I eagerly went to watch two ‘shows’ this week. One was the MADC’s Company at the Manoel Theatre which had an array of ‘stars’ , performers whose talents we have come to admire, so there were great expectations. But, although nothing was wrong with the production itself, I found Sondheim’s Company almost completely alien. It simply did not fold me into its arms. Mikhail Basmadjian who played the spiv, Bobby, needs to get rid of that very spare tyre before he starts undressing on the stage again. And can’t we stop putting on shows which need an American accent which is so difficult to sustain unless you have been brought up to it? A friend who left at the interval told me on the morrow: “Xarabank with the Prime Minister and the leader of the Opposition was infinitely more entertaining, believe me.” Most of the jokes – based on things American – went straight over my head. Let’s have something English soon, like Noel Coward, the very same group with multiple talents would carry it off very well.

I thoroughly enjoyed Yada’s Circle of Senses at the Mediterranean Conference Centre. It was a slick show with an array of beautiful costumes, choreography and splendid compositions of Cirque du Soleil and The Island. The variety and the talent were extraordinary. Yada is one of the 28 or so dance schools we have but look at those awful Carnival dances on the square in Valletta – the same choreography (if you can call it that) year in and year out. Cannot some of our talented choreographers be called upon to lend a hand next year so that the Carnival dances will be really worth watching?

Friends of mine in London who take good care of their health and fitness were visiting to meet my grandson and in the course of exchanging trivialities and trying to sort out the world’s problems the husband commented that he was taking Glucosamine. Hadn’t heard of it, I said. When he explained that it is for the care of our joints I showed interest and he recommended it. But, human nature being what it is if he had not been younger than myself, I would have taken his suggestion as a personal affront. Was he going to recommend Pampers next, or a hearing aid I wondered? I have a lingering sense of doors closing but am only too aware of the microcosms of erosion, not only in the environment around me but in my body as well. I try not to look at mirrors too often because it is so completely depressing. But then, I console myself, those of a certain age are trading mere appearance for superior sight. Many of us have climbed the mountain and have a far better view of things. So yes, soon, I shall be over the hill and shall be handing the Sisyphus rock to whoever happens to be on my left.

So on the morrow of seeing my friends, admitting to the marks of the passing years, acknowledging my crone status, even if on the inside I am little more than a child, I hopped into Boots and bought myself a box of Glucosamine. Once I got home I made myself a mug of tea and obsessively read the leaflet inside about the product and couldn’t believe that I had just bought myself some joint care. Hmmm. It’s a Seven Seas range so mostly made up of Cod Liver Oil – Omega 3 and will help maintain supple and flexible joints the pamphlet says. And I promise you, no one has given me a free box to promote them. Indeed, before returning to Malta I went shopping to Sainsbury and bought myself another box.

Then this morning I received an email from a Maltese friend in London also of a certain age: “Have been tramping the streets of London on another demonstration. How many miles have I marched in the last 35 years –- CND (mostly), anti-apartheid, Poll tax, anti war (over and over). It was quite well attended but not like the old CND ones, nor the big 2003 one. Speakers included the Bishop of Reading because Aldermaston, Britain’s bomb factory falls under him, Craig Murray (former ambassador to Uzbekistan), Ken Livingstone, Tony Benn, the Secretary of the Muslim Council, someone from the Universities Trade Union, Brian Haw (who has camped outside Houses of Parliament for over five years, and many more.” I admire this. She has better things to do but refuses to give up. I hope with the help of my newfound Joint Care I shall do the same.

As to the Brian Haw she mentions. I saw him on TV the other day. He started his 24/7 vigil in 2001 to protest about the suffering of Iraqis during the 1990s because of economic sanctions. He continues his vigil because of all those who have, and continue to suffer as a result of the invasion and occupation of Iraq. In October 2004 The Lancet estimated that 100,000 Iraqis have died. Then in October 2006 it estimated that 655,000 people have died in Iraq as a result of the 2004 invasion. And how many millions of other lives have been blighted forever? And how long will it be before Bush decides to invade Iran? It is a mad, mad world.

