Dinner out- what a novelty!

Off to Birgu (pictured here )

a 15 min walk from our door, I can't really complain. Italian opera is sending us on our way (that neighbour of ours is at it again- this time blasting old Italian records) at least its fairly romantic... almost makes me feel like I have walked into a movie set. No art projects accomplished this week- apart from making some cinnamon honey ice cream (which was tastey!) and an impromptu orange plum upside down tart today for guests, its been a rather quiet week here oh yes, found out I got accepted into a masters program which starts in gasp.. just over a weeks time! Right along side the Maltese lessons... busy days ahead. Buona notte from me and Andrea Bocelli.

Interesting

A day of pleasant surprises here.

This is one small something I came across and am very intrigued by- 

3191 - miles apart . This year it's evenings look here. 

Our Lady of the Graces

Last night we went to the culmination of the week long local feast here in Zabbar. In celebration of the patron saint Madonna of the Graces. As we neared the church in the central piazza there were crowds of people lined up to go inside and then coming out, when I asked A. if there was a ongoing kind of mass or something he explained that this is when you either thank the Madonna for the miracle you asked for a year ago or you go to make a promise for the year to come. Although I am not religious I was tempted by the thought of having a focus for ones hopes...and wondered about what brought people as I watched the many old and young faces coming out ... old worried looking women, hopeful young couples... graying weathered  anxious looking men...(as I struggled to hold hands with my two wanderlust children) the third got to go inside the church on A's back and seemed to fully enjoy the lights and splendor.  

Not to go on too long about this feast but it is also well known here in Malta for it's Motorcycle (and now bicycle as well) pilgrimage around the island which finishes at the church on the Sunday ( sorry didn't manage to take any photos) . Also it (like many villages in Malta) has two very popular local marching bands which march round the town the day before the procession with the statue(which was last night). The bands known as the 'blue band club' and the 'green band club'  each have their own home building/restaurant/bar and devote followers. In the past the band clubs and their respective followers have come to blows so it's a wee bit tense  round these parts. Half our ally is decked out in green banners, lights etc. and the other half are all done up in blue. 

  

window shopping again

We are on the look out for cushion covers for our sofa (our first new sofa ever)  should be simple to make and  I know I ought to make some myself but I was browsing through ... yes...etsy and came across this woman's pillows- wow.... what a great selection of fabric!!! Wish I had spare beds and more sofas to justify needing more of her pillows... how can I possibly choose just one!

 

Sounds

The end of an alley is certainly not the quietest place to live. In some ways this is nice though,  - with three smalls the noise of our house blends right in! But it's the echo effect which amazes me,  from the daily afternoon trumpet concert (the three hour practice session) of our neighbor which sounds like it is coming from inside our own walls to his spontaneous opera singing and of late the war like effect of the non stop (day and night) fire work explosions (mostly of the very loud bang sort) which I swear will give Stella a heart attack one of these days. Look forward to when our local feast is over. But to end this weekend of noisiness is a cd I am itching to buy- Emiliani Torrini... of which I have had the pleasure of hearing some bits from her new album- Me and Armini,  particularly like Big Jumps. 

ESCAPE

Of Cloves and Bitter Almonds by Lou Drofenik
Although it is all centered in Malta, I really enjoyed reading this book over the last few weeks. For anyone out there who wants a good read and to know a bit more about the history of Malta- I recommend it. Now time to find a new book. Perhaps a book set in Iceland... somewhere a wee bit cooler than here... it's been in the mid thirties since we arrived (upper 90's) and very very humid. 

Moved in!!!

Only taken us six weeks to get into the house.... at last it's ready enough for us to move in -so we have. It's day two and we have internet and a working computer!!!! Without the stern looks from in laws I broke from Maltese convention and took a morning walk with the children. Went to check out the local market, shops etc. here is a side street we went down. Needless to say the walk did us all good.  The kids survived the heat and wee bit of sun and thus are all sleeping soundly at nap time (something they rarely did at my in laws).  We bought fresh bread from the man in the van who goes around honking and sells it still hot from the oven out of the back of the van- yum. Also to my excitement found that the grocery stores here sell not only Maltese and British products but loads of French and Spanish brands too... you should see the selection of pasta choices and olive oils!!!!

Landed!!

After a lovely send off from the picnic in Winchester to visiting with friends in Brighton we have arrived in Malta. It will be some time before we have our own computer up and running so believe it may be a week or so till I am able to post more photos.

