6 The Sunday Times. of Malta • OCTOBER21, 2018 OCTOBER 21, 2018 • The Sunday Times of Malta 7 memortes Once upon a.time in·Marsalforn Alan Vella recounts fond memories of his childhood years in Gozo. Otters! It was waterpolo time on against two/three ball slinging read. Blyton's books were very much the local sports programme I was game in shallow water. Other times, in demand as the children's watching on Tv, and the journalist we used to play cama cama at Il­ favourites, at a time when Harry Pot­ announced the day's results. Otters Paletta, still a popular bathing spot ter had yet to be conceived. were playing. nowadays although it has broadly Before catching the bus back to It was enough to ignite flash­ lost its tennis racket-like shape. Marsalforn, I always left enough time backs. My mind switched back to Another favourite spot was Ghar for an ice-cream at Lola's behind the Gozo I grew up in, when I used Qawqla with its endless possibili­ Pjazza San Gorg. Lola was a house­ to practically spend the entire sum­ ties focused around what we hold name in Victoria with her home­ mer months at our family apart­ called Il-Gebla, the partly sub­ made ice cream, at a time when ment in Marsalforn. It is not an merged rocky structure just off Italian brands had yet to'be imported. children should participate on a daily basis chant of a seasoned oenologist, she would al­ but we also spent countless time playing bil­ easy task to pin the subsequent the mainland, that facilitated div­ Fishing was another of my in the 6pm mass, as the parish priest had de­ ways give her opinion on the quality of the liards at the only Marsalforn spot offering nostalgic flashbacks to a specific ing but that was also particularly favourite pastimes, but I was ad­ cided that this mass should be for children. particular chip she chose, and to ask for an­ such a possibility (at Il-Menqa). At a later period, but I would say my attractive for adventurous games mittedly never that good at it. I It was never easy leaving the beach and other one to gauge whether it would taste stage, evening activity of course shifted to­ thoughts spanned from the early to in rougher seas. used to try my luck Wara l-Menqa, going back home in time to have a quick better than the first. One day it was too much wards The Rook at Il-Qbajjar, better known mid-1970s to the mid- and late Swimming time was usually in on the curved, narrow rocky ledge shower and change, so occasionally I pre­ salt, the other too little pepper, anoth~r day in Marsalforn circles as It-Torri, which 1980s, when Marsalforn was the afternoon, since mornings were (iC-Cinta) leading from il-Menqa to tended not to hear the dominant church bells she complained about the ketchup and fur­ quickly established itself as Gozo's most pop­ broadly still a seaside village rather usually dedicated to other activities il-Paletta. I did manage to catch an reminding all that mass would commence in ther still the vinegar. What I did not realise ular hangout. than a fully-fledged resort. Let's say and errands. I was not a big errand gharusa or two, but my nightmare alongside the rubble walls, sepa­ 15 minutes. Of course, that would mean at the time was that she was pulling my leg At night, the extended family regrouped in 30 to just over 40 years ago. fan but I did run plenty of them for was always the thought of catch­ rated the fields from the rugged being late for the 6pm mass, and invariably and enjoying my not-too-amused reactions! front of Grandpa Ganni's house, grabbing Otters were actually our rivals. mum and Nanna Nozzi at the local ing and having to handle a skorfna. lane that lead to the inner part of being gently chided by the parish priest for Eventually, I did figure out a way to avoid her any available chair or cushion to sit down The waterpolo scene in Gozo was grocer. Dad also asked me to buy I always fared better when accom­ the valley (still predominantly turning up for the 7pm mass, which he more by taking a longer walk back home through and enjoy the evening breeze along the pave­ busy at the time, and a Gozitan the newspaper, but at times it ar­ panying Uncle Joe on his fishing rough terrain at the time). We or less preferred billing as 'tal-kbar biss' (for the other side of the valley. The problem was ment. Jokes and group chats abounded, until league was formed. Around the sec­ rived rather late in Marsalforn es­ boat. His favourite method was to played numerous soldier games adults only). that the fries' smell was irresistible and only grandpa decided that it was time to say the ond part of the 1970s, Otters had to