I received a text message from Big Sis at seven-thirty this morning. It said this:

"I was having birthday cake and tea with Ira Losco in her kitchen at midnight last night!"

I read it out to Lisa, who spoke on behalf of an entire nation by replying:

"Who?"

That's an entire nation apart from me. Naturally I have my finger on the Euro-pop pulse (and I have access to Google), so I happen to know that Ira Losco is a Maltese cross between Kylie Minogue and Adele, who came second in the Eurovision Song Contest. And besides, Sis told me about her two weeks ago.

To be honest, I can't remember the exact connection between my sister and the lovely Miss Losco. I think Sis is claiming to be a friend of Ira's sister. Although from the text message, it sounds more like the relationship between Michael Fagan and the Queen. Either way, Sis is currently in Europe, hob-nobbing with a bubbly Malteser and eating her cake. Which I expect is the lighter way to enjoy chocolate.

Fans of Miss Losco claim she's 'the bomb', which is appropriate for someone named IRA, but in addition to being huge in the Med, Wikipedia states that in 2008 she was "awarded a national medal for making Malta proud in the Inetrnational music scene". Although I'd be less proud of that spelling of 'international'. It's basically what The Cheeky Girls have done for Transylvania, but on a more global scale, and without involving Lembit Opik. All of which makes it a miracle we've never heard of her.