Equality

I feel pretty certain that relationships are always a challenge at any age and at any time along the ages.

However, from my perspective, I can safely say that at our age and at this particular point in time they are one hell of an issue. Many men for example put the blame to equality of the sexes and feel threatened by their women's increased assesertiveness and self confidence. They hate sharing of powers and decision making - this is their domain and right - at least so they think. You often hear of storys of men living in a garage for some years due to quiting their comfortable and well endowed homes after some odd 33 years. They could not stand their wives any more. What happened?

It could happen also, that where before their women were submissive and left the decision making to their husbands when younger according to the current culture of the time, now they suddently took the plunge to change the matter - whether they were able or not to take decisions - and took their husband by surprise. This is often occuring during middle age thus making a husband feel disempowered from his usual status.

And so conflicts arise as women now have the ability to upkeep themselves and does not have to rely on their men for upkeep. Whereas before, women were reluctantly submissive mostly due to this fact that she could not earn a living and move on if need be. That was not love and family unity. Money was an issue in this unity - and not love.

Today, however, money and upkeep are not quite the reason for a couple to stay together. And that is healthy. The reasons for a couple to stay together are now filtered to the essentials - which is supposedly to be true love and affection.

Of course, modern age has invented other conveniences for tying the knot. But that is another story. You can never win it seems....

Finding and/or keeping a good mate for life is one heck of a challenge that baby boomers are currently facing. It has become such a difficult and complex feat which dating industries are taking advantage of and probably creating more complications to the matter.

Island Hopping

Our latest Maltese concern in the last few months has been regarding the introduction of an aircraft for use in crossing between Malta and Gozo as an efficient means of travel.

The crude way which was used to cross between the islands in the early days is a far cry from the present day comfort of our Gozo Channel boats. We have come a long way since those days when many had ended in tragedies due to bad weather. (photo: Mary Attard)

But time has changed and now that we have comfort and conquered the risks of the crossing there is something else to be solved.

Interior comfort on today's boats (photo: M Attard)

And this is speed which is only achieved by air. The problem remains to see which aircraft is suited for the job. Helicopters had their spell and are still used for emergencies but a more reliable means of airtravel needs to be found.