Gibraltar Insight™ March 2024

GIBRALTAR INSIGHT

THE ROCK’S LONGEST RUNNING MAGAZINE

FOR ALL THAT GLITTERS

Gibraltar Insight Deputy Editor: Jean King

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Gibraltar Insight - the Rock’s longest running magazine.

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Gibraltar Insight places great importance on the accuracy of the information contained within this publication, but cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Views expressed by contributors and/or correspondents do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Neither Gibraltar Insight nor GBZ Media Limited is responsible for any claims made, or material(s) used, in advertisements.

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Competition T&Cs:

• The deadline for receiving entries for the competition is final. No entries received after the given date will be considered.

• The judge's decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering this competition.

Photo: Elliott Howe

WORDS BY MARTIN WARD

MG CYBERSTAR

I recently went to look at the forthcoming MG Cyberstar at Luscombe MG in Leeds. This early pre-production car is doing a tour of Europe with one of its stop-off places being in Yorkshire. Cyberster seems an odd name for this all electric two-seater soft-top sports car. MG in the past has had for names: MGTF, MGF, MGC,MGB and MGA, so I thought with it being Electric, MGE might have been used, but it hasn’t so Cyberster it is, think MG have missed a trick

British Leyland, and last UK owner MG Rover Group before it went into receivership. Nanjing Automobile Group which merged into SAIC bought the assets of MG. Production of MG models restarted in 2007.

Cyberster prices are expected to start from around £50,000, the single motor will go from 0-100kph in a staggering 4.6seconds, so if you have the roof down, and have a wig, or wear a hat, make sure they are

with this, or Maybe the very clever marketing people at the HQ in China didn’t think about that one, and maybe just wanted to be clever with a new modern name. think a good traditional badge on an MG is more suited to the car, MG MGE is perfect.

The MG company was founded by Cecil Kimber in the 1920’s. Cecil worked for Morris Garages in Oxford, a retail sales and service centre for Morris Cars. Cecil modified standard Morris Cars, and called them MG after Morris Garages. MG underwent many changes and ownerships over the years, including being part of British Motor Corporation Ltd, then

fastened on your head properly, the Twin- Motor will be even quicker. The interior looked to be up to a very high standard, even for a pre-pro duction car. It has very clever, and unique ‘lift-up-scissor’ doors, similar to Gull-Wing doors, again, like the badge, would traditionally opening doors been just as good, if not bet ter. Sometimes being ‘Ultra-Clever’ doesn’t work, and just costs more.

very popular and sought after. have fond memories of MG’s, and good to see them still being produced, even if it is in China. This 2-seater droptop weighs nearly two-tonnes, so not a lightweight. The 77kWH battery with the rear wheel drive produces equivalent to 335bhp, and has a range of up to 520kilometres. The Cyberster measures over 4.5 metres, compared to a MGB at 3.886m.

The Cyberster (really should be MGE)

I used to sell new MG’s many years ago, at a garage called Hep worth's of Kirkburton, and sold both Morris & MG, with the MGB and MGB GT being

looks great, looks like a good price, and is well put together. The interior

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE THAT WE ARE HAPPY TO ANNOUNCE THE WINNERS OF THE 2024 THE LADIES THAT ROCK THE ROCK AWARD!

The Award program, now in its second year, follows-on the success of the book “The Ladies That Rock The Rock”, by the businesswoman and author Ayelet Mamo Shay, who developed the program with the initial support of the former Minister of Equality, Ms Samantha Sacramento, and this year with the support of Minister Christian Santos. The Award program saw the public in Gibraltar nominating ladies who have contributed to Gibraltar, from all walks of life, to be recognised and rewarded for their achievements and efforts. A committee comprising of both men and women, from different walks of life, including a representative from the Ministry of Equality, has recently selected the winning ladies in 7 categories and these are:

• Lifetime Achievement Award-MariLou Guerrero

• Diversity & Inclusion Award- Nicole Torres Byrne

• Business Leader Award-Dianne Vallejo

• Environmental Contribution Award-Melanie Stagnetto Soiza

• Woman Entrepreneurship Award - Dominique Penalver

• Social Responsibility Award- Monique Grambow

• Young Woman Leadership Award -Nicole Victor

The Awards program will culminate with a glitzy Gala Dinner to be held on 5th March 2024 (ahead of International Women’s Day) at the Sunborn Hotel, where the Award Ceremony will take place, with the awards to be presented by the Minister of Equal ity, Christian Santos.

Additional activities organised by the Ladies That Rock The Rock Team include:

1. A series of Workshops for Ladies that focuses on building leadership presence and impact and on enhancing networking, communication and negotiation skills and lead with confidence. The workshops involve interactive exercises and powerful group discussions and will take place in early March.

2. A female delegation to northern Morocco in mid-March including a trip to fascinating cities of Fes and Rabbat.

For more details and registration, contact The Ladies That Rock The Rock Team on: TheLadiesThatRock@gmail.com

We wish to thank all the people who submitted nominations, and to the committee members for their time, comments and inputs, and off-course, big congrats to all the winning ladies. Who knows, maybe next year you too can be a lady that Rocks the Rock!

INTELLIGENCE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE MEANINGS. TO THE MILITARY IT MEANS GATHERING AND INTERPRETATION OF INFORMATION, WHILST TO SOME OF US IT REFERS TO IMAGINATION MODIFIED BY LOGIC. THIS TALE COMBINES BOTH; WORKING TO THE SAME END.

From 1939 onwards the Germans and Italians maintained a series of ship-watching stations around the strait. For the first two years it was a hit and miss sort of organisation, generally found unreliable by its masters. So in late 1941 the Germans decided on a technical solution. They installed three infra-red searchlights in Morocco, just west of Perejil Island, looking north. Three receivers facing south were mounted on the Spanish shore. In theory, ships breaking the beam would be detected by this infra-red burglar alarm… but it just didn’t work… another vorsprung would be needed.

The British Admiralty could have told them; in the late 30s, a similar system was tried across the entrance to UK harbours. Even over these much shorter distances, the layer of disturbed air above the sea surface and reflections from the waves –which the Admiralty termed twinkling –rendered the system inoperable.

The Germans inverted their thinking. Instead of transmitting infra-red, they would collect it. Ships gave off quite large amounts of IR radiation, principally from their funnels, so a ship might be detected by its IR signature. The apparatus used to recognise this IR was a Bolometer, a device consisting of a large reflector collecting radiant heat and using it to change the electrical resistance of a sensor, whose reference was a reservoir of quite a large mass with a constant temperature. A step change in the resistance would occur when a step change in the received IR was detected… ie. when a hot funnel went past. Unfortunately - for the Allies - this worked only too well, but they didn’t know it existed until February 1942.

In late 1941, the British Radio Security Service began to intercept Enigma coded radio signals from a new station, GGG, in Algeciras. They were duly referred to Bletchley who were able to de-crypt them using Ultra. The signals contained references to something named Operation Bodden and were of technical nature. The information was forwarded to SOE stations at Madrid, Gibraltar and Tangier. It coincided with reports of Spanish beach front properties being purchased by known German intermediaries and the arrival of technical equipment at Tangiers. The previously Tangiers International Zone had been seized by Franco’s troops in 1940 and Germans were observed there, dressed in Spanish uniforms. By February

El Hatto the agent who never was.

1942, the Secret Intelligence Service scientist, RV Jones, had put it all together, deciding it was most likely that the Germans were assembling either a system of IR searchlights or detectors, or both. To confirm what was happening on the ground the RAF ran photo-reconnaissance sorties pinpointing the various sites and of course the SOE - as always - wanted to blow them up.

