Thoughts and happenings from a life on Malta

The photo above depicts what one sees today upon reaching the car park of Gnejna Bay – three aluminium container-like structures housing two kiosks and a water sports centre, all partitioning the beach from the parking area. In the eyes of some, the sight of silver aluminium shining in the sun is more satisfying than tanned sand, shimmering sea and crumbling cliffs. In the pockets of others, it is more rewarding to allow businesses to appropriate what, until recently, belonged, at no charge, to all those who frequented the bay. Where once upon-a-stormy-day it was possible to sit in the relative comfort of one’s car while watching nature unleash its fury, today one can still sit in the relative comfort of one’s car but, watch what exactly? Aesthetic idiocy unleashed.

My swimming season had a rather belated start this year. The liquid that drenched me during July and August was the sweat of my early afternoon runs and the showers fed by tepid water flowing from the roof top tank. Had it been like previous years, the jellyfish invasion would have served as a reasonable defence for not dipping my toe into the Mediterranean. However I have no such excuse this year.

It was only towards the end of September that I really took to the sea and for this I have a partial tear of the left calf muscle to thank – it tore me away from my running but dragged me down to the beach. Most times it has been sunset swims once or twice-a-week but today I broke my swimming record for the whole of August. In the morning I jumped in at Ghadira Bay after 20 minutes of sand running (part of my rehabilitation exercises) and in the afternoon it was off to Ramla tal-Mixquqa. Two beach visits in one day makes for a personal best!