October 2012 - Issue 34
www.vida.com.mt
Homes special
Yada Dance Rush
October 26th, 27th and 28th and November 4th at the MCC, Valletta - page 55
Prepare to sell
The estate agent’s tips on how to sell your property fast - page 14
Chefs for charity The story behind Tisjir mill-Qalb - page 28
WIN! Home decorating
Country style
Travel photography
Capital of culture
SIGNED BOOKS, BEAUTY TREATMENTS, A SECURITY SYSTEM & MORE
editorial Homes special
vida.com.mt Issue 34 - October 2012 VIDA Magazine is a monthly lifestyle magazine distributed to households in Malta and Gozo. It aims to empower the people to lead a better, healthier and happier life. Publisher
For many of us, our home is the biggest investment we will make in our lifetime. Therefore, everything that goes with it, from budgeting, shopping around, making the final decision, choosing how it is to be decorated and even preparing a property for sale are all factors that take careful consideration and should be given the necessary attention. Indeed, the majority of us in Malta and Gozo consider our home to be our pride and joy, and house-proud doesn’t even begin to cover it. In a country in which the majority of the population chooses to buy their own property rather than rent, our home is central within our lives. This month, VIDA pays tribute to the place we go to get away from it all – our personal sanctuaries. VIDA’s Homes Special tackles everything from interior decoration, antiques, eco-friendly homes and some useful tips on how to make your property more sellable, to a great DIY project to try your hand at. Other interesting features in VIDA this month include an interview with a Gozo-based performing couple, a cookery book in aid of charity and a look into an exciting cultural initiative along with our regular features. Enjoy the issue.
Focused Knowledge Ltd Pitkali Road, Attard ATD 2214 Malta, Europe Tel: (+356) 2339 2403 Fax: (+356) 2141 9089 Editor Sarah Micallef editor@vida.com.mt Layout & Design Alexia Baldacchino Kevin Abela studio@vida.com.mt Advertising Tel: (+356) 2339 2231 sales@vida.com.mt
Sarah Micallef
VIDA next month – Weddings special
It is understood that all material supplied by agents (printed or otherwise) to promote their products is supplied with all necessary permissions for reproduction. Whilst great care and attention has been taken by the editorial team to ensure accuracy of text, advertising and other published matter, we disclaim all responsibility for any omissions and errors. The editor and publisher do not necessarily agree with views expressed in articles, adverts, letters, or other content appearing in this publication.
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Contents Taking the cake! My thing Home improvement guide Knock knock... who’s there? Painting the town green A thing of beauty is a joy forever Invest in your home Town in the clouds Ride, Sally, Ride Hearty food, from the heart Generating the heritage of the future Fashion fairground October’s tragedies and triumphs Ġużeppi Debattista – Death of a lover Something old, something new October at the movies Travel photography competition Events this month YADA presents Dance Rush Tribute to Gore Vidal A different perspective Parenting... beyond childhood Competitions After school fun
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Updates Letters Keeping it Short Mariella Scerri
5 6
Not for Profit Malta Parkinson’s Disease Association
KISS: Your new radio station on DAB+ Cardiac Arrythmia
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letters
STAR LETTER
Your say
After thoughts Dear Editor, Every year it has become expected that during the month of September, a storm much like the one we had last month will take our sunny island by surprise and dominate the local news with footage and photos of flooded roads, inaccessible business premises and destroyed cars.
Trixie and Kimmy
Dear Editor, I love animals because they make me laugh – they have a joie de vivre that is difficult to find in humans. We are all so bogged down with this and that, that we’ve forgotten how to relax. Have you ever watched a kitten trying to catch a fly, batting the air with its paws? Have you ever watched a puppy, ears flopping, running in the wind? Animals are therapeutic. They are always there, even when you’ve had a bad day – your dog will still egg you on to take it for a walk and your cat will sit by you patiently, looking at you silently with its beautiful eyes. I own three cats that I treat like children. I always think about how lucky they are to be off the street, where many people push them aside because they are ‘just animals’. I know I have spoilt my pets – most mothers and fathers have this habit – we simply want to give our children the best and protect them from ever getting hurt. Who knows, maybe I’ll always be ‘that woman’ who talks to her cats and pats every cat she sees on the street – women with cats have often been the butt of jokes after all. But it does not bother me any more. If you love animals, adopt a stray cat or dog and save them from a life on the streets, and if you can’t keep one, you can always donate money to the countless sanctuaries in Malta and Gozo. Children might take you for granted, but animals won’t – once you are kind to them they will be loyal to you for life! Petra Bonello
STAR LETTER COMPETITION VIDA and Unitech are giving one lucky Star Letter writer the chance to win a full Intruder Alarm System*. The competition will run for the rest of the year, with the writers of the letters chosen as a Star Letter from each issue entering a draw to win. Unitech will also be giving each letter published in the magazine a 10% discount. The overall winner will be announced in the January 2013 issue, so get writing!
It is no news that certain localities' infrastructure is not well prepared for heavy rain, and there is nothing that we as individuals can do about it other than complain. What I am left questioning however, is why, despite the Met Office's warnings, we still see parked cars and people getting carried along with the flood. Before parking their car, don’t they think of the potential danger the car will be in once the storm sets in? Lexie Tonna
Cut down on cars Dear Editor, Malta’s overpopulation problem is not limited to the people, but also to the amount of cars on our streets. It seems that every family has an average of two or three cars, and this causes all sorts of problems including traffic and parking difficulties as well as the environmental damage caused by the increased pollution levels. It is for this reason that last month’s car free day, held on Sunday September 16th, was a huge relief. The air, as well as the roads, were clearer. There wasn’t as much noise generated by car engines and incessant beeping, and that led to a more peaceful atmosphere. Whereas I understand that we need our vehicles to get to places, I don’t believe we need the amount we currently have. Public transport and car-pooling are both viable options that are often overlooked on an island in which most destinations are little more than a stone’s throw away. We have gotten used to the luxury and commodity of having our own cars and zipping away whenever we feel like it, but if we all just spared a small thought about what we are doing to our precious surroundings for a small comfort we would all be a lot better off! Richard Galea
Knowledge is power Dear Editor,
For all your security needs T: 77773388 47, Cottoner Avenue, Fgura | unitech@go.net.mt *Terms and conditions apply.
• What’s your idea? • What would you recommend? • What’s bugging you? Send your letters, questions to the experts and suggestions to The Editor, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD 2214, or by email on yoursay@vida.com.mt
Share your views with the nation
As a secondary school teacher, this is my favourite time of year. The time in which the new scholastic year begins and I get to meet a group of new students who are just waiting to learn new things! Whereas congratulating you on a very interesting and informative magazine, I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the students in Malta and Gozo good luck in their studies on this new school year! Josephine Mercieca
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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updates Not Maltese voluntary organisations for profit Malta Parkinson’s Disease
Association (MPDA)
It all began… in 2008, when the Malta Parkinson’s Disease Association (MPDA) was founded as the first association in Malta to provide support to persons living with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and their families. MPDA is also a member of the European Parkinson’s Disease Association (EPDA) and is a registered charity and non-profit organisation run by a committee of six volunteers under the patronage of Mrs Catherine Gonzi.
Our mission is… to give advice, support and information to persons with Parkinson’s and their carers, to promote and raise public awareness of the difficulties faced by persons with this condition and to raise funds for the continuance of these aims and for research into finding a cure for this disease. Our enemies… lack of awareness and knowledge about the disease. PD is a progressive neurological condition that occurs when a large percentage of dopamine, contained in cells in part of the brain, is lost. This chemical is responsible for controlling movements, so a reduction of it will cause problems in movement. The main symptoms are rigidity, slowness, loss of balance and a tremor. Other symptoms, such as fatigue, pain and depression, can have an impact on day-to-day life. Many of the symptoms of PD can be controlled by a combination of drugs, therapy and occasionally surgery, however as yet there is no cure. We have… monthly meetings for our members, with topics discussed ranging from information and updates about PD to topics and activities which are of general interest to MPDA members.
Our greatest achievements are… founding the association in 2008; translating the book ‘Life with Parkinson’s’ into Maltese in 2011, which is available for anyone who wishes to have a copy, the election of a new committee in January this year and holding a successful week of events to mark World Parkinsons Day on April 11th.
Our current projects include… setting up carer and patient support groups as well as travelling to the EPDA annual conference in Amsterdam to meet other international organisations and exchange ideas.
We are happy… to have an increasing number of members joining our association, as this allows us to reach out to more people. However, our 84 members are only a small sample of over 1000 persons living with PD in Malta. We would like to reach out to many more.
Keeping it short I was born on November 4th 1963. My childhood dream was to swim all year round. Orienta is a troublesome child! It all started by painting furniture. Choosing home furnishings for the shop is the highlight of my work.
Mariella Scerri
The best thing about my job is that it gives me the opportunity to travel. I set up Orienta because it was a challenge. My proudest moment in my career was celebrating 20 years of being in business and the opening of the concept store in Ta’ Qali three years ago. My proudest life moment was walking again after being in a car accident. In my free time I paint. So far 2012 has been an incredible year. Not many people know that I am fairly reserved. I am independent. I am not a workaholic. I always try to respect my staff. I will never smoke. Life is a moment to be grasped. What I’m looking forward to most is my new venture in jewellery design. My favourite items in my own house are my paintings. An interiors trend I hate is symmetry. If I could be invisible for a day I would spend it in US President Obama's office and try to understand how he really spends the day! I love food and wine. I hate being misinterpreted and passing judgements. If I could change one thing I would put 50 hours in one day.
T: 9999 2008 E: info@maltaparkinsons.com A: Malta Parkinson’s Disease Association, P.O. Box 17, Marsa Know of a local voluntary organisation that could use the recognition? Contact the editor on editor@vida.com.mt
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The best things in life are very simple. The future is a free fall – very exciting. In the end I like to be at home with my family.
updates
Your new radio station on DAB+
Times change, and so do our ways of communicating with each other. Nowadays, communication is sent and received in different ways. We are living in a digital era in which radio is also experiencing radical changes. Although worldwide, radio remains mainly analogue, but throughout the past year or so the medium has seen a surge in progress towards digital reception. ONE Productions Limited is seeking this opportunity to extend its message to the digital platform DAB+ (Digital Audio Broadcast) with KISS, a new DAB+ Radio station. KISS was launched on September 14th at the Xara Lodge. Mainly aimed at the young and young at heart, KISS is not limited to them alone – it is a 24/7 radio station with a comprehensive playlist of over 50,000 tunes spanning many decades, artists and genres. KISS will also entertain its listeners with music shows featuring niche selections from the ‘Golden
Oldies’ and country music to the 70s, 80s and 90s. KISS will also provide its listeners with news, weather and sport updates on the hour, every hour from 07:00 to 19:00 throughout the week. KISS’ corporate identity comprising its sweepers, jingles, special station idents and other seasoned sung jingles have been exclusively produced and designed for KISS at a US based recording studio specialising in modern radio station productions. KISS on DAB+ guarantees excellent sound of much higher quality and reception as well as an RDS facility with name of station, song and artist displayed on DAB+ radio sets whilst you listen. With listenership on the increase, KISS on DAB+ can be accessed along with all other analogue local radio stations including ONE Radio as well as other main digital European Radio stations including RAI and the BBC World service on DAB radio sets, online at www.kiss.com.mt, or through the digital television platform.
Cardiac arrhythmias What is a cardiac arrhythmia?
health
An arrhythmia is the result of a problem in the heart’s conduction system leading to irregular and/or too fast or too slow heart beats. There are different types of arrhythmias, mostly harmless, yet some very harmful and must be treated immediately. Severe arrhythmias can lead to heart failure, which occurs when the volume of blood being pumped by the heart is not sufficient to supply the body with oxygen and other nutrients. Arrhythmias are very common in the elderly but most are easily controlled and treated. Like most other medical conditions, arrhythmias can be prevented. Factors that increase the risk of arrhythmias and heart failure includes smoking, heavy alcohol use, drug abuse, emotional stress, heart attacks (which may cause arrhythmias especially if the infarction occurs in an area which affects the conduction system of the heart), high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, a dysfunctional thyroid gland, heart surgery and dysfunctional valves.
Heart Electrical Conduction System
How do you know if you have an arrhythmia? You would exhibit symptoms including palpitations, an irregular heartbeat pattern (loss of normal sinus rhythm), slow heart rate (sinus bradycardia), anxiety, sweating, weakness or lightheadedness, fainting and chest pain. Arrhythmias are mainly diagnosed by the use of an electrocardiogram (ECG) that measures the electrical activity of the heart. Drugs that modify the electrical impulse are sometimes used to modify or cure arrhythmias. Pacemakers are also used to treat some arrhythmias.
References: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/arr/ http://2.bp.blogspot.com/rYtanZ5CjBE/T54xh0eE5OI/AAAAAAAAADM/tRYbXfTnGzM/s1600/Control-of-heart-by-heart-conduction-system.jpg (Image) Sites Accessed on September 1st 2012. Text reviewed by Mr Joe Galea.
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column
Shouting from the Hili Top
You may have seen him on stage, heard him on the radio, or laughed at his lack of colour-coordination (he’s the one walking down the street with the orange shorts and pink shirt). He is loud, hairy, controversial and… well… different! He is Steve Hili and he is writing for VIDA.
Taking the cake! I could never understand the maxim about not being able to have your cake and eat it too. Of course I understood that the point being made is that you cannot have things both ways. But surely the sages who came up with such a saying could have put it a bit better. I mean, what is the point of having a cake if you can’t eat it? Surely then it will just grow mouldy? And attract flies? In which case I don’t think anyone would even want any of your rotten cake in the first place. (Unless your cake shop also offers deals on insect spray and anti-mould treatment.)
different from what she is ordering (notwithstanding the fact that you really want to order the same thing) because of her logic that there is no point in both of you having the same dish and anyway, like this you get to taste two things (even though you ONLY wanted one thing – what she’s got – and now she is only going to give you a tiny taste of it!)
Apart from eating it, I personally cannot fathom any other reason for wanting cake. Except perhaps as food fight ammo, and even then I think I’d prefer zucchini.
