Well I really am confused.  I’m really sure I didn't sleep for that long, but still you are not around.  Did I do something to upset you all is that why you’re staying away?  Wish you would tell me what the problem is that is making you abandon me.  That's the problem with being my age no one ever tells me anything.  They think I wouldn't understand, don't they realise not knowing is worse.

Well maybe if I tell you how I came into being you will come back to talk to me. 

I was originally thought about in 1870 when it was decided to buy land to build me on.  At that time I was to be a hospital for the British military forces stationed in Malta.  I was designed and constructed by the Royal Engineers (a regiment in the army) to a set of specifications that a lady called Florence Nightingale thought would be best for the health of the soldiers.

I was finished in August 1873 at a cost of £21,000 (Equivalent today of £2,000,000).  I was a state of the art hospital with all the modern conveniences of the time and considered one of the best in Southern Europe.  I had running hot water on the ground floor, quite a thing at the time when most houses didn't even have indoor bathrooms.

I was built with four large wards and two small wards on two floors.  My ground floor had the operating rooms and waiting rooms.  The basement was used for contagious patients and prisoners of war.  On the top floor there was a day room for patients.  Administration offices were in between the two wards on each floor.  My kitchen and stores where all built in outbuildings and the staff had to live away from the hospital.

Listen to me rambling on I sound like a History teacher.  Really what I wanted to tell you about was my first ever friend, his name was Carmel.  He was a young lad, some of you remind me of him, who worked on the site.  He had to work hard long hours helping the builders.  Guess you are wondering why he wasn't at school well then children had to work to help put food the table at home.

Like I said he worked hard but whenever he could he would come and talk to me.  He would tell me about his family and his friends and the things that would happen.  He had two sisters and three brothers and they all shared a bedroom.  His father and two of his brothers worked but his other siblings were still too young to work, they stayed home with his mother.  Even though they were poor they were happy and loved each other very much.

I really used to enjoy him coming to talk to me.  One day he stopped coming, rather like you have done.  I found out later, after listening to some of the men talking that he had become ill.  I hoped and hoped that he would return to talk to me as I was feeling lonely.  For such a long time he never came and I was so sad.  It seems that the illness was very nasty but eventually the day came when he returned and I was so happy.

I hope a similar thing has not happened to you and that you’re going to come back soon.  I am so sad and lonely without you all around.  I really can't wait for you all to be back shouting, playing football and running around me.

Old age is a terrible thing and I need to close here as I am so tired.  Bye hope to see you all very soon.

Edward