On the Dot...

Residents of St Joseph Street, Mosta would be eternally grateful to the Roads Directorate if a road repair unit is deployed there. Walking is already a problem, let alone pushing a pram; cars are constantly sustaining damage and when it rains basements and garages beneath the road level are flooded.

Hard Disc

Another so-called lightening raid on the Valletta flea market last Sunday but one netted hordes of counterfeit audio-visual paraphernalia. Alas, the fuzz wasn't as alert in spotting other sights that grate on the teeth of sensible persons. Are people to continue being allowed to flog unweaned puppies and terrapins and goldfish packaged to go in tiny plastic bags?

Stone Walling

The newfangled idea of building rubble walls incorporating a mesh that would theoretically then be hidden by greenery was supposed to make the said walls last longer, unless they were vandalised. It would be interesting to compare the staying power between this new method of construction and the time-honoured one, for durability and endurance.

Clerical Work

For how long do the results of examinations for clerical posts in the public service stand? One is under the impression that the period in question lasts for a year from the date upon which the results are published. If this is the case, time is running out for those hopefuls who successfully sat for the aforementioned examinations last April.

Light Burdens

Since last Christmas, one of the street lights in front of the Valletta market, on the Merchants Street side, has been out of order. The area, especially on the side of Felix Street, is especially desolate after sunset; residents talk, not altogether jokingly, of having to purchase torches.

Light Work

Some years ago there was much talk of removing all the service wires attached to and running along the top of the Wignacourt Arches but practically nothing was done about this. Now, a hollow pole with two such leads has worked itself loose and is tilting dangerously towards the inner side, that is, the pavement which is just before one turns downwards to Qormi Road.

Paper Fasteners

Before discarding seasonal cards, readers would do well to contact one of the several entities that specialise in recycling them, with proceeds going towards different charities. Even cards that would otherwise appear to be useless may be sold in bulk as raw material for recycling into new paper.

Time Limit

One can understand that there cannot be a representative of all those NGOs and other entities or individuals that stand to be supported from the magnificent sums collected in l-Istrina and similar campaigns. Yet, one cannot help hoping that the children, teenagers and others who find they have to spend some time in the Young People's Unit of Mount Carmel Hospital are given a helping hand as well.

Post Code

What, exactly, does the word "collection" mean, with reference to letters posted in mail-boxes or at the main and branch post offices? It is obvious that a postman cannot empty all boxes on his beat on the dot at 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.; therefore, the chances are that the last one will be emptied too late for the letters inside it to make it to the sorting table before the morrow's post is sorted. How about the legend "last collection" being put on all boxes, so that clients of Maltapost plc may know when to start worrying?

Money Talks

Two months ago, some Lm1.3 million was reimbursed to the state by those who had been falsely claiming welfare benefits to which they had not been entitled. One wonders whether the Inland Revenue Department managed to beat this record, by giving back all monies due to those who had been overcharged in previous years.

Free Ways

Some areas have been identified as testing areas for the new speed cameras being installed in order to catch (more) motorists who violate traffic laws. One particular spot apparently did not fit into the picture. Although it is obviously a spot where red lights are jumped as a matter of course, cameras have yet to be made available for the lights in Saint Joseph High Road, Hamrun, near the MUSEUM hall side entrance in the Bata-l-Bajda side.

Lights Out

The lights surrounding the Spinola Bay promenade have been unlit for the past seven weeks. Can the local council get someone see to them please?