The great thing about Malta is the climate, and although it can get chilly in January/February – about the only months when it can rain – for much of the year the weather is warm,  washed over by sea breezes that temper what would otherwise be a searingly hot barren island.
Coupled with that, the island is surrounded of course by the azure swell of the Mediterranean – meaning sea food is readily available – I’m not a huge meat eater. Add in a proximity to Sicily and the wonderful Sicilian wines, cheeses, vegetables and fruits, the Mediterranean diet is as healthy as can be.
I’ve just collected my Maltese residency card, granted after I’ve made a significant property investment into the country. Â That means I now have a British passport, Maltese and Sri Lankan residency and have shifted my tax base to Malta. As I have also reached the sweet age of 55 that means I can enjoy “white hair” status and effectively reduce my personal income tax to zero – I am paid in dividends that have already had (a lot of)Â tax deducted at source.
The traditional Russian Samovars are wonderful objects, beautiful in their own right, yet with a specific purpose – brewing water for tea making. The best Samovars were made in Tula, just south of Moscow, with the very best makers displaying stamps that their samovars – all hand made – had won at various international competitions for craftsmanship. Most were made of brass, but it is possible to find samovars made from silver, gold, and even enamel. For obvious reasons, these can be highly valuable, whereas a good quality brass Samovar in working order can still be found for under USD100 on ebay. They are a worthwhile purchase, not because of the increasing scarcity of them -but because they are such fun to use. Imperial era -pre 1917 samovars are the best, and should come complete with matching tray. drip bowl, and a cap. Many also have matching brass teapots that fit neatly on the top.
When tracing back the historical background to the production of wine, some of the earliest examples, both in terms of archaeological findings and the written word, hark back to Georgia, in the Caucasus region, and the Qvevri method. I enjoy big tannic reds, and am curious to learn how the extra tannins imparted during the Qvevri process will affect this ancient, and traditional winemaking technique.
Travelling and living in places such as Ulaan Baatar is wonderful for putting one immediately into a different universe. Everything changes, the expats you meet are more quirky, interesting, the country provides more challenges, even dangers, and there are relationships not found anywhere else. One such is Mongolia’s visa-free arrangement with North Korea, while the DPRK Embassy is a couple of streets away from my apartment. Hush hush, but the Americans and North Koreans unofficially convene in Ulaan Baatar when they want to talk. Which is not very often, but it does happen.