An audio clip from the 1960s/70s uploaded to social media by digitisation movement ‘Magna Zmien’ offers listeners insight into what life was like in Malta back in the day.

The audio clip consists of a message recorded by a young man called Fredu which he intended to send to his brother, Toni, who was living and working in Canada.

“Ton, I wish that you were next to me right now. I feel so happy. During the week I go to work with the petrol man to earn some money and put the money aside to give it to my mother. I might keep a shilling to spend it on something,” young Fredu said.

“I thank you for the watch that you bought me, and I hope that when I grow up I can find a job where you are so I can come to Canada,” he continued.

The Magna Zmien project was set up as a grassroots movement in 2017, advocating for the digitisation and preservation of unique home audio-visual collections to form a community archive accessible to researchers and artists.

“I’m going to shout the way I do when I’m calling out for petrol – ‘pitrolju, oj!’,” Fredu added.

“I’d like to say hi to everyone and send everyone my love. Bye! I’m asking for your blessing, I hope that you will bless me. Your brother, Fredu,” he concluded.

Things sure have changed during the last 50-60 years!