I actually feel myself losing control as I cast my gaze upon plate after plate of glorious food. All there, for me to take as much as I want. I try to keep myself in check, but it is impossible – my mind just starts buzzing! I get a sudden adrenalin rush! A mouthwatering mountain of meals is just waiting... waiting to be attacked! Dived into! Rolled in! (I have only ever done that once. Ok twice. I love guacamole.)
So how did this saying come to be? Why did the wise forefathers of the English language decide on these very words (and an eternity of annoying little brothers repeating them ad-nauseam whilst running around the sitting room with your slice of Victoria sponge) to pass down the wisdom of not wanting more than one can handle? This, to me became an existential question on par with "why are we here?" and "how can anyone think that Sandra Bullock has any talent?" Then I visited an all-you-can eat buffet... and I realised our linguistic ancestors must have done the same. I love the idea of buffets. No need to wait. No need to try to pronounce any fancy dishes in foreign accents. No need to argue with your wife over her insistence that you choose something
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Yes, the buffet set-up nullifies such challenges. However it causes another one. To put it bluntly, it turns me insane.
My thought process works like this – I have effectively paid to eat as much as I want, with no limits. Therefore, it is (sort of) ALL mine. All of it! I get up for seconds, thirds and sometimes fourths, but then, as I feel myself about to pop, I start to panic! I haven’t tasted the fish yet! Or the roast potatoes! And what about that gateaux! I have paid for all of this! It is there, it is mine, but I can’t eat it. It’s hell! I want it! But my body is saying no! Aaargh! Makes you almost mad enough to make up a saying.
real life
My thing Katinka Zahra Lehtonen’s Mari-bowls are more than just a collector’s item. They represent a lifelong fascination with Scandinavian culture and Finnish design that takes her back to her roots. This is their story.
H
aving been brought up in a Scandinavian culture, it is little or no surprise that I would have developed a certain passion throughout the years for anything that might remind me of home. I used to spend long weeks and months at my grandma’s in Finland in summer as a kid, and it was there that I started getting familiar with popular Finnish designers, who featured in every house I visited. Even from a young age I’d been drawn to interiors, and never failed to move my room furniture around every so often, just to try a new perspective! Soon, I started dreaming about owning a home of my own one day, which I would fill with different objects by these popular designers. I was in my early teens when I started buying small things for my future home with my pocket money on my visits to Finland. I managed to collect different bowls, glasses, pots, dishes, cutlery, jugs, coffee sets, textiles and carpets by different designers, namely Aino Aalto, Timo Sarpaneva, Bjorn Dahlstrom, Kerttu Nurminen, Oiva Toikka, Tapio Wirkkala, Armi Ratia among others. However, my absolute favourite piece of my collection would be a set of dessert bowls by design house Marimekko founded by Armi Ratia back in 1951. The bowls are called ‘Mariskooli’ (also known as Mari-bowls) and were designed by Maija Isola in 1960. The design house has been producing new colours for this bowl ever since.
Mari-bowls are a staple piece in every Finnish home, and have become throughout the years quite a collectors’ item. Marimekko is a leader in Finnish design, and has managed to grow internationally from a relatively small company to a musthave for any Finnish family and design aficionado. Marimekko design anything from homeware, textile-design and printing, to fashion and accessories. The reason behind my passion for this particular object out of my vast collection is the fact that once I owned my first bowl, I felt like I had truly started to collect the essence of Finnish design. My very first Mari-bowl was a limited edition ultramarine blue bowl. I was around 18 when I purchased the bowl, and felt like it was a start to my long journey of an almost obsessive passion! A couple of years later my sister got me a set of six green Mari-bowls as a graduation gift and I was elated, since it was one of the few years I hadn’t been able to travel to Finland. My intention is to be able to acquire a Mari-bowl in a different colour for every milestone in my life. They serve as a fond memory, and are really quite a trophy for myself! This year I shall be on the search for the yellow Mari-bowl to represent my moving into a new home (which I am filling with all my favourite designers) and the clear coloured Mari-bowl to represent another completion of studies. My dream is to one day own every colour that has been produced, meaning I would have been able to achieve all my goals and fill my life with memories.
Do you, or someone you know, have a treasured ‘thing’? Send us your suggestion to My Thing, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD 2214 or by email to yoursay@vida.com.mt for a chance to showcase the item that means most to you – we’d love to hear about it!
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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homes Home improvement guide
The little things that make a difference – from an estate agent’s point of view by Aidan Xuereb
General Manger, Coldwell Banker Real Estate Malta An estate agent’s goal is not simply to sell your home, but to help you get the best price for your property in the shortest time possible. To help you reach this goal, you can adopt practical ideas on how to prepare your property for potential buyers' viewing. In this two-part feature, I will show you how to put these ideas to practice – they take very little time and money to complete, but will make your home stand out from the other properties fighting for potential buyers' attention.
E
veryone knows about the importance of first impressions. Did you know that 15 seconds after entering your property, a buyer has already formed an opinion about it? For this reason, it is important to ensure that the first impressions of your property are positive and inviting. The best way to make a buyer ‘feel at home’ is to create an environment of a ‘model’ home, with the least possible f laws.
positive – the smell of cleanliness is important for the sale of your home. In addition to cleaning, oil or lemon wax can create a lasting scent of freshness. Fresh flowers can be equally effective. To give a really particular touch, place a plate of vanilla in a hot oven to create the aroma of freshly baked cookies or bread. Smells to avoid include those of pets, foods, oil or fuel – as well as any other bad odours.
The environment of a house must be as neutral as possible. You have to bear in mind that having a house for sale with too many ‘personalised’ items and decor might not be to everyone’s liking, putting off potential buyers.
One must take care of every detail within the house to show its full potential. Applying a fresh coat of paint can be one of the best investments to increase the value of the house. If you do not want to spend too much money on painting the whole house, consider painting just the important parts, like the facade and the entrance hall. Some touch-ups would ideally also be done wherever necessary. If there are any cracked tiles, you should consider repairing them. Making sure aluminium apertures are clean and open and close properly is also very important. Replace any broken or cracked glass panes.
The place must be silent, or you could possibly play some soft background music. This may help create a nice atmosphere. The sound of peace and tranquillity as soon as you enter the house is important and is definitely recommended at the time of showcasing your home to a prospective buyer. There are some sounds that one should always avoid, like barking dogs, noisy children, and any sounds like vacuum cleaners, dishwashers and washing machines. Ensure that there are no sounds belying mechanical problems, like noisy or defective appliances. The fragrance of the property has a greater impact than you think. It can work for you, or against you. A ‘new’ scent is
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The landscape outside your property is not only the small garden you might have, but includes the street and passageways that lead to the house. For this reason, you must ensure that each component of the landscaping around the house looks its best. If there is a front garden, all trees and shrubs should be neatly trimmed. Adding some nice freshly planted flowers adds
homes
to the visual impact. Any outside terraces and courtyards should be clean. If the property is in a communal building, one must ensure that the common areas look good in order to obtain a positive first impression. If there is no one taking care of the common areas, do it yourself – you must remember that any work you are doing will only help you sell the property faster. It is proven that people react better to properties that offer clarity and simplicity, and are not too dark. Keeping windows clean so as to let all possible light in is the first thing to do. You
must also open curtains to increase the light. Use light bulbs with adequate power to add to the interior lighting. Consider changing old fluorescent lamps, as they tend to get dark with time. Use mirrors to make the space appear larger and brighter. Use light colours on the walls and curtains and make sure to turn on the lights before showing the house. A fundamental rule when selling your home is to keep to neutral colours. White, beige and light gray are the most popular colours, and shades of clear pastel colours are the best options for the interior. Try to avoid wallpaper, as this may sometimes appear too personalised. You may also use an antique valuable piece of furniture as a focal point, in order to create an impact.
In the next issue, I will be looking at each and every part of the house, and how small improvements within each room can help you sell your property.
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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homes
DIY
Knock knock... who’s there? Installing a peephole You will need • • • • • •
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Towels Pencil Screwdriver Peephole (from your local ironmonger) Safety goggles A power drill strong enough to drill through your door
Method 1. Firstly, ensure the door on which you’ll be installing the peephole is of a standard width – between 1 3/8 and 2 inches wide. If it is thicker or thinner, you might need a custom peephole. Before starting off, find out what material your door is made of, to ensure you have the correct tools. 2. Decide on the positioning of the peephole. It should generally go in the centre of your door, about 1.5 metres off the ground. Mark the spot with a pencil on a piece of masking tape. 3. Drill a pilot hole from the inside of your door using a power drill and 1/8 inch drill bit. This doesn’t have to go all the way through to the other side – just a little over half way should do the trick. 4. Drill a complete hole all the way through to the other side using a ½ inch drill bit. Using your screwdriver, lightly scrape the inside of the hole from any sawdust. 5. Peepholes generally come in two pieces – the lens piece that will go on the outside of the door, and the viewing scope that goes on the inside. Insert the lens piece from the outside of your door. 6. Thread the viewing scope piece from the inside of the door until it fits properly against the outside piece. Make sure that its not too tight, but that it doesn’t jiggle about inside the door when touched.
Tips and tricks • Spread towels over the floor on either side of your door in order to catch sawdust. • Wear safety goggles when doing any drilling to avoid any dust particles flying into your eyes. • When installing your peephole, make sure what you are doing is clear to any unexpected visitors by keeping the door slightly ajar or taking it off its hinges to avoid potential injuries.
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Please be careful when carrying out any DIY projects at home. Ensure you have all the correct tools necessary and to follow the instructions carefully. If you do not feel confident enough to carry out any project on your own, it may be best to enlist the guidance of an experienced person.
homes
Painting the town green How to make your home more eco-friendly
W
hereas large scale measures and widespread schemes aimed at fighting global warming are adopted by many countries’ governments, and while research into alternative energy is being undertaken by scientists and environmental experts every day, each and every one of us can help make a difference in reducing greenhouse gases emissions and caring for our environment. One of the biggest changes we as individuals can introduce, is to make our households as ecologically friendly as possible. According to Martin Galea De Giovanni, Chairperson of the environmental group Friends of the Earth Malta, “household energy use accounts for around 20% of all energy used in Malta. The typical household wastes a considerable amount of this energy each year, mainly due to poor building practices and design.” Indeed, when building your house, there are various factors and specifications to take into consideration in order to maximise your home’s energy efficiency. In addition, there are also measures you can take to make an existing home more ecologically friendly.
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Avoid air leakage
Sealing any potential areas (generally around doors and windows) against air leaks is essential for keeping conditioned air inside the house, which will in turn lower your energy bills. Properly sealing against any air leakage problems will also make for a more comfortable and temperature controlled environment inside your home.
Ensure appropriate insulation
There would be less need for using costly methods of cooling and heating your home if your walls and roof were properly insulated. Martin warns “for roughly every square metre of sunlight falling on a Maltese roof, the equivalent energy supplied by the sun is 1KW of energy (1000 watts per meter squared) on a typical sunny day. This energy causes the heating up of the roof and hence your home to heat up” To avoid this, apply white or silver roof paint that reflects the sun’s rays. A slightly costlier but ultimately more longterm method is the installation of roof insulation – it blocks out the sun’s rays, and eliminates wet weather dilemmas. Roof insulation works to keep your home cool in summer, and warmer in winter,
helping you save money on heating bills too. Moreover, roof thermal insulation material for your home may also qualify for a special grant, along with solar water heaters and photovoltaic panels, which are also worth considering – check out www.mra.org.mt for more information.
Opt for energy efficient windows
Your windows may be a large source of energy loss within your home. In order to prevent this, choose windows with good insulation values such as double glazed variants. You could also opt for windows that are equipped with a heat reflective coating, and when considering the frames, keep in mind that materials like wood, vinyl and fibreglass provide better insulation than traditional aluminuim.
Choose energy efficient appliances According to Enemalta’s website, households are responsible for 30% of the electricity consumption within the EU, so apart from making sure you don’t leave any appliances or commodities running unnecessarily, it is also a good idea to invest in energy efficient appliances that will help reduce your household’s energy consumption.
homes When shopping for electrical appliances for your home, such as fridges or washing machines, opt for variants graded ‘A’ under the European energy efficiency label. An appliance that has been graded ‘A’ certifies that that appliance uses energy in an efficient way. Similarly, when choosing an electric heater for your home, go for one that possesses a thermostat or energy regulator – these will improve its efficiency.
A little goes a long way... Everyday eco-friendly tips for your home
Recycle Tuesdays
Choose the smallest size of water heater that suits your household’s requirements and switch it off when you don’t need it if you don’t use it regularly throughout the day.
Recycling household waste made up of metal, paper and plastic has never been easier, and can also significantly contribute to making your home more ecologically friendly. Collect the appropriate grey recycling bag from your local council and start separating your waste – you’ll soon get used to it, and if every household in Malta adopts it, it will make for a significant reduction in the amount of waste going into landfills.
Don’t leave electronics like your TV, stereo and computer on standby – a TV set still uses an average of 45% of its energy in standby mode. Unplug your mobile phone charger when you’re not charging your phone. Only 5% of the charger’s energy is actually used to charge your phone, so you’d be wasting 95% when leaving it plugged in. Switch off the lights when you don’t need them, and use energy-saving bulbs.
Take a shower rather than a bath, and consider installing a low-flow showerhead. Don’t leave the water running unnecessarily while brushing your teeth, shaving or doing the dishes. Use the microwave whenever you can – it is the most efficient electrical appliance in your kitchen! When using an electric oven, don’t open it to check cooking – it loses 20% of the accumulated heat every time you do. If you have a dishwasher, make sure it is loaded to full capacity before switching it on. Use the lowest water temperature possible when using the washing machine – a full load is more energy efficient than two half loads. Do not leave heaters running for long periods of time. Air conditioner temperatures should only be set a few degrees below the outside temperature. A few extra degrees of cooling will result in a substantial increase in electricity used. In addition, filters should be cleaned regularly for maximum efficiency.
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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homes
A thing of beauty is a joy forever How to start your own antiques collection by David Grima
I
often come across people who feel discouraged from buying antiques due to a lack of knowledge within the field. Here are some guidelines on how to recognise the age of an antique item, how to find its value and where to buy your antiques.
one must calculate the highest price they are willing to bid for the item before the day of auction, keeping in mind the auctioneer’s fees and commissions payable on the hammer price. This would prevent you from falling victim to any fervent bidding during the sale.
