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AUG U ST ISSUE 52
Contents
32
38
Community Insight 8
GIBRALTAR NEWS
Business Insight 11
BUSINESS NEWS
Forces Insight 26
ARMED FORCES NEWS
Football Insight 29
INSIDE LYNX'S CLUBHOUSE
Environmental Insight 44 AIR POLLUTION ON THE ROCK
50
Features 21
CYBER CRIME
24
THE CLASS OF 2020
30 FORMULA 1 DOES COVID 32
BILLY PEARCE: FUNNY MAN
40 STREET ART: GIBRALTAR 42
WHISKEY WITH ANGELS
50 MUM ON THE ROCK: BACK TO SCHOOL 52
MUM ON THE ROCK: COVID PREVENTION
63
BEING TRUE TO YOU
Regular Features 19
TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT
35
TAGORE COMPETITION
38
MOTORING INSIGHT: MCLAREN 720S
47
A VET'S INSIGHT: SKIN ALLERGIES
48
MUM ON THE ROCK: CRAFT CORNER
49 PACS: THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAYGROUPS 54
HEALTH & WELLBEING: GET READY FOR SUMMER
56
HEALTH & WELLBEING: VACCINATIONS & IMMUNISATION
61
WEDDING INSIGHT
64 HOROSCOPES
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65
MAMA LOTTIES RECIPE
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.
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Gibraltar Insight places great importance on the accuracy of the information contained within this publication, but cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Views expressed by contributors and/or correspondents do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Neither Gibraltar Insight nor GBZ Media Limited is responsible for any claims made, or material(s) used, in advertisements. For permission to copy cuttings for internal or client use, contact NLA - nlamediaaccess.com or +441892 525273.
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COMMUNITY INSIGHT
HMGoG has issued the following reminder to Gibraltarians: If you are experiencing COVID-19 Symptoms, you must isolate immediately and call 111. You must also: • not go to work • not socialise • not visit anyone Gibraltar has seen a small but incremental increase in confirmed active COVID-19 cases over the last few days. If we are to move to the next phase of Unlocking the Rock and prevent a further lockdown,
now is the time to take decisive preventive action. This means being strict about hand washing, social distancing, masking in enclosed public areas, and following the correct protocols if symptoms develop. If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, you should go home immediately, self-isolate and call 111. You should not go to a mobile swabbing station, to the Primary Care Centre or to the Hospital. Doing so would put frontline workers and the resilience of these vital services at risk. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is to go straight home, isolate, and call 111.
Members of the public who do not have symptoms of COVID-19 and who feel well are encouraged to attend a mobile swabbing station for a test as part of the community screening programme. These tests are free of charge, do not require a prior appointment and are available to anyone over 16 years of age with a valid GHA health card. The only way to prevent further full lockdowns is to seek out the virus and stamp it out. Full compliance from the public is key. Protect yourself, protect your loved ones and protect your GHA. For more information and resources visit www.covid.gi
Bristol Flights Resume EASYJET HAS RESUMED FLIGHTS FROM BRISTOL TO GIBRALTAR. The Hon Vijay Daryanani MP, Minister for Tourism said, “I’m delighted to see the return of flights from Bristol to the Rock and it is encouraging to see that easyJet are steadily resuming their schedules to Gibraltar. Connections with the South West region of the UK have grown steadily over the last few years and I know that many of our visitors and Gibraltarians will welcome this.”
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COMMUNITY INSIGHT THE STAY & PLAY PROGRAMME HAD A VISIT FROM THE MINISTER FOR SPORT, THE HON. STEVEN LINARES. THE GIBRALTAR SPORT AND LEISURE AUTHORITY INITIATIVE HAS HAD TO BE SIGNIFICANTLY ADAPTED OWING TO COVID-19. Minister Linares commented he was very happy with what he witnessed first-hand, adding that: “I have always made it a point of visiting the Stay and Play programme several times during the summer and this year has been no different. The changes that have had to be made due to the current situation have ironically to date improved the delivery of the activities. “The improvements that have come about will now mean that serious consideration will need to be given to making the current interim model the permanent strategy for the future of the Stay and Play programme. The feedback from leaders, GSLA management and parents/guardians have all been of a positive and constructive nature. It is a pleasure to see all the children enjoying themselves within well-structured sessions with meaningful content. “For this I would like to thank the GSLA, Leaders, volunteers and all those who have made this programme a unique success within the context of the difficult times that we are currently experiencing.” The programme continues until the 26th August and is currently being held at the Bayside Sports Complex Boathouse Activity Centre, the GSLA Accessible Pool, King’s Bastion Leisure Centre and the Alameda Gardens.
JP Appointments Local on artist exhibiting at John Mackintosh from 1st-10th Acting theWanda advice Bush of theisJudicial Service Commission, His Hall Excellency the Governor Vice July in Sir a showing called Theappointed Glory Of Mr God". Accompanied Admiral David Steel KBE"For DL has Selvan Raj Soobiah,by Mrpoetry Ian Gerrard Peate, from Janet are open from 9am-3pm. Entry is free,Sene, but doMr Brett DalePardo, Bridge,the Mrdoors Frederick Francis Pitto, Mr Norbert Nicholas Ms Maria Antonia Brooks, Lowri Anwen Murphy and Ms Margaret Anita Hutchinson-Smith as Justices nations areMs encouraged to Clubhouse Gibraltar.. of the Peace for Gibraltar.
EASTSIDE RECLAMATION GONHS, ESG and GHT recently held a meeting with HMGoG regarding the invitation for expressions of interest in the development of Gibraltar's Eastside reclamation. Particular attention was drawn to the practicalities of the site development, namely the movement of rubble and other landscaping and environmental concerns. The meeting, which lasted over an hour, worked through the concerns and points that the NGOs had on the development of this land and the manner in which Government would like to see it developed. The groups placed emphasis on the need for a holistic vision for the area. GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
Guarantees were given by the Government with regard to the processes involved in selection of any eventual developments and the application of the planning process to any schemes that emerge for this area. These would need to consider any environmental and landscape impact studies and assessments that are carried out as part of the planning process. The NGOs underlined that their concerns stemmed from the fact that this is a very large area of real estate and that it is crucial that it be developed in the best possible way for Gibraltar and its community, particularly against the backdrop of Brexit and a worldwide slump as world economies recover from COVID-19.
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BUSINESS INSIGHT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOVEREIGN GROUP
LOCAL FIRM STRIKES MAJOR DEAL THE BASSADONE AUTOMOTIVE GROUP HAS CONCLUDED A DEAL WITH HM GOVERNMENT OF GIBRALTAR FOR TWO LARGE PROPERTY SITES. The transaction is believed to be worth £20m and comprises the entire lower level underground car park and part of the upper level underground parking at the Lathbury Sports Facility, and the other is part of the Europa Business Centre at the Dockyard, adjacent to the new premises being redeveloped by the Bassadone Group to house its new showrooms, offices and warehouses. The Bassadone Group has indicated to HMGoG that it intends to relocate a portion of its international business from Portugal to Gibraltar. As a result of this deal, Bassadone Automotive Group will vacate its occupancy of the Devil’s Tower Road, and Eastern Beach Car Parks and their workshops on the North Mole. Chief Minister, the Hon Fabian Picardo QC said, “I am a great admirer of George Bassadone and the contribution that he and his business have generated for Gibraltar. Having their headquarters here has always been a key component of their business. So naturally, a repatriation of other parts of their Group’s business to Gibraltar is an opportunity that I have always been keen to explore. But it is one that has been constrained due to the availability of land. So, as we developed the sports facilities, we knew that we could work with the Group to accommodate their unique business requirements. This deal serves to improve the Group’s efficiency and productivity, expands their security and it is exactly this type of commercial prowess that makes Gibraltar such a special place to do business. We have worked hand in glove with the Bassadone Automotive Group to accommodate their needs and the result is a win-win for both sides. I take this opportunity to wish George and the whole of the Bassadone Automotive Group the best of luck. I would also want to give a special thank you to Minister Linares, the Chief Technical Officer and the Financial Secretary for bringing this deal to fruition.”
WTC HOSTS SPECIAL GUEST His Excellency The Governor of Gibraltar, Sir David Steel KBE DL, paid a visit to Gibraltar's state-of-the-art office building to see the facilities for Himself and also to meet some of the businesses and people working there. The visit comes at a time when numbers working in the building are on the rise after the easing of lockdown restrictions. The Governor witnessed the new provisions made to accommodate COVID regulations, including temperature checking apparatus and the large number of sanitiser stations dotted around the building in key location
Kevin Jones CEO of the Bassadone Automotive Group added, “I am delighted to be able to complete this transaction and further enhance our operations in Gibraltar. In 2019 we exported approximately 6,400 vehicles from Gibraltar which required some 80,000 man hours of conversion work. In 2020 we hope to get that number closer to 7,500 vehicles and 100,000 man hours. “During the past year, we have taken on an additional 100 employees here in Gibraltar. With this new investment, we hope to expand even further in the coming year.” George Bassadone OBE, Executive Chairman of the Bassadone Automotive Group said, “In a Gibraltar economy that is becoming ever more dependent on the financial services sector and the gaming industry, we are delighted to offer a wide range of diverse job opportunities at Bassadone Automotive Group for both blue collar and white collar workers. My family have been representing the car business in Gibraltar since 1927 and I look forward to doing so for many more years to come.”
A £5000 fine was issued by Gibraltar's Office of Fair Trading after a local firm - an estate agent - failed to adhere to various aspects of anti-money laundering legislation. Despite numerous requests for the documents and various deadline extensions dating back a significant time, the non-compliant real estate agent had not provided the outstanding information. This can include business risk assessments, annual reports, and an-
ti-money laundering/countering the financing of terrorism policies and procedures. A final warning was issued, and without any response the OFT issued the financial penalty. It is the OFT’s role as a supervisory body under the Proceeds Of Crime Act 2015 to ensure that real estate agents and high value good dealers in Gibraltar comply with their AML/CFT obligations as set out
RBS INTERNATIONAL RESULTS RBS INTERNATIONAL HAS REPORTED INCOME OF £259M IN THE FIRST-HALF OF 2020, WITH AN OPERATING PROFIT OF £87M. This is good news, despite the uncertainty the COVID-19 pandemic has caused for personal and business customers' cashflow. The balance sheet of the bank has maintained a strong capital ratio of 20.9% and a loan to deposit ratio of 43%. The CEO of RBS International commented, "The first 6 months has been a huge test of our service culture, financial strength and operational resilience. Lower interest rates and debt relief lower our profitability but it is the right thing to do as we support our customers and the community through difficult times.”
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RBSI has extended forbearance to customers and additional lending facilities to governments in its jurisdictions as part of the wider effort to deal with COVID-19. Almost 1300 personal customers have opted for a capital repayment holiday and just over 400 business customers have opted for a capital repayment holiday or one of the various governments' guaranteed loan schemes.
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Have you thought about a loan with the Gibraltar International Bank? Let us help you make your dreams a reality For faster loan approvals please apply via our website www.gibintbank.gi
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www.gibintbank.gi | +350 (200) 13900 | Gibraltar International Bank Ltd, PO Box 1375, Ince’s House, 310 Main Street, Gibraltar GX11 1AA Gibraltar International Bank Limited is authorised and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission. Company Registration Number 10967913 GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM SUPPORT LOCAL
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Your career, your future, your choice.
GR sp THE POWER TO UNDERSTAND
www.grasp.gi
TRAINING DIVISION - IT - PROJECT MANAGEMENT VIRTUAL CLASSROOM TRAINING - MANAGEMENT TRAINING - PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT CLIENT TNA’S - RECRUITMENT - HR CONSULTANCY - PAYROLL - ROOM HIRE
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The best advice at the right price The launch of the latest affordable housing schemes, Chatham Views and Bob Peliza Mews, has been met with much excitement. We invite applicants to register with us on a no-obligation, no upfront costs, basis for preliminary guidance from our legally qualified residential property specialists. Our dedicated and experienced legal team will provide you with an outline of the costs and expenses you should expect during your purchase so that you can be fully informed and ready to proceed immediately should your application be successful. Affordable housing. Affordable fees.
