Look at the knockers on that!

My lovely family guests have gone and it has been a blast.  So much laughter and so much walking!  Sometimes 7 kms a day.  Being with those you love, is such therapy for mind and soul.  I have a wonderful memory of walking in Medina, a beautiful walled city in the centre of Malta with my mum and my aunt. 

My mother had just come fresh from polishing our brass doorknob here, which until her arrival had languished dull and neglected on our front door like all the other knockers in our block of flats.  I expect people are far too busy nowadays to see to such things.  My mother, however, knows a challenge when she sees it and the Brasso was out every day until our doorknocker shone like gold.  I wish I could show you ours, before she got started on her mission to improve but since my neighbours have neglected theirs I can use theirs to show the difference.

Before

After

The only problem is here in Malta the brass doorknockers are abundant and elaborate in design.  They can range from fish to faces, and come in a vast range of sizes.  As we walked through the tourist packed streets of Medina, my mother was constantly pointing out new designs that drew her attention on church doors, houses and shops.With every discovery, she would announce in a loud excited voice, “Look at the knockers on that!”  Oblivious to the startled reaction of passer-by’s she would extol the size, the shine, the uniqueness of the knockers.  I grew used to the head turns, the shocked looks as she proclaimed, “I’ve never seen knockers this big”.  Even when someone had forgotten to shine their doorknockers there was plenty to say, “For goodness sake, some one should clean these knockers, they would be beautiful if only someone would give them a bit of attention”.  

Since my Mum is a respectable age, it seemed all the more shocking to have these titbits on a regular basis.  If anyone reading this happened to be in Medina that day, can I apologise for what they were subjected to.  There was something even more unexpected that a very respectful looking white haired pensioner felt duty bound to admire all the knockers on display that day.  I observed one low cut dressed German lady, across the street from us, attempt to cover her ample bosoms as my mum pointed out a set of furious head shaped knockers behind her with the startled exclamation, “My goodness that is a terrifying pair of knockers!”

Oh, how I miss the laughter and the fun of these lovely ladies, my mum and my aunt, in my life.  I cannot begin to tell you about the really funny bits of their holiday, they must forever remain a secret.  And that’s all I am going to say about that.

Malta Horses Suffer And Collapse In Heat

In 1962 my family emigrated to Australia and in those days you went by ship and had to pass through the Suez Canal.  On route we stopped at the island of Malta and here is a picture of getting a ride on the horse and traps that are a feature of the island.

I am in a bonnet on the front.  No, not the horse! the small girl on the seat behind the horse.  My family is inside and it is kind of shocking to realise that the photograph was taken 50 years ago.  So to be back living in Malta is surreal.  I walked passed the horses in Valletta with their traps this week and was struck by how hot it was and how much the poor horses seemed to be suffering in the intense heat.  Several seemed to be showing distress and almost all looked miserable.  

Mind you this summer has been unusually intense with temperatures staying up in the high 30s month after month.  Last year a horse died behind its trap and there was uproar in the local press about the lack of shelter for the horses that have to wait in baking heat for the tourist trade.  One caustic commentator pointed out that if the local government officials in their air conditioned offices had to share one day with these poor horses they would fast track the much needed shelters.  So it was depressing to see another horse collapsing with heat exhaustion in the local press recently.
http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20120819/local/heat-takes-its-toll-on-horse.433556

Locals are complaining as well as tourists but for the sake of these horses one does hope real action follows.

locals complain

I like this bit below on this subject  in the Baha'i Writings

“Briefly, it is not only their fellow human beings that the beloved of God must treat with mercy and compassion, rather must they show forth the utmost loving-kindness to every living creature. For in all physical respects, and where the animal spirit is concerned, the selfsame feelings are shared by animal and man. Man hath not grasped this truth, however, and he believeth that physical sensations are confined to human beings, wherefore is he unjust to the animals, and cruel.

And yet in truth, what difference is there when it cometh to physical sensations? The feelings are one and the same, whether ye inflict pain on man or on beast. There is no difference here whatever. And indeed ye do worse to harm an animal, for man hath a language, he can lodge a complaint, he can cry out and moan; if injured he can have recourse to the authorities and these will protect him from his aggressor. But the hapless beast is mute, able neither to express its hurt nor take its case to the authorities. If a man inflict a thousand ills upon a beast, it can neither ward him off with speech nor call him into court. Therefore is it essential that ye show forth the utmost consideration to the animal, and that ye be even kinder to him than to your fellow man.*

Train your children from their earliest days to be infinitely tender and loving to animals. If an animal be sick, let the children try to heal it, if it be hungry, let them feed it, if thirsty, let them quench its thirst, if weary, let them see that it rests.”