If I’m not mistaken, this is the very first PhotoHunt I shall pass on since I started participating almost a year ago. I have absolutely no time to go out and find some Bad Hair to shoot, and there’s nothing in my archives that fit in, either. It really is a pity but can’t be helped. Next week’s theme is Emotions – that should be an easier one! :)

Work is eating almost my every waking moment, it’s becoming a little disconcerting, but I’m still full of hope that things will settle after a while and become more “normal”. The work as such is exactly what I want – it’s just that everything seems to be urgent, and the amount of tasks that cry out to be done “first thing in the morning” is sheer impossible to actually tackle “first thing in the morning”. I mean, how many things can be first, anyway??

Yesterday I stayed at the office until 7pm, so I literally begged hubby to go out for a pizza instead of having to throw together a meal. It turned out a wonderful evening; while munching away at Smuggler’s delicious fare, we were entertained by Johnny Cash and Band, who played at the other end of the bay on the occasion of some bar’s first anniversary (sorry I don’t mean to down-play the occasion, it’s just I don’t know any of the bars’ names across the seafront, strange but true!). Don’t be fooled by the name – John has nothing to do with that famous namesake, but very ably plays covers of Pink Floyd, Coldplay, U2 and many more. After we finished the meal we went over and enjoyed the last part of the gig. And an idea formed in my head for my 50th birthday celebration next year. Sadly, I probably won’t be able to afford it, and even if I did I’d also have difficulties to get together enough guests to make it worthwhile. But hey… I can always dream!

I’m writing this post using BlogDesk. a marvellously uncluttered but fully functional (and free) off-line blog editor. The inspiration came from She-Who-Blogs , where Frances had asked about such editors a few days ago and Michelle, in turn, posted this link which has detailed reviews on a whole bunch of them. I went with the first one, just to try it out, and I’m very satisfied. If publishing turns out as quick and easy as inserting photos – both, by using existing ones on my blog and by uploading new ones – I’ll probably be a convert! No more hair-pulling as the internet connection goes boom!! The only missing feature seems to be the possibility to insert flash videos without using code, but I don’t see a problem with that. It’s a great little piece of software! :)

Probably because every journalist worth their salt flocked to the Labour Headquarters last Thursday, I was asked by The Times whether I’d like to cover, for the Business Times supplement, an event taking place in Gozo on that night: A “Citizens’ Forum” to discuss Gozo as an ecological island. Keynote speaker was Gisela Kallenbach, a German Green member of the European Parliament. I so didn’t need another job on the side… but I was unable to say the magic word, “No!”

As a matter of fact, it was a very interesting as well as enjoyable evening, and coming from me, who usually stays far away from public discussion events, that means a lot! It was also the very first debate I’ve ever heard in these islands, which was so extremely civilized that I was almost disappointed. I would have loved to write about opponents throwing those wonderfully delicious, organically grown strawberries (see pic on the right!) at each other… but no such luck! (I’m joking, of course!) A very well done to Julian Vassallo and the European Parliament Valletta Office, who pulled off a great evening; to Ta’ Mena Estate, which was the perfect venue for this and provided tasty food; and to everyone who participated in the discussion and didn’t feel the need to interrupt one another.

The only disappointment, in my humble opinion, was that expats, together with officials of all kinds, seemed to outnumber the “ordinary” Gozitans. People ought to start taking notice of such opportunities to be heard, and make use of them!

I finally got to meet Dr Arnold Cassola in person (we’ve been friends on some social network LOL!) and enjoyed very much talking to him. I tried to convince him that Gozo needed an airstrip for small fixed-wing aircraft, in order to have a real alternative to the ferry service. He must be an extremely diplomatic person, because he almost managed to convey the impression to me that he’d relent and agree. Obviously that’s wishful thinking, but hey, I tried! :D

Now I must sit down and prove to myself (and The Times) that I am, indeed, able to write more than feuilleton stuff or rants. Wish me luck, because my legs have gone jelly at the thought, all of a sudden…

Happy Weekend! :)

Update… Publishing was a breeze – and so is editing a published post! :) Yet another bonus is that posts are saved locally (i. e. on the PC). Great stuff. Yep, I’m converted to off-line blogging! :)

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 7th, 2008 at 11:46 am and is filed under Gozo & Tourism, Sabine's Blog, The Geek Zone. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.