As this is a blog mainly about moving to Malta I thought it’d be a good idea to pop up a post about job interviews. If you’re moving here, or even if you already live here, chances are that at some point you’ll be looking for a job. I’ve had a few interviews here and have interviewed soo many people that I feel my two cents worth will be at least a little helpful.

To be honest, most of this will be applicable for job interviews all over, but a few points are quite culturally specific to Malta and iGaming jobs. 

Quick Job Interview Tips in Malta

• Give yourself time to get lost, but don’t enter too early
• Don’t overdress if the role doesn’t call for it
• Don’t turn up ready for the beach
• Shower
• Be polite, friendly and chatty
• Don’t make it all about money
• Be respectful to every person you meet in the building
• Be ambitious, but not entitled.

#1 Job Interview Tip: Time Keeping

It is most important not to be late, but almost as bad is when interviewees arrive too early. 5 – 10 minutes early is perfect. But if you arrive 20 – 30 minutes early (it has happened to me so many times) then everyone just feels bad. The front desk will feel bad for bothering the interviewer and the interviewer either needs to put their day out of whack to speak with you earlier, or they’ll feel bad for letting you sit there for so long until they are ready. 

The fact is, people are busy and people like me plan their day and unnecessary interruptions like this don’t put me in a great mood. 

#2 Job Interviews in Malta: Business Casual

This one is tough as it does depend on the role you’re going for, so a little common sense is needed. But generally in Malta, especially in iGaming, a full suit is not necessary, especially in summer. Whatever role I’m interviewing for, whether it’s entry level or people management, I’d be happy if they arrive in:

• smart trousers and a shirt (no tie or blazer necessary)
• a smart dress (not too short)
• a smart skirt (not too short) and shirt

something too ‘beachy’ or ‘scruffy’ is not going to win me over, like:

• hot pants or shorts
• t-shirt

Yet it’s important to be comfortable, so if you want to insert your personal style into your attire, go right ahead. Whatever will help you shine and show your best self. 

#3 Job Interview Tip: Please shower!

It sounds so obvious but this is a real problem in Malta. So often I’ve had interviewees turn up and they really smell bad. In summer it gets insanely hot, so if you’re all dressed up in a long sleeved shirt, rushing around to find somewhere new and nervous on top of that, you’re going to get a bit sticky. 

Make sure to shower and give yourself plenty of time to find the place so you don’t arrive more flustered than you need. 

#4 Job Interview Malta: Be Yourself

It’s cliche, but relax, be yourself. Don’t be too quiet or subdued. Don’t respond with one-word answers. The interviewer should not be doing all the work. The process should feel like one long, natural conversation. Be interested, ask questions, be friendly, smile. 

Even if you are a quiet, shy, or a very blunt person, you can still be yourself and come across very charming. Tell the person you are shy, it’ll set their expectations and the honesty will help them warm to you, then just do your best to show them everything you have to offer. 

#5 Job Interview Tips: Money Talks

It’s important to talk about money, yes. It wastes everyone’s time if you’re applying for a role that is paid way below what you’re expecting. But don’t make it all about money. It’s a huge red flag for me if the first thing a person talks about is the salary. I know that no one works for free (believe me, I don’t) and it’s important for you to know your worth but I want to hire someone who is worth the money and I can’t only know that if they are clearly passionate about the role. 

When I am looking for jobs myself and being interviewed I tend not to ask about salary at all in the first conversation. I’d rather find out more about the company and the role, see if it’s right for me, but also show them what I have to offer. Once they are super interested in me, then it’s actually easier to discuss money. Get them excited about you first.

#6 Job Interview Malta: Respect

This is another one that seems super obvious to me, but I’ve seen so many people get this wrong. I’ve often been considerably younger than the person I am interviewing and it has been so obvious that they are struggling with that. Don’t be rude, condescending or patronising not only to me, but to anyone in the building. 

It’s also been a problem, more than once, that I’m a woman. I’ve interviewed men who refused to look at me, instead directed all their attention to my male colleague. This will not get you the job. 

Smile at the front desk staff, say hello to people in the lift. These things don’t go unnoticed. 

#7 Job Interview Malta: Remember the Job You’re Applying For

A big bugbear for me is when the interviewee focuses too much on progression. I absolutely want to hire ambitious people but I don’t want to hire someone who will expect a promotion in 6 months so I have to go through the whole thing again. 

Firstly, growth is not all about promotion. You can proactively learn new soft skills every day and expand and grow the role you were hired for. I don’t want to worry that you’ll leave or move on to another department too soon. 

It also winds me up when the only reasons someone can give for wanting a job are things that the company does for them. For example, learning new skills, improving your English. It’s great you see plus points of working here, but you need to also tell me what you are going to do for the company. What do you bring to us? 

Bonus Job Interview Advice in Malta

• Research the company and show off what you know
• Ask questions. Come prepared!
• Use their name. 
• Know who you are.

Interview Tip: Research

It doesn’t matter if I’m hiring for an entry level or highly skilled role, I want someone who wants the job. And one easy way to show you care is by researching the company and making it clear you’ve done your homework. Talk a bit about what the company does and why that interests you. Discuss the latest press release or a cool post you saw them do on social media. It’ll show you are interested, show you already made a commitment and make you feel like one of the team. 

Malta Interview Tip: Q&A

A good interviewer will already give you a lot of information about the role and about the company, but when an interviewee has no questions, it really puts me off. I want to know they were listening and are curious. I recommend rehearsing a few intelligent questions beforehand, so in case you blank, or in case they covered all the usual stuff, you still have something to set you apart. Questions like:

• Who is your biggest competitor and how do you differ?
• What is the average day in your (the interviewers) role?
• What will my average day look like (if I get the job)?
• What is the gender divide in the company?
• What is the gender divide in top management?
• Does the company engage in any local Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives?

Interview Tip: Say My Name

I am terrible at this. When someone introduces themselves I almost always forget their name right away. It’s not because I’m not listening, or don’t care, but our brains are wired to focus so much on getting our names right that it struggles to retain new information. What I do to make sure I remember is this quick exchange:

Interviewer: Hello, I’m John!
Me: Hi John! Great to meet you, I’m Rhi

Just by repeating their name back to them, I am 90% more likely to remember it. Then, to really show your interest, make sure to use their name again throughout the conversation. 

Malta Interview Tip: Know Yourself

Ultimately, they want to get to know you. I used to struggle with the ‘what do you do in your spare time’ question as I didn’t go to any classes and don’t play any sports. So I took the time to sit with myself and think about how I want to be portrayed. Now I always make sure, when asked, to tell people that:

1. I’ve been running a popular lifestyle in Malta blog for almost 10 years.
2. I love photography and have a beautiful gold coloured Fuji camera, but have never taken any lessons, but aim to one day!
3. I love country music, but not good country music, more modern ‘pop-country’ music about fried chicken. 
4. Yet I listen to podcasts more than music these days, with some favourites being No Such Thing as a Fish and Reply All.

A few nuggets, without going on too much, to show them a bit more of my personality. It really helps!

Ultimately, be honest, try to relax and if you’re looking for a job in Malta right now, all the best of luck to you!

The post Job Interview Tips in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

Sustainability is a buzzword right now and in my opinion, too late. Humans have done so much harm to the world in the last few years, that no amount of tips is going to reverse. But we can slow down the damage and hope we leave a slightly better world for the generations ahead of us.

Unfortunately, as with most things, Malta is quite far behind the leading countries when it comes to sustainability, but there are still a few easy changes you can make today that will have minimal impact on your life, but a noticeable impact on the world around you.

7 easy tips for sustainable living in Malta

1. Switch out dangerous dailies with eco-friendly options from Rebels with a Cause
2. Make your own eco-friendly house cleaners
3. Carry a water bottle
4. Carry a reusable coffee mug
5. Walk as much as possible
6. Carry a reusable shopping mag
7. Get mesh veggie bags from Veco instead of using the small plastic ones

Most of these tips are applicable anywhere in the world, but I’ve included a few local stores, a few local ideas and some links to some items you can buy online, with free shipping, where it’s harder to find them on the island.

Bamboo bits and bobs

Switch out daily plastic items for bamboo alternatives. They look so much better and are a thousand times better for the world. At Rebels With a Cause, you can find so many different items to change up and they are very affordable, available all over the island but can also be bought online to be delivered, directly to your door.

Why not switch to bamboo:

• earbuds
• toothbrushes
• hair combs
• drinking straws
• cutlery.

I ordered some reusable make up remover pads and bamboo earbuds. They are super affordable and the service was great. They arrived in just a few days, packaged all in paper and card, which I popped directly in the recycling.

Eco-friendly home cleaners

Once your existing sprays are empty, clean out the bottle thoroughly and then make your own! This way the spray itself is much better for you, as you’re not breathing in all those nasty chemicals, it’ll smell a lot nicer and you’ll reuse the same bottle for years to come.

It’s so simple and cheap to make and most recipes contain just 4 simple ingredients:

• white vinegar
• baking soda
• water
• lemon juice or an essential oil of your choice

Drink responsibly

Something I found myself doing a lot was buying a small plastic bottle of water when I was out, or going through so many takeaway coffee mugs it was shameful. And did you know that whilst you think the takeaway coffee cups are cardboard, mostly they can’t be recycled as they are coated in plastic in order to make them effective for liquid.

But this is so easily solved! I got myself a pretty water bottle that I take with me just about anywhere now, as well as a reusable coffee mug. Both of these can be found all over the island, but a great place if you want more choice is ASOS. I got this cute pink one from Chillys.

Walk!

Malta is so pretty and I bet most of the time you can take the coastal scenic route wherever you need to go. I take a lot of client meetings in my new job and I try and space them through the week, so rather than needing to rush in a taxi from one place to another, I can give myself time to take a stroll to the office instead.

Not only is it better for the environment (and the roads!) it gives me some ‘me’ time, gets me out in the fresh air, counts as exercise, gives me time to listen to some educational podcasts and I always find myself snapping pretty pictures for Instagram along the way.

Ditch the plastic veggie bags

Although a few supermarkets have switched to more eco-friendly plastic for the veggie counter, these still aren’t great for the environment and many still then shove them in a normal plastic bag afterwards.

In general we just don’t use bags and ask them to weigh the items just in a pile, with no bag, but some places wont do this and insist on putting them in something. Ditch the plastic (even the ‘green’ plastic!) and grab some of these mesh bags from Veco. They’re actually DOUBLE good as they are made from recycled plastic themselves!