INTERNATIONAL L AW FIRM LIMITED TAX PLANNING • CORPORATE & COMMERCIAL • FINANCIAL SERVICES FUNDS • LITIGATION • PROPERTY • TRUSTS • FINTECH PO Box 199, Madison Building, Midtown, Queensway, Gibraltar, GX11 1AA T: +350 20079000 F: +350 20071966 residential@hassans.gi www.gibraltarlaw.com
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ABOUT US Here at Grasp we are people who get people, we are down to Earth professionals striving to enrich the lives of locals by offering personal and professional development. Our services are relative to our experience, showcasing our power to understand your needs and to offer solutions that work for you. Our HR Consultants are CIPD qualified and can cater for all your HR needs. Our trainers are Microsoft and Prince2 certified. Our recruiters are MREC qualified. Giving you peace of mind in our…
WHY USE A JOB BOARD?
OUR SERVICES
• BRANDING Our job board allows all recruiters to add a company profile section. This represents a branding opportunity for your company as you can present yourself, your values and mission statements and objectives.
Grasp offers a one stop shop for all your HR needs: • • • •
HR Consultancy Recruitment Payroll Training and Development
• COMPANY LOGO You can display your company logo, company industry and history. • SAVE MONEY Posting adverts on job boards is much more cost-effective • VARIETY OF CANDIDATE APPLICATIONS • 100S OF AVAILABLE CANDIDATES Job Board special offer For the month of August only 1 job posting will only cost £50.
WHAT’S NEW AT GRASP TRAINING? Our brand-new Training Division launched on 1st July 2020 offering a wide range of courses including: • • • • •
IT Skills Microsoft: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams and much more Management Personal Development Project Management
Does your current on boarding scheme address performance issues that hinder employee productivity daily? As part of our training launch, we are now offering a TNA process where we can visit you onsite to aid and support you in identifying performance gaps in your organisation through an in-depth training needs analysis.
WHAT’S NEW AT GRASP RECRUITMENT?
We offer on-site training, virtual classroom and classroom training at the Grasp training centre. Our training delivery solutions cater for all businesses and individual preference. We are using one of the best virtual classroom platforms that offer: • Premium virtual classroom individual account for each delegate • Online quizzes and exervises • Virtual Trainer • Course Material • Comments Section • Attendee tracking • Much more
Covid-19 has taken its toll on internal and external recruitment at almost every business. We offer a range of recruitment solutions that can ease the burden for you, your employees and potential candidates. As we know recruitment budgets have been cut, we are now offering Gibraltar’s only job board: - a brand-new solution where you can post open vacancies and applications will be sent directly to your inbox.
TEMPORARY RECRUITMENT Our temporary staffing solutions give you the peace of mind that your employees are looked after and we become the employer but you remain the boss. We find the best temporary staff available for your job. Leveraging local temp services, we take care of all administration and payroll of the temporary role freeing you up to run your business safe in the knowledge that your shifts are covered.
TRAINING NEEDS ANALYSIS
Temp solutions come in handy when you:
How do you Identify Performance Gaps in your Organization with regards to Training and Development?
• Need extra coverage for a busy period • Need cover for an employee who is off work • To trial a role to ensure it is paramount for the business
Do you want to offer training and development to your staff but due to time constraints are you unable to identify what training is required?
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Not all hybrids are created equal
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EFPG is a part of the Nexus Global (IFA Network). Nexus Global is a division of Blacktower Financial Management (International) Limited (BFMI). All approved members of Nexus Global are appointed representatives of BFMI. BFMI is licensed and regulated by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission (FSC) and bound by the rules under licence number 3547.
BUY & SHIP FROM ANYWHERE TO GIBRALTAR
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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT
BMW Digital Keys OFF THE BACK OF THE APPLE IOS 14 UNVEILING, BMW PUBLISHED FURTHER DETAILS OF ITS DIGITAL KEY IMPLEMENTATION WITH APPLE DEVICES. Customers will be able to tap to unlock their vehicles and start their cars entirely using an iPhone. Users will need to use the BMW to setup and use this feature. The Secure Enclave on the iPhone is used to store and access the digital key, and like the express transit option for the London Underground, the power reserve function on the phone can be used for up to around 5 hours. In addition there is Apple Watch compatibility and the provision to share car access with up to 5 friends using iMessage.
Because of COVID-19, however, a chink of light has emerged for digital nomads, i.e. those people who can remotely work.
days and if approved, can relocate to Bermuda.
The Bermuda Government has launched the Work From Bermuda One Year Residential Certificate form, which once completed, allows workers who are currently working remotely, to work from Bermuda. When launching the form, Premier the Hon. David Burt, JP, MP stated, “This government invites individuals who are already working from home to work remotely from Bermuda instead. COVID-19 has impacted the world. Overnight, companies have had to solve the problem of employees being able to work outside of the office. Workers are as productive, if not more so, working in their own environment. There is now FELLOW BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY BERMUDA the opportunity for employees, who I refer to as digital nomads, HAS ALWAYS BEEN A PLACE THAT HAS PROTECTED ITS and university students to work LEGAL RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS. ALTHOUGH BERMUand study, remotely from BermuDIANS ARE ALSO BRITISH PASSPORT HOLDERS, ONLY da. Applicants for the One Year THOSE WITH "BERMUDIAN" STATUS CAN LIVE THERE Certificate must have the means to support themselves while EASILY WITH FREE ACCESS TO THE LOCAL HOUSING working remotely, and cannot MARKET AND TOTAL OWNERSHIP OF LOCAL BUSINESSseek work in Bermuda. “Once the form has been completed, the applicant will receive a response within five working
ES. ANYBODY WANTING TO LIVE THERE FROM ELSEWHERE WOULD USUALLY NEED TO GO THROUGH A NUMBER OF TESTS AND SPONSORSHIP.
“To date, Bermuda has successfully managed the Coronavirus pandemic and our COVID-19 testing regime is the most stringent in the world. This has kept transmission of the virus to a minimum which allows our residents and visitors flexibility not seen on other jurisdictions. We look forward to welcoming these new long term visitors to our shores. “The Bermuda Business Development Agency (BDA) and the Bermuda Tourism Authority (BTA) are working closely with the Ministry of Labour to continue to promote Bermuda as the ideal location from which to work remotely. The international media have tracked the story and we have received many queries about this opportunity.” The Premier concluded, “I extend my thanks to all those who worked tirelessly to get the form ready and put the process in place to accept applicants. Thank you to the Minister of Labour, the Hon. Jason Hayward, JP, MP and his team, the Minister for the Cabinet Office, the Hon. Wayne Furbert, JP, MP and his team for their hard work together with the teams at the BTA and the BDA.” The application fee is Bermuda $263 and more details can be found at forms. gov.bm/work-from-bermuda/
TESLA CYBERTRUCK
Tesla's Cybertruck seems to have struck a chord with customers with pre-orders reaching 650,000 units.
the stainless steel alloy configuration is the same as used by SpaceX. A solar sunroof is proposed as an extra to help boost range.
The vehicle was unveiled in November 2019 and is expected to be available next year. The pre-order number is higher than Tesla's cumulative combined vehicle deliveries for 2018/19.
At launch, three configurations will be available, with differing numbers of electric motors. All wheel drive is standard on all versions.
Cybertruck's design has been divisive. Some have likened it to a warped version of the DeLorean, while others have been wowed by its modern looks. Judge Dredd wouldn't look out of place driving it. It uses a number of technologies used in Elon Musk's other companies. For example,
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When it launches, the lines will be blurred between motoring and technology, and it faces a number of competitors from the more traditional car companies. In particular, Ford has redoubled attempts to launch as many electric variants of as much of its range as possible, including a version of the Mustang that is part sports car, part SUV.
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FEATURE
Why and How Cyber Criminals Target Individuals and Businesses and What You Should Do About It? Back in a hedonistic time before we were all confined to our homes, CSS Platinum enjoyed a lively panel session at an international industry event in Cortina d'Ampezzo in February, when an Italian business owner approached us with an interesting question:
"Are cybercriminals really targeting us? Could they actually do all the things you just described? The thing is I am just not hearing about these attacks occurring." A fair question, to which our team at CSS Platinum enquired: "If your business had suffered a cyber-attack, who would you have told?" "As few people as possible," he responded instantly. Herein lies the reality and the problem. In the competitive business environment, where purchase decisions are made on relationships and trust, cyber-attacks are not reported for fear of the damage it will have on a company's reputation. The difficulty is that because attacks are not being actively reported, those businesses yet to experience the embarrassment, pain, distress, worry and damage of a cyber-attack do not perceive it a problem.
WORDS BY MIKE WILLS GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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FEATURE Right now, businesses are being actively targeted by opportunists and highly sophisticated criminal networks across the globe. Businesses can be the subject of "target packs" compiled on them by numerous international criminal groups.
and microphones to listen for and steal privileged commercial information, or to access your network and steal files, or to lock your network with Ransomware and blackmail you to regain access.
These are not tin-pot criminal opportunists; these are well-financed, highly organised criminal businesses with business plans, budgets and resources available.
It is essential to understand that a cyber-attack is not the end goal; it is a tool to achieve a goal. My goal might be theft of intellectual property or personal information or images: access is provided to me via a cyber-attack that enables remote access to your business or home network / devices. Think of it as a metaphoric digital crowbar or rock through a window.
THE FIVE PERSONAS OF CYBERSECURITY: • Those that appreciate the risks and proactively do something about it. • Those that have been hacked, never want to experience the pain again and do something about it. • Those that may appreciate the risk but consider cybersecurity “techy”, complicated and easier to ignore than try to understand. • Those that may appreciate the risk, but do not like the thought of a cyber company crawling unfettered across their devices and networks. So, ignore the issue. N.B.: this is not how cyber companies work by the way. • Those that have no idea that they are vulnerable. Unfortunately, cybersecurity is here to stay and is no longer something to be ignored. Technology and artificial intelligence continue to evolve at an alarming rate and show no signs of slowing down. This evolution coupled with the reduction in component prices and the prospect of greater connectivity and data transfer rates promised by 5G technology will result in more "things" becoming "smart", digital and automated and joining the realm of the Internet of Things. Smart things require connectivity to a network to enable them to be controlled remotely by devices. Any network connection presents an access point for a cyber-attack. Across the globe, doors and windows of homes are locked every night to provide security and prevent uninvited criminal intruders. We are at the beginning of an age where this same approach to security must be the standard for your digital environment. WHY DO CRIMINALS TARGET INDIVIDUALS, BUSINESSES AND THEIR SUPPLY CHAINS? It does not matter whether you are an individual or a business. The motivations and tactics employed by cyber criminals are exactly the same.
HOW DO CRIMINALS TARGET BUSINESSES, THEIR OWNERS AND THEIR WIDER SUPPLY CHAIN? Criminals seeking to target individuals and businesses are cunning, clever and capable of implementing an elegant, elaborate and elongated strategy to achieve their ends. They are patient and, like a chess player, are capable of planning many moves ahead; with multiple contingencies should situations not unfold as they intend. To do this effectively however, they need to gather useful information to formulate a winning plan. As a result, criminals will target as many potential sources of information associated with an individual or business to build the fullest picture (or target pack) of an opportunity. This will include friends, family, staff, customers, suppliers, insurance advisors, legal advisors, and any other individual or company who connects and holds information on an individual or business. Think of it as peeling back the layers of an onion's skin to get to the centre: the target, the goal. Once individual/s have been identified, the criminal will seek to gather information innocuously or coerce the individual directly into passing information or conducting an act that enables further information to be gathered. For a business, this could be access to the business’ network and/or in time, the owner's business or personal emails and files. To find the right individual to trick or coerce, criminals use the internet to identify individuals, businesses and supporting suppliers and target their cyber unpreparedness and weakness. Poor cybersecurity, online security or habits and/or misfortunate circumstances can inadvertently offer an opportunity for an individual to be targeted and/or subverted. These circumstances can include: • Social media security settings not applied, meaning posts are available for all to read or view.
