THE ROCK’S LONGEST RUNNING MAGAZINE
I’M YOURS FREE COPY
The One & Only SIR JOE BOSSANO
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J U NE ISSUE 50
Contents
24
26
Community Insight 8
GIBRALTAR NEWS
Business Insight 11
BUSINESS NEWS
History Insight 26
RED HACKLES ON THE ROCK
Forces Insight
36
Features 15
COVID 19 AND PROPERTY MARKET
24
A SPOTLIGHT ON: SIR JOE BOSSANO
33
LOCKDOWN POSITIVITY
36
RGP RAINBOW COMPETITION WINNERS
40 CHANGES IN EATING HABITS 42
ST HELENA & COVID 19
44 GIB ARTISTS RAISE AWARENESS 45
FREEDOM AS HIGH AS THE STARS
47
TIME TO FALL IN LOVE WITH NATURE
51
DEBUT CHILDREN'S BOOK FOR LOCAL AUTHOR
56
THANK YOU GHA
64 FOLLOW YOUR BLISS
30 ARMED FORCES NEWS
Football Insight 29
AN INNOVATIVE CEO
Regular Features 22
TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT
34
TAGORE COMPETITION
38
MOTORING INSIGHT
49 A VET'S INSIGHT – SPAYING YOUR PET 50 MUM ON THE ROCK – CRAFT CORNER 53
HEALTH & WELLBEING INSIGHT
60 HOROSCOPES
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MAMA LOTTIES RECIPE
63
WEDDING INSIGHT
66
THE LIGHT & POWER SHOP CROSSWORD
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Gibraltar Insight Deputy Editor: Jean King
Gibraltar Insight - the Rock’s longest running magazine.
Accounts & Administration: Rosemary Salah-El-Din
Published by GBZ Media Limited, 5 Governor’s Lane, Gibraltar GX11 1AA.
Superyacht Owners’ Guide Managing Editor: Sophie Blake Creative Director: Ben Lewis
Printed by Roca Graphics Limited, 21 Tuckey’s Lane, Gibraltar GX11 1AA
Executive Editor: Ross Ford For advertising & general queries, contact: +350 200 40913
Copyright 2020. All rights reserved.
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The names Gibraltar Insight, Bermuda Insight, Mum On The Rock, SYOG, Superyacht Owners’ Guide & GBZ Media are marks of GBZ Media (Overseas) Limited, used under exclusive licence. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher.
@MumOnTheRockGBZ @BermudaInsight @SYOGuide @GBZmedia
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. For permission to copy cuttings for internal or client use, contact NLA - nlamediaaccess.com or +441892 525273.
Photo: Elliott Howe
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COMMUNITY INSIGHT
CITY WALLS GET A FRESH LICK OF PAINT DESPITE A BATTERING FROM UV, POLLUTION AND SEA AIR, THE PAINTED FORTIFICATION NAMES ON GIBRALTAR'S CITY WALLS HAVE HELD THEIR OWN, AS THEY HAVE DONE FOR CENTURIES. A new programme of works has begun to freshen the names and amplify their rightful place in the Rock's history to both locals and visitors alike. Priority has been given to some of the worst affected and the before and after photographs of the signs speak for themselves. Amongst them are Couvreport Battery, Prince Albert’s Front, Wellington Front Right Bastion and Raglan’s Battery, where the latter had never been painted previously.
The Minister for Heritage, Prof. John Cortes said, “As part of the 2018 Heritage and Antiquities Act, there are over 120 fortifications that have been afforded protection in law and this is a further example of the importance that Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar places on our heritage. My Ministry is constantly engaged in ensuring that our prized City walls and fortifications are looked after, for they are intertwined with our social fabric and remind us of our many struggles in the past. They also act as a window to the world that our many visitors to Gibraltar can enjoy.”
Under Phase 3 of "Unlock The Rock", the Public Information Call Centre's phone number operation has reverted to normal office hours. This means it is no longer manned 24 hours a day. The number remains the same, 200 41818.
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COMMUNITY INSIGHT THE
Cetacean PROTOCOL
Jake Torres SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR
BUDDING SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR, JAKE TORRES, IS DOING HIS BIT TO HELP OTHERS THROUGH HIS CREATIVITY. He's an 8 year-old pupil at St Joseph's Middle School and has created an illustrated book on Coronavirus, called "Corona Travel". Jake has been selling his book in order to help others, including needy children. Some of the charities who are benefiting include Action4schools, Rifcom and Helpmelearnafrica.
ALTHOUGH NAMED LIKE A SPY MISSION FROM A LEN DEIGHTON NOVEL, THE CETACEAN PROTOCOL COULDN'T BE ANY MORE FAR REMOVED. British Gibraltar Territorial Waters are home to many fascinating sea creatures, and also forms part of many migratory paths. The Cetacean Protocol aims to protect cetaceans by restricting the movement of vessels to a safe distance from migrating dolphins and whales.
The books cost £5 each, and anyone wishing to purchase a copy (or simply donate) should contact Mrs Tyrene Torres on 54002441.
As the Summer approaches and the spectacle of migration continues, the Environmental Protection & Research Unit will be closely monitoring vessel activity to ensure that the requirements of the Cetacean Protocol are met and marine species protected from harm. This also includes turtles, sunfish, sharks and seabirds.
You can also find out more information at action4schools.gi/
Photo credits: Environmental Protection & Research Unit
Stamp Presentation The Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau have presented the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo with a set of four stamps, designed by Stephen Perera and illustrated by Karl Ullger, depicting the new St. Anne’s, Notre Dame, St Bernard’s and Bayside and Westside Schools. Pictured from left to right: Karl Ullger (artist), Aaron Enriles (Managing Director, Gibraltar Philatelic Bureau), Chief Minister Fabian Picardo and Glendon Martinez (Director of Postal Services), in front of Karl Ullger’s original painting.
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BUSINESS INSIGHT ACCOLADE FOR GIB LAWYER Local law firm, Signature Litigation, has announced that one of its Gibraltar partners has made a global "Top 100" trusts litigators list. Elliott Phillips is a founding partner of the Gibraltar office, and is also an MP, with the portfolio of Shadow Minister for Health and the Environment. The inclusion in the list, compiled by wealth directory Citywealth for 2020, is based on a number of parameters, including editorial research, individual submissions and peer recommendations.
Accolade For Gib Lawyer
On the news of his inclusion, Mr Phillips said, “I am delighted to have been recognised by Citywealth as a leading trusts litigator. This inclusion highlights the exciting and complex work Signature Litigation undertakes here in Gibraltar, as well as more globally in the private wealth disputes arena.” This new accolade follows his being named in Legal Week's Private Client Global Elite last year.
UNLOCK THE ROCK
OUR NEW GOVERNOR Vice Admiral Sir David Steel KBE, DL has been appointed Governor of Gibraltar in succession to Lieutenant General Edward Davis CB CBE. 2014 – PRESENT Deputy Lieutenant for Hampshire; (from 2015) Chief Executive Officer, Leeds Castle Foundation and Enterprises Ltd; President, Union Jack Club London 2012 – 2015 Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel, Training and Infrastructure (Vice Admiral) 2010 – 2012 Naval Secretary and Director of Personnel and Career Management 2009 – 2010 Ministry of Defence, Director, Armed Forces Pay and Manning 2005 – 2008 Chief Executive and Naval Base Commander Portsmouth. Sea Area Commander English Channel
Image courtesy and copyright HM Government of Gibraltar
2002 – 2005
UK QUARANTINE At the time of going to press, there is still an element of uncertainty regarding the UK's planned imposition of a 14-day quarantine period for all air arrivals into Britain, with extremely limited exceptions. The quarantine measure applies to all UK citizens, regardless of their point of origin, and therefore as presently proposed will include air arrivals from Gibraltar. The start date is pencilled for 8th June, and the Chief Minister - Fabian Picardo - has broached the prospect of exempting Gibraltar from the restrictions with UK Government officials.
Executive Assistant to the First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff 1998 – 2002 Royal Navy, Director of Logistics 1994 – 1998 Royal Navy, Director, Legal and Personnel Services 1979 – 1994 Variety of appointments at Sea including Aircraft carrier Logistics Commander
Readers are advised to check before travel.
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FEATURE
“Spring will come and so will happiness. Hold on. Life will get warmer.” Anita Krizzan
WE THOUGHT THIS QUOTE WAS APT UNDER THE CURRENT TIMES THAT WE FIND OURSELVES IN, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE WHOLLY BELIEVE IN THE SENTIMENT THAT WE WILL SEE WARMER TIMES AND AN END TO THE SURREAL WAY OF LIFE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALT UNDER COVID-19. It is clear that our way of life, how we interact and how we do our business will not just be impacted in the short term but may also be changed for the medium to longer term. The fact that a great many of us are now able to work from home effectively will have a knock on effect on the future planning of businesses and their office space planning requirements; it will also influence how we choose to live our lives at home and how demand for property sizes may change because of this. We believe that changes although hard to adjust to, will invariably bring positive elements too, and do have the capacity to remind us, of how we may take the simple things in life for granted; how we have ignored a real call for environmental change (the skies are cleaner) and how looking after our health and taking positive steps towards it can make a real change for the better. I do not recall having ever seen so many people, cycle, power walk, jog, train or enjoy the many nature trails that we have locally. Our prospects for the next Island Games are huge.
WORDS BY LOUIS C. MONTEGRIFFO GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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FEATURE THE MARKET IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE MARKET As first outlined nearly five weeks ago in our first Covid-1 Update, we at BMI Group remain fully active and open for business; both at the office and remotely at home. We wholly continue to manage our lettings portfolio which remains unscathed by Covid-19; our Landlords and our Tenants will be receiving our circulars with updates on any changes to their portfolios and importantly all rents due are being met by tenants and paid to landlords via our management services team. Over the past five weeks we have pushed hard to maintain a presence in the market, as well as assessing the conditions under Covid-19 and the lockdown. Whereas we were bracing ourselves and expecting all new business to grind to a halt, we have been surprised with the general up-take by applicants over recent weeks, since restrictions have eased. Our focus had been to maintain and manage all existing and pending sales in the pipeline and we are delighted that ALL have either completed or are set to do so in the coming weeks. We see this as a good indicator of the mindset in the market and the general view that, the market wants to continue to drive the market. We were hugely encouraged by the fact that our clients and applicants respected their positions and continued with their commitments; needless to say we have been guiding and advising throughout these uncertain times and provided the support that we have been recognised for over the past two decades. Although clearly still too early to say, we are optimistic that Covid-19 will not adversely affect the market in the medium to long term. So far, applications to let and interest in our residential sales portfolio suggests that although the market is substantially quieter, there is movement and WE ARE letting and selling properties, albeit under a rather heavy cloud of uncertainty and somewhat different methods of showing our properties listed. There is no question that the volume of interest has slowed down, to suggest otherwise would be foolhardy, but the fact that there is activity is a positive from our perspective. We are working hard to maintain a real presence during these difficult times; importantly, from our own perspective and akin to the sentiment taken by Gibraltar: we all want to be in a solid position when we come out of this. OUR MARKET POSITION PRIOR TO COVID-19 AND WHERE MIGHT WE BE FURTHER COMPROMISED, OR NOT. Prior to Covid-19, we had been warning of a slight over heating in the market in particular segments, these segments will no doubt be suffering the brunt of the impact of Covid-19; speculative markets will undoubtedly be the worst hit during a down turn. However our belief in the four tier market which we have seen grow over the past two decades will, from our point of view, hold its own and will not (in our opinion) be dragged down by one segment of the market. Our portfolio listings in both sales and rentals had seen substantial increases in volume, particularly in lettings and we had already seen a signal of adjustment in pricing, where there was already a clear oversupply in new build smaller buy to let, speculative units. Conversely, the owner / leasing occupier sector driven by larger units in all ranges, one to four bed units had held well given the lack of supply in this sector, and in some cases we experienced increased prices in sales and rentals because of this further underpinning the maturity of the sector in general.
lieved that new off-plan developments should be primarily driven by that fundamental sector known as the “owner occupier market”; without it there is no market and the sector falls prey to speculation. This is only further amplified under our current status quo. We had expressed concern with proposals primed solely at the investors market and offering only one product such as the studio / small one bed unit with overly high rates / sqm. We will continue to follow and review this sector. Historically, and during uncertain times, the safer investments have tended to feature mixed distributions of 1–4 bed layouts. These owner occupier lead developments have consistently rewarded investors because they (by default) reduce exposure to just one market or applicant profile, and thereby increase percentages of owner occupiers who tend to seek 3/4 bedroom properties; this reduces risks by splitting markets up and attracting varied profiles. OPPORTUNITIES WILL INVARIABLY PRESENT THEMSELVES. The Bank of England have reduced interest rates once again to the lowest levels ever, thereby providing cheaper access to borrowing, we have noticed some investors keen to jump into the market for the right deals, which do exist if you are looking at your medium to long term exposure. Over recent weeks we have entertained various portfolio investors in this regard. Looking at the bigger picture and considering Gibraltar’s historic ability to overcome hurdles, there are indeed opportunities for all, and not just the savvy investor. We believe that the appetite is there, albeit overshadowed by an uncertain eye; and true to the nature of our small, diversified and dynamic economy, our innate ability to seek new goals and new markets will be sought and found. It is the very basis upon which Gibraltar has survived and flourished in the past. IN SUMMARY... Navigating this chapter in our story is of course crucial and to date, Gibraltar has done phenomenally well in managing the spread of this virus. Government has also taken crucial steps in managing what is essentially an economy in partial levitation (the pause effect). The BEAT Covid19 facilities to business’ in real need, have provided a much-needed fiscal lung and adds a level of comfort and confidence to our economy and in the Government’s handling of this crisis. Their steering and management to date has been nothing short of exceptional, in all aspects, but in particular, their steadfast grip and resolve in minimising the clear anxieties we all feel, from the personal to the fiscal. We say this with no agenda, but rather a show of support and thanks; and we do so with the firm belief that this will pass and we will be stronger, wiser and better placed to emerge from this. Moreover and as mentioned by the Minister for Financial Services, it will be our capacity to deal with this crisis in the manner that we are that will earn us the respect of those seeking to invest and re-locate to Gibraltar as we see brighter days emerge; for it is the example we show during these difficult times that will instil confidence in our economy and way of life for the future.