Ways to have a bigger impact

There is a lot further you can go to live a more sustainable life in Malta. These are much bigger changes that will require more money, changes to your home and maybe bigger changes to your lifestyle. They should not be ruled out, but for people who can’t make these big changes, start small to begin your journey to help the world.

• Add a reverse osmosis water filter system to your kitchen to eliminate plastic water bottles and drink directly from the tap
• Switch to an electric car
• Invest in solar panels
• Search out sustainable fashion brands (online)
• Live a waste free life.

The post Easy Tips for Living More Sustainably in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

Shopping in Malta is pretty limited. It’s a tiny island and, whilst the selection of stores is improving every year, they don’t always offer the full ranges and you’ll find that shopping in Malta is often more expensive than elsewhere in Europe. For this reason, I always recommend online shopping when living in Malta. Most online shops deliver to Malta and, even better, delivery to Malta is often free and usually fast and reliable.

Full List of Online Stores Delivering to Malta 2019

Online shopping to Malta is fast, convenient and even if the store is based here on the island, it’s usually cheaper online, so make sure to check before making any purchases. Save yourself some money, grab a bargain and give yourself the biggest selection of brands possible.

Makeup Sites that Deliver to Malta for Free!

• Allbeauty- Free delivery
• Look Fantastic– Free delivery
• Feel Unique– Free delivery

Clothing Sites that Deliver to Malta

• boohoo.com– Free delivery
• New Look- Free delivery available
• Little Mistress
• Ann Summers
• ASOS – Free delivery!
• Next – Free delivery available

Department Stores that Deliver to Malta

• The Hut– £0.99 delivery on large orders
• John Lewis– only certain items
• The White Company-Free delivery available

Tips for Shopping Online to Malta

When it comes to online shopping to Malta I have some tips and advice;

• For important or large orders, opt for recorded/tracked delivery where possible. It’s more expensive but much less likely to go missing or be hit by long delays.
• Be prepared for some wait times. Deliveries usually arrive in Malta quickly but things can be slow on this end.
• Check online, even if the store is based in Malta. Often shops based here like River Island and Next are much cheaper online!
• Never change the website’s currency to EUR. The conversions are always bad. Shop in the native currency- your bank will give the best exchange rate.

Free Online Delivery to Malta

As the years go by, more and more online shops add Malta as a delivery destination and most now offer free delivery to Malta. Many offer free online delivery to Malta on all orders and some will have a minimum spend to reach free delivery, so make sure to check out their ‘deliveries’ page in order to understand if delivery will be free.

Even those stores that do deliver to Malta, but for a fee, generally have very reasonable shipping costs, but if you find some that are a bit steep, make sure to save up your orders and get as much at once as possible or go in with some friends and all order at once to split the delivery between you. When online stores charge for delivery to Malta it’s usually a flat rate so the more you buy, the better value you get for the shipping fee!

The post Shops that Deliver to Malta 2019 appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

Malta is a teeny tiny little island, one of the smallest countries in the world in fact. And because it is so small there isn’t a huge amount of things to do, especially when the weather is bad. Usually in Summer if you’re bored you can pop to the beach or jump on a boat trip and be happy but when it’s grey and cold or raining it can be much harder to keep entertained.

Things to do in Malta when it’s Raining 2019

Cold in Malta is one thing, but finding things to do when it’s raining in Malta can be a lot harder. People often complain that Malta is boring and there is nothing to do when the sun isn’t out, but I’ve been here for 8 years and always managed to find enough to keep me occupied, even when the weather in Malta is bad. Check out this list and keep busy during the next storm in Malta!

• Spa weekends at Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa or Fortina Hotel & Spa
• National Museum of Archaeology
• National Museum of Fine Arts
• Buy a Kindle, curl up on the sofa with a cup of tea and read
• Take a long lunch somewhere cosy or enjoy some daytime cocktails
• Order a takeaway and binge on Netflix
• Go trampolining!
• Do some online shopping (it’s what I’d do!)

Things to do in Malta when it’s Cold 2019

There is so much to do in Malta that is hard to enjoy in the summer heat. Below you will find my list of activities that are perfect things to do in Malta in winter when it’s too cold for the beach. Most of these activities are best enjoyed when it’s cold in Malta as during the summer it will be too hot to appreciate.

• Tour one of the many cathedrals in Malta
• Visit some of the oldest temples in the world
• Hike around the lush greenery and nature in Malta!
• Take some city tours, best enjoyed when it’s not too hot
• Housework: work up a sweat and scrub your place from top to bottom
• Explore prehistoric caves and cart tracks of Clapham Junction
• Wrap up warm and enjoy the fish market at Marsaxlokk
• Pop on a jumper and find hidden treasures in the flea market in Birgu.

Tips to Keep Busy in Malta when You’re Bored

My main tip for ‘things to do in Malta when the weather sucks’ is to just do whatever you were going to do anyway. When it rains in Malta, it’s rarely for long and usually results in a beautifully clear, blue sky once it’s over. If it looks like rain, just take a waterproof coat, don your wellies and go for that walk, visit that historical site, explore Valletta, Mdina, Marsaxlokk. Don’t let a bit of rain stop you.

Be prepared- if you live in Malta, sometimes you are going to be bored. Get used to it. Unless you’re in a position to jump on a plane out of here whenever you want, there will be days when the weather sucks, there’s nothing you want to do and you feel you could cry with boredom. But here are a few things you can do to try and ease the tedium.

Spa Weekends in Malta

If the weather sucks, why not treat yourself to either a weekend at a hotel and spa or purchase a day spa pass to keep toastie in a pore cleansing steam room or dry, warming sauna. Enjoy indoor pools and warmth, of different varieties in a number of different rooms. If you really want to clear your mind and forget about the crappy weather, book in for a massage or treatment of some kind too.

Cathedrals

Malta is full of them and most of them you can visit, wander around, take a tour and learn the history behind the building, the incredible decor and the people who have used it. The Mosta Dome or St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta for example- you have a personal audio tour, can take pictures (not with flash) and you will be amazed at the stunning, intricate and elaborate interior.

Temples

Again, so many to see. Megalithic, Tarxien, Ggantija to name a few. Check out Heritage Malta and get on the bus and take a look at the oldest buildings in the entire world.

Museums

This is a country with a rich, brutal and interesting history. Check out the National Museum of Archaeology, National Museum of Fine Arts to keep busy and learn a thing or two.

Go Outside, Even If The Weather is Bad in Malta

Greenery

There is plenty of greenery in Malta that you can enjoy and who cares if it’s a bit grey or drizzling. If anything, it’s likely to be much lusher this time of year.

Cities in Malta

The usual suspects like Valletta, Mdina, Marsaxlokk are all worth a visit, and it doesn’t matter if the sun isn’t shining. Whether it’s full on raining or just a bit grey and windy, you can still enjoy the beautiful traditional streets and buildings. Don’t let the bad weather create a bad mood, get outside, get moving and enjoy the cool air!

When All Else Fails, Curl Up At Home

If you really don’t fancy going out in the cold, wind or rain then just stay in- a great suggestion from James on facebook. Snuggle up on the sofa with a thick blanket and a cup of tea, put on a film and order yourself a takeaway- it doesn’t have to be junk food, click the link and check out my list of takeaway services on the island.

The post Things to do in Malta: When the Weather is Bad appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

One way that everyone should see Malta, is from the sky. Looking out of your aeroplane window on a clear day gives you some idea of the islands beauty, but it in no way compares to seeing the archipelago from a panoramic helicopter window.

I’ve been lucky enough to enjoy a helicopter tour of Malta twice now and I certainly hope I get to go again one day. The first time was through work and the second time I treated my Mum when she came to visit and it was an experience she will never forget.

Heli Fly tours of Malta

I flew with Heli Fly Malta and on both occasions, the entire experience was absolutely flawless. I fully recommend the team behind Heli Fly Malta for your helicopter tour needs and, if I do manage to go again, it will surely be with them! You’ll mostly deal with Diana who is amazing. She manages the bookings, organising, greeting and information.

Helicopter tour prices in Malta

Helicopter tours in Malta are not cheap, but it’s affordable with a little saving and the absolute perfect special gift for a birthday, graduation, wedding etc.

The exact cost will depend on which tour you take and how many people you are. The adorable and sturdy Robinson 44 vehicle can take up to 3 passengers (4 people, including the pilot) and the prices range from €123 per person (for 3 people on a 25 minute tour) to €690 (for 1 person on a 50 minute tour). The more people you are, the cheaper each tour will be.

Dingli Cliffs + Valletta tour prices in Malta

Duration: 25 minutes

• 3 passengers: €123 per person + 18% VAT
• 2 passengers: €184.50 per person + 18% VAT
• 1 passenger: €369 per person + 18% VAT

Comino, Blue Lagoon and Valletta tour prices in Malta

Duration: 35 minutes

• 3 passengers: €169 per person + 18% VAT
• 2 passengers: €253.50 per person + 18% VAT
• 1 passenger: €507 per person + 18% VAT

Malta, Gozo and Comino tour prices in Malta

Duration: 50 minutes

• 3 passengers: €230 per person + 18% VAT
• 2 passengers: €345 per person + 18% VAT
• 1 passenger: €690 per person + 18% VAT

I tried the 50 minute tour and the 25 minute tour and both were amazing. If you have the cash to splash, I’d recommend the 50 minute tour, as the time passes insanely quickly when you are just staring at awe. But, if the price is a bit high then the 25 minute tour is still absolutely worth it. It still gives you a decent trip around the islands, you’ll still get to see Gozo and Comino, just a little in the distance and it’s still insanely stunning.

The post Helicopter Tours of Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

I always grew up with dogs, but moving out of the family home, have never been able to get my own pet. Either my lifestyle just hasn’t been able to accommodate it (travelling a lot, long days at work etc) or else I’ve been in apartments that don’t allow pets. But finally, aged 30, I found myself in a position to be able to get my own little furry ball of love. I’ve never had cats but my boyfriend and I agreed that a cat was the best choice for us. He has had many cats in the past and whilst we don’t plan on leaving her alone for really long days, cats are that bit more independent so if I do need to run out somewhere after work, I can. I don’t need to make sure I get home 3 times a day to walk her enough to keep her healthy.

Meet, Kinnie the kitten!

