Whenever my office colleagues want to refer to some past event they usually seek my help.

They know I have a good memory and that on most occasions I can give them the exact date – or at least give them another which is close to the correct one – when something happened. It could be an accident, it could be a political debate; many times I am able to answer their query.

I want to be completely honest with you. There are matters that are hard to remember.

For example, I really cannot keep up with the amount of activities parliamentary Chris Said has, or the number of press statements issued by Labour MP Leo Brincat. Their presence in the media is so regular and continuous that it is impossible to remember when Chris visited scarecrows in Kercem or cut the grass in Kalkara, or when Mr Brincat issued his umpteenth solution to climate change problems. There is only so much that my brain cells can take.

The first thing that comes to mind when the “ping” of my e-mail tells me that the Department of Information has sent the coverage sheet for the following day is: “Where is Chris Said going tomorrow?”

In the newsroom we have made it a habit of trying to guess which town or village his driver will take him to; and we are not disappointed because there is always a locality that Chris will be visiting and wants the whole of Malta and Gozo to know about it.

It seems that many ask for his presence thinking that the media will be elbowing each other to arrive first for the event. The thing is that on most occasions, journalists and photographers do not even turn up. It is only the DOI photographer who does, and I would not be surprised if he is assigned full-time to the PS.

The same thing happens when we receive something from the Labour Party. On many occasions, it is Leo Brincat saying something about climate change. I am sure that he is the one who gives most work to Labour’s media department.

Little do Chris and Leo realise that over-exposure can be as negative as under-exposure. Most politicians love the media, but many of them have realised that their presence on TV and newspapers should be limited to days when they really have something to say. Otherwise, just don’t do it.

Being present in the media every single day makes us journalists, and probably the people out there, just sigh and say “Oh, it’s just that guy again”, and turn our attention elsewhere. When, on the other hand, politicians speak up when they have something of substance to say, the media will pounce on it and consequently it generates the desired interest. So simple.

I am sure that Chris and Leo do it in good faith and because they believe that this is how it should be done. I’m just saying this for them to know what others think, for their own sake.

Now, back to memory.

There are people who tell me that my memory is selective, that is, I remember what I want to remember and forget things that it would be better for me to forget.

I wish this were true. Unfortunately, what I tend to remember most is the negative things. The good times hardly ever come up in the corridors of my brain and, when they do, it is only to increase the level of regret.

Memory does that to me. There were countless times when a song triggered a recollection of something that happened years ago. This is perhaps why I enjoy myself so much watching “I migliori anni” (The best years) show on Rai Uno, a programme that takes viewers on a trip down memory lane through songs of the past and recollections of trends that have since become history.

It also happens that I associate places with people too. I guess it’s like this with everyone but, I tell you, this memory thing is something that I would rather do without.

There are times when I wish I couldn’t remember anything. Some say that memory is the basis of a better future, as it is by remembering what happened in the past that we could learn from our mistakes and avoid repeating them, but, then again, who’s to say that by forgetting we could not do things better anyway?

Memory – this word could, in the circumstances, be exchanged with experience – is sometimes not an asset, but a liability. It is what holds you back, what keeps you from trying to do new things, what prevents you from taking the plunge.

It is said that when you burn your finger once you will not approach fire a second time. But if you forget that fire burns maybe you will approach fire a second time and succeed in not getting hurt.

* * *

One thing I dislike is being treated like an appendix.

An appendix is something that all human beings are born with, something that has no function and something they could do without.

Being an appendix in somebody else’s life is the worst feeling that one could ever experience.

* * *

Malta was the only country among the 53 nations that took part in the qualifying round of the World Cup not to score a goal. Not even one in the 10 matches played. So much for progress in Maltese football.

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