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Nowadays, a child’s entire educational needs are planned pretty much from birth. Which school to choose is likely to be one of the most anxiety-inducing questions for new parents as they debate that ever-controversial question: is a private school the answer? As with many things in life, this depends largely on your child, your personal circumstances and your educational expectations. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution, so let’s take a look at the important considerations to take into account before reaching a decision. Advantages: a diverse curriculum and cutting-edge teaching practices Attending a private school comes with many advantages, the most notable of which tends to be a nuanced curriculum that includes more extra-curricular options than government or church schools usually do. Many parents whose children have a strong passion for extras will tell you that they chose that specific school for its well-equipped drama club, its dance school, its tennis coach… the list is never-ending. Moreover, private schools tend to employ more cutting-edge teaching practices. To mention one example, they’re likely to start leveraging AI in classes earlier than other schools. Typically, classes are smaller in size, which means students get more one-on-one time. Moreover, private schools are also likely to be better equipped to cater for students with special requirements. Disadvantages: cost and admissions process   Enrolling at a private school is likely to be one of the biggest financial burdens you will face as a parent caring for your children. Besides the cost of tuition itself, you will have to take into account additional fees for extra-curriculars and a variety of events such as ice-cream day, outings and so forth. While these are optional, the peer pressure to be part of school activities is high. While it may be easier to cope with the financial commitment if you have an only child, the arrival of siblings may complicate matters. Many parents have had to face a real dilemma and decide whether to pull out an older child from private school upon the arrival of a new baby. So is a private school the answer? There’s no straight ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer for this one. You can only reach the best decision by weighing up all the pros and cons carefully. Parents who are in a position to opt for private school tuition are likely to be very satisfied with the result, so if you feel that this is something your family can commit to you’ll find the best recommendations on Triedandtested.

There used to be a time when little choice and even less exposure to foreign practices meant that businesses had a lot more leeway in terms of standards, quality and customer service. This doesn’t hold true any more. As consumers become more demanding, businesses have had to up their game and to adhere to a code of best practices. Here’s why. Consumers are now more aware of their rights The advent of the internet means that we have knowledge at our fingertips. We know what our rights are, and we’re no longer going to be fobbed off with statements like: no guarantee, no after-sales, no refunds and the like. Moreover, if we’re not satisfied with the service or product of a particular business, we now have ways and means to get redress, such as by filing a complaint with the Ombudsman. Failing that, a bad Google or Facebook review can also go a long way. We have become more environmentally aware As climate change becomes a more threatening reality and we see our island changing before our eyes, many consumers now place a strong priority on environmentally conscious practices. The trend has changed in favor of businesses that have a sustainable program and that do their part to help our planet thrive. International standards have raised our expectations Nowadays most people travel regularly and are exposed to the world-class standards of global brands. And when we’re back home, we expect no less. The influx of Northern Europeans as part of the igaming and financial services industry also means that Maltese companies have had to match their business practices to those that expats are used to. More choice means that only the best survive With online shopping becoming the norm and more international franchises joining the Maltese market, there’s never been such a huge choice of products and services. Stands to reason that only those with a gold standard of business practices will survive, as those that fall short are forced to rethink their strategy or fold.

Malta may not have the biggest green areas in Europe, but that’s not to say that our countryside is not teeming with wildlife. A spring stroll around the island’s coastline is likely to reveal some surprises, so keep your camera at the ready and snap away. Always remember not to disturb any living creature! Hedgehogs You don’t have to venture much off-the-beaten track to spot hedgehog families sauntering around after sunset. Some of the quieter villages leave out milk, cat food and cardboard boxes offering shelter to the little prickly creatures, and you’re likely to a couple trying to cross country lanes, so always keep an eye out while driving. Pygmy Shrews While they’re surprisingly common across the Maltese Islands, you’ll need a bit of a trained eye to spot one of these tiny, yet super-fast, creatures. If you do, don’t mistake it for a mouse. You can tell if you’ve found a real shrew from the very pointed snout, but don’t attempt to touch it. Let it forage and roam in peace! Cat Snakes Malta’s famous lifa, a small snake that contains no venom, is closely tied to St Paul’s shipwreck in Malta. Legend has it that when the saint landed on the island during a storm, he got bitten by a lifa. As the Maltese looked on in horror, he performed a miracle and removed all venom from the reptile. Whatever you choose to believe, one thing’s for sure: this snake is harmless. Dolphins Keep your eyes peeled when crossing over to Gozo or Comino as commuters often come across shoals of friendly dolphins which continue swimming alongside the ferry. Sometimes they will even come close to shore and spend some time cavorting before swimming back to the open sea. Sea turtles Sadly not as common as they used to be, but some bays like Ramla l-Ħamra, Golden Bay and Ġnejna still get turtles laying their eggs there every summer. When this happens, it’s a sight to behold and the entire island springs into action to protect the eggs. Where to spot wildlife in Malta The Northern side of the island is always a good bet, as there are many country lanes and fields that are open to the public. The Southern side also boasts lovely greenery and is worth exploring. There are several nature reserves where wildlife is protected and is thus more abundant, the most well-known being Għadira, Simar, Salina and Buskett.

