It's going to be a negative one today. Too many bad things have been happening in the last days. And, to make matters worse, I was woken up this morning at eight (mind you it's a Sunday) by a series of explosions in the sky (read "petards").

Why this unpopular, health harming, annoying practice is allowed to go on I just cannot understand.

First of all, these bangs are worthless and are created with the sole purpose of making a noise, and, thus, they are just noise pollution as much as are emissions, which are so much in the news. Secondly, if we have to have this noise pollution, could we please have it, say, at midday, when people who like a lie-in would have woken up and not yet gone for their siesta? I wonder whether the EU Commission can deal with this matter, as it deals with all sorts of other things, including all forms of pollution. I suppose I will have to take some advice on the matter.

Now onto bicycles. One doesn't need to be very clever to know what I am going to deal with. As a semi-retired part-time cyclist, I have always felt threatened on our roads, so I will join the chorus of complaints against the lack of adequate facilities for cyclists on our roads, which arose after the recent tragedy. But, further, this is a double-edged sword. On many occasions, I would ride my bike on the promenade between Balluta Bay and Għar id-Dud, for the simple reason that the roads in that area are too busy and dangerous. Accordingly, on my part, I was a danger and a threat to pedestrians and joggers alike. Having travelled a bit, I have experienced the bicycle lanes in a number of countries: Denmark, Sweden, Norway, The Netherlands, Austria and so on.

Cyclists in these countries are sacred cows and are given predominance over both motorists and pedestrians. I cannot recall the number of times that I have nearly been run over by a cyclist while sauntering absent-mindedly over a bicycle lane on a pavement, on which, believe me, they travel at high speed. If I had been knocked over, it would have been my fault. But God forbid that some motor vehicle runs over a cyclist. You've had it. But then I suppose this is a question of culture and terrain. Much of the countries I have mentioned (and I am basically limiting myself to the capitals Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Amsterdam and Vienna) are flat, and, as capitals, tend to have wide pavements. They have always had a sense of road planning, which we in this country have never grasped. Further, the nationals of these countries are perhaps more adventurous and active than much of our obese lot. I would never dare, for example, to carry my toddler in a little seat on the back of my bicycle, as they do. But we need to do much more. I will not repeat what others have written, but perhaps we should start with a bicycle lane on the St Julians/Sliema promenade as a pilot project.

So there. But let's move on to other things. How is it that this government has taken up the habit of back tracking on so many things? We had the question of Mepa's role in establishing planning policy. First it was the OPM and now it's Mepa - which is very positive. But more recently we had a declaration from the Minister of Finance that the Ta' Qali crafts village was to be regenerated and refurbished with an option of schemes offered to the operators of the establishments therein. To my mind, according to the minister responsible for investments, this village was going to Cospicua. What is going on? This is a question of credibility. Perhaps decisions are being taken too hastily and abrasively, and then there are second thoughts. Or is it a case of one hand not knowing what the other is doing? Or perhaps certain ministers are taking lines or making decisions which they are not authorised to do?

Finally, the divorce issue has come to the fore again with the ongoing debate between Martin Scicluna's lot and the Curia. There is no doubt that divorce has received more and more backing over the years, perhaps more so with the relatively recent declaration by the Leader of the Opposition that he is in favour.

I have traditionally been against the introduction of divorce but then, one, I am still married, so I cannot judge objectively, and, two, I have seen too many friends and acquaintances living very happily together (often after some unpleasant and even horrible separation proceedings) and even raising a family, yet not being able to tie the chord, even if just for the sake of their common offspring. I think it is now time for a serious debate in the proper forum - not the media.