FESTIVAL OF MILK

We've had a few great days now since last I updated the blog.  Sunday was a fab day, beginning with Church service.  We could feel the increasing heat of the sun as we waited for our 9:00 a.m. van to pick us up.  We were dressed for both cool and heat and the sun felt so good on bare arms. 

Cousin Charles and Marlene have their family in for a meal each Sunday.  All their 3 children, spouses and 6 grandchildren in typical Maltese fashion all speaking, yelling, crying at the same time.  Things usually quiet down once eating actually begins, but not here...It was a lovely hot dinner of  a home cooked meal and homemade canola. 

left turn and you're in the town square

Small items used WWWII

After all was cleared, we went on to Gharghur (gar as in Garfield and gur as in 'the guru') to take in the Festival of Milk.  Yes, of Milk.  There were cows, goats and sheep on display as well as the different cheeses produced from their milk.  The kids with us certainly enjoyed hearing the cows mooing and the goats - bleating?  As well, the usual grandstand, with little dancers and soloists and karaoke.  Very entertaining.  Lots of food displays of traditional Maltese cookies, cakes, candies all out in the sun.  Didn't purchase any, by the way.  The sun was blazing and felt wonderful on our backs, not so sure about the baked goods.  We walked around viewing the jewellery stands, plants, vegetable wagons and various other displays.  One such was by the Military displaying old WWII items.  We heard the siren, spun by hand, and you sensed the impending danger as the sound echoed through the street. An Eerie sound.



sitting on the 'dock of the bay'

 

Monday was a bright sunny day, a good wash day breeze was up so laundry was done early in the day and then down to the bank, picked up fresh items and a stop at the bay just to enjoy the outdoors before heading back for a toasted Western sandwich for lunch which had mushrooms picked just hours before.  Now that's fresh!  
 



DRESSINGS

Clothes in, Mike snoozed, I painted, started the tomato sauce simmering and then off for a late afternoon walk down the sea front.    Dinner was a simple dish of ravioli and fresh baked ftira (f tea rah) a crunchy on the outside, soft and tender on the inside, a  small square substantial  Maltese bread.  Just a small slice each.  The rest will be used for the typical Maltese working man's lunch - hobz biz-zejt (hops biz zate as in gate) - not sure the spelling is correct, but it translates bread with oil (olive).  I'm sure I've mentioned this before, bread spread with tomatoes or tomato paste, canned tuna (in oil) capers, sliced olives, onion, sweet peppers, lettuce and all poured over with olive oil.  Salt and pepper and you're good to go.  Messy, but stick to your ribs sandwich. 

     June 1st. nd 2nd. Mike and I are registered to take part in a 2 day archeology dig at the Roman Baths in the northern part of the island.  Something we've both always talked about doing somewhere, anywhere.  We are in the far south, which means public transport will be a bit dicey as we need to be north by 7:30 a.m.  I'm hoping we can arrange for a one way car ride there.  Coming back by bus will be no problem.  I'm really hoping we can do this.  I'll let you know how that works out.

                Today, we thought we would take in the last of the Fireworks competition being held the month of April.  Today is the final display over the Grand Harbour and can be viewed from  Florianna, where Charles and Marlene live. Well, best get a move on.  We need to get to the capital city to replace our expired BOV bank debit cards. We left Canada before we received the new ones!  They expired the end of March and we left mid April. Q. When do you think the cards left Malta by snail mail?  A. In Maltese fashion, my guess is, mid April. LOL

Keep well, and know you are loved.

local time:  09:10

 

IT'S BEEN A HARD GREY WEEK



Thames River, London Canada
Uncle Pep's Birthday card



all eyes on me...again!

 Well, it's been a hard week with all the clouds, strong winds, rolling sea and temperatures cool enough that you feel a damp chill.  The sun tries to burn through the cloud cover, but never achieves it completely.  It's one of those cooler in the house than out situations that I remember from our lake cottage days.  You can't open the balcony door due to the wind and sea foam in the air to let the warmer outside air in.  The stone walls, ceramic tile floors get quite cold and stay that way.  The opposite happens with the heat of  the sun.   I'm not complaining mind, in fact, I've been thanking God that our daughter  wasn't able to travel with us.  She would have been unable to enjoy all the sites the same; this week at least.  Using the public transport isn't very pleasant when it's like this.  And yes, we have ventured out when necessary.  Thursday evening we went to the church for bible study.  Waiting for the mini van in the wind was a bit unpleasant, but the rain had stopped. The streets are flooded with rain since there is so little grass to absorb the moisture so it all runs down to the sea or of course the storm drains in the street.  It's the same everywhere here.   I, stupidly, did not bring any closed shoes, so had to wear my flat walking sandals with a pair of socks with another pair in my pocket in case I got wet. Sandals with neon patterned ankle socks (Natalie you would love my socks) a scarf around my neck under my coat and sweater and another scarf wrapped around my head like Gina Lollobrigida riding in her convertible on the Amalfi Coast.  I looked ridiculous in my 'costume'; nothing like Gina.  LOL.  The locals assure us that this is very unusual weather for April.  Sounds familiar from back 'home'.   