Malta’s Mediterranean climate has blessed the island with sumptuous seasonal produce, while our Arabic and Italian roots have given birth to a number of sweet and savoury delicacies that boast unique – and very moreish! – flavours. Where to find the best Maltese traditional foods to indulge in? The answers may surprise you. Artisan fairs Come Sunday, you’ll find a number of artisan fairs taking place in different locations around The Maltese Islands. Here, you’ll find independent artists and creatives showcasing jewellery, upcycled clothes, giftware and a variety of Maltese traditional foods. Look out for cake stands featuring the iconic coconut slices, pastini tar-raħal (village biscuits) and biskuttini tal-lewż (almond biscuits). These are always homemade and freshly baked, so you’re in for a treat. Farmers’ markets The weekends are also for dropping in at one of the farmers’ markets, the largest one being the one in Ta’ Qali. There are also other markets in Mġarr, Marsaxlokk and other villages, but these tend to be smaller. Here, you’ll find all the Maltese traditional foods you can yearn for, from the readily-cooked to the base ingredients or even the frozen stuff to take home and use at leisure. The variety on offer in Ta’ Qali is mind-boggling, and you can buy freshly baked ross il-forn (baked rice), pickled olives and capers, and seasonal produce transformed into luscious dishes or desserts. Village festas Even the most recent expats to Malta will be familiar with the summer village feasts, known locally as il-festa tar-raħal. These started off as religious celebrations in honour of patron saints, but nowadays they’re part of secular culture as entire towns converge for a massive street party of music, fireworks and – of course – traditional delicacies. You’ll find stalls selling Maltese pastizzi (pastries with a ricotta or mush pea filling), qassatat (the cousins of the pastizzi, but larger) and the beloved qubbajd. The latter is a nougat-like sweet paste that comes in different flavours. Be warned, it’s addictive! Roadside stalls This may sound like a weird one, but hear us out. If you happen to be driving alongside one of Malta’s roads and you spot a tiny stand selling imqaret, don’t pass up the opportunity. Cheap and very cheerful, imqaret consist of a sweet, fried pastry filled with a date paste and served piping hot. It’s a literal taste of heaven. You’ll find a permanent imqaret stand at the entrance to Valletta, while mobile kiosks pop up regularly on main thoroughfares in central towns like Birkirkara.

Young minds need to be kept constantly occupied, as boredom tends to settle in very fast. Which is why it’s so important to make the right choice when looking for summer schools. Our Triedandtested experts are on hand to guide you through the journey. Be aware of what you want to achieve Are you simply looking for supervised entertainment for your little ones? With very young children you’re likely to need someone to take care of them while you’re at work, so the schedule of subjects and activities may not be your main priority. However, if you have older children you may wish to help them stay on top of their educational journey by focusing on their weaker areas. In this case, when looking for summer schools you’ll need to be aware of the time dedicated to academic subjects. Always ask before enrolling, so you don’t end up with a completely different schedule to what you need. Make sure the timetable includes things your children enjoy Put it this way – it makes little sense to enrol a child that’s obsessed with theatre and music into a sports summer school. They won’t have fun and you won’t be nurturing their natural talents. Ask for detailed information about the activities and topics that are offered and pick the one that best matches your child’s personality. Consider the commute A summer school may be perfect in every way, but if it’s located on the other side of the island and you need to drive there everyday… well, that’s going to be an issue, isn’t it? You need to balance all aspects when looking for summer schools, otherwise you could very well end up with an additional burden instead of a reprieve. Engage with the teachers Sometimes it’s difficult to decide between two very similar options. If you get stuck, it can be helpful to ask for a quick chat with the teachers or supervisors. A vibe check can go a long way towards determining which school is a better fit for you and your family. And finally: what about your children’s friends? All kids want to spend the summer with their besties. When making your final decision, and all other things being equal, sometimes the answer is the simplest one. Pick the one where they can spend time with their friends.

