Ahoy there! Long time MSer here. I’m Claude and am 41 from Malta. I’m here cos there’s not much of an MS community here in my country. There’s around 500 of us so it’s a very small one so i can’t expect too much.
I was diagnosed at 13 but i feel it hitting home more now eventhough i haven’t had a relapse in years now.
So I’ll have a look around and hopefully become active here.
Hi Claude - Welcome mate 
Wow, you were diagnosed young (I was diagnosed this year at 47) 
… Sorry that you’ve been out in the wilderness for a while. I’m fairly new to all this but, they’re a nice bunch on here so, get stuck in and enjoy the place 
All the best 
Jon.
Hi Jon,
Thanks for your message.
Tbh, i feel more in the ‘wilderness’ now than ever as loneliness is becoming more real now.
I guess the world is not yet ready for us lol
You’re welcome mate
Sorry to hear that but, rest assured you’re not alone - there’s always room for a chat on here, whenever you like.
We have a network of pretty good local groups here. I will pop into my local one soon for the coffee morning - I quite like the sound of that and, everyone enjoys a cuppa
With a small community of MS folks out your way, the chances are that you’re not the only one feeling a bit detached - it could be a perfect opportunity to start a local group in such nice surroundings. I’m sure the people behind this forum would be happy to help get it moving.
… have a think on it mate 
Jon.
That’s a wonderful idea! Thanks.
I’ll definitely think about it.
Hello @claude.calleja . I’ve been getting carried away with @jthatcher suggestion about starting a Malta based MS group.
I’m a great fan of Overcoming MS ( living well with MS). They have a comprehensive website with plenty of ideas on diet, exercise, meditations and post various videos, webinars etc. I was thinking that something like OMS and its various suggestions, webinars etc might provide an interesting focus for meet ups in Malta?
Living on the west side of central Scotland where we can go for days without seeing any sun I could sometimes do with some Mediterranean weather and swimming in the sea although unfortunately I’m useless in the heat.
P.S I was diagnosed some 19 years ago and not doing too bad except that my right leg is becoming increasingly difficult to move and I suffer a bit of ‘bladder urgency’ and the dreaded constipation ( fairly easily managed)
I already have a name for our wouldbe group - Nerves of steel! Lol
I’m pretty useless in the heat as well! I used to go swimming at a local pool but traffic and parking are insane here! So i got a recumbent bike and some resistance bands to work out at home instead. I wouldn’t even dare swim in the sea here. Malta is not built for us in that way.
About Scotland, i used to be in Scouts in my younger days and played the bagpipes. I also made friends with a Scot who played the pipes who used to spend the winter in Malta. Fun times indeed!
Back to the ms group; it’s a great idea but we’re in the midst of an election (people are still quite intense about that shit here) and the onslaught of Maltese summer after that (intense heat coupled with high humidity). So that needs to be parked a bit for now.
For what its worth here’s the link to the group https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CrqtjH2aU/
If there are any Maltesers here, you’re most welcome to join.
Well done Claude - Top man 
I only had a quick browse but, that looks a good set up mate. I hope the group does well 
Good luck and, all the best
Jon.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained 
I just wanted to add that the group is not just for Maltese people but the socialising activities will be done there 
Hi @claude.calleja Ive lived in Scotland for a little over 30 years but I’m not Scottish- I’m from the English East Midlands. My wife is Scottish and her sister has learned to play the bagpipes- sort of moderately well but not well enough to listen to for more than a few minutes 
.
As you might have read, we have just been through local ( in England) and National ( Wales and Scotland) elections . The results of those elections are still reverberating around England, Scotland and Wales. We might end up with yet another change of Prime Minister. I don’t know if you ever heard that a few years back people were making joke bets on whether the then PM (Liz Truss) would last longer than a supermarket lettuce. She didn’t!
Divisions , splits and arguments within political parties have dominated the news for far too long!!
Same here! Tbh, the older i get the less of a toss i give about these things. Its either age or i have more important things to worry about now
I think that’s a good way to be mate
The more I grow into being middle aged and, the more I slowly accept what my brain lesions are leaving me with, the less energy I give to the small unimportant things - it’s quite liberating in a way
Jon.
Especially since both parties offer the same things! Let them fight it out in the mud as usual!
Hi @claude.calleja and welcome to the group 
We’re a friendly bunch as you’ve already seen.
This forum is so helpful.
Take care,
Alison
Cheers