If not obtained as a family heirloom or through inheritance, there are three basic ways to acquire antiques.
Antique dealers
Private individuals Whereas you should ideally have a basic knowledge in identifying a genuine piece, buying from private individuals should only really be done if you are experienced in this field. More often than not, a private individual is not experienced in antique dealing, and will not be liable for any wrong description when selling an antique. Moreover, the piece may have been modified over the years without the knowledge of the present owner. Pieces bought from private individuals are bought on the ‘tale quale’ or ‘as is’ basis.
Auctions Buying from auctions can be a fun experience, but also a tricky one. Always inspect the item in question during the viewing days, which are held prior to auction. Most auction houses give an accurate and genuine description in the catalogues provided, however as per conditions of sale, one must examine any item regarding condition and authenticity prior to sale. Subsequently,
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When buying from antique shops, make sure to go to reputable dealers who have been in this line of business for a number of years, over which a good name would have been acquired through selling genuine items. A proper antique should be over one 100 years old and not close, or thereabouts. This should be put down in writing on a certificate of authenticity given upon purchase. A thorough certificate should include an image of the item being bought, along with a detailed description of the piece. A proper description of a particular piece of furniture on a certificate of authenticity should not be limited to the word antique only, which by law means over fifty years old, but should include its exact period – for example ‘an antique 19th century Victorian chest of drawers’. This implies that the chest of drawers is over one hundred years old. Extreme caution should be given to the word ‘style’ written in the description. Style simply means ‘in the genre of’ and ‘not belonging to’. Therefore, an ‘antique Victorian style chest of drawers’ does not mean it is from the Victorian period but only having Victorian characteristics – thus it would not be a proper antique.
homes Having a certificate of authenticity in hand can put your mind at rest when buying antiques, since the antique dealer would be fully liable to any faults regarding authenticity. One must bear in mind that a piece of furniture that is over a 100 years old should not be expected to be in pristine condition unless restored. A certain degree of restoration is always a must. You must also look into the extent to which the piece has been restored – having major parts replaced can seriously diminish the value of a piece. Alternatively, one could opt to buy unrestored pieces but in this case I would recommend caution, as the restoration expenses would be unknown, and you might risk not finding the right restorers for the job.
"A proper antique should be over 100 years old and not close"
Given these guidelines, buying antiques should not be as daunting a task as some may perceive it to be. Besides the ways discussed here, one must also not forget the Antiques Fair, which is held by the Antique Dealers Association every year between October and November. All items on sale during this event are vetted prior to the fair’s commencement.
David Grima has been dealing in antiques since he was 19. After reading for a University degree in Banking and Finance (specialising in Antiques as an Alternate Investment) David went on to establish the antiques gallery Victoriana Antiques, which specialises in antique Maltese furniture and old master paintings. www.victorianaantiques.com | www.bottegaantika.com
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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homes
Interior Design
Invest in your home A
s an interior designer, I take great pleasure in seeing a house turned into a home, even more so when the owners of that house appreciate what it took to create the transformation. The work that interior designers put into transforming buildings into residences can sometimes be taken for granted, yet, having said this, I don’t want to take any credit away from the vision of various talented and committed homeowners. The Maltese have always taken pride in their homes, however large or small, imposing or discreet, and often portray their own characters within the presentation of their habitat. Over the years however, we have seen many changes in our local architecture. Completely ‘open plan’ living has ultimately suited quite a number of modern families, yet human comfort does demand certain boundaries, albeit ones that can be moveable or actually transparent. The kitchen and the dining room are generally no longer separate or segregated rooms, except where traditional architecture prevails. In all but the grandest of houses, the dining room tends to double up as a multi-functional space, serving as anything from a ‘home office’, meeting place, games room or even accommodating the occasional overnight guest. As land becomes scarce and planning restrictions
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become tighter, building new homes poses a greater challenge. Traditional houses are being torn down to give way to apartment blocks, hallways merge with other rooms to avoid wasting space, bedrooms are given less priority than living spaces, and state-of-the art technology becomes the prime consideration. These are not the only architectural differences however. The affordable manufacture of plate glass now allows us to have larger openings, hence larger doors and windows. Besides this, the most popular materials in this day and age are those that are natural, recyclable and that age well. Increasingly, gone are the famous wooden louvres (persjani), and thanks to enormous improvements in insulation and air conditioning, windows have become a great focal point, not so much hidden away by heavy drapes. Where privacy is required however, vertical or horizontal blinds, filmy fabrics or even opaque glass allow the maximum commodity of natural daylight to enhance our interiors. As is the case with clothes, it is impossible to overlook the dictates of fashion. On the other hand, a certain aspect of principles and requirements are indispensable in your home ‘investment’. A home must be proportionate, comfortable, and may I add, stimulating to one’s
homes senses. Indeed, a house without books and some sort of individual embellishment or clue to the owner’s personality and interests is rarely an entirely successful environment. Apart from the pleasure of individual expression in choosing, let’s say, a stainless steel kitchen, or marble in a bathroom, pure decorative elements become a further ‘personalised’ touch. When making interior decorating decisions, besides the demands of putting a home together, consider also the further challenges posed by running a household. Heating, cooling and energy supplies are very challenging issues in today's economic climate. Communications from sensor lighting to fire prevention, computerised systems operating door closures as well as extending canopies and activating air conditioners among others are the norm of the day. With all the choices out there today, there is much more to creating a home than just choosing a paint colour or sofa shape. Technology has become a style By Jean-Marc Bianchi, Interior Designer B.A. Interior Design Studies, Rome – Italy
statement in itself (what television set do you have?), and homeowners of today may boast of inconspicuous efficiency and sustainability over items such as fine furniture or costly framed paintings. These aspects in today’s homes may not be so evident, but represent a cost factor that will, in some cases, override the design and decoration budget. Remember, diversity is the spice of life, and where else (besides a car or your personal clothing) can you display eccentricity, impress or shock friends, or just live out a fantasy, besides at home? No two homes are the same, even though we may choose similar furniture, colours and magazine cuttings, and visit the same stores. Homeowners may choose an interior designer, sometimes subconsciously, because they believe that he or she may adopt a particular style for their home, but the final result should always be unique. Enjoy your homes, and invest wisely.
jmdesign@go.net.mt
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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travel
Town in the clouds by David Vella
I
f you haven’t been abroad on holiday this summer, it is probably because of one of two reasons – you can’t afford it, or else, you can’t stand holidaying amidst a million other tourists bumping into each other in “I’ve been here and all I got was this” sweaty t-shirts. As you’re riding the four-kilometre exhilarating cable car up to the mountain-top town of Erice, in western Sicily, on a bright, cool, October morning, and notice that you and your travel companions are the only souls about, you relish the realisation that whatever’s in store for you atop, will be yours, and yours alone, to enjoy. Erice is an ancient walled city built on top of a 750-metre high mountain. Its origins are thought to date back to Phoenician times, thousands of years ago. Since then, the city has seen all the architectural influences you may imagine – Roman, Arabic, Norman and even Medieval. The result is a town in which you’ll find it hard to believe that over 500 residents live today with all the comforts of our daily lives – in fact, you don’t see much of them, or of the amenities that help them live decently, except perhaps, in the restaurants, crafts shops, and the highly-recommended confectioners selling the region’s tempting traditional sweets. In October, after spending three months breathlessly serving the throngs of tourists, and after securing the year’s income, the shop owners will be less likely to swoop on you with offers on multi-coloured spaghetti, kitsch souvenirs, and super-virgin olive oils. Thanks to several restoration projects, some of which are still underway, this town transmits a magical aura, capable of taking you back in time, as you walk through the narrow, silent lanes from one ornate facade to another. Exploring the whole city on foot in one day is very doable, even if you throw in a couple of hours for lunch and coffee and almond sweet breaks (look out for the weird shapes – marzipan sweets in the shape of a very realistic burger in a bun or a sausage roll are not uncommon in the confectioners’ shop windows). 24
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Entrance fees to most attractions are very reasonable – as you walk in through the main gate, turn left towards the main church, the ‘Chiesa Matrice’, and with a €5 something ticket, you get access to the church, its 28-metre bell tower (formerly a medieval watch tower) as well as some other 15 of the 60 churches scattered across this small town. You also get a very convenient guide map, with two routes to follow to find these churches, and most of the town’s other attractions along the way. You might not be into sacred art and religious relics, but going through these snaking routes, looking out for street names, and trying to find your way to the next attraction, even just to pop in, ahead of your panting companions to exclaim “found it”, is already an adventure in itself. Look out for the three different towers, each with its own breathtaking views of the Trapani coastline below, and the pristine Egadi Islands close by. On foggy days, the view might not be so accessible, but gazing out of these vantage points makes you feel you’re suspended in a fairy-tale castle, high up in the clouds. And if you’re in a Rapunzel-esque mood and want to find the tower that seems to be out of a fairytale, look out for the footpath leading outside the town walls beyond the Balio Towers, to find the Pepoli Tower, high up on a rocky platform, floating on the sea of pine trees below. Built by a count in the late 1800s to fulfill a personal dream and have a place to get away from it all, the tower has, in recent years, been abandoned, but the authorities have just announced that it will soon be converted into a centre for culture and peace dialogue – you wouldn’t want to talk of anything else once you see it. And with the cheap flights and ridiculously-priced accommodation options at this time of year, as you walk by the numerous restaurants in this town, and in all of the Trapani region for that matter, you’re sure to have more than enough cash in your pocket to splurge on their mouth-watering menu items and take home a happy extra kilo or two, which luckily, won’t cost you anything at the home-bound check-in desk.
travel
Photos by David Vella
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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people
Ride, Sally, Ride O
bviously, the million-dollar question is inevitably, how did they meet? In 2005, Georgia’s daughter took her to watch Steve perform. Georgia admits that on seeing Steve for the first time, she was interested in him beyond his performance. At the time, her own singing experience was limited to gospel, as part of a church choir Some time later, Steve was doing a charity show called ‘Night with the Stars’. “They had a section for up-and-coming singers, which I was taking part in. I was very nervous,” says Georgia. During her performance, she also caught Steve’s eye, and from then on, there was no looking back. Steve encouraged Georgia to sing professionally, having recognised her talent. They travelled all over the UK together to perform. “Travelling is part and parcel of being an entertainer.” Georgia and Steve had talked about living abroad and in fact, had visited Malta a number of times. “We came to Gozo on holiday. We stayed in Xlendi, and fell in love with it,” Georgia says, smiling. While on holiday in Gozo, they visited the Captain’s Table, an establishment in Xlendi, and took up the microphone for some karaoke. They impressed the owner so much, that even on going back to the UK, they stayed in contact. “When we returned for another holiday, he booked us for four shows!” Georgia and Steve moved to Gozo permanently in December 2010. They were married in 2011; with their 20-year-old dog Ollie standing in as best man. On a professional level, most of the bookings were in the Bugibba and Qawra areas in the beginning, however this posed a problem, as it meant leaving Ollie alone for hours on end, so they decided to cut down on their performances in Malta. They began working mostly in Gozo, doing gigs in hotels and bars as well as private functions. Georgia also returned to the UK periodically to continue her social work. During a particular performance, they noticed a man taking notes. “After the gig, he told us he was an American writer, and he wanted to interview us for a chapter in his latest book,” explains Georgia. Luckily for them, this was not the only project the writer, James Morgan Ayers, had in mind.
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He was a singer, songwriter and multi-instrumental musician who had performed for audiences all over the world, meeting the likes of Paul McCartney and David Bowie. She was a qualified social worker who had never sung professionally. At first sight, their future together was sealed. Jane Vella meets UK entertainers Steve Elvis Allen and Georgia Rose in Gozo where they now live, continuing to entertain audiences with their lively performances. Photos by Richard Wilson
people “James suggested we do a music video and we jumped at the chance,” she says. “It was hard work, but a lot of fun. We learnt a lot too. We filmed for three days, from 07:00 to 22:00.” The music video was a cover version of Mustang Sally and can be found on Steve and Georgia’s website. I ask Georgia if she got tired of singing the song repeatedly. “Actually I didn’t. And afterwards, James told me that I had sung it 15 times in one day!” Georgia and Steve’s repertoire is varied, including songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s and a little bit of the 80s, as well as country music. “I like to cover Dion, The Beatles, Elvis, Buddy Holly, Neil Sedaka, Cher, Creedence… songs people know and can sing along to,” says Georgia. “We’re always adding to our repertoire. We try not to do the same songs, but then you’ll find someone in the audience who’ll tell me, ‘but you didn’t sing that one!’” She admits that when moving to Gozo, she was afraid that people wouldn’t want to see them week in week out. “But they’re always asking, where will you be next?” Steve likes to sing Roy Orbison, Cliff Richard, Tom Jones, and of course, Elvis. “I just did Elvis for 15 years. Now I sing as myself but include Elvis,” he explains. Before performances and during breaks, they stop to chat with the audience, to see what they like. “We do shows together now, whereas before we did separate shows. We also handle the equipment ourselves, while the other is performing, it’s nice to do things as a unit.” As Georgia explains, a typical performance involves more than their voices and a microphone. “We like to involve the audience, make jokes and even use props. We’ve found that the Gozitan audience really enjoys it – they’ve accepted the way we put on a show.” She adds that they’re slowly learning Maltese too and also cater for children. At this point in the interview she disappears to return with Oscar, a large dog puppet who makes an appearance during ‘Hound Dog’, with dark glasses and all.
"We like to involve the audience, make jokes and even use props."
Steve explains that since he likes to tease the crowd, the regulars in the audience often conspire to get him back. During his performance of ‘Return to Sender’, a group of people once started throwing envelopes at him, whilst singing along. The audience have also attended gigs wearing Elvis masks. After having performed all over the UK, and in Steve’s case, all over the world, what is it like performing in Gozo? “Gozo is very relaxed. We often don’t get booked in advance. We like the attitude, with no pressure. You have to be more flexible,” Steve explains. “Also, shows in Malta and Gozo are a lot longer. A typical show in the UK would be three sets of half an hour each.” Before the year is out, Steve and Georgia have plenty of projects that they hope to see through. As a songwriter and composer, Steve is currently involved in seven different albums. They also hope to do another music video and introduce new tracks. On the other hand, Georgia is writing a book about their travels. “We’ve also made very good friends, both Gozitan and Maltese. Manwel Zammit, our manager, takes care of us as well – he’s really enthusiastic and promotes us whenever he can.” “Anybody can stand up and sing but to actually entertain people… it’s more than that,” says Steve. Steve and Georgia are available for both public and private functions. For more information visit www.steveandgeorgia.com
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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special feature
Hearty food, from the heart 'Tisjir mill-Qalb' is a series of cookery books published by The Malta Community Chest Fund. The publication is often affectionately referred to as the ‘President’s book’ and has secured a place as one of the main events of the renowned annual charity drive L-Istrina. VIDA talks to the people behind this book to find out what makes it such a popular fundraiser.
