Ghandek ragun, ghax jien ftit ilhaqtu Graffiti. Sa l-early 80s kien diga ghalaq.

Nahseb anke Fortizza kien spicca dak iz-zmien?

One can only imagine what progress and modernization we missed if the dictators did not run (ruin) Malta between 1971 and 1987?

We will be saying the same things ten years from now, once he ex-Communist countries in Europe will become our benchmark and envy.

What a jolt to my memory. Just reminded me that it was during the early 80s and not later that Malta’s quaint seaside villages such as Marsaskala, St Paul’s Bay, Sliema and St Julian’s were raped of their colonial architecture.

I was raised at Marsaskala, during the early 80s till mid 90s, and remember it being transformed from a quaint seaside village surrounded by green fields, limestone rocks and azure seas into the jungle of unplanned horrible buildings and silver aluminium we see today.

Karistu was handed the agency after it was taken from the original agents – Cassar Automobiles, I believe. Mintoff promised BMW that all the ministers’ cars would be ordered from Karistu as soon as he gets the agency.

If I am not mistaken Cassar was also agent for Rover. The showroom and office block is still there along the Pieta seafront opposite the public garden. (Ex. Torpedo Depot)

Karistu was handed the BMW agency in appreciation for having relinquished his Malta – Gozo ferry contract.

X’nostalgija – konna nifirhu bix-xejn jahsra, x’qamel.

[Daphne – Graffiti had gone by then, I think. I practically lived there when I was 16, which means 1980/81.]

My family refused to buy a television until after 1988. Mela inpaxxhuhom.

[Daphne – My family had a hyper-cool white one given to us by the departing German diplomats next door, and we lived in anticipation of yet another police raid like the one we had when my father was seen speaking into a Dictaphone while driving and it was mistaken for a highly subversive ‘walkie-talkie’ (remember them?). The police arrived at night and took the house apart. Oh happy days.]

The problem is that no matter where you go, you don’t get away from them. They are everywhere.