Consider, what could I do if I have access to your personal or business information networks? What could I do if I can access your photo library, your emails, your Microsoft365 account, your CRM (customer relationship management) system?
• Poor and/or naïve electronic device usage which presents a cybersecurity risk by navigating to risky or insecure sites, clicking on unknown links, not regularly updating software and application update patches.
The answer? A lot of really worrying and scary stuff. But why would I want to do this?
• Large debts, addictions or inappropriate use of illegal or socially taboo sites that may result in a family member or staff member being bribed and/or coerced into providing information on an individual or business or carrying out an act that enables remote cyber access.
In all likelihood, it is because a criminal organisation wants to steal stuff from you for their benefit or someone else's. This is not a problem that affects individuals and business elsewhere in the world. This is a clear and present threat to the residents and businesses in our community today. As a spokesperson from the Royal Gibraltar Police confirmed: “Cyber criminals are actively targeting individuals and businesses here in Gibraltar. The unique opportunities that Gibraltar presents to individuals and businesses makes them attractive targets to cyber criminals. Businesses and residents alike, must be aware of the cyber risks they face, how and why they are being targeted and should, as far as possible, mitigate those risks by making themselves #hardtohack.” LET'S ASSUME I'M A CRIMINAL... • I want to steal things: money; • I want to steal personal information, either your own or your customers/clients, for extortion purposes or to enable me to criminally target them; • I want to steal commercial information and/or intellectual property for commercial espionage; • I want to steal and sully your reputation to give me, or a competitor, an advantage. • To steal, I need access: this might be digital access to electronic files or emails or bank accounts, or this might be physical access to your home or business premises. With so many systems now being controlled digitally and by networks, I can use a cyber-attack to provide access to: • Your personal devices and emails to steal personal information, or opportunities to divert payments, or lock your devices and blackmail you to regain access. • Your business CCTV cameras, conference facilities cameras
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If I’m a cybercriminal, I can use a cyber-attack in many ways and forms to give me the access I need, when I want it, where I want it, to achieve the conditions I want. Throughout history, military commanders have sought to fight at a time and place of their choosing to ensure they triumph on the battlefield; cybercriminals are no different.
• Not knowing that personal data may have been hacked already and is for sale on the Dark Web which can enable further targeting and even identity theft. Once the cybercriminal has the access or information, they require they will apply strategic patience and wait until the conditions are right and the opportunity justifies the risk. TO CONCLUDE: Cyber security is a clear and present threat to the individuals and their businesses. Regretfully, for most, it is not a case of if a cyber-attack will occur, but rather when. Addressing cybersecurity can be an intimidating prospect, but when vulnerabilities are addressed proportionately and coherently and governed effectively the result is that individuals, businesses, their owner and those that support them will be #hardtohack. ABOUT CSS PLATINUM CSS Platinum are international cybersecurity experts. Our ex-military and US Government executive team has over 50 years' experience in the security and protection of high value corporate and top-secret intelligence data across the MOD, NATO, MOJ, UK/ US Government, and leading Fortune 200 and FTSE 150 companies. Further information on the service we provide is available at https://cssplatinum.com, including video content and various whitepapers. For a free 1 hour consultation about your cyber concerns and becoming #hardtohack, get in touch: support@cssplatinum.com The Royal Gibraltar Police have a variety of cyber security resources online: https://www.police.gi/information/cyber-safety
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FEATURE
COVID-19 IS AFFECTING EVERY AREA OF LIFE, ESPECIALLY THE WAY WE WORK. BUT WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS WHO ARE POISED TO TAKE THEIR FIRST STEP ONTO THE CAREER LADDER? FOR THOSE EMBARKING ON A GRADUATE JOB SEARCH THE CHALLENGES AND UNCERTAINTY MIGHT WELL FEEL OVERWHELMING. HOWEVER, IN REALITY THERE REMAINS A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE; INTERNSHIPS, GRADUATE SCHEMES AND DREAM JOBS STILL EXIST, AND SOMEONE WILL SECURE EACH ONE.
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FEATURE 3. THE RISE OF VIRTUAL INTERNSHIPS AND OTHER ONLINE EXPERIENCES
5
Reasons Why 2020 Can Be a Great Year to
Graduate
1. PERSPECTIVE – TIME TO REASSESS OR RECONFIRM
4. EMPLOYERS WHO EMBRACE THE NEW NORMAL
5. RESILIENCE – YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO DIFFERENTIATE 2. EMPLOYABILITY – YOUR SUCCESS TOOLKIT
So while it would be understandable to assume 2020 could easily top a list of “Worst Years to Graduate”, I am here to tell you why, with a little positivity, and a lens that considers the medium to long-term picture, this year’s graduates can have very bright futures ahead of them, and employers curious about hiring direct from campus can reap the rewards of this uniquely motivated and skilled cohort.
4
Reasons to consider hiring a 2020 graduate or intern.
4. THE PERFECT TIME TO TRIAL A GRADUATE PATHWAY
1. MOTIVATED, DRIVEN INDIVIDUALS
2. THE IDEAL CANDIDATES TO EMBRACE THE DIGITAL FUTURE
Kat runs KB Graduate Solutions, a consultancy that helps businesses with all aspects of their student and graduate hiring needs. Any local students worried about the future can get in touch for a totally free and tailored session of tips and advice. www.linkedin.com/in/KatBanbury
3. PROACTIVE, INDEPENDENT, CREATIVE THINKERS
@GradRecOnTheRock KB@kbgraduatesolutions.com www.kbgraduatesolutions.com
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ARMED FORCES INSIGHT
Stalwarts of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, HMS Scimitar and HMS Sabre, entered the last phase of their replacement with the addition of HMS Dasher and HMS Pursuer to operational duty. The new vessels are P2000s and add a considerable increase in capability to patrol and defend the sovereignty of BGTW. During the 5-week training package, Royal Navy Gibraltar Squadron prepared both craft to deliver its standing tasking in Gibraltar, and is now ready to deliver its mission to Commander British Forces Gibraltar. Lt Cdr Lloyd Cardy RN, the Commanding Officer of the Squadron said, “The arrival of the two P2000s to the Squadron is of great benefit to our personnel and the mission. We are suitably equipped to counter the challenges of the local environmental conditions and the added size of the craft
offers an increase to our physical presence on the water. We are very proud to welcome the two units to the Squadron as an interim replacement until the newly designed craft arrive.” The designation of the craft is only temporary until two new boats, constructed on Merseyside reach the Rock. They form part of a £9.9m deal with an envisaged delivery date of late 2021 through to 2023.
Royal Battery RETURN The Union Flag too pride-of-place once again at Royal Battery following essential remedial work to the flag pole. Each year, the Defence Infrastructure Organisation inspects and checks the masts and towers around the MoD estate in Gibraltar. In this instance, the refurbishment took a little longer than anticipated, but the dedication of those involved in the remedial works means that the Union Flag will fly proudly for a considerable time to come.
AIRFIELD EXERCISE The airfield at RAF Gibraltar was put through its paces for an exercise involving personnel from the Airfield Fire and Rescue Service (AFRS), Air Traffic Control (ATC) and the Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP). The western end of the runway played host to the event that all airfields in close proximity to the sea are mandated to do. The routine event is designed to make sure that each unit that takes part is able to communicate, collaborate and act in the most efficient manner possible. Among the scenarios rehearsed was a runway accident at sea to test RAF Gibraltar's offshore rescue capability.
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on any plan with a 12 month contract
250
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Unlimited local minutes mobiles and landlines
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FOOTBALL INSIGHT
THE HEARTBEAT OF
LYNX FOOTBALL CLUB
THE LYNX CLUBHOUSE IS THE HEART OF LYNX FOOTBALL CLUB, BOASTING THE LARGEST PREMISES OWNED BY ANY FOOTBALL CLUB IN GIBRALTAR.
In 2014, Albert Parody and his team made a financial commitment to take the yellows to new heights and consequently initiated an investment to the once derelict building that had stood empty for 7 years, previously owned by a Gibraltar Hockey team. This purchase was one of most significant events undertaken by the Club in its short history and was by no means possible without the unselfish commitment of Julian Bellido, an old servant of the club and former general manager.
achieve its goals.
It has been amazing to see the club's facilities expand alongside the senior and youth teams becoming a central hub of all that Lynx F.C. stands for. Located at 41/3 Europa Road, the club provides the space needed to keep any team on its feet, from Rest Rooms, changing rooms, Gyms, Cafeteria, meeting room, offices, Meditation room, Physio treatment room, hot and cold bath facilities and many more, making the Lynx Club the most equipped clubhouse in Gibraltar. Through the hard work of volunteers, contractors and the Lynx committee, The club has been developed into one of the finest football complexes in Gibraltar. Since Lynx F.C. was established in 2007 they have always worked alongside the community to ensure they are the club of the people. This has included supporting various charities and societies along the way including Little Smiles, Gibraltar Alzheimer’s & Dementia Society and Alcoholics Anonymous, bringing pride and honour in supporting those who support us. Success has not been achieved without hard work and the Club has been blessed with a fine range of individuals who have given their time to help Lynx
Each year, Lynx hosts various events for a variety of age groups, opening their facilities for the benefit of the community; hosting a large variety of events from birthday party celebrations to family get-togethers or just a quick coffee and a bite to eat on lunch breaks. With limited facilities available up at Europa Point, the Lynx family are honoured to be able to host such a diverse range for individuals or groups needs. This year, Lynx are looking at expanding their planned events with family and friends at the centre of all they do and cannot wait to serve the mighty yellows. These will be focused on children, adults and families not only within Lynx F.C. but the wider community as well. To have a dedicated department for events Jonathan Costa recently approached Stevie Roche to become Head of Events for the club with the senior assistance of Kathy Noble. Alongside the support of the fellow committee members, Stevie will be introducing new ideas and planned events within the Clubhouse. We have used the time during the pandemic to brainstorm ideas for the coming year and look forward to not only getting the Lynx family involved but also to reach out to the wider community. With such advanced facilities available at the club we are looking forward to building memories for families and friends. Please check our website or social media for details of forthcoming events and if you would like to host an event with Lynx, please call: + (350) 200 69695 /www.lynxfc.com
WORDS BY JONATHAN COSTA GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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FEATURE
FORMULA 1
DOES COVID
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It may be the most technologically advanced sport in the world, but even Formula 1 has had to resort to face masks and traditional PPE in the preparations for the various Grand Prix, now that the season has restarted. We'll have a behind-the-scenes look at Aston Martin Red Bull Racing's high-tech control centre very soon.
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FEATURE
It’s difficult interviewing a comedian, especially when it’s Billy Pearce, because you can’t stop laughing as he peppers the conversation with jokes during our Zoom chat. Often referred to as a national treasure in the UK, Billy Pearce has won just about every comedy award going, including a British Comedy Award for ‘Top Theatre Variety Performer’, solo comedian of the year, and best television comedy newcomer at the London Palladium. Billy, dubbed West Yorkshire’s King of Panto, has been making people laugh for over 50 years. The consummate entertainer started his performing career in his home town of Leeds where his mum owned a dance school. “The Jean Pearce School of Dancing was probably the biggest dance school in the UK and mum acted as an adviser for the kids who went on to appear on Junior Showtime, a variety show for children on television, and she was responsible for giving many of them their first start in the business, including stars such as Joe Longthorne, Rosemarie Ford, Mark Curry and Bonnie Langford.” Billy explains.