Life in Malta started with a bang, our middle child came down with the stomach flu and chicken pox within hours of leaving the UK (her tell tale signs didn't come till the morning after we arrived). Over the course of our first three and half weeks here all three children have broken out in spots. Not ideal in upper 90's weather and foolish parental promises of trips to the beach as soon as we arrive. After consulting a doctor here we were instructed to keep the children inside for a minimum of two weeks... no easy feat. Boredom, antsiness and television watching abound much to A and I's frustration. With one week to use before the big 'SHUT DOWN' (when most of Malta closes and leaves on vacation) we have had a lot of running around to do- last essentials for the house so we can move in. Visitors from Madison/Seattle coming this week!

Goodbye Winchester, goodbye England

It's come to the end of our time here, we will all miss these cobblestone streets, the lush greenery, the rushing river, our little yellow house and dear friends. Hope to be writing next from Malta (not sure exactly how long it will be till we are connected to the Internet) so good bye for a few weeks. 

Film Review- Once

So after waiting nearly seven months for Once to come through our mail slot (via Love films) it finally arrived and after all the anticipation I must admit I was a little let down. It was good, and I enjoyed the film don't get me wrong. I liked the fact that it was an unsuspecting musical (or to me at least- I knew nothing about the film apart from the fact that it was Irish and good) so sorry to spoil it for anyone who hasn't seen it- it is a quirky musical,  in a subtle indie folk music kind of way. I enjoyed it  (but A. fell asleep) so not for everyone. If you don't like the sound of Damien Rice then this film may not be for you (thus my husband falling asleep out of slight boredom). Am impressed with what they were able to accomplish  using only a few cameras and little cash. I do think I may just have to go out and buy the sound track, for even though I was little tired of the songs by the end of the film, I must admit waking the next day and wanting to hear them again (particularly the song by the main woman sung while in pajamas walking down the street).  

Few spare minutes

If you're like me and enjoy interiors, people and their environment  ....this site is VERY cool, updated every few days .   New York city people and their homes. The Selby.

Time for baking?

Not really but I wanted to try out a new recipe- cinnamon and cardamom buns from Falling Cloudberries. They turned out pretty well. The kids and Adrian ate nearly all of them before they had even begun to cool. 

 

The title of this picture brought a smile to my face... just when the tantrums were starting to ensue between my four year old and two year old (who is certain that actually she is three).

The title is-  "Send Joan of Ark Over"  seen here. 

Baby Stella sleeps on- phew. 

Am very fond of birds that must be said and find these images really beautiful at Geninne's art store. 

Surprises

I must start off with explaining the recent annoying new obsession of my husband's... it's not enough to read late into the night abstract papers on computer functions noooo the latest find is he has discovered a vast selection of  computer related podcasts.  German IT specialists going on for hours about the latest computer science trends (with subjects like relating technologies such as 00 and SOA - if interested here is the site with the podcasts - software engineering radio ) . He has even taken to listening late at night and in bed to these radio shows! BUT today -Saturday he woke up early  made cafe miels (lattes with honey and cinnamon) for us both and a delicious fratata (Spanish omelet) today with tomatoes, spinach, red pepper, fresh basil and Parmesan as all three children slept and quizzed me in Maltese at the kitchen table.  Then a little later as the children sat watching morning cartoons led  me into the kitchen to dance to this song (as he was doing the dishes he was inspired to dance by this song) - Lo dudo from this album- Los Canciones de Almodovar (a good album if you like this sort of thing- dramatic Spanish singing). Although a bit of a computer geek it must be said he is a romantic guy and I do appreciate the weekend when he is around.  

So excited!

My dear friend A. gave us the most wonderful going away gift - a new cook book!! 

This one looks really good, can't wait to get unpacked in our new red kitchen and start cooking!!! The author is half Finish, half Greek Cypriot and married to an Italian. She grew up in South Africa and brings all these aspects of her life together- pretty interesting mix huh.... 

Not to mention the photo of Tessa Kiros the author, who looks like a glamorous Bollywood actress.  Falling Cloudberries.

Boden

I really do more than window shop.. it's just that I am in that 'witching hour time' waiting for my partner to come back from work... dinner more or less ready and all three children are sitting near me- some watching t.v. and the other serving me some pretend tea.  Just happened to see this- think the sales are everywhere here because summer didn't exactly happen and it's nearly August! Check out Boden now. 

Wednesday's dress

Amid packing up the kitchen pots and pans I called a time out and made Stella another summer dress.  At last it's warm here and it's been a few days since I touched my sewing machine... my days are numbered with my ole clunky Singer machine (too heavy to cart with us) . I call it the summer tomato dress. By the way Stella is starting to stand!!

books

Love this man's art work.