We considered 2018 and 2019 to be crucial years in many respects and of course we have highlighted Brexit negotiations as a real factor on how the market would develop. We have always firmly be-
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We hope you are all staying safe and doing well and wish you the very best during these grey days. #staysafe #stayintouch #haveanoutstandingday LOUIS C. MONTEGRIFFO MANAGING DIRECTOR BMI GROUP
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BORN IN AUSTRALIA, TOM FRASER BECAME A CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT AND WAS A SALARIED PARTNER WITH ERNST & YOUNG BEFORE MOVING TO THE UK IN 1993. “I have always specialised in audit and consulting within financial services and whilst I was in the UK I was instrumental in building Ernst & Young’s compliance business,working with clients like Norwich Union, Generali, Irish Life and Aon,” he explains. In 1995 Tom was offered a partnership in Ernst & Young UK but left to join Norwich Union, where he was appointed as the Finance Director for one of their new divisions, moving on to act as Finance Director for Norwich Union Life & Pensions during its demutualisation. “I then – became responsible, and eventually the main board director for, Norwich Union’s Overseas Operations - which is where I first came into contact with Gibraltar and the offshore markets,” Tom states. When Norwich Union merged with CGU, Tom became European Managing Director for the rebranded ‘Aviva’ and subsequently went on to run the UK Financial Services division of AMP (the owner of Pearl Assurance), NPI, London Life, Henderson Global Investors and Towry Law. “Looking for new opportunities, I left there in early 2003 and became involved in a small investment bank in the UK called European American Capital, whilst also holding a number of non executive directorships. This in turn led to being asked in 2004 to come to Gibraltar to examine a complex issue for one of the brokers which involved Traded Endowment plans.” It was during this time that Tom realised he was enjoying his time in Gibraltar and took the opportunity to set up EFPG.
“We are definitely a local business particularly today in these unprecedented times of corona virus when it is all a bit tough for everyone.”
A local business WITH A BACKGROUND FIRMLY ROOTED IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES SECTOR, THE OWNER OF EUROPEAN FINANCIAL PLANNING GROUP (EFPG), TOM FRASER, HAS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE WHICH LED TO HIM ESTABLISHING THE COMPANY BACK IN DECEMBER 2004. SINCE THEN EFPG HAS GROWN AND NOW EMPLOYS FIFTEEN STAFF ADMINISTERING ABOUT £300 MILLION OF CLIENT ASSETS. HE TALKS TO JO WARD ABOUT WHAT LED HIM TO SET UP EFPG AND HOW THE BUSINESS IS LOOKING AFTER ITS CLIENTS IN THE CURRENT ECONOMIC CLIMATE.
There is no doubt that one of the main concerns for clients is to know what’s happening in the financial markets, particularly with regard to pensions. “The first thing we say is that your money is there for the long term - it is a ten, twenty, thirty year investment it is not short term,” Tom clarifies. “As we have seen from the stock market crash in 2008, markets will come back and the key thing here is for people not to panic sell.” He goes on to state that the reality is that if people have some cash available, it is probably not a bad time to invest into the market. Tom emphasises that he thinks the Gibraltar economy has been remarkably strong, but that like a lot of other smaller countries in the world, it is dependent upon two or three big industries and those will obviously have been impacted by the fallout from the corona virus issue. “Financial services are in a similar situation, but people forget that we are there to help our customers and service them, although I understand whilst we are in lockdown, financial services and pensions are not their top priority,” Tom says. One thing that he wants to stress is that people shouldn’t give up their financial service products now, because they will become more expensive later on. “It is quite staggering how many people, both in Gibraltar and elsewhere in the world, don’t practice basic financial planning,” Tom states. “The key thing that I would recommend to our existing and to our prospective clients is to look to the future, both for themselves and for their families,” Tom concludes adding that “it is important to relax and not panic, because we need to make the right decisions that secure our financial future and these need to be made in a calm and logical way, taking the best advice to ensure that financial stability happens!”
“We are a typical life and pensions financial services company with one difference, in that we pay our advisers a salary with bonus as opposed to commission only,” Tom explains, “with the idea being that they are more likely to act in the best interests of their clients as opposed to being driven by the generation of commission from insurance products.” After a brief sojourn in 2006 when Tom went to Luxembourg for three years, he returned to Gibraltar and became more involved with the daily running of EFPG. “As the world changed and pensions changed, we established our own pension funds,” Tom says. Part of that change was driven by the fact that some of the larger traditional providers of financial service products in Gibraltar pulled out or restricted their product offerings, including Aviva, Clerical Medical and Legal & General. “We were left with so few providers we had no choice but to build our own products. We now have on offer our own QROPS, QNUPS (offshore pensions) and a local pension called Jubilee.” Since then EFPG has continued to progress and Tom says that last year they split the business into two elements. “We have an advisory company, trading as Effective Financial Planning Group, which operates under Blacktower, and then we have our pensions company which continues to trade as European Financial Planning Group. This company is responsible for running the new pension schemes whilst acting as Trustee and also working with employers as Trustees”.
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O2O Logistics What is O2O Logistics?
O2O Logistics is a Gibraltar based freight company offering daily and weekly shipping from UK depot to Gibraltar, so that you can buy from any online store. It enables residents of Gibraltar to shop online and ship their purchases to Gibraltar via a forwarding facility in Manchester. Very few online retailers ship directly to Gibraltar, so this provides a vital service for the residents of the Rock.
How does it work? When purchasing your desired items at your online store, simply use our depot address as your shipping address, instead of your home address. Please refer to our website for full instructions. Your items will then be delivered to our UK depot. After you've ordered your items, visit our Order Now page and complete the form listing items, prices and brief description. Complete your home address, then send, sit back, relax and wait for your package to be delivered to you.
How long does it take? Despatches from our UK depot in Stockport are weekly on a Tuesday and arrive into Gibraltar the following Tuesday where they are then cleared by customs and picked up. Once they are checked in and weighed, they get delivered. Once the parcels leave Stockport it’s an 8 – 10 day average for delivery to the customer. We are also looking into adding a second UK despatch in the near future, to get parcels to Gibraltar twice a week.
Why is O2O Logistics an efFIcient service? We enable residents of Gibraltar to shop online with any UK retailer and have their items delivered to their door. We can also deliver to a customer’s place of work if that is more convenient or if it’s a gift that they want delivered discretely. Other benefits of using O2O are the face to face service they receive for their important purchases: we offer help, support and advice throughout the ordering process for customers who struggle ordering online or can’t get out of their homes.
Is it more costly than other methods? No! Pricewise we are very competitive and very much cheaper than the big carriers. We have straight forward operation which enables us to offer low prices to our customers
Are you running any special offers? We are currently doing a discount do 20% of shipping costs for essential services: just put “essential services” in order description. CONTACT http://www.o2o-logistics.co.uk +350 54014999
"CANNOT RATE HIGHLY ENOUGH EXCELLENT COMMUNICATION ON POINT WITH DELIVERY AND VERY GOOD PRICES. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING FROM THE UK USE THESE GUYS, YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.” DEBORAH HUXLEY
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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT
APPLE LOGIC 10.5
The problem with refining software, is it's often hard to improve things further once breakthrough features have become established and embraced by competitors. The digital audio workstation (DAW) software used by most top producers and engineers tends to be dominated by either Avid Pro Tools or Apple Logic. Each have their merits and specialise in different areas. For example, Logic has traditionally been much more comprehensive for MIDI whereas Pro Tools focused more on waveform manipulation and plug-ins. Apple has released Logic 10.5 which they claim has one of these coveted breakthrough features, called Live Loops. Loops, samples, and recordings can be organised into a new musical
grid, where musicians can spontaneously perform and capture different arrangement ideas into the timeline. From there, tracks can be further refined using all of the professional production features in Logic. Remix FX enhances Live Loops with an exciting collection of electronic effects like Bitcrusher, filter, gater, and repeater that can be performed in real time over individual tracks or the entire song mix. Both features become even more powerful when using the free Logic Remote app, allowing users to pair their iPhone or iPad with their Mac to provide Multi-Touch control over Live Loops and Remix FX. Apple Logic 10.5 is available to download in the Mac App Store now, with a free trial version also on offer.
THE CLOUD IS WATCHING The drive to the cloud permeates every part of IT. Be it in enterprise, consumer or government, the rise to the Software as a Service (SaaS) business model shows little sign of slowing down. As with every evolving technology, sometimes it can be applied in new ways, not thought of from the onset. Sony and Microsoft have announced a new partnership that falls into this category. Using system-on-a-chip Sony imaging and sensing technology, information can be sent to Microsoft's Azure cloud platform where complicated artificial intelligence and machine learning can interpret the images and send instructions to third party apps or humans to further interpret. What this means in practical terms, is the ability to maximise existing revenue streams, or uncover new ones. Every square inch of a business's premises (a premium in Gibraltar) can also be optimised by further learning and analysing customer behaviour, so that the right stock can be held at the right level, at the right time. “By linking Sony’s innovative imaging and sensing technology with Microsoft’s excellent cloud AI services, we will deliver a powerful and convenient platform to the smart camera market. Through this platform, we hope to support the creativity of our partners and contribute to overcoming challenges in various industries,” said Terushi Shimizu, Representative Director and President, Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation. Retailers in the US are already using smart cameras to detect when to refill products on a shelf or to better understand the optimal number of available open checkout lanes according to the queue length. Alternatively, a manufacturer might use a smart camera to identify hazards on its manufacturing floor in real time before injuries occur. In these COVID times, a further practical application could be its use to monitor social distancing rules in public places and alert accordingly. 22
UCLAN HARNESSES VIRTUAL TUTORIALS & LECTURES The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan), home to many Gibraltarian students, has adapted to the current social distancing regulations by turning to Microsoft Teams. Along with Zoom, Skype and FaceTime, Teams has been part of the charge to move person-to-person interaction and meetings online. In-person teaching was halted in March as part of the UK Government's measures to tackle the Coronavirus pandemic. UCLan, which has its main campus in Preston, quickly set up virtual lectures via Teams, which enabled students to continue learning while they are at home. The university wanted to ensure online lessons were as accessible to as many students as possible, so they asked British Sign Language interpreters to sign the content in real time. Students also use Microsoft Translate to receive live captions of the lectures, which also helps those who don’t list English as their first language. Maureen Nicholson, one of the British Sign Language interpreters at UCLan, said: “It’s all about giving students the right level of access and making them feel like they don’t have to jump through any hoops and to have anything extra. It should be just an equal playing field, and I think that’s what I really like about this University, accessibility isn’t an afterthought.” Lectures delivered via Teams can be recorded, allowing students to review them as often as they like or, in the case of overseas students, watch them at a time more appropriate for their time zone.
