A guy once said to me, “so you are the son of a Rock Ape” (It is an RAF term.)
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‘Rock Ape’ - yes, heard that term used.
A dull, overcast day here but a bit warmer than the UK. Compared with the UK feels mild to me !
I was last at the Rock Hotel in 1984 and amazingly, went down to breakfast then in RN woolly pully uniform ! Much more casual circumstances today and gratifying to see that the essential essence of the hotel hadn’t changed much. The dockyard is now privatised though although RN Base Gibraltar remains. The commercial centre is much more developed and with high rises compared to last time I was here - betting industry money I guess.
Apparently MoD veterans get free admission to the Rock attractions so will try that out shortly..
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I did some Archaeology yesterday and found some old stuff.
Not proud of this but I cleaned out a kitchen cupboard yesterday. The one with Coffee, Tea, Herbal Teas, Gravy, Spices etc. As I took jars and boxes out I was checking the BB dates. The first boxes looked ok, but as I went back through the layers of boxes the BB dates got older and older. Towards the end I was getting dates of 2005 etc. However I found some old spice jars with BB 1998 and 1992. 1992 was before we got married, bizzare.
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As a (lapsed) geologist I have used the term stratigraphy to describe my wife’s approach to kitchen storage. I sometimes think we should just use really shallow cupboards so that there’s no room for the old stuff to get buried. Having a thorough clearout is strangely satisfying, though.
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Yes it was satisfying. I have another cupboard to have a go at.
That looks ideal. Not sure if I would get away with changing our kitchen cupboards though. I quite like ours, but they are deep.
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When we built our new kitchen we reversed the fridge/freezer into the old kitchen (now a utility room). I eventually fitted the opportunity to build shallow cupboards in the utility room and ”square up" with it’s doorway.
Still have to battle with Mrs Willy’s propensity to buy stuff we never use that eventually passes it’s use by date.
Willy.
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I think it’s spring. Went out with the wellbeing walking group this morning, saw a Jay, then butterflies, brimstone, peacock and painted lady. Blackthorn flowering, a few speedwell and celandine.
Feelgood moment.
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That is far too tidy and neat. 
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They used not to like the term …
I’m sure that is true.
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Having spent 3 nights on the island of Gozo (what a wonderful place) on Saturday we moved to Naxxar on Malta itself. Did a long coastal walk yesterday and came across this:
It’s called Popeye Village and was created for Robert Altman’s 1980 film with Robin Williams in the lead. It’s now a visitor attraction and was surprisingly busy considering the film was panned and Popeye could hardly be considered to be at the cutting edge of the cultural zeitgeist.
Today we visited the Hypogeum which is a UNESCO site. It’s an underground burial chamber carved out of limestone somewhere between 6000 and 5000 years ago ( those numbers are correct!). Visitor numbers are severely restricted ( a group of 10 people once an hour) so you need to book online well in advance of coming to Malta. If you do , you’ll be rewarded with one of the most incredible sights anywhere:
These aren’t my photos - mobiles/cameras not allowed but they do allow you to download photos.
Then we walked around the old city of Birgu and I took this shot of Valletta and the Grand Harbour:
Honestly, Malta is amazing. If you love history, friendly people and copious quantities of v reasonable food and wine then this is the place
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I would try the War Museum in Valetta , the George Cross is usually on display. St John’s Cathedral has not one but two Caravaggio paintings including his masterpiece , the Beheading Of Saint John , a snack at the Cafe Cordina and the views from Baraka Gardens are superb
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Gibraltar Tunnels were really good today. Never realised they were so extensive. Some of the views out of the gun positions were a bit vertigo inducing, particularly around ‘The Notch’.
Fascinating chat with one of the staff members, telling me of the fairly recent finding of the SOE ‘Torch Landings’ w/t station and also Ian Fleming’s ‘Operation Tracer’ tunnels, thankfully never used in anger but intended as a secret post-invasion redoubt.
Some of the WW2 tunnel sections a bit creepy..
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Quickie at the Royal London Hospital, then lunch at the London Hospital Tavern (excellent), then onto Spitalfieds for refreshers at the Ten Bells (that’s certainly changed from the old days, but a very tasteful redo), finishing at Dirty Dicks opposite Liverpool St station…
Good day for a hospital scan!
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While in Valletta I also tried to visit the Inquisitor’s Palace but it was closed. I guess they weren’t expecting me
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I see what you did there. 
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Yep, I recognise that top one, ‘The Window’.
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