WEEKEND WITH THE PROFESSOR

Last week I woke and it took three minutes for me to remember what day of the week it was.   I texted friends to find out if this happened to them or that I was going mad, which is a possibility.   I was told by a knowing soul, that it happens when you have a) too much on the mind and b) have had a deep sleep. So any of you out there who wake up not knowing the day of the week - there you have it - you're not mad. If you still don't know three hours after you wake up, that may be different. When I was traveling a lot I used to wake up and not know what country I was in.  

Two weeks ago it was Italy. Today I am in Gozo as I type.    It's a fifth the size of Malta and is treated like 'Ireland is to England' in other words not as bad as France and Britain and Australia and New Zealand and America and Canada, but sort of - an 'ish' of suspicious (ish), as Professor Edward de Bono would say.

Talking of which, I have spent a few days in the company of this incredible man again.   The person who was able to break down barriers of politics, prejudice, personalities, by using his incredible ability to simplify and thereby make accessible the process of thinking, has probably done more for productivity on all levels than the combined diplomacy of the world. His methods are used globally in China and America and Russia - cultures which rarely agree on anything even to this day without lots of negotiation, compromise, chest beating.  In companies, schools, universities, governments, establishments who not so much have narrow ways of thinking, but don't actually think, he made more progress than any statesman and far fewer enemies - if any.  Jealous critics perhaps.   He also happens to be a very funny, charming man, thoughtful - which doesn't often go with someone who is this clever and thinks on a level few can aspire to - and has a lovely partner Jayne.  He is going to have a busy year of which I will write about later, but it was an extraordinary weekend with lovely people.

Getting back to Gozo, it's a bit like Venice in that people visit for the day. Don't. Stay here for two nights, do a spa day or holistic (yoga on the beach) see pix. The walks here are lovely, very rural and incredibly dramatic countryside and cliffs.  Don't go on a Saturday as 'Saturday is Gozo day' for the locals - so go Tuesday which is the quietest.   Don't treat it as the poor relation to Malta as it's very much part of the package with it's own history and food specialities (I don't eat cheese but the goats cheese here is lovely).   Eat at Rikardu Zammit 35621555953 in Victoria and ask to see how they make the cheese.   Stayed at the lovely Corinthia Palace in Malta and the Kempinski in Gozo.