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FEATURE
A SPOTLIGHT ON SIR
JOE BOSSANO KCMG MP
INSIGHT TALKS EXCLUSIVELY TO SIR JOE BOSSANO ABOUT HIS POLITICAL CAREER, HIS PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS AND HIS VIEWS ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. Sir Joe has been a Member of Parliament for 48 years, but even before he was elected to Parliament in 1972 he had been actively involved in local politics since 1964. He was Chief Minister of Gibraltar from 1988 to 1996 and as the longest serving member of Parliament he is often referred to as the “Father of the House”, as is the practice in the House of Commons and other Commonwealth parliaments. He was appointed Minister for Economic Development, Telecommunications and the Gibraltar Savings Bank (GSB) by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo. We ask Sir Joe if, looking back on his experiences, he thinks this pandemic is the biggest post-War challenge Gibraltar has faced. “In terms of the actual virus the Spanish flu of 1918 was much worse in the numbers of people it affected, but we have been able to handle the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic quite effectively,” Sir Joe says. “It will be the consequences of the mechanism that is required to stop the virus which is going to create a bigger problem for the global economy and for humanity than the virus itself.” Sir Joe goes on to explain that the reason why Gibraltar has coped so incredibly well during this crisis is because of the controls at the land frontier. “From the very beginning when restrictions were put in place my view was that if 55% of your workforce goes home across the border how can we enforce what they do on the other side, and we would have had a very serious problem if Spain had not been stopping people moving across the frontier.”
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FEATURE In his view, one of the best things Gibraltar put in place as opposed to other countries was the legislation that Government brought in to restrict people over the age of 70 from leaving their homes unless it was for essential services. Sir Joe says: “It was a logical thing to do because if there is a particularly vulnerable group then it is essential to control the contact they have with those less at risk.” With the focus on beating the coronavirus crisis, one of the big questions is how will the Johnson administration support Gibraltar as we near the December transition for Brexit? “I think over the last few years - since Cameron, then Theresa May and now Johnson - we have had a level of commitment to Gibraltar, and indeed to the Gibraltarians as a separate people,” Sir Joe replies. “When I started National Day there were people who were saying we shouldn't have a National Day because it would upset Spain, and the Foreign Office was not very keen that we should call it National Day because that meant we were a nation and that would further upset Spain, and then there would be problems at the frontier.” Sir Joe states that to have a situation where the British Prime Minister addressed Gibraltar on National Day last year is a stamp of approval on which you cannot improve. “Boris Johnson even went a bit further by protecting our Calentita in the process,” he comments, going on to add that “I have been around a long time and I have never known support for Gibraltar on a political level as strong as it is now - even when the frontier was closed.” Having never missed a National Day rally since the first one, Sir Joe is doubtful that it will take place in the same way this year. “I hope I will be on the platform again, but if we still have a high number of cases of coronavirus here we can’t ask people to come to Casemates and maintain social distancing, so we might have to hold a virtual National Day!” Asked what he considers to be the highlights of his political career and whether there was anything he wishes he could have done differently, Sir Joe clarifies that the most important thing he has done in the whole of his life in politics, even before he started participating as a candidate in an election, was to stop the talks with Spain on Gibraltar’s future. “That is the thing that made me enter politics in the first place and I started campaigning after the 1964 UN resolution.”
“The success of our economy and everything that I did including creating home ownership and giving scholarships so that all our kids would be able to go to university, all that was driven predominantly by the core value of protecting Gibraltar as a separate entity and to be politically and economically independent from Spain was the only way that we could ever have a safe future – and that is still as true today as it was when I started in 1964.” As far as doing anything differently, Sir Joe says that there are things in terms of timing or in how he did certain things that with the benefit of hindsight he would have done in other ways. “It is not just politicians, nobody has a crystal ball, and everybody in life can look back and wish they had done something differently.” After finishing his compulsory national service in the Gibraltar Regiment in 1958, a young Joe Bossano went to the UK to live with his uncle in West Ham from where he joined the Merchant Navy, signing up for four years. “I did a correspondence course with the College of the Sea which was a charity for uneducated seaman like me and as a result of that I went to university and there I discovered a world of knowledge that was mind-blowing,” he exclaims, continuing “and I developed an insatiable appetite for knowledge which I keep to this day, and I think I would have settled for an academic career if I had not come back to Gibraltar.” In 1976 Joe Bossano founded the Gibraltar Democratic Movement (GDM) which then became the Gibraltar Socialist Labour Party (GSLP) in 1977. Asked what advice he would offer to other Overseas Territories, for example Bermuda, who may be looking for inspiration to cope with the ‘new normal’ and the resulting economic turbulence of COVID-19, Sir Joe answers that the turbulence is worse than the pandemic. “Every country has found that the only way to do it is to stop functioning, and that if they don’t the virus may be lurking somewhere and will spring to life again,” he states. “But of course if we stop functioning the global economy will come to a grinding halt and most of the western world will be in recession, and it will be much bigger than the recession of 2008 and possibly as big as the depression of the 1930s.”
“I have always argued that the most important thing for us is the survival of our country because if there is no Gibraltar there are no people who are the Gibraltarians, and humans need a place to have an identity as a people, otherwise you are stateless, and the only way we could guarantee Gibraltar's future was to make a success of our economy.”
Although he thinks this will be a huge problem, Sir Joe went on to say that every cloud has a silver lining. “There will no longer be an argument as to whether global warming is man-made or not because when we are all locked up at home - the global warming slows down - so the rate of Co2 going into the atmosphere, the pollution and everything else has in fact started disappearing because we are not venturing out doors because of the fear of the virus.”
Sir Joe explains that his main quest is and has always been to achieve the decolonisation of Gibraltar through the maximum level of self-government possible whilst keeping Gibraltar independent to Spain but linked to the UK. “Being in effect de facto running our own affairs, which we are - we are not an independent state but we are 99% of one.”
In last year’s Budget, Sir Joe coined a phrase describing the illness that we suffer which has been highlighted by the pandemic, one that has been created by western society. “The world’s environmental problem is not Co2 but “compulsive consumption disorder”, and it is this disorder that pushes us to consume what we don’t need that will result in a worldwide epidemic that is killing
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the planet.” He goes on to state that the epidemic is the nature of the problem that we all face - not just Bermuda, Gibraltar or any of the other Overseas Territories. “The real question is are we all going to try to get back to living the way we used to live and doing the things we used to do and therefore defeat the virus, but carry on with the other illness - the consumption illness.” “The problem that Bermuda or any small place has is that we depend on external forces and getting our economies back on the growth path is not impossible, but it won’t be easy.” As an advocate of the Integration with Britain Party (IWBP), and looking at how autonomy works in Gibraltar, we ask Sir Joe how he views the way devolution has turned out in Scotland and Wales. “The reality is that we need to understand that devolving power is always in the hands of a central power and that is evident in Spain where Madrid has taken power away from Catalonia.” He goes on to say that the delegation of power to Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland is not the same as Gibraltar. “We have a situation under international law where the UK is required to transfer power to us because we are an Overseas Territory of the UK (the modern name for a colony), but the Charter of the United Nations and the UN resolutions require the UK to give to the people of the Overseas Territories as much self-government as they can handle - so the more you can handle the more you get back.” In regard to Spain, Sir Joe does not think that they have mellowed at all over the years, but he does think that they cannot be mobilized now in the same way that they used to be. He says: “the pandemic or rather the consequences of the pandemic on public finances could make the liberal democratic model very shaky in the future, so you may see a regression in Spain, not particularly because it is Spain and us, but because it could be a consequence of people not being able to maintain their standard of living because of economic problems and therefore they could blame the Gibraltarians, so times could get more difficult with Spain.” There is no doubt that Sir Joe, knighted by the Queen in the 2018 New Year's Honours list, has dedicated his life to politics, something which has left little time for any hobbies. “My hobby is thinking,” he clarifies. “I spend 7 days a week in the office, not on the 1st May or Boxing Day, and at weekends (before coronavirus) I hold clinics.” He then goes on to confide that if he does find time to relax, what interests him most is reading about particle and quantum physics. This leads on to the question of whether he will ever stop, retire, and put his feet up. “I put my feet up every night when I go to bed and I put them down every morning when I get up - and that will continue to happen until the day comes that I put them up and can't put them down anymore!”
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FEATURE
RED HACKLES ON THE ROCK THE STORY OF THE BLACK WATCH IN GIBRALTAR AS A RESULT OF THE CARDWELL REFORMS OF 1872, REGIMENTS IN THE BRITISH ARMY WERE PAIRED OFF BY MEANS OF A “LOCALIZATION” PROGRAMME THAT ENTAILED UNITS CHANGING A BRIGADE DEPOT. THIS INNOVATION WOULD BETTER POOL HUMAN AND MATERIAL RESOURCES.
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FEATURE
The 42nd Black watch and the 79th Cameron Highlanders were already closely associated, being Royal Regiments, and so were eminent candidates for amalgamation, but the sticking point, which prevented this particular pairing turned out to be the tartans. The Adjutant General inquired whether the Camerons would be willing to change theirs for the Black Watch’s. The 79th were on a tour of duty in Gibraltar when they received the request and immediately telegraphed a resounding “NO” for an answer. So the 79th retained their independence as did the Black Watch. The then Secretary of State for war declared in Parliament that the Scottish regiments required an exception made regarding amalgamation.
Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander who was on the Rock finalizing the plans for the invasion of North Africa. The general was dressed in civilian clothes to preserve anonymity when outside his quarters. He aroused the suspicion of a Black Watch guard who challenged him. The General did not have a military pass on him so he was instantly marched to the guard room protesting vehemently. There followed an almighty row which only ended when the Regimental Adjutant was called to vouch for the “distinguished” detainee.
The 79th next departed the rock playing the march they composed “The 79th Farewell to Gibraltar” on their pipes, not before having got “gloriously drunk” days back, the result of a long stay in a backwater like Gibraltar. Some officers made an effort to alleviate the boredom of garrison duty. In the 1830’s for instance, Colonel Wheatley, of the Black Watch, began a library for the “other ranks” as the Garrison Library was the preserve of the officers. The men subscribed 6d a month to use the library which totalled some three thousand books. By the time the regiment went to the Crimea the books had to be disposed of. That put an end to the 42nd’s attempt to relieve the boredom which was more the pity. During the Napoleonic Wars, the Black Watch sailed from the Rock for Lisbon to form part of Sir John Moore’s expedition, which was to attempt the relief of Madrid, recently captured by Napoleon. The defeat of several Spanish armies sent to augment Moore’s forces meant that the British had to beat a quick retreat to La Coruña where they held out against the French under General Soult’s superior numbers. It was here that the black Watch distinguished itself. Pushed back by the French onslaught, the line was giving way through lack of ammunition until Moore cried out “Hold on the 42nd, your ammunition is on its way.” The Scots held that flank, their stubborn stand helped turn the battle.
Twa Recruitin' Sergeants FROM HENRY’S SONGBOOK Chorus: It's over the mountains and over the main Through Gibraltar tae France and tae Spain Wi' a feather in your bonnet and a kilt aboon your knee book So 'list my bonnie laddie and come awa wi' me The 4th Battalion fought yet another rearguard action early in WWII. The formed part of the Highland Division which held out at Dunkirk and was one of the last units to leave for Southampton before being cut to pieces by Kliest’s Panzers near Cherbourg. After a short spell in the UK, the regiment again sailed for Gibraltar arriving in July 1940 on the Athlone Castle right in the middle of an air raid by the Italian Air Force which was targeting HMS Hood berthed at the South Mole. D Company was billeted in one of the disused water reservoir inside the Water Works deep inside the Rock. One of the regiment’s tasks in Gibraltar was to help the Royal Engineers and Royal Canadian Engineers, who were digging additional tunnels all through the Rock, by removing the spoil. This spoil was transported from all over the Rock in lorries and used as fill for the runway which was being extended. The Scottish infantrymen were inexperienced in this kind of work and some headstones in the cemetery attest this fact. The Regiment’s other assignment was to guard the installations being needed for “Operation Torch.” This plan entailed landing Allied forces on three different locations along the North African coast. This thrust would become the second front the Russians were crying out for, to relieve the pressure on them by forcing the Axis to bring troops away from the Eastern front. One company of the 4th battalion however did not work in the tunnels, they formed part of the Fortress Independent Company nicknamed the Mason- MacMillan‘s Killers, Mason MacMillan being the Governor at the time. They were trained in counter insurgency tactics. On one occasion, the Sentry of the Watch took their responsibility much too seriously and arrested none other than General “Ike”
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The most lasting left on the Rock is a Cairn on Devil’s Tower Road honouring the Black Watch. Hopefully, when the mountain of rubble currently accumulated behind the site is removed, the monument will be preserved and may be moved to a more prominent position. The 1st Battalion was deployed to Gibraltar between 1967 and 1968 to reinforce the garrison as the result of Spain’s aggressive attitude to Gibraltar.