The Navy would have to be informed. Planning was underway for Operation Torch, which would involve a large number of vessels transiting the strait. An officer from the Navy’s Directorate of Scientific Research was shown the evidence on which RV Jones had based his conclusions. He was not told that the source was cryptographic; Ultra was so secret that its existence was closely guarded. Unfortunately, the First Sea Lord overlooked security considerations and passed down to the officer some of the raw cryptographic material. This highly conscientious officer thought it was all wrong that such material, in his hands, should not be made available to his superior officers. He could not be convinced that the First Lord had made an indiscretion and that the matter was so secret it must not be revealed. So an alternative type of intelligence had to be employed.

The officer was told that SIS had been telling the First Sea Lord a cock-and-bull story about cryptography, because the German codes hadn’t been broken at all. What they had done was to infiltrate an agent into the German Secret Service headquarters in Madrid, whose position was so delicate that they dare not tell even the First Sea Lord… which is why they made up the cryptographic story. The messages he had been shown were stolen from the Abwehr office. The officer was offered a full account, in the form of a report, which he could show to his superiors, as long as it was kept within a very small circle of personnel. The report was provided as shown:

“German Equipment for Ship Detection in the Straits of Gibraltar.”

“The information upon which this Report is based has been gathered by the SIS through three separate channels: (A) Our agent network operating in the Straits area. (B) The technical investigations of Mr DJ Garrard, (C) The reports of our El Hatto source who has fairly frequent access to German HQ in Madrid and whose duties with the German SIS enable him to visit outstations from time to time. Since much of the evidence depends upon the reports of this last source, it may be mentioned that although he is non-technical, he has reported faithfully on even more important subjects than the present and there is a good deal of internal confirmation in his statements. The other agents in the Straits area have not the same penetration and can only be relied upon for grosser details such as positions of activity and the passage of large items of equipment.”

That did the trick, for the officer had found something to justify his suspicions of SIS reticence, even though he was appalled that they had misled the First Sea Lord. The irony of this story is that of naming the source as El Hatto when Hatto was indeed the name of one of the men at Bletchley Park who was handling the Abwehr decodes. (Professor AT Hatto, Dept. of German at Queen Mary College)

The Navy were quite keen on bombardment, but was determined that blowing up the sites was more likely to drive Franco further into his embrace with the Nazis and that a diplomatic solution would have to be sought. That solution was achieved by Sir Samuel Hoare, British Ambassador to Madrid, who when briefed by SIS, confronted Franco with evidence from the strait (carefully avoiding content acquired by Ultra or any clues to its existence) and accused him of assisting the Germans and supplying them with material in breach of his position of neutrality. It was suggested that petrol supplies to Spain would be cut off on any suspicion of supplying the same to the Germans. (In fact the Allies knew he was refuelling U-boats in Cadiz and the Canaries.) Eventually Franco told Admiral Canaris that the sites would have to be dismantled… and they were. However, that did not stop the Germans rebuilding them elsewhere at a later date, but for the time being it was a success.

Article supplied by History Society Gibraltar. Email: historysocietygibraltar@hotmail.com

WORDS

Hello Art lovers!

We open our column with great news as one of our featured local artists has won the Sky Arts Landscape Artists of the Year 2024.

Yes that’s right Gibraltarian artist Monica Popham now based in Guildford UK has made us all proud.

The prestigious Sky Arts landscape of the year competition searches for fresh new painting talent. Selected from over 2000 entries who applied, only 48 made it to compete at the live show. The live competition takes place over a series of heats, asking eight artists per episode to produce a landscape in a medium of their choice, with four hours to create it en plein air.

Ace Art caught up with Monica Popham after the first round to congratulate her for reaching the finals and find out a little bit more about how it all went for her. She confessed that she has always been a fan of the programme, “I’ve watched the programme for years and I even applied back in 2021 when I had just graduated from university, but unfortunately did not get through”.

Although disappointed, Monica did not give up on her dreams and ambition. She continued to produce art and develop as an artist and decided to resubmit an artwork for their consideration. She had recently moved to the UK and did not have time to create a new piece for the competition and so followed her partner’s (Jack) advice and submitted an older but very popular piece from the Bermondsey, London exhibition which had already proven to be a very successful series.

acrylic paints were drying up so quickly in the heat that they were changing colour. You had to start your painting from scratch and only had four hours to complete it”. So it’s fair to say that the whole thing was a new learning experience.

Monica painted the ‘Three Graces’ and this allowed her to progress into the semi finals where she captured a more challenging scene in Buckler’s Hard in Hampshire. This scene was not her usual city landscape in which she could edit out most of it and zoom into a particular window or building. This was the forest and with it comes different tones and colours which Monica embraced and impressed the judges earning her a place in the final.

She sent in the artwork and was then contacted by Sky Arts a few weeks later, inviting her to join the programme. “It was a great feeling”, she recalls. “I even missed the call and the message went straight to my voice mail”. I played it back and heard the message “The judges loved it and would love to have you on the programme”. She was ecstatic, “I don’t remember anything after that, and I was just screaming ‘Oh my God, I got in”. She then had to fill in an intensive questionnaire which covered everything from family, career, personality and social hobbies. The actual programme is more than just an art competition, they promote the artist and add information about them to keep the viewers interested and entertained.

Monica was told that the first heat would take place in Liverpool but the exact location would not be revealed until a week before the show. It was a challenging new prospect for Monica as she had never painted in the UK before. She specialises in Mediterranean scenes and loves Gibraltar’s natural bright colours. They grey British skies had not featured in her artwork before so she was hoping to get a clear blue sky day in lovely wet Liverpool.

The weather was on her side and this helped to keep her nerves on track as painting en plein air is never easy. It was hard work she recalls “We were inside some glass pods and it was very hot in there. My

WORDS BY JP BAUTISTA

The final heat which took place at the top of the Royal Opera House saw the artist capture the view of Convent Garden. The judges once again decided to challenge them by not only restraining them to four hours to complete the piece but also making them start in daylight and finish the piece in the dark. Furthermore the three finalists had to produce a commissioned landscape of their choice within a time frame of a week. Monica decided to paint the Street in which she lives in; she said that the key to the commission was finding the right perspective. “I’m trying to get the right balance of sky and road”, “I want the houses to be the main feature” she said.

I have known and worked with Monica for a few years now and seen all her work and I can honestly say that this street commission is probably the best work I’ve seen her produced. She has developed and grown as an artist so much during the last few months and this is reflected in her art and persona.

The judges then had to make a decision and viewed the artist’s final pieces alongside their commissioned piece and announced Monica Popham as the winner. This was the moment in which me and half of Gibraltar screamed in excitement as we always do when we are supporting any Gibraltarian. The judges continued to praise her work as they were extremely impressed with its composition with shadows and light.

I would like to finish this article with the amazing comments from the three judges which will forever remain in her memories and mine. Ms Soriano referring to Monica’s commission piece said “Monica has just taken us to the heart of British Suburbia hasn’t she. This feels so quintessentially English”. Ms Brian added “That has got to be the most accomplished shadow in the history of Landscape Artist of the Year” And my favourite comment of the series Tai Shan Schierenberg said “Here we have an artist that knows what she is doing”

GOVERNMENT INSIGHT

Chief Minister and HE the Governor wish HMS Diamond safe passage

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, and His Excellency the Governor, Sir David Steel, sent a joint personal signal to the Commanding Officer of HMS Diamond following her departure from Gibraltar to return to front line service in the Red Sea.

HMS Diamond was in Gibraltar from 10th February – 2nd March 2024 for maintenance, including restocking and refuelling, after two months’ active deployment

Masbro Insurance Launches New Claim App

Masbro Insurance Brokers is delighted to announce the launch of the Masbro Claims App, a new development aimed at enhancing the convenience of the insurance claims process for its customers. This app facilitates a smoother, more efficient way for policyholders to report incidents related to home and motor insurance directly from their phones.

Key features of the app include the ability to instantly notify the company of an incident, upload photos for evidence, and provide detailed reports along with geolocation data to support claims. This ensures that the claims process is as seamless as possible, allowing clients to submit their claims at any time, without the constraints of traditional office hours.

