It’s all art & you go through new experiences that enable you to understand things differently on second hearing/ reading etc.

Also with stories, be it book or film, once you know the story you can go back to the beginning with the knowledge you’ve acquired by reading the whole thing and appreciating the small details that you missed/understood differently. All about appreciation in my opinion.

[Daphne – As if. I have never read a book or watched a film twice and I never will. Looking at a painting or listening to a song is completely different. Aside from the fact that the actual experience is different, they both take just a few minutes, whereas spending a couple of days reading a book you’ve read before, when you could be reading one you haven’t read, or spending a couple of hours watching the same film again, ditto, is boring and pointless. I don’t read books and watch films to appreciate them. I read and watch to find out what happens.]

I agree. I guess it’s just one of those things we say. I would never say ‘my favourite book’ but would say ‘one of my favourite books’ and more naturally probably ‘one of the best books’. However, I understand the idea of a favourite book as one you’ve read more than once and would read again; and I think there would only be a limited number that’d fall into this category anyway.

[Daphne – I can’t for the life of me understand why anyone would want to read the same book twice.]

Nyeh… great story but not ‘favourite book’ material.

In my opinion you have to have read a book more than once to classify it as a ‘favourite’.

I wonder how many times Joseph’s read it (if at all)? I’m sure he thinks saying it’s his favourite book makes him seem intellectual, which is worrying but sadly not surprising.

[Daphne – How can anyone have a favourite book? What is a favourite book? I just don’t get it. One of the best books you’ve ever read, perhaps – but a favourite one?]

Exactly. Stability with these people is if they’ve managed a truce before being elected.

You’ve seen 1996 Harry.

Ouch.

Good idea keeping everything under one roof.

Oh yes. Lots of leaks from Hamrun, as compared to Marsa.

He left soon after and had a bit of a tiff with some of the supporters on the way to his car.

He’s also clearly miffed at those who said they’d do otherwise. That includes Joseph.

Joseph can’t get rid of him as all hell would break loose. Toni’s been through it already, why should he care?

He’s familiar with codes endrosed by Labour diehards, he didn’t betray the leader, even stating Joseph wasn’t aware. He’s also particularly popular because of his daily appearances on TV, guest on radio shows etc. Abela speaks the language. Muscat, in his drive to appeal to the switchers, put himself out of reach.

And now Joseph breaks those same codes, showing himself for the wuss he is. You can bet your last cent doesn’t have the haddiema’s undivided loyalty at the moment.

Gonzi’s the enemy, but no one questions his strength. With certain Maltese, that is a significant criterion for choice.

The comparison with Debono is inevitable even though it’s inverted.

In that interview, Joseph really painted himself into a corner. Even Christian Peregin could see the CRACK in Joseph’s arguments.