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Your Excellency THE ROCK’S NEW GOVERNOR TALKS TO GIBRALTAR INSIGHT
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OC TO BER ISSUE 54
Contents
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46
52
Community Insight
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PACS: WHY TAKE A CHILD TO PLAYGROUP
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HEALTH & WELLBEING: BOOST YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM
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65
WEDDING INSIGHT
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HEALTH & WELLBEING: MYTH BUSTING FLU
68
HOROSCOPES
69
MAMA LOTTIES RECIPE
70
THE LIGHT & POWER SHOP CROSSWORD
GIBRALTAR NEWS
Business Insight 11
BUSINESS NEWS
Football Insight
Features 21
CYBER SECURITY
LIFE AFTER COVID
24
GIBRALTAR WELCOMES A NEW GOVERNOR
Forces Insight
29
SHOP LOCAL - SUPPORT OUR ROCK
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27
ARMED FORCES NEWS
30 WHY WE SHOULD SHOP LOCALLY THIS CHRISTMAS 34
THE TASK OF CHRISTMAS SHOPPING
40 SHOP EARLY FOR CHRISTRMAS
Environmental Insight 15
SUSTAINABLE FOOD CHOICES
Regular Features 19
TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT
36
TAGORE COMPETITION
46 MOTORING INSIGHT: HONDA E 55
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CHRISTMAS FUN FACTS
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REFUGEE IN YOUR HOME
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THE JOY THAT MUSIC BRINGS
50 HISTORY: A MILITARY LIFE DURING THE MOST EVENTFUL PERIODS OF THE LATE WAR - PT2 52
A LONG WEEKEND AWAY: MERIDA
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WHY DYSLEXICS MAKE GOOD SPIES
60 SCHOOL OF HEALTH STUDIES 67
THE POWER OF FIVE
A VET'S INSIGHT: HYPERTENSION IN CATS OCTOBER 2020
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Gibraltar Insight Deputy Editor: Jean King
Gibraltar Insight - the Rock’s longest running magazine.
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Gibraltar Insight places great importance on the accuracy of the information contained within this publication, but cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions. Views expressed by contributors and/or correspondents do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher. Neither Gibraltar Insight nor GBZ Media Limited is responsible for any claims made, or material(s) used, in advertisements. For permission to copy cuttings for internal or client use, contact NLA - nlamediaaccess.com or +441892 525273.
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COMMUNITY INSIGHT
CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR EVENTS
Owing to the current COVID-19 situation, many traditional events of the Festive period in Gibraltar have been disrupted. The Christmas Festival of Lights, the Christmas Attractions at John Mackintosh Square and the New Year’s Celebrations at Casemates will not be held this year in their usual format. Gibraltar Cultural Services is working on an online offering for both the Christmas Festival of Lights and the New Year’s Celebrations. Further details will be announced in due course. Discussions are also being held with the Cavalcade Committee to decide whether the 2021 Three Kings’ Cavalcade will be able to proceed. These arrangements will be held under constant review in order to allow a return to normality in line with the prevalent public health guidelines, as the time approaches. Minister for Culture, John Cortes commented, “It is indeed sad that we have had to take these decisions. But it is important that our celebrations this Festive Season don’t become a cause for regret later. We will find other ways to enjoy ourselves, responsibly, as we did on National Day, as we await better times.”
PARLIAMENT RESTORATION HMGoG has announced that Parliament House on Main Street will be subject to a major restoration works. This follows the decision to take back the commercial premises on the ground floor and return the area to its original use. The building which houses the Gibraltar Parliament was completed in 1817 as the seat of the Exchange and Commercial Library. This had been established to rival the military-only Garrison Library. The Exchange building later housed the Gibraltar Legislative Council which was established in 1950. This was followed by the Gibraltar House of Assembly when this was established under the 1969 Constitution, and it became the seat of the Gibraltar Parliament since the 2006 Constitution. The Gibraltar Heritage Trust has warmly welcomed the news, noting that any restoration should also take into consideration as much future-proofing measures as possible so that it continues to serve the community in times ahead.
Those wanting further information should contact the Gibraltar Cultural Services Events Department on 200 67236 or info@culture.gi
THE HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT PROPERTY KNOWN AS "FORTRESS HOUSE" HAS RECENTLY BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE. This building has great importance to Gibraltar, being at one time the home of Lieut. General Sir Robert Boyd, whilst he was Governor of Gibraltar between 1776 and 1777. Succeeded by General Elliott, Boyd remained in Gibraltar throughout the Great Siege and together with William Green was responsible for the works on the King’s Bastion which proved to be a critical defence during the Siege. Boyd then became Governor for a further term from 1790 to 1794. Upon his death he requested to be buried within the walls of the King’s Bastion, where he remains to this day. Fortress House, which has fallen into a particularly poor state in recent years, is of typical Georgian architecture with strong Gibraltar vernacular features such as a verandaed corridor overlooking a courtyard garden. Although part of the original garden was reduced decades ago for the provision of a pavement, the style and proportions of this building have remained largely unchanged over the centuries. The Gibraltar Heritage Trust has been pushing for this property to be listed for many years and encourages any interested parties to engage with them as early as possible. Image: detail from a map of 1799 by Jean-Denis Barbie du Bocage showing 'Maison de Gouvernour Boyd' on Fortress House.
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COMMUNITY INSIGHT
Mount Alvernia, the home of many residents living with Dementia and the largest residential care home for the elderly - was floodlit in purple to mark World Alzheimer’s Day.
BaysideWINS
Bayside School has won the incredibly prestigious UK Cyber School of the Year Award. The Chief Minister met with the teaching team behind the success that has put Gibraltar at the forefront of cybersecurity education, and has earned consistent success at the annual Cyber Centurion competition. The Chief Minister, Fabian Picardo, said, "Wow. I am extremely proud of this fantastic achievement by a dedicated team of teachers and their talented pupils. This is excellent news for education in Gibraltar and for all our students who have a very bright future ahead."
ENROLMENTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF GIBRALTAR HAVE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM THE LAST AVAILABLE STATISTICS LAST YEAR. This year over 200 students have been welcomed to the Rock's academic family. The University of Gibraltar’s Vice-Chancellor said, “I am delighted to welcome our 2020/2021 cohort of students to the University of Gibraltar. It has been a unique year and seeing the excitement of so many new and returning students on campus during our welcome week highlights our purpose; the pursuit of shaping personal and professional futures through education, training and research.” Acknowledging some of the challenges faced across the higher education sector as a whole, Professor Bachleda added, “Despite all the challenges affecting higher education institutions globally as a result of the pandemic I am pleased to say that our enrolments have more than doubled and we have the largest number of international students to date.
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Local students will this year learn alongside learners from Canada, Guatemala, Germany, Nigeria, Italy, Austria, Netherlands, Morocco, Spain and the USA - some of whom will be staying in the student accommodation. In order to welcome everyone on campus and settle them into life in Gibraltar, the University hosted a number of events which included beach volleyball and a walking tour of the Rock. In the five years since its launch, the University has been developing its portfolio of courses and programmes. Learning opportunities include professional and short courses, undergraduate degrees such as BSc (Hons) Adult Nursing, BSC (Hons) Maritime Science, BBA (Hons) Bachelor of Business Administration and postgraduate programmes that include PGCE, the MBA, MSc in Marine Science and Climate Change, MA Leadership & Management and PhD research.
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SOVEREIGN CORPORATE SERVICES Establish and Support your Business Market Entry Insurance business packages SOVEREIGN PRIVATE CLIENT Wealth management Asset protection Insurance SOVEREIGN RETIREMENT PLANNING Global Personal and Occupational Pensions Founded in Gibraltar in 1987 Sovereign has since grown into one of the world’s largest independent corporate and trust service providers currently managing over 20,000 clients with assets under administration in excess of US$10 billion.