Masbro’s Managing Director, James Andlaw, emphasised the company's commitment to its customers: "Our primary goal is to make the insurance claims process as easy and stress-free for our clients as possible. Introducing the Masbro Claims App is a significant step towards achieving that goal, offering an alternative method to make a claim."

The app offers an additional way to make a claim, without replacing the existing methods. Existing policyholders can rest assured that they can still make claims in the ways they are accustomed to. For those who prefer a more personal touch, the option to visit the Masbro office and speak to a team member in person remains available.

This launch marks a milestone for Masbro Insurance Brokers in its mission to leverage technology to improve service delivery. The Masbro Claims App reflects the company's forward-thinking approach to insurance and reinforces its ongoing commitment to meeting the evolving needs of its clients.

Lt General Sir Ben Bathurst appointed as new Governor

His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar welcomes the appointment of Lieutenant General Sir Ben Bathurst KCVO, CBE as Governor of Gibraltar.

Sir Ben has served a full career in the British Army, including 3 tours in Iraq and one in Afghanistan, and most recently as the UK Military Representative to NATO and the EU. Prior to his posting to Gibraltar, Sir Ben is currently working in a voluntary capacity as Army Commissioner for the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

The Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo KC MP, said: ‘I am certain the whole of Gibraltar will join His Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar in extending the warmest of welcomes to Sir Ben and his family in June.’

For further information about the Masbro Claims App and its benefits, visit www.masbro.gi/app

Surianne

Surianne makes inroads into music festivals

She has been around for a while and continues to progress her singing career. Surianne Dalmedo is the quirky ever-smiling songstress who is at home on any stage.

A dozen years ago she was gigging around London putting her own stamp on ‘coplas’-infused songs which she sung in English, backed by an excellent Spanish guitarist. I noticed her then and picked up on her style. Over the last few years she has been the face of ‘Levanter Breeze’ and now fronts a band of musicians she likes to call a collective.

Her soaring voice is distinctive and her performance style is always captivating.

She formed a duo with Jazz bassist Louis Chipolina which has blossomed into a song writing partnership, the fruits of which has recently seen them release a single called ‘Crazy’. The video clip of that song is worth catching on her social platform and the tune is an uplifting jazzy ballad. I chatted with her at length to expand on what we know about Surianne, who above all loves singing live onstage.

“Nothing beats the buzz of playing live gigs, sharing the experience with your bandmates, the crew and of course, an audience – especially one that is not made up of your close family and friends, but one that has no connection with you other than through music.”

She is talking about singing at music festivals. “I feel that festivals help to expose artists to a wider audience and provide them with an insight to what really works onstage. They also provide opportunity for emerging artists to grow a new fan base organically - with a following of people who genuinely catch your vibe, feel your music and who will talk about you and help spread the love.”

Festival organisers are very much aware about the value and importance of how an act is received and she has just been invited to perform again this summer with her bandmates at the ‘Eyes Have It Music Festival’ in UK. I wondered whether in her recollection, performing at that festival was considered the pinnacle of her singing career?

“Not really. feel that has not yet happened and is still to come. However, there is something that I feel has made a significant impact on me. At a local summer gig with Louis Chipolina, my songwriting partner in crime, we had finished performing a beautiful song by Ray Charles ‘You Don’t Know Me’ when Louis turned to me and said I had sang beautifully with my heart and that it had made him shed a tear. That really got to me and something clicked. Ideally you want your audience to really connect and feel your soul, so that every vowel, consonant and breath in your vocal delivery matters in order to convey your sentiments and emotions. This is more powerful than I had possibly imagined before.”

Surianne has stagecraft and when she isn’t strapped onto a guitar her performances are even more captivating, which begs the question does she ever see herself as a solo artist in future?

“The answer is simple, in the band we share the same passion for red wine, cheese and of course, creating music. We all want to make the audience feel something with our music by taking them on a colourful and enjoyable journey and although I promote and market myself as an artist through social media, I like to think that we are a unit. Especially with Louis, he is an extension of who I am. It’s crazy just how much he ‘gets me’ when I come up with a song idea and he’s able to come into my world with such ease. Louis also has a connection with Albert Gonzalez who plays drums, the rhythm section and heartbeat of the band and the melodic sounds and riffs from keyboards are played by Chris Johnson. Nigel Canepa is on guitar and he fits like a glove. The band is based on a variable pool of musicians who all add their own magic. When needed we also call on Dani Chipolina as percussionist and Win Fernandez as additional guitar. We are one big music family.”

You know I have advocated for you since your early days, when ‘Coplas in English’ was your direction in the London scene. Do you see ever yourself carving out a musical future in the style of, say Kate Bush, where visual interpretation is as important as the original material itself?

“I do feel that this is indeed my natural progression. For many years I have been experimenting and trying to figure out exactly where I fit in and I have finally come to the conclusion that I do not fit in anywhere. I am who I am and this is enough for me. There is a whole world out there and a market for each and every one of us. I am not talking about world domination or fame, but rather my musical integrity and longevity in filling my days doing something that I really enjoy and makes me smile with satisfaction.”

Having a social media presence is very important nowadays and I know that you work your platforms, especially as your next single is dropping soon. How will your online activity help its arrival and distribution? Are you excited?

“I am actually really excited about our next single ‘My Angel’ which will be released on Thursday 22nd February. It’s so different from my current single ‘Crazy’. The new music video, filmed and produced by the talented Fábio Barralé, will also

be available on my VEVO channel. I don’t want to disclose too much, but soon I will be sharing some teasers on my socialsso make sure to keep an eye out on my Facebook, Instagram and YouTube channel. I am also really grateful for the support I have received from Radio Gibraltar presenters Teresa Goncalves and James Culatto who interview me and play my music on their radio shows.”

Through having played across the border you obviously have a strong chance of making inroads into the Spanish festival scene. Is your forthcoming gig in Gaucin to be the forerunner of more to come, or are your sights firmly set only in the UK?

“I played at La Fructuosa in Gaucin last year and we have been invited again this year. I envision that it is, especially as I would like to spread my wings even further and if this takes me to Spain or anywhere else around the world – bring it on! Let’s stay crazy and keep on smiling!”

If staying crazy and smiling are the weapons of choice, coupled with her vocal ability and hunger to succeed backed by a solid band her arsenal, the world had better prepare for battle as the Surianne army moves forward with its charming musical offensive. Why am I smiling too? I’d better check out her social platforms and find out…..

WORDS BY JOE ADAMBERRY

FEATURE FEATURE

GIBRALTAR’S WOMEN’S NATIONAL TEAM WILL KICK OFF 2024 BY HOSTING AN INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLY DOUBLE HEADER, AGAINST LIECHTENSTEIN, AT THE VICTORIA STADIUM.

THE INTERNATIONAL FRIENDLIES TAKE PLACE IN THE FEBRUARY WOMEN’S INTERNATIONAL WINDOW, WITH THE FIRST MATCH ON FEBRUARY 22ND AT 6PM AND THE SECOND ON FEBRUARY 25TH AT 12:00.

Gibraltar’s Women’s National Team Head Coach Scott Wiseman is delighted to be able to have pencilled in two friendlies against Liechtenstein on home soil stating:

“These two matches against Liechtenstein are the perfect follow on from the intense training camp the Women’s National Team went through at St George’s Park in the previous international window, at the end of last year with the added benefit of playing at home.”

Hot on the heels of the Women’s National Team, UEFA confirmed at the start of 2024 that Group B3 in Round 2 of their Women’s U19 Championship Qualifiers will be played in Gibraltar in April.

on Israel, Kosovo and Luxembourg from the 1st to the 9th April. The exact match dates and kick off times will be announced shortly, once they are confirmed and ratified by UEFA.

at the end of February, and Liechtenstein will prove to be excellent opponents in a double header at the Victoria Stadium. I have no doubt that our Women’s National Team will put in two excellent performances as they take on their next challenge in the build up to 2025.

