I had a meeting with President Abela today !

I had a meeting with President Abela today !! [You can't beat that for a throw-away line !!]
About 20 of us concerned with animal welfare here, mostly from Animal Sanctuaries and Charities.

Very impressed. A lawyer--aren't they all ? Coincidentally, he comes from Marsascala. He has a 3 legged cat which came from my cat colony, but before my time.The cat had gone to sleep in the engine compartment of a parked car. The rest you can imagine. So he is a devoted animal friend, which I imagine is why we were summoned. He has been in Office less than a year.

[Incidentally we have just caught and had neutered half our colony of about 60 cats. 3 of us are paying for the exercise. If we hadn't done so, the numbers would have been out of control by next summer, and out of our control to feed as well !! ]

I told the President to pay a visit sometime, as he won't find a healthier band of cats anywhere.One of us is a Pathologist so has access to antibiotics for the cats. They look as well fed and cared for as any domestic cat, and have a far better lifestyle, living amongst the large limestone rocks on the beach.]

The meeting lasted about 45 minutes, with snacks and photos. I hope they are transmitted via the internet. He wandered round and talked with conviction to all of us. I am expecting to be appointed Cat Emissary to the EU any day soon !! Well the gravy train in Brussels would be interesting !!

Magnificent Palace in central Valletta. Huge glass chandeliers, painted ceilings, armour suits everywhere. Not a lot of furniture !! Even a portrait of George III , Wasn't he the mad one? Yes, he was.The Palace dates from about 1700. Large spiral marble staircase up 3 floors to his suite.Surprised to see a 15 ft high portrait of the Queen there. I guess it was standard issue to the Empire when she still ruled, designed to be hung in very large rooms.[ Was it painted by numbers?] It's not the Annigoni.[Copy !!]

Large courtyard with pillars and statues, one of Neptune. A few Bishops and Cardinals wandering around. Then we spotted the uniforms of the Vatican Guard sitting in a corner. [with persons inside of course !!] You know, that striped kit with bloomers. [Vatican United?]

Clearly the German had sent his emissaries to make sure one of his outposts was up to scratch , and probably to collect some dosh--also known as coins of the realm, to help pay the massive Paedophile Damages awarded against the Priests !!

It shows the enormous wealth that existed then. I asked one of the Maltese with us to explain, as I had never got to the bottom of this conundrum. Malta, a tiny island living on agriculture, yet there are a dozen or more amazing Palaces built at that time, as well as 100 or more lavish churches.[Population today 400,000. Then, less than 100,000]

The answer apparently was the Knights of St John, thinly disguised as Pirates, who ravished the mainly Turkish ships going about their business. They ran this place with the mob from the Vatican.This upset the Turks who decided it was time to sort the Maltese out. Hence the huge Battlements everywhere.

Fortunately Malta is made of limestone which carves easily into large building blocks. Even today everything is built of these blocks. I have visions of the time when the last available block is quarried, and the whole island sinks serenely into the Med !!

As a lawyer of 61, he has done all right for himself, especially considering his Labour roots. His house on the sea shore across the harbour from me is probably worth £2m.
Interestingly, he must dye his hair !! No one has hair that black at the age of 61 !!
Reuters, UPI etc.

Best wishes,