To contact us email: gib@SovereignGroup.com or call +350 200 76173 Bahamas Bahrain China – Beijing, Shanghai Cyprus Gibraltar Guernsey Hong Kong Isle of Man Malta Mauritius Portugal Saudi Arabia Singapore South Africa Switzerland United Arab Emirates – Abu Dhabi, Dubai United Kingdom – London, Wirral
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BUSINESS INSIGHT IN ASSOCIATION WITH SOVEREIGN GROUP
SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS FINALISTS
1. ENGAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY: COMMUNITY)
7. REGIONAL IMPACT FOR SUSTAINABILITY • Gibraltar Morocco Business Association • AmCham – Gibraltar-American Chamber of Commerce • Instituto de Estudios Campogibraltareños
• Action on Poverty | "Ending Relative Poverty" • Sustainable Gibraltar | "TrafficFreeTuesdays and Sustainable Living" • GBC Viewpoint and Action for Housing | "Dignified and Safe Housing for all" • AWCP, GHA Health Promotions, Thinking Green | "Conscious Eating: Habits for Habitats"
8. EDUCATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY • Young Enterprise, Gibraltar • St Bernard’s First School • Loreto Convent School • Marlene Dali
2. ENGAGEMENT FOR SUSTAINABILITY: BUSINESS) • Chestertons | "Carbon Footprints: Sustainable Transport" • Kindred Group Gibraltar Plc | "Engagement in Mental Health Awareness" • OTWO Magazine | "Sustainable Communities" • Carmel Khalilian | "Engagement in Sustainable Planning & Design"
3. SUSTAINABLE EVENTS • Calentita Festival • BrightMed • Gibraltar 2019 NatWest International Island Games
4. SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY • Bayside School Cyber Club • Girls in Tech, Gibraltar • Energy Vision Group
9. SUSTAINABILITY IN SPORT AND LEISURE
THE FINALISTS FOR THE GIBRALTAR SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED. THE AWARDS ARE INFORMED BY THE UNSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) AND CELEBRATE LOCAL AND REGIONAL BEST PRACTICE.
• Europa Point Football Club • Gibraltar 2019 NatWest International Island Games
10. SUSTAINABILITY IN BUSINESS • TSN • Shine Easy Ltd
5. PLANNING, DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION FOR SUSTAINABILITY • GC Architects, E&M Engineers Ltd, Carduus and Casais | Bayside and Westside Comprehensive Schools • North Gorge Ltd | Eco Sustainable Residential Development
6. FOOD FOR SUSTAINABILITY
11. GIBRALTAR’S 2020 YOUNG CHAMPION AWARD • Iona Sacarello
12.. MINISTER’S FUTURE GENERATIONS AWARD • Joyful Riot Urban Garden Initiative
• Calentita Festival • Nosha’s Healthy Options • Vicky’s Natural Kitchens
#GibraltarSchoolStrike4Climate Good luck to all the nominees.
Ocean Village Airport Donation Ocean Village has rallied round one of Gibraltar's most important trading hubs - the airport - by donating complimentary hand sanitisers to help battle COVID-19. Emilia Hazell-Smith, from Ocean Village said, “We are delighted to be able to donate our hand sanitizers to Gibraltar Airport to help keep travellers safe. We have donated over 30,000 hand sanitizers throughout Gibraltar since we started distribution at the beginning of August.” The CEO of Gibraltar Airport, Terence Lopez added, “Despite the reduction in passenger figures this year, we are equally concerned for the health and wellbeing of all our passengers and staff, and look forward to Gibraltar’s safe and profitable return to normality.” Hero Hire is a new free app that acts as an interactive directory designed by local company Koffee Studios, run by Aidan Serra and James Linares, who specialise in web/app/software design and development. Hero Hire itself is a simple proposition that uses integration with social media as well as word-of-mouth recommendations to put the user in touch with the right person for the services required, an electrician for example. Extra features will be added over time, and there are plans to expand beyond Gibraltar.
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The Deputy Chief Minister Dr Joseph Garcia said that the combination of leaving the EU and the COVID-19 pandemic had the potential makings of a perfect storm, during a virtual panel discussion entitled “Brexit in times of COVID-19” at the online conference of the UK's Liberal Democrats.
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SUSTAINABLE
FOOD CHOICES It’s quite simple really, our daily food choices can make a significant difference not just to our own life chances but to the health of the planet. We are already aware that low fat, low sugar, balanced diets are good for us; they improve well-being and reduce our chances of obesity and disease. Yet, the impact of food procurement and consumption on the earth systems, nature, and biodiversity are perhaps not so well known.
WORDS BY PROF DANIELLA TILBURY GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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We have recently come to learn that between 20-29% of greenhouse gases come from food production. A diet based on vegetables and grain has the lowest carbon footprint; meals containing pork, chicken and fish create a moderate impact; whilst consuming large quantities of beef and lamb leaves an environmental dent on our planet. Sometimes it can simply be a matter of awareness and of understanding the impact of choices as consumers. Other times, it is about what is expected by those who organise events and/ or procure food services on a regular basis. Recognising this, HMGOG has released a new Sustainable Catering policy. This document identifies what it understands by sustainable catering and sets expectations with regards to the procurement of food and food services for government meetings and functions as well as Government-supported events. So going forward, the Gibraltar Music Festival and similar events will be subject to the commitments outlined in this document. Various stakeholder groups including the Sustainable Gibraltar Food Working Group and key professionals in the field have informed the policy and guided the identification of best practice. A separate document outlining sustainable catering considerations as they apply to catering outlets such as Government hospitals and homes and schools is to be developed. In Gibraltar, we rightly engage in clean-up campaigns, promote recycling and have bought into the idea of avoiding single-use plastics. We have a healthy obsession with waste disposal and waste reduction. The policy recognises that this is an important issue but also looks at the big picture regarding food and sustainability - going beyond the promotion reusable and bio-degradable options. In my view, this is very timely. We need to go a step further and consider issues at source and not just at the end-of-pipe. This means going beyond packaging and asking questions about ethical sourcing, animal wel-
fare, fair wage as well as how far the food has traveled to get to us. The document recognises this need promoting consideration of food miles, choosing organic and Fairtrade options as well as sustainably certified fish and fish products. There are many businesses in our community that are already opting for sustainable practice and embrace many of these commitments. Indeed, the recently announced finalists for the Food for Sustainability category of the Gibraltar Sustainability Awards demonstrate that the commitment to sustainable catering is alive and well. Judges commented on how the Calentita Festival has taken on environmental and ethical considerations at its core – and this is not an easy task. Yet, the ripple effect of such an initiative can be immense and organisers can influence not just the food and catering industry but also consumers and how they make choices that impact people and the planet. NOSHA’S HEALTHY OPTIONS is also recognised for embracing sustainability values at the heart of this small business venture. This catering business provides nutritious food meeting a diversity of dietary needs in the community (low salt, low fat, vegetarian, gluten, and lactose-free options) at a reasonable price. It also seeks to minimize its carbon footprint by reducing their plastic waste. And using food containers that are made from sugar cane, and bamboo cutlery as well as plant-based soup containers. VICKY’S NATURAL KITCHEN (VKN) has also been shortlisted for a Gibraltar Sustainability Award. This catering business offers balanced meals sourced locally (and regionally) and supports homegrown food practices as well as healthy choices. VNK offering has sustainability an integral principle and is committed to raising awareness and building interest in sustainable food through workshops, courses, and television programmes.
THESE ARE GIBRALTAR’S FIRST STEPS AS WE ADOPT MORE RESPONSIBLE FOOD CHOICES WHICH ULTIMATELY, WILL BENEFIT US ALL.