THE HISTORY OF THE CAIRN EXTRACT FROM THE “RED HACKLE” OCTOBER 1955 When the 4th Battalion, the Black Watch left Gibraltar in 1943, after two and a half years Garrison Duty, their commanding officer, Lt. Colonel B A Innes, arranged for a small plaque to be cut in the various pillboxes and tunnels, stating that they had been constructed by the Battalion. These all remain in position today. Some larger and more prominent form of memorial commemorating the Battalion’s labour was first suggested last year by the late Lt. Colonel Purvis-Russell-Montgomery, OBE, who was visiting Gibraltar at the time, to the then Governor General Sir Gordon Macmillan, KCB, KCVO, CBE, DSO,MC. The Governor, and later the City Council, agreed and the Colonel of the Regiment was approached on the subject. Since both Brigadier R.C. MacPherson , who as Lt Colonel,\was Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion for the greater part of their tour on the Rock, Lt. Colonel B A Innes, and as many ex-officers of the Battalion who were able to be traced, have also been approached, and in the majority of cases have been strongly in favour of the idea. The memorial is in the form of a traditional Scottish Cairn. It stands between seven and eight feet high. It is situated on the north-east corner of the Rock, opposite MacFarlain Gallery, one of the many tunnels constructed by the Battalion, and is the heart of the Battalion’s old defensive area. The overall design was produced in conjunction with Messers Thoms and Wilkie, and the Cairn itself was constructed by the Royal Engineers in Gibraltar. The two plaques, made out of White Carrara Marble and inscribed in gold lettering, have been made by Spanish craftsmen of the firm of E. Latin, in Gibraltar. They were designed by Lt. G.S. Robb, at present serving with the 4/5th Battalion, and who is Art Master at Carnoustie and Monifieth Schools. The figure of the Jock on the upper plaque is that of Sgt. Manzie of the 4/5th Battalion, now employed by the Territorial Army Association, as a civilian with the 4/5th in Dundee, and who was a drummer with the Pipes and Drums with the 4th Battalion in Gibraltar Note. The Cairn is looked after in Gibraltar by David Eveson with help from Roy. A wreath is placed on this memorial by them each Remembrance Day.
MAY 2020
Article supplied by History Society Gibraltar. Email: historysocietygibraltar@hotmail.com
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FOOTBALL INSIGHT
AN INNOVATIVE CEO
As we navigate through the COVID-19 dilemma, we thought it would be interesting to take a look at some Lynx F.C. highlights over the last few years. Focusing on innovation and the Club’s drive to explore new avenues for raising its profile that of its members and of course, sponsors.
Let's start by introducing the person responsible for driving most of our initiatives over the last five years, our current Chief Executive Officer, Mr Jonathan Costa. Since 2015, Jonathan has been a key volunteer member within the Lynx family; providing support in several committee roles, but primarily focused on marketing, communications, innovation, and investment in our sponsors. Selfless, committed and determined, Jonathan’s unwavering support to the whole Lynx family is exemplary and worthy of recognition. Two years ago, Jonathan took on the task of redesigning, redefining and developing the global Lynx brand, structuring and enhancing our social media platforms, looking for ways to innovate and promote the footballing message to a greater pool of people, across all demographics. Having achieved a Verified Facebook Page denoted by the ‘blue tick’, in 2016, Jonathan was able to live stream events via our profile/fan page; the first football club in Gibraltar to do so. With the camera identified, a purchased followed and shortly after, the Club’s new equipment arrived directly from the States. We are excited with the continued development of this media, allowing us to provide even more substantial and more widespread exposure to our sponsors and their brands. We are currently finalising the integration of live scores during streaming sessions, incorporating advertisements and sponsorship information during matches and at intervals. Our media reach is far stronger than our footballing competitors, with 38,471 followers on Facebook and 4,829 followers on Twitter in countries spanning Europa, North and South America, and Asia. This achievement can only be attributed to Jonathan’s infectious passion for taking Lynx continually to new levels. Incredibly proud of the media platform which has been established, you may think that Jonathan would struggle to find a favourite personal achievement. Well, if I were a betting man, my money would be on the exponential rise in interest that has been generated over the last few years in Futsal. With Lynx’s record-breaking fifth Domestic Futsal title coming this year, and the sixth year of UEFA Champions League participation, I know that 2015 holds a very dear place in Jonathan’s heart. Responsible for organising and hosting the first-ever UEFA Futsal Champions League Preliminary Qualification Round to be held in Gibraltar is something that our CEO and the Lynx family will never for-
get. A tremendous privilege to not only represent Club and Country, but also to be chosen to host visiting UEFA teams was genuinely inspiring – hard work, but inspiring! Lynx Futsal will be live-streamed for the first time next season, and we will be streaming our victorious Futsal team as they embark upon another UEFA campaign abroad. I think we have established that Jonathan has been the driving force behind the Lynx global brand, so I thought I would finish with a couple of things that you may not know about Jonathan. Married to the beautiful Alicia and with four lovely children, two boys and two girls; a 10-year military career with the Royal Gibraltar Regiment, and currently an IT manager at STM, Jonathan somehow finds time to help others. For over 12 years, Jonathan has established, driven, supported and delivered many charitable initiatives; local support groups; youth enterprises and support networks for vulnerable people and groups in need of help outside of Lynx. In 2011, he set up ‘Gibwork’, a non-profit organisation to help provide guidance and support to unemployed people having difficulties finding employment. His aim for this group was simple – to help individuals find a Job. Offering advice, direction, support and personal dialogue, Gibwork is now established on Facebook with 50,522 members and provides a platform to a broader audience to help the unemployed community. We are fortunate and honoured to call him our CEO.
We live forever LYNX FC
FOR FURT HER INFORMAT ION, PLEASE CO NTACT THE CLUB ON LYNXFC@M AIL.COM OR 200 69 695.
WORDS BY JACK NOBLE, CLUB PRESIDENT
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ARMED FORCES INSIGHT
BRITISH FORCES GIBRALTAR MARK
VE DAY
The 75th Anniversary of Victory in Europe was marked poignantly by British Forces Gibraltar. It was an opportunity to reflect and remember fellow service personnel who were involved in the conflict, some of whom paid the ultimate price. The Royal Gibraltar Regiment was at the forefront of a series of events across Gibraltar. RG Bandmaster WO1 (BM) Jonathan Spencer was delighted to be leading the Band and Corps of Drums through the celebrations of VE 75, and commented, “The unusual circumstances that we have found ourselves in during the COVID-19 pandemic have meant that the Band has remained inactive, therefore I am delighted to be able to once again direct the Band on this momentous day in Europe’s history”. The Station Commander, Wing Commander Nel Doherty, added, “It was an absolute pleasure to be able to come together - at an appropriate social distance - to commemorate and, indeed, celebrate the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Given the collective effort from both the military and civil communities that enabled victory, it was appropriate that we came together as a Whole Force - RAF, contractors, local employees and families - to pay homage and give thanks to those who have gone before us.” Much of Operation Torch was dependent on RAF North Front, as the airport was known then, having opened in 1942. It went on to host many of the RAF's most famous wartime aircraft, including the Spitfire.
In the fight against COVID-19, personnel from British Forces Gibraltar have been on-hand to assist colleagues in the GHA. The military medical personnel will, alongside the ambulance crews, attend emergency calls supporting in the delivery of medical care and aid to members of the public. This activity supports the resilience of the GHA to deliver a high quality medical emergency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sigurd Haveland, Chief Ambulance Officer stated: “It’s been a privilege to welcome such a great team with so much enthusiasm to gain an insight into the Gibraltar Ambulance Service.” Lieutenant Commander Warren Haynes stated: “Our team are all trained to an extremely high medic standard and possess significant experience; they are relishing the opportunity to train with and support the Gibraltar Ambulance Service, for the benefit of the community.”
The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity (RNRMC) despatched a number of care boxes to British Forces Gibraltar.
CARE BOXES
This was in recognition of the support BFG had provided the wider Gibraltar community in the COVID-19 crisis. The team, using their training, experience and adaptability, provided support in a variety of roles; from provision of specialist advice and mentoring to develop crisis management systems, command and control; subject matter expertise in the design and development of a Nightingale temporary
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hospital facility, specialist manpower to undertake swabbing of COVID-19 patients at a mobile testing facility and additional resilience for the Gibraltar Ambulance Service.
Personnel were delighted to receive the RNRMC care boxes. Warrant Officer 1 (WO1) Medical Assistant (MA) Hemmings stated: “I am personally very proud of the RN medical team who, in challenging circumstances, have used their collective military medical experience and training to support the population of Gibraltar. The RNRMC care box is a very welcome gesture of recognition for their efforts and deeply appreciated.”
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FEATURE Lockdown may have given us challenges to overcome but it has also given us the chance to bring about positive changes in our lives and those of our family. Obviously our first priority has been to stay healthy, but for some of us the restrictions have also given us the precious commodity of time. We’ve had to re-shape our lives and get the cogs of our brains turning to think of things to help us survive, thrive and find inspiration at the most unlikely of times. We’ve turned our hands to doing things that we didn’t have time for before and that includes learning new skills and flexing our creative muscles. Immersing ourselves in hobbies has proven to be good for our mental health and I know that stripping back two dining chair seats, replacing the webbing and upholstering them has done wonders for my sense of
and beans just need something to grow up, like trellis or netting, so as well as being delicious and healthy, gardening can have therapeutic restorative powers on our wellbeing. Maybe you’ve found your inner poet or have started to dabble in creative writing. Online video tutorials, courses and resources have come into their own and made learning new skills accessible. Stimulating our brains with mind-boosting activities is important to our mental health because if your mind is not stimulated it could lead to depression. Taking time out to listen to music releases endorphins in our brain and can lift our mood. Something that has helped me through isolation has been listening to podcasts. Although I admit to not having been a dedicated podcast listener before lockdown, I am now hooked on my daily fix that can range from comedy
LockdownPositivity FROM ADVERSITY COMES OPPORTUNITY
achievement. Whilst that may not be everybody’s idea of fun, there are plenty of other activities that have been keeping idle hands busy.
WHAT WE CAN TAKE FROM ALL THIS IS THAT WITHOUT LOCKDOWN, WOULD WE HAVE GONE OUT OF OUR WAY TO DISCOVER SOMETHING NEW? ONE THING IS CERTAIN, IT HAS MADE US REALISE THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT ARE OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND THAT IS DEFINITELY A POSITIVE.
A little creativity each day can go a long way towards happiness and satisfaction. Google Trends data looks at how popular a topic is over a certain time period and it comes as no surprise that searches surrounding home baking have featured highly recently, with the shortage of flour and baking powder in our supermarkets bearing testament to this. According to a study published in the Journal of Positive Psychology in late 2016, cooking or baking can make people happier, not only due to the therapeutic effect on their own wellbeing at having created something, but also because they know that the end product will be enjoyed by others.
It is with some amusement that I have seen family members who would never previously have been seen with a paint brush in their hand, or who have never picked up a pair of secateurs before, taking up new pastimes and finding way to stave off boredom and get their creative juices flowing. The other benefit of home confinement is the result it has had on balconies, terraces and patios around Gibraltar, now bedecked with plants and flowers. Friends who I never thought of as green fingered have become keen urban gardeners, sowing seeds in pots or window boxes that will eventually provide them with a small crop of fruits and vegetables. Chili peppers and tomatoes are ideal for hot balconies and peas
to history or from current affairs to celebrity gossip.
Surviving family life under lockdown is another challenge for some, and for others it is a hardship not to have their families living with them. Family life has gone through a major upheaval over the past few months, but it has meant being able to spend more quality time together. Home schooling may not be your forte, but learning about nature or getting crafty with the kids can be educational and fun. When going outside isn’t an option, getting creative by building a den is a simple thing to do and can be easily achieved with a sheet or cloth over a table or some upturned chairs, bedecked with cushions and maybe some fairy lights. We’ve had many a video call with children inside dens where a tea party has been taking place attended by a menagerie of stuffed toys. For older family members and friends who are isolating in different locations, connection has been maintained via online games and quizzes. In fact, we are probably getting in touch more than we ever did. Humans are by nature an incredibly social species so social isolation and staying away from one another has been a tough task to fulfil. What we can take from all this is that without lockdown, would we have gone out of our way to discover something new? One thing is certain, it has made us realise that what is important are our relationships with family and friends and that is definitely a positive.
