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Paul   Attard   would not ring a bell with many bicycle enthusiasts but iċ-Ċinelli would. He got his nickname  from a damaged bicycle he purchased from a British armed forces person stationed here in Malta in the  1950s. He paid the owner more than the asking price. I got to know iċ-Ċinelli quite late in life after taking up cycling. After a bike ride on Saturday or Sunday, I would pit stop at his club in Qormi for an apple and an old-fashioned loose-leaf tea in a transparent long glass. The club was, years before, an old-fashioned bar serving cycling enthusiasts and local pundits.  Being a slow cyclist, I tended to pop over when everyone had left. He could spend hours storytelling about the various bikes he owned, how he used to ride with British military personnel, his childhood and upbringing. He particularly enjoyed going over to Sicily with a small group of cyclists a couple of times a year. Sicily was special for him because he had lived the...

Personal Best (Distance) The Corona Virus has resulted in restaurant shutdown and people going out visibly less than normal (even though there is no official lockdown).  At the start of the ride there was little traffic but towards the noon families with children of all ages were strolling. 

Introduction Concern and awareness about the environment has gained considerable momentum in recent years.   In many countries it is frequently on the national agenda.   Climate activists such as Greta Thunberg are helping to push the topic on the global agenda. With the exception of a few, everyone understands that we need to protect our environment and be active in its recovery as this directly affects the well-being and the quality of life of every organism. Environmental topics must coexist with other subject matter such as happiness, comfort, convenience and financial wellbeing. Hypocrites and masochists (a very large number of the first, a small number of the second) may disagree but when the dust settles the majority want to be better off in terms of quality of life, life offerings, life opportunities and disposable income. Maltese Political Scene Malta is a country dominated by two political parties, the Malta Labour Party (MLP) and the Nationalist Part...

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