Housewife wins Albertours Costa Amalfitana tour

Marisa Busuttil, a housewife from Tal-Virtu', has won a one-week's trip to the Costa Amalfitana, leaving Malta on October 15, courtesy of Albertours.

As most word game winners, Ms Busuttil could not believe the news when she was contacted and kept asking whether it was a joke. In the fluster and excitement, she even asked where the Costa Amalfitana was.

Ms Busuttil has been sending in the answers to the word game every single week, without fail, since the competition started - all the more reason to be surprised that she had actually won, she felt.

"For the first few months, I used to send about six copies of my answers every time. Then, one day, The Times wrote a note advising me that only one name was taken into account."

And this competition stands out: for the first time ever, Ms Busuttil had almost forgotten to post the letter.

"We went out to dinner on Wednesday and I left the envelope in my brother-in-law's car. It was hurriedly posted the next day. Normally, I am very precise every six weeks and send in my answers on the Monday.

For these reasons, Ms Busuttil, who is married and has two sons, felt that she was doubly lucky!

"I was away in August and had the newspapers kept for me. I even put a 12-cent stamp on the envelope, because I had run out of seven-cent ones.

"I also owe a big hug to my father-in-law, Cecil Busuttil, who always helps me," she said.

The prize also includes return flights on Air Malta, seven nights accommodation in a three-star hotel on bed and breakfast basis (based on twin room sharing), airport transfers and the services of an experienced tour leader.

Ms Busuttil also won the free year's subscription to the Scrabble Club and a Lm50 voucher from the Tax Free Marketing Group to be spent at Malta International Airport's tax-free shops.