Sunday, December 5, 2010

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Monday, October 18, 2010

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

The diamond




One fine windy but sunny afternoon Jude decided to head off to quiet Pembroke to start training for the first marathon of the season. After sweating it out for around an hour the sea was too inviting for him to reject its advances. After downing a bottle of ice-cold water, off he went to the deserted part of the beach for a much deserved refreshing dip.


Spending a few moments admiring the sea crashing into the rocks he quickly dived in with his goggles and little did he know that he was going to be enthralled with such a magnificent scene. That part of the beach seemed like it was his private aquarium. Fish abounded everywhere, from tiny ones to other bigger ones. They ranged from the normal plain ones to multi-coloured ones and the ones that shone as soon as the sun kissed them with its powerful rays. Crabs abounded in their quest to find some food but quickly disappeared as soon as they saw or sensed something that was not right to them.


Amongst all this marvel Jude was suddenly distracted by a glinting object a few metres away from where he was. He quickly dived towards the shiny object and discovered that it was none other than a smooth stone that had its roughness taken away by years of the sea thumping at it. He decided to keep the stone as memory to what proved to be a unique and memorable swim.

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Sunday, September 19, 2010

Saturday, August 21, 2010

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Friday, July 23, 2010

The hole


The interpid travellers set off on foot midway in the afternoon through crevices, rocks and cliffsides and wild vegetation to discover previously uncharted land for them. Through rocky patches, cisterns, trees they marched until they reached the sea with its soothing effect on all of them. After taking a breather they decided to start their trek back and after walking for around an hour realized that they were lost and that the track they were on was a treacherous one that led to nowhere. With sunset soon finishing its course the now weary travellers decided to turn back and try find the original track. With some luck the right track was soon found but it was then that things soon took an unexpected twist.


All of a sudden the travellers fell in a hole. Shaken, it took them some moments to realize what had happened and take their bearings. The first reaction was to start shouting but it soon dawned on them that they were the only persons in that remote area. With the little light left and a small torch that one of the adventurers had they trudged towards what seemed like a narrow and damp tunnel and they quickly realized that they were in a network of tunnels and rooms, most probably used in the Second World War. In some rooms they found old bottles, bunkbeds and some inscriptions on the wall.


Room after room and through several tunnels the intrepid travellers went through and they were getting intrigued by what they were seeing. Suddenly in one room that was bigger than all the others they had seen, they found alot of equipment which seemed like a mixture of decoding and radar equipment full of cobwebs.


After a short rest the travellers kept on walking until they found a flight of stairs leading upwards. Thinking that they had found a way out they enthusiastically trudged forward only to find the exit blocked by some rubble. Not to be discouraged they formed a human line to dislodge the stones and soon enough managed to force open the iron door that was beyond the rubble and found themselves back in the open air a few miles away from where they had originally set off. Relieved they walked the last part to the cars, tired but with the knowledge they had stumbled upon something extraordinary.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Sam Deguara - The Maltese rising star in Basketball

For many this name might not ring any bells but to all those that have an interest in local sports, especially basketball, acknowledge that he is the rising star in the Maltese basketball scene. Despite his tender age he is already plying his trade abroad, namely with Benetton Treviso. This experience will most certainly help him improve from all possible aspects, be they tactical and physical as well so as to get used to the rigours of playing in a professional league and living in a country other than Malta. Benetton Treviso finished in a respectable 8th position in the SerieA Standings with teams that include the mighty Montepaschi Siena and Armani Milano amongst others, who always impress not only in the Italian League but also in European competitions.

With some patience and most of all lots of dedication and hard work and why not, some luck, Sam Deguara might become a wholesale star not only in Italian Basketball but also in the mother of all leagues, the NBA! Here is wishing Sam Deguara and all those people who have a dream, to believe in it and work hard to achieve their dream.

