Flexing her slightly stiff fingers and testing the keys, centenarian Rose Griffiths soon gets carried away by the notes emanating from the piano in a corner of her living room.
Mrs Griffiths, who celebrates her 100th birthday today, still derives pleasure from playing music despite having to be taken to the stool by her son or carer because of her wobbly feet.
“I have been playing since before I got married in 1940.
“It has been a passion of mine over the years also used to play the organ at the Jesus of Nazareth church (Sliema) until last year,” she said.
The mother of five – Doreen, Tony, James, Gerald and Maryse – is a living testament of what active ageing should be.
Until recently, she used to go swimming at Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq with her son Tony, 69, and her Filipino carer Luzgiminda Hermoso.
“I love it and would continue to go as often as possible,” she said, although her son feels the water might have become slightly cold for her.
Surrounded by images of her loved ones in her combined sitting/dining room overlooking Sliema front, Mrs Griffiths recalled marrying Joe, a former national football team coach and sports editor at The Times, who died 26 years ago.
The couple continued to reside in Sliema but during the war years they sought refuge in a house the family owned in Balzan, which had a shelter.
“I hated those years. We used to rush into the shelters as soon as we heard the siren. Everyone used to be afraid of the war and its outcome. I also hated the shelter and its stifling confines,” she recalled.
“I was born in the shelter,” Tony interjected, as his mother smiled.
The second-eldest, Tony said that until recently his mother also used to come up with “good meals for us all”.
“I not only love eating sweets but also used to enjoy making them, especially a Greek-style sweet rolled in icing sugar,” she said.
She also used to sew, knit and do embroidery, including making carpets and quilts for family and friends.
“I was good at everything,” she smiled mischievously, then pointed proudly to a photo of herself with Archbishop Paul Cremona, who is a special friend.
“I’ve known him for a long time. He was parish priest here at Tan-Nazzarenu.
“I remained in touch with him even though he is now Archbishop, visiting him at his Attard residence at least once a month.
“I am really proud because he seems to cherish this friendship too, so much so that he will be celebrating Mass on the occasion of my birthday tonight,” she said.
Mass at the Jesus of Nazareth church starts at 7pm.
All her children and many relatives who have flown in purposely from Canada, England and Italy will be present to celebrate her 100 years of life.
Her longevity is not something new in the family because her father was 94 when he died and her brother was 95. She had other relatives who lived quite long.
“But nobody has lived as long as me,” Mrs Griffiths said proudly, encouraging others never to give up and to remain as active as possible.