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Cozy kitten #kinniethekitten . . #kinniekitty #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #kitten #kittens #kittensofinstagram #kittenplay #tabby #tabbycat #cutekitten #pet #pets #petsofinstagram #petsofig #catsofig #catsofinsta #kittenlove #cute

A post shared by Kinnie The Kitten (@kinniethekitten) on May 16, 2018 at 10:40pm PDT

Shelter vs Breeder Cats in Malta

So once we decided on a cat we had to decide; shelter or breeder? I have no issue with people going to breeders. So long as they are humane and responsible breeders, if you know what you want then why not go for it, you’ll love your pet as much as the next person. But as we weren’t so set on the breed we wanted, adoption seemed the best solution for us.

How to adopt a cat or kitten in Malta

Once we decided to adopt, rather than buy, we began by contacting all the cat shelters on the island.

Cat shelters in Malta

Adopting via a shelter in Malta is ideal as:

• cats come litter trained
• cats come vaccinated
• cats come neutered.

But some downsides to adopting via a shelter in Malta:

• they are very wary of foreigners. On the one hand, I understand why, I really do, but it made the process so hard we ended up not able to adopt via a shelter at all.
• they are clearly overworked and understaffed as they are slow to respond and hard to get hold of.

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Her ears aglow #kinniethekitten . . . #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #kitten #kittens #kittensofinstagram #kittenplay #tabby #tabbycat #cutekitten #pet #pets #petsofinstagram #petsofig #catsofig #catsofinsta #kittenlove #cute #adoptdontshop #malta #maltacats #catstagramcat #meowstagram

A post shared by Kinnie The Kitten (@kinniethekitten) on Jun 1, 2018 at 4:04am PDT

Unfortunately, we found adopting via a shelter in Malta impossible. They are generally very unresponsive and slow to respond via email, text and phone calls. There are strict screening processes, which I understand, but which ended up making it impossible for us to use a shelter. Taking days to reply, not answering the phone, asking us how long we’ll be staying in Malta (I’ve been here 8 years and my life, job and home are here), demanding we get mosquito nets on all doors and windows, as well as adding additional netting on any terrace or balcony walls so they are, like, 10 foot tall. We couldn’t even get them to schedule in a home visit and chased various shelters for weeks trying to get some viewings.

We even headed over to one of the shelters in Malta so they could meet us and we could meet the cats, but of course, the one person who deals with adoption wasn’t there that day so apart from playing with the cats for a while and leaving a donation, we couldn’t get any further in our quest to adopt. I would like to say though that the shelter was amazing. They had so many cats, all of which were in wonderful condition, so well looked after and looked happy and loved. Whilst they couldn’t really help us, the women there were all super nice and passionate about the cats.

It’s a shame that they can’t find it in their hearts to trust any foreigners, as so many more cats would be rehomed if they made the process more reasonable.

Adopting via a Facebook Group in Malta

In the end, I joined a bunch of Facebook groups such as RUBS puppy love and Adopt-a-Cat-Malta and saw a post from a lovely woman called Isabel posted about some kittens she needed to home. She had found a pregnant young stray and took her in so she could give birth in the comfort of a loving home and then got to work on homing the beautiful kittens. I messaged Isabel on facebook and just a few days later, we headed on over and picked up the most beautiful tabby kitten I’d ever seen.

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Back when I was teeny tiny and thought I was a parrot #kinniethekitten . . . #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #kitten #kittens #kittensofinstagram #kittenplay #tabby #tabbycat #cutekitten #pet #pets #petsofinstagram #petsofig #catsofig #catsofinsta #kittenlove #cute #adoptdontshop #malta #maltacats #catstagramcat #meowstagram #love #cats_of_day #catmom #lovemalta #lovinmalta

A post shared by Kinnie The Kitten (@kinniethekitten) on Jul 14, 2018 at 10:06am PDT

Adopting through a shelter would have been ideal as usually the cats (whether it’s kittens or a mature cat you’re looking for) come vaccinated, trained and neutered. As Isabel just saved a stray from the street, we had to get Kinnie vaccinated, de-flead and dewormed, which took one trip to the vet, then a few more trips once she was 6 months old to get her neutered.

Owning a cat in Malta

Owning a cat in Malta is pretty much like owning a cat anywhere, although I’d recommend thinking about the following.

House cat vs outdoor cat?

In England, most people with cats seem to have cat-flaps on their doors and allow their cats to roam the streets as they please. I cannot understand how people in Malta (or anywhere else, actually) can do that. Our little Kinnie is a 100% house cat. For one thing, there is no good way for her to get in or out as we live in an apartment, not on the ground floor. For another, roads and drivers here are insane and the chance of her getting hit is just too high. Finally, there are so many stray colonies, which are well fed and well looked after that I wouldn’t feel confident that a cat wouldn’t end up just setting up shop at one of them.

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. . . #kinniethekitten #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #kitten #kittens #kittensofinstagram #kittenplay #tabby #pet #pets #petsofinstagram #petsofig #catsofig #catsofinsta #kittenlove #cute #malta #catstagramcat #meowstagram #cats_of_day #catmom #lovinmalta #pawsies_club #dailykitten #bestcatsclub #catphotography

A post shared by Kinnie The Kitten (@kinniethekitten) on Dec 6, 2018 at 3:54am PST

I also think you form an even stronger bond when your cat is a house cat. There are plenty of ways to keep them stimulated and give them a full and exciting life. We have many toys for her to hunt, scratching posts for her to attack and to climb, places for her to hide, lights for her to stalk and we often chase each other around the apartment.

Finding a reliable vet

Unfortunately, the vet we used turned out to be a horrible choice. We had Kinnie neutered, which was already a traumatic experience for her, yet 6 months later she came into heat anyway, as they had left some of her ovaries behind. Do lots of research, ask questions on Facebook groups and pick a vet with as many recommendations as possible!

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No meerkat emoji?!? . . . #kinniethekitten #cat #cats #catsofinstagram #catstagram #kitten #kittens #kittensofinstagram #kittenplay #tabby #pet #pets #petsofinstagram #petsofig #catsofig #catsofinsta #kittenlove #cute #malta #catstagramcat #meowstagram #cats_of_day #catmom #lovinmalta #pawsies_club #dailykitten #bestcatsclub #catphotography

A post shared by Kinnie The Kitten (@kinniethekitten) on Nov 27, 2018 at 1:37am PST

Keeping cool in summer

Cats are much better suited to changes in weather conditions than most dogs (like Huskies for example. Don’t have them in Malta!) as they fluff up during the winter and snuggle up in blankets, and their coat thins down in summer, but it’s still worth considering the heat. I bought a cute little cooling mat from Amazon, which she can lay on and it keeps it’s temperature and prevents her from getting too warm. She loves it!

If you are thinking of adopting a cat in Malta, or already have, I’d love to hear your stories.

The post Adopting a Cat in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

The frequency of my blog posts seems to decrease year on year and it’s not that surprising considering how long I’ve been going (9 years!) but I realised that it’s mostly down to the topics I choose to write about. I always wait until I think of some big topic that is going to be super useful, but often, what people are looking for are more day to day questions. So that’s where today’s post comes in- where to buy great jeans in Malta!

What to look for in a pair of jeans

FOR YEARS I have struggled to find a good pair of jeans. A pair that:

• fits beautifully
• is comfortable to wear all day
• doesn’t fade too soon
• doesn’t collect fluff/dust

Too often they are too tight around my stomach, too loose around my ankles, the colour fades after just a few washes, or they pick up too much visible fluff and dust.

I’m not necessarily looking for a super cheap pair, I know that quality costs, but I’m also not looking to spend a fortune. Yes, I wear them a lot (seriously, jeans, a slogan t-shirt and a pair of converse is basically my uniform), but spending €200+ on a pair of jeans just isn’t something I can bring myself to do.

Lack of shop choice in Malta

I think finding a great pair of jeans is a universal challenge but it’s made even harder in Malta with the lack of choice of physical shops and I’ve never successfully bought jeans from an online shop, delivering to Malta. You really need to try jeans on, test a few different sizes and styles, in order to find that perfect pair.

But after 9 years in Malta, searching for the perfect pair of jeans, I’ve found two great places for top quality jeans that won’t break the bank and I am super happy to share with you today.

The best places to buy jeans in Malta

#1 – Levi’s Malta

Levi’s really had their hay-day back when my parents were young in the 60s – 80s yet somehow, they still hold a feeling of nostalgia for me. Nostalgia for a time I never experienced, but that doesn’t make it any the less potent. These days the styles may have changed (although mom-jeans are definitely back in) but the brand is still insanely strong.

My absolute favourite jeans to buy in Malta

Of both the brands I’ll talk about today, Levi’s are definitely my favourite jeans and they are available in Malta! You’ll find Levi’s stores in Sliema and in Valletta. I have 4 pairs now and they are my most worn jeans of all.

I love their jeans as they have so many different styles, so whatever you’re looking for, most likely they will have. I own a dark blue pair of low rise skinnies, a dark blue pair of high-rise skinnies (my #1 favourite pair), a black hair of high-rise skinnies and a light blue pair of mom-jeans.

Top quality fabric

Firstly, the colours and fabric are second to none. The black pair have been worn and washed a lot but have not faded at all. They’re also a really nice dark black yet it doesn’t capture dust and fluff, so stays looking pristine. I have a pair of €100+ black Acne jeans that I can’t wear as they are constantly covered in a layer of fluff, but with Levi’s, no such issue.

They are insanely well structured, actually managing to give a bit of shape where most people have an ass, but where I am just flat. My only tiny issue with Levi’s is that I sit somewhere between two sizes. The 27″ is just a fraction too small, so if I’m eating, I end up having to undo my button, but the 28″ is miles too big, but I’m at the age where I am happy to undo a button at a restaurant if it means I can wear my favourite jeans AND enjoy my dinner!

Great service

I know it doesn’t impact on the quality of the jeans, however, I wanted to point out that the service at Levi’s in Malta is amazing. I’ve only actually shopped in the Sliema one but the lady working there was super helpful, finding the right sizes for me, recommending which ones she thought would fit best and offering an adjustment service in case they were too long. It makes a big difference when you get great service, especially in Malta where it’s notoriously bad in general!

Levi’s jeans in Malta price point

Levi’s are my favourite jeans available here in Malta but they are not the most expensive. In fact, both stores I’m going to talk about are about the same price, yet I’d say Levi quality is miles above the other two, so definitely better value for money. Depending on the style, the women’s jeans range from around €70 – €100.

