There are three things that really bother me. They bother me to the extent of really getting under my skin.

First: I hate motorists who just cannot wait in line. Everybody else is waiting patiently, then, from behind, some clown decides to overtake, causing chaos further down the road and trying to squeeze back in line when confronted with oncoming traffic. Long-suffering, decent drivers will give way.

Second: I hate retracing my steps when I forget something. You leave home and, halfway to your destination you realise you have left your mobile phone behind. Do you turn back or do you spend the rest of the day without your phone?

Third: And this is the worst of the three cases. Graffiti.

When living in England and through my travels I could see graffiti on practically every wall and even shop shutters. It was and still is horrible and it makes the place look so tatty and very ugly.

I always thought how lucky we were in Malta that this habit seemed to have passed us by. But, no, the last few years have proved me wrong.

What is graffiti? What use does it have? What do the writings and drawings say?

I do not have a clue. Maybe they are secret messages. Maybe they are the scrawling of undisciplined people. Maybe they are just done by some loser in life to disfigure the environment. Whatever the case, they are ugly and give an untidy and unappealing look to the whole environment. That’s all we need when we are trying to make Malta a more attractive and acceptable place in which to live.

Graffiti is popping up everywhere, and, to make things worse, our limestone makes it very difficult to remove.

Some local councils have asked for graffiti on certain walls. An example is in San Ġwann, near the industrial estate. It is now becoming worn away in parts, making it even uglier. Another example is in Fgura, on a main roundabout.

I ask: why paint such graffiti in the first place? Why do we give ideas to other, less talented people to spread their rubbish all over Malta?

I have learnt that, in Malta, we call this ‘street art’, while other countries call it what it is: graffiti.

Most cities around the world denounce painting on public property, or grudgingly tolerate it. However, here I find that the practice is encouraged.

It is unbelievable that some local councils have earmarked certain walls for street art

It is unbelievable that some local councils have earmarked certain walls for street art. Malta is too small. You cannot hide the graffiti. It remains there, staring you in the face. Does anybody think the graffiti under the Qui Si Sana promenade makes the place more attractive?

Malta has grown so fond of what other places would call graffiti that the Malta Arts Council even promotes street art in schools.

I find it unbelievable that grown-up people cannot realise this will lead to graffiti all over the place.

The Msida roundabout has been turned into a skateboard arena for people who love the sport.

They must have been given permission to spray graffiti all over the place. It looks reminiscent of a gangland area. What is happening now? Graffiti painters have no more space in this enclosed area and are looking farther afield, like across the road.

This is how it all starts.

How do you stop it? Well, if caught, the culprits must be punished and told that destroying our environment is not a good thing. I always feel stiff punishment, if applied and publicised, would deter people from doing wrong.

Graffiti painters could be made to redecorate a large old people’s home or some such building. That would make good use of their wasted talents. But whatever you do, do not give people permission to do something to disfigure the environment.

The older I get, the less tolerant I am of people who do not do what they are supposed to do. And the less tolerant I am of people who deliberately make a mess of things for others.

We have a good schooling system and very good teachers.

Surely, it would not be too difficult to organise a series of lessons for all children so they can appreciate how important it is to their country and to them personally to keep everywhere unspoilt, rather than teaching them to do the exact opposite.

Art students and artists have many different means and mediums to express their talent. They do not have to use public walls and streets.