Malta has door knockers that encourage callers
If you work at home in Malta, as I do, then you are used to frequent week-day knocks and rings at the door. No one would call, or rarely, when I lived in the UK (Malta has a high percentage of women not in the workplace, so it’s assumed someone is at home during the day). It’s one of the mild annoyances of home-office life here. But stopping to answer the door is my equivalent of a break at the water cooler I suppose. Mostly, it isn’t of course the postman. It’s a far more entertaining bunch of people!
Today’s three unexpected callers were regular enough – one salesman; one workman from a utility; and one courier firm delivery man. But all were atypical too…. here’s why:
Salesman
A few articles ago, I wrote about the statue at my door. Today, I found a silver basse-relief of Christ offered to me. I opened the door to see not the caller, but a framed silver objet d’art thrust my way, and an invite, in Italian, for me to purchase it. I must have looked so stunned that the salesman asked me if I spoke Italian. I do. But I said ‘no’, in English, to avoid being drawn into any sales’ pitch. But clearly Malta’s villages are prime target now for Italians bearing religious artefacts. Must be the common European market doing it’s bit. Has any one else here had a similar experience?
Enemalta man
Enemalta man is a distinct breed; unannounced and monosyllabic generally. My regular meter reader never speaks, and just barges in the moment I open the door. Today’s man was pleasant and chatty enough, and had come to do some 25-minutes work replacing our meter with one that does intelligent remote reporting. Did I miss a note about him calling, I asked? No, they just arrive and expect someone’s home so they can do the work. Not very efficient as even housewives would be out at the shops in the morning. How many trips do they make to the same houses to get the replacements done? At least I won’t have meter readers disturbing me from now on!
Courier man
I do sympathise with couriers delivering to my place at the end of an alley. If they have heavy or bulky parcels they have to reverse round the dog-leg bend, almost scraping their vans. Not an easy manouevre. Today’s delivery was interesting as it made me wonder at the beauty of cross-border internet shopping . I ordered some dining chairs four days ago from the UK. And here they are today! Quicker really than going down to the local shops and waiting for the order to be placed and arrive in a month. Unsurprisingly, Malta has a high percentage of cross-border EU online purchasing compared to neighbouring EU states with large internal markets. I know someone who buys his GAP jeans from the States as it’s quick, hassle-free and cheaper than buying equivalent brands offered here.
A typical day then of door-to-door callers in Malta. I am intrigued though if anyone bought the silver image of Christ in its frame. Perhaps the Italian will find his market online instead.
Photo: Courtesy of Gege Gatt.
We get people asking for money (mostly loose change) to fund anything from the local children’s talent show to restoring the pjazza’s nicca. Lately we’ve also had people begging for money for an operation abroad..Other visitors include Jevoha’s witness and/or Mormon church representatives, who my mother always engages with in battle-mod to Defend! Christ..heh, finally, we have three italian guys touring the streets selling generators and cooking appliances for 2 euros each.
We get people asking for money (mostly loose change) to fund anything from the local children’s talent show to restoring the pjazza’s nicca. Lately we’ve also had people begging for money for an operation abroad..Other visitors include Jevoha’s witness and/or Mormon church representatives, who my mother always engages with in battle-mod to Defend! Christ..heh, finally, we have three italian guys touring the streets selling generators and cooking appliances for 2 euros each.
Agree with your take on contributions to fireworks at festa time. And I wouldn’t wish to fund someone’s quicker route to heaven either.
Thanks for the quick response, great help!
I used to get quite a few callers asking for money towards the local festa celebrations (which I always declined anyway since I’m not religious and I don’t like loud fireworks).
However since all the fireworks factory explosions this year, they don’t seem so brave at coming forward to ask for funds…
I can’t say I shop from any one particular store abroad. I’ve had garden furniture from France, and these latest chairs from a specialist shop in London, which offered cc online payment. Their shipping was amazingly good value, but it depends on the store. I would say buy regular items in Malta, and the more quirky, designer things (if you want something in particular like I did) from anywhere in Europe that will oblige! With no EU tariffs, it’s more the shipping / delivery costs that make my mind up on the cross-border shopping! Google things, contact stores and suppliers, and then see how good their online comms are and weigh up delivery costs. And shop around in Malta to see if the stores do add value and can oblige cheaper!
A question about online shopping as mentioned in this article. I am a Canadian moving to Malta next week. Where do you order your furniture from in the UK? I am unfamiliar with online shopping sites that provide delivery service to Malta. Any help would be much appreciated!
Thank you!