BILLYFUNNY PEARCE MAN
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FEATURE “The dance school was always short of boys because they preferred to play football and rugby rather than appearing in the shows, so I used to get dragged in to help out,” he says. “The first time I went on stage was as a 6 year old at the Empire in Leeds, when I played a Siamese twin in The King and I, and from there I went on to appear in all the musical shows such as Oklahoma! and South Pacific.” Although he loved appearing on stage, Billy never imagined that he would still be working in the entertainment industry all these years later. It was whilst he was working as an apprentice in a foundry that fate intervened and set him off on a different show-business path. “I was hit by a car when I was on my motor scooter that resulted in some terrible damage to my body, but it also made me change my priorities,” Billy says. After a spell working behind the scenes as a stage hand, Billy teamed up with a friend from the dance school and together they went on to become Butlins Redcoats, following in the footsteps of so many stars of stage and screen. Cue a joke: “At Butlins we used to catch people climbing over the fence and then send them back to finish their holidays!” “We could both sing, tap dance and play guitars,” he states, “and then when we returned to Leeds we started playing the working men’s clubs, mainly performing musical numbers, but when the resident band didn’t know a song, I would fill in with a bit of comedy.” Billy tells me that was when he found that he liked making people laugh. “I would do more and more comedy and then one day I woke up and somebody called me a comedian! I still don't really think I am a comedian - I am more of a comedy entertainer - comedy is hard and it’s a serious business being funny.” After a couple of years doing the clubs, Billy went out on his own. “It was a very difficult decision for me because I'm not the most confident person in the world – but it took me 16 years of hard slog learning my craft and then in 1986 I went on New Faces.” Billy made it to the final and then found himself touring with Danny La Rue, appearing on numerous TV variety shows in the late 80s and 90s including Tonight at the London Palladium and he became a mainstay of panel shows such as Through the Keyhole, Blankety Blank, Talking Telephone Numbers and You Bet as well as taking part in three Royal Variety shows and five children's Royal Variety shows. Most comedians spend a lot of time travelling and Billy is no exception. Cue another joke: “I have an international agent - that means I am out of work all over the world!” More lately, Billy has been touring theatres with his one man stand-up adult comedy shows, some of which can last up to two and a half hours. “In the clubs I do about an hour and a half and hit them as hard as I can and run - so I tend to do a bit of everything. I have been lucky that my career has been so varied,” he admits.
Theatre in Dundee,” Billy says. “On the bill was a mind reading act called the Amazing Margoes (a really miserable old couple), who stood in the wings and watched our act every night but never said anything. On the last day I was summoned to their room - I was terrified. Mr. Margoe asked what we were doing after the show had finished its run, and I explained that we were out of work and didn’t have an agent. He put a piece of paper in my hand; it was a long list of agents and bookers, and told me to mention his name when I called them.” The upshot of the story was that Billy says he turned out to be a wonderful man with a kind heart. “You can't judge a book by its cover!” he laughs. Known for his cheeky face, his big grin and high-pitched accent (you may remember his "Hiya kids" catchphrase), Billy says he is a Yorkshire man, bread and buttered. “I know I’ve lost my accent since I went posh, but I’m proud of being from Yorkshire!” Is he always a laugh a minute? “I am just the same as a lot of my comedian friends - we all have our demons,” he comments. “I still get terrified before I go on stage even after 50 years and I get so angry with myself. Sometimes I will say to my wife that I don't feel very well and she'll say it's because you are working tonight.” Billy knows that he is luckier than some. “I have a lovely family and plenty of people around me and although it has been difficult in lockdown it hasn’t been too bad for me because I have a big garden, but if you are on your own and don’t know where your next gig is going to be and you have been used to going out working all your life making people laugh, then it can get very dark.” At the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, Billy and England and Yorkshire cricketer Adil Rashid took time out of their own self-isolation to film a series of short video clips to reinforce the importance of the Government message to stay at home, protect the NHS, and save lives as part of Bradford Council’s campaign to reach out to every part of the community with key public health messages. Although Billy has been busy doing podcasts, sending birthday messages to fans and taking part in the online digital version of the Bradford Fringe, which he says has opened up a couple of new doors for him to do some serious acting work, it is panto which is his true love. “Oh no it isn't, Oh yes, it is!”
Lockdown for Billy was spent at home with wife Kerry, a former dancer. “Having to stay in isolation has taken the pressure off me,” he tells me. “When I am working I get up in the morning and already start panicking about the evening. It’s like a roller-coaster of adrenaline, so this has been like being on holiday, but I am getting itchy feet now and can’t wait to get back to performing.” Billy says that he has been full of mixed emotions. Joke alert number three: “It’s like watching your mother-in-law driving off a cliff in your brand new Mercedes!”
“I have done panto at the Bradford Alhambra for the last 21 years and this year should have been no exception, but we are still waiting to hear if it will be allowed to go ahead,” he explains. Last year it was Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs with Step’s Faye Tozer and Paul Chuckle and to put it in perspective as to how much panto means to the local community, Billy says that it took over £2 million at the box office. “It’s amazing how many people are on the payroll and how many in the area rely on panto for their livelihood.”
That joke is reminiscent of the one-liners used by British stand-up comedians such as Les Dawson. So what does Billy think about today’s alternative comedians? “Comedy has changed; it's more observational now rather than jokes and a lot of it is not my cup of tea,” he admits. “I am more of an old fashioned gag man, delivering one liners in a similar way to Tim Vine, although I have written some observational comedy and I am proud of that.”
This year it should be Sleeping Beauty and Billy is waiting for the bones of the script to come through his letterbox. Over the years, he has established a fair bit of creative control over the panto, drawing on his vast experience to get heavily involved in the writing process. “I write a lot of the funny stuff, but I do that when I know who else is starring in it so that I can beef up their parts to suit their personality.”
Billy says that he admires anybody who can get up on stage with a microphone in their hand and entertain people. “It is a very tough wage and I can only put it akin to boxing without getting physically hit - but you are in a way, because it is so brutal,” he states. “It’s like being thrown to the lions sometimes - I have been booed off walking on - only kidding!”
Has Billy ever played the Dame, I ask? “It has been mentioned a couple of times but I always steer away from it when possible – although it may have to come in to play at some point. I am usually the central character and principal boy such as Buttons or Aladdin, but now I am getting older it doesn't sit right!”
During his career Billy has been lucky to work with some wonderful people, many of whom became great friends such as John Inman and Lynda Bellingham. “Years ago I was in a double act with my girlfriend at the time. We were absolutely broke but we managed to get a week's work in a variety show at the Whitehall
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As he approaches 70, the veteran performer says that has no plans to slow down or hang up his microphone any time soon. So what does the future hold for Billy? “Retirement would drive me bananas and working is always something that I look forward to and the adrenaline keeps me young - I'm 95 you know!”
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now is MOTORING INSIGHT
where
off
the
button
McLaren 720S
WORDS BY MARTIN WARD
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AUGUST 2020
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MOTORING INSIGHT
ON THE PRESS LAUNCH, WE WERE EACH ALLOCATED A CAR, MINE WAS BRIGHT BLUE, YOU PRESS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE KEY-FOB, WALK UP TO THE UNLOCKED CAR, AND WITH A SWAGGER IN YOUR WALK GO TO OPEN THE DOOR. AFTER A VERY EMBARRASSING TWO MINUTES LOOKING FOR THE DOOR HANDLE, YOU HAVE TO WALK BACK TO THE OFFICE AND ASK A MEMBER OF THE MCLAREN STAFF HOW TO GET IN IT. THEY WALK BACK WITH YOU, WITH NOT QUITE THE SWAGGER YOU HAD FIVE MINUTES AGO. THEY SHOW YOU THE BUTTON, QUITE OBVIOUS WHEN YOU KNOW WHERE IT IS. You climb in, pull the door down, and go to hit the start button. After five minutes looking for it, you can’t. Back to the office to ask, so you need to get out ... how do you get out; where’s the door release. A good thing we have mobile phones. “Hello, it’s Martin, I’m in the Blue 720S, and can’t find the start button, oh, and while I’m on ... I can’t find the door release handle or button ..."
was my theory, and I was sticking to it. Other journalists on the launch drove as quickly as they could, when they could, so were back at base in 45 minutes. Not me, Mr Cautious, if it was 30mph, I did 28, if it was 60mph I tootled along at 58mph, much to the annoyance of other road users, particularly White Van Man!
So, off to a good start. After being shown both the start button, and how to get out again, the button was pushed, and it was in the most obvious place, the 4.0-litre V8 engine roared into action, and roar it certainly did.
This is certainly a great car, probably the most accomplished supercar I have ever driven. Fantastic steering, so stable, brilliant brakes, yet it is so comfortable and despite its massive amount of power from that V8 engine that produces a whopping 710bhp - it is so docile, and very drivable in all driving conditions. Going through some small villages, and down country roads it was just so easy, and it never felt as though it wanted to race away, there were no surprises and no hidden quirky technical issues, it was just so nice to drive, a real pleasure. Driving it slowly was more of a test of the car, than driving it quickly and a car you could live with on a day to day basis.
The press launch was in a rural part of Southern England with plenty of speed humps and cameras, so doing anything daft was well out of the question. McLaren set up the route we had to take on the very accurate sat-nav, very accurate down to the nearest 2-metres, and we have all learnt over the past few weeks what 2-metres is. The 720 has lots of carbon fibre and called “Monocage 11” which makes it very light and very rigid with hardly any body movement when accelerating. Despite sitting so low, there is brilliant allround vision, it is virtually a all-glass cockpit, almost like a fighter jet.
The cost of this high-powered, well equipped and great looking two-seater is around £208,000 back in the UK, but you can easily spend another £20,000 on some essential options.
And talking of a fighter jet, it’s nearly as quick, in fact probably quicker from 0-100kph. It does this in a staggering 2.9 seconds, and if that wasn’t impressive enough - it goes from 0-300kph in 21.8 seconds. On the test route, there was no way we could test any of the facts and figures. If you did, the road humps would get you into orbit at these outrageous speeds. The route was only an hour long, so every second in the car was precious, so the slower you went, the longer you were in it, and that
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So after one-hour and five minutes driving very leisurely it was time to take it back and park it in the car park and get out ... "now, where is the off button ... oh... and how do you get out of it again?!“.
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FEATURE
USING THE URBAN LANDSCAPE
As you walk through the streets of Gibraltar you will have noticed more and more a proliferation of murals and paintings on the sides of buildings or in underpasses. or lifts your emotions. Drawings on walls first appeared thousands of years ago in caves and were then used by the Ancient Romans and Greeks. The word ‘graffiti’ was originally a technical term for the ancient handwritten inscriptions, either electoral propaganda or general graffiti, that were scratched into plaster found in the ruins of Pompeii. Fast forward to the 1920s when street art started showing up in New York in the 1920s where gangs would graffiti their ‘tags’ on public property or the sides or trains.
drawings in the 1970s and 80s. Haring’s artwork began showing in galleries, and he is now regarded as a leading figure in the New York East Village art scene. Look out for his vibrant, colourful and bold images featuring barking dogs, flying saucers, hearts and Mickey Mouse. Banksy’s success was built partly on his anonymity and the myths that built up around him, but French artist Blek le Rat, whose real name is Xavier Pro, claims that Banksy may well have plagiarised his work and that he invented the life-sized stencil technique that Banksy would later use to make his name. There is no doubt that some of the images used by Banksy, such as rats, and life-sized images of men and soldiers, were initially found in Blek le Rat’s work.
Most of us have heard of Banksy, the British "guerrilla" street artist who has achieved international fame through his controversial, and often politically themed, signature style stencilled pieces and whose works have been sold for millions of pounds. But decades before Banksy became infamous, American artist and social activist Keith Haring was daubing the New York subway system with chalk
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FEATURE
So how is street art different from graffiti? Both can be executed without the permission of the owners of the buildings or properties that they use to put their artwork on. Traditionally, graffiti artists would make work that used to be considered vandalism but in recent years they have used their art to make a point or send a message that will make people stop in their tracks and to provoke discussion. Street art is more a form of art expression, sometimes commissioned, often portraying complex and beautiful scenes and is something which has become an integral element of contemporary art and has rooted itself in communities. Have you noticed that Gibraltar has been looking a little more colourful over the past few years? Back in 2017 the Government introduced a street art / graffiti initiative as part of its urban regeneration programme with the aim of revitalising areas that required redevelopment and was an attempt to improve the physical appeal of building façades with a popular form of public art. Artist Ben Eine who had made a name on the London underground graffiti scene for his multi-coloured letter prints was the first to kick start the scheme with his street art mural on the wall at Ince’s Hall Theatre where the words ‘That’s Entertainment’ are painted on the building’s façade. Another initiative by the Gibraltar Cultural Services was a competition for local artists in 2018 to create murals to decorate some of the streets around town. Eleanor Taylor Dobbs won the opportunity to undertake a mural lining the wall of Fountain Ramp. Eleanor collaborated with children to complete the work, inspired by 'A Book Called Hope' by Quentin Blake and John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’, which explored concepts of freedom and justice.