#2 – Topshop jeans in Malta

I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with Topshop. Here in Malta, most things are waaaay overpriced. Topshop uses a standard conversion of 1.5 from GBP to EUR, which means that an item which is £50 in the UK ends up being €75 here when the real conversion rate sets it around €58. So the hike in price is absolutely sickening. But, for lack of more better options and for the quality, I don’t mind paying for the jeans.

Jamie jeans in Malta

They also have quite a selection (although nowhere near the selection in large cities and they don’t deliver here) of shapes and sizes and the fit is generally really nice. I tend to buy high-waist, ripped, ankle grazers from Topshop, usually the ‘Jamie jeans’. I recently bought such a pair of Jamie jeans in a light blue/grey colour and I love them. They fit a bit nicer around my waist than the Levi’s (not quite so tight) and they are softer and more flexible. They’re a lot more casual (mostly due just to the rips) and an easy pair to throw on every day.

Topshop jeans in Malta prices

The Jamie jeans in Malta are slightly cheaper than Levi’s jeans in Malta, at around €55 – €65 depending on the style. Based on the current exchange rate from GBP to EUR they should really be more like €46, but it is what it is and they’re still a decent price considering what you can get on this island.

The post Buying a Great Pair of Jeans in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

Just this morning I was praising fellow blogger, Maureen from Island Fairy for how honest and real her writing used to be. That was one of the reasons I’d read her blog- I can’t directly relate to everything in her life (as I am not a mother!) but I enjoyed reading it anyway. It’s nice, as humans, to see both sides to others lives- the positive and the tougher times. Too many blogs focus only on the positives and I realised it was a while since I was honest on here too.

Sure, I’m honest in that everything I write is true but this blog has become totally about general life in Malta, rather than MY life in Malta. And maybe it’s time to inject a bit of that personal honesty back in, every now and again.

Recent struggles

If I don’t talk much, here or on my Instagram, about the struggles of life, it’s because I don’t have many. And realistically, the ones I do have are, at most, mild annoyances. I’m lucky that life is so good right now, and has been for a while. But reflecting on some of the less amazing days is a great way to properly appreciate just how great things are.

Adjusting to life with a cat

Recently, I introduced you guys to Kinnie and the process of adopting cats in Malta. This little creature has changed my life. I genuinely had a worry before we got her, that once we got her, my boyfriend might love me a little less. He’d have a lot of love for her, and there would be less going around for me. Obviously, I now know that is the most ridiculous thing ever and that our capacity to love simply grows as more people, or animals, enter our lives.

But the first two months with her were hard, on two counts. Firstly, she kept us awake a lot. She cried all the time. She wanted so much attention. When she wasn’t meowing at us to wake up, she’d be playing with something noisy in the bedroom, pulling apart cushions or chewing at the wardrobe. We tried shutting her out, but that just resulted in blood curdling screams. She still wakes us up early in the morning most days but for the most part, we get to sleep through the night.

Secondly, I was obsessed with her dying. Whenever we were at home and awake I’d constantly be up looking for her if she wasn’t sitting with us. Then I hardly slept, even when she was quiet because I’d wake up wanting to check where she was. Then when I found her, I’d have to wake her up to make sure she was alive as she was so tiny I couldn’t see her breathing.

But as she got a bit bigger and I realised that she is safe here and she is smart, I calmed down, bit by bit. I still like to go looking for her when she is hiding under the bed or the sofa, but now it’s just because I miss her!

Changing jobs

I work in an industry where it’s the norm to jump around from new job to new job every 8 – 12 months, but for me, that’s way to stressful. I hate interview processes, I hate starting from scratch, not knowing anyone and building yourself up. For the most part, in Malta, I had two main jobs, one for 3 years then the latest for exactly 4 years. But, in March, I started a new job.

I wasn’t really actively looking for anything, although I had started taking a bit more notice of job ads on LinkedIn. Whereas before I’d scroll right by them, now I was clicking on and reading the odd one, but I never applied. Until November. I was contacted by a recruiter who sent me something that seemed right up my ally. I asked what company it was for and it was a small payments company where I knew the founder and right away I knew I was interested. They were looking for something a little more junior (or rather, weren’t entirely sure what they were looking for) but once I knew the job was with them, and once they knew I was interested, we both knew we had to make this work!

So I took a risk on a tiny company with a brand new product and left my secure job, where I managed a team of amazing people, for the chance to work at a start up again and help build it into something huge. They took a risk on me, someone they knew, but who was asking for more money and more responsibility than they’d originally thought of giving out. But it’s 2 months in now and I am doing my best to make them proud and I am so happy.

The worst part was the 3 month notice period at my old job. It was 3 months where I was SO eager to get started at my new role and start making an impression but where I had to just sit and keep things running there instead. I still worked hard but there was plenty of time to sit and worry.

• What if I don’t manage to bring in new clients?
• What if the product isn’t good enough?
• What if being alone after having a team for so long is too much hard work?
• What if being the only employee in Malta is too lonely?
• WHAT IF I SUCK?

The older you get, the more set in your ways you are and the harder any kind of change becomes. But from Day 1 I felt better and I knew that this move was the right choice for me, I’m enjoying every single day and I can’t wait for what I am fairly sure I can achieve in the next few months. I really hope that the company feels the same!

Recent positives

As I mentioned, my life is amazing. I have a wonderful boyfriend who treats me better than anyone ever has. He is a real partner- he is with me on everything, rather than against me all the time. He builds me up, he supports me, he is honest and kind and is the funniest person I know. We live in an old, but lovely apartment, that is very well priced, allowing us to spend and save and enjoy our lives. We have a beautiful cat, who is loving and independent, sometimes mean, always funny and has such a unique personality. I love my job, I’m proud of what I do, I believe in what we’re selling and I enjoy getting up and getting to it each morning.

Sicily

Over Easter weekend I went to Sicily with some friends and it was the best. Despite living so close, I’d never made it over to Sicily before. It’s beautiful! Very similar to Malta in the Mediterranean vibe and in the architecture but with so much more greenery and everything on a larger scale. We ate so well, the food was really good everywhere we went and every street was an Instagrammers dream.

Sony Alpha A6000

I invested in a new camera, which I am absolutely loving. It’s an older model and really a beginners mirrorless camera, but it’s better than anything I had before and pushing me to try and take better pictures.

Malta has lots of pretty scenes so it’s easy enough to get a ‘nice’ photo but I really need to work on my composition and try spotting things a little more special. Arvid got me some great books on starting out so I’m going to make the time to read them and start putting them into practice.

But really, I want to continue to enjoy taking photos. I don’t want to stress over whether something is clever enough or artsy enough. Who gives a shit if some snobby local photographers with their fancy cameras snub you? If I like it and I’m having fun, that’s really what matters.

Working on the blog

Then finally, I’m starting to change my mindset around this blog. I had started to get a bit precious about what I posted here. I waited until I thought of something that I could make a super long post about, something I was sure would get me good SEO rankings and ended up posting so rarely and missing out on lots of fun information I can share.

Something like buying good jeans in Malta. It’s something that meant so much to me when I discovered the stores, but I didn’t think of it as blog worthy. But if it meant something to me, maybe it can help someone else out there too. So I’m going to share a lot more information this year on life in Malta and, if this post goes down well, a few more personal updates as well.

One last thing…

So, if you made it this far, well done and thank you! Whether it’s your first time on this site or you’ve been here before, I’d love to know what you think and what you’d like to see more of. If you have questions about Malta you’d like answered, leave a comment! If you have a particular kind of post you like seeing, tell me below!

The post How are things with you? appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

Everyone in Malta is complaining about the weather right now. As I write this, I’m watching a video of a hailstorm in Comino, whilst the rain pours down outside my window. It’s MAY. A few people have mentioned how their Facebook memories are reminding them that, this time last year, they were at the beach. Whereas, this time this year, we’re still holding onto our winter jackets.

Weather in Malta May 2019

So far, this May has been disappointing and volatile. The weather is usually one of a few things you can rely on in Malta, but so far this month, you can leave the house happy in your t-shirt and in just an hour be wishing you had your faux-fur lined parka.

The temperatures are not super low, mostly sitting around 13 – 15 at night and 16 – 20 during the day. We have had a few days where the temperature was recorded at around 23 – 24 however the thick layer of cloud has meant that the sun was not able to warm our bones and the chill wind bore down on us still.

It’s been a cloudy month, a dusty month and a cold one.

Average Temperature in Malta in May

According to Holiday Weather (which was simply the first result when I googled ‘average weather in Malta’) the average high temperature in Malta in May is 24 and the average low temperature in Malta in May is 20. Which means for most of this month we’ve been sitting well below the average low temperature.

Weather in Malta in May 2018

Now, I don’t post much on Facebook (I’m much more active on Instagram) so I don’t have any memories there to remind me what I was doing this time last year. I thought I’d scroll back to May 2018 in my photos on my iPhone but May 2018 was when we adopted Kinnie, so my album is filled 98% with photos of her as a tiny kitten, which is ABSOLUTELY ADORABLE, but doesn’t help me confirm that the weather this time last year was, indeed, more like summer.

Luckily, we did go for a hike or two, so I eventually did get to confirm that this time last year was considerably warmer. From my Kinnie photos I can see that I was in summer pyjamas (little shorts and tiny vest tops) whereas this year I’ve transitioned out of my thick, fleecy jimmyjams but I am still in long trousers, I have a hoodie that I wear in the evening and the blankets are not yet put away.

We also went for some lovely long walks around Valletta and around Victoria Lines and I remember these days were absolutely sweltering.

What does this mean?

In practical, every day terms, this means that the butter I usually keep out on the counter, has now melted. In winter, I leave it out because the fridge keeps it too cold and unspreadable, whereas the cold apartment leaves it chilled but useable.

It means that the electric blanket has been packed away, but there is still a soft one on the sofa to keep me warm when Kinnie wakes me up at 5 AM for cuddles and the apartment is cold.

And what I hope it means is that we have a very long, hot summer ahead of us!

The post Where is summer 2019?! appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

I’ve been to a few weddings in Malta now, in my 9 years on the island, and there were definitely a few surprises along the way, so I thought it’d be helpful to give you a rundown on a traditional Maltese wedding.

Of course, not everyone is going to follow this formula, plenty of Maltese people go their own way when planning a wedding, but I’d say, for the most part, if the couple is Maltese and the wedding is being held in Malta, then at least some of these points will be important for you to know.

