Her Feel-Good Formula: Clare Azzopardi
Photo by Giola Cassar
From children’s books to school textbooks and adult novels, Clare Azzopardi is a household name to anyone who appreciates Maltese literature. Yet the talented writer does not see herself primarily as an author, after being an educator for 25 years. This is something she is working on as she starts a new chapter in her life. Humble and down-to-earth Clare says things as she sees them. She shares her feel-good formula over a coffee.
BODY - Physical health & image
My health is very important to me. I love to walk. I try to walk every day. I was brought up in St Julians walking on The Front, by the sea. The Front still reminds me of my childhood. As much as I loved walking by the sea, I’ve grown to prefer the quiet countryside. When I was living in Naxxar, I’d walk 7K almost every day.
At home, I do some core training and cross trainer but it’s never for more than 20 minutes. I never do anything too intensive as, when I try, parts of my body start hurting.
As for upkeep, I don’t like to wear much makeup apart from some eyeliner and lipstick. I recently went to a makeup course as, now that I’m growing older, I want to look my best. When it comes to my hair, there is not much to do to tame the curls.
“The way I view my body changed over the years. The past two years I felt it really changed… I’m not a teenager anymore. I accept myself and love myself. I want to look good for myself and feel healthy.”
I try to look after my skin. I follow a daily morning routine that involves applying serum, moisturiser, and an SPF50. At night I’m not so diligent with my night creams as sometimes I’m too tired and I just forget. But I do have regular facials every three months or so.
I love wearing colours during the day and tend to wear black for formal occasions. I like high heels and feel dressier in them, but they tire me out. I love dresses and spend my summer in them. I don’t plan my work clothes ahead. I just open the wardrobe and pick in the morning. I love earrings.
The way I view my body changed over the years. The past two years I felt it really changed. I love eating, cooking, and drinking but, even though I do exercise, it’s harder to lose weight. I quit smoking seven years ago so, I guess, this might make it harder. I did my first mammogram at the age of 45 after being encouraged by colleagues.
I’m not a teenager anymore. I accept myself and love myself. I want to look good for myself and feel healthy.
MIND - Work & mental health
Going back to walking, I do this for the physical and mental benefits. It’s not the first time that I walk and don’t listen to what is in my headphones - as I will be deep in thought.
Although I still get regular periods, I think I have entered pre-menopause. I read a lot about this. It’s not just about the physical changes. There are mood changes. There are more changes in mood that I can’t explain. I started taking primrose oil which, I feel, helps.
Exercise also helps with things like mood changes and helps clear a foggy brain. I never wrote about this although I lately wrote about the fact that I don’t have kids. It was a choice I made with my husband. But there are moments when you wonder: what if? I wish to write more about this.
Loranne Vella, in her novel Marta Marta, wrote about female masturbation. People don’t talk about it much. I wish to have the guts to write about it. The fact that I was an educator might have held me back from this. Plus, Malta is small, so some subjects are difficult to tackle.
I read a lot. When I am reading for pleasure, I feel this is my time for myself. Same with writing. When I am writing for pleasure it is my time.
“I read a lot. When I am reading for pleasure, I feel this is my time for myself. Same with writing. When I am writing for pleasure it is my time… I write because I enjoy writing, for people who read because they enjoy reading.”
Work
I have been teaching since 1999. I started teaching secondary school students, then moved to post-secondary, followed by Junior College where I was Head of Department for 8 years. So, for all these years, in the mornings I was an educator and, in the afternoons, weekends, and holidays I’d write – sometimes I work on commissioned work and sometimes on my personal projects.
I will not miss a deadline on a commissioned work. But my own projects get pushed back. But I do feel I am focused, so I get things done in the end.
I no longer work all day. I stop at 5pm and spend time with my husband, Albert. Since Covid, we made it a rule and we stop at that time. That is our time together till we sleep. We cook, go out, have a drink.
I recently started my PhD with the University of Malta. I will be looking into Different Silences in Maltese Narratives. My fascination with silence started during the pandemic when we were in awe of the silence and people posted poems about silence.
In Malta there are not many women who have a PhD in Maltese. The woman’s voice is also lacking when it comes to critical works where we often hear the voices of men.
My life is changing now. I wish to start describing myself as an author. I am embarking on this journey of study and writing. Many think that, since I am also an educator, when I write I want to teach something, but it’s not always the case. They are two separate things. Even though, through my writings, I sometimes send a subtle message, I do not set out to educate. Writing is freer. I write because I enjoy it for people who read because they enjoy it.
HEART - Relationships & connections
I am very close to my parents and have four siblings. I am especially close to my youngest brother, perhaps since he had cancer at a young age, and I was his bone marrow donor.
I’ve been with my husband for 20 years. We love each other a lot. We met through a common friend, Immanuel Mifsud the poet, in Easter of 2003. He went to do his PhD a few months after and the long distance worked out. When he came back, he taught at university. He is a computer scientist and loves the things that I love, mostly reading, theatre and music.
“I think this is the nicest time in our marriage. We are very connected…”
We both decided we do not want children. We wanted to focus on our careers. I think there was also fear: my brother had cancer at a young age and a close relative has a child with a disability. We made a choice. We wanted to focus on our careers. We could not have both. If I had to be honest a part of me feels I would have been the one to put my career on hold, as that is what usually happens. I think this is the nicest time in our marriage. We are very connected and have a very healthy sexual relationship – this is important for physical and mental health.
“My moving shows how much I love him. That, and my sense of adventure and the appealing thought of working towards becoming a full-time writer.”
Two years ago, Albert moved to The Netherlands as he changed jobs. I joined him for a year during which I was on sabbatical. Then I returned to Malta to teach for another year. Now I have moved back to Utrecht to be with him and start a new chapter in my life. The idea of not being physically independent, as I won’t have a full-time salary, is a bit unnerving. But I know that his career can grow more abroad. My moving shows how much I love him. That, and my sense of adventure and the appealing thought of working towards becoming a full-time writer.
At the time of the interview, held in 2023, Clare was turning 46 and had just left Malta and moved to The Netherlands. The interview was carried out in Maltese and was translated to English by Claudia Calleja.
What is ‘Her Feel-Good Formula’?
Think of life as having three pillars of happiness: body, mind and heart. Body is about physical wellbeing that includes health and beauty-related routines. Mind is about work and maintaining mental wellbeing. Heart is about our emotional connections with family and friends.
Because every person is different, there is no one magic feel-good formula. But, by sharing our formulas, we can help and inspire others.