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A second street art mural by Eleanor Dobbs together with Jessica Darch entitled ‘Old Soldiers View’ adorns Prince Edward’s Gate. The work depicts a landscape of ruins, defences and distant views and was inspired by the multi-layered history of Gibraltar as if perceived at the Gate in 1790. You will surely have noticed that the tunnel by Irish Town and Chatham Counterguard has been transformed into a calm paradise and lets you escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre with a mural entitled ‘Make a Wish’ by Geraldine Martinez. Some of the mural is in black and white - representing pollution - but it then takes you through into a kaleidoscope of colour with a child who invites the passer-by to take a mindful moment and make a wish. Geraldine completed another mural recently, on the wall of the Queensway Nursery and will also be creating a mural on the Department of Education façade called ‘Touch the earth gently for all is connected’. The Tunnel leading to the Alameda Gardens has a work entitled ‘Young Explorers’ by Paul Bush that was inspired by his sense of childhood wonder at the Botanical Garden that he grew up near and is his depiction of the landscape and wildlife to be found there. There is no doubt that the murals have enhanced the environment and made the streets of Gibraltar more welcoming and walkable to not only those who live here but also to visitors and tourists. Graffiti and street art can be controversial and prompt discussion, but they can also tell stories that combine history and present-day culture, acting as a direct comment on the local environment and society and bringing communities together. Make sure to have a look at Gibraltar’s street art as you wander round town.
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FEATURE
COULD ANYONE NOT CONNECTED TO THE WORLD OF POETS AND POETRY, RECITED OR SUNG, PROSE OR RHYMED HAVE COME UP WITH A BETTER TITLE FOR AN ALBUM? THE SILVER THREAD THAT CONNECTS THE MEDIUM OF POETRY TO AN IMAGE OF DECADENCE AND EXCESS HAS BEEN USED TO WRAP A NEW CD OFFERING FROM GABRIEL MORENO. THE POWERFUL IMAGE OF DECADENT ANGELS CORRUPTED BY WORDS AND WHISKEY SHARED WITH POETS SETS THE TONE FOR THE DIALOGUE UPON WHICH WE EMBARK IN THIS MONTH’S FEATURE. Gabriel Moreno is releasing a new solo album with some contributions from the ‘Quivering Poets’. It was conceived before the pandemic but no doubt tarnished and probably invigorated by the lockdown in London which saw the live ‘Poetry Mondays’ in Hackney relegated to virtual gigs, relying on sponsorship, contributions and crowd funding just to bring food to the table. This is a story of good news coloured by the hard times that befell an artistic community whose life blood is creating and performing poetry every week in order to keep body and soul alive whilst remaining relevant by writing about our culture in new and challenging ways.
The life of a poet has never been easy but the lack of awareness about poetry in today’s society is dismal and a balance, if there is ever to be one, has to be restored so that art can continue to flourish and we can look back on ourselves with pride and say “we rescued poetry”. Can we rescue poetry and ramp it up a few notches in awareness? ‘Quivering Poet’ Gabriel Moreno does not hesitate with the answer. “I think that it is poetry which is rescuing us rather than the other way round. These times of isolation, reconfiguration and reflection have taught us that there are lessons in humility, wisdom and beauty that are to be found in the archives of poetical creation. William Carlos Williams claimed that we would never find the news in poetry but that many people died daily for lack of what could be found there. We have to learn from poetry because in it we find the fusion between philosophy and language which informs us of the process of human consciousness and its constant evolution. “We must reflect on our lives and the mistakes that we are making as human beings. Poetry helps us to reconsider. It provides us with an alternative point of view; not from the ideas we express but specifically from the way innovative language is formed. We have to learn from newness and beauty. The lesson is clear; consumption in art or life was not the solution. Nature is being ravaged. We can't exist merely to accumulate wealth. Poets have been saying this for years. It is now our duty to spread this message widely. Hopefully we can raise more awareness on this issue”. MAYBE THE COMMUNITY HAS BEEN ENRICHED BY THE ISOLATION, OR HAS THE LOCKDOWN BEEN DETRIMENTAL TO DEVELOPMENT? “There have been many examples of our poetry and music community getting together to help and provide comfort during isolation. I‘ve experienced many benevolent and altruistic actions and I believe we have realised how important we are to each other in terms of survival and also in terms of our pursuit of recognition and happiness. There is no plenitude without the other. There is no point to excellence without our peers. We have realised we need each other to shine and make sense of poetry and music. It has been instrumental to our psychological development but quite detrimental to our economic survival. Loss of work has been devastating. We are still trying to figure out
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how to survive though we know we shall not stop writing or performing. WHAT CAN LONDON POETRY TAKE FORWARD FROM THE LAST FOUR MONTHS THAT IS WORTH KEEPING? “The need for communal action, a deeper recognition of our shared ambitions, the idea that we must include a political angle to our artistic efforts and the gratefulness for many events and tours we have been able to share together. These are some of the things that we think are worth preserving from the lockdown. Now I know that we were on the right path to feeling satisfied with our work because we had the chance to share these moments and creations. Like always, we learn to appreciate what we have when it is taken from us. We hope not to commit the same mistake in future”. HOW HAS THE LOCKDOWN IMPACTED ON THE MAKING OF THE NEW ALBUM? “Lockdown has made me concentrate and focus exclusively on the creation of new tracks. The impossibility of rehearsals and shared recordings have forced me to create a more intimate and acoustic album which probably reflects the mood of this period, but also includes a lot of hope as I have seen how we could collaborate and create even from a distance. ‘Quivering Poet’ Pablo Yupton and I were in touch daily from Barcelona to London. I worked with QP Adam Beattie on some songs too. However, lockdown also helped create a more intimate and SOLO album. I had to postpone the performance aspects of our music and hopefully have been able to reconnect with my own creative process. My way of keeping up hope and not being defeated by anxiety and doubts”. WILL THE QP BE PICKING UP THE THREADS AGAIN WORKING TOGETHER AS A TOURING UNIT? “We are already getting offers for the winter to perform in Germany and Italy. The break has meant that audiences have valued our previous trips and concerts. QP Pablo Yupton is moving to London soon and we shall be able to perform and tour again. We have also collaborated with QP Pablo Campos during the lockdown and he has been recording from his studio in Figueras and sending us some of his work. Unfortunately, QP Basha Bartz has had to concentrate on teaching violin in order to survive so we have not worked with her much during this period”. GIVEN THAT WE HAVE BEEN WITNESSES TO A UNIQUELY HORRIBLE PERIOD IN OUR LIVES HAVE THE POETS THAT YOU KNOW BEEN CAPABLE OF CAPITALISING ON THESE CIRCUMSTANCES TO ENRICH THEIR WORK? “The poets that I know have used this time to research, study and reflect on their creations and to be more ‘present’ with their creativity. Of course, we’ve all suffered moments of defeat, where it seemed impossible to ponder on a return to everyday lives, but in general the poets I know have been very willing to continue to write and compose. It’s said that some of the most thrilling and innovative art comes from moments of crisis and this has been one of the most extreme moments we have ever experienced. “Personally, I think we shall come out of this darkness with more conviction and self-realisation. It may take some time before we can enjoy the comforts of the past. Now is a time to share thoughts and feelings and to resist the tyranny of capitalist enterprise so that we might be saved from an even more complicated crisis; the debacle of the human spirit.” THE ALBUM ‘WHISKEY WITH ANGELS’ IS BEING MASTERED EVEN AS I WRITE IN EARLY JULY BUT AS SOON AS A RELEASE DATE HAS BEEN FINALISED OUR READERS WILL HAVE ALL THE RELEVANT INFORMATION ON SALE PLATFORMS AND PRICING ETC.
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OF THE MONTH
OF THE MONTH
MEXX
Mexx was one of 13 dogs recently rescued by AINF from a Killing station in Northern Spain. In the killing station black ribbons are tied to the cages indicating dogs scheduled to be killed and the dogs are not fed over weekends as it is unstaffed. Mexx had been scheduled to be put down but was saved thanks to generous donations and he is now safe in private kennels awaiting a loving home to go to. He is only three, although he looks older. He’s a gentle and loving boy and gets on well with both people and other dogs. He has become best friends with another male dog, Mailo and the charity are hopeful that a forever home can be found for Mexx soon allowing him to live out his days safe and loved.
To adopt Mexx or one of the many dogs awaiting their forever home visit: https://www.ainf.gi Facebook: Animals In Need Foundation (Adopt a Rescue Dog Gibraltar)
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INSIGHT
SKIN ALLERGIES AND YOUR CANINE FRIEND
There are a multitude of causes of pruritus (itching) in dogs and it is impossible to cover all of these in one article. Where pruritus is the presenting symptom this condition can be broadly be divided into two categories: one is parasitic and the other is allergic dermatitis. Today I shall be dealing primarily with the main cause of allergic dermatitis, which is atopic dermatitis. The cause of this is allergens in the environment; microscopic molecules that translocate across the skin and result in histamine release mainly by mast cells in the sub-epidermal tissues. This histamine release causes pruritus, therefore the dog scratches itself; this then breaks the skin barrier and damages the skin’s protectant layers allowing bacteria, usually Staphyloccos aureus, to cause a secondary skin infection. These skin infections are often seen as concentric rings and are often confused with ringworm (a fungal infection). This secondary skin infection in itself also causes inflammation and more pruritus, this causes more itching, and therefore a cascade effect is set off. When neglected and treatment is not sought promptly enough the problem can escalate, with further yeast infection and often more pathogenic bacteria invading the affected areas. At this point the dog has a particularly pungent odour and you are looking at a long protracted course of treatment to bring the condition under control. The equivalent in humans to atopy in dogs, again broadly speaking, is asthma. Due to the different distribution of mast cells in dogs these develop skin problems as opposed to coughing and respiratory problems. In the cat on the other hand feline asthma is particularly common, but that is a topic I will leave for another day. The areas of principally affected by atopy in dogs are those with poor coat cover and often areas of increased movement, and it generally first presents when the dog is over a year of age. Most classical sites affected are the groin, axilla, ventral areas, feet and ears. If your dog has recurrent skin problems in the afore mentioned regions then you are more likely than not dealing with an atopic dermatitis and therefore treatment must be tailored at this.
cines, shampoos etc. One of the main shortfalls of treatment is not giving the animals medication for long enough, therefore the problem recurs rapidly and the clients become disenchanted. The biggest challenge once the condition is diagnosed is trying to control the illness long term with prophylactic therapy. There are a multitude of options available, there is no specific treatment plan to treat all dogs, and it has to be tailored to each individual case. This varies with the severity of the problem and the response to treatment by each individual animal, so sometimes patience is a virtue. Allergic skin dermatitis in dogs is due to many allergens pushing the pet over the allergic threshold, therefore in some cases medication is not needed, possibly by reducing some of the allergic challenge, for example feeding a hypoallergenic diet, may be sufficient to stop the pruritus. Again remember that the problem might be seasonal and therefore what might work in summer might not work in winter or vice versa. In summary if your dog has recurrent skin complaints with itching, usually affecting the same regions then your pet is probably suffering from atopic dermatitis and the earlier it is treated the better and the easier it is to manage the problem.
For more information please phone Gibraltar Vetinary Clinic on 200 77334
Another pattern you might notice is you might find that the condition is seasonal; again this can often be correlated very closely with people who suffer from asthma. For example if the flare up is in spring then it is likely to be caused by the increase in pollen in the atmosphere. If the flare up is in colder periods when these allergens are markedly reduced then the condition is most likely to be caused by house allergens, the main culprits being house dust mites. In the winter dogs will seek more warmth and blankets are a great habour for these mites. Keeping the bedding clean is not sufficient: washes have to be at high temperatures to kill the mites otherwise all you are doing is giving the mites a shampoo and blow dry and putting them back. Treatment is a relatively simple affair but it will be a minimum of three weeks of aggressive therapy, usually when the dog is presented for treatment the skin is already infected, and skin infections need an obligatory period of three weeks of antibiotics and adjunct medi-
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polymer clay
Do you fancy sculpting with clay but get put off because you think you need lots of tools and equipment? Well, then polymer clay is the clay for you! There’s no need for a kiln, and all you need is some clay, your hands and some very basic (and cheap) tools, if you chose to use them. Polymer clay is the most exciting clay product and it has been around long enough to gain a great reputation.
