Regretfully, during Kercem’s week-long activities in March I missed visiting the prehistoric finds in that fascinating locality – a very typical Gozitan village with its neighbouring quaint hamlet of Santa Lucia. I did, however, make it a point to attend the Mass at which His Grace the Bishop of Gozo was the prime celebrant, a Mass during which he did not mince his words, as always, and confessed that he had been taken to task in a recent phone-in programme on RTK by those who took exception to him mentioning the lack of job opportunities in Gozo.

Today I will make it a point to attend the traditional fair organised by the Kercmin at St Raphael’s pond further up from the parish church along the top of the cliff overlooking Xlendi and that part of Gozo’s steep coast. The few times I’ve managed to make it, my luck deserted me and I didn’t manage to win either a rabbit or a lamb. This time I might try my hand at shooting a mechanically ‘thrown’ flying saucer or whatever they are called, apart from looking for some bargain

potted plant or tasting some home-made wine! It is always pleasant seeing so many Gozitans and not a few Maltese congregate in this country spot still unspoilt by development!

What I also treasure is the copy of the Kercem Fair booklet, which unfailingly manages to include an article on one or other of this locality’s features. A case in point is the current edition in which Michael Grima writes about ‘The Kercem Quarries’, commendably in Maltese. These booklets, mostly issued on the parish patron saint’s feast or some activity such as the Fiera Festa tal-Ghadira over the years, enable one to collect a small number of informative articles on these Gozitan niches!

G. Bonett

MARSALFORN