On the Dot...

The area at the beginning of Windsor Terrace, corner with George Borg Olivier Street, in Sliema is a mess. Since the rubbish strewn is on private property road sweepers refuse to collect it, their contention being that rubbish left on windowsills (picture) or doorsteps cannot be touched. Surely, it is the owners who should be held responsible if the rules of the street sweepers are so faithfully adhered to.

Garden Lore

The tiny garden at the bottom of Dun Karm Street, in Birkirkara is still is a desperate state. One of the trees is literally held together with string and another is probably beyond saving. The plants are desperate for a drop of water and the colony of cats that uses the place as a mustering point is definitely not helping the situation.

Stone Cold

There has been quite an interval from the last time that news bulletins on television carried clips showing illegal buildings, mostly those built on public land, being demolished. Yet it is patently obvious to everyone that there are many of them still extant, especially along coastlines, where land has been illegally occupied to the detriment of the public. One hopes the laws of prescription do not turn these squatters into legal owners within a few more years' time.

Swap Shops

Some schools are encouraging recycling by holding sales of second-hand books, with or without an entrance fee charged as a boost to the establishment's fund-raising projects. One tiny detail, however, is often omitted in the lists that are sent to pupils outlining the textbooks necessary for the forthcoming scholastic year; the price of textbooks, from which one may start to bargain.

Pet Peeves

Illegally imported hawfinches, serins and goldfinches and other types of birds had been available for sale in flea markets. Unfortunately, the fact that barn owls, squirrels and chipmunks are also being sold but in pet shops, goes uncommented.

United We Stand-Off...

A national federation of hunters and fishermen, ramblers and conservationists, campers and hikers would be the ultimate panacea in the drive to preserve our natural heritage. As it is, each quarter strives to better its own conditions, to the detriment of those of other groups. Well, one can dream, no?

...Divided We Gain

How long will it take the administrations of all girls' or mixed schools to realise that divided skirts, as part of the uniform, are not such a bad idea? Whereas it is true that in some places trousers have been introduced, the fact remains that a divided skirt would give more ease of movement, and be more decent, for those who hate trousers, but would not refuse something akin to them that is more comfortable.

Arch Enemies

After all the fuss that was made about the restoration of the Wignacourt Aqueducts, the general area along them is worse than it ever was. Works started on the Mriehel side have left the pavement in disrepair and weeds have grown to a great height on the Mriehel side.

Loads of Rubbish

One place where at least three tonnes of rubbish a week are not separated at source is Paceville. Despite the ruling that no glass bottles were to be taken outside entertainments establishments, the fact remains that glass bottles, as well as aluminium beer cans and plastic water bottles, are only a small part of the mountains of garbage collected from the area every week.

Porky Pies

Snacks bought from street vendors during festa time tend to be on the expensive side. However, when asked why they do not mitigate prices so that more people would take custom there, some mobile kiosk owners reply that fees for permits have been raised to astronomical levels and that the cost for them must obviously be recouped during the time the vehicle is in the area allocated to it.

Car Pool

It is patently obvious that more than one person will fit inside a light car. This means that if five people pool resources it will cost them exactly 48c to enter Valletta inside a vehicle, when they organise the adult equivalent of a school run. Come to think of it, this is only 8c cheaper than catching the bus there and back. Will the Park and Ride scheme end up being self-defeating?

In The Swim

This year we have yet to see any members of Parliament using up a couple of hours of their summer holidays by enacting such stunts as swimming in supposedly polluted waters, to prove otherwise, or negotiating the entrance to Valletta, to make a point about accessibility. One wonders, with bated breath, what the public relations chaps will come up with.

Day Light

Wardens have been noticed lying in wait at the end of the airport tunnels and issuing tickets to motorists they notice driving through the tunnels with their lights off. Is this the way to do it?

Blue Morning

People entitled to the Blue Sticker and who need to appear in court for whatever reason find it impossible to park close by. The closest reserved area, in St George's Square, is usually already taken up.