Article written by Professor Daniella Tilbury, Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Future Generations. HMGOG Sustainable Catering Policy document can be downloaded from https://www.futuregenerations.gi/news/sustainable-catering-11 The Gibraltar Sustainability Award: Food category was open to catering professionals and food as well as organisations that procure food on a regular basis. Videoclips of the entries can be viewed at www.futuregeerations.gi, The Awards will be announced on the 8th October.
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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.
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TECHNOLOGY INSIGHT
#APPLEEVENT YOU MIGHT BE FORGIVEN FOR THINKING THAT WRITING ABOUT APPLE EVENTS IS LIKE THE NUMBER 9 BUS COMING ROUND SO FREQUENTLY, BUT THE NUB OF DOING SO IS THAT IT IS A USEFUL MEASURE OF WHERE TECH MIGHT BE GOING, AS A WHOLE, FOR THE NEXT 3-6 MONTHS.
watchOS is snappier and it can even tell you if you're washing your hands long enough when it senses water, lather sounds and moving hands. Another feature is sleep tracking which probably ought to have been included before, but it's there now and pairs nicely with the Health app on iPhone.
Apple doesn't always get things right. There have been a few occasions where the big "one more thing" reveal back in the day turned out to be underwhelming and unsuccessful. The G4 Cube being one and the Ping music social media service (remember that?) being another.
Talking of pairing, a new feature allows for watches to be used without a connected iPhone. This is great for families with younger children and older relatives who don't necessarily need the added device. Plus, a new model was announced - the Apple Watch SE - with some premium features missing - but will be more than adequate for the needs of those it targets.
With COVID-19 being the omnipresent shadow over large-scale events, this Keynote was again filmed and streamed on Apple's event TV channel and YouTube. It was slick as always (was Tim Cook in front of a chromakey though?) and this way of presenting gives a break to those executives who aren't 100% confident doing public speaking in front of a crowd. There were even clever cameo appearances from some Apple senior leaders who weren't actually doing any of the talking, Craig Federighi for example, all done in a very "human" way. The event focused on the newest iteration of the Apple Watch. This is one of the most useful pieces of technology in years, and is the complete embodiment of the Japanese philosophy of constant incremental improvement. The first Apple Watch was much bulkier, had different gestures for both the screen and buttons and was, frankly, a bit clunky. And it had terrible battery life and wasn't waterproof. Fast-forward to the 6th version of the wearable device and it's a pretty comprehensive health gadget. This is perhaps why the initial versions weren't so great, Apple just hadn't pinpointed the niche exactly. The big stand-out is that it can now read blood oxygen levels on top of other small improvements - an altimeter for example. The software
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If you know how Apple operates, one of the things it corporately has an aversion to is clutter. Until this event, the pricing structure for the likes of Apple News+, Apple Music and so on was all over the place. To tie in with the launch of their new online fitness offering, the pricing has been simplified under the name Apple One. It is a bit of a potpourri that you can customise and pricing will be finalised soon for GBP. Also announced were some new iPads. They seemed to be very well thought through, again incremental, improvements. The thing with the iPad is that they're made so well and fulfil their (limited) purpose - email, web, media - with such ease that the upgrade cycle for consumers seems to be much longer than with a normal PC (usually 3 years). Also, the form factor isn't really going to change with iPads, so a good announcement if you're looking to upgrade, but not a show-stopping wow moment otherwise. At the time of writing, the rumour mill was in full swing about Tuesday 13th October being the next iPhone reveal. Only time (told from an Apple Watch, of course) will tell.
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FEATURE
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Cyber criminality is here to stay and will evolve as those that seek to counter cyber threats evolve. Effective cyber risk mitigation and becoming #hardtohack requires a comprehensive and resourced cyber-security programme, designed to track and evolve to meet with the cyber threats of today and the future. This takes consideration, planning and investment. There are a number of cyber security management frameworks available to assist with the implementation of a cyber risk governance; however, to keep things clear, simple, manageable and non-geeky it is suggested that you focus on addressing the following areas:
IN LAST EDITION OF GIBRALTAR INSIGHTS CSS PLATINUM EXPLORED ‘WHY AND HOW CYBER CRIMINALS TARGET BUSINESSES AND INDIVIDUALS.’ IN THIS EDITION THEY EXPLAIN WHAT THE GIBRALTARIAN BUSINESS
many digital technical controls that can be implemented to meet the cyber challenges of today. Although, traditional anti-virus is not the modern-day solution. Artificial intelligence threat detection and quarantine systems are the minimum standard. Cyber criminals use artificial intelligence to reconnoitre and find your vulnerabilities. To defend against and beat artificial intelligence you need artificial intelligence – we humans simply cannot keep up anymore.
• BE PREPARED TO RESPOND.
No security programme is infallible. If a cyber-criminal is committed to their goal, they will find a way. The trick is being TO BE #HARDTOHACK. #hardtohack. Cyber criminals will seek easier prey when faced with a comprehensive and coherent cyber security resilience. If an attack is successful, halting it as quickly as possible is • CYBER RISK GOVERNANCE: your primary concern to ensure you can minimise its scope What gets planned gets done. All business should underand scale. What will you do? Who will you call? Do you take a cyber assurance and maturity assessment to underhave a plan? Have you rehearsed it? stand their cyber resilience and where their risk and vulnerabilities lie. These can then be prioritised and addressed in • MITIGATE AGAINST UNANTICIPATED COSTS accordance with the greatest risk.
COMMUNITY SHOULD DO
(INSURANCE).
“It is only when you know where you are, that you can plot a course to where you want to go.”
• SECURE YOUR TEAM: Your team are your biggest strength but also an area of great vulnerability. Your team will have multiple devices in their possession that have trusted access to your digital networks. You need to protect against their errors, accidents and sadly occasionally their malicious acts. This is mitigated by selecting the right team in the first place and training them how to recognise threats, attacks and how to use their electronic devices appropriately. Consider a service like Crew Check to carry out deep and thorough background checks and the Cyber Licence to ensure a consistent level of cyber security awareness training.
• SECURE THE SUPPLY CHAIN: It is easy to assume that every one of your suppliers takes its cyber security seriously, but do they it? How do you know? How do they know? Do they know what good actually is? 92% of cyber-attacks are delivered by email. Suppliers have trusted access to your inboxes and can be used as a proxy to access your networks. It is good to trust, but better to check. You should insist on conducting supplier due diligence as a condition of entering into any contract. This is fast becoming the norm across all sectors and a requirement of the UK’s GDPR.
• SECURE AGAINST TECHNICAL ATTACK: Mutating-viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, spyware, DDOS attack. Frightening, technical geeky digital tools and weapons that the majority of us do not understand or have the faintest clue how to combat. Thankfully there are
Should a cyber-attack cripple your business you could be facing some hefty costs. These could include system repair costs (cyber forensic specialists can charge thousands per day), business interruption costs, delay to schedule, knock-on impact to other clients, adverse media coverage, financial damages claims etc. This can be mitigated by good cyber insurance, but only if the right insurance is purchased with realistic cover and service levels and having met the minimum cyber security standards for the policy to be valid.
WHO SHOULD THE GIBRALTARIAN COMMUNITY TRUST TO SUPPORT THEM? Find a cyber security company that knows your industry/ sector and is a trusted commentator and thought leader. Seek advice from business associations and the police for trusted suppliers. CSS Platinum can help to… Regretfully, for most it is not a case of if a cyber-attack will occur, but rather when. Addressing cyber security can be an intimidating prospect, but when vulnerabilities are prioritised and addressed proportionately and coherently and then governed effectively the end result is that individuals, their businesses and the Gibraltarian community will be #hardtohack. Michael Wills is co-founder and chief data officer for CSS Platinum. For further information on the company and the services it provides to Gibraltar businesses and the international yachting industry, please visit https://cssplatinum.com or email support@cssplatinum.com.