T
he whole concept of producing a cookery book came about when L-Istrina volunteers were being interviewed at San Anton Palace in September 2010. It emerged that one helper worked at a printing press, while another was conducting cooking lessons for youths with special needs. That’s where it all started, and the idea certainly proved a good one. The President himself was very excited about it; he had toyed with the idea of publishing a book on behalf of the Malta Community Chest Fund. With no time to waste, a team of four persons with no experience of book production and publishing but ample excitement for the cause, took on the challenge. The envisioned book was to include simple recipes with low cost and easily obtainable ingredients – in short, recipes which everyone can enjoy doing, even if on a low budget. Nine prominent chefs were brought on board – namely Mark Camilleri, Peter Dacoutros, Aaron Degabriele, Anton B. Dougall, Joseph Mizzi, Marco Pinelli, Karmen Tedesco, Carmelo Borg Bonaci and the President’s own Chef Mark Schembri – each contributed six recipes for a good cause. Wherever help was asked for, it was offered at no cost, whether it was the planning team of volunteers, printing press, graphic designer, distributor, sponsors, volunteers and so much more, all of which contributing to the success of this series of books. The team had four weeks to deliver the first book on time for the launch. Few believed that they’d make it, but the first edition was ready to be launched at San Anton in November 2010. The book fair organisers were kind enough to allocate a stand at short notice, and people poured in to buy the book and get it signed by the President and participating chefs. The book planning team had worried that the books would not be sold but they needn’t have, as all 5,000 copies were sold out within a record 12 days. It is probably the fastest selling book in Malta! In 2011, having gained invaluable experience, the publication organising team embarked on a second issue. Again, nine celebrity chefs, namely Nancy Buhagiar, Mark Camilleri, Aaron Degabriele, Anton B. Dougall, Gloria Mizzi, Joseph Mizzi,
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Karmen Tedesco, Carmelo Borg Bonaci and Mark Schembri contributed six recipes each. Magda Magri Naudi bestowed some of her nutrition wisdom, including useful tips about ingredients found in the recipes. The second time round, help came from even more avenues. The book was made available in every bookstore, and was even marketed online with free postal delivery. The launch of the 2011 edition took place just three weeks before the book fair, and this time 10,000 books were printed. Again, the book sold out in less than three weeks. 2012 brings with it other challenges and more surprises for the team behind Tisjir mill-Qalb. The third edition is packed with interesting recipes that cater for vegetarians, celiac, fish, meat and pasta lovers and even has something for those with a sweet tooth. Neil Darmanin was added to the lineup, and once again, useful nutrition tips are included with every recipe. As in previous years, the book will be priced at €10. In addition, there will also be a limited reprint of the first edition this year, since many did not manage to obtain one the first time round. This will be your last chance to get your hands on one – it will also be selling at €10. Both books will be available in mid-October at all bookstores, all Maltapost branches, San Anton Palace, the Kitchen Garden, The Presidential Palace, Valletta and online on www.mccf.org.mt. As in previous years, all proceeds will go to the L-Istrina 2012 charity campaign. VIDA is giving six lucky readers the chance to win this year’s edition of Tisjir mill-Qalb signed by president George Abela. Send your answer to the below question to win@vida.com.mt along with your name and contact number for a chance to win. Tisjir mill-Qalb is now in its: A.) Second year B.) Third year C.) Fourth year
WIN!
special feature
Meet the chefs Mark Schembri, Head Chef at San Anton Palace I have been cooking for six years. My specialty is meat dishes. My favourite food is meat. I would never eat sushi. The strangest thing I ever tasted is Bombay Duck. I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ to help a charitable cause.
Nancy Buhagiar, Food writer and TV personality I have been cooking for 20 years. My specialty is Mediterranean food. My favourite food is fish. I would never eat overcooked pasta. The strangest thing I ever tasted is camel meat. I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because it is for a good cause.
Neil Darmanin, Sales and Marketing at James Caterers I have been cooking for 15 years. My specialty is cooking quick, simple and original dishes. My favourite food is sushi. I would never eat tripe. The strangest thing I ever tasted is a puree made of beef and beer, really not a meal I’d suggest! I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because it’s my pleasure to share a hobby and help people.
Aaron Degabriele, Chef Patron; "Aaron’s Kitchen" & "Aroma Kitchen" I have been cooking for 25 years. My specialty is Mediterranean cuisine – mainly Italian and Maltese. My favourite food is pasta. I would never eat boiled or fried eggs. The strangest thing I ever tasted is a deep fried Mars bar. I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because I believe in the success of this book. I feel it is another jewel in the crown that makes up l-Istrina.
Gloria Mizzi, TV Presenter and Producer I have been cooking for about 50 years. My specialty is home cooking and pastry making. My favourite food is aubergines cooked in any way. I would never eat frogs, snails and eels. The strangest thing I ever tasted is a thousand day old Chinese egg. I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because who can say no to the Community Chest Fund?
Carmelo Borg Bonaci, Confectioner I have been cooking for 50 years. My specialty is making sweets. My favourite food is rice. I would never eat ‘Mazzola’. I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because I like to help others.
Anton B. Dougall, Managing Director at Astoria Ltd I have been cooking for 42 years. My specialty is sweets and pastry. My favourite food is fish. I would never eat an empty plate (I eat everything!) I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because it’s for a good cause.
Joseph Mizzi, Managing Director at Chef’s Choice Ltd I have been cooking since I was young, although it’s not my profession. My specialty is meat. My favourite food is meat. I would never eat crocodile meat. I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because I like helping people in need.
Karmen Tedesco, Food writer and TV presenter My specialty is healthy low fat cooking. My favourite food is fish. I would never eat animals that I have reared myself. The strangest thing I ever tasted is reindeer steak. I participated in ‘Tisjir mill-Qalb’ because I like helping people in need.
For further information please contact MCCF on 21226226 or www.mccf.org.mt
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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culture
Generating the heritage of the future Valletta’s bid for the title of European Capital of Culture 2018
W
ith a few days to go before the announcement of whether the title of European Capital of Culture 2018 will be bestowed upon our capital city, and following an exciting and impressive campaign directed at putting our best cultural foot forward, Sarah Micallef meets up with Edward Bonello, Communications Director for the Valletta 2018 Foundation, to find out more about this initiative.
Over the past few months, you may have heard about V.18 – the working title for Valletta’s bid by Valletta 2018 Foundation for the title of European Capital of Culture – a prestigious title conferred to two cities from two different countries in the European Union every year. Edward explains that the title serves as “an opportunity for that city to develop certain areas that they choose to highlight in relation to culture and the arts.” To begin with, the European Commission decides on a timetable of countries to host the title, leaving it up to the individual cities to make their bid for the title. In 2018, it will be Malta’s turn together with the Netherlands, and in the case of Malta, one application was submitted in the name of Valletta, covering all the national territory. The decision as to whether Valletta will be European Capital of Culture in 2018, follows two competitive stages – a preselection phase, which was held last January and in which Valletta received very good reviews, leading up to the final selection in which an international jury will make their decision, that is set to be made on October 12th. “Obviously,
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we do run the risk of not getting the title,” Edward maintains, “nothing is set in stone, but we are hopeful and working very hard to have an excellent bid for European Capital of Culture.” The brainchild of Greek and French ministers of culture back in 1985, the concept of the European Capital of Culture was initially intended as a celebration of European culture. Nowadays, as Edward maintains, it has developed, and besides celebrating our culture, is about “taking the opportunity to look ahead at what you can become, and generating the heritage of the future.” So what would it mean for Valletta, for Malta, and indeed for all of us, to receive the title? “Being European Capital of Culture”, Edward asserts, “can mean whatever we want it to mean. It isn’t a formula to follow, in which we’d have to organise so many concerts and exhibitions, or attract so many artists and voilà – it doesn’t work that way. It’s a matter of taking the best opportunity for the city. Liverpool for example, which had the title in 2008, took the opportunity to regenerate entire areas which were, up till then, far from the best areas in the city.” The title of European Capital of Culture therefore, serves as a platform from which to inspire persons involved within the creative sector – to make the most of this opportunity. “Anyone who is interested can benefit from the title,” Edward states, “We are trying to promote the idea of making careers of culture. At the moment, it’s not easy to embark on a career that is totally art or culture related locally. We want to make it a little easier, by embarking on projects which can help our youth pursue a career in the arts.”
culture
Proposed projects Below are two projects from the Cultural Programme within the Bid Book. Revolving around the themes of Generations, Routes, Cities and Islands, the projects within the Cultural Programme are a reflection of a wide exercise of public engagement, and are all duly credited in the Bid.
L-Ikla t-Tajba L-Ikla t-Tajba (Bon Appetit) will be an extravaganza of food research, cookery workshops and multidisciplinary activities celebrating the creative element of food, the art of cooking and the traditions of eating together. Its crowning event will be a community meal in which all 6000 residents of Valletta will be invited to share a meal together at a long table stretching the length of Republic Street. The project begins with an invite to cooks, food historians and foodies from countries all over Europe and North Africa to a food conference in Valletta that investigates links and common roots among these various food cultures. Historic foods will be remembered, local foods internationalised and traditional preparation and preservation methods shared. The origin of traditional foods will come under the spotlight; for example, we have braġoli in Malta as they do in Naples; but where did this dish originate?
Artistic Director Wayne Marshall, along with seven Artistic Programme Directors, announced back in August, will be the team leading the design and championing the cultural programme – a tentative version of which has been included in the final bid on which Valletta will be judged this month. The cultural programme brings together a collection of ideas proposed by the public via workshops and a two-day conference in May, as well as via a downloadable proposal form made available online. Edward is pleased at the public’s response, saying that the Foundation received a large number of proposals, which were then developed and integrated into four themes – Generations, Routes, Islands and Cities – with approximately 15 projects in each that made it into an outline programme. In this way, he maintains, the suggestions may be considered “a true reflection of the people”. “If and when we get the title,” Edward affirms, “this cultural programme will be further developed and materialised, as it is currently still a blue print – though some of the ideas are easy to imagine coming to life!” Out of all the proposed projects, I hazard to ask, is Edward looking forward to any in particular? “I’m personally quite excited about a kite festival – imagine many paper kites all over somewhere like the Grand Harbour, for example. Imagine the colours – how beautiful it would look!” On September 14th, Valletta’s bid was officially submitted to the local authority. In the run up to the final selection, the Valletta 2018 Foundation will be running a campaign and organising a number of events to commemorate this special occasion and keep the public informed on the final selection process. For more information, visit www.valletta2018.org.
The conference will be followed up with a series of international cookery workshops. By 2017, this will expand to a food festival in Valletta, including a producers market, local ingredients trails, a cookery competition, taste workshops, cooking demonstrations and historic food events. The festival will remain on the calendar as an annual event.
Karnival fuq il-Baħar In 1903, King George V and Queen Mary were treated to a parade of sea-bound floats in the Grand Harbour on their Royal Tour. Karnival fuq il-Baħar is a nighttime sea carnival extravaganza with floats leaving the old industrial heartland of Dock One creek in Bormla to travel across the Grand Harbour to Valletta. This large-scale, public carnival celebrates our island and maritime roots, but shifts our habitual focus from traditional street carnivals to a daring spectacle on the sea. It can be mirrored on a smaller scale in other harbour and bay communities around the Islands. The Karnival’s showpiece is intended as the closing event but will evolve as a vast, long-term, community-based project several years in the making. It draws on numerous community groups and talented individuals in planning, designing, building and ‘sailing’ the carnival floats, bringing together the Karnival float-building community (Għaqda Parteċipanti Karnival) and harbour communities. The event plans sideline activities such as a fringe carnival and a floating orchestra. Local boat owners will be invited to create smaller floats on their own boats to take part in the water carnival.
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fashion
Skater skirts The flirtiest skirt shape out there at the moment, the skater skirt is a versatile style staple that is both figure flattering and fashionable. The possibilities are endless too – you can pair it with anything from a crop top, opaque tights and heels to a sweater, ankle socks and brogues… and if you really want to, why not skates too?
Fashion F
Eccentric excelle
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1: New Look 2: New Look 3: River Island
Label we Eleven Paris
French brand Eleven Paris’ has only been around since January 2003, but it’s mission to ‘rockalise’ the world, reflected in the brand slogan ‘Life is a Joke’, is certainly materialising, with stores and franchises across France as well as in over fifteen other countries. Aiding its rock n’ roll edge, what make Eleven Paris stand out are its seasonal campaigns featuring famous faces including Lizzie Jagger and Zoe Kravitz. This season, it’s rock royalty Iggy Pop’s turn, alongside Daisy Lowe.
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“To see fashion to witn signific
fashion
Fairground
Shirts by Sarah Micallef
ence: Anna Piaggi With the recent passing of fashion editor and stylist Anna Piaggi, the fashion world has lost one of its icons. Standing for a fearless take on style, Piaggi effortlessly adapted flamboyant couture pieces into her everyday wardrobe, and was considered by many as a grande dame of fashion.
The past year has seen a definite surge in popularity for masculine tailoring and androgynous details for women. Even without the trend however, a style classic that will always prevail is the tailored shirt. Add a pop of interest to a crisp white number with some chunky jewellery or opt for a loud patterned variety for an on-trend print look.
