Malta Schmalta / Gozo Goodzo

Hmm, not entirely sure I'd recommend Malta to anyone, one of those cases where the guide book has def 'bigged up' the paucity of sights and you find yourself looking at some plain old stones heaped together under a Unesco tent, going 'really?!'

Our visit to the legendary 'Clapham Junction cart ruts' probably sums up our brave attempts at Maltese sightseeing – contemplating a few elusive, shallow furrows in a mountainside of dry old rock, which possibly might have had ancient stones pulled through them, forming the barely visible ruts – maybe a somewhat more fertile imagination (and willingness to be duped) was required…

Gozo, luckily, was lovely. Our Airbnb was spankingly nice, a 4 double bedroom 'house of character' with pool, clever outdoor lighting and a hillside view across to the biggest cathedral on the island. Not a bad living room either – we didn't even sit on half the chairs, despite trying our best to get our money's worth!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

David & Mandy, our 'spaniel chums' from Harrogate joined us for 2 very nice days and Mands was even enticed into the actual sea, despite fears of what might lurk beneath.. This was my first time in over a year of being able to swim without chest pain (in Oman last Nov I couldn't even do breast stroke, just the pressure of walking in the pool was too painful) – now that was a very special treat. So nice to be back in the water, with fins and mask on, looking at the little shiny feeeeeesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food was a mixed bag, ranging from the Gozo pizza (no cheese but strangely lots of potatoes on it..) to a lot of Italian stuff – my least fave food – and safe to say, I'm done on every shape of pasta, piles of mushrooms, gloopy sauces and heavy lumps of meat for a while.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So, overall, very relaxing lying round the pool on Gozo, a few nice wanders – liked the salt pans and the Durdle Door-esque sea arch at Dwejra, as well as the underground tomb thingies (already forgotten what they were, that just about sums it up!) and am still bemused by the fact there was even a Waitrose on Gozo – who knew? Where we got a bloody parking ticket, just to complete the home from home London on sea experience.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Won't be rushing back there again, but great to finally get some sun as a gentle warm up for the slightly more powerful rays we'll hopefully be backing under in late October, if the Abu Dhabi birthday trip goes to plan.

Got a very big welcome home from Scrumpy – cue copious weeing all over the doorstep in delight (mostly hers) – and Mojo staked her claim to my head overnight, so lovely to be back with our furry girls – we missed them lots.

Ps Hawksey's replacement knee set off the beep beep scanners in both airports – welcome to his new world of getting a frisking pat down twice every trip from now on… Tee hee hee.

Jyst a shame the builders seem to have done cock all while we've been away – well, they have, but it's not even a dent in the very long list of jobs yet to be completed. H and his allergic chest have already de-camped to Janine & Ross's cottage, where I am heading shortly – fingers crossed they get a bloody wriggle on and some time this winter, we finally get our home back too x