Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1541680
6 COMMERCIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 30 NOVEMBER 2025 Bay Street marks its 25th birthday with a day of family fun and the live Citroën C3 draw BAY Street marked its 25th birth- day on Sunday 23rd November with a full day of live entertainment, family activities, and the much-an- ticipated live draw for a brand new Citroën C3. The anniversary celebration capped a month-long campaign from 29th October to 23rd Novem- ber, where shoppers who spent €25 or more in a single transaction at any Bay Street store or restaurant could enter to win weekly prizes and the grand prize. Visitors enjoyed a vibrant pro- gramme of live music and perfor- mances, dancers and animators, face painting, roaming characters, and family-friendly games, all free and available for families to enjoy. Hosts Taryn Mamo Cefai and Ow- en Bonnici kept the energy high throughout the afternoon, leading up to the on-stage moment when Emma Camilleri was announced as the lucky winner of the Citroën C3. Weekly winners during this time al- so received a selection of vouchers. Bay Street CEO David Spiteri said that this milestone reflects the complex's ongoing commitment to its visitors. "Bay Street has always been about creating a welcoming environment for families and our community," he said adding that as part of this continued investment, Bay Street will begin upgrading all six escalators on 6 January 2026, with works carried out while the complex remains fully operational. With a projected footfall of 4 mil- lion in 2025, Bay Street continues to stand out as a hub for families and the larger community, consistently organising events and free enter- tainment, interactive experiences, and memorable moments for visi- tors of all ages. Christmas shopping: What to check before you buy AS Christmas approaches, many of us are getting ready to shop for gifts, from toys for children to the latest electron- ic gadgets for family, friends, colleagues, or even ourselves. We browse leaf lets delivered to our homes, scroll through online adverts, search e-com- merce sites, or visit shops in person. But whatever route we take, it's essential to make sure that the products we buy are safe, suitable for their intended us- er, and compliant with the law. This means checking that toys and electronic goods carry the required markings, warnings, instructions, and documenta- tion. Many products, including toys, electrical items, and elec- tronic devices such as mo- bile phones, tablets, gaming consoles and mains-powered Christmas decorations, must carry the CE mark. Depending on the item's size, this mark must appear on the product itself, an attached label, the packaging, or an accompany- ing leaflet. All product warnings and la- bels must be clear and visible before purchase, whether you are buying in store or online. Instructions for use and other required documents must also be provided, and all essential information must be written in Maltese or English at a min- imum. Products must include the manufacturer's contact details and, when relevant, the importer's details as well. Mains-operated products must have a 3-pin plug or be supplied with an adaptor for connection with a 3-pin socket. For toys, information re- garding suitability, including minimum and maximum age, height or weight recommen- dations, must be visible before purchase, both in shops and online. Toys must also come with labels and instructions ex- plaining any inherent risks and how to use them safely. Many electronic and elec- trical appliances, including smartphones, tablets, tele- visions, monitors, and large household devices, must dis- play the EU Energy Label. This label helps consumers choose more energy-efficient models and, for certain product cate- gories, provides sustainability information. Whether sold in store or online, the label must be clearly displayed. Addition- al product information must be available with the item and accessible through the EU's EPREL database. For some products, scanning the QR code on the label leads directly to these details. Consumers should also be aware that certain devices, such as mobile phones, tablets, headphones, headsets, earbuds and portable speakers, may be sold without a charger. A pic- togram on the packaging in- dicates whether a charger is included. Information about compatible charger specifica- tions must also appear in the instructions and on the pack- aging or the product itself. So, as you make your Christ- mas purchases, remember to choose products that comply with safety and labelling re- quirements. Use and maintain them exactly as instructed, and ensure any accessories, con- sumables or upgrades are com- patible. Safe, compliant prod- ucts help protect both the user and those around them, mak- ing the festive season safer and more enjoyable for everyone. More information on such products can be found on the Malta Competition and Con- sumer Affairs website. Ruth Scerri Baldacchino, Engineer, Technical Regulations Division, MCCAA A collection of personal memoirs from the au- thor's career in print journalism, national broad- casting, and literature, the book provides stories and anecdotes to which people of different gener- ations may identify with. Some glimpses: • Flores's book takes us back to the mid-60s when – for the first time – teenaged girls and boys started, God forbid, to mix for social and enter- tainment purposes thanks to the setting up of a number of mixed youth clubs. Segrega- tion of church congregations and school classes quickly became obsolete, despite pro- tests from State and clerical authorities then in power. • Football enthusiasts of various generations have lin- gering memories of the old Empire Stadium in Gżira. So many stories and events, so many memorable games and player legends are still part of the history of the stadium. Flores provides some of his own, often very personal observations, such as the nauseating coffee sold there, and the hum- ble lad who hung red balls to indicate the score during matches. • e 1980s were marked by social, economic, technological and political situations that led to a very difficult period in Maltese history. National broadcasting was, for many, either a victim or a perpetrator, possibly both. Caught in the eye of the storm, Flores writes about personal experi- ences during that period. A behind-the-scene sort of recollection. • Since way back in the 50s to the late 90s, Eu- rope's most popular television programme was "Jeux Sans Frontieres", for Maltese viewers better known in its Italian title of "Giochi Senza Fron- tiere". Malta's admission to the series in 1994 and 1995 provoked an even keener public interest. Maltese and Gozitan towns and villages sent their teams, obtaining mixed results. e author paints an over- all picture of those two ex- citing years during which scores of young men and women took part. • e very word Rediffu- sion provokes a stream of memories to sundry gen- erations. Not even WWII had stopped its services. Decades later, that "talk- ing box" became known as Cable Radio, but with a future already under threat from advancing technolo- gies. To many people, its closure in the late 80s was as sad as it was nostalgic. • Elizabeth II of Great Britain was often – and still is – described as infatuated with the Maltese Islands. A small medal given to the author when she first visited Malta as a queen in 1954 features prominently in the book. Where did the medal resurface decades later? "Ras il-Għajn" from Charles Flores's estab- lished pen is available from all leading book- shops. Memoirs to reignite your own personal stories