WORDS BY MIKE WILLS GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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THE NEED FOR SPEED... Gibtelecom has today unveiled the next generation in fibre technology for Gibraltar and is today launching its Gigabit Gibraltar plan, bringing hyperfast connectivity to everyone, Gibraltar-wide, by the end of 2022.
robust, superior and future-ready solutions. With this technology, Gibtelecom will have the capability to roll out multi-gigabit connections and further improvements over the next decade.” said Jansen Reyes, Director of Technology.
Gibtelecom’s new 1Gb fibre broadband is already available to over 2000 homes across 13 large residential estates. Gibtelecom’s Chief Executive, Noel Burrows said: “this is a giant digital leap forward for Gibraltar. For the first time ever, all of Gibraltar will be able to experience hyperfast and reliable gigabit internet connections thanks to the latest technology and the power of our network.”
GIBRALTAR'S FASTEST FIBRE BROADBAND Experience speeds like never before with hyperfast 1Gb symmetric fibre broadband
“This upgrade plan will see gigabit speeds rolled out at an unrivalled pace right across Gibraltar, bringing our customers the future-proof connections of tomorrow” he added.
1Gb £65
Thanks to Gigabit Gibraltar, customers will be able to take advantage of emerging consumer technologies such as cloud gaming, virtual reality entertainment and 8K video streaming across the home. “The latest in Fibre-To-The-Premises (FTTP) technology is being rolled out across the entire country. Our network, which has been meticulously engineered using Point 2 Point direct fibre, will not only be faster, but will also deliver more
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per month
Get ready for GigaGib, gigabit fibre broadband Gibraltar-wide by 2022 Check availability and upgrade online at gibtele.com/gigagib T&C's apply.
OCTOBER 2020
Adrian Ochello, Director of Consumer and Marketing, said “This is a huge technological stride for Gibraltar and we’re proudly leading the way, making it faster and accessible to everyone. With our hyperfast 1Gb broadband, ultra-high definition content can be streamed without buffering and very large files can be downloaded and uploaded in a flash, even across multiple devices sharing the connection simultaneously. This launch comes only weeks after introducing great new mobile plans loaded with much more data, new landline plans with inclusive minutes, simpler tariffs, and an improved fully licensed TV service which now carries over 100 TV channels, popular on-demand content, catch-up and a mobile app to watch TV on the go. Our service bundles are extremely popular and offer great savings, and there’s plenty more to come… so watch this space.” Customers can check 1Gb availability and pricing, as well as register online at gibtele.com/gigagib.
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FEATURE
WORDS BY JO WARD 24
OCTOBER 2020
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FEATURE
I don't think there is any British Governor around the world that could feel as at home as I do in Gibraltar.” GIBRALTAR WELCOMES A NEW GOVERNOR Vice Admiral Sir David George Steel, KBE, DL was appointed Governor of Gibraltar, the Queen's representative on the Rock, by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in June this year. Jo Ward talks to him about his life, career and his hopes for Gibraltar. As a young boy David Steel was taken by his parents on holiday to France. “We went on a Townsend Thoresen ferry from Dover to Calais and I can remember walking up and down the passageways - I could only have been about six - feeling that I was the Captain, and from then on I always wanted to join the Navy,” he says. Born in Walthamstow, Sir David jokes that he is ‘an Essex boy’. “My mother was a Cockney and my father a Geordie, so I am a mixed-up kid,” he remarks. “My father was an architect and when I was about two years old we moved to Cheshire when he got a job running a partnership in Manchester.” Educated at independent Rossall School in Lancashire, on the Fylde coast just north of Blackpool, Sir David got a scholarship from the Navy at sixteen and then applied to join Dartmouth and Durham University at the same time. “Durham agreed to postpone my entry for a year so I went to Dartmouth, did my initial Naval Officer Training and then went on to read Law at Durham,” he tells me. Sir David says that when her two sons were headed for university, he can remember his mother saying that she couldn’t bear the thought of them having a degree without having one herself, so she did an Open University degree in Humanities and Social Sciences. “I can’t remember whether she got her BA before I got mine, but I think we were pretty much on a par,” he states. Asked why he chose law to study, Sir David says that he was firstly interested in it and that secondGIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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ly he thought it was a very useful broad vocational degree. “In the Navy they take two officers a year to become Barristers and even at that very early formative stage I had decided that I wanted to be in the Navy branch because I enjoyed that part of the Navy and I recognised it was the branch from which they chose Barristers, so I was very fortunate and I gained my degree.” Four years later the Navy sent Sir David to the Inns of Court to become a Barrister, from where he qualified and was then called to the bar in 1988. “Throughout my naval career I was either a legal advisor to one admiral or another and then I was a Defence or Prosecution Counsel in Courts Martial, going on to became a Judge in Courts Martial towards the end of my career.” Agreeing that he was lucky to be able to fulfil both his ambitions, Sir David comments that he has been blessed with his career. “The Navy was first and foremost always going to be my career and to be able to have the legal professional side as well was terrific,” he explains. “I continued that all the way up to when I was a four ring Captain and then I had to make a decision, do I continue down the legal route or throw my energy into the Navy and I decided to go down that route, which allowed me to go higher but it did mean that I slightly left the law behind.” Sir David goes on to mention that having a legal background has helped not just in that job, but in his job before he came to Gibraltar and will also be an asset whilst he is here. Although he served in the Falklands War and in Kosovo, Sir David wishes that he had travelled rather more than did. “Because my branch and the legal professional I didn't go to sea nearly as much as my warfare counterparts, whom I was advising back in the UK, out of my thirty-six years in the Navy I was attached to a ship for just shy of fifteen years, but I would have been much more at sea had I not read the law.”
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FEATURE Greatest Achievement Among his most notable achievements are being awarded a Queen's Commendation for Valuable Service in support of operations in Kosovo and Macedonia while serving in the aircraft carrier HMS Invincible in 1999. Sir David was also honoured for his "inspirational leadership" during the Government's savings review of Naval Bases in 2007 and in response to the question about what he considers to be his greatest achievement, Sir David highlights his part in keeping Portsmouth open as an operational naval base. “In 2005 I was appointed to be the Naval Base Commander Portsmouth in charge of seventeen thousand people, of which a good twelve thousand of those are civilians who work on the ships, the engineering, and in the infrastructure facilities,” he explains. “In 2007 the then government announced that the country could no longer afford three naval bases, Plymouth, Portsmouth and Faslane in Scotland, and that one was to close.” Sir David says that there was to be a review of those three naval bases but that the dice was already against Portsmouth because it didn't cater for nuclear powered vessels and was much older than the other two bases. “With the amazing help of the Trade Unions and all the civilian population we mounted the case, not in a sort of rebellious way but we put the case for Portsmouth and for over two years we continued to put forward that case – looking at how we could bring the costs down and how we could promote what the naval base did.” Ultimately, the government agreed that Portsmouth couldn’t possibly be closed. “I had a very small part in keeping the Navy's oldest naval base open but more particular to me was making sure that seventeen thousand people kept their jobs and so if I had one glimmer of success in my naval career - I think that was probably it,” he says modestly. Interestingly, Sir David oversaw the first change in the Royal Naval uniform since 1890. “Now we are at the other end of the scale,” he laughs as he says this. “Uniform is as controversial as anything could possibly be in the Navy and over many years there have been different designs for the uniforms.” As Second Sea Lord, Sir David commissioned a study and brought in a new, more up-to-date uniform which was universally accepted. “If you watched 'In Which we Serve’ the film set in WWII – the old uniform was the same uniform as then and every other navy in the world had moved on, so we introduced something that was comfortable to wear both in the Arctic and in the Middle East.”