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THE ROYAL GIBRALTAR POLICE HAVE ANNOUNCED THE WINNERS OF THEIR #SHOWUSYOURRAINBOW COMPETITION. Congratulations from all at the Royal Gibraltar Police and Gibraltar Insight Magazine go to: -
Amelia aged 11 and Delilah aged 7 Nellie (now aged 4) Michael aged 6 Serina aged 7 Sienna Mae aged 5
Winners will all be going on a tour of some of the RGP’s facilities, at a time to be scheduled. The Royal Gibraltar Police would like to thank all entrants for their fantastic pictures, which have so brightened up New Mole House Police Station.
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MOTORING INSIGHT
THE MORRIS AND AUSTIN MINI MOKE WERE DESIGNED ORIGINALLY TO BE USED BY THE MILITARY AND GO HEAD-TO-HEAD AGAINST THE LIKES OF LAND ROVER AND JEEP. THE INTENTION WAS GOOD, BUT UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS A COMPLETE DISASTER FOR MANY REASONS. THE MAIN, CRUCIAL ONE BEING IT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH GROUND CLEARANCE, PLUS WAS NOT ORIGINALLY AVAILABLE WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE. TO OVERCOME THIS INABILITY TO GO ACROSS ROUGH TERRAIN THE MANUFACTURER ADDED ANOTHER ENGINE IN THE REAR. HOWEVER, THE DYE WAS CAST AND THE MOKE VERY NEARLY GOT WITHDRAWN.
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Next up, BMC (the manufacturer) decided to try to market it as a utility vehicle to the farming fraternity, but this also failed. It was simply by chance, and maybe a run of good weather that the young up-and-comings in London (who were part of the Carnaby Street Brigade) took a liking to this unusual vehicle. And so the Moke went from being a useless off-roader to a must-have fashion accessory. With the best marketing brains in the industry, the marketing department at BMC did not see that one coming.
and he has fond memories of driving the Mini around the Rock. I doubt that Moke is still in existence now? But would be great if it was.
The Moke also made regular appearances on the TV programme ‘The Prisoner’ which helped with its popularity and product awareness. It was also seen in James Bond “The Spy Who Loved Me”, and “You Only Live Twice”, plus many more placed appearances in other films and TV.
When the roof is up, there is hardly any wind in the car, your hair doesn’t get blown about and it’s all very calm. But put the roof down and it’s like sitting in a wind tunnel, and you get buffeted about it’s like being on a rollercoaster. I’m sure that when the designers took pencil to paper they
The Moke first made its appearance in 1964, and went on to sell around 14,000 in the UK. After production stopped at the Longbridge factory, it was then built in Australia and Portugal up to 1993. The Moke is tricky to find in the UK, having either succumbed to rust or been a victim of build-quality. It definitely suits sunnier climes.
didn’t deliberately make it so different with the roof up or down, it was purely by accident that no wind gets in the cabin when the roof is up, quite amazing.
The Moke is certainly not the best car to drive, it’s not particularly comfortable, it doesn’t have any modern features such as windows, heater, cigarette lighter, air conditioning, radio or Bluetooth, in fact the list of what it doesn’t have, is longer than the things it does. John, one of my best friends-spent the early part of the 1970’s here in Gibraltar, working for a painting and decorating firm, mainly on Ministry of Defence properties. The company vehicles consisted of a couple of Transits, a Bedford and a Moke which had a flashing light on the bonnet, as they occasionally used it for road line painting. He lived in a workers’ hostel on DTR,
Originally most Mokes were fitted with an 850cc engine, but many had the larger 998cc fitted later in life as the 850 didn’t have particular longevity. The 0-62mph or 0-100kph is best measured in weeks and not seconds. The fastest I have been in this car is 43mph, which is plenty fast enough for me.
The Moke is like all old cars going up in value year after year, they never seem to go down. There are many reasons for this, but as classic cars get less in numbers, they become more in demand, especially outside of Europe. But with such low interest rates, your money in a good old car could be a decent bet, or investment. But, if you like the idea of a classic but with much less maintenance, the Moke is being relaunched in Q3 or Q4 2020 subject to regulatory approval. And to bring it bang up to the 21st Century, an electric version is also planned. The original Carnaby Street set would be proud.
The best way to describe the Mini Moke is fun to drive, and I love driving one in Yorkshire, but would be a real joy to drive one here on The Rock...
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The Dockyard hooter blows – it’s exactly 12 noon which means it’s lunchtime so a cheese and ham roll, a piece of fruit or a Kit Kat and a mug of hot tea or soft drink would suffice to see you through your working day till you get home for your ‘main’ meal of the day. Not so! Off you go on your metaphorical bike and make a quick exit! That was the routine for most workers on the Rock a few decades ago, whether white, blue or no collar workers. Going home for lunch was the norm for shop assistants also, during the days when shops closed from one to three pm. Yes, it was lunchtime for all so we nipped home for a proper cooked lunch. Then there was also teatime when you got home after work – if you finished at five. You’d be called for supper at nine thirty or ten. Oh, and at the start of the day you would partake of a bowl of cornflakes or a bread roll accompanied by a mug of lovely fresh, ground coffee brewed in the ‘cafetera’ before you left for work! At lunchtime, I would rush off with another Dockyard worker friend – Spanish workers would stay put arriving in the morning with ‘El Costo’ (lunch pack) in their little bags: ‘proper’ meals which would be re-heated on the workshop cookers. We’d get home in twenty minutes, have lunch in another twenty minutes and get back to work on time well past the North Gate into the Dockyard and clock in just before the dreaded hooter went off again at 1pm. At home, the food waiting on the table would be three course in the main; comprising homemade vegetable or other soup, followed by a stew, shepherd’s pie, rosto, or minestra, potaje, fish, pasta or some other local dish and a piece of fruit. There could also be panisa, a type of calentita of a much heavier consistency – all homemade and laboured. Soon after getting back home, teatime arrived at five or five thirty. That meant a sandwich and sometimes a cake from the cake man who called at your door with his glass topped baskets enticing you to drool over the contents within, containing japonesas, mil ojas, bread puddings and other goodies: perfect to ac-
company your tea and sandwich. Then, much later on in the evening, ham, egg and chips or similar for supper. That was a lot of cooking and preparation for our hardworking mums who, in those days were housebound for much of the time, only venturing to town mainly to shop around for food and not much else. I often wonder how much of that still goes on these days. For a start, vegetarian and vegan instantly springs to mind these days and young families are also in a different mindset today; mum and dad work and there’s a mortgage to pay. Holding down a day job, looking after the home and the kids is more than enough and modern day dad needs to take on a more hands-on role to help run the family too. Children these days get involved in more extra-curricular activities than was the case in the past when we played outside in the street. There’s so much going on to choose from and many of the kids need to be driven to those activities and later picked up and so on and so forth and in some cases two, three and even four times a week! Life these days runs at a much faster pace than in the past and so eating habits change. Also, we’re much more affluent today and restaurants are in their dozen on the Rock and even in their hundreds across the border. In the 50s and 60s I don’t recall there being any eateries on the Rock apart from ‘Smokey Joe’ in Lynch’s Lane and hotel restaurants and you really couldn’t really afford to in. Takeaway outlets abound now and at any lunchtime many have queues spilling out onto the street. Friday and weekend evenings are invariably curry, fish & chips or pizza nights. These days for most households, I think it true to say cooking twice a day is a thing of the past so we’ve been ringing or, cooking the changes. Weekdays many of us tend to have a snack of some sort at lunchtime and that full meal comes in the evening. For some the reverse may
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FEATURE be the case. From what I learn some traditional practices of more food on the table prevail, but that would mainly apply to the more senior members of our community. It won’t have gone unnoticed how our community is growing and becoming much more cosmopolitan. Our neighbours in the hinterland I’m told however still have more than the one main meal a day which would include a breakfast also. Hindus eat a-plenty, cooking lots of vegan and vegetable dishes eating two full meals daily, but again the younger Hindu element I’m told, will snack at lunchtime. Eastern European guest workers on the Rock tell me most are of the one-proper-
main meal-a-day-kind and the Jewish community continue to cook every evening and lunches are varied but many of them also don’t follow the strict, family members sitting all together at meal times as in the past. Modern day practices (or antics) dictate we should eat more healthily: vegan is the way to go: more salads, nourishing snack bars and juices are to be consumed to substitute the bacon, sausage, egg – or all three – baguettes or sandwiches some may indulge in during the day. Having said that it all goes out the window when we go on holiday, especially at sea on a cruise. On those occasions, we gorge on the abundance of food on offer: full breakfasts accompanied by fresh
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fruit and juices, big lunches, tea and cakes in the afternoon later culminating in a full meal for dinner...not forgetting the bottle – or two – of wine. Overeating is an understatement when on a cruise. But that’s OK, especially so because you haven’t had to lift a finger! Back home however, you’re back to the often arduous routine of modern day living, working and looking after home and family. A reminder those mortgages need to be serviced so there’s no question of mum or dad staying at home to get stuck in doing all that, ‘days-of-old’ cooking. There are
some households though, that keep up the trend of yesteryear meal times but I assume not that many and one aspect of mealtime that’s kept by some is having the whole family – or as many members as possible – to get around the table to dine together at least once a week. Others are really into cooking these days which is also a popular activity, but not for many. But times have moved on and other necessary commitments are calling which are much higher on the agenda which means, it’s a cheese and ham sandwich, a healthy juice and a delicious banana for lunch...or a Kit Kat!
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THE DAMAGE THAT EVEN THE THREAT OF THE VIRUS IS WREAKING ON
ST HELENA “Saints”, as the islanders are known, have encountered one problem after another over the past four years – just as they hoped their new airport would result in a huge increase in tourist numbers and, in turn, bring economic prosperity. Now islanders have suffered another major blow: coronavirus. As yet, there are thankfully no cases of Covid-19 on St Helena but the tough measures brought in to ensure that the island remains free of the virus have once again killed off tourism for the foreseeable future. There have been no passenger flights to or from St Helena since March 26. Furthermore, anyone arriving on the island now has to undergo 14 days of quarantine at what is known as Bradley’s Camp. It is understandable that everyone is being cautious with the islanders’ health. It is estimated that more than half the population are in the “vulnerable” category, largely because of their age or because of underlying health conditions.
million years ago, it is one of the most remote places on earth: some 1,200 miles from the African mainland and 1,800 miles from Brazil. The average full-time annual wage on the island is around £8,500 and the cost of living is much higher than in Britain because of the island’s remoteness. Today the island’s controversial airport is essentially open only for emergency medevacs, although one Titan Airways chartered flight did land on April 20 with key medical supplies, including 960 coronavirus testing kits and five ventilators. Food and other supplies, including fuel, are brought to the island by ship but fresh produce, such as milk, dairy and fresh vegetables, are in short supply. Visitors to the island consist mainly of a handful of “yachties” who have chosen to stop off on their way across the South Atlantic.
It is conceivable that hundreds of “Saints” could die if Covid-19 reaches the island and, in a worst-case scenario, up to half of the population could perish.
I have chronicled St Helena’s troubles in several blogs over the past four years, including ones based on my two most recent visits: I first visited the island with my parents as toddler more than 70 years ago. More recently I visited St Helena in January 2017.
The annual St Helena Day celebrations on May 21 have been cancelled and morale on the island is said to be low. That’s entirely understandable: after all, how many setbacks can one small island take?
The £285 million airport, paid for with British taxpayers’ money, eventually opened to passenger flights in October 2017 – there were previously a series of delays, including safety concerns caused by unpredictable side-winds.
Mike Olsson is the owner of the St Helena Independent newspaper which, along with Saint FM radio station, I sponsor to ensure its editorial independence. He tells me: “The situation is very difficult. Tourism on the island will be non-existent for a long time, most likely until we have a vaccine.
Few, if any, business leaders on the island have had to cope with more setbacks than Hazel Wilmot, who owns the Consulate Hotel in the centre of Jamestown, the island’s capital. “The mood on the island is one of despair and quiet resignation,” she told me this weekend.
“Other countries are starting to open up and can calculate to have some cases and some ‘losses’ but for us, who have never been exposed to such an illness and have a weak immune system due to this lack of exposure, it would be devastating if we got Covid-19.”
In anticipation of a tourist boom, Ms Wilmot spent nearly £2 million buying and renovating both her hotel in Jamestown. Before the airport opened, official figures predicted that the tourist numbers to the island would increase from around 1,000 a year to 29,000 a year by 2042 – levels of visitors that are now considered “pie in the sky” by most islanders.