How to dress for the heat

Most Maltese weddings are held in summer. I can understand it, as at least you can rely on the weather to be sunny and bright, with no risk of rain, but it also means you’ll need to consider the temperature. If it’s a day wedding, especially. Will you be outside during the day? Is it a church wedding? Churches are rarely fitted with AC so a thick, heavy dress or stiff, hot suit is going to be absolutely unbearable.

But, most likely the couple will expect formal attire and you don’t find so many smart suits coming with shorts! Do what you can to make the outfit as cool as possible. Look into linen options, wear a shirt that looks good with and without the jacket, so you can take off the suit jacket once the most formal part is over. Choose a light, flowy dress, not something skin tight.

But still keep it formal

Even though you’re likely to be sweltering all day, you’ll still need to keep it pretty formal. That means no shorts, no mini skirts and, if it’s a church wedding, women will need to cover their shoulders. This one drives me absolutely insane, but if you don’t abide by it, you may well be asked to leave the church and miss the service entirely. I’d recommend wearing a strappy dress, one that lets your arms breathe, but bring a thin shawl that you can wear around your shoulders in the church and that won’t be too cumbersome to carry with you for the rest of the day/night.

Where to sit?

In England, there is often a ‘groom’ side and a ‘bride’ side and you sit on the side of the one who invited you. I’ve not seen this in Malta. The first few rows are reserved for immediate family, bridesmaids and the best man, then everyone else can sit wherever they like.

Do I need to bring a gift to a wedding in Malta?

Kind of. Mostly it’ll be stated in the invite, but the general rule is that the happy couple will expect money. And how much money you gift is directly proportional to how well you know them. How much to give is always a tough one but in my opinion, give what you want. What you can afford and what you won’t resent giving!

Will there be food at a Maltese wedding?

As with all of the points raised here, any wedding can differ and, based on the couples preferences, may not follow the ‘standard’ formula, but as a guest, it’s good to know what usually happens in Malta. In the UK, for example, at a wedding there will mostly be a sit down meal, but that’s rarely the case in Malta. But never fear, you wont be going hungry! In my experience, here they favour the buffet and/or finger foods, sometimes even ‘food truck’ style offerings. So rather than a formal, sit down dinner, there will be a constant flow of food once the ceremony is done.

How long will it last?

Until it gets shut down. It doesn’t matter if the ceremony is at noon, or 6 in the evening, the party afterwards will go on until the police come and shut down the music. The usual schedule is something like:

• Ceremony
• move to the reception location
• the bar will open and drinks will begin flowing
• buffet/finger food will start (and continue for some time!)
• a live band will begin
• the live band will continue
• the live band may never stop
• 2 AM: police will come to shut down the noise

Are Maltese weddings big?

Maltese weddings are huge! A small wedding might be 500 people. It’s common to invite just about every person that the couple ever met, and, of course, their entire family (including distant cousins and relatives they maybe have never even met). Don’t expect much time with the happy couple as they’ll be trying to spend a little time with everyone and it’s impossible with such huge gatherings of people.

The most important things to know about Maltese weddings

The most important things to know when attending a wedding in Malta are:

1. If it’s a church wedding, women must cover their shoulders
2. Gift usually = money
3. No AC in church!
4. Buffet or a flow of finger food, rather than a sit-down dinner
5. Open bar
6. Live music
7. Will go on until 2AM at least, often even later.

The post Weddings in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

Today I’m not talking about life in Malta, moving to Malta or anything specific to this little island. Today I’m getting personal. Today I wanted to talk about the fact that I don’t wear perfume.

Now, if my Mum, or anyone who has known me for a long time, is reading this, they’ll either be laughing their asses off or screaming at the screen that I’m a liar. I used to wear perfume. And by ‘wear’ I mean ‘bathe in’. I had to have every new scent that came out, I’d spray 4 times before I left the house (one on the left wrist, then rub onto right wrist, one spray on either side of my neck and the final, fourth spray on my hair) and then always carry a bottle with me to top up multiple times a day. People could smell me coming. People would complain. To me. I KNEW the smell was overpowering but that’s just what I liked.

One year I became obsessed with finding my ‘signature scent’, one that if people caught a whiff of, they’d instantly think of me. So every time I travelled (and I travel a fair bit) I bought a new bottle. I ended up spending over €1000 in a year just on perfume. I did eventually find a scent that most felt like ‘me’ (Armani, Si, incase you’re interested) but at a huge cost and so much waste.

Then, one day, I met a man. Now, this is not about to become “I met a man and changed everything about myself for him” story. Been there, done that, won’t ever let it happen again. But he did inadvertently help me see something I hadn’t seen before.

He doesn’t like artificial scents. He doesn’t like heavily perfumed cleaning products, candles, fabric softener and he does not like perfume. He never told me to stop wearing it, or even to cut down, but he did let me know, as most people I met did, that I wore a LOT of perfume. I thought about it and I figured he was becoming very important to me so the least I could do is try and wear a little less so for a few days I laid off the perfume.

I already shower with unscented Sanex, as I have psoriasis that I have to keep at bay, then I use a fresh, cucumber scented deodorant and I was honestly so confused at the idea of not wearing perfume. Then, what will I smell like? Suddenly it dawned on me. I was worried about smelling like nothing. Of being nothing. Of going unnoticed. Of not being masked.

It only took a few days and I was seeing the world in a different light. I had been using perfume (and not just perfume, but I’ll get to that) to mask deeper insecurities. I was worried that I wouldn’t be memorable. But as the days turned to weeks, months and then a year, I realised how memorable one can be, when you take away all the fake shit, and how much better it is to be remembered for YOU and not for the way you smell or the thick eyeliner you layer on.

It didn’t take long until I became super sensitive to other peoples smell. Not their natural smell, because in this life you barely ever get to smell that. The smell of heavy perfume became unbearable to me. Now I sneeze any time a group of scented souls walk past. Not only this, I became a lot more comfortable in my own skin. I stopped obsessively straightening my crazy, curly hair. I stopped wearing foundation. I stopped looking in my compact mirror every 10 minutes and powdering my face. Yes, I still have oily skin but do you know what? Don’t dull that shine, girl! Rather an oily glow than layers and layers of powder becoming patchy and gross. I still wear makeup, because I enjoy the whole process (and who doesn’t love long, thick, lashes!) but now I use it to enhance, rather than cover.

These days, I’m at this place where I don’t have any of the shields I used to hide behind. The dead straight hair that I literally wore covering my face. The layers of foundation to hide the acne that had long since passed. The constant powder application to hide any hint of shine. The dousings of perfumes to make sure that someone remembered me because I had no confidence that someone could remember me for my constant hiccups, my love of country music, silly sense of humour, chattiness, curiosity, experience, knowledge. I felt like I had nothing to offer, so layered myself with artificial offerings.

I am not ‘anti’ perfume, or makeup, or hair dye, or straighteners but rather I am ‘for’ just being me and being comfortable with me. I might spritz myself every now and again, maybe some days I will still blow out the curls, but I don’t rely on any of this to feel “OK” any more.

All it took was one little scratch to see what was under the surface and all of those layers fell away and I saw myself. And truthfully, I am happier with that real me than I ever was with the versions I made up for everyone else.

I’m not saying that wearing perfume, or makeup, or dying or straightening your hair is bad. I’m not saying that because I stopped, you should too. All I’m saying is that if you are hiding behind anything (be it makeup, humour, whatever) then you don’t need to. You are so much more fabulous than you realise and once you are able to accept yourself a little bit more, you’ll stand a little taller, your eyes will shine a little brighter and everyone will love this new, real version of you.

The post Why I don’t wear perfume appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

Another personal post today as they seem to go down quite well and it’s so nice to talk about something you think you’re alone in, then find out that so many people know how you feel and have gone through the same struggles.

In a day and age where everyone who is a little tidy proclaims to have OCD, it can actually be quite hard to talk about serious behavioural issues, because no one takes the phrase seriously any more.

OCD stands for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Having a tidy desk, using a lot of hand sanitizer or cleaning a lot is not a disorder. It’s actually pretty normal. A true disorder is one that stops you living your life in a normal way. There’s ‘being clean’ (which is most people) and there is washing your hands obsessively until they are constantly cracked and bleeding and in pain. That is a disorder.

The compulsions

I have a number of compulsions. I wouldn’t class them as obsessive (as I don’t even know I’m doing it most of the time) but it is a disorder as they are causing physical harm. I am embarrassed by them, they affect what I wear, how I behave and even cause a fair amount of physical harm.

Head scratching

The head-scratching stems from suffering from psoriasis. I have a fairly severe case on my scalp, but I’m lucky in that it comes and goes. I can have months where it’s clear, but then months where it’s dry, itchy, flaking and sore. What started as a natural reaction to an itchy scalp became obsessive when it turned into scratching, even when it’s not itching. Hours spent picking away at the dry skin, pulling off crusty skin in chunks. I convince myself that I’m just ‘cleaning’ the crap out of my hair but the truth is, if I stopped picking at it, my scalp would probably be in much better condition.

Usually, I don’t even realise I’m doing it. It’s become such a habit that it’s subconscious and it takes someone smacking my hand away from my head to make me realise. But then, often I do realise I am doing it. I know it’s hurting my skin, I know I’m bleeding under there, but I can’t stop myself. It’s so insanely satisfying to grab a nice bit of crust and pick it out of your hair. But the side effects? I can’t wear dark clothes as you can see the skin, like dandruff. I can’t wear certain hairstyles as you can see the blood on my scalp, or the flakes in my hair. And my scalp is constantly dry, tight and with open wounds hidden under my hair.

Lip chewing

Then, there is the lip chewing. I don’t know when this started or why it started or where it stems from but I’ve been doing it as long as I can remember. I chew on the insides of my cheeks until they bleed. I knaw on my lips and pick layers and layers of skin from them. I can’t wear lipstick as my lips are so uneven and sore that there is nothing for it to cling onto. I’ve used Blistex religiously for about 10 years because it soothes the sores but irritates my lips even more. It becomes a vicious cycle. If I’m not chewing my lips then I’m covering them in lip balm, two compulsions I need to kick if my lips are ever going to heal properly.

