Author: Mark Upfold

This past weekend, 3 members of Golfari SA joined in a family reunion at Cathedral Peak hotel. From as far a field as Canada, Australia, Eastern Cape and Western Cape, Gauteng and Kwa Zulu Natal.

An update as to my current status. This is mainly for prospective clients and family and friends. The golfers of Hackers and Badgers have already been advised.

What a year 2022 has been. January-February was a red list Covid ban. Mid March to mid June, a fabulous overseas holiday in Malta visiting my daughter and family. Using Malta as a base, ventured into France and Spain, back to Malta and then road tripping back in France and Belgium. Brilliant, but returned to South Africa with an injured right foot/ankle(cobbled walkways and uneven pavements).

Two months of physiotherapy, leading to eventual surgery to repair a torn tendon on Thursday 15th September at the very new Ribumed day hospital in Ballito.

Now 6 weeks no activity, time to relax, read and do ‘nothing’ then some rehab. So no tours and no golf(ag shame).

MALTA , FRANCE, BELGIUM and back to FRANCE.

MDINA– Old capital of Malta, from antiquity to the Medieval period. Nick named the Silent city, when Valletta became the capital in 1571.

Gozo – Malta’s 2nd inhabited island. 14kms in length. The islands are serviced by the Gozo Channel ferry line. Cost for visitors is Euro 15.70 car and driver.

Leaving Malta for France.

BRUSSELS- BELGIUM Capital city of Belgium, and the Administrative centre of the European Union

Grand Place- market square surrounded by guild halls.

Town Hall

Atomium – symbol of Belgium and Brussels

BRUGGE – Venice of the north. Flanders region of N.W Belgium. Famous for it’s canals, cobbled streets and medieval buildings.

JABBEKA- Belgium

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DUNKIRK in northern France.

Base lodging in Chepy northern France in the Somme region. Places visited included- EU (pronounced OO), St Valery-Sur- Somme, Aberville and Sur Le Treport.

Lunch- far too much to eat. Very tasty mussels.

Summary of my travels: Almost everything in villages, towns and cities work.

Public transport systems are very efficient.

Even with the Ukraine war some 2000kms away, most people seem ‘happy, talking, eating and drinking- mainly drinking.

Wind turbines everywhere in Belgium and France. Huge agricultural tracts of land under crop.

Fuel price lowest seen e1.91to e2.15 (R35.00) which is what I paid.

The 1st Apparition happened on 11th February 1858, when the Virgin Mary appeared before a youthful 14 year old Bernadette, in the area of the Grotto.

The Police Commissioner summoned Bernadette and threatened her as the news had ‘people running in circles’. Various other Apparitions occurred and on the 25^th March of the same year, the 16^th Apparition happened. The Lady gave her name-

                         “I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION”

On the 16^th July 1858, the last Apparition, the Grotto was barricaded and declared forbidden.

For more than 3 years doctors and theologians studied the details of the story and the questions of healings.

On 18^th January 1862, Mgr. Laurence declared: “The Blessed Virgin Mary truly

                                                    Appeared to Bernadette Soubirous”

Adapted in part from De L’Histoire-de Lourdes.

Thursday a very early flight with Ryanair from Malta to Lourdes in France

So Hendaye is located on the South of the Basque coast, boasting a 3 km wide sandy beach. It also has a 14 km walkway promenade stretching from the 2 protruding rock formations, heading due south , over the bridge into Hondarriba Spain, and continuing down their coast line.

Mothers day visit and lunch

These gardens in Attard Malta, were part of the grounds housing a Villa constructed by Antoine de Paule in 1600, a knight of The Order of St John. During the years that followed, enlargements were built, and it has housed various Grand Masters, Governors, Governor- General’s of Malta and in 1974 , the Presidential residence. (in part Wikipedia/I love Malta).

Comment: Of all the 5 ‘play parks’ I have visited to date, all are government run and paid for. All are well equipped, safe, regularly maintained and are FREE to the public. If only back home, the same could be applied.

Many have asked to show details of where I stay on this island of Malta.

So here goes. BUGIBBA

Bugibba- is a zone within the St Pauls Bay ” municipality”. Around 1715 the Order

of St Johns built the Bugibba Battery, a series of fortifications, to defend Malta’s

coastline. From 1960, development started in earnest, and today, its a popular

tourist resort with many apartments and hotels. (viz; Wikipedia)

To walk the kids to school, to St Pauls Bay, this is the view one gets.

St Pauls Bay(San Pawl iL-Bahar) is the largest town in the northern region and is the seat of the Northern Local council of which Bugibba falls within. The name refers to the shipwreck of St Paul, as documented in the “Acts of the Apostles” (Wikipedia).

The Bocci the favourite spot for the mothers of kids to relax prior to afternoon collection.

Note the play ground above and in the top right hand corner of the photo is the Maria Regina Primary school. Now lead by the South African main culprit, Jenna-wade, many a glass of wine, beer and maybe a coffee, has been consumed. Originally on break up day, now just about any occasion, its a breakfast followed by drinks.

With so much to see in this beautiful country, and following on from 2 days ago ,the blog on Valletta, is this gem steeped in history.

Today Thursday 31st March is a National holiday, so the locals and tourists from 2 large cruise liners, were out in their numbers throughout the towns. We as a family decided to visit the historical Fort St Angelo on the middle island of the ‘3 cities’ – Birgu

Upper Barrakka gardens across the water.

During World War 2, the fort took 69 direct hits, causing considerable damage.

All historical data extracted from(wikipedia.com and heritagemalta.org)

Valletta is the capital of Malta. The smallest capital city in the European Union. The walled city was established in the 1500s by the Knights of St John. Valletta is a World Heritage site. The architecture is of Baroque style.

Another first for me- yesterday I used Public transport for the first time since my primary school days. For 1.50 euros or R24.00 I must agree that I was super impressed. The busses are modern, clean and comfortable. Also efficient and generally on time as I experienced and confirmed by the locals.

A few years ago, it seemed that all the worlds construction cranes were in Dubai. Well now they appear to be in Malta. In 2019 when I was last here, I commented on the same. Now in 2022, besides large projects, it appears that ‘older’ 3 floor apartments are now being upgraded to an additional 3 floors- 6 floors the maximum in residential areas. The modernisation looks good, but the traditional Maltese are not of the same view.

Valletta continued:

Any finally, although smaller that what will appear in July/August, the tourists are back.

There is always a first in life. Last night both Sergio and I, attended our very first European International football match. At the Malta National stadium, Malta played Azerbaijan.

An entertaining match, in which Malta won 1-0 much to the delight of the home crowd.