Our successful proposal to host UEFA’s qualifying group in Round 2 of the Under 19 Women’s European Qualifiers is testament to the hard work that is being done across the whole of the Women’s Football pyramid and we look forward to welcoming the Under 19 Women’s National Teams of Israel, Kosovo and Luxembourg to Gibraltar in April.”

Gibraltar FA General Secretary, Ivan

Ticketing information and how to access the Victoria Stadium for all of these Women’s Internationals will be published on the Gibraltar Football -

WORDS BY STEVEN GONZALEZ GFA

GIBRALTAR WAVE

FC

MAKING WAVES IN EUROPEAN WOMEN'S FOOTBALL

WORDS BY STEVEN GONZALES WORDS BY XXX WORDS BY JOHN GONTIER

Competitions Committee and any other UEFA body that deals with women's football matters.

Some of the key topics that the working group is involved in are:

• Competition Reforms: The working group evaluates and proposes changes to the format, access list, financial distribution, and regulations of the European women's club competitions, as well as any other competition that involves European women's clubs or female players.

• Maternity Regulations: The working group reviews and suggests improvements to the rules and policies that protect and support female players during pregnancy and maternity leave.

• International Match Calendar: The working group examines and influences the schedule and

of female players regarding their footwear.

• An 'ECA Changemaker' study that showcases the best practices and inspiring stories of clubs that are making a positive impact on and off the pitch.

• A 'Future of Fandom: Growing the women's game' study that explores the trends and opportunities for engaging and expanding the fan base of women's football.

• A Women's Football Summit that brings together experts and stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the growth of the game.

Another research deals with the menstruation of females and the impact on their football performance. The research identifies the impact on training sessions and match days and on the prepara-

from the best and to share their own experiences and insights. They have been invited to attend some of the most prestigious events in women's football, such as a Champions League match between Ajax Amsterdam and Bayern Munich in Amsterdam in December 2023, and a visit to Atlético de Madrid's facilities. The club's Managing Director, who represents Gibraltar Wave FC in the working group, says: "We are very proud and honored to be part of this group. It is a great recognition of our work and our passion for women's football. We are eager to contribute to the development of the game at all levels and to inspire other clubs to join us in this journey. Before information will be released to the press, we know already about the decisions and can be one step ahead of others.”

Her Worship takes Bella Vista Service Users on a second Rock Tour

Following on from the successful first trip, Her Worship the Mayor Carmen Gomez GMD, had the pleasure of taking a second group of Bella Vista Day Centre Service Users on a thoroughly enjoyable Rock Tour.

In keeping with her focus on the elderly and providing day trips for them, the tour began at Bella Vista where a group of Service Users were then driven to Bistro Point Restaurant by their friendly driver David, where all enjoyed a fine breakfast and stunning views.

The tour continued with visits to the Upper Rock Nature Reserve. Along the way, fond memories of Gibraltar were again rekindled. The group also drove around the beaches and through the Kingsway Tunnel. Many stories were told and songs sung along the way. A very pleasant drive for all.

by Elka

‘BEAUTIFUL MOMENTS’ IS A UNIQUE LINE OF PERSONALISED JEWELLERY MANUFACTURED IN SILVER AND GOLD HERE ON THE ROCK OF GIBRALTAR BY LONG ESTABLISHED JEWELLERS ‘THE JEWEL BOX’.

My mother, Rosana Olivares, founded the Jewel Box when we were very young, and alongside my two sisters Ana-Lisa and Christina we continue to work very hard so that the business continues to grow and thrive.

workshop where we design, cut and hand finish all the ‘Beautiful Moments by Elka’ creations.

I trained professionally in the U.K. and Antwerp as a qualified jeweller, designer, gemologist and diamond grader. I

The ‘Beautiful Moments’ production line began in 2017, aiming to provide a very personalised service and giving us the freedom to produce beautiful bespoke jewellery for our customers in a quick, cost effective manner.

We produce many specialised designs and are able to work with our customers to make jewellery exactly as they want it, either in solid sterling silver or 18ct gold. We create many beautiful engravings and embossed designs which include gemstones and the customer’s own handwriting or pictures.

Above the Jewel Box are its two workshops which work alongside each other. The first is our traditional workshop where we do all manner of repairs and produce handmade jewellery using traditional technics. Beside this is our laser

Moments’ line we are at the forefront of new manufacturing technology here in Gibraltar.

The name ‘Beautiful Moments’ comes from my love of photography. I love capturing and framing precious moments

wanted to offer something different and creative to our customers and I am always warmly touched by the excellent response from our customers to our custom made jewellery. I have worked for many years in our jewellery workshop alongside my father, Stephen Olivares. Design has always been where I felt I could excel. It comes very naturally to me and ideas and concepts flow and develop seamlessly. I love developing new collections and I love seeing so many of our pieces worn by our customers when I am out and about.

By combining the use of the very latest Italian technology with traditional jewellery techniques I feel we are able to offer unique and special jewellery.

Jewellery design and manufacture is a continual and evolving process and with the introduction of the ‘Beautiful

and saving them forever. As a mother of four it is the everyday special moments that I treasure the most. I wanted to translate this into items of jewellery, creating precious keepsakes that we can wear that will remind us of that ‘Beautiful Moment’, with phrases and engravings that define that special sentiment, friendship or enduring love.

Elka Olivares

(Jewellery Designer, Gemologist and Manufacturer at The Jewel Box).

ARTSPACE

CONTEMPORARY ON THE ROCK

By Tamara Levy (Art Consultant at Art Space & Art Historian)

“I have tried to tell the Story of Art as the story of a continuous weaving and challenging of traditions in which each work refers to the past and points to the future”. With this statement by E.H Gombrich in mind, one reflects on the ideals perpetuated by the artists of the twentieth century, in which the key feature of the modern era was the intention to break with tradition and progress into new artistic territory. In the art world, this signified a departure from the classical traditions of the Renaissance heralding innovation, experimentation, and the bravery of disclosing fundamental truths in their current his

torical climate.

Hi Paul. Please explain your new project Art Space, and what fuelled your decision to open this gallery here in Gibraltar My love for the artworld propelled this decision forward. I love Gibraltar, and travel to and from the UK on a regular basis. It’s an oasis where Britain meets the enjoyable climate of Spain. With many people residing along the popular Costa del Sol, we felt that it would be the ideal place to invest in our passion for art and showcase our existing portfolio in hopes that visitors will want to purchase and display what we’re bringing to Gibraltar in their homes.

When did your interest in the art world begin and do you have a favourite artist or art gallery?

I have always had a love for art, and over the years have delved into the world of collecting art with my wife. A hobby soon turned into a collector’s paradise, and now I would like to share my body of works with the world, particularly Gibraltar. My favourite artwork displayed in the gallery at the moment is “Floating in Innocence” by Bram Reijnders. The artwork is a large mixed media piece which forms the optical illusion of Snoopy the cartoon dog!

During this short interview, I will be speaking with Paul Sharpley, the Director of Gibraltar’s new Contemporary art gallery. With a deep-seated interest in “modern” contemporary art, Paul has converted one of Gibraltar’s most beloved historical buildings, the Old Police Station into a cultural space.

The Art Space gallery is quintessentially Modernist and embraces new forms of art which break free from local traditions. As the first of its kind, one can visit the works of renowned contemporary artists of our time, such as Tony Hinchliffe, Anna Briukhoveyska, Mark Purllant, Whatshisname, The Trunk of Funk and others.

The gallery features a plethora of different international artists. With a rotating monthly exhibition, Art Space strives to bring the best of the international art stage to Gibraltar, whilst bilaterally introducing local talent worldwide by opening the doors to a new contemporary art vision.