“Every time they do something like this the Royal Navy is on the water making a silent protest, and in some cases not a silent protest, and if they fly the Spanish flag in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters, we will fly a bigger Union flag in the Territorial Waters - it is as simple as that.” In these unprecedented times, with the withdrawal from the European Union and the Covid-19 issues, Sir David says that he has found himself very much more involved in helping the British and Gibraltarian Governments devise the plans and solutions to what could be an incredibly difficult problem. “Because I have not been able to go out and about as much as I would have liked, every day of the week has been taken up with helping the negotiations to deliver a result for Gibraltar - so I do feel I am involved in the decision making.”
Brexit Regarding the issue of Brexit, Sir David tells me that he could never have anticipated before he came here just how much effort the British Government is putting in to ensuring a good outcome for Gibraltar. “Whether one is for or against leaving the European Union, and I make no bones about it - I'm a European through and through but that doesn't mean that I voted to stay or leave - but I do believe in the European family of nations,” he states. “I believe that Britain coming out of the European Union will flourish and on the back of that I think we will go through some difficult patches but Britain is the second largest trading nation in Europe, it is the sixth or seventh largest trading nation in the world and it is not going to stop on the 1st January 2021.” “Trade is going to continue with Europe and the rest of the World and I believe that we will have some difficulty but that Britain will regain its strength by tying up with the rest of the World and included in that is Gibraltar,” he says. “Gibraltar is slightly different, in that it is landlocked with the European Union, so I honestly believe that any deal we do may have to have a unique part for Gibraltar, and I think there is a common realisation within Brussels and London that there might have to be a unique facility to make Gibraltar thrive, and I think that is where the work is ongoing.”
Patronage of Charities
Leeds Castle Prior to his coming to Gibraltar, Sir David was Chief Executive of the Leeds Castle Foundation. “That was a fantastic job where I was in sole charge of a business with a £20 million turnover year and responsible for three hundred and fifty people,” he declares. “I found that absolutely fascinating - to come from the Navy where I was responsible for billions of pounds and forty thousand people, but if you overspent or under-spent it was neither here nor there, whereas at Leeds Castle every pound counted and I did feel that if I didn't get the job right then one of those three hundred and fifty people would lose their job, so there was that huge responsibility of running a business where absolutely every day the money counted.”
His Excellency Having already served Her Majesty the Queen as her Naval Aidede-Camp, which entailed meeting and greeting the Monarch and acting as her right hand person when she used to visit the Navy, Sir David is once again serving Her Majesty in his role as Governor. Under the 2006 Constitution His Excellency, to give him his official title, has responsibility for defence, internal security and foreign affairs. From his point of view and in the short time that he has been here is the role of Governor of Gibraltar what he expected it to be, or is it too ceremonial with not enough decision making? “The job is much more complex than it looks,” he responds. “When I was asked to come to Gibraltar I was asked to be a modern Governor and I really didn't know what that meant, but in essence it means being both the Queen's representative, and I think that is where my priorities lie - but the close ties between the Crown and Gibraltar fall upon the shoulders of the Governor to execute.” Does this mean he will be involved in making decisions about things like the Spanish aggression over the territorial waters? “The incursions are a hugely sensitive matter and I recently expressed my frustration and my anger at this continued transgression of Spanish forces into British Gibraltar Territorial Waters,” he replies. “We need to find a way of solving that, but it is not going to be solved by gun boat diplomacy - it will be solved by diplomatic and political means and part of the discussions going on at the moment, all to do with the withdrawal from the European Union, are hopefully going to either clear that up totally or if we fail we have 26
got to start all over again and try and resolve this.” Sir David remarks that incursions have been going on for three hundred years but that it is not the British way to send in the tanks.
One of the saddest things about taking on the role of Governor at this particular time is that Sir David has not been able to get out to the twenty or so charities of which he has already become Patron. “I was looking forward to bouncing into Gibraltar, Tigger-like, getting involved in everything going on and I can't begin to tell you how frustrated I have been that I haven't been able to go to the schools, to the charities, to participate in events, go to the theatre and to all the things that happen here, but once it gets back to normal then I will be very busy and I am looking forward to it.”
Impressions of Gibraltar Apart from two quick visits to deliver a speech here, the last time Sir David came to Gibraltar was on a three day stop in 1983 in the frigate HMS Broadsword on his way to the Gulf on the Beira Patrol. “My recollection is walking around and thinking that it was a rather down-at-heel military town, and coming back now I am agog at how Gibraltar has transformed itself and there has been a massive change, but what astonished me most is how ambitious Gibraltar has become, how cosmopolitan, and with the development of the green sites everywhere it is cleaner, smarter, vibrant, ambitious, dynamic - it is all focused on the future, whereas in 1983 I think it was focused on the past.” Home in the UK is a village outside Winchester, and coming to Gibraltar has meant that Sir David will be able to see more of his brother who lives along the coast in Fuengirola, but with such a busy life, does he have time to indulge in any hobbies or sporting activities? “What I have taken to in a big way is walking, I absolutely love it, and if I have the time in the evenings I will go and walk up the Med Steps and I am also now back to running, so I run up and down to Europa Point,” Sir David says. “I want to join a squash club and I would like, if I have the time, to join a Kayak Club and go kayaking around Gibraltar.” “In the three months that I have been here the one thing I have learnt more than anything is that Gibraltar people have huge hearts and big smiles and I have been overwhelmed by the welcome that has been extended to me. I wrote in a report to London recently that I don't think there is any British Governor around the world that could feel as at home as I do in Gibraltar.”
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ARMED FORCES INSIGHT
Two GDP Authorised Firearms Officers (AFO), recently recruited from UK Police Forces, underwent a weapon conversion course for the effective and competent use of local weapon system. Both officers passed their qualification shoots and are now a step closer to becoming part of the AFO compliment. These officers joined the GDP as a result of the latest recruitment drive. As they were already police officers with UK Police Forces, they will follow a different training programme to the other new recruits. Training for these two officers will focus on local legislation, firearms requalification and personal safety training.
SAFETY AWARD Commander British Forces (CBF), Commodore Steven Dainton recently presented Royal Air Force Sergeant Dan Bell with a Royal Air Force Safety Centre 'Well Done' award.
A changing of the guard at the Gibraltar Defence Police Federation has led to a new Memorandum of Agreement with the Chief of Police for the Gibraltar Defence Police (GDP) and HQBF’s Command Secretary. This new agreement sets the framework for the relationship between the GDPF and the GDP - and the wider MOD.
CROSS-ORGANISATIONAL MOA Sgt Bell, a member of the General Engineering Section at RAF Gibraltar, received the award following an incident earlier in the year. Sgt Bell had managed to avert a potentially extremely hazardous Foreign Object Debris (FOD) issue during a routine morning airfield sweep. Consequently, he swung into action with a full airfield check and repair of the vehicle concerned, which was missing a metal part. Luckily, the offending object was recovered. Commodore Dainton said, "The actions of Sgt Bell were highly commendable, given the potentially catastrophic impact that the bolt would have had if it had come into contact with an aircraft. He is full deserving of this 'Well Done' award." The presentation was made in a socially distanced ceremony at RAF Gibraltar, attended by Sgt Bell's family and colleagues. RAF Gibraltar's Air Safety Manager, Flight Lieutenant Martin Hughes added, “This event was a perfect example of our mission to prevent a 'walk on by’ attitude here at the airfield and the example set by Sgt Bell is one for us all to follow.".