St Helena, about a third the size of the Isle of Wight, is a British Overseas Territory that became famous as the location where Napoleon Bonaparte, the defeated French emperor, spent the majority of his exile until his death in 1821. As a volcanic island that erupted out of the South Atlantic 15
Ms Wilmot tells me that her last “proper” paying guest at her hotel left on March 16 – since then she has had just a handful of “yachties” paying a heavily-reduced rate of just £20 a night. “I think it will be six months or more before I, and others like me, see any real income again,” she said.
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FEATURE “We are trying to find ways not just to tread water but keep our heads above water. All my savings have long gone and the private sector has to compete with a Government-owned, funded and heavily subsidised hotel [Mantis]. But where is a Wilmot there is a way!” According to Ms Wilmot, at least two business people on the island have recently been forced to sell their homes to repay bank loans. Those involved in tourism continue to press for a direct air link to Europe, ideally Britain – rather than, or ideally as well as, South Africa. These people include Paul O’Sullivan, a successful South African businessman and the CEO of Trade Winds Corporation Plc (formerly St Helena Corporation Plc). Mr O’Sullivan has ambitious, multi-million-pound leisure development plans for the island but St Helena’s partial “lockdown” means these are currently on hold. However, he believes that the setback is only temporary, telling me: “We just have to sit it out. I remain positive about the future of St Helena and hope that this time next year things will be back on track.”
Lawson Henry is a member of the island’s five-strong island Executive Council (likened to a Cabinet) and also chairs the economic development committee. He told me: “There are shortages of some essential goods but retailers and importers are working with the St Helena Government to ration goods and this seems to be working. “The Government has a number of support packages in place for business. The first to receive this support was the hospitality sector and this has been expanded to the construction sector and other businesses. “I believe the Government is doing all it can in these challenging times but there are those who believe we should do more and others who think we have done too much.” Dr Philip Rushbrook, the Governor of St Helena, has welcomed the arrival of emergency medical supplies and told islanders in a statement: “At times like these, it is crucial that we pull together as an island, using our good nature, compassion and resourcefulness for the greater good.”
A series of events are being planned for next year to mark the 200th anniversary of the exiled Napoleon’s death on St Helena – but even these must be in some doubt given the present circumstances.
My fondness for our 14 Overseas Territories, in general, and for St Helena, in particular, is on-going. So, too, is my concern for the well-being of “Saints” during these exacting times.
Despite not having any cases of Covid-19, many “Saints” are practising social distancing and some shops are restricting the numbers allowed in at any one time. People with coronavirus-like symptoms are being urged to self-isolate…just in case.
I continue to believe that it is a grave mistake that so much of our international aid budget, currently running at around £14.6 billion a year and enshrined in law, is wasted by corrupt and inept foreign regimes.
Last month Baroness Sugg, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Aid, insisted that the UK is taking its responsibilities for the British Overseas Territories “extremely seriously”. These words have been backed up by action too: the British Government has allocated £2.5 million for coronavirus- linked aid to the island.
It is at times like these that we should be doing more to look after those closer to home and those in real need, including residents of St Helena and other Overseas Territories.
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Reproduced with kind permission of Lord Ashcroft KCMG PC This article was first published on Conservative Home on 12th May 2020 gbz.media/COVIDStHelena
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FEATURE
Two expat Gibraltarian poets and a local musician took part in an awareness campaign after Turkish journalist Ege Dundar reached out internationally to highlight the plight of Ibrahim Gokcek, a prominent Turkish musician who went on a long hunger strike when his band ‘Grup Yorum’ were arrested and thus prevented from performing concerts indefinitely, following the peoples’ uprising against the country’s oppressive regime. Local poets Gabriel Moreno and Jonathan Teuma were invited to submit words that could inspire Ibrahim Gokcek who had been on a hunger strike for over three hundred days and was already dying by early May. In April a female member of his band had died after two hundred and eighty eight days of hunger strike. Gabriel Moreno immediately wrote a poignant song for Ibrahim which was posted on YouTube with other international supporting collaborations. Moreno then reached out to fellow poet Jonathan Teuma who teaches in a Madrid university. Jonathan responded quickly and wrote a moving poem for Ibrahim which was also posted on the ‘Grup Yorum’ YouTube site.
It was translated into Turkish by Ege the journalist and posted on the same site. A day later we heard that Ibrahim was ending his hunger strike and was hospitalised. The following day (May 6) Ibrahim Gokcek died from the effects of malnutrition (310 days) and his 30kgs body was handed over to his family. His wife is still in prison as are other members of Ibrahim’s band. During the days that I’ve been involved, I checked out the huge open air concerts that ‘Grup Yorum’ were famous for and listened to some of their beautiful music too. I began to understand the perceived threat that their popularity presented the Turkish regime with. I was shocked to learn that Ibrahim’s body was taken by the authorities after the family had barricaded themselves in the morgue hall and legions of fans were chanting support outside. Dramatic video footage of the assault on the barricaded family appeared on social media and I was moved to write an article in their support which I submitted to journalist Ege Dundar on Sunday evening. That article and the ‘Freedom’ poem are published alongside. I have not heard back from the journalist as I write this (May 11).
On May 4 after being alerted by Gabriel Moreno, I submitted a poem called ‘Freedom’ which I had written recently and was deemed appropriate for the occasion.
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AS HIGH AS THE STARS
There is no greater love than the love shown by a man who laid down his life for a noble cause. So that others could have the freedom to sing about their own dreams of freedom, Ibrahim Gokcek gave up the freedom to nurture his own body so that his soul would be purified in the three hundred and ten days of his self inflicted torture in a hunger strike that caused his demise. His passing will inspire many to dream of better days that surely cannot be far away now. The world is waking up to the reality that there are those who will deny freedom and the right to be happy to many thousands of dreamers who were helped to dream by the inspiring music of Grup Yorum of which Ibrahim was a prominent member. Music has a body and a soul. The body is the message that it conveys in melody and words and the soul is the rhythm which sways listeners and allows them to get lost in its message and enjoy a unique experience. Music exists in nature and it cannot be denied to man because it is the oxygen for his soul. The soul of the messenger is as important as the message because what anchors the message to musical rhythm is the bass and drums which make up the beat of the music. Beat is made up of pulses which capture the heart and the mind of the listener for those fleeting
FREEDOM By Joe Adambery Freedom is A fanciful mantra that makes heroes by their uttering of a single word A tired cliché that still manages to rally the blind before its noisy trumpet is even heard A poisoned chalice that now melts in the hands of angels who worshipped a blessing so pure That few would notice their shackled feet and the snarling dogs protecting the magician with the cure We are never free we were not even free in the womb before this conflicted world with our birthing struggles beckoned The poisons that we ingested during drip-fed education hardly reckoned On the damage it would wreak as the spread of flags and beliefs gave way to global corruption Skilfully disguised tycoons bled the bleeding and subjugated the kneeling with news and distraction Freedom from the weaver’s loom cries the thread as its colour is stifled in the darker threads’ gloom Freedom from child labour and abuse Freedom where there can be found no better excuse Freedom from taxes levied on the lowly paid Freedom from bankers and super tankers rotten to the core Freedom from frustration and empty promises that were made Freedom from twisted lawyers and accountants who always take more Freedom from global corruption we do not deserve this Freedom a noble concept in the hands of noble men defined as wedded bliss Freedom manipulated by dark forces transmutes into a Judas kiss
moments during which the music is enjoyed. Those sublime moments when natural beauty and otherness are possible are triggered by music. Ibrahim Gokcek was the bass player in Grup Yorum and he was also an important messenger of freedom. Importantly freedom is at the heart of all music. Every composer is free to search the universe for inspiration to make music and thereby lift the spirits and feed the souls of listeners. Music will not be silenced, it will rise in glory even from under the boot of the oppressor and its noble message will ultimately be heard and it will continue to inspire and give joy to millions even in their darkest hours. Those who have laid down their life for the right to perform music will live forever as martyrs whose selflessness has gained them a place in paradise and a special place in our hearts. Past and present members of Grup Yorum and their families are owed a debt of gratitude for the suffering which has been imposed on them. The price of freedom can be as high as the stars but the stars shine brighter at night because they are free from the light of the sun. Freedom will always find a way and a time to shine.
Freedom beyond what by our own struggles is ever achievable Freedom imagined and cascading from fountains pervading Freedom is so real and yet so intangible.
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AGAIN LET’S BE HONEST, THERE HAVEN’T BEEN MANY BENEFITS TO THIS WHOLE COVID-19 PANDEMIC APART FROM THE SEEMINGLY POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT THAT WEEKS OF STRICT LOCKDOWN HAS DELIVERED. HERE IN GIBRALTAR, WE ARE BLESSED TO BE SURROUNDED BY SUCH AWESOME BEAUTY. THIS TINY CORNER OF THE GLOBE THAT WE CLAIM AS OUR OWN IS TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE, UNIQUE ECOSYSTEMS AND A RICH BIODIVERSITY. THE ROCK ITSELF IS A NATURAL WONDER. Nature intrigues us. When we’re touched by nature, something magical happens. We all remember the excitement of coming across a caterpillar or a ladybird when we were playing outside when we were young or being mesmerised by a busy bee delicately collecting pollen from the anthers of a flower.
to 27m in length and weighing over 70 tonnes. Due to their vast size and their proximity to the coast, these gentle giants can be easily spotted from land, especially from the eastern or south side of the Rock. Europa Point on a clear day and the balcony by the Gorham’s Cave Complex provide a great elevated platform for a bit of whale spotting. Look out for the 6m high plumes of spray on the surface as they exhale.
Nature is awe-inspiring. We are fascinated by it when we come across it but are we truly appreciative of its role and Given our affection for nature and the contribution to our own existence and fact that we know how important it is that of the planet? Sir David Attenborto preserve it, why is it seemingly so ough has certainly done his best to edimage courtesy of Rocio Espada, Marine Biologist’ difficult to get enough people to care ucate us on the importance of the natabout something that is so vital to our own existence? ural world and locally, we have many of our own organisations, businesses and NGOs that are passionately making a difference. Perhaps individually we feel powerless and believe that our acThey educate, inspire and entertain but all carry a very serious tions can’t affect change. We convince ourselves that our efforts message. We should care more and we should do more. are just a tiny drop in a small bucket but collectively we can be the whole ocean. With such a small territory, we have a greater Lockdown has given us time to think, time to reflect and it has level of control than we appreciate and we are solely respongiven Gibraltar time to breathe and time to heal. We have a real sible for taking good care of our own corner. This is not just a chance now, collectively, to make a big difference to our envijob for a few scientists or activists, we all have a vested interest ronment by evaluating the way we live our lives. Will we take in the preservation of wildlife and the environment of Gibraltar. that chance? We have so much to be proud of from a nature and wildlife perspective. We have our world-famous resident macaques that draw so many tourists. We have wild dolphins inhabiting the Bay of Gibraltar and numerous species of birds including swifts, petrels and shearwaters, herons, gannets and cormorants as well as owls and falcons (both resident and migrant) Other unique types of flora and fauna that we can boast include different species of amphibians and reptiles, butterflies and land-dwelling mammals such as bats, shrews and rabbits. Gibraltar’s flora is currently in stunning bloom and a trip to the upper Rock Nature Reserve or a trek up the Med Steps will provide you with vibrant scenes of our native flowers bursting with colour. The waters around Gibraltar are a marine protected area and serve as a critical habitat for feeding and breeding for many species of marine mammals as well as being the home to an abundance of other marine life.
There’s lots of talk of a return to the “new normal.” Musings about how this pandemic has changed our perspective on our lives, what we want to achieve, how we want to live and what matters to us most. This is the perfect time to not only embrace the new but to firmly commit to it and not lapse back to the old. It seems we are all too eager to revert to our old ways that bring us the comfort and convenience that we think we need just because it’s what we are used to. We are merely humble guests of our majestic host and the riches and beauty she provides us with should be honoured and respected. It’s time to make a pledge. A firm commitment to Gibraltar’s nature and wildlife - to conserve and to protect. Nature should be our very best friend and it’s time to fall in love with it all over again. www.finerpoint.gi
Right now is peak time for spotting transient fin whales on their migratory path from the Mediterranean to the Atlantic Ocean. There have been numerous sightings of these magnificent creatures over the last few weeks as they grace Gibraltar’s shoreline. They are the second biggest animal ever to exist reaching up
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This Month’s
Dog Of The Month
Luis Kuyis is a 6 year old bodeguero who is very affectionate and loving. He is great with all other dogs and is really good on the lead, he loves his walks! Please can someone take a chance on this sweet boy who so deserves his forever home.
