy traffic starting at Cospicua all the way to Paola and Marsa, I decided to use my little motorcycle in order to get through without delay and to park easily, and more importantly to arrive on time.

I made it to Valletta and one warden warned me that I had taken a street that was only meant to be used by the residents of Valletta. I parked at the back of the old covered market and walked to court. Riding the motorcycle is like a suicide mission these days but the law courts are to be respected and I arrived at 8.30 a.m., well in time for the session! I knocked on the side door of the hall concerned and even though I heard voices, no one opened the door.

I waited till 9 a.m., walked into the hall and introduced myself, at which I was told: “Pulé, I am so sorry but the papers have not arrived from the AG and so the session is deferred. We shall inform you when the next session is going to take place.”

At my age, attending court sessions at 9 a.m. is terribly inconvenient because of the traffic conditions all the way to Valletta from Cottonera and using my motorcycle to be at the court on time is like walking on a knife edge, where falling on either side would be suicidal.

Would the courts please provide me with transport for the next session? And would the courts kindly take me off their lists of court experts as I have no time to waste and it is so inconvenient for me, at my age, to be shown such disrespect.