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Piaggi’s image is iconic – never having left the house without a hat since the early 1980s, photographers would patiently wait outside fashion events for a glimpse of her characteristic powder blue curl, defined circles of blush and an exaggerated red cupid bow lip. With a career in fashion that spanned over five decades, Anna Piaggi started off as a translator for publishing company Mondadori, where she met her would-be husband, photographer Alfa Castaldi. She began her career in fashion working as fashion editor and stylist on the monthly magazine Arianna, going on to become editor-in-chief of Condé Nast’s style magazine Vanity from 1980 to 1983. Vogue Italia was to follow, where she shone as creative consultant and developed her now famous ‘doppie pagine’ – a double page spread comprising inspired montages that were not just limited to clothing and accessories, but featured anything and everything that she deemed fit. Throughout, and well into the computer age, Anna Piaggi continued to use a red Olivetti Valentine manual typewriter for her work – a design by Ettore Sottsass that became quite the style icon in itself.
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Throughout her career, due both to her vision as well as her eclectic personal style and vast wardrobe (that has been said to include such absurdities as a McDonald’s uniform vest and a canvas cape that started out as a costume in Les Ballets Russes’s first production of Stravinsky’s ‘Firebird’); Anna Piaggi became muse to a great many designers – most notably Karl Lagerfeld and milliner Stephen Jones. In 2006, the Victoria & Albert Museum housed an exhibition in her honour, showing her impressive collection of vintage couture and letting visitors in on just how extensive her collection really is, comprising 265 pairs of shoes, 932 hats, nearly 3,000 dresses and 31 feather boas.
e her at a n show was ness a tiny, cant riot.”
Following reports of Piaggi’s death in August, the fashion world took to Twitter to share tributes to one of its darlings. Stefano Gabbana (of Dolce & Gabbana) sums up the sentiment, tweeting ‘RIP Anna Piaggi... :((((( ciao grande Anna!!!’
1: Miss Selfridge 2: Dorothy Perkins 3: Mango
Celebs Pink
Take the cue from celebs like Kathy Griffin and Ashley Greene this month, and bring out your feminine side with a pop of pink. The celebrity favourite seems to be eyepoppingly bright fuchsia, but if this vibrant hue is too much for you, opt for a more muted tone – you’ll be looking pretty in pink, don’t you think?
Nikki-Reed
Olivia Munn
Ashley Greene
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Lady of the Manor
Creative director: Sarah Micallef Focused Knowledge T: 2339 2403
Photography: Jacob Sammut Carabez Pearl Works E: info@pearl-works.com Hair: Lara Steer, D Salon T: 2137 1245, dsalon@maltanet.net Makeup: Diandra Mattei using Givenchy T: 7982 8414 Model: Vikky Miggiani, Supernovamodel.com Venue: MonteKristo Estate, exclusively catered by Island Caterers
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Shirt & blazer New Look Trousers & boots Mango
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Blazer Mango Top New Look Shorts Miss Selfridge
Jacket Mango Top Topshop Trousers Dorothy Perkins Shoes New Look
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Is your makeup ageing you? Makeup should enhance your natural beauty, and as we age we need to adjust styles, texture and colours to avoid looking older or stuck in one particular era. In our late 20s for example, we could favour pale skin, smouldering eyes and nude lipstick or gloss, whereas our late 30s could see us switch from glitz to subtle shimmer eye shadows with bold wingtips and red lipsticks. In our late 40s, we would generally need to get our glow back by softening our eye colours from pink, gold and blue to plums, greens, beiges and light shades of brown. Later on in our 50s then, it generally calls for a switch to a more neutral palette, eliminating glitter eye makeup and replacing it with light-reflecting powder and illuminating foundations. For our lips at this stage, softer colours are generally more favourable. Once in our 60s, embracing our age comes with the use of illuminating foundations in liquid or mousse form rather than in powder form, as well as cream blusher. In terms of eye colour shades, earth colours are best here. These are just some basic guidelines as to what makeup looks can best suit you depending on your age. If you’re still uncertain as to what changes you need to make as you grow older, you may want to consider enrolling in a personal makeup course to show you what makeup looks you should be wearing from where you are right now in your life. By: Edith Hili (Principal) Dip Vtct; Infa, Fox; Delamar VTCT Assessor - Face 2 Face Academy
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202 Jewellery continues it’s efforts to introduce world-leading jewellery and watch brands to Malta, offering exclusive pieces for the discerning customer, from the fashionista buying for him or herself, to the gift-giver looking for something special and unique. 202 Jewellery has introduced world-leading brands that champion composable jewellery to Malta, giving their customers the opportunity to design and customise their own jewellery, and the ability to adapt it to their different outfits and moods. The Viventy jewellery collection, made up of high-quality 925 Solid Silver, is finished with rhodium and combined with pearls, motherof-pearl or black lacquer. The focus highlights large high-class pieces with a clear design. Viventy also emphasizes new surface structures: ‘soft ice’ is a new finish that gives the jewellery an exceptional look. Big items are the jewellery sets in Viventy Diamonds, which appeal through their combination of rose gold and real diamonds.
You are welcome to view and experience the New Viventy jewellery at 202 Jewellery Outlets in Valletta, Sliema and Fgura or visit www.202jewellery.com and their Facebook Fanpage @202 Jewellery.
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FASHION & MEDIA MAKE-UP COURSE Includes bridal, fashion, TV and photography make-up. INTERNATIONAL MAKE-UP ARTIST DIPLOMA As above plus theatre make-up, airbrush, period hair and wigs. THEATRE & FILM SPECIAL EFFECTS Period make-up, casualty simulation, facial hair and hairdressing. DESIGN FACE & BODY ART Face & body art for theatre, film & shows.
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culture
October’s tragedies and triumphs
by Martin Morana
October 6th, 1760 – The arrival of the Corona Ottomana at the Grand Harbour
October 26th, 1530 – The arrival of the Order of St John in Malta In 1522, the Order of St John was expelled from Rhodes by Suleiman the Magnificent’s Ottoman forces. For eight years, the Order was to stay in Viterbo, whilst the Grand Master and his retinue lobbied in various courts of Europe to find a suitable place to settle, until the time came for their return to Rhodes. It was Charles V of Spain who finally decided to grant the Order a place in which they could set up their new convent. Thus, L’Isle Adam and his knights landed on Malta’s shores on October 26th, 1530. He took up residence in the small castle of St Angelo, at the north western tip of Birgu. This is where the Order stayed until the adminstration of the Order shifted to the new capital, Valletta in 1571. Throughout their stay, the Knights of St John evolved from humble monks, as they were known in Jerusalem and Rhodes, to a more aristocratic and princely authoritarian regime that governed the Maltese Islands until 1798, when the Order was ousted by Napoleon.
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On 19th September 1760, the Corona Ottomana, a powerful vessel that had just been added to the Ottoman fleet, was sailing on the Greek seas with some 760 crew on board. Around 80 of these were captured slaves, some of whom Maltese. When stopping at the port of Stanchio, the Pasha Aplin Sherin, who was in charge of the vessel, went ashore with a large contingent. The galley slaves took advantage of this situation and overpowered the rest of the crew who remained on board. The rebels immediately let anchors aweigh and headed towards Malta where they reached port on October 6th. Grand Master Manoel Pinto de Fonseca welcomed this unexpected prize with open arms. He decided to rehaul the ship, and spent some 30,000 scudi to adapt the vessel to the Order’s small fleet. The ship was baptised the Santissimo Salvatore. The Turkish Sultan Mustafa III was furious at this manoevre by the Order. He even threatened to attack the Maltese islands, but then opted to seek the intervention of his French ally Louis XV, who like many other French monarchs, bore great influence on the international politics of the Order. Nevertheless, the Grand Master stood firm in his decision to retain the Turkish vessel. A solution was finally reached when Louis XV ended up buying the Corona Ottomana from the Order for 834,800 livres to return to the Sultan.
culture October 5th, 1798 – Attack on Żabbar by the French troops
Sea tragedies when crossing from and to Gozo
Following the uprising of the Maltese on September 2nd, the French were forced to retreat behind the fortifications of the Grand Harbour area and Manoel Island. From then on, the Maltese militias staged a long drawn blockade against the A cannon ball embedded into a house facade French. The Maltese militias in Bajada Street kept harrassing the French troops with daily cannon shots and shooting at anyone who dared surface from behind the fortification walls. In order to boost the morale of the French troops, General Vaubois decided to let his troops storm out of the harbour towns on a surprise attack to pillage one of the villages. To do this, a ruse was set up whereby a contingent from Valletta would march towards Tas-Samra battery (Ħamrun was still mainly agricultural land at the time). Whilst feigning this attack, a real raid would be unleashed on the tiny town of Żabbar. Żabbar lies a mere three hundred metres away from the southern side of the Cottonera fortifications, so the troops exited from Notre Dame Gate, known also as Bieb is-Sultan. At dawn on October 5th, hundreds of French soldiers marched out on foot and entered Żabbar from the side of Tal-Biċċieni. They quickly reached the town centre without meeting any resistance at all. Indeed, and to their surprise, the village seemed to be deserted, but not for long, as suddenly all hell broke loose as the Maltese had prepared an ambush and were well prepared for this attack. The French troops were pelted with stones while armed men fired at them from the roof tops. Out of nowhere, four cannons were trained on the troops from a position that is close to the junction leading to the Tal-Grazzja Church. This surprise attack cost the French troops dearly, as during that morning, more than 40 soldiers were killed and some 300 others were wounded. The French troops beat a fast retreat back to the Cottonera Fortifications. This was the only time that the French ventured out of their fortifications during the two year blockade. The lesson had been learned – the Maltese insurgents were no pushover and the best strategy for them was to keep their troops inside the fortified towns and endure the blockade.
October is conspicious with dramatic changes in weather conditions. In olden times, when sea transport between Malta and Gozo depended on smaller and simpler vessels, one would normally shirk crossing the Gozo channel in inclement weather. Nevertheless, some would opt to brave their way by boarding a luzzu or lateen boat to sail across the six kilometre long channel. On October 15th, 1838, one such sperona (older and larger type of luzzu), ventured out of Mġarr Harbour whilst a strong north westerly wind was churning up strong and sizeable waves. The boat was carrying cargo, as well as 34 passengers from Gozo to Malta. In spite of the choppy seas, the boat made it safely across the Fliegu and headed on towards St Paul’s Bay, as back then, Cirkewwa had no real jetty to speak of. Tragedy struck when the boat reached the vicinity of St Paul’s Bay, close to Qawra Point. A tornado hit the boat, which only took a few seconds to capsize and sink to the bottom of the sea. All the 34 passengers drowned. Another tragic incident occurred on October 30th, 1948, as passengers were being ferried from Marfa to Mġarr Harbour in Gozo during the early hours following sunset. The boat, with 27 people on board, kept to the northerly side of Comino so as to seek shelter from the south westerly winds. However, on emerging from the lee side of the island, the strong waves made it difficult for the boat to make headway towards Mġarr Harbour. It was thus suggested that the boat should head towards Ħondoq ir-Rummien for shelter and to seek a safe landing. However, upon reaching the Ponta Tal-Imġarraf, the boat capsized and 23 of the 27 passengers lost their lives.
October 14th, 1975 – The tragic crash of a Vulcan bomber in the streets of Żabbar
Photo: Żabbar Santuary Museum
It was around one o’clock on Tuesday October 14th, 1975 when a military Vulcan jet flying from England with seven crew on board reached Luqa airport. The landing was not a perfect one, and on touchdown the jet tilted to one side. The tip of one of the wings hit the tarmac and was damaged. With the impact, both wheels were also knocked off. The pilot tried to stabilise the plane, and took off in order to get rid of fuel before trying to stage an emergency landing. The pilot headed north east to reach the easterly coast, but a fire had broken out in the fuselage and on reaching the airzone over the town of Żabbar an exposion occurred. The two wings were severed and the fuselage nose dived towards the town below, landing in a nearby field. The pilot and co-pilot ejected and parachuted safely outside Żabbar, but all five of the remaining crew were killed. One of the wings floated down to drop right onto the building of the Primary School of Żabbar, right in the centre of the town. Luckily, most of the children were home at the time, enjoying their midday lunch before returning for the afternoon’s school session. A catastrophe was thus averted, as none of those remaining in the building were hurt. The other wing of the plane fell in Sanctuary Street, Żabbar’s main street. This wing contained fuel that had caught fire in mid-air. When falling into the street, a large quantity of burning fuel splayed itself onto the facades of most of the houses along a stretch of some 300 metres. A power line was also severed and a woman who was about to scurry into her house was hit and electrocuted. She died on the spot. 20 other residents were injured. This was a devastating tragedy that had fallen literally out of the sky. All of the townfolk of Żabbar thanked God that the outcome of this accident was not a catastrophe of a greater magnitude.
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murder cases
Murder in Malta by Edward Attard
Ġużeppi Debattista – Death of a lover
absence, made a report to the Ħamrun police about the attempted theft. Meanwhile, Debattista met Karmena Abdilla and warned her that if court proceedings were instituted he would reveal the purpose of his intended visit. Karmena, having no further use of Debattista and fearing that the man would divulge their illicit relations, decided to kill him.