BAKING & CURING
Polymer clay is suitable for all kinds of creations and suits beginners to experts in this exciting creative hobby. It has been around for several decades and so has evolved into a really fabulous craft. From charms, jewellery & keychains, to larger pots or dishes. The sky is the limit with polymer clay!
Although polymer clay is rated as non-toxic it does give off some fumes so be aware of them during the baking process. The packaging should give the required oven temperature. Baking time also depends on the thickness of the project; the thicker the piece the longer time required.
Polymer is a very practical product that is of plastic origin. It is a synthetic, modelling clay product and can be moulded until it is cured in a regular home oven on a low temperature.One of the most well known and popular brand soft polymer clay is FIMO, it's been around for over seventy years, and has grown in popularity over the decades.
Use a baking tray, glass or ceramic tile for your baking surface. A piece of baking paper to rest on will help avoid shiny spots.
The beauty of working with polymer clay is that it lasts and lasts; colours can be blended; things you make can be broken down and remodelled and only at the final stage of baking will it be finalised. It is water-resistant, hard-wearing and easy to use and suitable for children, as long as they are past the stage of putting everything in their mouths. It lends itself to simple beginner stuff and to the more advanced ideas too.
SO, LET'S GET STARTED! The basic actions used in clay modelling are – rolling, moulding, pinching, scratching and poking, cutting, shaping, storing and baking.You can buy sets of inexpensive clay modelling tools, which have an assortment of handy edges to shapes your clay. You can also use anything you have around the house although try to avoid wooden surfaces and tools as the wood can absorb the clay's plasticiser. Instead opt for metal, plastic or glass. In addition, a pasta machine is a great asset to help with the rolling and blending colours together, this can create those cool marbled effects you often see in polymer clay creations. Using these methods, you simply shape your clay into your desired model or pattern. There’s no need for glue to bond your pieces together; just shape and press them together…it’s that simple!
Baking is the final stage of our polymer clay tutorial and the point of no return. Baking hardens the clay and finishes the article you have made. Polymer clay must bake in an oven at temperatures between 100C - 160C. You cannot bake the clay in a microwave.
Beads and other round items can be placed on a mound of cornflour to support their shape or if your beads have a hole through the centre, thread them onto a wooden skewer and rest it on supports while baking to stop flat spots. Even after baking, It is important to keep rounded items off the flat surface while they are drying as the clay can flatten slightly and spoil the shape. It is also wise to make bead holes a bit wider as they tend to close slightly as the clay bakes. The baked clay is rubbery when it comes out of the oven but will harden as it cools. Be careful when handling, and the clay will be hot! Although it isn't necessary, you can seal finished items with varnish. FIMO make a dedicated sealer, but you can also use other varieties. Choose wisely though, as some will yellow over time. DitzyB are offeri ng Gibraltar Insight So what are you waiting for?! Stock up on some FIMO rea and get sculpting! Even beginners can create some ders 10% discoun t beautiful pieces, and the more practice the more imin-store, on menti on pressive they'll turn out! There are hundreds of easy of the code INSIGHT10 to follow tutorials online, you’ll be amazed with what throughout Augu st. you can create. Happy Crafting!
DitzyB Craft Supplies & Workshops, +350 200 44665 www.DitzyB.com. Visit their new store on the first floor of the ICC, where Just Desserts used to be.
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Images courtesy of Rock Creations & Rose Zapata
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PACS THE IMPORTANCE OF
PLAYGROUPS AND THE 'NEW NORMAL'
One of the things that Lockdown has shown, in our opinion, is the importance of Playgroups. Playgroups not only provide vital social interaction for babies and toddlers but they also provide much needed social time for their parents / carers. New babies who were born at the start or during lockdown have missed out on meeting other babies, toddlers have spent months not being able to run around with their friends. Activities that we provide at PACS such as sensory play, story time, cooking, arts and crafts and of course song time give children learning opportunities and support their social development which in turn can ease the transition to school. And of course a cup of tea and chat for their parent / carer can provide knowledge sharing and learning opportunities and create life-long friends.
do, we will ensure that all of our toys, play mats and all other items that are used throughout the session will be disinfected at the end of each session. All Government guidelines will of course be adhered to. However, in amongst the hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes, we will of course provide a happy and safe environment for you and your children. We can’t wait to get back and hope to see you there. Please check our Facebook page (@parentandchildsociety) for updates and details of the sessions.
As September approaches, faster than we think, what will the new normal look like at PACS? On top of what we normally
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We also have a protocol for staff to follow if a child begins to feel unwell over the course of the day, once they are in the school setting;
1. Will all children in Gibraltar be going back to school at some point in September? It is the Government's intention to open all schools, for all children, in September. The school day will be, as far as is possible, of normal duration. There will be some changes to the timing of the school day to minimise the potential for congregations of people and we will implement staggered arrivals and dismissals to help with this. Specific details of the logistics for each school will be communicated to parents in due course.
- our school routines will be organised to minimise contact between individuals and maintain social distance wherever possible. Social distancing will be managed in as practicable and sensible a way as is possible.
hool look like in What will Back to Sc apprehensive? We September? Feeling Department caught up with the them… of Education to ask
2. What steps will schools be taking to help ensure the safety of students? This will be done in full compliance with advice from the Director of Public Health. Naturally, the circumstances relating to COVID-19 nearer the time will have to be taken into account. However, given the low numbers of coronavirus infections in our community and current figures, there can be no justification in keeping children at home. We feel it is important to get children back into school and more of a normal routine to support their continuing learning journey. As we have done for the phased reopening of schools as part of Unlock the Rock, the DofE will issue guidance on measures which will apply in all schools. This is expected to include staggered entry and exits for different year groups; staggered breaks; to the extent possible and where the curriculum allows keeping the same classes together throughout the day; special arrangements for lunchtime to avoid large gatherings; limiting access to schools to children and staff except by appointment; using thermal scanners and using oneway circulation routes where possible. Face masks and face shields will be made available to all staff who wish to use them. Staff who are involved in the intimate care of children or who have to change nappies will be provided with aprons and gloves. Our guidance document will be available on www.education.gov.gi.
4. What extra protective measures are being put in place? We will continue to adopt the following measures, which were put in place when we opened schools in May: - prioritise hand hygiene and make it a ritual at key points throughout the school day; - promote good respiratory hygiene by reinforcing the “catch it, bin it, kill it” approach; - have an enhanced cleaning regime in place, with particular focus on frequently touched surfaces / handles; - individuals who feel unwell should not attend school. We ask parents to help us and ensure that any child who is unwell is kept at home until they recover. There will be protocols in place for staff to ensure that individuals who feel unwell do not report for work. It is important to minimise the contact with individuals who are unwell.
Given the circumstances of increased COVID-19 measures and with the focus of avoiding larger gatherings, HMGoG has also taken the view that school meals will not be offered in September. Parents of children in all schools will be advised to prepare a packed lunch for children.
5. How will schools support the mental health of students and combat any stigma against people who have been sick? When children return to school in September there will be a significant focus on mental well-being. We recognise the different experiences children have had during the pandemic and are aware of the range of resulting emotional needs. Work will be carried out on helping children understand what has happened and what is happening in our community and, for older children, the wider world context will be explored at an appropriate level. Understanding is essential to reducing anxiety. Age-appropriate exploration of the virus itself, together with distinguishing between fact and myth, is also vital in reducing any potential stigma associated with coronavirus and with individuals who contract it. This said, at this moment in time, we have not felt there to be, within our school communities, any significant perception of stigma linked to the illness. Teachers will to be vigilant to children’s varying needs, as they always are. During the pandemic, many members of staff have engaged in additional online training and seminars. They have gained more knowledge and experience in areas such as loss and bereavement; school avoidance; trauma; self-harm; and anxiety. It’s important to note that when children return to school, work on emotional well being will continue to be built on strong foundations that have already been developed pre and during the pandemic. Previous to COVID-19 the DofE had already embarked upon a major Mental Health Strategy (see Gibraltar Insight January 2020 - “Developing the Holistic Child”). The essence of the strategy was already being embedded into the ethos and practices in all of our schools. Although additional work needed to be done when the impact of the COVID-19 struck our community earlier this year, the progress already made was an extremely valuable springboard for the challenges the pandemic posed to mental and emotional well-being. The DofE launched 2 initiatives at the end of March which were designed to support the mental health of students during this unprecedented time. Both the ‘Reach Out' and the 'Place to Talk’ initiatives have had and continue to have the common aim of providing children and families with an avenue of support during COVID. Both initiatives are still running. Counsellors remain available over the summer to advise students, teachers and parents; to liaise and to carry out multi-agency work. The Reach Out initiative put teachers directly in contact with their
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students; to offer direct support or point them to appropriate avenues of support; and to assess and mitigate risk. The Reach Out initiative’s core strand consisted of a telephone strategy. Approximately 3,000 calls have been made to families across all sectors. These are in addition to the thousands of interactions and online messages via Seesaw, Google classroom, Edmodo, emails and text messages through which school staff have communicated with parents and young people in our community. Most often teachers have provided a listening ear for parents and provided advice on children's emotional well-being; on difficulties children were facing with the interruption to their routines; or on any challenges the child/family was encountering with the home learning programme. The two other most frequent avenues of support that reach out directly to families and young people to were the Home Learning Team and the Care Agency Child protection teams. However, other avenues of support have included: the 111 helpline; the 41818 helpline; the Care Agency; the mental health team including contact with liaison nurses; the Civil Contingency repatriation team and borders and coastguards; the School counsellors; and the Educational psychologists. The Reach Out initiative also recognised that during this period of increased anxiety, children not originally identified as at risk might also find themselves in needing support. Teachers have been vigilant to those not engaging in home learning platforms and followed up where deemed appropriate to ascertain whether or not the young person or family has experienced any difficulties could be supported with. Any child or parent who expressed concerns through the learning platform or via initiatives such as A Place to Talk have also been followed up on. The aim has been to try to retain a level of engagement, connection and communication with families and young people who usually rely on schools and on familiar individuals within schools for support. Throughout the pandemic, the DofE has worked with staff and other agencies to monitor the children and identify those more at risk. As these children became known, schools reached out to families and arrangements were made with the DofE for them to come back to school under extenuating circumstances. Additionally, the Reach Out initiative has recognised the need to support teachers. In particular, the emotional impact that can result from working with vulnerable children has been recognised, especially during uncertain and anxiety-ridden times. After liaison with the COVID-19 Welfare team, a strategy for teachers was formulated to work in unison with the group’s Frontline Resilience Management initiative. The strategy aimed to both support teachers' mental well-being during this emotionally challenging time and help them support children’s emotional well-being. The Place to Talk initiative has acted as a signposting service and a forum through which the young community as well as their parents/guardians can reach out for emotional support and comes under the school counsellors. The helpline was set up on 16 March 2020 on Facebook & Instagram, coming into operation on 24 March. The variety and channels of communication allowed students to communicate with counsellors in their preferred way.
have been appeased around the expectations of home-learning, about the plans to return to school, about the education facility and the safety of children and young people in school. We are also aware of other agencies, outside school, who offer support to children who have problems they wish to share.
6. How will schools refer children who may need specialised support? Schools will continue to use their established pathways of referral and will escalate matters that require intervention. School staff have already been doing their utmost to maintain contact with individuals identified as being at higher risk or more vulnerable to experiencing difficulties during the pandemic. It will be much easier to maintain contact and provide children and young people with support if they are actually attending school. Frequent and regular contact with trusted adults is a critical avenue of support for vulnerable children in our community. The DofE has strong links with the GHA’s Mental Health team and key staff have been working throughout the summer to discuss cases and find the best support for students. We endeavour to ensure that referral pathways are established and clear.