pecially if the morning ferry from throw out various sufri for in­ and hide and seek around what we The children's mass was quite animated the bag, and no chips, ended up on my dinner rosary. Nanna Nozzi would be there, tucked fight it off against Sharks, Penguins Malta was delayed or cancelled be­ stance off il-Menqa towards Ghar referred to as massive "bamboo and enjoyable. Cousin Stephen produced plate by the time I reached home. away behind il-boxxla on her favourite arm­ and Dolphins, but I also vaguely re­ cause of bad weather. These were Qawqla, keep a bit of distance, and sticks", occasionally stopping to ad­ heroics in mastering the foot pumping, age­ Evenings at Marsalforn were a hub of ac­ chair, with a warm cover on her lap, which member a couple of trial appear­ the days when the JyUand was the wait patiently Ul.ltil the sufrun mire the colourful butterflies, ing, non-electric black wooden organ, and tivity. In my younger days, I used to hang out she particularly cherished. ances of teams formed from best ferry in inclement weather, ducked. I always felt a thrill, know­ grasshoppers or dragonflies that did manage to keep it in tune. One day, with my cousins around Il-Wied, playing all Having passed my formative schooling Xaghra and Xewkija. The league and I vividly remember dad telling ing that it was the right time to buzzed close by especially if there The Rabat-Marsalfom-Rabat bus; Stephen was not around, but dad happened sorts of games but also watching the weekly years in Malta, I was quite surprised to was played at Marsalforn's Il-Blokki, me that the ferry was a much-im­ grab the sufrun (and many a time was a puddle or two in the vicinity. witJ:l.The Teens Bar (in green) in to be there, so the parish priest asked him Giochi Senza Frontiere on Italian TV. If mum learn in my younger days that the Gozitan since the area occupied by Otters' proved offer when compared to the a shiny, silvery kahli or sargu) with Other times, Uncle Gorg would the background. whether he would take over the role himself. and dad were in Malta (Auntie Lelina often meaning for 'boxxla' was not a 'compass' as existing pitch next to the Spring­ days when he used to board the Im­ the extended net. Of course, the ask all children whether they would Of course, dad obliged, and the parish priest offered hospitality), I used to phone them in Malta, but rather a door knob or the board (between Il-Banju tal-Isqof perial Eagle (nowadays one of number of leisure boats poking accompany him to Spain. All quickly jotted down the list of hymns to be from the only public phone booth available inner door. and Il-Ponta ta' Santa Marija) was Malta's main diving attractions) in into Marsalforn Bay at the time obliged - this was his characteristic sung during mass. Looking at the list, dad in Marsalforn at the time. This was located With time, I also discovered other Gozitan only popular with bathers in those his first forays crossing over to were a rarity, so fishing activities way of leading all children for a grawnd tal - futbol~ (football ground). Around August, iz-Ziju Nen and Auntie had difficulty remembering the tune of a close to the dedicated bus lane just off IC­ variances, the likes of 'qed itini 1-mejt' which days. Malta. The Imperial Eagle, which I of such a nature were facilitated. short walk into the valley, which he There were no formal recreational Anne would usually fly over from the United particular hymn chosen. Luckily, he was with Caghaq, and consisted of a metal black and meant dizziness, 'hajz', which was widely My cousins were all playing for also remember berthed at Mgarr Il-Wied (valley) was another pop­ humorously referred to as the facilities in those days, and I vividly States to visit the rest of the family in Marsal­ a chummy of his, and asked his friend to qui­ grey box which required the caller to press used by Gozitans to emphasise something Sharks, and it was only natural that (but not as a passenger/car ferry), ular area with us youngsters. We exotic destination Spain. He would remember treating the (still exist­ forn. Their visit was a big summer event etly sing it to him. On the basis of his friend's lever 'N to be able to speak and lever 'B' tore­ they disliked or even the expression 'bhal as the youngest, I would join the could take less than 10 cars on played headers close to Aunt naturally adorn the visit to Spain ing) concrete angled platform to­ since Iz-Ziju Nen was an affable character vocal talents, dad figured out the tune and cover one's money in case the call never went xejn', which was broadly used whenever a team myself.