-an OD of Love-

Ottijiet are Maltese traditional biscuits shaped in the form of the number 8. Infact, the biscuit’s name is derived from the Italian word  Otto  which means Eight. The word  otto  was borrowed by the Maltese and the Maltese created the plural of  otto  into  ottijiet which is colloquial maltese. These biscuits, are very easy to make and they form part of the autumn and winter cuisine.   The ingredients are very basic which are normally found in every housewife’s larder. However they are very delicious, especially when served at breakfast or teatime with tea and coffee. Once you start dipping these biscuits in tea or coffee, you won’t be able to resist yourself as once you pop you won’t stop. Yet you should try them and share them with family and friends. They will surely love them!!! Ottijiet are very popular in Malta, and can be purchased from all supermarkets and confectioneries. Here is the recipe that makes around 48 biscuits Ingredients 600g plain flo

I came across this book by chance and I was intrigued by its title. The problem is that once I started the first pages I could not put the book down. The title might suggest doom and gloom but even if it is weird how the story evolves one will be surprised, very surprised with its ending. To create realistic characters or believable plot is not the point of this book and certainly not the author’s intention. I guess one really has no choice but to agree with this as it is patently obvious that this is not so much a book as a meditation on insanity with characters and plot which are merely vehicles to convey the author's thoughts on the subject and encourage the reader to reflect on the same and to explore how they may feel/behave/think in similar circumstances.  Veronika is a 24 year old Slovenian woman who one day decides to kill herself, apparently because (1) "everything in her life was the same and, once her youth was gone, it would be downhill all

I read the following article in the Times of Malta; (http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20121010/world/italy-pm-monti-announces-surprise-income-tax-cut.440452) and I it is a great idea that in the following budget in Italy, an anti-corruption commissioner will be appointed to address corruption. Another great sign of recovery is that Monti will lower the income tax rate to 22 per cent from 23 per cent for those earning less than 15,000 euros per year, and to 26 per cent from 27 per cent for salaries between 15,001 and 28,000 euros. The top three income tax bands will remain unchanged. However, not everyone realizes that it is not the amount you earn that matters most, but how much money one has left after the tax is paid.  One can compare the rates in Malta at the following link: http://www.ird.gov.mt/services/taxrates.aspx Of  great interest is the following link which I am translating into English: http://economiaefinanza.blogosfere.it/2012/05/tasse-italia-2012-in-ital