Fact – Malta summers are a killer. They’re tough on even the fittest and most sensible among us, let alone on our fur babies who probably have no idea why they suddenly feel like their energy packed up and went on holiday. Add climate change to the mix, and we’re suddenly looking at a pack of parched and pooped pets. It doesn’t have to be that way, of course. Here are our top tips for keeping your pet cool in the summer. Schedule your dog walk very early or late in the day This can be a bit of a pain, especially if you’re used to an energising walk as soon as you clock off work. Trust us when we say that the 5PM Maltese sun is no place for a pooch. This holds even more strongly if you have a WFH arrangement and you’re thinking of a lunchtime stroll. Wait until after sunset, or bite the bullet and get a quick run in right after your morning coffee. Put some ice cubes in their water bowl Don’t you just hate ‘room’ temperature water that’s been sitting in a hot space? Chances are, so does your pet. Drop in a couple of ice cubes to keep the water fresh to help them lower their body temperature. And do make sure they have continuous access to fresh water as, in the hot months, most pets will need to drink more. Air-con too expensive? Use wet towels This simple trick is safer, and more environmentally and budget friendly than leaving the fan or the air-conditioning on. Dip a couple of towels in cold water before you leave for work and leave them lying around in the room where your pet usually hangs out. Freeze one of their favourite toys This might sound like a weird one, but it works. Leave the toy in the freezer for a few hours and then hand it over and watch them chew. There’s a double benefit to this technique – besides keeping them cool, it also keeps them entertained for an hour or so. Don’t leave your pet trapped in a small space Locked cars are an obvious no-no, even for five minutes as things escalate pretty fast thanks to the greenhouse effect. If you’re leaving your pet in a yard or a garden, make sure there is adequate shelter from the sun at all times, as well as access to water. If you’re leaving your pet alone at home you will also need to ensure that there’s a fresh passage of air. Finally: Use your common sense If you’re feeling too hot, chances are your pet is feeling even worse. A smidgeon of sensibility goes a long way!

Should you use social media to search for a reliable product or service? In a nutshell – no. There’s nothing reliable about social media searches for businesses, and the likelihood is that the information you access will be heavily biased, for a variety of reasons. Let’s delve into some of these below. Social media reviews are neither independent, not objective Many businesses boast a full five stars on platforms like Facebook or Instagram. And yet, these five stars are subject to heavy bias. Consider that friends and relatives of the business in question are often asked to leave positive reviews to show their support. Some businesses will go as far as to create fake profiles so that they can drop in a few good reviews themselves. Others still offer payment or services in exchange for these reviews. This is the exact opposite of how the TriedandTested team carries out reviews. Scam alert! How real is the business being presented? Ever found the perfect service provider on a social media platform, the kind that looks too good to be true…. Only to discover that it was, indeed, too good to be true. Not all brands that have a social media presence are legit. Some are there just to gather your data; others to take your money and scram; others still will return sub-standard services or products in exchange for your hard-earned money. Very often, there’s no way of getting compensation. By contrast, all businesses listed on TriedandTested are verified by a team of experts. Social media listings are dictated by the algorithm Social media algorithms have a lot to answer for. They promote quantity over quality, paid posts over genuine reviews and popularity over authenticity. In short, you can’t trust social media to give you an accurate and full picture. You may think that the business that keeps coming up on top of your search has earned its top position thanks to a strong reputation. This is not the way social media works: businesses who snatch the number 1 spot do so either because they’ve paid for it, or because the algorithm has decided that it aligns with your interests. TriedandTested search filters, on the other hand, put you in control, resulting in a curated list of businesses that actually fit your needs. Negative comments?  Just click delete There’s a good reason why most businesses you find listed on social media only appear to have outstanding compliments on the comments section. All the bad ones get deleted. And, while you can’t really blame a brand for carrying out damage control, this means that you don’t get a true picture of that business’s standard of service. On TriedandTested, we don’t try to hide any negative elements related to a business. We use them to decide whether that business should be listed with our recommendation. If the answer is ‘no’, it’s not going to pop up anywhere on your feed. Does this mean anything you find on social media is evil? Of course not. There are plenty of honest businesses on social media. The trick is not to trust platforms like Facebook or Instagram with making the decision for you. Spotted a business you’re interested in? Head over to TriedandTested to get the full story – you may even find something better.  