Indeed, Art Space aims to develop a series of cultural events over the coming months and provide a space for artists to showcase their talent. Next month Art Space will be housing a variety of paintings by local 2014 Portrait Artist of the year Christian Hook. Not only does Hook’s work pay homage to various traditional artistic principles, but also serves as a conduit for his own conceptual ideas and theory-oriented practice; an exhibition truly worth the visit.

What hopes do you have for this new business venture?

We don’t want the gallery to be about Gibraltar per say, but rather the artists that are inside it. We have plans to incorporate some local artists into our rotating exhibition and will be showcasing themed exhibitions during the course of the year, in preparation for Easter, the summertime, National Day and so on. We are also in the process of organising a contemporary art fair to take place this summer which is very exciting.

Why have you decided to bring this project to life in Gibraltar specifically, and what do you think this can bring to our local community?

I think this will open the door for Gibraltar to be recognised interna tionally, and bring contemporary art to the Rock by other interna tional artists who are world renowned.

Contact:

Art Space

The Old Police Station 120a Irish Town Gibraltar art@artspace.gi www.artspace.gi

FAVOURITE

The Med Steps Challenge has come a long way since it first started back in 2015. Mark Cooper, and his friends Graham Dyer and Simon Morgan cycled down from London to Gibraltar. They all then had the idea as an extra fundraiser of inviting the public to take part in an endurance event involving going up and down the Mediterranean Steps 5 times in a day. It was a huge success raising £6,000 for local charity Cancer Relief Gibraltar, and since then has become a community-loved event collectively raising over £100,000 for the charity over the past 9 years.

How can I get involved?

People can take on the challenge in any way they like. You can set up a team and complete it as a relay with each team member taking on the Med Steps once each, you can choose to challenge yourself and complete five rounds of the Med Steps yourself. The beauty of this fundraiser is that it is a physical challenge against yourself. If this year is your first time doing the challenge, try doing it once, then the following year you can aim for twice... if you are a regular Med Steps goer, try to push for 3 or the full 5! The aim is for it to be a personal challenge more than anything as well as a fun day out.

This year to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Med Steps 5 Challenge and to make the event bigger and better the organisers have attracted lead sponsorship from several generous sources. Sovereign and local estate agents Chestertons, have both committed to support the event for the next 3 years, with Livescore also supporting this year. Image Graphics continue their support of this event, which they have taken to their hearts. Due to this incredibly generous spon

ticipant who raises more than £150 through JustGiving will get free entry and a t-shirt. On completion of three laps, participants will receive a 3 lap medal and on completion of five laps challenge participants will also receive a five-lap completion medal.

To sign up for the Med Steps 5 Challenge 2024, there will be two open days at Piazza; March 6th and April 10th . You can also open up a JustGiving page titling it Med Steps 5 Challenge and selecting Cancer Relief as the chosen charity. Proof shown of an open page with over £150 raised on either of the open days or on the day of the challenge will get you free entry and a t-shirt.

The Med Steps 5 Challenge has become a firm fixture on the Rock's community event calendar and we can't wait to see what their 10th anniversary brings. For more information contact the team via their Facebook page, 'Med Steps 5 Challenge'.

Aside from the Med Steps Challenge, Cancer Relief also have their fair share of events confirmed for 2024. Please see below for their confirmed events for the next two months. If you need any more information on the below dates or future events please contact Cancer Relief's fundraising team at fundraising@cancerrelief.gi or give them a call on 20042392 (option 4)

Zumba Fusion Masterclass

Date: 23rd March 2024

Time: 11am - 1pm

Easter Egg Hunt

Date: 24th March 2024

Time: 10am - 12pm

Location: Alameda Gardens

Rendezvous Wine

Pairing

Date: 11th April 2024

Time: 7:30pm

Location: Rendezvous Chargrill Gibraltar

Flag Day

Date: 12th April 2024

Location: Eroski, Morrisons, ICC, The Convent, Piazza

Please see our social medias closer to the date for confirmed locations & times

WORDS BY JOE ADAMBERRY WORDS BY LAINA SULTANA

It is estimated that approximately 1 billion people worldwide have vitamin D deficiency. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults.

Overtime, a severe deficiency can cause fatigue, result in bone and muscle pain, affect sleep quality, mood, and impair immunity.

During the summer months, most people should be able to make all the vitamin D they need from sunlight. The body creates vitamin D from direct sunlight on the skin when outdoors.

Vitamin D is also found in a small number of foods.

Sources include:

• oily fish – such as salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel

• red meat

• liver

• egg yolks

• fortified foods – such as some

fat spreads and breakfast cereals.

Another source of vitamin D is dietary supplements. If you choose to take vitamin D supplements, 10 micrograms (400IU) a day will be enough for most people. Do not take more than 100 micrograms (4,000 IU) of vitamin D a day as it could be harmful. If your doctor has recommended you take a different amount of vitamin D, you should follow their advice.

People at risk of vitamin D deficiency:

• are not often outdoors – for example, if they're frail or housebound

• are in an institution like a care home

• usually wear clothes that cover up most of their skin when outdoors

• If you have dark skin – for example you have an African, African-Caribbean or south Asian background – you may also not make enough vitamin D from sunlight.

If you think you are vitamin D deficient, or would like more information on the issues discussed, speak to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE

You cannot overdose on vitamin D through exposure to sunlight. But always remember to cover up or protect your skin if you're out in the sun for long periods to reduce the risk of skin damage and skin cancer.

REDUCTION

CARA FROM SOTOGRANDE HAS A BREAST REDUCTION PROCEDURE BY DR. MARCO VRICELLA OF ARIA MEDICAL GROUP.

She tells us, “I’m so happy with my breast reduction! I am so happy with it. By back pain has gone, and I no longer have to disguise my body in baggy clothes!

I’ve retained complete sensitivity in my breasts and nipples. The lines from the incisions are so fine that even now, so soon after surgery, they are hardly noticeable. I can’t wait for summer!’

For Cara, each day was marked by pain and discomfort, yet not from a chronic disease. Cara had very full breasts, causing back and neck pain, as well as frequent migraines, whilst her bra straps cut into her shoulders.

Since being a teenager, Cara had a cup size of 30FF. Her breasts were out of proportion with her petite frame; making her not only feel self-conscious but also affecting her daily life, causing discomfort. “Each day I couldn’t wait until the moment when I could take off my bra – the weight on my shoulders was a nightmare”.

“I used to wear baggy clothes to try a disguise the size of my breasts, yet wasn’t over-weight” explains Cara.

Cara enjoys running, golf and other sports, but having large breasts made activity uncomfortable and difficult.

“I was referred to an NHS surgeon some years ago, when lived in the UK” confirms Cara. “I knew I had to do something about my bust, but after the Breast Reduction consultation and learning more about the procedure, I didn’t feel right about it” she explains. “But now, surgical techniques have clearly advanced greatly over the last 15 years, and now I’m in my mid-40s, I felt ready to proceed with a Breast Reduction”.

So, Cara had a private consultation with Specialist Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Marco Vricella and later went ahead with the surgery at Aria Medical Group.

“I am so happy with the results. I would say to any woman that is considering this procedure not to delay the deci sion!”

‘Dr. Vricella is clearly more than just a talented sur geon, he really values aesthetics. The skill and care with which he performed my procedure is something my partner and I really value. My clothes fit so much better, and I am able to truly enjoy sport. What’s more the scars and grooves in my shoulders from years of wearing a heavy bra are already softening”.

To find out more, Aria Medical Group offer free, private consultations in Gibraltar, as College Clinic.Aria’s post procedure service in Gibraltar.

WORDS BY JOE ADAMBERRY WORDS BY ALASKA SANZ, GHA

Everyone can have trouble sleeping from time to time. But if you find your sleeping issues persist over a long period of time, or the lack of sleep begins to affect your functioning in day-to-day life, it is important to seek advice from a GP. The amount of sleep each individual requires depends on many things, including levels of stress, lifestyle factors and quite noticeably age.