Lip balm addiction

There is a lot of material online about lip balm addiction and basically, it doesn’t exist in the way people think. Lip balms are not chemically addictive, but they are insanely habit-forming. They are not designed to make your lips worse so you buy more (this simply isn’t possible with all the regulations in place) but there are certain ingredients that a % of the population has mild allergic reactions to. So you get chapped lips, you apply some balm and it soothes them for that moment, but later on, you get a mild reaction (sore lips) and think you just need more. 10 years of this means that I find it hard to imagine ever stopping. I panic if I forget my Blistex at home and I always have multiple pots lying around; one in my handbag, one at my desk, one in the living room, one next to the bed and at least a few spares in a drawer somewhere.

Kicking the habits

These are compulsions, habits, addictions that have been with me for as long as I can remember. Especially with the subconscious ones, it’s not as easy as just ‘stopping’, but I do want to do what I can to try and improve in order to improve my own way of life. How nice it would be to not worry about having flakes on my shoulders, or constantly be chewing the inside of my lips like a crazy person.

The most practical to try and stop is lip-balm addiction. My problem is with Blistex, and similar products, as something in there soothes really well in the moment but inflames later on. So I’ve hidden them all away in a drawer and am determined not to use them. I have a few shea-butter alternatives, which should moisturise without making my lips worse but for the most part, they don’t offer enough relief. They’re OK for 10 minutes when my lips become unbearable but it’s proving to be tough.

I’m about 5 days in and my lips are super tight feeling. They actually hurt, all the time. They’ve become super wrinkled and dry. It’s like I have a kind of red lip liner around them, except it’s not just red, it’s flakey, with some patches looking like an actual rash. It’s incredibly uncomfortable and seems to be getting worse each day. Stories online say it can take anything from 3 days to 3 weeks to start feeling better again and getting your lips back to a ‘normal’ place, without any product, so keep your fingers crossed for me.

Do you live with any compulsions or little habits that you wish you could kick?

The post My Compulsions appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

I wrote before about why anyone living in Malta (and I mean anyone, but especially foreigners) should use Revolut and today I thought I’d expand on which account I’d recommend. Now, standard Revolut is entirely free to use but there are also two other accounts, Premium and Metal, which come with a monthly fee. Each account offers something a bit extra so today let’s look at each account, what the difference is and which I would recommend.

Standard vs Premium vs Metal Revolut accounts

Standard (free) account

If you select the free Revolut account you can:

• signup in minutes (no branch visit, no paperwork)
• get free ATM withdrawals up to €200 per month
• get instant transaction notifications
• check analytics to better manage your money
• save money by rounding up spare change into a ‘vault’
• transfer up to €6000 per month abroad with no fees
• use ‘split bill’ feature to easily pay for dinner etc with friends
• set up recurring payments (rent, mobile, bills)

You will receive a free GBP or EUR account (as you prefer) complete with IBAN so you can even choose to be paid into Revolut and skip local banks entirely. The app is a dream to use and gives you so much clear information, totally real-time, allowing you better control over your money.

Premium (€7.99 p/m) Account

If you want to upgrade to Premium or start here right off the bat you can enjoy everything you get with the standard account plus some extras.

• choose from Space Grey, Silver or Rose Gold cards
• get free ATM withdrawals up to €400 per month
• travel insurance: worldwide emergency medical and dental treatment
• travel insurance: compensation for delayed flights and luggage paid directly into your Revolut account
• lost your card? Get a new one instantly in your account and it’ll be with you physically within 3 days
• fast bank transfers: within 1-2 days
• use disposable virtual cards
• book LoungePasses for most airports via the app

For me, the important extras you get for that €7.99 per month (which you get a discount on if you pay for a year upfront!), are the increased free ATM withdrawals, the travel insurance (so you can never forget it!) and, superficial as it is, more choice over the card colour. The pink is absolutely adorable!

Metal (€13.99 p/m) account

Metal is the most premium of all 3 Revolut accounts. It’s €13.99 if you pay monthly, but enjoy a great discount if you pay for a year upfront. Request your Metal card today!

As well as all the same perks as both standard and Premium, you can enjoy luxury extras such as:

• up to 1% cashback on all purchases
• dedicated 24/7 concierge service
• an actual METAL CARD in a choice of 3 colours
• TRIPLE free ATM withdrawals (€600 p/m)
• one FREE airport LoungePass

Which Revolut account to pick in Malta?

I personally have used all 3 accounts and now, I’m using Metal and I’ll remain on this plan. I love it! Not to be overlooked is the enjoyment you get just from having a card made from Metal. I had the black one initially but once they launched the gold I had to order it right away. It’s a thing of beauty. 18g of reinforced steel.

Metal Cashback

As well as the showy card the cashback is a nice addition, but at 0.1% in Europe and 1% outside, you’re not going to make your millions here. I think I’m at around €30 by now and it’s been many months. But, the more you spend, the more you’ll make.

Metal Concierge Service Review

The concierge I love so much more than I expected. Just try them out, they can do so much for you! They can book restaurants, hotels, flights, they can find places for you, research prices. I use them mostly for booking restaurants. I work in sales so have a lot of client meetings and I send a request for a restaurant booking and they are fast and friendly. I hate the hassle of spelling out my name, the restaurant not understanding so it’s a tiny annoyance I no longer have to deal with.

They usually answer within a few hours, so you can’t use them for real last-minute bookings, but so long as you plan well, they’re a big help.

Which Revolut account is for me?

It’s quite a bit extra in price from the Standard and Premium accounts so if the metal card doesn’t excite you and you don’t think you’ll use the concierge then Premium will be more than sufficient. I’d really recommend going for one of the paid accounts as Travel Insurance is an amazing thing to have all the time, but the Standard, free, account has everything you need to manage your money daily.

The post Which Revolut account should I choose? appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

This post is a bit of a change in direction for this blog but I posted a photo on my Instagram stories of the steam cleaner when it arrived and my inbox blew up with questions about it! I figured the best way to answer them all is in a proper, detailed review. So, today, I’ll be talking about whether you need a steam cleaner, and if you do (YOU DO!) whether it should be the Morphy Richards 9-in-1 Steam Cleaner.

Why you need a steam cleaner in your life

Get rid of chemical cleaning products!

Steam cleaners offer next-level cleaning of almost everything in your home. You’ll not need any chemical cleaners, which I find a huge plus, as the heat and steam are enough to disinfect alone.

One item to clean EVERYTHING in your home

If you get the right type of cleaner with all the right attachments you can clean SO MANY different parts of your home!

• Hard floors,
• carpets,
• curtains,
• windows,
• grouting,
• taps,
• furniture,
• almost anything!

So far I’ve used the Morphy Richards 9-in-1 Steam Cleaner on our hardwood floors, our big shaggy rug, windows, kitchen and bathroom wall tiles, sinks and to clean out the grouting of our kitchen floor tiles. It is AMAZING. You’ll clean off the dirt that you didn’t even know was there. Like, I thought the grouting between the tiles was black. It’s not! It’s white! I removed a bunch of rust stains from the bathroom sink so it’s now sparkling white again with no tinge of orange. And my lovely shaggy rug has a new lease of life.

What to look for in a steam cleaner

Here I’m going to list all the reasons why I bought the Morphy Richards 9-in-1 cleaner, then after I will discuss if it met my expectations. I did quite a bit of research before deciding on a steam cleaner. I read a lot of reviews and noted down peoples wishes and frustration points. Some really important factors I looked for:

• long cable (at least 5 meters)
• upright and handheld capabilities
• swivel head
• large water capacity (400ml minimum)

Find a cleaner with a long cable

I found that a lot of steam cleaners only had a cable length of 2-3 meters, which means you either can’t reach parts of bigger rooms, or you constantly have to keep unplugging and moving to another plug socket. Not the end of the world, but an annoyance that can be easily eliminated by making sure to get a steam cleaner with a cable of more like 5 meters.

Upright vs handheld cleaner

Most steam cleaners are either upright OR handheld. With the upright cleaner you can only really clean floors (and you’ll NEED an upright one so as not to destroy your back/knees) but you’ll need a handheld version if you want to clean things like upholstery, windows and sinks. I went for the Morphy Richards as it has both modes. You can use it upright to do the floors, then a quick clip unhooks the handheld part so you can move onto smaller or higher up places.

You NEED a swivel head

Do not get a cleaner with a fixed head! When cleaning floors especially, you’ll want a swivel head to more easily manoeuvre and clean around fixed furniture (e.g toilet bowl). Otherwise, you’ll end up missing patches.

Would I recommend the Morphy Richards 9-in-1 Steam Cleaner?

I opted for the Morphy Richards 9-in-1 steam cleaner because it had all the main things I was looking for:

• 5M cable
• 400ml water capacity
• 30second heat up time (nice and short)
• swivel head
• upright + handheld
• reasonably priced at just £54.99 on Amazon.

And, overall, I love it. It’s super easy to assemble (just two little screws to twist in) and in just one click it goes from upright to handheld. It comes with multiple different attachments that are designed for different things such as:

• hard floor cleaner
• carpet adapter
• window attachment
• upholstery attachment
• and a number of large and small nozzles and brushes perfect for grouting, taps, sinks or surfaces.

It makes the hard floors glisten, it turned my black, dirty grouting back to white and allows me to clean kitchen surfaces without dangerous chemicals. Adding the carpet adapter onto the floor brush blew a new life into my rug making it look much fresher and newer.

The downsides to the Morphy Richards 9-in-1 Steam Cleaner

The only downside to this cleaner is the weight. I’m just a wee thing and in both upright and handheld modes it’s a bit heavy. I have to use quite a bit of strength to glide it over the floors and, whilst the documentation boasts that the handheld section was designed to be used with one hand, I have to use two.

It is a little heavier than other options on the market. According to the listing, it is 3kg and you can easily find other models for just over 2kg, which I think would make a huge difference to ease of use.

Overall though, I love having a steam cleaner and I am happy with my choice. It being a bit heavy is manageable, especially considering it has a lot of other pros (cable length, swivel head) that many other models did not. But, if you can find one with all of those benefits PLUS a kilo lighter, I’d recommend spending a bit extra for the lighter weight.

The post Steam Cleaner Review: Morphy Richards 9-in-1 appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

There are so many people who might need to find coworking space when working in Malta and, only a few years ago, there was little to no options for something so modern. It was either work from home or work from the nearest McDonalds (free wifi AND plug sockets!). Luckily now in 2019, there are a plethora of options dotted all around the island.

What is a coworking space?

Coworking space is a bit like desk rental. There will be a fully equipped office building with desks, toilets, meeting rooms, kitchens, wifi and often extras like Friday drink events to bring people together. Usually, there will be an option to rent a desk space either hot-desking (using any desk you like), a set desk (use the same one each time) or small office space of 3 – 10 people.