So back to the raping of our environment. The residents of Qui-Si-Sana and others held a meeting yesterday which I would have liked to attend. Thankfully so many went that there simply were not enough chairs to accommodate everyone, I am told. A friend who attended said that Harry Vassallo mentioned that medical records have indicated a rise in rates of cancer in Sliema She continued: “Yes, sadly they are selling our very children’s health to the contractors. It is beyond chilling.”

Another continued: “After all these months of trying to make them respond to the Fort Cambridge threat, the residents and their association have suddenly woken up. There was excellent cooperation between the AD and Labour Council members, which shows that if the individuals want, it can work. The Nationalist councillors were noticeable by their absence.

“Instead of a speech, Martin Debono just showed some photos of the eventual views of Tignè. Everyone was shocked into silence. With each successive slide, it got worse and worse, a nightmare. At the end, Harry wound it up with a rousing short speech, which actually galvanised everyone into action. A couple of good suggestions were put by the public and within minutes we were working on them. All in all, a lot of momentum was created.”

Even as I was writing this there was a message of my mobile. It was a relative telling me that the old chapel in front of Stella Maris church had had its foundations damaged and could we report it. “It’s utterly disgusting and whoever did it must be made to carry the consequences.” I think she had plenty more to say but a mobile message has its limits. Another sent in an email: “The cracks up to 5cm wide go all the way up to imperil the dome it seems. The contractor involved in building in the vicinity blames it all on the chapel which did not have strong enough foundations to withstand his works!” I like a sense of humour.

First Joint Care and now this.

I have most reluctantly sent a cheque to the Commissioner of Police for Lm10 and rolled it in bad vibrations, not aimed at Mr Rizzo but at the system. I had parked on what looked like a parking area near the Labour Centre where I attended a reception some weeks ago. When I came out there was a policewoman scribbling near my car. This is never good news. Why, I asked? She said there was a sign much further up, saying that there should be no parking here during school hours. But there are no yellow lines I protested…but she went over to the next car to charge the driver another Lm10 and so on. She earned much more than her keep in a matter of minutes. I protested that the sign was not properly visible but she simply waved her hand, dismissing me as if I were a protesting child.

Now, this was unfair enough, in my view but seemed infinitely more unfair as I had just read Claire Bonello’s column: “Road hogs who keep getting away with it.” In this Dr Bonello refers to the Auditor General’s report in which it is revealed that a few lucky road hogs are getting away with not paying their traffic fines but are still getting their licences renewed even though they have pending tribunal payments. “The total value of these outstanding payments amounted to Lm70, 960. This is not the kind of treatment the rest of us benefit from, as in the ordinary course of events, motorists do not have their licence renewed if they haven’t paid the fines incurred for traffic conventions.” This rule is imposed by the Traffic Regulations Ordinance and which we all know about as it is quoted back to us when it is time to renew our licences. To further quote Claire: “It is a rule which has been mysteriously ignored in the case of the above-mentioned vehicles.

“There’s more. The report also states that Lm155, 880 were owed to local councils by 69 vehicle owners in the way of traffic fines and penalties. Twenty-two of these owners had each accumulated pending payments over Lm2,000, with the top offender exceeding Lm26,000…”

It is two weights and two measures all the way.

Will the building contractor who has damaged the lovely old chapel in High Street Sliema be made to pay a hefty fine? Will the law catch up with these traffic offenders?

And then we have the handyman at Mosta who earns an average of Lm1,000 a month and Lm24,000 in the last two years. Super One investigated this case extremely well. During yesterday’s 7.30pm One News we were shown the video of a meeting of the Mosta Local Coucil chaired by the mayor, a Mr DeMartino, who has been in the news fairly often lately. Without the slightest hesitation the approval for the payment of this handyman who was present at the council meeting was approved by the Nationalist councillers. The handful of Labour ones walked out.

I live in a permanent state of astonishment. Is all this happening in a virtual world perhaps?

I need a ton of chocolate not just a bar to retain my sanity.