The Chief of Police Rob Allen said, “Following an open and transparent election process which saw the current committee elected with a clear mandate from its members, I am delighted to sign this new MOA which marks a new chapter in relations between the GDP and its police officers’ representative body. I am confident that the relationship that we have already begun to forge with the Chairman and his Committee will be invaluable as we work together to address the various challenges facing our force. With a recently published 3-year Policing Plan there will inevitably be some change within the Force as we continue to adapt to deliver the MOD’s policing needs in Gibraltar.” The Chairman of the GDPF, Police Sergeant Christian Hermida added, “The agreement that we have signed today on behalf of our members is an important step for the Federation, the Chief of Police and MOD Gibraltar. I am very happy with the way that the Federation Committee and the Senior Leadership Team have managed to make rapid progress in negotiating this MOA. Both sides have demonstrated a willingness to work together in order to achieve a positive outcome and I am sure we can use the same approach as we work together in the challenges ahead. Richard Johnson, HQBF’s Command Secretary commented, “As the GDP continues to adapt to meet the needs of British Forces Gibraltar, it is important that our relationship with the GDP Federation also evolves. I hope this MOA will provide the bedrock for constructive relations in the months and years ahead.”
HMS SABRE AND HMS SCIMITAR DEPART Loyal and stalwart vessels, HMS Sabre and HMS Scimitar have departed Gibraltar for the final time. The pair were hoisted aboard MV Anvil Point for their trip back to the UK. They formed the core of protecting British Gibraltar Territorial Waters from their arrival in 2003. After 17 years’ service in the Royal Navy, they've now been temporarily replaced with HMS Dasher and HMS Pursuer. These two Archer Class vessels bring with them a significant increase in capability to both tackle greater sea states and provide much improved crew habitability. Squadron Commanding Officer LLoyd Cardy said, “Sabre and Scimitar have provided an exceptional service in contributing to the demonstration of UK sovereignty of British Gibraltar Territorial Waters over the last 17 years. Their departure marks the end of an era. Dasher and Pursuer will continue to maintain that capability as we prepare for their long-term replacements arriving over the next 18 months.” This magazine notes and thanks them for their long service.
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FOOTBALL INSIGHT
LIFE AFTER
COVID
SINCE ITS ONSET, THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS SPREAD TO ALMOST ALL COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD. SOCIAL AND PHYSICAL DISTANCING MEASURES, LOCKDOWNS OF BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS AND OVERALL SOCIAL LIFE, WHICH HAVE BECOME COMMONPLACE TO THE SPREAD OF THE DISEASE, HAVE ALSO DISRUPTED MANY REGULAR ASPECTS OF LIFE, INCLUDING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. As the world hopes to recover from COVID-19, there will be significant issues to be addressed to ensure the safety of our sporting events at all levels and the well-being of our sporting organizations in Gibraltar. In the short term, these will include the adaptation of events to ensure the safety of athletes, fans and vendors, among others. In the medium term, in the face of an anticipated global recession, there may also be a need to take measures to support participation in sporting organizations, particularly for youth sports.
It’s a scary time for all of us in Gibraltar. There’s going to be less money in the game and fewer jobs. Offers will be smaller, especially at our level. People are going to have to take cuts. You also have to think about the future. If there isn’t any football after contracts expire you have to find a job. If football doesn’t start until later in the year, you’re not going to get paid for three or four months so it’s time to get into the real world. If football’s not on, there’s no one to coach or scout and many sporting individuals will have to look outside the sport.
When life has finally returned to normal, I think football will change for the better. We should see the reversal of a power balance that has swung the wrong way for too long, switching it back in favour of the clubs. I would certainly expect that to happen in all countries and not just in Gibraltar, where the financial implications of COVID-19 are hitting particularly hard. Players and agents will have to lower their expectations, and we will see fewer instances of football clubs being held to ransom over deals and contracts.
I believe the early days of our return in Gibraltar may see change, whether that is the attendance in the Victoria stadium or how we travel to UEFA matches. But as not many people like change even when it’s for the better, if there is any long term it will, for sure, happen slowly. I think we may well eventually return to how things were.
Anyone going in saying, ‘This guy wants this money, and I want this amount for doing the deal’, might have to face a new reality. Do you want the club to go out of existence, and then there’s no club to play at? If agents ask too much then clubs will say: ‘No problem, we’ll do something else.’ Mass gatherings around the world look like the very last port of call but I think a positive knock-on effect will ultimately be that fans and players are brought closer together, and the atmosphere in our Victoria stadium could improve even further.
These are unprecedented times where imagination has to come in, and I think the present situation may breed a more creative kind of scouting. Clubs will put more energy into looking for bargains lower down the divisions in other countries, or in smaller foreign leagues. You’re always trying to find a hidden gem but the rewards for reaching beyond the obvious may be even greater now. Top players and their agents will still command big money, and it won’t affect owners at the top tier of the National league as much but there will be changes until the Gibraltar Football economy recovers. For players coming through the ranks, even at National League level, there are likely to be lower salaries and more incentivised contracts.
Being cynical, I think you have to say a lot of clubs in Gibraltar will see this as a decent opportunity to reboot. It is hard to argue against that happening in a lot of cases, if you take out the emotion and passion of it. Club owners have seen their own businesses decimated overnight. Given owners are going to be hit in the long term, I really think it could be another 10 years before we get back to a financial level similar to now.
If there are more incentivised contracts and less money guaranteed, then clubs will have to be more open in terms of their budgets and commercial income. There’s a danger some clubs might use the crisis to low-ball players and that’s risky because they may lose out to other clubs willing to pay. But this could be a reset for football with young, hungry talent coming through. Owners still want to win, ultimately and qualify for UEFA competition, and after two or three years of taking stock they will dig deep again.
I think there will be a correction and prudent approach generally but I’m not convinced that clubs that qualify for UEFA competition won’t continue to pay top dollar for top players. I still think we will see big fees. If you look at the last five to 10 years, there has been an incredible rise in the scale of National League wages, which affects clubs like ours who continuously fight from being a position away from changing our full business model. The market has run away with itself.
We are positive that we will recover but we will inevitably see the gap between ‘big’ clubs and smaller sides in the Gibraltar national league widening as the wealthier teams recover more easily. The COVID-19 pandemic has had and will continue to have very considerable effects on the sporting world as well as on the physical and mental well-being of people around the world, but we will continue to capitalize on the benefits that sport and physical activity can bring in the age of COVID-19 and beyond.
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SHOP LOCAL
WHY WE SHOULD SHOP LOCALLY THIS
THE CORONA CHRISTMAS: WHY SHOPPING LOCALLY MAKES SENSE One of the unexpected consequences of the Corona-19 pandemic is that it has put many people back in touch with their local communities again. Not just in Gibraltar but pretty much everywhere else too. That is not to say that Gibraltar has no community spirit. Llanitos are well known for the warmth of their hospitality and keeping an eye out for each other. That is one of the reasons why Gibraltar is such a safe and enjoyable place to live. The lockdown forced many people to abandon their offices and work from home. Many local businesses were forced by the Government to close temporarily for several weeks on public health grounds. For many this meant that they had more spare time. New hobbies were taken up and new exercise routines were implemented. The
increase in walkers, runners and cyclists going around the Rock or up the Rock was an impressive sight to see.
Rock. Many of these have now been opened up by clearing away some of the vegetation which blocked access.
Locals who had not ventured out by foot or bicyle for years were delighted at re-experiencing the varied and rich nature of the Upper Rock. Many improvements in the infrastructure to the Nature Reserve have been made over the last ten years or so. These include the Med Steps, Charles V Wall and Ape’s Den as well as new attractions such as the Windsor Suspension Bridge and the Skywalk. Another great improvement is that there has been much better management of the paths and trails on the Upper
The recent trails announced by the Government have added to the experience but if you want a guide, contact www.walktherock4free.com and let them give you your own personalised tour. As so many visitors have found, the value of local knowledge makes all the difference and will enrich your tour immeasurably.
