94. Through the keyhole – a restoration gem (part 2)

Back in January I posted the first half of a long feature piece on a remarkable Gozo house steeped in history and now in need of love and attention to restore it to its former glory. I have just realised...

93. From Southwold with love

For my birthday last month a good friend sent me a beautiful card of the lovely English coastal town of Southwold, the place where The Significant Other first decided he absolutely needed a boat. It was a holiday there that...

92. Lovin’ the new fast ferry to Valletta

A couple of weeks ago The Significant Other and I tried the new fast ferry from Gozo to Valletta for the first time. This new service is a big deal for Gozitan residents reducing the travel time between Gozo’s port...

92. A seahorse with a difference

If you follow this blog, then you’ll know that the beauty, history and magic of Gozo inspire me to wax lyrical. The other day, shopping in Valletta I came across a window that captured in a contemporary fashion collection the...

91. The secret lives of Wied il-Ghasri

On the Northern edge of Gozo there’s a great swim spot in the valley Wied il-Ghasri, a hidden finger of water that pushes south between the cliffs to a tiny stony beach just a few footsteps across. Reached down steep...

90. Michael Finnegan visits Gozo

One of my favourite starts to the day here in Gozo is a swift walk up nearby Ta’Ghammar Hill, opposite the Ta Pinu Basilica, and I would normally bear left at Gerano Square towards Ghammar. Walking this route, you first...

89. Gently peopling a desert

Yesterday, at 40.2◦C, Luqa was the hottest place in Europe: this is  the highest June temperature ever recorded in Malta (surpassing a 40.1◦C  measurement from June 1997). Malta is enjoying a heatwave blown in from the Sahara Desert and we’re...

88. Through the keyhole – a finished gem (part 3)

… The building that housed the old mill is now a hidden farmhouse, set at the end of a long driveway, and as you pass under the arched gateway, the drive opens out into a large courtyard, glistening white between ancient...

87. Through the keyhole – a restoration gem (part 1)

Back in November I had the pleasure of two days with friend and estate agent David Pace looking round several properties that were due to go onto the market in the new year to capture their charm on paper. And...