Further News from Malta

Did I tell you it was Malta? I have a sudden fear that you did not know where the Island Paradise is. Well, it is here, on the tiny island of Malta. Three days in, I am so relaxed I even forgot a telephone conference that I had promised to dial into. It has proved extraordinarily easy to slip back into the routine of late rises, long days by the sea (or, better, in it) before returning to spruce up for an evening of friends and fun. Like so many Mediterranean peoples, the Maltese know how to live. Unlike many others, they work extremely hard. The economy is, on the whole, sound. Certainly the public sector could do with reforms, but it is nowhere near as bad as some other economies. Of course, a holiday is not the same as living here. It is a small place and can get claustrophobic. People settle scores: sometimes to the detriment of the country, as seems to be happening now. It is cultured, but limited in scope. But there is a lot more to celebrate than to regret. At least I thought so. But Malta should look after the sons who have served her well and not allow the point-scoring of a few politicians to decry and destroy the work of some of her best and most impressive. We should all be ashamed.