18/09/2023
🇲🇹✨The Maltese Way✨🇲🇹
So as many of you know, my mothers side of the family are from a little island in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, just next to Sicily, just below the south of Italy (that’s some geography for ya!) called Malta.
Growing up with Maltese grandparents is definitely an eye opener!
My Nanu (Maltese from “grandfather”) and my Nana (that one is self explanatory) lived over there for as long as I can remember. Apparently they left the island to live in London for a bit but I genuinely don’t think I was born at that point 😂
My Nanu was a character to say the least. He literally had the funniest sense of humour. His silly ‘one-liners’ which were hysterical, but he wasn’t even trying to be funny.
I remember swimming in the sea with him and he just laughed at me continuously for freaking out about seaweed touching my foot.
Sitting on the stoop outside his house, playing his guitar in this old school deck chair that was older than me, having the best time just enjoying the music.
His electronic organ that he would turn up full whack and play Tom Jones, Englebert Humperdinck and The Everly Brothers. Playing it so loud you could hear it from the roof top (which was 4 storeys up by the way).
Waking up at 7am to him blasting “Dance The Night Away” by The Mavericks to find him dancing in the kitchen two floors down.
I have some great memories of Malta.
Could walk around that whole island and not feel afraid of anything.
The last time I was there was to say goodbye to Nanu and accompany him to his final resting place.
His city flew flags at half mast and had black ribbons on their front doors for him.
It was surreal.
I miss my Nanu.
I miss Malta.
I hope Malta misses me too.
