My 2012 . Our 2013 .

          
                 2012 was not bad.  On the contrary it was pretty good . On a personal note, i did achieve what i was working on for the past 3 years, although due to political constraints in November, i had to postpone the final outcome for 2013 .
                 Boys are still studying in university with every year ,especially every June /July keeping an extra eye on their needs due to examinations.  Although quite mature , they still need that little push or that little advice which would give them some positiveness to that stressful period . Obviously they always need money and they need a second car.  NO. Unless they take care of the one they have now ,they will have to continue to share. Thank God the number of new scratches and bumps have reduced in number. Gabby ,my 3 year old grand daughter is growing fast , too fast .She is now attending school and i have attended her first christmas concert .

                My wife has been ,as usual ,always there . She works every day at Mater Dei ,she takes care of everything at home  and to top it all she achieved her dream of getting a university degree .I do not involve her in my work or in anything concerning politics .She has enough on her plate and my priority has been ,and will always be  the family. We have all adjusted to our non conventional family routine (till now) .

              2012 started with a political bang ,with a January crises and sudden risk of quick election.
A roller coaster year with the government having to battle against outside economic gloom and therefore keeping a pair of good steady hands on the steering wheel as well as continuously looking at the rear mirror and side mirrors to anticipate any sudden change which could alter direction . One could write a whole book on the political scenario of 2012 and volumes on 2008 -2012 .

            Malta was successful in 2012 .A culmination of 5 years of work . Thanks to the perseverance of the government  and of knowing that this is all for the good of the people . Statistics are proof of this .In every aspect of the socio economic strata, Malta achieved results .That is leadership at its best . Leadership without resorting to any Machiavellian tactics, even when faced with direct internal challenges. Leadership which used calm ,calculated ,intelligent reasoning even though faced with continuous gloom and doom from the opposition. Leadership that acknowledges when a mistake is done .

           Malta has moved forward; needs to move forwards. There is no way a small island like ours not move forwards. Being dependent on everything ,from oil to sugar to simple cloth , and external prices going up slowly,persistently, Malta has a continuous challenge to compete against its neighbours and succeed in enterprises in which it excels and tries to excel in enterprises which it deems still in infancy .This success will maintain those finances needed to keep Malta functioning , bring finances needed to keep Malta investing in infrastructure and business enterprises ,enable  Malta to keep and maintain its social commitments . Any risk to this will end up having a negative domino effect ;the first affected being its social network .Look at countries a few miles away from our borders .

          Today ,a few months away from election ,this seems to be a fait accompli. A perception (or delusion ) that Malta will move forwards whatever happens in the election .It is as if this is a boxing match between two contenders ,and whoever wins will not effect the boxing ring  . People do not realise the risk they are actually taking . Some are actually shooting themselves and some are playing Russian roulette .They are solely concerned with their personal gain , which is bad when this is a gain against all rules of the game ,when people want to tread on others people rightful gain . It is the other way round of the buzz word meritocracy .Labour is preaching this but from the inner dark circles they promise anything and everything other than meritocracy .

         2013 will be exciting and still challenging .Whatever the election outcome .11 march will either be one of same direction but with change or a complete change in direction . One with a visible tangible road , the other with blind alley .

         One thing i can predict  ,2012 will seem like a past good dream when bells toll for the start of 2013
Michael . Best wishes to all of you