I wrote Notes from a Dinky Dunghill because I wanted to capture the Malta I know—not the polished, tourist-friendly version, but the real, gritty, funny, infuriating, and lovable island that shaped me. This book is a collection of stories, observations, and memories drawn from a lifetime of living on a sun-drenched rock in the middle of the Mediterranean. If you’re Maltese, I hope you’ll find something here that makes you nod, laugh, or maybe even wince in recognition. If you’re not, this book is your backstage pass—a way to experience the spirit of Malta from the inside. It’s not a guidebook; it won’t tell you where to eat or which beach to visit. Instead, it tells you what it feels like to live here: the quirks, the contradictions, the chaos, and the quiet moments that never make it onto postcards. You’ll read about noisy weddings, neighbourly spats, bizarre traditions, sacred food rituals, and the slow disappearance of old village life. But you’ll also find warmth, humour, a...
My thoughts and stories