View from above - Mellieħa


Friday, June 18, 2010

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Vuvuzela

The 2010 World Cup in South Africa has hit the world like a storm with millions of people glued to tv sets to watch their star players and favourite national team playing. Malta being no less with the local favourites England and Italy both gaining precious draws in albeit different circumstances. Amidst all this the vuvuzela has grabbed quite a few headlines because of the loud noise it emits and there seems to be a divide on whether they should be banned or not with Fifa taking a stance that they are there to remain. Following are some interesting facts related to the current World Cup.


1. Brasil is the only South American team to win a World Cup in Europe, America and Asia.

2. European teams haven't won a world cup outside Europe.

3. Only Italy - 1934 and 1938 and Brazil - 1958 and 1962 have won two consecutive World Cups in a row.

4. Argentina, Uruguay, Italy, West Germany, England and France won the trophy as hosts. Brazil lost at home in 1950.

5. Two finals were decided in penalties: 1994 and 2006.

6. Three finals were decided in extra-time: 1934, 1966 and 1978.

7. Most appearances by a team: Brazil - all 18 editions.

8. Most wins: Brazil - 5.

9. Most winners-up: Germany - 4.

10. Most final appearances: Brazil and Germany - 7 each.

11. Most winners medals: Pele, Brazil - 3.

12. Most goals scored: Ronaldo, Brazil - 15 (1998 - 2006).

13. Most goals in a tournament: Just Fontaine - 13 (1958).

14. Most goals in match: Oleg Salenko - 5 (Russia vs Cameroon, 1994).

15. Most wins as a coach: Vittorio Pozzo - 2 (Italy 1934 and 1938).

16. Highest attended match: 199 854 (Uruguay vs Brazil, 16 July 1950, Maracana Stadium).

Sources: (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/396367-south-africa-world-cup-2010-10-simple-facts-about-the-world-cup; http://internationalsoccer.suite101.com/article.cfm/ten_quick_world_cup_facts).

Friday, May 7, 2010

A ray of hope

Amidst all the articles reporting about the tension that ensued in Greece and in the Maltese Parliament, one could find an article that exuded hope and courage. This is the story of Noel Aquilina who even though is disabled found hope in sports and will be covering 300 km from Messina to Pozzallo in a handcycle to collect money for Inspire. He will be accompanied by his coach, his daughter and manager. It is always nice to see that your work boss appreciates the efforts done to help those that are less fortunate than us. Following are the links to the article and to Inspire (formerly known as Razzett tal-Ħbiberija). May there be more of these initiatives and most of all may they be given more prominence. Malta and its people offer more than partisan pique when it comes to politics, religious feasts and football.

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20100507/local/it-s-all-a-matter-of-will-power-disabled-accounting-clerk-says

http://www.simplygiving.org.mt/induce3005?fndid=4507A362E5EB25591625&l=1


Following is the link to the general website of Inspire:

http://www.simplygiving.org.mt/home?l=1

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Appreciation

Nowadays we take many things for granted and it is always nice when a person undertakes a nice gesture or acknowledges such an action.

Yesterday a traffic policeman was controlling the traffic in the driving rain and wind, ensuring that the traffic proceeded smoothly without any accidents. One might say that it is his job to do so and some might also add that his actions could have caused more traffic but from what I could see this was not case and not too many would be well pleased to get drenched in the course of their work. Another episode that springs to mind only just happened this morning when a car stalled in the middle of regional road and from all the cars that passed by, it was a taxi from a private company that promptly stopped, quickly got out a rope so as to tow and help out the unfortunate driver.

Bottom line is that even small gestures of help or words such as 'thank you' and 'sorry' with a smile are enough to brighten up ones day!

