Archive for November, 2009

Majjalata – pork feast

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Tonight we were invited to a Majjalata (pork feast) in Birżebbuġa. We were immediately served Maltese specialities such as Maltese goat cheese and bigilla. Together with the snacks they served a strong punch made of gin, vodka, red wine, sambuca, fresh fruit and probably other stuff. It was strong but tasted good.

Bigilla is a traditional Maltese snack, made out of beans. The main ingredient of bigilla is a special type of broad beans known in Malta as “ful tal-Ġirba”.

I think there was about 20 people at the majjalata. Everyone but me was men.  I don’t know if that’s how is usually is or if it was a coincidence. I felt very welcome anyway.

It takes about 6 hours to roast a suckling pig. This weighed about 45 kg I think, and was ready about an hour after we arrived. The meat was served with Maltese bread and sliced potatoes and onions cooked in wood-fired oven . It tasted really good!

After dinner it was time for telling stories and funny jokes. They tried to tell some stories in English, but some of them were only funny when told in Maltese, they said. It was fun to just listen and see the other’s reactions anyway. 

Later on they served cake and had fun with firecrackers.

It was a fun evening and I’m glad we got invited.

Almost ready now

Almost ready now

Ready!

Ready!

Who wants the first piece?

Who wants the first piece?

On with the rodizio!

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As long as we were still dealing with soup and sallad the red side was up.

As long as we were still dealing with soup and sallad the red side was up.

Nice afterwork at Do Brazil today, together with Kalle, Mattias, Frippe, Brolle and Martin. Really nice food I must say! The chef came with this big skewers once in a while with various kinds of meat; chicken, beef, pork. It was just to dig in on whatever you wanted, as much as you wanted.

Do Brazil website

When we were ready for the serious stuff, we turned the green side up.

When we were ready for the serious stuff, we turned the green side up.

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Gävlebocken soon on his feet

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They have started to build the goat in Gävle now. I wonder how long he will live this year?

Status at 13.49

Status at 13.47

 

The biggest Christmas Goat in the world

The strange history of the Gävle Goat began in 1966. A man named Stig Gavlén came up with the idea of making a giant version of the traditional Swedish Christmas goat of straw. The aim was to attract customers to the the shops and restaurants in the southern part of the town centre.

On 2 December the 13-metre (42,6 feet) tall, 7-metre long, 3 tonne goat stood on the square. At the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve, the goat went up in smoke. The perpetrator was found and charged with vandalism.

The Gävle Goat has been burned down 22 times since then.

There are two webcams showing Gävlebocken on his website (in both Swedish and English): http://www.merjuligavle.se/Bocken

Gävlebocken has his own blog (in both Swedish and English): http://merjuligavle.blogspot.com/

…and he is also tweeting! http://twitter.com/Gavlebocken

Christmas decorations, sushi and a king!

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After work today I went to Valletta with Kalle, Brolle, Frippe and Martin. Frippe wanted to have more of the sushi he had at Premier last time he was here, so we all went to Premier for dinner. The guys all had sushi and I had 4 kind of tapas. I liked it a lot!

It was nice to walk down the main street with all Christmas decorations which lit up the street.

Outside Savoy

Outside Savoy

Still some people out when we went home

Still some people out when we went home

On out way to the car I noticed that there were a lot of police officers walking along the main street and just as we were about to leave the main street, a caravan of police cars and motorcycles came through the gate. When I came home I read in timesofmalta.com that the Spanish king Juan Carlos is here for a 2-day visit, so I guess that’s who we saw.

Spanish King Juan Carlos has arrived in Malta on a two-day state visit.

The King was greeted by President George Abela and was introduced to the Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the Cabinet, the diplomatic corps and senior civil servants. He also inspected an AFM Guard of Honour after the anthems of the two countries were played.

The King will hold official meetings tomorrow with the President, the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition and will lay a wreath at the foot of the War Memorial in Floriana. Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Moratinos, who is accompanying the king, will have talks with Foreign Minister Tonio Borg and sign cooperation agreements.
Queen Sofia had to cancel her visit to Malta because she is indisposed.
The farewell ceremony, tomorrow afternoon, will be held on the Palace Square in Valletta.

King Juan Carlos?

King Juan Carlos?

Mail forwarding when living abroad

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When we moved to Malta about one year ago, we ordered forwarding on all mail to our new address here in Malta. We’ve had no problem with that, but I’ve been lazy and haven’t contacted those who send mail to the old address. And in about one week the forwarding will end.

I called Svensk Adressändring today and asked if they could extend the mail forwarding another year but to my mothers address in Sweden.

-Sure, she said and asked for the address. -I will send the paperwork to your old Swedish address, then it will be forwarded to your address in Malta and you can sign the papers and send them back. Great, I thought. This was easy… But then a problem occurred…
-Since you are no longer registered in Sweden, I can’t create a file on this, I can’t save it. There is nothing I can do.

When you are registered abroad, you have to go to a post office in Sweden where you can identify yourself. Then you can order mail forwarding.

Ain’t that convenient.

When you live abroad.

And have no visit in Sweden planned for another 6 months.

1/2 Easter egg + green cone = ?

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Please make a guess.

The answer will be revealed on December 1st.

Buy Christmas cards – check

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During lunch hour today I took a walk down on Bay Street to look for new slippers. I didn’t find any slippers, instead I bought a lot of Christmas cards.

Another warm and sunny day on Bay street

Another warm and sunny day on Bay street

Buy Christmas cards - check

Buy Christmas cards - check

Christmas at Marks & Spencer
Christmas at Marks & Spencer

 

I’ve started planning for Christmas now

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This is fun.

I really do like Christmas and all the shopping and everything. I just didn’t realize that first Sunday in Advent is less then a week away. In my mind I would say it’s still 4 or 5 weeks left until first Sunday in Advent. Yeah, no need to hurry.

But OK. I was wrong. So I do need to hurry.

Blev det fel i huvudet nu?

…as Kalle usually ask me when things don’t turn out the way I want it to and I get upset. I can be a control freak sometimes, I admit.

I’ve made a list.

  • Advent wreath. It’s a must.
  • Moravian star. Also a must.
  • I would also like electric advent wreaths to put in the windows.
  • Recipe for mulled wine (glögg). I’ve never made it myself. Only bought the ready-to-drink-bottles…
  • Gingerbread would be nice.
  • …and saffron buns!
  • Red table cloths
  • Lots of candles
  • I want Julmust badly, but I guess I have to do without that this year.
  • Some kind of Christmas decorations… maybe a small artificial Christmas tree?
  • Christmas gifts for our guests and gifts to send to family and friends
  • Christmas cards and stamps (I need to send them soon I guess…)
  • Find out more about the local Christmas traditions
  • Send my Christmas wish-list to Santa

Kalle asked me earlier today what I wanted to do this coming weekend. Now I know. Shopping!

Is there anyone who can help me with recipe for homemade Glögg?

Not many people at Plush today.

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…but they have christmas decorations on the windows!

Window decorations at Plush

Window decorations at Plush

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