7. Will any of the schools’ safeguarding and bullying policies change once schools start to re-open? School practices and policies have been updated as necessary at all key stages throughout the pandemic. We will continue to ensure our practices reflect the latest advice from Public Health and are in keeping with best practice. Our safeguarding and anti-bullying policies will not necessarily change as a result of the developing situation with COVID-19, but they will be reviewed as a matter of course and school staff will be guided as to particular ways in which the pandemic might impact on the behaviour of children and young people. Guidelines will be given as to particular strategies that might prove to be more effective during these unprecedented times.
8. How can parents and students support school safety efforts? Parents and students can help by listening carefully to all guidelines and instructions given and doing their utmost to comply with measures put in place. We need to work as a collective to ensure that schools continue to be safe and happy places for children. We feel strongly that all children need to be back in school and need to re-establish their learning routines. We will be prioritising the health and safety of all of our learners and all of our staff, whilst maintaining a keen focus on the learning journey. We ask parents to trust that our plans are based on expert advice and have the best interests of children in mind.
During the pandemic, the Place to Talk team reached out to children and young people they were supporting before lockdown, who have been finding life difficult, not necessarily directly because of the pandemic but because some of their usual lines of support may not have been available to them during lockdown. Teaching staff have raised concerns about children and young people with school counsellors and where appropriate, the team has forged links with these students and families. If necessary the team has then made any relevant referrals to other agencies. Parents have accessed Place to Talk not just to access support for their children due to mental distress but also to access support for themselves when struggling with the emotional impact that supporting their children at home has caused. Anxieties
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COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Schools WHILE COVID-19 CONTINUES TO SPREAD IT IS IMPORTANT THAT COMMUNITIES TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT FURTHER TRANSMISSION, REDUCE THE IMPACTS OF THE OUTBREAK AND SUPPORT CONTROL MEASURES. The protection of children and educational facilities is particularly important. Precautions are necessary to prevent the potential spread of COVID-19 in school settings; however, care must also be taken to avoid stigmatizing students and staff who may have been exposed to the virus. It is important to remember that COVID-19 does not differentiate between borders, ethnicities, disability status, age or gender. Education settings should continue to be welcoming, respectful, inclusive, and supportive environments to all. Measures taken by schools can prevent the entry and spread of COVID-19 by students and staff who may have been exposed to the virus, while minimizing disruption and protecting students and staff from discrimination.
Today, children and young people are global citizens, powerful agents of change and the next generation of caregivers, scientists, and doctors. Any crisis presents the opportunity to help them learn, cultivate compassion and increase resilience while building a safer and more caring community. Having information and facts about COVID-19 will help diminish students’ fears and anxieties around the disease and support their ability to cope with any secondary impacts in their lives. Education can encourage students to become advocates for disease prevention and control at home, in school, and in their community by talking to others about how to prevent the spread of viruses. Maintaining safe school operations or reopening schools after a closure requires many considerations but, if done well, can promote public health.
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WHAT CAN I DO AS A PARENT/CAREGIVER AND COMMUNITY MEMBER?
be considerate of one another - Monitor your child’s health and keep them home from school if they are ill - Teach and model good hygiene practices for your children
KNOW THE LATEST FACTS Understand basic information about coronavirus, including its symptoms, complications and transmission. Stay informed about COVID-19 through reputable sources such as UNICEF and WHO and national health ministry advisories. Be aware of fake information/myths that may circulate by word-ofmouth or online. Recognize the symptoms of COVID-19 (coughing, fever, shortness of breath) in your child. Seek medical advice by first calling your health facility/provider and then take your child in, if advised. Remember that symptoms of COVID-19 such as cough or fever can be similar to those of the flu, or the common cold, which are a lot more common. If your child is sick, keep them home from school and notify the school of your child’s absence and symptoms. Request reading and assignments so that students can continue learning while at home. Explain to your child what is happening in simple words and reassure them that they are safe.
KEEP CHILDREN IN SCHOOL WHEN HEALTHY If your child isn’t displaying any symptoms such as a fever or cough it’s best to keep them in school – unless a public health advisory or other relevant warning or official advice has been issued affecting your child’s school. Instead of keeping children out of school, teach them good hand and respiratory hygiene practices for school and elsewhere, like frequent hand washing, covering a cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or tissue, then throwing away the tissue into a closed bin, and not touching their eyes, mouths or noses if they haven’t properly washed their hands. If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water, if hands are visibly dirty.
HELP CHILDREN COPE WITH THE STRESS
- Ensure that safe drinking water is available and toilets are clean and available at home - Ensure waste is safely collected, stored and disposed of - Cough and sneeze into a tissue or your elbow and avoid touching your face - Coordinate with the school to receive information and ask how you can support
FOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN Children and young people should understand basic, age-appropriate information about coronavirus, including its symptoms, complications, how it is transmitted and how to prevent transmission. Stay informed about COVID-19 through reputable sources. Be aware of fake information/myths that may circulate by word-of-mouth or online.
CHECKLIST FOR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN - In a situation like this it is normal to feel sad, worried, confused, scared or angry. Know that you are not alone and talk to someone you trust, like your parent or teacher so that you can help keep yourself and your school safe and healthy. - Ask questions, educate yourself and get information from reliable sources - Protect yourself and others - Wash your hands frequently, always with soap and water for at least 20 seconds - Remember to not touch your face
Children may respond to stress in different ways. Common responses include having difficulties sleeping, bedwetting, having pain in the stomach or head, and being anxious, withdrawn, angry, clingy or afraid to be left alone. Respond to children’s reactions in a supportive way and explain to them that they are normal reactions to an abnormal situation. Listen to their concerns and take time to comfort them and give them affection, reassure them they’re safe and praise them frequently. If possible, create opportunities for children to play and relax. Keep regular routines and schedules as much as possible, especially before they go to sleep, or help create new ones in a new environment. Provide age-appropriate facts about what has happened, explain what is going on and give them clear examples on what they can do to help protect themselves and others from infection. Share information about what could happen in a reassuring way. For example, if your child is feeling sick and staying at home or the hospital, you could say, “You have to stay at home/at the hospital because it is safer for you and your friends. I know it is hard (maybe scary or even boring) at times, but we need to follow the rules to keep ourselves and others safe. Things will go back to normal soon.”
- Do not share cups, eating utensils, food or drinks with others
CHECKLIST FOR PARENTS/CAREGIVERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS
https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/keymessages-and-actions-for-covid-19-prevention-and-controlin-schools-march-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=baf81d52_4
- Encourage your child to ask questions and express their feelings with you and their teachers. - Remember that your child may have different reactions to stress; be patient and understanding. - Prevent stigma by using facts and reminding students to
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- Be a leader in keeping yourself, your school, family and community healthy. - Share what you learn about preventing disease with your family and friends, - Model good practices such as sneezing or coughing into your elbow and washing your hands, especially for younger family members - Don’t stigmatize your peers or tease anyone about being sick; remember that the virus doesn’t follow geographical boundaries, ethnicities, age or ability or gender. - Tell your parents, another family member, or a caregiver if you feel sick, and ask to stay home. This article has been extracted from a longer document: “Key Messages and Actions for COVID-19 Prevention and Control in Schools” and is published with the permission of its author, Lisa Bender (Education UNICEF NYHQ), also written with WHO and IFRC. It can be read in full here:
For accompanying supplemental content, annexes such as child friendly materials and contextualization, visit the Education Cluster site: https://educationcluster.app.box.com/s/ jhys6hljyfbg42ph6wdkpce8cxr1r63b
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FEATURE& HEALTH WELLBEING
LOOKING TRIMMER & HEALTHIER
THIS SUMMER Are you looking forward to the summer but worried about how you’ll look on the beach? If so, it appears you’re not alone – one survey found that 82% of respondents feel the pressure to shape up before baring it all on the beach. t’s not just a question of aesthetics either, we should also be concerned about how healthy we look and feel. According to the GHA’s Healthy Gibraltar site, living an active lifestyle can help you to feel more energetic and feel better about yourself. Medical research shows that sufficient physical activity can lower your risk of certain diseases by up to 83%, and there are several key aspects of health that can be improved: Integrating exercise into your daily routine can improve your lifestyle with regards to inactivity and obesity. It will also improve mood, relaxation, help you to sleep better, and be able to deal with everyday stresses more effectively. Some research indicates that regular aerobic exercise decreases depression and improves confidence and self-esteem. Certain hormones called ‘endorphins’ released into the body from the brain while exercising are deemed responsible for the mental health benefits. Exercising the major muscles enhances muscle strength through to old age, keeping limbs strong and bodies flexible. This dramatically reduces the risk of falls, hip fractures and improves overall bone health. Vigorous exercise increases deep breathing, and a good respiratory function is essential for sound health.
Impaired glucose tolerance and other aspects of diabetes often result in the individual being overweight and inactive, and having high blood pressure and lipids (fats). Exercise, as part of a lifestyle change, has been shown to reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
in vain if you’re eating the wrong foods. A healthy diet, supplemented with whey protein and strength-training exercises – such as body pump and kettlebells – will build muscle mass, which is helpful for losing weight, as the more muscle mass you have, the more calories you’ll burn.
Most people could benefit from starting to increase their level of physical activity immediately. However, if you are worried about becoming more active consult your GP first. Gentle and sustained exercises such as walking and cycling are good for the heart and stimulate good blood circulation. This changes the proportions of high and low-density lipoproteins in the bloodstream and helps to reduce atherosclerosis, coronary thrombosis and blood pressure. In addition, levels of stress which induce coronary heart disease (CHD), the single most-common cause of death, can be reduced.
Not only is chewing more slowly and thoroughly better for your digestion, it also takes roughly 20 minutes for your body to realise it’s full. So taking your time means you won’t be raiding the fridge immediately after you’ve polished off that roast dinner.
There are a number of biological benefits in the body following physical activity, a number of which are believed to be responsible for reduced cancer rates. Lowering the levels of certain hormones (including insulin and oestrogen) and growth factors are believed to impact both colon and breast cancer development. The generalised improvement of the immune system and reduction of inflammatory responses are also believed to play a role. Here are a few more tips, courtesy of Holland & Barrett, to help you slim down for life. Instead of diving into a punishing exercise regime, start off with workouts you enjoy a few times a week, such as walking the dog or a dance class, for a more sustainable approach to reaching your ideal weight. As gym buffs are fond of saying: “You can’t outtrain a bad diet”. So even if you’re pounding the treadmill several times a week, all that effort will be
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Eating next to nothing, not only leaves you feeling zapped of energy, grouchy and obsessing over food (which can trigger binge eating), but causes your body to enter “starvation mode” meaning it will start burning muscle and storing fat. Other health risks include having your periods stop, as well as hair loss and osteoporosis. A better approach to losing weight is to eat smarter – not less. Cutting out junk is the obvious one, while prioritising fibre-rich foods such as wholegrains and vegetables will help maintain energy levels so you’ll be less prone to hunger-induced grazing. Rather than eliminating your most-loved treats completely, there are ways to compromise so you don’t feel like you’re missing out and blow the diet completely. For example, instead of having a glass of wine, swap it for a vodka and diet tonic. Or rather than snacking on chips, try making sweet potato wedges. Pasta-fiend? Switch to healthier wholegrain spaghetti. And when it comes to dessert, frozen yoghurt or sorbet are less likely to pile on the pounds than ice cream and cake. Advice is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP before trying any remedies.
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
Vaccination IMMUNISATION
Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to prevent diseases. Vaccines help the body’s immune system to recognize and fight pathogens like viruses or bacteria; they protect against more than 25 debilitating or life-threatening diseases, including measles, polio, tetanus, diphtheria, meningitis, influenza, tetanus, typhoid and cervical cancer. Furthermore, infectious diseases can easily cross borders, and infect anyone who is not protected (e.g. Ebola/Zika/COVID-19) WHAT IS A VACCINE? A vaccine is a product that helps the body to recognise and fight viruses or bacteria by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies to a specific disease. It is much safer for your immune system to learn this through vaccination than by catching the diseases and treating them. Once your immune system knows how to fight a disease, it can often protect you for many years.
