On the dot...

Rather than relying on the natural slope of Canon Road and using that to lay down the services required for the Mriehel HSBC quarters, the engineers involved in the construction decided to tunnel under the already precarious boundary wall leading to Triq il-Batterija to make use of a mains sector there. This means there now has to be a detour back to Canon Road around the garages which the owners sometimes cannot use.

Having a Ball

The regulars of the Siggiewi Football Club have apparently decided that their favourite game must have an addendum. This has taken the guise of a discotheque every weekend, disturbing the neighbours because apart from the music there is a lot of unnecessary shouting. Is it really possible that the police and the local council have given this activity their blessing? And does this amount to a change of use of this venue?

Lady's Circle

It is interesting to note that according to Instructions to Applicants (No.4), women applying for a job as a kindergarten assistant (special needs) must give their husband's name if they are married. The name of the spouse, however, is not to be given when the applicant is a married male. Why?

Smoke Scream

Stopping at a popular café in Valletta, a client spotted three women who were smoking. Recalling the ban on smoking so in public places, the attention of the waitress is drawn and she replies, matter-of-factly, that in their outlet it was permissible. Is that so?

Board Walk

The boards used on the stands erected in Freedom Square for carnival leave a lot to be desired. They appear to date from the same decade as that in which the Royal Opera House had been constructed. How often are these boards tested for safety and resilience? This is a matter of health and safety and not merely the fact that they look terrible.

Fully Booked

Nature Trust is to be commended for its initiative with regard to the "recycling" of books and, therefore, the saving of trees and the environment. The Ktieb.com portal team runs a free service wherein one may buy or sell new or second hand books, watching out for books that are being offered and making offers for any books posted.

Gas What

The person who does the deliveries of gas cylinders for the area just off Regional Road in Saint Julians appears to lead a very busy life. He is always promising to squeeze in a journey to supply households, but somehow he never gets around to it. This has been going on for the last four weeks and it is obvious that people would use up more than one cylinder during that period. Enemalta officers taking calls say they will see to the matter, but nothing has been done.

Street Wiser

News of roads that are going to be resurfaced is a daily occurrence in local bulletins. Unfortunately, there tend to be highlighted solely roads that are in the public eye; everyone seems to forget the part of St George's Road, St Julians, that leads from the Melita Pharmacy to Spinola Bay. For 20 years, residents and motorists have had to see it going from bad to worse.

Prize Clubs

After the rumpus kicked out about how locals could not take part in foreign-based lottery games, it would be interesting to find out what is being done about the mushrooming invitations for betting on the internet. Moreover, what is done with the money that is not? Does it go back into the kitty for the next fund or is it being collected into a fund to be given to charitable institutions come the opportune moment?

Hit Tracks

Meanwhile, one notes with pleasure that the euphemism about which this column complained some time ago has been removed from the advertisement for the scratchers instant lottery. This bodes well, at least.

Plate Tectonics

A motorist involved in a car crash ended up with a number plate sheared off. The car, however, was still usable and so he drove home. A couple of days later he received a ticket, in duplicate, for contravening the traffic regulation stating that number plates must at all times be attached to the car. No doubt, this was one instance where the warden did not personally hand the ticket to the driver but fined him nonetheless.

Road Manners

Will the ADT lady in charge of PR now visit St Anne Street, Floriana, and report back to the public how many residents' abodes are located in the stretch between the Lion Fountain and Portes-des-Bombes, where the works are concentrated? Also, can she ask those living further up the road whether they would prefer to have work continue for longer hours and get the job done in a much shorter time?