Who can use coworking space?

Coworking space is great for anyone and everyone. If you’re a freelancer, or work for yourself and don’t want/need the expense of a whole office building, it’s an ideal solution. It’s cheap and you get everything you would get from an office, without the stress of keeping the fridge stocked or needing to hire cleaners, receptionists, office managers etc.

It’s also the perfect solution for start-ups, with packages fit for a 1 person set up or up to around 10 people, often with small, private offices where you just share the bathrooms and kitchen space with other renters.

Coworking space takes the stress off freelancers, the self-employed and small companies. It’s super affordable and everything is done for you. You just pay (usually per month) and turn up when you want!

Full list of coworking spaces in Malta 2019

• Marco Polo – St Julians – €247.50 per month
• Soho Office – St Julians – €325 per month
• Soho Office – Gzira – €325 per month
• Glashaus – Gzira – €250 per month
• The Hub – San Gwann – €250 per month
• Cocohub – Birgu – €400 per month
• Grand Central – Valletta – €255 per month
• 230 Works – Mosta – €24 per day
• The Penthouse – Birkirkara – €296 per month
• Business Labs – Birkirkara – €200 per month

Soho Office coworking space Malta

Soho Office in Malta now has two coworking offices on the island; their flagship office in St Julians and a newly opened office in Savoy Gardens, Gzira.

They offer a number of different packages including:

• hot desk: €25 per day or €325 per month
• dedicated desk: €460 for one month or one year @ €325 per month
• private office: from €600 to €1500 per month.

Their entry hours range from ‘office hours’ (for hot deskers) to 24 hours (for dedicated desk space and private offices). You’ll enjoy a staffed reception, well-equipped desks, bathrooms, large, stocked kitchen, relaxation areas with sofas, meeting rooms, wifi and pretty much anything you could need. They also run a lot of events across both offices so can be a very social working culture and great to meet new people.

The Hub, San Gwann

The Hub is a lovely little office space in San Gwann with hot desks available for €15 per day or €250 per month, plus suites (larger, private desks) at €850 per month. You’ll have use of boardrooms and meeting rooms, great wifi connection, staffed reception and some extras such as discounted office supplies.

Business Labs

It took me a long time to find the location of Business Labs as their website does not give much away, but from their facebook page, it looks like they are based in Birkirkara. You can choose from hot desks (€200 per month) and dedicated desks (€250 per month) however, it seems that you have to pay additional fees for use of the meeting rooms (if you’re renting a desk, you do get 50% off the usual prices).

Cocohub coworking & coliving space

Cocohub is a bit unique as it offers both coworking and coliving options. Very much built for the digital nomad, the working traveller, this space has hot desk options, dedicated desk options, shared bedroom options and private bedroom options.

Cocohub is a full-on community who do lots of things together outside of working like dinners and BBQs, drinks by the sea, workouts and more.

Grand Central, Valletta

Grand Central coworking space sits in a prestigious part of the island and enjoys a lovely roof terrace which, when it’s not too hot to visit, will give you stunning views of the capital city.

It’s a nice location, is well equipped but only open Mon – Fri, so might not be suitable for those who put in long weeks or work shifts.

Marco Polo coworking space

Marco Polo coworking space in St Julians cannot be described as coworking office space. Because it’s not. Marco Polo is a hostel, situated on a busy road in St Julians and they rent out space on their roof terrace to people who feel like working from hammocks.

It’s nice because you can rent by the hour which might be good for travellers who need to buckle down for a bit, but if you’re looking for actual office space to be based from, this doesn’t have the amenities you’re going to need.

The Penthouse coworking space

The Penthouse labels itself as high-end, luxury office space and certainly is a little pricer than other options on the island, but is still far more affordable than renting your own office. The website does not give much information so I’m not sure what puts them in the high-end category.

The post Coworking Office Space in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

The older I get, the more I become aware of sustainability and small changes I can make to make a big difference. Plastic is bad. We all know this. We are producing too much, throwing out too much and basically ruining the Earth with it. Now you can reduce your plastic waste and save money with Water Point stations in Malta.

Yes, ideally, we all fit reverse osmosis taps in our kitchens but they are a little expensive to install (worth it though) and when renting, it’s not always up to you. So, for those who cannot (for whatever reason) install a filtered tap, you should absolutely start using Water Point filling stations.

Hang onto whatever plastic bottles you have right now and reuse them time and time again by heading to your nearest water filling station in Malta and filling them will cool, filtered water that is safe to drink and tastes great.

Where to refill water in Malta?

There are currently 9 different refilling stations around the island:

1. Mellieha (behind Munchies)
2. Paceville, St Julians (opposite Vivaldi Hotel)
3. Iklin (Higher Secondary School)
4. Balzan Centre
5. San Gwann (next to Bocci Club)
6. Gzira Petrol Station (near Manoel Island)
7. Msida Circus
8. Airport Petrol Station
9. Marsaxlokk (tourist office)

How do the Water Point’s filter water?

It’s a good question and I read some uninformed theories online but this water is totally safe to drink. They pull water from the usual water supply, then put it through a Microfiltration process where it’s treated with a UV sterilizer to make sure it is perfectly safe and clean for human consumption. The water is then stored in the water points and refrigerated. The points do have options for both still and sparkling water but, in Gzira and Msida anyway, the sparkling is out of stock 90% of the time.

How to use

It could not be simpler. Not all of the machines work in exactly the same way but they all come with instructions and it’s as simple as bringing your water bottle, putting it under the spout, inserting your coins and pressing your selection.

At Msida Circus, you have one button for still and one for sparkling and it ejects 1 litre at a time. So if you have a 5-litre bottle, you wait for the first litre to finish, then press again and so on, until the bottle is full.

At Gzira petrol station, you have a number of options. You have buttons for 0.5 litres, 1 litre, 2 litres and 5 litres, so if you put a 5-litre bottle under the nozzle, select the corresponding button and it’ll fill up all at once.

Save money and plastic

By reusing the same bottles over and over you will dramatically reduce the amount of plastic you are using. I know many plastics can be recycled but many can’t and many that can be, aren’t, so reduction is always the better option.

On top of that, the water works out much cheaper than buying it at the supermarket. The price varies a little depending on the location but ranges from 15c at most stations to 20c in St Julians and Mellieha. This means a 1-litre bottle of water costs €0.15! A 5-litre bottle costs just €0.75 at Water Point compared to anything from €1.50 to €3 in supermarkets.

How much will I save?

Between two of us, we seem to get through roughly 15 litres of still water per week, costing €2.25. This means we are wasting between 3 – 7 plastic bottles less per week (depending on whether you buy a 5-litre or 2-litre bottle usually) and saving around €20 to €30 per week. We have three 5-litre bottles right now that we reuse each time and we have quite a few points closeby so it gets us up off the sofa and adds a little extra exercise as well!

Why should I refill water?

If you give even the tiniest shit about the planet, then stop being responsible for the creation of so much waste. The more people reuse and reduce, the less big corporations will need to produce and the faster they will come up with more eco-friendly alternatives. Just by being alive, we are destroying the Earth so it is your responsibility to make these changes wherever you can. And, if you don’t care about saving the planet, consider the money you’ll save instead.

The post Filtered refill water top-up points now in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

I have seen so many beautiful Instagram pics of food and cocktails from The Thirsty Barber that I was so looking forward to getting to try it for myself. Unfortunately, the whole experience was an expensive letdown, saved only by the wonderful people I was there eating with and a few drinks at Yard32 afterwards.

When you walk in, the place is huge and looks kinda fancy in a basic way. All dark lighting, big tables and nice place settings. We were there quite early, at 18:30 on a weeknight and we were the only customers the whole time we were there.

Cocktails at the Thirsty Lawyer

I love cocktails. And when I say cocktails, I don’t mean cheap vodka with some orange juice from concentrate, I mean delicious, nuanced, properly mixed cocktails. Like you find at Alchemy for example. Their menu is select, but with a lot of lovely options and if you don’t see anything you like, their properly skilled mixologists can come up with creations on the spot. This was not the case at Thirsty Lawyer. Here, the cocktail menu is huge but didn’t have a single concoction that sounded enjoyable. The one cocktail they had with tequila (and not that coffee infused stuff) came with peanut butter and jam- I thought it might be a bit of fun but they didn’t have it in stock.

I asked then if they can make me something off-menu, something very simple like a Paloma (tequila, lime juice and grapefruit soda, all things they had elsewhere on the menu) but was told that no, they cannot make anything off-menu. This is an instant red flag to me as it means that the people making the drinks are not trained mixologists and are just working from a recipe, which is not what you want when you’re paying €10 – €15 on a single cocktail.

In the end, I ordered a G&T (which was fine), then we also got a “Toblerone” which was OK but 90% ice, a ‘Good Girl’ which came in a tiny glass, only half full, and a Basil Smash, which was a decent size, quite nice, but had a sprig of rosemary instead of basil.

Overall, not impressed.

Food at the Thirsty Lawyer, Valletta

The Thirsty Lawyer is trying to be upmarket but falls way short of that mark. The selection sounds nice and it was quite hard to choose something as everything sounded delicious. The food is priced from around €12 for starters to up to €25+ for mains.

So, a little on the higher end for Malta at first glance but when you see the portions, you realise this is going to be an expensive meal. At best, you’ll need to pop to McDonalds (or, like us, for tapas at Yard32) afterwards, but at worst you’ll end up ordering a few courses and spending a fortune.

We ordered:

• mushroom ravioli in truffle sauce (starter potion): €13.50
• mushroom ravioli in truffle sauce (main portion): €19
• crispy rabbit ravioli (main portion): €18
• lamb rack (main): €16

The food portions are embarrassingly small. It’s quite common in Malta that restaurants who want to portray themselves as fancy think fancy just equals small portions, without the proper knowledge of food to understand how to actually fill up your customers on those portions.

The mushroom ravioli starter potion was THREE pieces. The main was FIVE. I’ve never finished a meal so fast or finished a meal so hungry. The taste was bland (with no salt and pepper on the table) and I couldn’t catch any hint of truffle or toasted sesame seeds.

The rabbit ravioli was actually bad. Dry pieces sitting in what seemed to be basic BBQ sauce from the supermarket, you know the kind, sitting next to the ketchup?

The lamb rack was nice enough, but again, a very small portion and we all finished the meal hungry.

