If an 11-year-old singer – a pretty charismatic and talented one, but that’s hardly the point – is deemed the ideal recipient of the highest honour of the country just to satisfy all the Eurovision fans, then I don’t see why my favourite people shouldn’t also receive the award. They’ve all done a lot more to put a smile on my face than any Eurovision award ever did.

The barista at my favourite coffee-shop in Valletta. You know who you are! Seriously, anyone who has ever witnessed the whining brought on by my coffee-less state will know exactly why the award is so well-deserved.

The ticket tout positioned on the road leading to Valletta who, every single day, asks me with no hint of irony whether I’d like to “tour the gran’harbour, Miss, it’s fun”. The fact that I’m obviously on my way to the office doesn’t seem to affect his enthusiasm and, for a couple of seconds, he makes me feel like a carefree tourist. Ġieh ir-Repubblika well-merited.

The lovely person who is waiting at the bus stop in my neighbourhood every morning and who, when I get to the stop sign on a blind corner, kindly waves at the oncoming cars to slow down so that I can come out. I’m sure the other drivers will disagree but hell, he makes my life a lot easier. Thank you, kind stranger, a Ġieh ir-Repubblika awaits you.

All the dogs in the world everywhere. Because they just are.

I expect a cabinet meeting to approve my requests pronto.