Who on earth still calls them “artisans” anyway? Like “crafts” (we still have a “Crafts Village”), the word went out of circulation circa 1980. In the city centre? In the business and government district? I jolly well don’t think so.

This is where we got it all wrong. Henna and bead-sellers in front of the law courts. Karozzini next to parliament and the president’s seat. It’s the way we mix n’ match in a totally haphazard fashion, jumble-sale style. There’s no sense of each thing in its own place. Tat rubs shoulders with the Old Masters. Horse urine is six feet away from upmarket perfumeries.

Our resident artist Jozef once said something about “Ghax hekk jafu.” Exactly. Because it has been drummed into us that this is Malteseness. Therefore this is how it’s supposed to be.

It isn’t.

Michelle se jkollha stand taghha tbiegh il-gingerbread men.

All together now: ˈɑːtɪˌzæn

Those who can’t read the phonemic alphabet can just click on the audio symbol and hear it:

http://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/artisan?showCookiePolicy=true

Yesterday Owen Bonnici said that he agreed with Muscat in filling up the space in the upper part of Ordnance Street.

Earlier today it was reported that he said that he agrees that the commercial market does not spill over onto the other side of Republic Street by the new Parliament building.

Now he is saying that the market should be between Parliament House and the theatre.

Understandably he can’t really be seen to contradict his principal for his principles if he wants to retain his chances of supplanting him at the earliest opportune moment.

Imagine that, Janice First Lady in lieu of Michelle.

Lovely – Kenneth Zammit Tabona rubbing shoulders with the hawkers. Just what he always wanted.

Le Frans, ahjar kieku jarma stand il-Prim u jibda ibiegh il-passaporti minn hemm. Jista jitfa lil Michelle bhala salesgirl.