The ‘worst cold ever’ is ravaging the UK post pandemic

Oct 11 2021

As if we haven’t had enough of viruses, people in Britain are dealing with what many are deeming ‘the worst cold ever’. The numbers of people suffering from the common cold are reportedly on the rise, with experts saying that because everyone’s immune system has had a year off, the seasonal illnesses are making a comeback with longer and more intense effects. The GDP stated that the numbers are higher than they usually are, as many are mingling in a way that was absent for the past 18 months.

During the first lockdowns, infections unrelated to COVID-19 dropped significantly. The GDP spokespersons suspect this to be because of lockdowns restricting meet ups. Social media is also blowing up with posts about this wave of non-COVID infections. Despite these viruses are usually nothing to worry about, the pandemic is still a very real threat. So medical experts are recommending PCR tests just in case and maybe avoiding contact for a while for anyone feeling under the weather. Whether its COVID-19 or a little sneeze, no one appreciates being the recipient of either.

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Photo Source: British Heart Foundation

Cardini’s cocktail tree is perfect for any squad outing and we love it!

Oct 11 2021

Have you ever struggled with the problem of going out with your friends and having second thoughts on the cocktail you ordered? What about ordering the wrong cocktail and preferring your friends’ drinks over yours? Well, Trattoria Cardini in Sliema may solved all of your alcoholic beverage-related problems with the launch of their new cocktail tree.

That’s right, cocktail tree. The simple but satisfying structure enhances the social experience of going out for drinks by propping up your favourite boozy beverages in a neat, super-Instagrammable structure which allows you to mix and match your favourite drinks. The cocktail tree consists of 8 cocktails which makes it ideal for a group outing.

Beyond having a warm, welcoming atmosphere, Trattoria Cardini are well known for providing many mouth-watering and flavourful dishes which will surely tingle your tastebuds. You can get yourself anything from sliders to ribs and everything in between, not to mention the iconic Cardini churros.

Trust us, if your squad needs a night out, head to Cardini ASAP.

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Here’s why you should visit Sicily this Christmas

Oct 11 2021

Now that summer is over, Christmas is right around the corner and whether you’re thinking of clever present ideas or scouring the internet for the perfect Christmas sweater, the festive season is upon us and we are ready. However, after what has been a relatively timid summer, a holiday is just the change of pace we need right now and thanks to Virtu Ferries, a Sicilian Christmas is as accessible as can be. In between traditional activities and great prices, here’s why you should visit Sicily this Christmas.

Change of Routine

Like we said, it has been a relatively calm summer in terms of organised activities and trips, which is why a change of routine and a step into the unordinary is precisely what’s needed during the Christmas holidays.

Pack your bags and head to the gorgeous island of Sicily for a traditional Christmas celebration unlike any other and delight in the fact that you got a huge bang for your buck with Virtu Ferries’ great deals!

Great Food

What is culture without food? Exactly. The Italian island of Sicily is well-known for its traditional delights, more so during the Christmas period with everything from fantastic fish dishes to finger-licking desserts.

One of our absolute favourites is the iconic Pignolata, a stack of fried dough balls dipped in honey and tossed with sprinkles which tastes even better than it looks. Not to mention the all-time classic Sicilian cannoli which are worth a trip on their own any time of year!

Sicilian Tradition

Sicily and its people are wholeheartedly-rooted in culture, where tradition is celebrated in a grand way and this is as prevalent as ever during Christmas time.

From the abundant religious displays to the popular & vibrant Christmas markets, Sicily is bursting with seasonal activities, entertainment, craft and gastronomy and it would be a shame to miss out on an experience such as this!

Value For Money

Well-known for providing the best deals all year round, Virtu Ferries are providing the ideal December Super Offer which allows you to enjoy a pleasant holiday whilst also having enough cash to throw around for Christmas presents.

The offer is also eligible for Christmas and New Year Weekend and passengers can travel for as little as €49 with the return fare included! Time is of the essence and planning in advance is essential so don’t forget; book early, save more.

So Many Benefits

Going on a Christmas or New Year holiday with Virtu Ferries does not mean that you have to shell out all of your hard-earned holiday savings. Quite the contrary, Virtu Ferries are not only offering a €49 passenger ticket with return fare included, but a motorcycle ticket costs a mere €59 and car ticket €69.

To top it all off, kids travel free and the tickets are refundable, making it the ideal holiday for anyone wanting to change up their usual Christmas celebrations.

The offer is valid until the end of October so think ahead to benefit from the best prices for your Christmas Holiday.

Tag your travel buddies!

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Sicily-Malta inter-connector use limited as prices surge in Europe

Oct 11 2021

Enemalta has avoided using the Sicily-Malta inter-connector over the past few days during peak Horus as energy prices across Europe have surged dramatically. Despite Malta so far managing to avoid the sky high energy tariffs hitting the continent, Enemalta has drastically reduced the use of the inter-connector. Times of Malta reports that the inter-connector was switched off for 11 hours on Wednesday, 18 hours on Thursday and 17 more hours on Friday.

With Enemalta’s price for electricity from the inter-connector being determined by a daily auction on the open market, the Eurozone consumer prices rose at their fastest pace since 2008 in September. Eurostat, the EU’s official statistics agency, claimed that eurozone inflation reached 3.4% on an annual basis, with energy prices increasing by 17.4%. Malta saw the lowest prices increases in the entire eurozone.

A spokesperson for the Energy Ministry informed the newsroom that wholesale prices in Italy, from which Malta imports over the inter-connector, have reached a record 37c per unit. The prices on the European grid are expected to stabilise in the second quarter of 2022, according to the spokesperson.

As the inter-connector was being used less and less, one of Enemalta’s older power plants (Delimara 2) was given new life. Running on gasoil, a polluting type of diesel, the use of this plant was inquired about by the newsroom. The spokesperson said that this power plant is intended to serve as backup.

This comes after Energy Minister Miriam Dalli announced plans to build a second Sicily-Malta inter-connector. Despite the rise in prices, the spokesperson confirmed that the government still planned to go ahead with the project. This is because a second inter-connector would fit in with the government’s decarbonisation vision and increasing the island’s diversification of sources.

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Photo Source: Miriam Dalli FB, Enemalta