Following in the footsteps of his journalist father, George Sammut, he is very much involved with the media. He also lectures and is an examiner in the Faculty of Law, University of Malta. Dr Sammut is Honorary Consul of the Republic of Portugal which country awarded him the Order of Merit. He is also keen on water polo, culture and business. His publications are many both here and abroad. He enjoys reading, cooking and gardening. In his busy and interesting life he pauses to reflect on his life during Covid.
"Covid didn't really alter my life at all. Nowadays I spend most of my time indoors anyway. It is spent between home and office, being able to operate fully and efficiently in both locations. Board and other meetings, including the very rare court sitting, went on line - and most of them continued to be held so until this very day, with very few participants eager to return to the table. Sporting events, which I would often attend, went on YouTube, and this is great. In fact, we became very lazy, but indeed more efficient. I became conversant with Zoom and internet banking. One doesn't need to move.
Dr Austin’s office speaks volumes about his interests
My workload (involving both professional work and some writing and research) reached a considerably higher rate of delivery. We don't go out in the evenings (in fact we avoid it) - a sign of aging? No travelling time or parking hassle. Little dressing up - at least from the waste down during formal meetings - and less shaving, encouraged by a blurred screen. Groceries and other necessities have been delivered for years anyway. In fact, all in all, it was enjoyable and very relaxing.
Never felt any negative psychological effects of a lockdown, mandatory or voluntary. In fact, for periods, when the situation was daunting, we chose to stay indoors ourselves. My company? - which is the very basis of a psychological state: the internet, TV, pen (yes the actual pen is still active in my tasks) and books. What more does one want? The good fortune of having a reasonably sized garden and the joy of being close to three dogs and a cat is also a great help. A regular walk in the near deserted streets, and a swim (indoors of course) when spas opened up, also helped. The only negative effects on my mental health were the worry about others' health before the vaccine started rolling out, and the constant debate by an ever-growing class of pseudo doctors and scientists. This annoyed me no end, my attitude being to follow the advice and directives given by our medical authorities. Above all I believe in thinking positive.
I still enjoy my professional work, on a reduced, consultancy basis now. The contacts I have nurtured and developed over the decades still come back. The size of the active database constantly reduces of course, with those who have moved on, retired or even, sadly, passed away. I have a loose team of lawyers in different fields who can deal with all enquiries. But I have also occupied myself with tasks which I have neglected over the years - a substantial library which requires organizing and cataloguing, my unlimited boxes of documents and other stuff (being an uncontrollable collector of everything under the sun), an extensive stamp collection, boxes of photographs, countless tapes of films recorded at home and abroad, and more.
The author’s pets too, contributed to his peace of mind during the pandemic
I must admit that I have become addicted to social media - Facebook and some Twitter - and this, being so convenient in that it is an immediate and effective mode of expression for someone who can't resist commenting and expressing his daily frustration at all that we are experiencing on a daily basis, has affected my writing of longer more researched pieces. But I have also concentrated on some publishing.
After years of badgering my father-in-law, I finally got him to write (in fact, dictate) his autobiography. This was the end of a relentless campaign, but we got there shortly before the outbreak of the pandemic. I then continued editing a manuscript my father left behind 38 years ago. It is the story of his life at the The Times. Unfortunately, he did not get through the last few years of his tale and I will have to write an epilogue, not substituting his unique style as a raconteur with mine, but just ending it off with the relevant highlights of the missing years. Meanwhile, I have started a list of people, places and events which I recall throughout my life, in a little notebook which travels with me, with the ultimate aim of writing my recollections. It would also be worth bringing as many of my commentaries in the newspapers over the years as possible into one publication. This should be easy, since they are all already there. So, as one can see, there is still much in the pipeline.
This series is conceived and edited by Marie Benoît who contributes her own Diary occasionally. [email protected]