Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1426475
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 7 NOVEMBER 2021 12 ALMANAC My essentials CATHERINE CAVALLO 58, artist I'm 58 years old, l was trained in London for 4 years in Fine Art/ Oil Painting, and have painted most of my life. I have an art room with a view l love, and a great day for me is one spent holed up in it, with my phone in another room. I'm thinking of getting a dog to take me on some good walks. I really don't enjoy cooking but I'm lucky as my husband cooks, and so does my son. 1 2 4 5 1. Books 3 2. Film/TV 3. Internet 4. Music 5. Place I'M a Downton Abbey fan, and I've just watched 'Down- ton Abbey, the Motion Pic- ture'. I think l loved every single scene from that film, in fact it was one long de- light to watch. The bit where Molesley gives in to his nerves and curtsies to the Queen is pretty funny, but then so is most of it. Every- one loves Maggie Smith and all her scenes are gems, but the whole cast is brilliant. It's a great other life to slip into and away from today's rough and rude world. I don't follow bloggers and tweeters, but l do follow Fr. Rob Galea who l guess can be called an influencer. He's currently holding a nine-day long Novena Live, which a vast amount of people are following. His love for God is contagious, and he inspires you to want a closer relation- ship to God and Our Lady. After a dose of Fr. Rob, life seems better. I'VE just flicked through my playlist and l came across Ozzy Osborne and Dream- er. The song talks of sadness and disappointment and frustration with the world and then carries us up on a wave of hope for better days. Ozzy is clever at taking you to extremes, and l love the vast range of emotions he uses in his works. The other thing l like about Ozzy is that he really shows you all sides to himself, so you can really grow to love him. I haven't travelled further than Gozo since the pandem- ic hit. I'd like to go on a safa- ri to Africa, but the thought of all that traveling is a little daunting, so I'm more likely to go somewhere in Europe. I was booked to stay at the Trulli in Puglia when the pan- demic hit, but now l think I'd like to go to Paris with Simon on a culture trip, ideally with someone fantastic like Fr. Marius. I went there with Si- mon before we were married and the memories are still vividly wonderful. It ticked all the boxes. AFTER reading 'The Kappil- lan of Malta' by Nicholas Mon- sarrat, l wanted more stories of when the Maltese were great, so l read 'The Great Siege, Mal- ta 1565' by Ernle Bradford and straight after that l read 'The Siege of Malta' by Francisco Balbi di Correggio. A real over- dose of Maltese greatness! And of our impressive courage and faith. These books restored a bit of hope, very welcome in today's sad current state of af- fairs.