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0-year-old Karmena Abdilla had been the mistress of 59-year-old coffin maker Ġużeppi Debattista for some time. Her husband had kept away from her house and was not aware of his wife’s affair. It was said that even though Debattista paid for the woman’s services, she wanted to get rid of him. Debattista, however, wanted to continue with this discreetly conducted affair. On the night of Tuesday February 23rd 1937, Debattista tried to enter Abdilla’s house the usual way, namely over the back wall of the yard by means of a ladder. But that day the woman’s husband, Salvatore Abdilla, had returned home and he and his son, Victor, saw Debattista going down the ladder, and when he reached the yard they assaulted him, thinking he was a burglar. Salvatore, who was not aware of what had been going on in his house during his
At about 20:00 on March 28th 1937, Karmena Abdilla, accompanied by her son Victor and her other three children, saw Debattista chatting with friends in St Paul’s Square, Ħamrun. She beckoned to him and walked towards Magri Street, with Debattista following her. When he reached her, they walked to Marsa Road and she led Debattista into a dark alley known as Ta’ Beżża l-Art. Karmena then left the three small children in the entrance to the alley and went with her son, Victor, and Debattista further up to the gateway. There, Victor whipped out a revolver and fired at Debattista at point-blank range. Debattista fell to the ground, and Karmena and Victor fled for their lives. Grievously wounded, Debattista staggered out of the alley, crying for help. He was later taken to the police station where he made a statement that Victor Abdilla had shot him. Debattista’s statement was repeated at the Central Hospital where he underwent what was considered a successful operation to remove the bullet. Despite this, his condition worsened and he died the following day. Karmena Abdilla was charged with inciting and abetting her son to kill Debattista, thereby becoming an accomplice in the voluntary homicide. Victor, aged 15, was charged with the
wilful homicide of Ġużeppi Debattista. Their trial started on March 30th 1937 with Sir Arturo Mercieca presiding the court and Dr Joseph Reynaud as crown counsel. The most interesting feature of this trial was the cross-examination of the medical experts by the defence counsel and his masterly criticism of the medical certificate stipulating cause of death. Dr Albert Magri contended that, although everything possible had been done to save Debattista, his death came about through some accidental cause foreign to the wound caused by the accused. However, the medical experts rebutted the least doubt that may have arisen regarding any irregularity attributable to the surgeons who performed the operation. The defence also produced two witnesses who said that, after the shooting, they saw a man running away and jumping over the wall of a field and disappearing in the darkness. The jury returned a verdict after only 12 minutes of deliberation. It was a unanimous guilty vote against both the accused, with a recommendation for mercy in the case of Victor Abdilla, due to his age. The chief justice passed the death sentence on Karmena and sentenced Victor to 12 years’ imprisonment. Governor Sir Charles Bonham-Carter commuted Karmena Abdilla’s death penalty to life imprisonment and later even remitted the sentence – she left Corradino Prison on June 16th 1941. Victor was released with his mother under the following conditions: (a) he had to abstain from any violation of the law; (b) he was bound to avoid consorting with persons of ill repute; and (c) he would not lead an idle or dissolute life.
VIDA would like to thank the author of Murder in Malta Edward Attard as well as the book’s publishers Book Distributors Ltd of San Ġwann. BDL Books is giving VIDA readers a special 50% discount on Murder in Malta. Simply visit www.bdlbooks.com and enter the coupon code 'VIDA' while checking out to receive your discount.
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motoring
Grand Prix de Malte promoter Thierry Giovannoni lets Joe have a go in his Bugatti Type 35.
The French owned Ford GT 40 was the fastest car at the Grand Prix.
Something old, something new by Joe Anastasi
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most fantastic machinery Malta has ever had the good fortune to experience.
All the gossip of the moment is centred around the forthcoming Mdina Grand Prix, so I thought it was time for a look back at how it all started. Since my distant youth, I always dreamt of one day seeing a Grand Prix for cars in Malta. I envisaged various circuits, my favourite being a start along Sliema sea front, turning off up Dingli Street, Rudolph Street, and down Prince of Wales to the Strand, then up Tower hill to start another glorious lap. What a lap of dreams!
Unfortunately nothing happened the following year, but in 2009 the Valletta Grand Prix Foundation was born, and a ‘sprint’ along part of the Valletta circuit was held on the following two years. It was something, but nothing to write home about, and certainly couldn’t be compared to the original Grand Prix de Malte of 2007. The members of the foundation knew this, so last year they went one step further with The Mdina Grand Prix – this time around the bastions of the old capital city. This proved to be a more attractive proposition, so for this year, a bigger and better Mdina Grand Prix was on the cards.
seem to be perpetually jumping from the good old days of local motorsport one month, to the present day scene the next, but this month’s contribution may be considered a cross between both.
We got pretty close in 2008, when French entrepreneur Thierry Giovannoni came to Malta with grandiose ideas of having a Grand Prix for historic cars around the streets of Valletta. If a Maltese person had approached the powers that be with such an idea, they would have thrown him in the loony bin, but Thierry was foreign, so his idea had to be good, and he had to be accommodated. So, the Grand Prix de Malte was born. Thierry asked Charles Zahra and myself to help him turn his idea into reality, and in early 2007 we set to work on what was to be the greatest motorsport event ever to be held in Malta. Charles looked after the administrative side of things, Thierry saw to bringing the most fantastic collection of historic cars, and I looked after the racing side of things. It worked to perfection, and on October 27th and 28th 2007, the streets around Malta’s capital city reverberated to the sounds of the
Available from John Bull Tel: 21571025, 99448738
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As years of experience have now shown, the contacts with ‘old car’ enthusiasts abroad are becoming reality, and on the second week of October this year, Malta will once again welcome a superb collection of historic cars, this time including motorcycles, to the 2nd Mdina Grand Prix. The 2012 event is scheduled to start with a hill climb at the famous Mtaħleb hill on Thursday October 11th. The Concours d’Elegance will take place at Mdina the following day; whilst Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to the sprint event around the Mdina circuit. A quick look at the entry list will be enough to entice even the most laid back enthusiasts – eight beautiful Bugattis and an Alfa Romeo racer from the 20s, a mouth watering collection of fast Jaguars, and a large number of local historic and classic cars and motorcycles. If this doesn’t do anything for you, then I don’t know what will!
Joe Anastasi started competing in local Motorsport in 1964 with a Mini Cooper S. Apart from participating in and winning a number of local championships, Joe also took part in numerous races in Sicily, including the famous Targa Florio, winning on seven occasions. Now retired, Joe helps Malta's young drivers to compete in Motorsport events in Sicily, where they have been very successful.
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cinema www.MarksMovieMarks.com – Release dates are subject to change. All films released locally by KRS Film Distributors Ltd.
October at the movies by Mark Camilleri
Film of the month
Skyfall
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nless you were attempting a solo Atlantic crossing in a canoe at the time, you probably saw and enjoyed possibly the most far-reaching and audacious piece of movie advertising ever staged – with the Queen herself coming along for the ride. But despite Bond being a quintessential part of British culture, and therefore a fitting addition to the pop opulence that was the Olympics opening ceremony, the timing was of course far from coincidental. Because after a few delays, the 23rd official installment in the most enduring film franchise ever (it turned 50 this year) is about to parachute into our cinemas. Daniel Craig has proved a very popular choice as the man with the tuxedo, although his second film was not as well received as his debut. For his third romp, he’s pitched against a new nemesis portrayed by Javier Bardem, and if he’s even half as evil as the guy Bardem portrayed in No Country for Old Men, Bond had better not forget his licence at home. Dame Judi Dench returns as the bossy (but in a lovable way) M, and we are introduced to a new, younger Q (Bond’s quartermaster, and provider of fancy gadgets), portrayed by Ben Whishaw (Perfume). Rounding off an impressive cast are Ralph Fiennes (The English Patient), Albert Finney (Big Fish), along with
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two rising starlets as the new additions to the legendary bondgirl catalogue – Naomie Harris and Bérénice Marlohe – one from each side of the British channel, how lovely. If, for some slightly strange reason, you need any additional reasons to go watch a Bond film, another selling point this time, and one that has raised the hopes of many, myself included, is the choice of director. With such a successful formula at hand, the franchise has often managed very well without the need for any highbrow visionaries in the folding chair. But this time they’ve managed to land Sam Mendes (American Beauty, Road to Perdition), who is also bringing along his frequent musical collaborator, composer Thomas Newman. That should make for an extremely interesting soundtrack, although at the time of going to press the identity of the big name behind the song is as yet unannounced (Adele? Noel Gallagher? Who knows?). It’s been a very ‘Team GB’ summer, so we can now sit comfortably in the knowledge that another great British tradition is heading our way, with fast cars, shamelessly sponsored watches, scantily-clad women, and some of the best action ever seen on a screen – and all without ruffling his suit.
cinema Madagascar 3
Anna Karenina It will be a few more weeks before 007 returns to the big screen, but thankfully this cinematic month starts off with another movie event that should keep our appetites sated until then. And just like Bond has done in the past, this one can be described as the Brits taking on the Russians. There have been over ten film adaptations of Leo Tolstoy’s classic novel over the past century, but this one is an ambitious, big-budget and wholly British affair. The screenplay was adapted by Tom Stoppard, the man behind one of the best screenplays in recent memory, Shakespeare in Love, and the film is directed by Joe Wright, who has already given us gorgeous takes on two other great novels – Pride and Prejudice and Atonement. Those two period pieces starred Keira Knightley in the main role, and she’s back again as the Russian princess at the heart of this tale. The two men in her life are portrayed by Jude Law and Aaron TaylorJohnson (Kick-Ass), and the rest of the cast include Kelly MacDonald (Trainspotting, and the heroine in the recent Brave), Matthew Macfayden (Frost/Nixon), Olivia Williams (The Sixth Sense, The Ghost Writer) and Emily Watson (Angela’s Ashes, War Horse). The main concerns revolve around the fact that Wright chose to set most of the story’s scenes on a stage, filming entire sequences, whatever their original backdrop, within the walls of an old and lavish theatre. It’s a courageous move, and let’s hope it doesn’t lessen the scope of the tale. Still, if you like your love stories bold and agonising, you feel nostalgic about the days when the word ‘epic’ was used appropriately, and especially if you ever find yourself mumbling ‘they don’t make them like that anymore’, this has a good chance of sweeping you away.
Just like Shrek and Ice Age, this franchise seems to provide easy sequel potential since the characters are so much fun, and it’s fairly easy to place them in a new scenario and make it work. Plus, children love them. So our four zoo escapees, after travelling to Africa in the first sequel, are now on their way back to the New York zoo that is their home. But they stop in Europe en route, for a dose of continental mayhem. Cue the accents, the scenes based around famous landmarks, and the overall level of chaos you would expect if you toss a bunch of wild animals into city traffic. All the main characters and their voice talents return, and amongst the new additions we find Frances McDormand (Fargo, The Man Who Wasn’t There) as a feisty French nemesis. With the usual mix of catchy pop tunes and Hans Zimmer’s crazy score, this should be fun, and since being released across the Atlantic, has already proved more successful and liked than the previous two.
Taken 2 Liam Neeson’s rebirth as an action hero was most successful when he dispatched half of Europe to track down his daughter in 2008’s Taken. Of course, those nameless, usually unattractive bad guys who fell in his wake all had family, friends and possibly life insurance policies. So there’s now a large chunk of Eastern Europe that wants him harmed. This time, they take his wife, whilst he is holidaying with her in Istanbul. There will be bullets; there will be fistfights. And there will definitely be menacing phone calls. Let the games begin.
Savages Director Oliver Stone is no stranger to extreme violence and drugs, but he seems to have toned things down since 1994’s Natural Born Killers, with his focus shifting towards violence of the political, financial and sporting kind. But he now returns to the seedy and dangerous world of drug cartels for this sprawling crime drama. Focusing on two best friends who share both a booming marijuana business and a girlfriend, the tragedy shows how the delicate balance that drug dealer’s lives are built on can collapse spectacularly (or so we’re told). The impressive cast includes John Travolta, Benicio del Toro (Traffic), Salma Hayek (Frida), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Kick Ass), Taylor Kitsch ( John Carter), Blake Lively (The Town) and Emile Hirsch (Into the Wild).
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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photography
Travel photography competition winner Three months ago, photographer Kevin Gatt gave you some tips on how to take beautiful travel photos when you’re on holiday. The competition required you to implement what you learnt to take some gorgeous travel photographs for your holiday album! Here are some of our favourite entries.
Winner
Dorianne Vella
Runners up
Fashion photography competition Have you managed to take a photo using the techniques explained in last month’s issue? Well, you’re still in time to send your entries to snap@vida.com.mt or by post to photography competition, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD2214. The deadline for this competition is November 5th, 2012. Your photo may win you this great prize from Living Colours. The best entries will be published in the December 2012 issue. Nico Gumienny
Win a voucher worth €100 for a deluxe canvas print (50x100cm or
WIN! 70x70cm) printed on premium quality cotton art canvas using the latest
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printing technology, hand-stretched over a 35mm wooden frame.
Visit www.livingcolours.eu today for high quality canvas prints, photobooks, personalised cards, posters and books all featuring your own photos and messages. Also on offer are luxury personalised Holy Communion and Confirmation bookmarks and matching party invitations. Create, preview and order all products quickly and easily online and have them delivered to your door. Get started today. Daniela Cauchi
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vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
calendar
Mediterranean Travels
Painting Exhibition by Christine X Art Gallery. 17 Tigne’ Street - Sliema
Exhibitions in October
Dates & Times: October 4th to October 24th - Monday to Saturday from 10:00 till 13:00 and from 16:00 till 19:00 www.christinexart.com
11th National Art Exhibition
70 artists will, between them, be exhibiting 100 pieces of work during this year’s edition of the National Art Exhibition. Palazzo de La Salle - Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce Dates & Times: Till October 31st - Monday to Fridays 08:30 till 19:30, Saturdays 08:30 - 12:00 www.artsmalta.org
‘Tiers of Truths’ - London Exhibition
Rupert Cefai will be holding an exhibition of paintings at The Framers Gallery - Windmill Str. - W1T 2JT - London - UK. Opening Times: Monday to Friday from 10:00 till 17:30 and Saturday from 11:00 till 17:00 www.rupertcefai.com
Romeo and Juliet
St James Cavalier - Valletta
October 12th, 13th & 14th at 20:00
Events Theatre
Sports
Culture & History
Friday 5th
Line Dancing - Parish Centre Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II - Attard T: 2143 4949
Saturday 6th
Big Band Brothers - Manoel Theatre - Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
Sunday 7th
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary Gudja - T: 2169 6039 Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary Tarxien - T: 2182 8153
Blood Donation Mobile Unit - Next to Holy Family Chapel - Sagħjtar Area - Naxxar - 08:30 to 13:00 T: 2206 6209
Big Band Brothers - Manoel Theatre - Valletta 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
Romeo and Juliet – the world’s most famous love story. Theatrencore transfers the tale of the star-crossed lovers from Verona to Malta in the mid-80s. The tragedy of Romeo and Juliet is set against the violent tension that reigned in the political struggle between the Labourites and the Nationalists. For tickets visit www.sjcav.org or contact us on 2122 3216.
To include your events in this page email all details to events@vida.com.mt or call 2339 2236 by October 8th. The VIDA team does its utmost to publish the most updated information in these pages. We can not, however, take any responsibility for details omitted or changed by third parties after going to print.