Problems associated with long term sleep deprivation include increased risk of obesity, depression, a reduced immune system function and lower sex drive. There is also added risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart failure and stroke. Several long term studies now confirm that people who work regular rotational night shifts, for 5 years or more, have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and death.

If you find you struggle to get sufficient sleep there are some positive lifestyle and sleep habits you may implement in order to reach your recommended number of hours:

Keep to your sleep pattern

Going to bed when you feel tired and getting up at roughly the same time helps teach your body to sleep better. Try to avoid napping where possible.

Create a restful environment

Dark, cool and quiet envi ronments usually make it easier to fall asleep and stay asleep. Comfortable, clean bedding and a suitable mattress are all important to create a good sleeping environment. You can also try scented mists, such as lavender, to help create a relaxing environment.

Make a note of any worries

If you often lie awake worrying about tomorrow, set aside time before bed to make a list for the next day. This can help put your mind at rest.

Move more, sleep better

Being active can help you sleep better. Specifically, moderate to vigorous exercise can increase sleep quality by reducing sleep onset (the time it takes to fall asleep) and decreasing the number of waking cycles experienced during the normal sleep period. Avoid pick-me-ups

Caffeine and alcohol can prevent you from both falling asleep and experiencing deep sleep. Try to cut down on alcohol and avoid caffeine close to bedtime.

If you have trouble sleeping, useful resources can be found here:

Holland & Barrett has launched its biggest food transformation in ten years dubbed ‘food that loves you back’. This exciting development sees the introduction of over 125 high-quality and wholesome food products that are now available at the Holland & Barrett stores in Gibraltar.

Customers will be able to choose from a diverse selection of food products to support their health and wellbeing journey. The products were developed by the retailer’s nutritionists, scientists, chefs and product experts and customers can start their wellness journey with the confidence that each product has been carefully selected to meet the retailer's stringent quality standards.

The newly unveiled food range caters to a wide range of dietary preferences, including plant-based, gluten-free, and organic options. Customers can now explore a variety of nutritious snacks, pantry staples, and culinary delights, carefully curated to meet the evolving needs of health-conscious individuals.

Holland & Barrett is also the first retailer to include ‘Plant Points’ on their food packaging, which help shoppers

Brownie Bites with Benefits contain 5 plant points and are made from cacao, mixed nuts and oats, are high in fibre, contain 1 billion friendly bacteria and are also a source of calcium which contributes to the normal function of your digestive enzymes.

If you are looking for a veg-crammed store cupboard hero and the ultimate resource for quick dinners, Holland & Barrett 8 Plant Pasta Sauce, will do the job and will contribute 8 plant points to your daily tally. Made with a host of organically grown vegetables and plants, this sauce is packed with goodness and ready to serve with freshly cooked pasta for an effortless meal.

How about trying the Holland & Barrett Hot Sweet & Tangy Green Sauce which not only tastes amazing, but which also brings some health benefits

Eating a wide range of plant point foods can help you to achieve more diverse gut microbiomes playing a fundamental role in health and disease.

Paul Victor, Manager at Holland & Barrett Gibraltar, says:

"We are committed to providing our customers with the best possible products to support their health and wellbeing. The introduction of our new food range is a testament to our dedication to offering a diverse and high-quality selection of options that align with various dietary preferences.”

“We want to make wellness a way of life for everyone and what you eat is the starting place for a healthier life.”

Customers visiting the Gibraltar stores will be able to talk to knowledgeable

Food that Loves you Back

eat at least 30 different plants a week to support their overall wellbeing. Plant Points are a handy way to make sure you’re eating a nutrient-packed diet and eating 30 different plants a week is key to supporting a happy gut.

What are Plant Points, you may wonder? Think of them like your 5-a-day. For many years, we’ve been advised to eat five fruits and vegetables a day to help us get more healthy foods into our diet. Plant Points can be gained from whole foods, powdered food, and herbs & spices and focuses on increasing variety rather than just the number.

to the table with the key ingredients being spinach and kale, as well as contributing 4 plant points?

staff who can assist customers in finding the perfect products to suit their individual health and dietary goals.

Holland & Barrett is a leading health and wellness retailer with a legacy spanning several decades. Committed to providing high-quality products that promote health and well-being, Holland & Barrett has become a trusted destination for individuals seeking premium supplements, beauty products, and now, an extensive new food range.

To help us count our Plant Points, foods are split into three groups: whole foods are worth 1 Plant Point, powdered foods are 1/2 a Plant Point and herbs & spices are worth a 1/4 of a Plant Point.

To reach the recommended goal of 30, you’ll want to aim for just over four Plant Points from different sources each day. Just look out for the Plant Points on the labels of the new range of food products to make sure you are getting the optimum amount. The Plant Points for an average portion size is clearly labelled on the food packaging.

For example, the Holland & Barrett Tummy Love Trail Mix with Benefits contains 9 of your 30 plant points. Sprinkle some Trail Mix on your morning smoothie or mix it in with your morning cereal.

Holland & Barrett

Other store cupboard staples include the spicy and versatile Holland & Barrett Aromatic & Smokey Red Sauce (5 plant points), packed with essential nutrients like Vitamin C, which contributes to normal function of the immune system and to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin. Add in some Holland & Barrett Ketchup with Benefits (5 plant points) which has all the rich, sweet tomato flavour you want, plus the benefit of added prebiotic chicory inulin, naturally sweetened and a source of fibre but still perfect for dunking your chips in. For those with mustard and gluten sensitivity, the pleasingly peppery Holland & Barrett English Style Must-Not is a great alternative to mustard and is the perfect condiment to mix into dressings, marinades or sauces for an added kick, adding 1 plant point to your daily amount.

For more information on the new food range or to explore the latest promotions, visit Holland & Barrett Gibraltar at 53 & 160 Main Street..

Destinations20245 Honeymoon

I’M AT THE AGE NOW WHERE A LOT OF MY FRIENDS AND PEOPLE AROUND ME ARE GETTING ENGAGED, AND ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT COMES WITH THAT (APART FROM MARRYING THE LOVE OF YOUR LIFE) IS THE HONEYMOON! MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATE HONEYMOONS WITH THE CARIBBEAN OR OVERWATER BUNGALOWS, BUT SOMETIMES PEOPLE DON’T HAVE EITHER THE BUDGET OR TIME FOR THAT OR JUST FANCY A DIFFERENT TYPE OF HOLIDAY. HERE ARE 5 HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS FOR 2024 FOR ANY TYPE OF COUPLE.

Albania

Albania has gained popularity in the last few years and it’s easy to see why.

It’s accessible, cheap to fly to and relatively cheap to stay in. There is also a plethora of things to do and even has its own ‘Albanian Riviera’ in the South West of the country. Ksamil is the best place to base yourself if you’re looking for a relaxing honeymoon of white sand beaches, cocktails and good food. The easiest way to get here is to fly to the Greek island of Corfu and then take a 30 minute ferry across to Albania.

If you want a bit more adventure from your trip, you can hire a car and travel around the country to places like Dhermi, Permet, Berat and of course the capital Tirana. Across the country you can find activities like white-water rafting, beautiful hikes and UNESCO sites. Their national dish is ‘Tave kosi’ which is made up of lamb with rice and yoghurt.

Honeymoon hotel recommendation:

Xheko Imperial Hotel & SPA

Best time to visit: April - October

Caribbean Cruise

Cruise holidays are great if you don't want to do a lot of the planning yourself and want to see a few places in a short space of time. For your honeymoon, I recommend going with Virgin Voyages as they offer ‘adults only’ cruises and have more activities and parties catered for older age groups. More so, you can choose to buy the all-inclusive drinks package to make the most of your trip. Just make sure you purchase this online in advance as it will be cheaper than buying it when you get onboard.

