And we’re cowards/bullies in the original sense of the word – we cower before mighty foreigners and lavish them with a fake hospitality borne of a feeling of helplessness and inferiority. Then we take out our frustration on the weaker ones, be they impoverished, desperate immigrants or simply the single female outsider – even one with guts and drive like Alexandra’s – daring to attempt change.

Xi haga fuq il-parkegg ghal residenti: nahseb dawk li kienu u ghadhom joqodu l-Belt nistghu naghmlu paragun jekk hawnx differenza minn qabel ma giet introdotta is-sistema prezenti. Ghal tal-inqas illum jekk tohrog filghodu ghal xi qadja malli tigi lura ssib fejn tipparkja il- Belt mhux trid tistenna wara s-7 ta’ filghaxija jew tipparkja fuq xi bankina u toqod ghassa ghal-warden ezatt kif qalet Daphne rigward Tas-Sliema.

1. If a few residents act that way (something I condemn outright) then let me remind you to underline the word FEW. Those do not represent the whole Valletta community of which I have been a proud part since the age of four.

2. Alexandra’s efforts should be praised. She brought relevant, contemporary input to the city, something which at government level is unheard of. Anyway, unfortunately No 68 is situated in an area which is considered as having a myriad of social difficulties. Exposure to an artistic concept like No 68 might be erroneously looked upon as an invasion due to this difficult social environment.

I’m not going into depth on this subject here. In the meantime, please don’t judge the Valletta community as idiots.

Interesting link, Meerkat, even though forensic linguistics is normally applied to crimes that are much more serious than a mere warning note left by some frustrated neighbor.

Deriving from my short experience in policing and a recent interest in Maltese linguistics, I can see that the writer has a good command of Maltese orthography, however he/she doesn’t use Maltese in his/her work, judging by the absence of Maltese diacritics in the note. The wrong use of the indefinite instead of the definite article in the second line, coupled with the absence of commas and wrong capitalization in two instances might be an indication of lack of attention to detail (this will put the writer in the 99% segment of Maltese people). Naturally, a comparison with other “works” by a potential suspect would help a little bit more.

Anyway, why bother investigating this non-event? The note does not even contain a threat, just to spice it up a little bit! So boring …

jomar wrote: “the isolated island mentality reigns supreme”.

It is of course rather easier to recognise and acknowledge that fact when one has emigrated away from Malta and not necessarily spent one’s time in an expatriate Maltese ghetto.

jomar, it would perhaps have been wise to add that even Malta’s leading politicians, regardless of political colour, possess an insular mentality despite their many visits and stays in foreign mainland countries. Naturally, one can argue that the electorate in a way moulds politicians’ mentality.

When I lived there I was classified as a ‘barrani’ as well. I am not criticising how Ms Pace arranged to get the ‘no parking’ in front of her exhibition space. I am criticising the way the local council with the help of good old Austin, who by the way I voted for in the last election, have literally destroyed parking in Valletta for the residents in the past three years. I do not live there because:

a) I do not like the people and they do not like me because I was brought up in boarding school;

b) I got fed up of having policemen waking me up at 0700 to remove my car because someone had decided in the morning that the particular street I live in should be cleared because of some dignitary or other, even when there was more parking in Valletta.

I was one of the lucky ones who had a four-space space garage but unfortunately with Valletta as it is it was four blocks away hence the comment that my parent’s closest parking is four blocks away.

In 1987 I was still going to school at St. Edward’s so to an extent I was protected from the worst of the M.L.P. I do not have to remind you that we cannot have another Patrick Holland and Dom Mintoff because we are in the E.U. and that’s why me and most of my friends fought for it so that we can never go back to those dark days. That was the promise and the vision your generation and partly mine fought for and we nearly lost it in 1996 but thankfully il-perit gave us another chance.

I have an office in Sliema near the Victoria hotel and believe me compared to Valletta there it is easy parking, and yes I am not really worried about wardens as today I calculate it as a normal business expense. Tthere is no other way around it. When I visit my parents today I normally use city cab as they are in one of the pedestrian areas so that is my only solution.

Dear Mayor,

Next election you may be the single greatest reason why Valletta will turn Labour, the reason being the disastrous situation of parking there for residents. A lot of your constituents who have always loyally voted P.N. will be boycotting the election, even the extreme blues. I would recommend that you start talking to your voters, as from the feedback I am getting from most residents they are very unhappy with the way the parking problem is being tackled. I predict Valerie will be making a feast next local council election. I do not live in Valletta but my residency and my vote are there.

Then you’re lucky. I recently had gashes in two of my tyres on the same day. (I was lucky not to have a serious accident while driving around with my children.)

My conclusion is that I had parked in my “new” neighbours’ territory, ie partially over the yellow box in front of their gate (where, please note, no garage or drive exists, unless the car in question is a toy one).