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vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
Children Animation - Valletta Waterfront - 12:30 - T: 2567 3000 Tuesday 9th
Line Dancing - Mġarr Parish - Mġarr - T: 2157 2578
Thursday 11th
The Last of the Haussmans - NT Live - St James Cavalier - Valletta - 20:00 - E: info@sjcav.org The Genius and Legacy of Corelli Manoel Theatre - Valletta 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
Friday 12th
Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary Marsa - T: 2123 6622 Mdina Grand Prix - Mdina E: mdina.lc@gov.mt
Clubbing
Music
Line Dancing - Parish Centre "Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II" - Attard T: 2143 4949
William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet - St James Cavalier - Valletta 20:00 - E: info@sjcav.org Saturday 13th
L’Elisir D’Amore - St James Cavalier Valletta - 19:00 - E: info@sjcav.org Mdina Grand Prix - Mdina E: mdina.lc@gov.mt
The Malta Military Tattoo - MFCC - Ta' Qali - 18:00 E: info@mfcc.com.mt
William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet - St James Cavalier - Valletta 20:00 - E: info@sjcav.org Sunday 14th
Feast of Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Għasri - Gozo T: 2156 0137 Blood Donation Mobile Unit - In Parish Church Square - Siġġiewi 08:30 to 13:00 - T: 2206 6209 Mdina Grand Prix - Mdina E: mdina.lc@gov.mt
The Malta Military Tattoo - MFCC - Ta' Qali - 18:00 E: info@mfcc.com.mt Children Animation - Valletta Waterfront - 12:30 - T: 2567 3000
William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet - St James Cavalier - Valletta 20:00 - E: info@sjcav.org
The Funny Farm Horse Rescue Association - Open Day - Bidnija11:00 to 17:00 www.funny-farm-horse-rescue.webs.com
calendar
this month Fund Raising
Blood Drive
Tuesday 16th
Line Dancing - Mġarr Parish - Mġarr - T: 2157 2578
Friday 19th
BirguFest - Vittoriosa E: birgu.lc@gov.mt
LOL Stand-up Comedy Show Dolmen Resort Hotel - Qawra E: info@laughoutloud.com.mt
Calendar Girls - Manoel Theatre Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt Line Dancing - Parish Centre Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II - Attard T: 2143 4949 Saturday 20th
Ta’ Taħt Fuq - Teatru Istitut Kattoliku - Floriana - 18:30 www.istitutkattoliku.com BirguFest - Vittoriosa E: birgu.lc@gov.mt
LOL Stand-up Comedy Show Dolmen Resort Hotel - Qawra E: info@laughoutloud.com.mt
Calendar Girls - Manoel Theatre Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt Sunday 21st
Blood Donation Mobile Unit - Next to Pastoral Centre - Ninu Cremona Square - Iklin - 08:30 to 13:00 T: 2206 6209
Ta’ Taħt Fuq - Teatru Istitut Kattoliku - Floriana - 14:30 & 18:00 www.istitutkattoliku.com Feast of Jesus of Nazareth - Xagħra Gozo - T: 2155 1042 BirguFest - Vittoriosa E: birgu.lc@gov.mt
Calendar Girls - Manoel Theatre Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
Malta Lace and Crafts Day - Catholic Institute - Floriana - 10:00 T: 2146 1110 Children Animation - Valletta Waterfront - 12:30 - T: 2567 3000 Tuesday 23rd
Line Dancing - Mġarr Parish - Mġarr - T: 2157 2578
Thursday 25th
Home & Interiors Exhibition - MFCC - Ta Qali - E: info@mfcc.com.mt
Kids & Family
Fairs
October
2012
Others
Friday 26th
Home & Interiors Exhibition - MFCC - Ta Qali - E: info@mfcc.com.mt Calendar Girls - Manoel Theatre Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt Tango Emoción - Kempinski Hotel San Lawrenz - Gozo E: bookings@mediterranea.com.mt Line Dancing - Parish Centre “Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II” - Attard T: 2143 4949 Dance Rush - MCC - Valletta www.dance-rush.com
Saturday 27th
Argentine Tango “Fiesta De Quince” - Palazzo de Piro, Mdina www.palazzodepiro.com
Dance Rush - MCC - Valletta - 20:00 www.mcc.com.mt Home & Interiors Exhibition - MFCC - E: info@mfcc.com.mt
Chocolate Festival - Ħamrun - 18:00 - E: hamrun.lc@gov.mt Calendar Girls - Manoel Theatre Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt
Otello - St James Cavalier - Valletta 18:30 - E: info@sjcav.org
a
skol skola
a
skol
skola
lura
pleasant supplementary reading in Maltese, genera l information and various competitions with prizes.
la
-isko
g]all
skola a skol skola
Zoo As You Like It - City Theatre Valletta - 20:00 - www.biljetti.com Sunday 28th
Feast of Our Lady of the Girdle Gudja - T: 2169 6039
Blood Donation Mobile Unit - Next to Corner Store Shopping Centre - Mosta - 08:30 to 13:00 T: 2206 6209
Dance Rush - MCC - Valletta - 14:30 19:30 - www.mcc.com.mt Home & Interiors Exhibition - MFCC - Ta Qali - E: info@mfcc.com.mt Calendar Girls - Manoel Theatre Valletta - 20:00 E: bookings@teatrumanoel.com.mt Music in Liturgy - St George's Basilica - Victoria - Gozo - 11:00
Children Animation - Valletta Waterfront - 12:30 - T: 2567 3000 Zoo As You Like It - City Theatre Valletta - 20:00 - www.biljetti.com Tuesday 30th
Line Dancing - Mġarr Parish - Mġarr - T: 2157 2578
- tar Sagh
OTTUBRU 2012 Għadd 328 €1.00
The next scholastic year 2012-2013 is with us. As in the past 41 years the magazine in Maltese, SAGĦTAR, will be keeping its monthly appointment with students in Primary and Secondary Schools. SAGĦTAR is published every month , between October and May. The magazine offers students
The magazine features articles for the very young and also articles to help older students with their studies and school work. Articles about the history of Malta, Maltese and international personalities, the history of painting, critical literary essays, works of Maltese writers, and pastimes like philately, ornitology, nature, cartoons, etc. are some of various themes. An annual subscription costs €8. The magazine may also be bought monthly at €1 per copy. Subscription forms may be obtained from school, or directly from the MUT, 213 , Republic Street, Valletta. Tel: 21237 815, 2122 2663.
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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events
Malta Military Tattoo October 13th and 14th
The ninth Malta Military Tattoo will be held at MFCC, Ta’ Qali, on Saturday October 13th and Sunday October 14th 2012. On both days, the show will start at 18:00 sharp. This year, the foreign line-up includes the Scottish Pryde of East Lothian Pipes and Drums as well as Pryde of East Lothian Highland Dancers who have participated in the world famous Edinburgh Tattoo, Plymouth and Cornwall Air Training Cadets Corps of Drums from England. This group will also include Isaac Gomis, who was named Best Bugler in the Cadet Force Music event held in Liverpool. Orkiestra Nadarzyn from Poland will also be taking part. In 2008, the Polish Minister for Culture and National Heritage awarded this Orchestra a medal for ‘Service to Polish Culture’. Italy will be represented by Storici Sbandieratori delle Contrade di Cori – a flag-throwing group, and from Estonia, Spordiklubi Rullest – the 2006 and 2009 European Champion roller skating team. The above mentioned groups will be participating together with a massed pipes and drums made up of Wallace Pipes & Drums, Marsa Scouts Pipes & Drums, Zurrieq Scouts Pipes & Drums, Malta Police Pipes & Drums and the Armed Forces of Malta Pipes & Drums. To compliment this extensive line-up there will also be the Malta Police Precision Drill Team, the Malta Police Band and the Band of the Armed Forces of Malta. During the finale, Soprano Rosabelle Bianchi will sing live together with a massed band made up of all participating musicians. Tickets at €20 and €30 can be purchased online from www.ticketline.com.mt, in person from MFCC in Ta’ Qali, by phone on 2141 0371, 2137 6312 and 7906 8676 or by sending an email to booking@maltamilitarytattoo.org
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vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
The MFCC Homes and Interiors Exhibition
October 25th to 28th
The MFCC Homes and Interiors Exhibition will be held at MFCC, Ta’ Qali, between Thursday October 25th and Sunday October 28th 2012. The exhibition will involve over 80 exhibitors, feature items for the home and novel products which are required to embellish your home or make it cosy for the winter months ahead. The items exhibited are endless and include furniture, sofas, doors and garage doors, solar water heaters, gas water heaters, art and frame making, windows, stonework, fireplaces, heating solutions, bathrooms, light fittings and lighting décor, home ornaments, security systems, home appliances and much more. The competition prize this year is a 60cm round volcanic stone table from Mediterranean Ceramics. Inspired by the Mediterranean technique of ceramics and pottery, Mediterranean Ceramics brings together various international artists and ceramists to promote the skills and spirit of Maltese and Mediterranean craftsmanship. Mediterranean Ceramics offers a wide spectrum of products ranging from standard products to bespoke artefacts and decorative architectural solutions. Mediterranean Ceramics specialises in Volcanic and Lava Table tops, Ceramic Monuments and custom made Ceramics. They will also be at this year’s MFCC Homes and Interiors Exhibition. The MFCC Homes and Interiors Exhibition’s opening hours are from 18:00 to 22:30 on Thursday 25th, Friday 26th and Saturday 27th, and from 10:00 to 13:00 and 15:00 to 21:00 on Sunday 28th.
events
YADA presents Dance Rush D ance Rush, YADA Dance Company’s latest offering, will be previewed in Malta on October 26th, 27th and 28th as well as November 4th 2012 at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. Following these Performances Dance Rush will premiere in San Francisco, USA in January 2013 moving onto Chicago and New York and other major world cities. Dance Rush began as an extension of YADA’s 25th Anniversary Celebration in 2009. At the time, the piece closed the first act and was called August Rush. Felix Busuttil elaborated on the synopsis of the movie bearing the same name – the story of a 12-year old who was orphaned but still believed that going home would become a reality. Music will be the power that brings families, friends, societies and cultures together. The performance will see symphonies and compositions bringing the son and his beloved parents back together. Through is imagination, the boy will create seven characters – the seven musical notes that will transport him back to his parents.
by Diane Nikolic and Justin Brincat. Direction is by Felix Busuttil, with choreography by Felix himself, Justin Roy Barker, Nina Winter, Daron Galea, Elaine Falzon and Vivienne Fielding Refalo, along with final touches by Tanya Bajona. YADA’s past shows – Moulin Rouge, Dirty Dancing, Tango, Phantom, Strait Street, Christus, 25 A Filigree of Dance and Michael Jackson Forever just to mention a few – will culminate in YADA’s Dance Rush, with its full energetic force and colour, which will have the audience wanting to dance to the music! The company wishes to thank Dr Francis Zammit Dimech, Ms Oksana Gurbacheva and Mrs Janatha Stubbs for showing past and present support and belief in the vision.
“Music is all around us and all one has to do is simply be still and listen.” Music will range from compositions by John Miles and the actual soundtrack from August Rush, to authentic sounds from Etnika, Dominic Galea, Red Electrick and DJ Ruby. There shall also be classical hits composed by Vivaldi, Bach and Shostakovich and operatic highlights from Madame Butterfly, La Traviata and Carmen. Also included are some popular songs by Jennifer Lopez, Michael Buble and local talent Chiara. It will certainly be a lavish buffet of music for all tastes. The performance will also feature some 600 glamorous costumes by the talented Charles and Ron, visual effects by Peter Howitt, sound by Manolito Galea, lights by Nexos and make-up
Bookings can be made at the MCC Booking Office or www.mcc.com.mt. For more information visit www.dance-rush.com or www.yada.com.mt.
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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books
News from bookland
The Malta Book Fair This year’s edition of the Malta Book Fair, organised by the National Book Council and Malta Libraries will be held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, between Wednesday November 6th and Sunday November 11th 2012. Each year the Book Fair attracts thousands of avid readers. The aims of the Book Fair are to promote Maltese and foreign publications, to bring a wide range of recent publications to the attention of the local reading public, to encourage reading and establish a public conscience about children's literature and to foster professional contacts among publishers, printers, booksellers and librarians. Besides the stalls, the Book Fair is a mecca of cultural activities. During these activities, publishers take the opportunity to launch their new titles, often still hot off the presses. Children's activities will also be included. No book lover should miss this event!
Tribute to Gore Vidal
Last month, the World paid homage to recently passed author Gore Vidal. Vidal contributed to several literary fields ranging from essays, novels and screenplays to Broadway plays. He was also very active within the political realm. In fact, Vidal was a lifelong Democrat; and ran for political office twice. He contributed to several popular American organs like The Nation, the New Yorker, the New York Review of Books and Esquire. Through his essays and media appearances, Vidal was a long time critic of American foreign policy. Vidal's best-known novels fell into two distinct camps: social and historical. His most widely regarded social novel was Myra Breckinridge while his best known historical novels include Julian, Burr, and Lincoln. His third novel, The City and the Pillar (1948), outraged conservative critics because it was one of the first major American novels to feature unambiguous homosexuality. At the time of his death he was the last of a generation of American writers who had served during World War II, including J.D. Salinger, Kurt Vonnegut, Norman Mailer, and Joseph Heller. Perhaps best remembered for his caustic wit, he referred to himself as a "gentleman bitch" and has been described as the 20th century's answer to Oscar Wilde. (Source: Yahoo News)
The books page in VIDA is coordinated by the National Book Council. Check out this page for information from the world of books and reading! www.ktieb.org.mt
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vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
Maltese must reads Darbtejn Insiru Tfal Charles Casha, Klabb Kotba Maltin
Klabb Kotba Maltin has just published the third edition of Charles Casha’s humorous short stories Darbtejn Insiru Tfal. Published for the first time in 1976, these short stories about Wiġi and Katrin have remained popular with young and old alike. This revised edition is being published in a new format and comprises 17 stories, five of which have been written especially for this edition. Illustrations are by the talented Frank Schembri.
Kastell Għal Clara
Lina Brockdorff, Klabb Kotba Maltin
Brockdorff’s touching new novel, her third, follows her earlier Kien Kwinta l-Qamar and La Jerġa’ Jasal Diċembru. Poignant and tender, the love story unravels mainly in a Maltese setting. The protagonists are people the reader can identify with, and their backdrops are the all too familiar circumstances of everyday life, at times mundane, at times dramatic. Clara was her father’s favourite, if only she could live happily, and safely, ever after in a model castle that he built for her. Destiny however, has other plans. Will Clara ever manage to find love and security? This novel has a brief introduction by Prof. Oliver Friggieri.