If you have children and want to bring them along on your honeymoon, then a Royal Caribbean Cruise is probably your best bet as there’s activities for everyone, and a creche you can leave your kids at for a few hours should you wish to have some alone time! Your main expense for this holiday will be flying to the US, but the cruise itself is generally cheaper than the voyages from Europe.

Cruise recommendation

Virgin Voyages Valiant Lady

Best time to visit the Caribbean February - May

Seychelles

Seychelles is a group of islands off the coast of Africa in the Indian Ocean, and is one of the more unique honeymoon destinations as it offers something exotic and its close proximity to Kenya and Tanzania means you can combine a trip to Seychelles with an African safari in the Serengeti to give you the best of both on your honeymoon.

The archipelago consists of 115 islands, 25% of which consists of private resort islands which means most resorts have their own private beaches. If you’re looking for those famous overwater beach huts, you can rest assured that you’ll definitely find them here. This type of holiday will mainly revolve around sunbathing, snorkeling, exploring the national parks and enjoying some local food such as ‘kat-kat banane’ and lots of coconut curries.

Honeymoon hotel recommendation:

Hotel Coral Strand

Best time to visit April - May, October - November

Costa Rica

OCosta Rica is known for having the world's greatest biodiversity and micro-climates, meaning there is a lot to do and discover. It’s a place that you definitely don’t want to stay in just one place and rather explore the whole country, but even just a week is enough time to explore the best that the country has to offer. I recommend visiting La Fortuna (where you’ll find the Arenal Volcano), San Jose, Tortuguero National Park and Puerto Viejo.

On your trip here, you can try horseback riding, ATV, zip-lining, kayaking, scuba diving and so much more. Not to mention seeing some of the incredible wildlife like sloths, squirrel monkeys and toucans. When it comes to food, you’ll want to try dishes like ‘chifrijo’ (fried pork with red beans) and ‘rondon’ (seafood and coconut stew).

Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Nayara Springs Hotel

Best time to visit: December - April

Finland

I couldn’t finish this list without including somewhere for those who prefer the cold weather. If you want somewhere to experience the Aurora Borealis whilst sleeping in a glass-roofed igloo, then you’ll want to stay in Finnish Lapland. Here you can also experience sleigh rides, husky safaris and of course, skiing. You can also complete your honeymoon with a therapeutic hot tub session, with a beautiful backdrop of the snowy mountains.

Honeymoon hotel recommendation: Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

Best time to visit: December

Giana Spiteri is a local writer, specialising in

I hope this article has provided you with some inspiration for your future honeymoon, or atleast you’ve added one of these places to your bucket list! WORDS BY

ADOPT DON'T SHOP

A VET'S INSIGHT

WATCH OUT FOR THE

Aya is around 4 years and a sweet girl who loves being around people and is very affectionate. She has been in a shelter for several years now and really needs a welcoming home with a loving family.

More info: www.ainf.gi

PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR

THIS MONTH WITH THE ONSET OF WARMER WEATHER NEW RISKS COME INTO PLAY FOR YOUR PETS, IN OUR CLIMATE ONE OF THE DANGERS THAT ALL PET OWNERS SHOULD BE AWARE OF IS THE PROCESSIONARY CATERPILLAR.

Unfortunately for us their success as a species exposes us and our pets to this toxin. This toxin causes inflammation, swelling and pain, these reactions subside with time and treatment. The main risk is that they can cause acute vasoconstriction of extremities. So if your pet or any animal eats one or licks one it will cause a the blood supply to the mucosa in the mouth , the main organ affected here will be the tongue, and on many an occasion tongue tip necrosis will occur and your pet will lose part of its tongue It is very rare for an animal to swallow one in its entirety as the toxic sensation is immediate when tasted and the animal will drop the insect, but by then the damage is done.

damage to the tissues. Try and get the animal to a vet so that it can be treated with anti-inflammatories and hopefully reduce the damage.

In many cases when these animals are presented to be the damage is already done , and all I can do is give supportive therapy , treat the secondary effects of the toxin and in some cases amputate parts of the tongue or mucosa in mouth that have necrosed ( rotted). Often the clients have just noticed severe halitosis from their pet and hadn’t realised what had occurred. As a general rule pets have a much higher pain threshold than us humans so they don’t complain!!

We have all seen these critters, lines of furry insects forming large trails, and always in the vicinity of Pine trees. The caterpillar has an annual cycle, the cycle begins in summer when the eggs are laid by the adult moth. These eggs hatch and the caterpillars build nests in pine trees over the cold winter. They can be readily seen and look like big lumps of cotton wool nestled in the branches of the trees. The caterpillars feed in these nests and grow over the winter period , when the warmer weather arrives this accelerates development and once they reach a certain size they make their descent down from the dizzy heights of the trees in long lines This is when your pets come into danger. This furry appearance is because these insects (yes they are insects, have 6 legs!!) have very fine sting hairs, these carry a toxin that cause very nasty reactions if handled or touched. The toxins are basically a type of poison which protects these animals from being eaten by predators (birds, rodents etc.) and therefore they are extremely successful in reproducing.

If you or your pet is exposed to one of these caterpillars the first thing to do is clean any area affected as much as possible, if licked try and flush out the mouth with plenty of water, the less of the chemical that comes into contact with skin/mucosa the less the reaction is going to be and the damage to the area will be reduced so the pain will not be so intense and there will be less

In summary if you are walking your pets in Pine forests or in the vicinity of pine trees be extra vigilant over the next couple of months, prevention is always better than cure

For more information please phone Gibraltar Vetinary Clinic on 200 77334

Spanish Stray Dogs UK

WORDS

DON'T SHOP ADOPT BURNOUT PARENTAL

VIVI SHADOW

Shadow is a sweet natured, gentle girl who is shy at first, but is very friendly after being given time to adjust to her new environment.

She is both endearing and incredibly beautiful as you can see, with a stunning coat and eyes like jewels. Shadow is 10 years old.

More info: (Facebook) @SaveGibStreetCats

More info: (Facebook) @SaveGibStreetCats

PARENTAL BURNOUT IS THE CONDITION IN WHICH A PARENT FEELS SO EXHAUSTED THAT THEY FEEL THEY HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE.

Most people who feel this way think the problem is unique to them but evidence is growing to show that is isn’t and it’s on the increase within parents. There are four main signs of parental burnout:

• Experiencing physical and/or emotional exhaustion

• Feeling shame about your parenting or that you are not ‘good enough’

• Feeling overwhelmed or fed up with the role of a parent

Vivi is a big character who’s incredibly loving. This gentle boy adores affection, foot massages, to be kissed, brushed and his special spot tickled… the base of his tail. He can’t get enough! Vivi hopes to find kind humans to accept him for his wonderfully unique face. He is a nose cancer survivor. Vivi is 9 years old.

• Feeling emotionally disconnected from their children

It is also completely normal to feel this way and no shame should be attached to it. The important thing is that as a parent you recognize that this is how you are feeling and to take steps towards resolving it. Having and caring for children can take up all your time but it is important to carve out some time to yourself. This might be a full afternoon or as simple as 20 minutes a day to take time for yourself, doing something just for you. This might be to seat and read, do a new hobby or just enjoying some peace. As a parent you carry parent guilt and can over analysis your parenting style, but you need to be less critical of yourself. Be a little

kinder to yourself, everyone parents in a different way and as long as you and your child is healthy and safe that is the important thing.

If you are feeling like your suffering from burnout then reach out to someone and ask for help, from a trusted friend, family member or local organization. The volunteers of PACS are here to help you through the many challenges of parenting and can offer a listening ear and can help you decide your next steps.

If you are feeling that you are struggling then make sure to take the time to look after yourself and reach out for support.