To adopt Luis or one of the many dogs awaiting their forever home: https://www.ainf.gi Facebook: Animals In Need Foundation (Adopt a Rescue Dog Gibraltar) If you would like to make a donation to our society, please see info below.
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SPAYING YOUR PETS I am regularly asked whether clients should neuter their pets and when is the most opportune time to do so. The primary reasons for neutering are essentially the same for felines and canines but there are some differences. In this week’s article I shall concentrate on the female, what the operation entails and reasons for neutering your pet. In the female, ovariohysterectomy, commonly referred to as spaying, involves the removal of the ovaries and the uterus. The most common way to do this is by a laparotomy, a very safe procedure in the right hands, where an incision is made into the abdomen, the organ is exteriorised, ligatures are placed at the relevant places and the ovaries and uterus are removed completely. The uteruses of our family pets are distinct to ours; primate’s uteruses consist of one body whereas those of most other animals consist of a body and two horns. The evolutionary reason for this being primarily that primates as a general rule are uniparous (one offspring at a time) whereas other mammals are usually multiparous and having a uterus and two horns allows for this. The primary reason to spay your dog is for long term health reasons. If you neuter your pet before or after the first heat then the chances her developing mammary cancer later on in life are virtually none. The longer you leave your animal intact the more heat cycles it has with the body being exposed to oestrogens, progestogens and other hormones and therefore the increased possibility of mammary tumours later on in life. Personally I prefer to neuter after the first heat, this allows the vagina to drop and therefore later on in life does not result in vaginal lip fold dermatitis where you get skin infections due to the vagina being tucked in too deeply in the perineal region. Secondly this is a common condition in young bitches where they have a vaginal discharge that is not responsive to antibiotics and only clears after the first heat cycle.
homes for these puppies. People also worry that spaying will alter a dog’s character, this is not the case. The main problem that can be encountered is that they may put on weight, so you might have to monitor how much she eats. With felines, neutering them young is even more important. Due to queen’s conformation there is no need to wait for their first sexual cycle. Cat’s mammary tumours are 90% of the time highly aggressive adenocarcinomas, thankfully as most people neuter their cats early I don’t see many of these, but when I do they have to be excised aggressively and even then it is often too late and the cancer has already metastasised. Neutering cats that have access to the outdoors is doubly important, mating is one of the most common routes that a cat gets infected with FIV and FELV, (two retroviruses that I will discuss in future articles), also not to mention the kittens that will follow in 9 weeks. So, in summary, spaying your bitch or queen early is safe and will help some way to her leading a long and healthy life. For more information please phone Gibraltar Vetinary Clinic on 200 77334
In Gibraltar there is an old wives tale that all bitches should have at least one litter, and this stops them getting mammary tumours later on in life. This is well wide of the mark, please ignore this advice. If you want to breed your dog because you want puppies and wish to continue her blood line for whatever reason then please do but not under the false pretence that this will stop her developing mammary cancer later on in her life. Also remember that you have an obligation to find good
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MUM ON THE ROCK
CRAFT CORNER
Choose decent sized potatoes. Cut potato in half and then at a 0.5cm depth, scour just through the skin surface, not cutting through too much. Always ask an adult to do the cutting.
Insert cookie cutter, a good depth then cut around the edge of the cutter, taking away the potato on that level.
POTATO PRINTS ARE QUICK AND CHEAP TO MAKE, AND THE PATTERNS CAN BE AS BASIC OR AS SOPHISTICATED AS YOU LIKE, SO IT’S A GOOD CRAFT FOR ALL AGES.
Ease cookie cutter out of the potato and voila your stamp is ready.
If you wish to freestyle it with a shape you don’t have a cutter for, I scoured out the pattern on the potato first and overlaid a paper template, then punched through into the potato, and carved it out with knife. Thanks to Molly Mahon for the forget-me-not inspiration! With a paint brush apply paint then get stamping.
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KEEP CALM
That’s what we have been trying to do here at PACS since Lockdown began. Our Facebook page has been awash with ideas on activities you can do with the children. Our sensory table at Playgroup is always a firm favourite with the little ones and pre lockdown we had a term of activities planned. We would love to share some of these with you as they would also work at home: -
First up is planting fun. All you need is a tray, some chocolate cereal for mud, some small pots that would work as plant pots, a spoon for a spade and some flowers if possible! Your little one can dig and plant to their hearts content!
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Another favourite is “what’s in the bag?” Gather up some items from around the house: socks, duplo, small toys, kitchen items that are safe and place them in a drawstring bag. Ask your little one to put their hand in the bag and guess what’s inside.
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CARRY ON...
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And lastly, why not try messy play with Cornflour. Mix Cornflour with water in a bowl and wait for it to form a gloopy mixture. If you have food colouring add some to the mixture. Then let your little one play. It’s great for your little child’s sense of touch and easy to do.
And don’t forget that Story-time, Cooking and Song-time and other fun videos continue to be delivered virtually via our Facebook page. But, don’t forget to look after yourself…
As the days have turned into weeks, weeks into months, we’ve realised how important looking after our own wellbeing has been not just for us but also for our children. We all have bad days, we’ve all had days where we want to cry. That’s perfectly normal. One of the messages we’ve tried to spread is that parents and carers shouldn’t feel guilty for wanting time out. Have that cup tea, read that magazine, hide in that bedroom. Your mental health is also important.
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Imagine having the opportunity to go behind the scenes at the theatre, discovering backstage secrets and becoming immersed in the magical atmosphere as you watch the performers from the wings. Hetty Backstage is the first of six books for children written by local author Lowri Madoc. Reading is an important part of a child’s development and when they invest in a character, there is no doubt they will go on to read the subsequent books in a series. Hetty Jones is one of those characters. As the daughter of actors Ruth Madoc, fondly remembered as the Chief Yellowcoat Gladys in Hi-de-Hi and more recently as Daffyd Thomas’s mother in the second series of Little Britain, and the late Phillip Madoc, known for his numerous television and film roles including the German U-boat captain in Dad’s Army, Lowri Madoc has drawn on her childhood memories of following her famous parents to theatres and venues around the UK. Arriving in Gibraltar twenty years ago with plans to stay for only two, Lowri built up a successful career, met her husband Brendan on a blind date and went on to have three children here. “Life has been good to us but, like many ex-pats, we really miss our families back in the UK,” she says. “Mum is 76 now and living in Wales and she is still active, so the lockdown restrictions have hit her hard, but she is very positive and we are both ‘glass-half-full’ type of people.”
at some of the early readers for children aged between six and seven that Lowri realised her stories would be particularly suitable. “It’s about giving them a sense of achievement when they are reading; helping to instil confidence in young readers, and my books are colourful, straightforward stories, each one taking place in a real setting.” Hetty Backstage is set in a theatre at the last technical dress rehearsal before the opening of a performance. “When I was growing up I was allowed backstage,” Lowri states, adding, “but I was also very much aware of where I could go and couldn’t go, what I could and couldn’t touch.” That discipline is echoed throughout the book, but Hetty’s adventurous character takes her off on a journey of exploration and she ends up in her favourite place – the chorus girls dressing room. “Although I never wanted to be on stage I would watch from the wings with utter admiration as my parents performed,” Lowri says. “Particularly when mum was in panto and I would yearn to be one of the children in the cast.” Lowri tells how sometimes one of the nicer wardrobe ladies would allow her to join in and there were occasions when her mum, who always played principal boy, would be singing a love song to the female lead and she would suddenly see Lowri’s face peering out, dressed up in costume as a bird or some other character. “I loved the smells that emanated from the hair, makeup and props departments and watching the smoke machines – all those things that added to the special ambiance backstage, and I have included all those elements into the Hetty books,” she states. Although she didn’t follow her parents into acting, after university Lowri went into stage management, got her Equity card and then went on to theatre management,working in London’s West End.
DEBUT CHILDREN’S BOOK FOR LOCAL AUTHOR
Born in 1974, Lowri and her older brother Rhys lived in St. Albans, Hertfordshire. “Mum and Dad divorced in 1981, although they still adored each other and it was always really amicable between them,” she says. In the books, Hetty is the child of divorced parents, something that Lowri hopes that children who are in the same situation will identify with. From the age of 12, Lowri attending boarding school from Monday to Friday and remembers being picked up at the end of the week to visit her parents in the various venues that they were filming or appearing in. “I didn’t appreciate it at the time, but looking back now as a parent myself, I realise that it was a really great childhood.”Hetty is named after Lowri’s great grandmother and her surname Jones is a nod to her father’s real name. “He had to change his surname to Madoc because there was already a Philip Jones in Equity.”
The cover illustration by talented young artist Eve Leoni showing Hetty peering out from behind stage curtains perfectly defines the character. “That is the sort of art work I would love to have done if I was brave enough to do the cover,” Lowri says, “but I have contributed two or three of my own little sketches in each chapter.” Details of where to buy Hetty Backstage can be found at R&D Publishing on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ rdpublishing) and Lowri will have copiesfor sale in Gibraltar. It will also be available for purchase on Amazon, on Kindle and in a really nice family touch; Lowri’s mum Ruth will be narrating the audio book.
The idea for the Hetty series of books had been in the back of her mind for some time, but it was whilst volunteering in the library at the Loreto Convent and looking
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
GETTING #COVIDFIT
PUBLIC HEALTH GIBRALTAR LAUNCHES ITS SECOND COVIDFIT CAMPAIGN USING THE CATCH PHRASE SELFCARE: HOW. WHEN. WHERE; WHICH AIMS TO REINFORCE 3 KEY POINTS: • what we can do for ourselves when feeling unwell • when we should seek a healthcare professional’s advice • where to access the appropriate services. Understanding our own bodies, identifying when we are unwell and choosing to stay home to prevent the spread to others is the heart of all good infection control. Although we may experience the same infections differently, there are key symptoms to be aware of in regards to the COVID-19 virus. These consist of a new cough, fever, unexplained headaches and body fatigue/aches. You can use the government self-test tool [CovidSelfTest.egov.gi] to check symptoms. If you notice new symptoms, go home immediately, and contact 111 for advice. For the majority of us, experiencing COVID-19 will mean treating manageable symptoms through self-care within home-isolation. Advisable treatments include: • Medicines as per the recommended dose to treat symptoms (e.g. paracetamol to alleviate fever, sore throat, muscle aches etc.). • Getting plenty of rest, taking the necessary time off work to allow a full recovery
• Continued hand and respiratory hygiene; washing hands for at least 20 seconds whenever required, and catching/ binning/ killing any germs from coughs and sneezes • Keeping your rooms well ventilated COVID-19 remains deadly for the elderly and those with unstable underlying illnesses, however, it is also crucial to note that regardless of this new disease, there may be some people who will still suffer and pass away from non-Covid related illnesses. The GHA’s excellent service is always available for non COVID-19 related emergencies including chest pains, stroke, injuries etc. and the A&E department is still accessible for these and other life-saving emergencies. Similarly, the primary care centre retains doctor and nurse practitioner appointments for non COVID-19 queries. Public Health are reinforcing a key messageSEEK TIMELY INTERVENTION WHEN YOU NEED IT! If you have symptoms that are persistent and you are unable to manage them at home, contact the GP or Nurse Practitioner via the new telephone service 200 07910 available from 8:30am – 7pm Monday to Sunday. If you are severely breathless or require emergency attention contact 190 as you normally would (being sure to inform them if you have any COVID-19 symptoms). For more information on keeping #CovidFit see www.CovidFit.gi
• Drinking plenty of fluids such as warm drinks or clear soups
Key COVID-19 Symptoms : • Temp >37.8’C
• Avoiding smoking and exposure to any secondhand smoke; this will delay healing and have a further negative effect on your health
• New cough (dry or che sty) • Shortness of Breath (un able to complete a senten ce without pausing to breath e) • Loss of appetite/ sen se of smell/ taste • Headache • Fatigue • Muscle Pain /body ach e • Sore throat
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
HOLLAND & BARRETT GIBRALTAR
LAUNCH NEW WEBSITE THERE ARE SOME POSITIVE ASPECTS TO COME OUT OF THE RESTRICTIONS FOLLOWING THE LOCKDOWN DUE TO COVID-19, ONE OF WHICH IS THE LAUNCH OF A NEW WEBSITE BY HOLLAND & BARRET GIBRALTAR. Due to a change in customer purchasing habits and a demand for home delivery, people can now register online at Holland & Barrett.gi, browse products in the online catalogue and place an order for home delivery or for collection at their stores. Having included their name, address and phone number, customers will then receive a call back to confirm whether the items they want are in stock. The home delivery service is free and is being undertaken in-house, with no third parties being used. The website was launched in response to customer demand from people who didn’t want to leave home during self-isolation and others who weren’t ready to start shopping in Main Street, but who still wanted to be able to purchase health related items. The look of the new website is very similar to the Holland & Barrett.com UK site, with the only difference being that although there is a smaller range of products available in Gibraltar, there are still over 2,000 product lines online ranging from Vitamins & Supplements, Food & Drink, Sports Nutrition, Weight Management, Natural Beauty and the Free From products
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relating to items that do not contain ingredients known to cause a reaction in people with food allergies or intolerances. There are two stores in Main Street where customers can shop, albeit adhering to the rules of safe shopping under guidelines from the Government of Gibraltar. At each store, customer and staff safety precautions have been put in place in terms of social distancing, with stickers on the floor that remind people to keep two metres apart, transparent shop screens at the tills, hand sanitisers at various points in the shop and, of course, the staff are wearing face masks. Although the website is a work in progress, it is an exciting time for Holland & Barrett Gibraltar as they take the business to another level. The delivery service will continue and is a new aspect that the business will be offering going forward. There is no doubt that due to the coronavirus issue the whole shopping experience has changed and there is also no knowing whether the same situation will occur again, but at the moment gone are the days when customers
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can do a ‘quick shop’, rushing in to buy something and then dashing off again. For Holland & Barrett Gibraltar it is business as usual - but in a different way - and the website gives people the chance to sit at home and place an order. If preferred, customers can collect from the shops as well. They simply pay over the phone and can then collect their shopping in a bag from the front door, which means no queuing to get in to the store. There is no doubt that the coronavirus pandemic has meant that people are becoming more conscious about their health, leading to a greater demand for health and wellness products, such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Echinacea, Bee Propolis, and Manuka Honey - all very good for the immune system. Take a look at the easy to navigate new website where you can shop by category, view seasonal and trending products and find out all the information you need to decide which products you want to purchase. Go to: www.hollandandbarrett.gi
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FREE ONLINE VIDEO CONSULTATIONS, with Cosmetic Surgeon Dr. Marco Vricella, Aria Medical Group.