Wondering what makes our TriedandTested business listings special? We can explain that in one sentence: they have been tested by our independent experts and been given their seal of approval. We’re happy to go into more detail to set your mind at rest by explaining why any business listing you access on this platform is reliable and will exceed your expectations. Here’s why you should use TriedandTested businesses. 1. Our loyalty is to you, the consumer Ever been recommended a service or product that turned out to be not quite up to scratch, and wondered how it got such a glowing review in the first place? This kind of thing doesn’t happen when you consult TriedandTested businesses, for a simple reason. Unlike review sites that have an affiliation, our priority is to ensure that our recommendations lead to a satisfied customer – you. We look after your interest, because it’s also our interest. 2. Our recommendations are based on first-hand experience TriedandTested isn’t a phrase we use as a gimmick; it’s literally what we do. Our listings are reviewed by real people who have used the business in question and who were genuinely satisfied by what was offered. You won’t find any planted fakes here, which is one of the biggest dangers of using social media reviews for businesses. We follow a very strict process to carry out reviews, and actually using the product or service is at the top of our list. 3. If a business isn’t up to scratch, it won’t be listed We will only recommend businesses that meet our very specific standards. Those that don’t, will not be receiving a listing. It’s as simple as that. This means that you can fully trust every single recommendation you find on TriedandTested, because it will certainly have earned its spot by impressing our reviewers. 4. Our reviews are 100% impartial Some so-called ‘reviews’ are nothing more than subtle adverts for the business concerned. Not on TriedandTested. Our reviewers have no affiliation to the product or service they’re testing. They are using it as any other regular consumer would, and their experience will also be your experience. 5. We remove the stress from your choice If only there was a magic button that instantly revealed reliable research about a product or service, right? Think about all the time you could save by zooming on to the best option for your needs and budget. Now there is. TriedandTested does all the hard work so you don’t have to, presenting you with reliable business listings so that you can go straight to your best option and cut out all the fluff in between. Any questions? Let’s have a chat We’re happy to answer any questions and to receive your feedback. Our number 1 priority is you, our users, and if there’s anything we can do to improve this relationship we’re happy to hear it. Drop us a message here.

Your once green and lush house plant now sports yellowing, droopy leaves. Or worse, they’ve actually fallen off, leaving you with a sad, barren stalk. Maybe it has developed weird, black spots or roots appear to be coming out of the bottom of the pot… Alarm bells start ringing in your brain and the question pops out of nowhere: are your plants dying? Unless you’re a pro gardener, it’s not always possible to tell whether your plants are sick, dying, or simply taking a rest from all the growing. Here’s when to worry and the signs you need to look out for. Signs that your plant needs attention fast If you spot any of the below on your plant, it’s time to investigate further and take action: Yellowing or browning on the leaves – this can be caused by nutrient deficiencies, particularly nitrogen, iron, or magnesium. Wilting or drooping leaves – typically due to underwatering or root damage. Gently remove the plant from the pot and inspect for signs of rotting. If there’s a weird smell, hold off the watering until it drains properly. Leaves falling off – often a sign of overwatering or extreme temperature stress, so it may need a new home. Roots visible on the surface of the soil or coming through drainage holes – a pot-bound plant needing a larger container. Brown or black spots – fungal infections or bacterial diseases, get some solutions from your garden centre. Flowers blooming and then falling off soon after – possible issues with watering (either too much or too little) or nutritional deficiencies. The presence of gnats – avoid overwatering as continuously moist soil attracts these pests. Visible fungus on the leaves or the soil surface – fungal growth due to high humidity or excessive watering. Can a dying plant recover? Plants can be quite resilient, so yes they can recover. However, this depends on how fast you correct the problem. If over or under watering is the issue, this can be solved pretty easily by adjusting the amount of water you’re giving your plant. Overwatering can potentially be fatal if you don’t remove the rot before it kills off all the roots. In cases of infection, your best bet is to take your plant to a garden centre so that it can get properly diagnosed and an effective solution presented.