Hi and welcome

Its not esp wet - annual rainfall around 600mm v 800 in England, and 1400 in Scotland and Wales, or windy - this year has been fairly average, although the temp has been 1-2C colder than average. The issue of rheumatism is a problem here, more I'd say from humidity inside houses than outside (houses built for hot summers with thick walls, not for cold winters - rarely central heating, but gas and herosine heaters, both of which raise humidity), but many foreigners use dehumidifiers in the houses. It may be genetic to Maltese or because Maltese are generally quite a short and overweight "race", as foreigners don't appear to suffer rheumatism as much, but that could well be complete rubbish !

hopefully someone will give a more scientific answer

Bongu Mark, The Maltese over weight never ? how could you think such a thing what with all those healthy Pastizzi and Qmaret places designed especially for us weight conscious chaps

L-isbah xewqat
Sliema2

i suffer from trauma induced osteoarthritis in both knees and have had half knee joint replacement and am having my other knee done in april....I went to bugibba in malta 2 years ago in april and could not believe the change in my knees ....the pain went for the whole week....it was wonderfull....I am going to sliema in malta tomorow with my hubby for a week and once again am so so so looking forward to being pain free for a whole week


xx
foxpot [/b]

*Edit to restore normal font Briar

While we were on hols in the magic Isles a couple of years ago we went on an organised trip and the driver of the minibus got into conversation with us. I actually asked him about arthritis and rheumatism and suggested that the warm Maltese climate was just the job for sufferers. He said that although during the Summer the climate probably was beneficial. however, during their Winter the rain that does fall permeates the spongy limestone rock substructure of the Island causing a very humid climate, and therefore a problem for athritis and rheumatism sufferers!

Don't know if this is totally correct but it sounds pretty plausible to me,

Trev

Many thanks for your quick replies, Im even more confused now as i dont want to go from bad to worse, any body got any ideas as to weres best to go for winter sun and to help with the aches and pains, please dont say Benidorm as id sooner hibernate. Cheers

why not try renting a place in Malta for a winter and seeing how it goes ? If you get an apartment on the second floor then it shouldn't be a problem

ps as I type, we have gale force winds and rain here in Gozo !

Hello all, Mrs Holidaymaker suffers a bit in the winter with her hair over the new year 2004/5 in Malta her hair used to go curly every night on going out after spending half a hour with hair dryer and straiteners.
Last new year 2005/6 we went to Tenerife there was no problem at all with the curly hair it still tuck half an hour to get it strait but at least it stayed that way, so would this work with rheumatisum? all I am saying my back never had any pain at all in Tenerife

Dave