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Reflections

Following is a link of shocking photographs taken by Pulitzer winner Patrick Farrell of a hurricane that hit Haiti before this year's earthquake.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/gallery/2009/apr/22/patrick-farrell-pulitzer

Next up is a link that hit Haiti in January which crippled even more this poor country.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/jan/21/haiti-earthquake-aerial-pictures?picture=358349373

Last but not least is a link of photographs showing the grim aftermath of the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile at the end of February.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2010/feb/28/chile-natural-disasters?picture=359886663

When seeing the devastating effects of these natural events one can only stop for a few moments and start reflecting and appreciating all the good that we have. At times we should count our lucky stars and complain less whilst being proactive in trying to solve problems that may hit us and trying to alleviate those of others.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Tennis score


Whilst watching a match of the BOV 3rd Division on Friday 19th February 2010, the scoreboard seemed to have gone beserk for a few moments when the score read 1 -28 for SwieqiFC when in reality it should have read 1-2 in favour of SwieqiFC. All were bemused with this situation, with some laughing it off but it also added some spice and tension to what was a well-fought and at times tense match.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Nelson Mandela - A tribute

Nelson Mandela is a man I truly admire for all the suffering he has been through and for all the good he has brought about not only in South Africa and Africa in general but throughout the whole world. Today marks the 20th anniversary of his release from prison and following are a few interesting facts about this great and humble person.


1. Mandela got the name Nelson from a schoolteacher who gave all her pupils English names - Mandela guesses that his might have been in honour of Lord Nelson.

2. His links with British heroes didn't end there - the head of Healdtown, the college he attended at 19, was descended from the Duke of Wellington.

3. His real first name, Rolihlahla, means "troublemaker".

4. He was the first person in his family to go to school.

5. The Junior Certificate qualification at his school normally took three years to complete - but Mandela did it in two.

6. When he was on the run from the authorities, Mandela adopted the disguise of a chauffeur - complete with cap - as this allowed him to move around under pretext of driving his "employer's" car.

7. His prison number was 46664 - he was the 466th prisoner admitted to the jail on Robben Island in 1964.

8. While on Robben Island he was allowed only one visitor a year, for 30 minutes.

9. He was allowed to send and receive one letter every six months. The prison censors often delayed his letters and rendered them unreadable.

10. In the latter years of his sentence he completed a correspondence course with the University of London. In 1981 he was nominated as the university's Chancellor but was beaten in the election by Princess Anne.

11. Mandela doesn't allow flash photography anywhere near him, as his eyes were damaged during his time in prison.

12. He spent the last few years of his sentence in Victor Verster prison. Here, he was given a chef and learned to swim in a private pool but still insisted on doing his own washing up.

13. On the day of his release the plan had been for him to be driven to the prison gates. But SABC, the South African TV company, said it would have more impact if Mandela walked the final quarter of a mile. He agreed to do this.

14. When a long, furry object was thrust at him at the gates, he recoiled, thinking it might be a weapon. His wife Winnie explained that it was a type of microphone that had been invented while he had been in prison.

15. Mandela is known in South Africa as Madiba, a name used by elders of his clan.

16. In his 1995 autobiography Long Walk To Freedom, Mandela wrote: "Any man that tries to rob me of my dignity will lose."

17. The American news station CNN accidentally 'killed him off' in 2003, when a password fault led to their website accidentally showing his pre-written obituary.

18. His famous colourful tops are known as Batik shirts - and someone else who loved and collected them was Barack Obama's late mother.

19. In 2004, when he retired from public life, Mandela impressed on people how final his decision was by saying: "Don't call me, I'll call you."

20. Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu both own homes on Soweto's Vilakazi Street, making it the only street in the world to house two Nobel Peace Prize winners.

(Source: The Sun Online)

Some truly inspirational words of this great man are from his 1994 Inaugural Speech:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who I am to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone. And as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Monday, January 25, 2010

The demise of Juventus

Being a fan of this still great team I have tried to be objective as much as possible in analysing the situation that is afflicting the team. Eight losses in the last eleven games constitute a disastrous run and in most cases would lead to the coach being fired, something that at the time of writing has not yet taken place. At this point in time, a change at the helm would be a psychological boost to everyone involved within the team and hopefully lead to better guidiance both on and off the pitch. Having said this, I personally cannot understand why Deschamps and Ranieri were treated in such a way... certainly not indicative of the famous Juventus style and aplomb.


Back to the current situation, I shall be analysing it by considering a few factors.