Serious side effects can occur but these are extremely rare. It is rare for anyone to have a serious allergic reaction to a vaccination. However, if this does happen, it usually happens within minutes and can be promptly dealt with by the person who vaccinates you or your child and is trained to deal with allergic reactions.
WHY IS IMMUNISATION UPTAKE NOT ALWAYS AS DESIRED?
Vaccines are usually administered through needle injections, but can also be administered by mouth or sprayed into the nose. Nearly everyone can get vaccinated, however, due to some medical conditions, some people should not get certain vaccines, or should wait before getting them.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recently listed vaccine hesitancy as one of their top 10 biggest threats to global health. ‘Vaccine hesitancy’ refers to delay, reluctance or refusal of individuals to take up vaccination for their children or themselves. Local data is being collated and it appears that vaccine uptake in Gibraltar is lower than Having a vaccine also benefits your whole comthe WHO recommendation of 95%. This was evmunity through "herd immunity". If enough ident in 2008 with the rise in cases of measles people are vaccinated, it is harder for the on the Rock. The Director of Public Health disease to spread to those people who has recently expressed concerns about this, cannot have vaccines. For example, peohighlighting that the low vaccination rate ple who are ill or have a weakened imof some vaccines could mean further outmune system. Vaccines prevent breaks in the future! Vaccination coverage is the best indicaup to 3 million tor of the level of protection a population HOW LONG DOES IMMUNITY TO AN deaths worldwide will have against vaccine - preventable ILLNESS OR DISEASE LAST? communicable diseases. WHO recomevery year. mends that on a national basis at least The duration of immunity varies with dif95% of children are immunised against ferent diseases and different vaccines. For vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) example: • Tetanus vaccine can last up to 30 years, after which time a booster dose may be needed
ARE VACCINATIONS SAFE? The safety and effectiveness of a vaccine have to be thoroughly tested before they are licensed; and safety continues to be monitored with any rare side effects that are discovered being assessed.
• Whooping cough vaccine gives protection for about 5 years after a full course
Research shows that immunisation is the safest way to protect your child’s health. You are far more likely to be seriously injured by a vaccine-preventable disease than by a vaccine. Many more illnesses and deaths would occur without vaccines! For example:
The recommended timing of vaccine doses aims to provide the best immune protection to cover the period in life when vulnerability to the disease is highest.
• tetanus can cause extreme pain, muscle spasms (lockjaw) and blood clots • measles can cause encephalitis (an infection of the brain) and blindness • many vaccine-preventable diseases can even result in death.
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF VACCINATION? All medicines can cause side effects, but vaccines are among the very safest. Side effects from a vaccine are usually minor and temporary, most are mild and do not last long. The most common side effects of vaccination include: •the area where the needle goes in looking red, swollen and feeling a bit sore for 2 to 3 days •babies or young children feeling a bit unwell or developing a high temperature for 1 or 2 days
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• Influenza vaccine is needed every year due to changes to the type of flu virus in the community
VACCINATION PROTECTS YOU AND YOUR CHILDREN AGAINST POTENTIALLY SEVERE ILL HEALTH. With the Influenza (Flu) season imminent and the uncertainty of how the COVID -19 pandemic will steer, the public are advised to take advantage of the flu vaccine when it becomes available. Influenza is a highly infectious disease with symptoms including fever, chills, headaches, fatigue, and joint or muscle aches; symptoms on par with the COVID-19 infection. Even those who are normally in good health are left feeling quite unwell with the flu; this is exacerbated for those with lowered immunity. Research shows that globally up to 650,000 people die each year due to flu or flu-associated complications. Read more on vaccines and vaccination in Gibraltar: https://healthygibraltar.org/infections/vaccinations/
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Just Married on the Rock
Mobile: 58897000 Email: nicholas64@gibtelecom.net
Jessica & William Married 18th July 2020 Photographer Nicky Sanchez
Sophie & Kevin Married 25th July 2020 Photographer Nicky Sanchez
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FEATURE
Being True to You WHAT DOES IT MEAN AND HOW DO YOU DO IT? We live in a world where we are conditioned from an early age to be aware of and to lay store by other peoples’ opinions. We are rated at school; we go to college or University and we are rated and judged by the level of degree we get; we go into the workforce and we are rated according to productivity, judged and paid accordingly. How many of us choose partners who are approved of by our families and close friends? It goes on and on. The house we live in, the car we drive, the clothes we wear, holidays we take, measuring ourselves against and comparing ourselves with others - it is truly never ending. And in the middle of this we lose sight of who we are. So, take a step back and have a good long and honest look at where you fit in to your own life. For most of you this will be quite a challenge and probably something that will require several visits to make sense of. But once you start to be aware of the areas where you are living someone else’s agenda then you will be fascinated by rediscovering your true self and you will go forward to live your best life! There are many steps you can take and a good starting point is with developing a sense of unconditional love for yourself. This step includes forgiveness and begins with forgiving yourself. This may be forgiving yourself for things which you think you have or have not done. For not following through with plans and dreams – perhaps you forfeited those along the way as you ‘grew up’ and became a ‘responsible’ adult. That’s okay as you were simply doing what you thought best at the time and the good news is that it is never too late! You will most likely feel anger rising inside you and this can be confusing. Maybe a sudden anger will flare up at people who encouraged you on paths they they considered best for you even though it didn’t feel right to you. Remember they too, were probably doing what they thought best at the time so acknowledge your anger, validate it and then you will be able to let it go. Acknowledge also old unforgiveness, release it and let it go and send love to those who have hurt you. This is challenging for sure but an immensely powerful thing to do. Carrying around hurt and unforgiveness only weighs you down whereas appraising it from a new perspective and letting it go is very freeing and you move forward feeling much lighter. Focus your thoughts on good things and rise above all that appears otherwise. Speak your truth, when it feels appropriate to do so, without putting yourself at risk. What others think does not matter – as long as you express yourself with love then you have nothing to worry about. These changes in the way you present yourself may be difficult for some people at first but it is important for your growth that you continue in your truth. Gently and with due care…with relaxed intensity and consistence.
Hone your senses and develop your psychic ability. By spending periods of time in stillness you will become more aware of the power of your senses and then you will be able to refine them. Thus, you will trust yourself to read between the lines: hear the unspoken; see the unseen…and listen with your heart. In this way your intuition will sharpen and your ability to feel the auric energy of others will become stronger. When you develop these very natural abilities your relationships will improve. People who are no longer sharing your path will move onto another one and others will join you as you grow and develop. Remember that you are a child of the Universe. You are a Spiritual Being living in the Temple of a Physical Body so it is essential that you nurture both aspects. Walk barefoot regularly on the sand or in a field of grass. Connect with Mother Earth who is here to care and look after us and in so doing you will have the foundation to reach up and connect with Father Source – the Divine Energy which created you. When you learn practise these steps life will become clearer and everything will make more sense. You will be clearer on your unique purpose in life and you will become a powerful energy and influence on others. Treat this with the utmost care… like a flower petal in your palm, life is precious and people are fragile. Being true to yourself is the most powerful example you can set and the most powerful legacy you can leave behind. You are a unique and wonderful human being – a unique and wonderful spirit. Go forth into the rest of your life and Be True to You. Kate Mchardy MA(Hons) PGCE MSPH Spiritual coach, teacher and healer. katemch@gmail.com Facebook: The University of Light Group / Readings at The University of Light (@tarotangelspiritreadings) Tel: +44 7712889534
WORDS BY KATE MCHARDY GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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ARIES (MAR 21 – APR 21) Be confident in your opinion this month, Aries and stand your ground. Not everyone will appreciate this but you know it has to be done and that you will not suffer fools gladly.
TAURUS (APR 21 – MAY 21) You may feel a little lonely this month, Taurus, and be missing somebody you are fond of. It is OK to feel like this and even more important to acknowledge how you feel. It will pass.
GEMINI (MAY 22 – JUNE 22) Awaken your inner child this month, Gemini, and listen to what he/she has to say. The child within is the voice of wisdom, knows your deepest needs and will never let you down.
@GBZInsight
CANCER (JUNE 23 – JULY 22) You may need to seek the wisdom of an old soul or guru type friend Cancer. This is the only way to get a satisfactory answer to your dilemma. And your hunch will prove to be correct.
THE ROCK’S LONGEST RUNNING MAGAZINE
LEO (JULY 23 – AUG 23) Pay close attention to the small print, Leo. This means to read between the lines of the spoken word also. What are people not saying that maybe they should be? Trust your sixth sense.
VIRGO TAKEAWAYS
(AUG 24 – SEP 23)
VEHICLE REPAIRS
If you have a legal or medical issue to deal with then all is looking good, Virgo. Things will work out for the best so you can go forward with confidence on this matter
LIBRA (SEP 24 – OCT 23) Ah…… this is a month for you to delegate some responsibilities to a younger person, Libra. You may find it a bit difficult at first but be patient and know that it will also give you some long awaited freedom.
SCORPIO (OCT 24 – NOV 22) This is a perfect time for you to trust your intuition, Scorpio. If you feel a dark energy around you then you are probably right and the best thing to do is to simply shine light. Loving thoughts are all that’s needed.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23 – DEC 21) You are in for a big change this month, Sagittarius! It may come as a bit of a shock and you may even resist to begin with. But a new door is about to open and you will happily step through.
CAPRICORN (DEC 22 – JAN 20)
INDUSTRIAL
It looks like you are going to be travelling, Capricorn. It is a trip you have wanted to make for quite some time but have been putting off. No longer though…. Go on and enjoy!
AQUARIUS (JAN 21 – FEB 19) You’ll be feeling a bit nostalgic Aquarius, and allowing your memories to flood back from times gone by. Remember to concentrate on the happy memories and so create more of the same.
PISCES (FEB 20 – MAR 20) You are feeling super focused this month, Pisces and full of action. Go for it and ignore the naysayers. You may not see the wood for the trees to begin with but your actions will be vindicated very soon.
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Email: katemch@gmail.com Facebook Group: Horoscopes Gibraltar
I love the idea of having your very own flavoured butters in the fridge ready to use on some toast, with sauces or well, pretty much anything as some added flavour for your meals. CORIANDER, LIME, GREEN CHILLI 250G Butter
1 Green Chilli
Small Bunch Coriander
1 Red Chilli
Zest of 1 Lime
GARLIC, PARSLEY & PAPRIKA 250G Butter
1 Bunch Parsley
3 Garlic Cloves
2 Tsp Paprika
METHOD 1, Use room temperature butter. Beat the butter until it is soft and creamy, finely chop any of the whole ingredients into very tiny pieces and add to the butter. Continue to beat until all added ingredients are blended in sparingly. It’s easier if you use your hands. 2, Pour the now flavoured butter onto a piece of baking parchment or cling film and begin to roll it around the butter, shaping it into a cylinder. Twist the end and place the butter back in the fridge to harden or in the freezer for use further down the line.
For more delicious Mama Lotties recipes visit:
www.mamalotties.com
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WIN!!! WIN!!! WIN!!!
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1. To surrender or give up, for the sake of something else. (9)
1. Found on most beaches. (4)
5. A male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “rest.”. (4) 7. A person who has retired from an occupation or profession. (7) 9. _ _m, a cut and polished precious stone. (2) 11. An implement for sweeping. (5) 12. _ _ _ _l, to diminish, impair the quality of. (4) 13. _ _ _ _ Artois, leading character in the British sitcom “Allo Allo”. (4)
A FABULOUS HIMALAYAN SALT LAMP
2. _ _ _ _se, lacking in fineness or delicacy of texture. (4) 3. Something added or gained; addition; increase. (9) 4. Conducive to advantage or interest. (9) 6. A type of fish found in the North Atlantic. (7)
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 Light & Power Shop.
Name:....................................................................................
8. Common Russian forename. (4) 10. Short for “As soon as possible”. (4) 11. Something to be thankful for. (4)
Address:................................................................................ Tel: ............................................
14. the first and lowest whole number. (3)
Last month’s lucky winner was: Mrs SJ Thomson
15. An unpleasant smell; stink. (4) 16. Short for statistic. (4)
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