See and speak with Dr. Vricella from the privacy of your own home. These online, private consultations are indepth and provide you with the opportunity to ask all the questions you may have about your desired cosmetic surgery procedure. In addition this is the opportunity for Dr. Vricella to discuss your physical suitability, and gain a better understanding of your goals with the surgery. Contact ARIA MEDICAL GROUP now to arrange a FREE ONLINE VIDEO CONSULTATIONS info@ariamedicalgroup.com www.ariamedicalgroup.com
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ARIES (MAR 21 – APR 21) June will find you in the company of children, Aries. Your own children … maybe nieces and nephews or maybe just helping out a friend. But whatever, be part of their play and learn the magic of childhood again.
TAURUS TAKEAWAYS
(APR 21 – MAY 21)
VEHICLE REPAIRS
If you have a deep concern this month, Taurus, then don’t overlook the power of prayer and meditation. At the same time, remind yourself of and be grateful for the relationships in your life. They are priceless.
GEMINI (MAY 22 – JUNE 22) There may be some emotional ups and downs for you this month, Taurus. Just allow yourself to feel the range of emotions that come up and especially, open your heart to love.
CANCER (JUNE 23 – JULY 22) You can be such a worrier at times, Cancer, and this month you are being counselled to trust in positive outcomes and solutions rather than worry. You know how to do this so go on and do it.
LEO (JULY 23 – AUG 23) It is as important to receive as it is to give, Leo, and this month you must practice both being generous and being receptive. Give thanks with a smile, of the eyes as well as the mouth!
VIRGO (AUG 24 – SEP 23)
BARS / PUBS
A gentle reminder to you this month, Virgo, to take time to check out how well you are taking care of yourself? Your diet, your exercise plan and maybe most importantly, be sure to think healthy, loving thoughts.
LIBRA (SEP 24 – OCT 23) Be clear on your goals and plans Libra. If you are aligned with the Universal energies then nothing can go wrong so reach for the sky and you just may catch the moon!
SCORPIO (OCT 24 – NOV 22) This month, Scorpio, you must take action related to the priorities that you have been putting off. You know what they are and when you put your mind to it things will improve in many ways.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23 – DEC 21) Your senses are on red alert this month, Sagittarius. You are picking up so much and you must be receptive to the signs appearing in your life at this time. They are all around you.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22 – JAN 20)
INDUSTRIAL
As your spiritual energy rises, Capricorn, so too does your ability to view certain things from a higher perspective. This will appear in the form of guidance and maybe mentoring from someone you deeply respect.
AQUARIUS (JAN 21 – FEB 19) A change of direction is in store for you this month, Aquarius. So, you must be clear that the direction you need to go in is the one that you are most passionate about. Do this and the rest will follow.
PISCES (FEB 20 – MAR 20) June is a good time for you to do a health check, Pisces, No immediate problems, but whatever has been niggling you needs to be looked at just to clear your mind and get you back on track.
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Greek-Style Spinach Pie (Spanakopita)
Did you know that the ‘Torta de Acelga’ Gibraltar is used to is also made differently in many other cultures? I wanted to try and adapt the one we’re accustomed to and give it a deliciously Greek twist. Cooking Time: 60 Minutes Serves: 4 Ingredients • 600G Spinach. • 150G Hard Edam. • 180G Feta Cheese • 3 Garlic Cloves. • Olive Oil. • 3 Large Eggs. • Filo Pastry • Fresh Mint. • 1 Lime Method Preheat your oven to 160°C Chop your chard up into small pieces and do the same with the garlic. In a large pot, fry these together on a medium heat with a splash of olive oil, until the chard releases all the water from its leaves and evaporates. Be patient as this could take a little while. In the meantime, once your chard is almost ready, mix the rest of the ingredients in a large bowl. Grate the edam, and crumble the feta, crack and whisk two eggs, a small fresh bunch of mint and the zest of half a lime. Once the chard mixture is ready, add this to the bowl and mix everything together well. Next, coat an oven dish with a brushing of olive oil and lay two or three layers of filo pastry across one another in opposite directions, crinkling them along the sides of the dish. Pour the mixture and fold over any remaining filo from the sides of the dish, if you need to use more, just lay a filo pastry over the top. I suggest brushing each layer with some oil so that they soften and stick together. Finally, beat the remaining egg in a bowl and brush over the top and sides of your pie. Transfer to an oven for 40 – 45 minutes keeping an eye it doesn’t burn. The filo will turn golden and crisp.
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Just Married on the Rock
Amanda & Bruno, married on 12th November 2019. Photo by Radka Horvath.
Rebecca & Frank, married on 15th November 2019. Photo by Radka Horvath.
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FEATURE
Follow your bliss I AM OFTEN ASKED BY PEOPLE HOW THEY CAN FIND THEIR PURPOSE OR EVEN IF THEY HAVE A PURPOSE! I am often asked by people how they can find their purpose or even if they have a purpose! My initial response is, “Follow your Bliss and you will Find your Purpose”. Perhaps that should be “Follow your Bliss and your Purpose will Find You!” It sounds easy, I know, but like most things in life, the more you practice the easier it gets.
Basically, I mean that when you find what you love to do, magic happens. Frustrations lessen, irritation lessens and life takes on a rather different hue. When we identify and tap into our inner creativity, we find bliss and harmony in places we couldn’t even have imagined existed. If we look to the dictionary meaning of bliss we find: perfect happiness; great joy; pleasure; delight; euphoria; ecstasy and more. A state of spiritual blessedness is described as “typically that reached after death”. Wow! And I assert that YES, we can find this state in our everyday lives! Can you remember back to when you were a child and you could become so completely lost in your own world of imagination? It might be pretty well hidden deep in the recesses of your memory, but it is there. If you cannot locate it then watch small children at play and tune in with their amazing fresh energy. That state of complete unawareness of the world around – completely at one with the task in hand, that sense of wonder and joy when you have created something. That feeling that children have when they have achieved or created something and they feel limitless, unstoppable and can achieve anything! And they are right. Sadly, it does rather get knocked out of us in the harsh world out there but it never dies! You have that inside you and you just need to get back in touch with it. Those of you who have read my previous two articles in this series will be familiar with the concept of The Inner You and my PIES model. By learning this model and practicing it you will identify your creativity very quickly and so your own special area of Bliss. Maybe you like to design knitwear as I do…maybe you make glorious naturally scented soaps or make incredible drawings…beautiful crochet work, jewellery…the list is endless and the secret is what works for you. What gets you excited and takes you beyond the world you inhabit physically and touches the spiritual world from
whence you originate. Once you have found your Bliss and begun to incorporate it into your life then your Purpose becomes apparent because it derives from your Bliss. Think about it – how could you possibly have a purpose that didn’t connect you with a state of Bliss! You don’t need to look for your Purpose because it will find you. And don’t confuse purpose with process…we are drawn into many processes and think, “Ah this is my purpose” only to find that you move onto something else! Processes are stepping stones and are always a way of living your purpose and sharing it with the world. The process might change but the Purpose never does. And what do we mean by purpose? Again, referring to the dictionary, we find that it can mean ambition; aspiration; desire; reason for being here; function. For this article, I like “reason for being here”. All of us, at some point, have asked ourselves “Why am I here?” Great question – but don’t beat yourself up over it. Like I said, Follow your Bliss and you will Find your Purpose. You don’t need to look for it. It can be argued that there is only one purpose and that is to work for the good of mankind … being an envoy of unconditional love. I tend to think this might well be true but whatever, we each have our own individual way of manifesting that and working it on a daily basis. This works best when we follow our intuition. When we are lost in Bliss our mind relaxes and allows ideas and inspiration to enter. At first this can seem a bit silly or overwhelming. The adult mind immediately wants to censor and be ‘sensible’. But, when we allow our minds to be open and receptive then we discover that these moments of inspiration are guiding lights. Steps at a time, little by little, try things out and gradually you will find it all making more sense. You will be drawn forward in the magnificence of your being and literally guided to do what you love and what you do best. You know you have truly hit home when you are consumed with passion for what you do. You will be drawn to people who need to share their energy with you and who want to learn from you. And you will be drawn to people from whom you will learn. You will waken up in the morning full of energy and excitement, in awe of life and full of gratitude for another day and what it has waiting to share with you. Give yourself permission to go forth and Follow your Bliss. It is the most caring thing you can do for yourself, your fellow beings and your planet!
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Sophie & Kevin Gascoigne, married 25th August 2019. Photo by Nicky Sanchez.
Sabrina Williams & Daniel Mathews, married on 8th August 2019. Photo by Nicky Sanchez.
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WIN!!! WIN!!! WIN!!!
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A FABULOUS HIMALAYAN SALT LAMP
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ACROSS 1. A condition or circumstance that puts one in a favourable or superior position. (9) 5. Any part of the earth’s surface not covered by a body of water. (4) 7. Somebody. (7) 9. Short for millimetre. (2) 11. One of the famous Flintstones characters. (5) 12. David N_ _ _ _ , classic former English actor. (4) 13. P_ _ _ _ck, popular man’s forename. (4) 14. To grow old. (3)
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DOWN
Fill in the details below and send it, with the completed crossword, to Insight Magazine, First Floor, 77 Main Street, Gibraltar (Tel: 200 40913). Entries to be received before 24th of the month. A winner will be drawn from all correct entries and will receive a Himalayan Salt Lamp from The 2. Popular make of shoe, especially with Light & Power Shop. 1. Showing talent, skill, or knowledge. (4)
teenagers. (4)
3. Having the capability of starting, operating, independently. (9)
Name:.................................................................................... Address:................................................................................
4. Absolutely necessary. (9) 6. Spanish word for Sunday. (7)
Tel: ............................................
8. Popular girl’s forname. (4) 10. To yearn or long; pine. (4) 11. To carry or have on the body, as in clothes. (4)
15. A person noted for courageous acts or nobility of character. (4) 16. To climb; ascend, _ _ _ _e. (4)
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Last month’s lucky winner was: Vicky Guerra Last month’s answers: ACROSS: 1. Identical. 5. Skid. 7. Trounce. 9. Tt. 11. Nadal. 12. Room. 13. Heat. 14. Ten. 15. Deer. 16. Asid. DOWN: 1. Itsy. 2. Exit. 3. Countless. 4. Lacerated. 6. Dreamer. 8. Utah. 10. Arid. 11. Note.
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