The coach: Ferrara started off well by winning the last two games of the previous season and started off the current season unbeaten in the first six matches. In spite of all this there was always an indication of things to come with the team at times struggling to win, reason being a lack of ideas when it came to teamwork. No idea how to play, pass, attack and defend. The constant injury crisis certainly did not help but with the team at hand, much more could have been done. Many have said that Ferrara lacks experience to coach such a team and many are comparing him with Guardiola and Leonardo but these are backed by different and more experienced management styles.


Conclusion: In my mind and heart Ferrara will always be a true great and I respect him for the way he has dealt with such a situation in a very dignified manner. He does have some faults but the whole debacle does not lie solely on his shoulders.


The players: It can be said that this is one of the strongest complement of players that Juventus has had in recent years. Yet they cannot seem to click or get used to a different system than to what the team has been accustomed to in the last few years. Let me explain further... the team has played with a 4-4-2 system for the last few years and trying to play with a 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-3-2 system is obviously going to take some time to get accustomed to. Unfortunatly what other teams have managed to do in a few months, ergo Inter and Milan who have both changed their tactics from last season and are doing well, Juventus have not managed to apprehend and implement when needed.


Conclusion: Can be partially blamed for at the end they are being big salaries, in most cases have bags of experience and are the ones on the pitch but with no adequate direction they can only look like lost souls trying their best to play decently.


The management: The biggest culprits in my opinion. They seem to be clueless in dealing with the situation and in the past have made quite a few mistakes, especially when concerned with player acquisitions and choice of backroom staff. I am pretty sure that they themselves would like their plan to start working and to make the right decisions. If they were to be less hard-headed and appoint the right people it can only be positive to see Juventus emerge from this dark period and regain the popularity and positive results that they so deserve.


What I do not agree with are the supporters who burn seats or chant blasphemous tunes. Supporting Juventus or any other team is like a marriage... you support him/her through the good times as well as through the bad times. Also of rather bad taste are comments like those of Gigi Maifredi who said that he would be winning everything with this current team but at the time of calling and when he had a golden chance, he did not prove himself and under his guidance Juventus did not qualify for Europe... the only time this happened under the Agnelli era. Enough said!

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Ġita fil-kampanja

(Inżul ix-xemx fl-Imtaħleb)

Għodwa waħda f’Ħadd normali ta’ xitwa feġgħet ix-xemx b’saħħa liema bħala u dlonk sitt iħbieb erħewlha lejn l-Imtaħleb biex imorru għal mixja fost il-kampanja Maltija. Hekk kif bdejna niżlin il-mogħdijiet tal-wied, kollha stajna nammiraw u nitgħaxxqu b’għelieqi kollha ħdura imdawwrin b’ħajt tas-sejjiegħ. Iktar ma komplejna nimxu iktar stajna nammiraw l-isbuħija tal-kampanija Maltija u kemm hemm bżonn li nħossu kburin b’dak li għandna u li nieħdu ħsiebha. Wara ftit mixi mhux ħażin wasalna f’tarf l-irdum għoli, bil-baħar u r-riħ jolqtu l-wiċċ l-irdum hekk kif ilhom jagħmlu għal sekli sħaħ sabiex taw il-forma li llum-il ġurnata nistgħu naraw. Ix-xemx ħesrem bdiet nieżla u erħilna naqbdu t-triq lura biex ma ninqabdux f’nofs wied f’dlam ċappa bid-dawl tal-qamar u l-istilel biss bħala gwida. Aħna u mixjin lura għib ix-xemx tat dehra mistika lill-inħawi kollha bi ħmurija liema bħala.




Grandeur

Inspiring, magnificent, eye-catching and breathtaking are just a few words that describe the opening as well as the architecture of ‘Burj Dubai’, the world’s tallest building in Dubai. Even though the country has inevitably been affected by the recession that has taken over the world in the last year or so, it still remains one of the driving forces in the world economy. Following is a link to view the opening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDik17Xvovo

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

A picture tells a thousand words

MSNBC has compiled a number of photos that illustrate the ongoings of the last decade. Some are dramatic, some light-hearted and others show the thin line that seperates life and death.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34261690/ns/news-picture_stories/displaymode/1247/?beginSlide=1