So instead of going out, just to be out,  Mike reads or plays mind challenging games on the computer, and I paint between drinking litres of hot tea and making meals.   

 

Intricate pattern of the transom, the door panels, and stone columns
and arches.   MALTA PATTERNS I
 

I had to do a sketch in my journal of my experience at Scott's and have decided to do a series of small 5x5 paintings of the many beautiful patterns I see here on the island.  Repeated lines, textures, shapes and colour sends my mind to overload.  Everywhere I look I am inspired and want to capture them in some way.  The line of wooden balconies along the street (called gossip boxes), the repeated pattern in the wrought iron gates, window transoms, and carvings in the limestone.    The patterns I see along our walks here in Marsascala is the erosion on the walls of the buildings where the sea has left it's mark on the stone and paint.  Beautiful patterns of texture and colour.  Rusting metal of the large boathouse doors and very old wrought iron balconies.  These alone will keep me busy painting.  oH, and my art supplies were delivered, right to my door - a day after the arranged day! A phone call to the store and a 'sorry, the driver was ill all week didn't they call you?' in typical Maltese fasion, and a promise to deliver next day in the morning brought the needed supplies right to my door. The sheets of watercolour paper were all too large and bulky to take home on the  busy, bumpy bus ride home.  Grey weather made the unnecessary waiting all day easier to take.

 

Erroded Paint and stone pitted by the salt sea and winds.
 MALTA PATTERNS II



Next week I will begin going to Bormla to paint with Acrylics which should open up a whole new set of painting possibilities.    LOCAL TIME: 07:33

A Bit of a Grey Eventful Day

Monday April 22 was a bit dreary so we didn't venture out except to pick up a few of our daily groceries like fresh bread, milk, peanut butter for Mike and my blue cheese (which I am eating far too much of).  I have to stop for a few days cause my feet are swelling due to the extra salt intake.  Salt everywhere.  Even if you touch your lips with your tongue you can taste salt!  Otherwise the day became greyer, cooler and windier and the sea was up a bit.  We actually found a documentary which was in English that was nice to watch in the evening. 
 

Today, Tuesday, started out very sunny and warm, but by noon the sea was churned up quite a bit and spilling over onto the road and the sky darkened.  No rain, yet, but very cold winds from the sea.  We had gone out to meet with friends Leli and Kitty and we drove to a  'large' grocery  store, Pave.   By large I mean a slightly scaled down version of our Superstore which by Maltese standards is a very large store.  We wandered around just looking at all that was available.  Foods from local suppliers, fresh, frozen etc., and from around the world.  Fascinating to see and I wished I could have a taste of it all, except the fresh tripe, the pork and young bull tongues! 

From there we drove to another grocery, still quite large by Maltese standard called Scott.  We were picking up the heavier and larger items, such as packs of large water bottles, and big bundles of t.p.  I needed to find the facilities which oddly were in another side building.  As I exited, the alarm when off and I was hailed back into the store, politely, but non the less hailed in with a stern  'madame please come back in', madame without the French accent.  This is a very common way of addressing a woman.  Madame.  Seems a little harsher than ma'am or Miss or excuse me, hello.  I was a little  confused as to why I was being called in, but returned into the store where my purse was taken and searched.  I was anxious and a little afraid I might add.  One by one each piece in my purse/bag (this was the  large bag I used as a carry on bag in the airplane) was taken and waved between the exit bars to see what item would set off the alarm.  The store Manager assured me it was necessary to find the offending item or if not, every store I visited, alarms would be heralding my exits, though it had not happened at Pa vi.  All the while I was defending myself in that I had just come in, and had not gone past the check out. Did she hear me? Don't know. Waving continued.  Nothing, silence. Did she think I'd thrown away the offending culprit outside?  More anxiety.  I'd be spending the rest of my life in a Maltese goal! Not until my art journal, purchased downtown London, Canada, was waved and glad shouts, it happened.  On the back cover, the bar code sticker set off the alarm, which the Manager quickly tore off and threw away.  Thankfully I had some sketches and remarks already in the journal, but I suppose it didn't resemble anything sold in the store any way.  There was no further discussion except for me to say my heart was pounding in my chest.   All was well and I made a quick exit to the out building in search of the, by now, much needed facility.  I just had a funny feeling there were extra eyes on me the whole time I shopped.  Why can't  I just go about inconspicuously and quietly?   Seems I'm called to be a spectacle of some sort or other wherever I go.

