personalities on their plans this summer
Ira Losco – Singer
Like every summer, this is going to be a very busy one for me. I am currently in the studio working on some new material. This month I will be visiting Germany twice for some television appearances. My first single has just been launched in Germany, so now promotion will kick in full swing. This month I will also be playing plenty of live gigs with my band. For the fourth year in a row, I will be working on my birthday! But this way I get to celebrate it with lots more people, watching my gig – maybe I’ll get the audience to sing Happy Birthday to me! August sees me doing a lot of preparation work with the band, and more gigs. In September I will be visiting Germany once again for an important television show. Holidays... a concept I do not understand. Joking apart, I will probably go on holiday at the beginning of next year: Amsterdam or Britain sounds nice... I think I deserve it!
Gianni Zammit – DJ and TV Personality
The Eros concert went well and we’re all happy – exhausted but happy!
In fact I do need a break and I am going for one! I managed to round up a number of friends and we’re all off to Clubmed Cefalu. It’s going to be a wild one, cos we haven’t been away together for a long time – and when us “dogs” get together, mayhem is guaranteed! I have very few inhibitions when in Malta... I lose them all overseas! I’m normally that obnoxious guy on holiday with the loud guitar and the Maltese flag, driving everyone mad! I love it!
Lou Bondi – Bondiplus presenter
After nine months of the Bondiplus weekly grind, its controversies and impossible deadlines, it is relaxation enough to be released from it all. I will be going to Bristol for my daughter Vanessa’s university graduation and then pop over to London to massacre my credit card at the CD stores. In August I will be exploring the sights, delights and food of Umbria, Italy. Then there is a summer job I have to do which is also a dream holiday – the Malta Classic Rock Festival (31 July and 1st August, Manoel Island). For an incorrigible rock junkie like me, meeting Fish, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp, Steve Hackett of Genesis and Jethro Tull, life doesn’t get any better.
Tony Zarb – Secretary General, General Workers’ Union
I have not decided what I will be doing this summer but I hope to dedicate a week to spend with my family. This will most probably be spent abroad because if I remain in Malta, I will still be working. I think it’s only fair that one week of 52 is dedicated to my family. This year was quite eventful and I think I need a break and my family need some attention too.
Gejtu Vella – Secretary General, Union Haddiema Maghqudin
As usual, my summer break centres around the St Gaetan feast in Hamrun. Since I was born and lived in Hamrun and moved to Mosta after getting married, I keep this annual appointment to meet many people with whom I spent my childhood. I look forward to this every year. I will not be going abroad because I always go abroad in winter rather than in summer.
John Rizzo – Police Commissioner
In the last three years since my appointment as Commissioner of Police, I have not taken any holidays, and I have never been a person that looks forward to summer holidays. For the time being, I have nothing planned for this summer except perhaps to spend a bit more time with my wife and children, in order to try and make up for the time lost due to work commitments.
Alfred Sant –
Opposition leader
I would like to take a two-week break abroad during which I would be able to beef up my language skills. The idea is to go for a super-intensive language course by which, through total immersion, at least I would be able to jack my reading skills by 30 per cent in a given language, say German. At present I am looking at the options and they seem promising, although expensive.
Joseph Mercieca – Archbishop
(reply received by email from his PRO)
From 31 July to 7 August, Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca will be joining the annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes organised by the Ghaqda Maltija ghat-Trasport tal-Morda f'Lourdes. His Grace always looks forward to joining the sick in their pilgrimage to Lourdes, whenever this is possible. One other thing the Archbishop looks forward to in summer is crossing the channel to Gozo and spend some time there with his family, perhaps even going to a few favourite spots – again if and when this is possible.