What's On @ PACS

TOTALLY TODDLERS - MONDAYS 9.45AM - 11.15AM

Mid Harbours Family Centre. Come join us for Storytime, craft and play.

PLAY SENSE - TUESDAYS 9.45AM - 11.15AM

Play Sense from 9.45-11.15am at Mid Harbours Family Centre. A quieter play session for those children who may find our other sessions overwhelming. To book, please email pacsgib@gmail.com

BUMPS & BABIES - WEDNESDAYS 9.30AM - 12.00PM

The Methodist Church. Our regular social catch up for parents to be and babies in a home from home atmosphere. This is a relaxed session where parents can meet up with their young babies to enjoy a cup of tea, make friends and talk about the highs and lows of parenting.

VOLUNTEERS ALWAYS NEEDED!

If reading this inspires any of you, we are always on the lookout for new volunteers. Any help is always welcome, and you’ll be working with a great bunch of people! Contact Us for more information!

COOKING CLUB – WEDNESDAY & FRIDAY

The Methodist Church. A fun session aimed at toddlers aged from 2.5 upwards giving children the chance to make and try different foods. Booking required.

SENSORY STORY TIME – THURSDAYS 12.30 - 2PM

The Methodist Church. Come join us for some interactive Story Time Fun! Different themes every week!

DIDDY DISCOVERERS – FRIDAYS 9.45 - 11.45AM

The Methodist Church. Come join us for free play, story time and song time fun!

MONTHLY CRAFT CLUBS

Ages 2.5 upwards. Details will be announced on our Facebook page.

PLEASE LIKE AND FOLLOW OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR REGULAR UPDATES ON ALL OF OUR GROUPS: PACS GIBRALTAR

POLICE INSIGHT

The Royal Gibraltar Police’s new recruits had their first uniform inspection by Inspector Dylan Quigley at Devils Tower Camp.

Twelve officers (7 male and 5 female) will now complete a 26-week intensive training school, before joining the Response Teams in August for a two-year probation period.

The new recruits come from a wide variety of backgrounds including the military, firefighting and a former Mrs Gibraltar.

For the first time, the RGP are also training a Royal Falkland Islands Police Officer, who will complete the training school before returning to the Falkland Islands to re-join her force.

An RGP spokesman said: “We’d like to welcome our class of 2024 to Gibraltar’s Thin Blue Line family.

Following

Promoted

Promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector: Inspector Mark Schembri

Promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector Inspector Dylan Quigley

Commissioner Richard Ullger said:

"I have congratulated the three officers on their promotions which were all achieved in the face of strong competition.

In their careers thus far, they have already made major contributions to the work of the RGP and I am sure they will continue to provide excellent leadership in their new roles."

FIRST INSPECTION FOR NEW RGP RECRUITS Women in Policing

RGP’s Women in Policing Committee hosted a coffee morning at Women in Need Centre

On Friday 8 March, the RGP’s Women in Policing Committee marked International Women’s Day with a coffee morning at the Women in Need Centre at Lime Kiln Steps

The Women in Policing Committee were at the coffee morning from 1000hrs till 1230hrs to engage directly with victims of domestic abuse and to meet anyone who wished to

PROMOTIONS AT THE RGP

discuss the support that the RGP can give to victims and potential victims.

It was an opportunity for women to come together, to find support and to access resources.

Chair of the Women in Policing Committee, Sergeant Mary Desantos said, ‘We believe that by coming together, we can create meaningful change and work towards a safer, more inclusive society for all.'

REFLECTION THERAPY What isit?

OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OR SO THE TERM ‘MIRRORING’ HAS BECOME ANOTHER BUZZWORD IN POP PSYCHOLOGY.

It has, of course, been around much longer but, historically was used more appropriately and less glibly. In order for mirroring to have value, we need to reflect upon what we are seeing in the mirror and what we can learn about ourselves from doing so.

SO, HOW DOES IT WORK?

Here is an example of how Reflection Therapy works. Imagine you are with friends and one of them is having a rough time. You are shocked to see her looking a mess. You think ‘bless her’. Like a down and out. Tired, drawn, angry and utterly ground down. The victim. Ruined. And yet, with a spirit of arrogance and entitlement filtering through.

And, dare I say, think it’s the arrogance and sense of entitlement that has got her in this current situation. Even though she doesn’t consciously buy into either of these things. Her recurring cry of “it isn’t fair” is what lies beneath. And that goes a long way back.

Tracking the thread: Lying beneath the sense of injustice and unfairness, of the awareness of deserving better, and the underlying knowing that she deserves better. Having the inner strength of character to demand to be treated better, more fairly. But without the tools to be able to do so effectively, it becomes anger and impotent rage which then evolves into arrogance and entitlement and blaming others.

“I fucking deserve better than this”. Indeed, you do!

This current scenario is no more and no less than a re-enactment of the original wound. This is a pity party, and we are all engaged in it. A celebration of the unfairness and injustice of her life. We unwittingly engage, thereby feeding and keeping at alive.

What is being reflected? My own victim. the sense of unfairness and injustice. the shame and guilt. The discomfort is tangible. But,

in that incongruous way, she is (I am) comfortable. This is known discomfort. A safe place where the ego can keep her/me safely shrouded in shame and guilt. Determined that my value will not be recognised, never mind celebrated. Reliving the old wound and affirming its truth. Recycling the lie in order to stay attuned to it. The truth of the lie lies deeply hidden within.

Yet, on the other side of this lie is the possibility of fairness and justice and believing, in a healthy way, of deserving the best. But that is far too scary.

So, how to reflect?

First of all, if you were to find yourself in this situation you would ask yourself which part of you feels “it’s not fair”! What is the part of you that is experiencing (yet again) this sense of unfairness and injustice. It might not be very clear to begin with and your own ego will get up to all sorts to divert you and keep its ‘job’ of ‘keeping you safe from the risk of believing in yourself.

think it is fair to say that this kind of inner (often unconscious) self-talk is part of the human condition. We all experience it to a greater or lesser extent. However, if you come face to face with it in such an obvious way then it is clear that it is the biggest thing holding you back and, when you recognise and let go of it, many other doors, that you didn’t know were closed, will open.

Usually, the original wound will be tracked back to childhood. It may be already known, though in my experience, when one wound is taken out and examined there are others that come slinking out of hiding also. It is important to know that they do not all need to be examined and gone through again to let go of them. They just need to be spotted and acknowledged. It is the emotion that we are releasing and so it can often be that one big release can do the job. The most important thing is to retrain the neural pathways

WORDS BY KATE MCHARDY

for change. This takes time and discipline but if we don’t do this then we simply slip quickly back into the old ways and the whole cycle starts again. As Joe Dispenza says, “In order to change your experience, you need to change yourself”.

Don’t get stuck in healing or you’ll be there for ever, and that becomes another form of hell and self-pity! It will go on forever. So, do the healing and then move on and change. Meet the new you, the authentic you. Your vibrations have changed and so you attract the fairness and justice that you deserve. That you know you’ve always deserved but spent so long being angry about that you have kept them away.

Practising gratitude is an excellent way to attract fairness into your life. Gratitude changes your focus from lack to abundance. Instead of being grateful for lack (because that’s what focus is) then you start to be grateful for the abundance in your life. In the smallest ways that we habitually take for granted – switch to thankyou. It is a lovely habit to develop and once you begin you cannot imagine how you could have lived without doing so.

Reflection Therapy is something I have developed over many years in practice. It is my own unique form of therapy incorporating the different modalities I have trained in over the years. And drawing on the power of metaphor for compassion and understanding. It is not something to be undertaken lightly or without professional support. If you’d like to know more, feel free to get in touch.

KATE MCHARDY MA(HONS) PGCE MSPH. SPIRITUAL COACH, TEACHER AND HEALER.

The University of Light Group www.thehealingretreat.net katemch@gmail.com • +44 7712889534

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