Had the food been tasty we would have stayed for dessert to fill ourselves up but as the quality was lacking, we decided to go on and eat again elsewhere.

Overall Thoughts

If there hadn’t been such a long delay between ordering and getting our food/drink then we’d have been in and out within around 15 minutes and have paid €113.50 for the pleasure. That was between 4. I know it’s not the most expensive (when I go to my favourite steakhouse I can easily spend a lot more than that between TWO but I leave after a long relaxing dinner, full and satisfied, having had more than just one drink) but for the experience, it was extortionate.

• nice decor
• no skilled bar staff
• food quality not quite up to par for the price range
• small portions that will leave you starving
• no bread or nibbles for the table to help
• very slow service, our cocktails took ages and didn’t come until after the mains had arrived
• the servers were very sweet and nice but a little junior (placing drinks tilting on placemats, resting their tray on your shoulder as they leaned over you)

I would not go again, but glad I tried it at least. Valletta has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and there are so many lovely restaurants to choose from that in future I’ll stick to my favourites like:

• Taproom: their mushroom pasta is to die for and more than fills you up!
• Sciacca: best steak and service on the island.
• Alchemy: lovely cocktails and super skilled mixologists that know their stuff.
• N Japanese Bistrot: fast, cheap and cheerful Japanese tapas-style.
• Yard32: gin experts, but know their drinks. Nice quick and easy tapas for snacks.

The post Restaurant Review: The Thirsty Lawyer, Valletta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

The process of buying a property in Malta is a little different from other countries, like Sweden or the UK and from the sounds of it, I much prefer how it’s done on this little island.

A Promise of Sale is something you don’t have in the UK, but here it protects the buyer (they won’t sell it to someone else for a higher price) and the seller (they can’t back out at the last minute for no good reason).

So what is a promise of sale in Malta?

When buying property in Malta, you usually check in with the bank first and see if you’re eligible for a home loan. If they say yes, and you’re happy with the terms, you can start looking at apartments. Find one you like, offer a price and, if the owner accepts, sign the promise of sale to hold that property for the both of you until all the admin is done.

And there is a lot of admin. A notary needs to go through all paperwork since the beginning of time, from when the property was just land, checking every purchase to ensure that the current seller is, in fact, the rightful owner of the property and OK to sell it to you.

Then, as a buyer, before handing over the full amount you’ll need to get the bank loan (unless you have cash of course) which can take a few weeks and also have an architect look over the property to ensure it is compliant and has no nasty surprises.

How long is a promise of sale?

You can decide on the Promise of Sale term, but most people go for 6 months as that’s how long it generally takes for everyone involved (bank, notary, architect) to get everything in order to complete the purchase. So, from the day you sign, the promise of sale means the buyer can’t back out (unless it’s found that the seller is not the rightful owner, the building is not compliant or the bank denies the loan) and the seller can’t sell to another buyer for any reason. Without this POS, either side can back out even until the very last moment, offering no security for anyone. Heard of gazumping in the UK? We don’t have that here!

It’s possible to have a longer or shorter promise of sale, but the important thing is that buyer and seller agree and that the notary, architect and bank get everything done within that time. Extensions can be made but they need to be made in time otherwise the buyer can end up losing their deposit.

What if I don’t get a bank loan?

There are 6 basic terms that should be in all Promise of Sale documents and one of them states that the contract is subject to the bank loan. You pay the deposit amount (how much will depend on what the bank stated in your first meeting) upon signing and in case the bank later denies your loan, you must update the notary and seller before the POS expires in order to get your deposit funds back immediately.

Important terms for the promise of sale

You can speak to the notary and the seller to add in extra terms if there are more things important to you, but the 6 standard terms it should always include are:

1. the property is covered by all necessary building permits and sanitary laws
2. all fees relating to the property (architect fees, building fees, any outstanding bill) are to be paid by the seller before the contract ends
3. the seller guarantees there are no pending or threatened litigation or disputes concerning the property
4. the seller must provide an Energy Performance Certificate
5. the sale is subject to notary searches being in order
6. the sale is subject to the purchaser getting a bank loan.

But, as the buyer, you will be paying the notary for their work so speak with them beforehand and see what they recommend to be included in the POS.

What happens once I sign the promise of sale?

Once, as a buyer, you have signed the promise of sale, you need to get busy. Appoint the notary to start the searches, employ the architect to complete their checks and get to the bank ASAP to make sure you are approved/denied the loan in good time. Whilst the promise of sale is 6 months, the approval of the bank loan is 4 months, so you need to get that sorted ASAP. If 4 months pass and you haven’t got the bank loan and do not update the notary/seller then you are bound by law to still buy the property, so if you don’t get the loan after that time, you’re in trouble.

So work fast, push and push the bank and make sure to keep the notary updated as much as possible in case extensions are required.

The process so far

1. Initial bank meeting (are you eligible for a loan and on what terms)
2. Find a property, make an offer, have the offer accepted
3. Sign Promise of Sale

The post Signing Promise of Sale in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

So far in our quest to buy a property in Malta, we have had the initial meetings with banks to see if we’re eligible and get quotes on repayments. We have searched the market, found a property we liked and signed the promise of sale. So now, the property is off the market whilst you apply for a bank loan and the bank, the notary and your architect do their work to ensure this sale can go through.

Even if the bank has kind of ‘pre-agreed’ they’d give you a loan, this can still be rejected once the full application is submitted. In the initial meeting, they look only at your salary and determine roughly how much they’d be willing to lend and at what interest rate.

During the application process, they look much further into your finances, going through months worth of bank statements, your employment and salary history, savings, other outgoings and probably quite a bit more.

Documents needed to apply for a home loan

This process might vary a little from bank to bank so the following is from my experience. To submit your application for a home loan you will need to provide the bank with:

• past 6 months bank statements for all bank accounts you hold (current accounts, savings accounts, Revolut accounts, foreign accounts)
• past 3 months payslips
• employment contract (signed by you and your employer)
• latest FS3
• ID card
• passport (you will need both)
• the signed promise of sale
• a completed questionnaire that the bank will provide.

Your loan has been approved- now what?

The bank will review all the documents and usually come to a decision within 3-4 weeks of application. They might get in touch during that time to clarify certain points or request more documents before, finally, approving or denying the loan. But this is only half the battle. Now they need to check out the property and see if they are willing to lend against it.

Once that is done, the bank will begin their vetting of the property. They will send out their own architect, value the property, then request a lot of documents regarding the property before they agree to issue the loan on that building. They may request:

• your architect’s valuation
• your architect’s estimate of works
• copy of MEPAs full development permit
• plan of the property
• land registry site plan and schedule 8
• energy performance certificate (EPC).

I’ve noticed that no one is particularly helpful during this process. I keep telling everyone involved that this is my first time and I have literally no idea what steps need to come next yet people still expect you to just know stuff, turn up with the right documents, set the right appointments etc. So I’ll make sure to document this whole process so you won’t have to go through the same stress as I am!

The property buying process so far

1. Initial bank meeting (are you eligible for a loan and on what terms)
2. Find a property, make an offer, have the offer accepted
3. Sign Promise of Sale
4. Officially apply for the bank loan

The post Home Loan Application in Malta appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.

I love reading, but like many of us these days, I just don’t find the time to get as much done as I want. Somehow I find plenty of time for Netflix, but sitting down to read a book only really happens when I find myself on a plane.

Something I do fit in a lot though is Podcast episodes and for a long time I’ve wanted to switch out podcasts for audiobooks but there has been no good service plan here in Malta. The few services I could find come with a monthly fee that gave you a very limited amount of audiobooks (like 1 per month) and if you want anything above that you have to pay and audiobooks are expensive! It ended up being just totally unreasonable. Until now…

What is BookBeat?

BookBeat is a service from the media powerhouse Bonnier Group that has finally come to Malta. For a small monthly fee, they offer unlimited audiobook listening. BookBeat was founded in 2015 and is a digital streaming service that allows you to find, download and listen to a huge range of audiobooks right on your phone.

You can listen via wifi and data, but even better, you can download an audiobook at home, connected to wifi, then listen to it when you don’t have any connection (like when you’re flying!).

Enjoy a free month of audiobooks in Malta!

For just €14.90 per month, you can listen to as many audiobooks as you have time for and, believe me, once you get started you’ll find yourself making more and more time for them. BookBeat offers a 2-week free trial to everyone to let them test out the service with no risk, but, my readers can enjoy an entire month of BookBeat audiobooks for free.

There is no obligation to continue after the free trial if you don’t want to and, even if you do sign up for the paid subscription afterwards, you can cancel any time with no hidden cancellation fees. It’s your service, so use it as much, as little, how and when you like.

How do I use BookBeat?

It’s a super easy app to use. First signup for your free month, then go to the AppStore on your phone, download BookBeat then log in. Once you’re in you can find titles under the “Categories” or “Inspiration” tabs at the bottom of the screen or “Search” if you know exactly what you’re looking for.

Once you see a cover you like the look of, tap on it to open up more info and, if you like it, either hit “Listen” to start directly or “Download” to save for listening later.

Then there are some nice extra features like being able to adjust the number of seconds under ‘rewind’ and ‘fast forward’, you can set a sleep timer so if you’re listening in bed, the book won’t continue playing all the way through after you’ve fallen asleep. I have to have something playing to fall asleep so I absolutely love this feature. I set it to 15 minutes so if I do fall asleep, I only have a few minutes to rewind when I come back to start again later.

But, are there many books to choose from?

Yes! When I saw the low price and the fact that the service offers unlimited listening, I expected there to be a catch and most likely it’d be a super limited selection of books, but I was very happy to find I was wrong. There are thousands of audiobooks ready to be heard on BookBeat, ranging from some of the old classics to recent releases.

Right now I’m listening to “Everything is F*cked” by Mark Manson, who also wrote “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck” which I’m sure you’ve all read (but if not, that one’s also on there!) with Lindsey Kelk’s “One in a Million” lined up next for a little light relief.

I tend to listen to a lot of business books, as I’m always striving to be a better leader and buying the books, or even the Kindle editions can also get expensive, then, when you don’t find enough time to sit and read (or constantly fall asleep when reading, like me) it really isn’t worth it, so listening to them whenever I’m walking to a meeting or popping to the shops is the perfect way to always be learning.

So, go and sign up for your free month and let me know which audiobook you start listening to first!

The post Unlimited audiobooks now available in Malta with BookBeat appeared first on Malta: Moving On, Up & Away.