Why?

Why would I want to comment on something that affects a country that is not mine? Why would I want to risk upsetting people who are now my neighbours? I like playing golf, so do I secretly hope that Malta will soon become the golf mecca of the world? I have to be honest and say "I don't know".

If I go back four years, we had never heard of Gozo and only vaguely knew of Malta. Yet just over three years ago, we tossed the life we knew in the bin and came to live in a place that we had never heard of. Why? It was because we agree with Paul Abela, president of the GRTU, when he almost said that the quality of life here is superior to anywhere in Europe.

So why, oh why, are the Maltese trying to emulate Europe and drag the quality of life down to their level? The simple answer seems to be that some covet the wealthy European standard of living. But sadly "standard of living" has nothing whatsoever to do with "quality of life".

Quality of life is about small scale, individuals, environment, acknowledgment, lack of obvious management and control, the balance between work and family, struggle, political incorrectness, human behaviour, politeness, tardiness, friendliness, frustration, good intentions, lost tempers, Malta, Gozo.

Standard of living is all about money and greed.

Malta has a unique almost extinct lifestyle; but sometimes the everyday grind of life obscures it from view. It has some "waste land" abundant with bio diversity; but sometimes it is hard to see its value. It has a turbulent history of plunderers and conquerors; but you still own it all. It has a wealth of history, monuments, climate, countryside, sea, people.

Recognise it, cherish it, preserve it, promote it, enhance it, live off it, love it and pass it on.