the sea just below our balcony

along the coast from our home

 You can compare this photo with the photo from the other day where you could see the bottom through the beautiful calm, clear waters.  Today, things are very different.  The sound of the wind and the crashing waves remind you that it is very early in the season.  The Maltese don't really want summer to arrive because they dread the heat, but at the same time laughed at us Canadians with our sweater and jacket on.  Come on, they said, it has to be warmer than Canada!  Yes, it is, it is warmer than Canada right now.  Yes it is. 

Tomorrow we will wait here for our delivery of my art supplies from Valletta, do some laundry and maybe prepare a little more elaborate meal.  Maybe a walk after the delivery around town and stop in for an Espresso and a regular Maltese coffee with cold milk on the side.  Somehow we will figure out how to order and get the right coffee for Mike.  Saturday evening we went for pizza with my cousin Charles and Marlene and they ordered a regular coffee, cafe ta' Malta,  and asked for milk on the side and poor Mike got a coffee alright, instant Nescafe, with steamed milk poured on top!  I wonder how much that would cost at Starbucks.   Three separate visits to the beautiful Malta islands and we still can't explain what an ordinary Canadian coffee is.  Some things just get lost in translation, right?  We shall persevere.  We shall keep you posted.  lol.  Oh, by the way, I received an email from the Gallery owner at Talbot Centre and I've sold two more paintings.  How blessed am I. 

Keep well my friends, and know you are loved with an everlasting love. 
local time: 22;40

 

First Sunday morning

Marsaskala Bay

 This beautiful scene is what greeted us this morning.  A beautiful sky aglow with the rising sun.  The sea reflecting that golden hue.

 

Warm today and anticipating reuniting with our friends at Bible Baptist Church.  Their mini van will pick us up very close to our home.  Seeing the sun each day gives you such a boost you think you  could almost fly.  This zoom shot of the sea was taken from our balcony and Mike estimates the depth is 10 - 12 feet deep.  The waters are crystal clear, but still COLD., however we did see someone in the water on Saturday probably wearing a wet suit and the boats are slowly being moored in Marsaskala Bay.

 the sea bottom 



street sweeper



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This picture was taken from our balcony as well to give some indication of how far up we are.
 

We had a wonderful time in our worship service this morning singing some very familiar worship songs, but sung a little differently.  Locals and people from many different countries filled the place.  We spoke with tourists from N. Ireland and from England.    We don't feel like tourists of course and felt quite comfortable welcoming them and wishing them a good holiday stay in Malta. LOL!  BBC is struggling to obtain the necessary permits to install a lift and begin transforming the upper level for the new sanctuary.  Things move very slowly in Malta and the ministry has no problem rescinding a permit after first giving approval.  BBC is debt free, with support from 22 different U.S. churches supporting Pastor Joe and Jenny Mifsud, (mif-suit), and the work at BBC and they have funds in place to begin.  All sounds familiar (except for the permit problems).  They would love to know we are praying on their behalf since we've been so blessed at FLB. 

BBC Sanctuary

Afterwards we were picked up by my cousin Charles and wife Marlene and taken to the other side of the island for the family dinner for Peppe's 89th birthday. It was   in a lovely hotel's dining room.  I didn't count but even though we were short one family of 14 we were about 40.  I haven't seen so many eating heads or heard so much chatter & laughing since the last choir bash we were at.

Tomorrow will be a quiet day we hope, just staying around home.  We do need peanut butter and fresh sliced bread, maybe more eggs.  And I'll see what look good and fresh on the Vegetable & Fruit Caravans.  Maybe pick up a few fresh things there. 

We are just about ready for a bit of a light snack with tea.  Toast and  Maltese tomatoes and a bit of cheese will do just fine. 

The bay is quiet, the sun has set and we'll do a bit of CNN live on the internet and maybe another episode of Call the Midwife then call it a day.

Keep well my friends, and know you are loved...
local time is 20:20 hey, how 'bout that!

ARRIVED

Flight - great.  Flat - wonderful. View - amaa- zing. Weather - perfect.  Familiar family faces, sounds, smells, colours, flavours and accents all greeted me on arrival making me feel so at home.  We are blessed and grateful.  Arrangements are made for pickup each Sunday so we can attend Bible Baptist Church each week, in fact, they also offered to pick us up on Thursday evenings as well for study, fellowship and pizza.  We'll take them up on that as well.  The sun feels wonderful but my calves ache having overdone it with walking these last 3 days (no, not in my usual style of shoe) in very practical flats.  Walking here is up steep streets then of course down, then up many stairs, then down and your legs get a real workout.  It's just the hot flaky   cheesecakes you feel entitled to eat after the strenuous walking  called pastizzis (paw-stits-eeze) that will kill ya, not the walking. They are so good.

