We have a politician who is determined to keep fit – Notary Charles Mangion. That is a rare breed indeed since most of them will tell you that they simply do not find the time for exercise. The socialising which comes with the job takes its toll and many of them are overweight. Not a pretty sight at all. Charles is one of the few slim ones.

Then there is a businesswoman who juggles marriage, family and home, too. Josette Montebello has invited us to her elegant but cosy villa which she shares with her husband and three daughters.

A French scientist who together with Maltese and Tunisian colleagues is producing some very interesting work – Gilles Gutierrez has even baptised a molecule after Malta. Read what he has to say.

Professor Roberto Fini in Italy writes in English about the internet while our own Sandra Aquilina, who joined the Sunday features department, made up of just the two of us, describes some of the wonders of Egypt after a recent trip there.

Some of you will remember Michael Harris who in the 60’s set up Mdina Glass, blue and verdemare creations which embellish many a home, office, hotel and restaurant, both here and abroad. Well, in this issue find out what one of his two sons, Jonathan Harris, is up to.

With internet and email it really is becoming a small world. It is wonderful to be able to contact people from right across the globe and so quickly too. How did we ever live without it? Internet I mean.

A very Happy Easter to all our readers and if you’re going to overeat, follow in Charles Mangion’s footsteps and take to running – not just once but everyday.

We all love a 'rags to riches' story and if ever there was one locally, it is certainly that of the Gatesy family. Some of you might have heard how Zoli Gatesy, Andy's father, fled Hungary in 1956 and landed in England with nothing. But perhaps to say that he landed with 'nothing' is not quite correct. For Zoli had one tremendous asset: he was a toolmaker with a vast knowledge of things technical. He landed in England with no material assets but he was diligent and hard-working, and these qualities, together with his knowledge, enabled him to set up a highly successful business.

Another miracle, I find, is that Toly Products has stayed on in Malta, creating, innovating, expanding. Although manufacturing in Malta has, in recent years, become expensive, Mr Gatesy nevertheless decided to stay on. But the answer lay in automation. Toly Products are international players in a highly competitive market, providing very demanding organisations like Chanel and Nina Ricci with their requirements.

I wish I had had more pages to dedicate to Stephanie and Martin's wedding which starts on page 35. (It is easier for me to write their names rather than their long surnames – less chance of making a mistake!). I do not go to weddings anymore but when I received the invitation I immediately called the bride's mother – we were at school together, grappling with fractions and geography – to ask her if she would let me have the wedding photos and she said yes without 'ifs and buts', which doesn't often happen. This happy occasion was also filmed by a French TV station and will be seen on television one of these days.

I love Catherine Wallisky's home in Zebbug. It is a study in elegance and understatement, a reflection of Catherine herself. See what she has to say about her roots and her hobby. My Favourite Room starts on page 47.

Then there are Maria Callas' jewels… which bring to mind Onassis and how quickly he exchanged her for Jackie O... for whom it seems to me he was a little more than a business transaction...

I'm beginning to sound like a

late-night talk-show hostess trumpeting her string of A-list guests. So I'll stop at that and let you enjoy the fruits of our labours.I, too, have written about Tunisia although my experience was short but sweet, but I plan to go again one day soon and see some more of it. Maybe I’ll stay there forever, in some oasis and eat dates for the rest of my life. The idea of permanent escape becomes more attractive each day.

Beci Borg, bravely tells us her story about her pregnancy at the age of 18 and her love affair with her daughter Maya. When I asked her if she wished to be photographed she immediately said yes, why should she hide behind a pseudonym? Isn’t it about time the Curia wrote a pastoral letter about the responsibility men should be taking for the children they produce out of wedlock? Will I live to see such a pastoral letter addressed to irresponsible males?

Giulia Bianchi from her office in the Portomaso tower, encourages young women to ‘go for it’ and enter the world of finance.

Michael Farrugia speaks to three rugby enthusiasts and tells us how the national team is faring – very well by all accounts.

Stating your written opinion is an occupational hazard in our business. Writing about homosexuals is a no-win situation and I plunged in where angels fear to tread. So, for a whole month, letters to the editor kept coming in. And now there are two more opinions in this issue, too. Discussion is healthy and I’m all for it. But it will certainly not change my mind on certain issues like marriage between two people of the same sex.

Mark and Elaine Mifsud have opened their home to us and you, like us, will fall in love with their secret garden which is verdant even in the middle of a hot, dry summer.

On the 75th anniversary of Diaghilev’s death, First celebrates the lasting legacy of the great impresario.

We hope you will enjoy these and other articles in our late Summer issue. Autumn and soon after it, Winter, are almost here and I cannot say I am not happy. But the summer months have flown…as will the Winter ones…

I thrive on winter living, and can’t wait to put the humid, hot days behind me and the quilt on top of me. What is more exhilarating than a sunny day in winter? We are lucky we get plenty of them too. I suppose I would feel differently if I had to go through a Siberian freeze-up.

They say the magic is in the details and we do our best to take care of the details in First. We may not always succeed but we try very hard.

The first article you will come across is the interview with Jennifer Micallef. I love it when I meet a successful Maltese and she is certainly one of them. Both Glen Inanga and herself are impressive in the way they like to share their gift with those less fortunate.

For ‘My Favourite Room’ this month you will find the newly arrived Spanish ambassador. I managed to persuade Her Excellency, whose residence is the stupendous Villa Macedonia in Balzan, the property of the Manduca family – one of the Manduca families rather – to allow me to introduce her properly to the Maltese people. Fleeting photographs at formal functions are not enough. We need to see her and get to know her better. She has given us a very informative interview and I left it in question and answer format, feeling it would do her more justice. Her Excellency has plenty more to say, but that will have to wait. Space is always a problem.

Apart from persuading Her Excellency to feature in this issue, I also had to persuade Dr John Attard Montalto to part with some of his wedding photos. Now you may not always agree with what he does or says, but he is a simpatico and most people I know love him. Some aren’t loved in spite of trying to sell us a positive image of themselves whilst others have our affection even if we may not always agree with their lifestyle. Life’s unfair isn’t it! But John’s popularity inspite of his marriage being on internet, the ceremony in the Chapel of Hearts and all, will not wane. He wanted to share this happy occasion with his constituents and clients. He is a public figure after all and a generous man who likes to share so why the devil not? I wanted more photos but he was adamant. ‘No, that’s more than enough!’ he told me resolutely. He only parted with them because I’ve known him since he was a boy in shorts and worked under his father at the University Library. There’s connections for you!

There are other interesting and informative articles in this issue and plenty of photographs. It isn’t beginning to look like Hello magazine is it? And if it does, well why not for once? I have as yet to meet anyone who doesn’t enjoy Hello! if only occasionally at the dentist’s.

As always, enjoy it.