KEEPING IT LOCAL Another aspect of the lockdown is that many residents rediscovered what it means to do more of their shopping locally. Morrisons and Eroski have long been the destination stores for many local families for the weekly grocery shop. But the lockdown put a temporary stop on the Friday exodus to Spain for the weekend where many Gibraltar residents would escape to their second homes across the border. Whilst there, they would stock up at Mercadona, Carrefour or Supercor. The custom of eating out at a local venta, bar or restaurant also went by the wayside during the lockdown. Even once the lockdown was lifted people remained cautious and many opted to remain in Gibraltar and eat out at local restaurants. Having been closed for several months the support of local customers was very welcome. The Chamber and the GFSB teamed up with the Government to launch a www.keepitlocal.gi campaign to encourage people to do their shopping in Gibraltar. The message was simple: supporting local businesses by doing your shopping on the Rock keeps those businesses trading which in turn keeps people employed, which in turn enables them to pay taxes and social insurance to the Government. These tax-
es enable the Government to pay for the health service, the schools and all the other essential services which the local population enjoys. If people spend their money elsewhere then the Government’s ability to pay for all these services is diminished as local businesses lose out. Gibraltar’s retail and wholesale sectors employ over 5,500 people directly and many more besides indirectly. These businesses buy a lot from other businesses locally and many of the wages which they pay their employees is spent locally. This in turn generates additional economic activity including taxes paid to the Government which are used to pay for the civil service, the police, customs and the fire service. Each of these are necessary to keep the local economy moving forwards. Of course, people are free to spend their money however they wish and wherever they wish. There are also the comments from some quarters than many goods are
If you are feeling a bit more adventurous, instead of walking you could try out a new e-bike. https://ebike-gibraltar.com offers guided tours to locals and visitors alike. It’s quicker than walking and the battery operated bike will make climbing to the top of the Rock to grab those stunning views across the Straits seem effortless.
not available in Gibraltar or that they are much more expensive that elsewhere, particularly online. There is a degree of truth in this but many local retailers have learnt that they need to keep their prices competitive, especially with products sold online. If not, then they just lose customers. And as we have all seen over the last six months, customers, particularly tourists and other visitors have been in very short supply. If everyone decided to do their shopping in Spain or just online then Gibraltar’s retail and wholesale sectors would shrink. Over time they would employ fewer people which would mean less tax being paid to the Government. With fewer taxes the Government would have to make decisions about which investments in public services - health, education, law enforcement and soforth were really necessary. Individual decisions about what to buy and where to shop ultimately have a bearing on what the Government can afford. It is all connected. So, as you are writing your shopping list for this Christmas, take some time to visit local shops, ask the owners or shop assistants for the best price they can offer. You should find that they are keen to help you. And at the same time you are helping the local economy which over time will help you too.
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COMPETITION WIN A BOSE SPEAKER COURTESY OF NEWTON STORE. What was Chris Rea doing to get home for Christmas? 1) Taking a train 2) Driving 3) Flying Email your answer to jeaninsight@gibtelecom.net or post your answer along with your name and tel number to Insight magazine, 77 Main Street. The draw will take place from all the correct entries on Friday 30th October
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SHOP LOCAL
The yearly task that is Christmas shopping: a job full of twinkly expectation or a somewhat arduous experience? Shopping brings out an array of emotions at the best of times but Christmas is a time of hope, fun and a desire for gifts both needed and ones which are spectacularly indulgent. Either way, the glorious unwrapping of a present is a theatrical experience whether a pair of socks (sorry male relative) or a sparkling diamond necklace.
thoughtfulness behind it. Whether in a shop or online, at that moment, you are thinking about a person who is special to you. That precise moment is not monetary, it is a desire to give another person a gift, a display of affection, love, friendship. In other words - priceless.
When should we begin our Christmas present buying? For some, it literally starts in Boxing Day when those oh so tempting reductions are in the sale. I have to admire those who bravely stand in a queue at 5 am Boxing Day morning whilst still digesting yesterday’s Christmas dinner with all the trimmings - not to mention a cheeky schooner if sherry. I actually believe this supremely early gift purchasing is not just about bargain hunting. There is a sense of community spirit about people waiting together in the cold with one common goal.
Whatever your budget, how do we choose what to buy? Shops and online retailers offer an array of gift ideas, from the practical to the extravagant. Of course, our spending ability influences some of our decisions but how well we know the recipients of our presents is equally important. A fun Christmas jumper (think Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones) might not be appreciated by some, whereas I personally know more than one person who would be incredibly excited to receive such a gift. With the increasing commercialisation of the season, it is easy to see it as merely a gift giving season, with an enjoyable over indulgence of food and drink. This would be over simplifying what is often a profoundly important time of the year. A season we look back on with great nostalgia and warmth. Many of the most pivotal times in our lives are connected to Christmas. The gifts we give and receive are a tangible reminder of how we feel about each other and our deep connection to this most poignant time of the year.
For those who prefer enjoying their Christmas season at home, in the warm watching television repeats on a loop, Christmas shopping can wait until a lot closer to the season. When August arrives, Christmas products make their first appearance on store shelves. Do I want to stare at Chocolate Father Christmas figures when the sun is still (possibly) shining, realistically, not particularly. However, by the time November arrives, I am ready to embrace all manner of Christmas paraphernalia. By then, I have developed an inner Christmas glow which allows me - guilt free - to wander happily amongst Christmas items. For many individuals, the Christmas shopping season begins properly when the shops are adorned with decorations and lights create a magical atmosphere in our streets. Shopping becomes a more rounded experience over the Christmas season, it is not solely focused on visiting a shop, buying items you want and leaving. The Christmas purchasing experience is more welcoming with free samples of food and drink in store, cheesy but jolly Christmas songs ringing out and a spirit of conviviality amongst us. For those who find shopping in-store a challenger simply prefer to buy online, buying can still be a fun activity, if a somewhat solitary one. The most important aspect of any gift is the kindness and
Buying for the season rather than gifts can prove to be a food version of a trip down memory lane. Why are snow balls and babycham considered acceptable drinks at Christmas when they are affectionately mocked the rest of the year? How can it be we are unable to drink a cup of tea without a mince pie? Throughout the year we politely decline accomplishments for fear of widening our waistlines. At Christmas, all the usual rules simply don’t apply - and thank goodness they don’t! The joy of this time of year is precisely that: it only lasts a few days so it would dampen our spirits and sense of indulgence if we monitored everything we ate and drank. Those simple pleasures, rituals almost, of a glass of something fizzy in the morning whilst opening presents. When would we ever consider pouring a glass of sherry at that time of the time? That is the uniqueness of Christmas. For that particular day, or a few days, we live in this wonderful, surreal bubble. Before we even start Christmas shopping, surely one of the most enticing reasons to venture out are the dazzling street decorations and the breath-taking window displays. Liberty and Harvey Nichols in London are just two stores who are renowned for their Christmas displays but walk down any self-respecting High Street and you will be enticed in with a healthy mixture of gifts, treats doused with Christmas nostalgia. Window displays can be amazing. Visiting Paris with my then eight year old daughter was a memorable experience. The shops displayed dancing mice alongside violin playing mice. All of them were dressed with a layer of ‘snow’. I had never seen such a display, it was more like a performance and it was utterly compelling. Street lights and decorations are like an aperitif at dinner - it heightens your appetite for all things Christmas. Visiting shops seem less of a chore and more of a sensory experience. Who can resist the samples of food and drink that are so often handed out? There is a feeling of conviviality amongst Christmas shoppers. This is the time of year we genuinely want to embrace the buying experience, after all, we have a vested interest in picking up our favourite Christmas delights as we can enjoy the anticipation of devouring them. Enjoy the experience!