Our eating pattern has already changed from the usual Canadian schedule to eating the bigger meal earlier in the day, much less meat and far more soups and veggies or fruit and cheeses (I know) and then having tea and a much lighter supper.  Our sleep patterns are off a bit still, but it's amazing how quickly you adapt. 

Art materials purchased on Thursday are being delivered to our flat on Wednesday.  What  a wonderful customer service and most stores will do likewise, particularly the grocers.  I've already done one sketch of Maltese garlic which is very, very fragrant and even though they are out on the balcony you can still smell them.  But boy, on the 17th, our first night in for dinner, I made an awesome homemade tomato sauce for our spaghetti dinner (what? you thought I wouldn't) with lots of them in the sauce, (some of them are quite small, about the size of a peanut) topped with  a great parmigiana we grated over the top.  You just have to experience it.  Mmmmmgood!  We've purchased most of our groceries for the most part now, having gone out each day this week getting only what can be carried in our bags. 

On each outing this week we've visited some of our favourite places in our village of Marsaskala (mar sas call ah) and the capital of Valletta, met with some family members and will meet with more on Sunday for a birthday party.  An uncle's brother, Pep, short for Joseph,  will be turning 89.  Our group will be upwards of 40 and that is just immediate family, gathering to celebrate over a meal.  

Typical street in the Capital City of Valletta. 
 

Must run, our T.V is only in Maltese and Mike is very bored, so I will log on to CNN (so glad we were able to get portable wifi)  to hear more of the Boston Marathon explosion and maybe catch another episode of Call the Midwife, an enjoyable t.v. series from the BBC. 

Keep well, keep happy, and know you are loved...
local time is 20:24

I cannot believe tomorrow, April 15th, we will be on our way to my home country of Malta.  I pray our travel will be uneventful, on time and enjoyable.  My emotions are on a roller coaster, running the gamut from excited to anxious, to guilty, to...I don't know what.  I do know I will miss all my family and friends.  We look forward to seeing our family there and new friends, both at Bible Baptist Church and in Marsascala, where we will be living.  

Goodbyes all this week have left me a bit empty and frazzled and Saturday I was an emotional time bomb, just ask Mike.   Saying goodbye and praying with our friends at First Lobo this morning really left me weary, to the point where I had a lay down for two hours!  All seems to be in order.  Cases are packed, fridge is empty and cleaned, food has been pushed on kind family members to use or toss, house cleaned (well, almost, whose to know if the dust was left untouched before the trip or accumulated over our time away :))  ), laundry all done, fresh bed linens on for our last night in our London home until July.  Wow, what an amazing opportunity for refreshing, relaxing, and regenerating.  Hope to have some pictures for you to enjoy next post.   

We pray God's hand on all of you, that you would enjoy a wonderful summer, that you will know His love and care for you.   

Today I spent time deciding which w/c paints to take - that took a bit of consideration  and have decided on a limited warm palette since the landscape in Malta is very warm. Quin red, scarlet pyrolle or pyrene (i think that's the name; quite an orange-red), quin burnt orange instead of burnt sienna, raw sienna & indian yellow, Fr. Ultramarine, cobalt blue &  turquoise, mineral violet, and added  perm. rose as my cool blue-red just for contrast, but mostly warm colours. I did throw in Quin. magenta and opera just for fun. In the end, it was pretty much the palette I use most often any way except for the opera (does make a fabulous neon funky orange!). 2 reds, 2 blues, 2 yellows, and as extras 1 cool red, phthalo turquoise, a violet, magenta and opera. Should work really well. Just need to sort brushes and some paper to start off with. I can buy my fav there, Bockingford 250 cp but might end up using Arches 140 cp.   The acrylics are so heavy, but those colours have been edited too and are being packed regardless.  I may end up with very few clothes in my case, but I can't even begin to think about leaving all these supplies behind for the next 3 months! 

 

 

 

 

Across the Harbour, pastel on watercolour paper 15"x5"

I did pack some pastels in a small box to take since I did a quick experiment this morning on a scrap of acrylic coated watercolour paper.  Don't use pastels too much, hence my technique is a mess but I do love a painting in pastel. Wasn't going to, but since they were out...you know.    I've also sorted some graphite pencils and must remember to grab an empty journal or two off  my book shelf.   Must get on with things for now, but will stay in touch.

Keep well and God Bless,