November 2023
It was a big birthday and we chose to spend it in Malta!
Flew out on the 8:30pm flight Wednesday evening from Heathrow with Clare and Ali & Chris.
Arrived at the AX Victoria in Sliema in the small hours.
Thursday 30th November: Awoke to bright and warm sunshine which lasted for the rest of the day. Went for breakfast and afterwards opened my present from Ali and Chris which was a personal number plate, very very kind of them.
Phil was on his way but the flight was delayed.
We went for a coffee and a stroll round Sliema, tradition was upheld and we visited Zara! Everyone was tired and we went back to the hotel to catch some rays on the roof terrace. It was still very warm! To wake myself up myself and Chris jumped in the pool, which was freezing cold!
Taxi to Gracey’s for the evening where we met Phil, Tom and Tuva. We started off with nibbles, champagne and darts. Tuva insisted that I opened the champagne with the knife, ‘.sabre ‘ style. We then went down for dinner for a lovely meal finishing with a chocolate cake.
After dinner we went into the karaoke bar with Alex for a really fun sing song.
Taxi home around 1:30am.
Friday 1st December.
After breakfast we went for a coffee by the sea in Sliema, very warm and sunny.
Tom had booked padel for 12:30 at Manoel Island and we had great fun playing this cross between squash and tennis game. In the event we caught the bus into Valletta and met Phil & Tom for cocktails in a Merchant Street bar. After this we checked out a few restaurants, Phil didn’t fancy our choice from earlier on the year and we went on a 30 minute tour to find somewhere else. Being a Friday it was super busy and we ended up at a tourist hotspot restaurant close to the Cathedral. This ended up being a steak and beer feast which was fun.
Bus back to the hotel.
Saturday
Padel was booked for 11am at Valletta, after breakfast we caught the bus in and went for a wander, we even tracked down Peter (Sinclairs) book (Ben Jinks) from the museum. Padel was fun and the boys started to improve their game, narrowly beating myself and Chris. Really fun game for everyone.
The boys went back and we wandered around Valletta. We then met up with Phil and looked around for somewhere to eat for lunch, nothing caught Philips eye and we headed to the Katsu curry restaurant. It was a nice lunch and after a bit of a wander we headed back to Sliema via the ferry. More Zara followed and then back to the hotel.
For the evening we decided on an evening in playing cards, myself and Chris walked down to the noodle bar, this was a good excuse to have a beer while looking at the menu. We then legged it back to the hotel with the takeaway which was very nice. The complimentary bottle of wine from the hotel was consumed rather quickly!
Sunday
We went for walk after breakfast, the plan was to go to St. George’s bay, but we stopped at Spinola Bay for coffee and then walked back.
We then headed back into Valletta for an amazing Sunday lunch at Gracey’s, Tom was working but still able to chat. The pork and beef wellington were very tasty. The chocolate mousse for desert was brilliant and we all left very very full. Tom left with us and we wandered for a bit, there was live music in the city and while the girls listened I did a little bit with the drone, it was very windy so cut the flight short.
The Maltese go mad on Xmas and the lights were amazing.
We went back to the hotel and played cards in the bar. Apart from me nobody else had any more food that evening, even then I only had a very dull caesar salad!
Monday
Travel back day, just wandered round Sliema, Tom wasn’t feeling very well so stayed at home.
Great trip and very spoilt for my birthday, the watch is amazing and it will be nice to wear it for special occasions. The hotel has been good, our room upgrade was brilliant. Weather has been so warm and sunny.