Intermezzi – Ġabra ta’ Tletin Novella Lina Brockdorff, Klabb Kotba Maltin
Intermezzi is also Brockdorff’s third collection of short stories after Il-Bieb Numru 11 and Bellus u Bizzilla. Once you start reading the story it is very difficult to put the book down. It offers 30 short stories of various genres including love stories, humorous stories and ones in which unexpected incidents leave an indelible mark on the protagonists’ life. In others we see how children’s innocent remarks turn out to have serious consequences. Most stories are set in modern times, with others taking the reader a few years back. The setting is local and context familiar; the turn of events however, is sometimes unexpected.
eating & drinking
A different perspective I
sn't it funny how a few hundred metres and a new owner can make somewhere the place to be? The Ta' Xbiex Waterpolo club, despite being somewhere I had never noticed before its recent change of hands and facelift, is relatively close to a number of regular haunts, but it's easier parking, picture perfect view, food and service mean that I have found myself there on more than one occasion recently. The decor is simple – I want one of the tables, and the salt and pepper pots. Tables outside under calico umbrellas were almost full and inside, where we chose to sit, had filled up by the time our food arrived. French navy napkins and highly polished, long stemmed, bulbous glasses. The menu is one of those 'easy' menus. Pizza, pasta, salad, steak and fish are its mainstays. No fancy frills, but good ingredients, well cooked, beautifully presented and served with a smile. The ratio of staff to tables is impressive, but they don't fuss over you or make you feel claustrophobic. They glide across to you and keep your glass topped up and check in just once, managing to do that
Ambience
Service
Ta’ Xbiex Waterpolo Club Ta' Xbiex Seafront, Ta' Xbiex
without interrupting your conversation. portion arrived and vanished somehow. I We'd ordered a bottle of Malbec – an had thought that with all the talking, we easy drinking, peppery red, and both hadn’t had the time to eat quite so much. agreed on the same dish; the mixed grill, because we couldn't quite decide. I think The bill was just over €55, which wasn't it was the Sicilian sausage that swung it. bad for the size of the portions and I hadn't tried one before and so that's a quality of food. I think restaurants should good enough reason. It was splayed and have vibrating loungers for you to relax cooked till crisp which I like, and not as on after your meal, and here especially, salty as Maltese varieties. To be honest, as the view takes in boats bobbing in I couldn't identify the meat, and I the marina, families swimming and tried all the way till the end. picnicking, and the majestic Alongside the sausage was a Valletta, the stone of the "It was chicken fillet, which had bastions lit up to highlight splayed and been grilled, having that the texture, the beauty, the cooked till crisp fishnet pattern that makes mass. you want to cut along which I like, and the lines – or am I a little A complimentary liqueur not as salty as OCD? allowed us to savour the Maltese varieties." view of the moon rising We had chosen to have our from the sea like a giant steaks cooked in a different peach, and up into the sky way, my friend’s was medium to well brightening as it rose, teasing the done and she devoured it. I like mine fish and guiding the fishermen, leaving us almost blue; almost still beating, merely to make up fictitious lives on board one of seared. The inside was as red as the the super, super yachts, moored alongside ketchup we'd insisted on, and didn't need. Manoel Island, and covet the mêlée of It was tender and tasty, but a bit too big. perfectly formed, circular desserts that I left some of the chicken too – but did would stretch our Lycra dresses beyond manage to eat all my new potatoes, which their tested limits, before stepping had been roasted with a distinctive olive outside and waddling to our kerb-side oil. My friend chose chips, and a huge parked cars.
Décor
Food
Value
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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money matters
Bank of Valletta supports Migration Museum
Bank of Valletta is supporting the Migration Museum, dedicated to telling the story of emigration from Malta in a fresh and engaging way.
F
irst proposed in the year 2000 at the Convention of Leaders of Associations of Maltese Abroad and of Maltese Origin, the Migration Museum is a collaboration between the Emigrants’ Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The museum, which will be inaugurated in the coming months, will present the thrilling tales, the emotion and the history of emigration and the effect it had on our community. It also explores the ways in which Maltese emigrants integrated in the various countries in which they settled and what they contributed there. The Emigrants’ Commission has been assisting emigrants setting off from Malta for decades and as a result, it has an extensive collection of memorabilia. These include both official and non-official documentation, photos, newspapers from various countries, objects, certificates, personal and general records, stories and letters. The first phase of the museum focuses on the creation of digital information modules, dealing with various aspects of migration from maps showing where the Maltese have settled, to the fire which gutted one of the ships carrying emigrants. These touch screens have proved very popular – but there is plenty more planned, including the digital multimedia information pods and displays of memorabilia.
A considerable amount of information is being digitally archived by volunteers, creating an invaluable record for anthropologists and historians, as well as for individuals. Vanessa Macdonald, Head of PR and Social Media at Bank of Valletta met Emigrants Commission Director Fr Alfred Vella who described the details of the project. “There are a number of studies that show that there are more Maltese living abroad than there are living in Malta,” said Fr Vella. “We would like to take this opportunity to invite the public who would like to donate documents or other material related to emigration to come forward and help us enrich our collection that will soon be enjoyed by all those who visit the migration museum.” “Bank of Valletta has always been associated with Maltese success and we are proud to be part of a project which celebrates the amazing contribution that the Maltese have made abroad. This project reminds us how emigrants – Maltese going abroad and other nationalities coming here – enrich the culture into which they are integrated,” Ms Macdonald explained. The Migration Museum and Visitors’ Centre is situated at Dar l-Emigrant, the headquarters of the Emigrants’ Commission, near the Upper Barrakka in Valletta.
Issued by Bank of Valletta, 58, Zachary Street, Valletta VLT1130 – Malta.
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vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
advertorial
Do I have bad breath? Halitosis or bad breath may be caused by certain foods, health conditions or simply by bad habits. In many cases, halitosis may be improved with proper dental hygiene. Try making changes by brushing your teeth and tongue regularly after each meal. Review your tooth-brushing regime – spend three seconds on each tooth inside and out preferably resting an electric toothbrush on the area where each tooth meets the gum. Tongue brushing can also remove smelly bacteria that may remain on the tongue. Use of interdental brushes or floss may also help, as food trapped between teeth can be released in this way. Similarly, dentures can harbour odour-causing bacteria and food particles if not cleaned regularly and meticulously. In addition to inadequate dental hygiene, some people have a problem with the digestion of pungent, spicy foods that can create odours that literally reach the lungs from the bloodstream after being digested. Dry mouth can also often contribute to bad breath, as saliva cleanses the mouth. This generally happens at night, causing ‘morning breath’, and this is more of a problem if you sleep with your mouth open. Besides this, some medications can also lead to a chronic dry mouth. Similarly, ear, nose and throat conditions can lead to bad breath such as sinus conditions or ulcers in the respiratory system. Other rare malformations of the oral-nasal cavity such as cleft palate can do the same, and tobacco certainly doesn’t help either! If bad breath is not attributable to one of the factors listed above, it is a good idea to see your dentist, who may refer you to a doctor in order to find the cause of the odour. In about 10% of bad breath cases, bad odours are caused by a more serious illness such as diabetes, kidney or liver failure.
With Denplan, you get treatment when you need it not just when you can afford it! Find a Denplan dentist today t: 21 322 600 e: denplan@atlas.com.mt w: atlas.com.mt/denplan Atlas Healthcare Insurance Agency Limited is authorised by the MFSA to act as agents for AXA PPP healthcare limited who provide the insurance cover. Denplan Limited provides the support and expertise to administer Denplan Care.
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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special feature
Parenting... beyond childhood M
any parents worry about their children when they reach adolescence. Fears of not having the necessary skills (and perhaps enough energy) to deal with their teenage children intensify. At what stage can parents say that their children have passed childhood and become young adults? Certainly, children reach a particular age at which point parents notice a variety of changes within them. These changes can be on a physical, intellectual, emotional, and social level. Every parent is proud of their children, especially after all the hard work involved in ensuring they develop in a healthy way. Despite this, doubts always arise! Even though parents may communicate openly with their children, young people’s changing emotions sometimes lead to tension and conflicts. Parents often start realising that their disciplinary tactics are no longer as effective as they were when their children were younger. Thus, the parent-child relationship begins to change, and because of these changes, parents start feeling like they are losing control over the children and that their children are ignoring them. On the other hand, children often begin longing for their independence, looking at themselves as grown ups. They demand freedom and expect their parents to trust them and give them more autonomy. Most young people also tend to give more weight to friends’ opinions rather than those of their family. Advice from a friend is therefore more welcome than that of their parents/carers. Another common factor amongst young persons is the loss of self-confidence, as they may begin to feel as if they are inferior to their friends. For this reason, most teens become more conscious of their appearance, the way they act and the friends they choose. Parents and educators should help young persons in creating a balance between freedom and certain restrictions. It is important that a parent and/or educator gives facts about the consequences of certain decisions the young person makes about certain behaviours such as smoking, substance abuse, gambling, and sexual activities, among others.
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vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
Parental skills courses In order to help parents address these and other issues related to child rearing effectively, Aġenzija Sedqa’s Prevention Services will be organising Parental Skills courses starting in October. One course is aimed at parents of pre-teens (10 years old and younger) and another aimed at parents of adoloscents (11–16 years old). Both courses will be delivered in Maltese by professional staff trained in the respective fields. A €12 fee per person per course applies. During these lectures, related educational material will also be distributed. The venue for both courses will be St Joseph’s Home, St Joseph’s High Road, Santa Venera. Childcare facilities will be available upon request. Those interested may contact Ms Elizabeth Scerri on 2388 5110 or elizabeth.scerri@gov.mt for further details. The deadline for applications is October 15th 2012. www.sedqa.gov.mt. Aġenzija Sedqa forms part of the Foundation for Social
Welfare Services (www.fsws.gov.mt) which incorporates Aġenzija Appoġġ (www.appogg.gov.mt) and Aġenzija
Sapport (www.sapport.gov.mt).
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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Property Attard – ground floor maisonette, large open plan, 2 double bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom, internal yard, semifinished - €125,000 – Call 7943 3883 Mosta – solitary maisonette with optional underlying 5 car street level garage - €209,000 - Call 7725 3502 Zebbug– new massive 3 bedroomed maisonette with large open plan, back with valley views - €157,000 - Call 9958 5767 Mosta - penthouse, 3 bedrooms, ensuite, bathroom,
large open plan, large terrace with views - €212,000 - Call 7900 7931 Attard –Large corner penthouse, 3 bedrooms, open plan, ensuite, bathroom, massive corner terrace, highly finished - €280,000 – Call 7943 3883
Services
Models wanted – Male and female models between the ages of 18 and 25 wanted for advertising and fashion magazine shoots. Send recent photos (close up and full body shot) to fashion@vida.com.mt.
To book your advert you can: · Send the advert details and photos followed by a cheque by post to Focused Knowledge Ltd. Pitkali Rd, Attard ATD 2214, Malta or by email
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classifieds@vida.com.mt · Visit our offices at Pitkali Road, Attard, and ask for our Sales Team to book your advert and pay in cash or by cheque.
vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
All bookings and payments must reach our offices by no later than October 8th 2012.
BOOK NOW
2339 2236
Games & Competitions
WIN! All competition replies should reach our offices by Wednesday October 13th. Send them to Competitions, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD 2214, or by email on win@vida.com.mt. By sending in an entry to any of VIDA magazine’s competitions, you are giving Focused Knowledge Ltd and carefully selected partners permission to store and use your contact details.
Meal for two
Shades, pendants, classic, switches
What was Sa Re Ga Ma awarded for? Visit: www.hotelfortina.com/saregama P
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September’s solutions
The award winning Indian restaurant, Sa Re Ga Ma is located at the tropical gardens of the Fortina Spa Hotel Sliema - Level 1 T: 9949 2513
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1 winner will win this watch worth €95
October 2012 | Issue 34 | vida.com.mt
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only for kids
After school fun
Doing something other than homework and watching cartoons after school is a great way to meet new friends, learn new skills and have fun! There’s an option for everyone out there, and you’re guaranteed to find something to suit your tastes and abilities.
– from football to gymnastics or even martial arts. Whatever the choice may be, engaging in an extracurricular activity has loads of benefits from giving you new skills to helping your general development – besides giving you something to look forward to after the school day is over.
If you’re the creative sort, a large variety of arts and crafts classes ranging from pottery to painting could be just the thing to look forward to when the bell rings at the end of the school day. If you’re a fan of music, why not try learning to play an instrument like the piano or guitar? If you’ve got a good voice, you could try singing lessons, or if you prefer dancing, attend dancing classes like ballet or jazz.
If you’ve got something in mind that you’d like to do, discuss it with your parents, or if you want to do something after school but just don’t know what, look into your options by asking friends, family and teachers.
If you’re more the athletic sort, you could participate in any number of sports based on you’re preference
Remember to consider your schedule before deciding you want to do something – you don’t want it to clash with any other commitments (like catechism for example) and it’s important to make sure you always leave enough time to do your homework!
WIN!
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vida.com.mt | Issue 34 | October 2012
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Piano Football Gymnastics Guitar Athletics Ballet Jazz Singing Dancing Music Find 10 things related to extracurricular activities in the grid and send us the solution by post. The correct answers will enter a draw to win the Nesquik Hamper.
Last month we also asked you to send us a picture of yourself on your first day of school. Here are some of your entries:
Ben Galea
Abigail Borg
Matthea De Bono
Aidan Wingfield
Matthias Bonanno
Martha Vella
Win a hamper made up of Nesquik products!
Another chance to win!
Giulia Navarro, 5, is the winner of last month’s competition. She wins a hamper made up of Nesquik products.
Send us a drawing or photo of your extracurricular activity of choice to Send your entries, be in with another together with your name, chance of winning the hamper made up surname, age and contact details of Nesquik products! (address, telephone number, email address), to: Kids Competition, VIDA Magazine, Pitkali Road, Attard, ATD 2214 by no later than Wednesday October 10th.