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Shop Early for Christmas Christmas is coming! It’s never too early to start shopping and if there is one thing that we need at the moment, it is to lessen any stress from creeping into our lives. Have you been annoyed by those smug friends of yours who always finish their Christmas shopping by April or some other ridiculously early month? Maybe there’s something to be said for following their lead, especially this year and in these strange times of uncertainty. Imagine the satisfaction of buying those gifts and presents early and then being able to enjoy the festive season without panicking about the fact that you haven’t managed to get everything you wanted. Don’t forget to support your local shops, especially the small, independently owned businesses, and by doing so you can give a boost to Gibraltar’s economy. The retailers along Main Street and the surrounding area need your business and, don’t forget, local businesses care about their customers and will make your shopping experience more enjoyable than if you resort to ordering online, which often comes with long delivery dates and problems with shipping.
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It’s not too early to kick off making those Christmas lists. Choosing gifts can sometimes be a difficult task and once you have decided on what to buy, the frustration at not being able to get hold of it because it has already sold out can be devastating. What do you? Buy something second-best? Disappoint your loved one, friend or, even worse, one of the children in the family, by having to explain that you couldn’t give them what you had promised. Buying early can help stop those last minute panic purchases and gives you longer to think and buy something that whoever you are buying it for will love.
that happening. The Christmas period is often the one time of the year when demand for goods is high and this usually goes hand in hand with high prices. If you wait to do your shopping until the decorations are up and the Christmas music is playing, you’re probably going to be spending more money than necessary. So start making that list – and checking it twice! Don’t leave your Christmas shopping until the last minute. Shop early and shop local.
Another good reason to start your Christmas shopping early is that it is a good way to spread the cost and not worry about the amount you are spending all at once. If you know that you are the kind of person who has to dip into your savings, then buying early stops
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SHOP LOCAL
Shopping online is not necessarily greener. A university study concluded that online shopping has a greater impact on the transportation sector.
If you don’t want to spend too much money ladies Then go shopping in High heels. University studies discovered that ladies shopping in high heels made better buying decisions.
One of the oldest pieces of writing was a 5000 year old written receipt for clothing sent by boat from ancient Mesopotamia to Dilmun which is now Bahrain.
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Would you believe the very first shopping catalogue appeared in the 1400s? A hand printed catalogue of books for sale was compiled by italian publisher Aldus Manutias who handed out the catalogues at local fairs.
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CHRISTMAS
FUN FACTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
Italy: In Italy many children get two sets of gifts – one on the 24th of December and a larger gift on the 6th of January. On this day, Italians celebrate Epiphany Day and according to popular belief a witch called La Befana arrives in the night to fill good children’s stockings with sweets, while naughty ones get chunks of black coal.
China: Only 1% of the population in China celebrates Christmas where it is treated more like Saint Patrick's Day or Valentine's Day and people like to go out to the cinema, to a karaoke bar or to the shopping malls. Apples wrapped in cellophane printed with messages are traditionally given because the word ‘apple’ sounds like ‘Christmas Eve’ in Mandarin. Most of the Christmas decorations that we buy are made in China.
Sweden: Christmas wasn't always celebrated on the 25th December and in fact it may have little to do with the actual date of the birth of Jesus which is not known. Archaeologists have traced the origins of the first Christmas to be celebrated on the 25th December, 300 years before the birth of Christ. The original event marked the consecration of the ancient world's largest sun god statue, the 34m tall, 200 ton Colossus of Rhodes.
UK: Nowadays, the Christmas feast still means roast turkey and all the trimmings for most British households, but many years ago a traditional Christmas dinner included a pig’s head served with mustard sauce. Crackers are traditionally pulled as part of Christmas celebrations in the UK, usually when sitting down to lunch. Looking like giant sweets, baker Tom Smith of London is credited with inventing crackers in 1847 when he got the idea after encasing his bon-bon sweets in a twist of paper, which is also where we get the traditional sweet wrapper from.
Germany: The tradition of Christmas trees goes all the way back to the ancient Egyptians and Romans, who marked the winter solstice with evergreen trees such as pines or firs as a reminder that spring would return. In the 16th century in Germany they decorated their trees with fruits and nuts. Tinsel originated in Nuremberg, Germany in 1610 when thin strands of real silver were put into trees to reflect candlelight, but only the wealthy could afford to decorate their trees like that because silver was very expensive. Today, tinsel is made from PVC
USA: Did you know that there are 3 towns in the USA that are named Santa Claus; in Georgia, Arizona and in Indiana? Decorating trees with electric lights did not become popular in the United States until after World War II, but nowadays roughly 150 million sets of light are sold each year. The world’s largest Christmas present was the Statue of Liberty. The French gave it to the US in 1886. It is 46.5 meters high and weighs 225 tons!
Every year, the people of Gävle, Sweden build the world's largest Christmas goat from straw in their main square where it stands from the first Sunday of Advent until after New Year or until the day that somebody attempts to burn the 13-metre goat down, which happens on a regular basis. The Gävle goat has been burned down 29 times since it first appeared in 1966, and damaged in other ways a further eight times. 40% of Swedish families gather around their televisions to watch Donald Duck! Every year since 1959, at 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, the 1958 special KalleAnkaochhansvännerönskar God Jul (Donald Duck and His Friends Wish You a Merry Christmas) hosted by Jiminy Cricket, is shown on Sweden’s main public television channel, TV1.
Iceland:
In Iceland, Christmas celebrations start on Christmas Eve, the 24th of December, when families get together to enjoy a meal, traditionally roast lamb. Children place a shoe in their bedroom window each evening in the 13 days before Christmas and every night one of the ‘Yuletide lads’ visits, leaving sweets and small gifts or rotting potatoes, depending on how well the child has behaved the day before.
Brazil: Rio de Janeiro is home to the world's largest floating Christmas tree. The tree, first erected in 1996, is constructed on a metal frame 70 metres high and has 900,000 LED lightbulbs. Papai Noel, Father Christmas, travels from Greenland to Brazil to give presents to the Brazilian children. Brazil celebrates Christmas in the middle of summer so the days are hot and sunny, and some people think that Papai Noel wears a red silk suit to keep him cool instead of his cosy red and white fur trimmed robes.
Russia: Russians celebrate Christmas on the 7th January and for most of them the main winter holiday is the New Year. Following the revolution in 1917, Christmas was banned as a religious holiday in 1929 and Christmas Trees were banned until 1935 when they turned into 'New Year' Trees. If people did want to celebrate Christmas, they had to do it in secret in their families. Some Russians follow a strict Nativity Fast for forty days leading up to Christmas Eve which is broken at the appearance of the first star in the sky that night. Fortune telling is an old tradition that is still practiced today for fun with rituals involving the whole family including Tarot reading and tea leaf reading.
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Refugee IN YOUR HOME THE MEDIA HAS EXTENSIVELY COVERED THE SITUATION REGARDING REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS. FORMER ENGLAND STRIKER GARY LINEKER HAS AGREED TO WELCOME REFUGEE TO LIVE AT HIS SURREY HOME. THEIR PLIGHT AND THE INCREDIBLY DIFFICULT CHALLENGES THEY FACE INSPIRE THE BEST OF OUR HUMANITY BUT ALSO CAN STIR NEGATIVE REACTIONS IN SOME INDIVIDUALS.
What is a Refugee?
thing is very frustrating, hosting helps relieve some of that frustration’.
Refugees are people who have fled war, violence, conflict or persecution and crossed an international border to find safety in another country. They often have had to flee with little more than the clothes on their back, leaving behind homes, possessions, jobs and loved ones.
For Nicola, wanting to help was very matter of fact ‘I didn’t do it for any other reason really than I think if you can help you should’, she states, ‘it has been rewarding and interesting but that is of secondary importance. The main points is that in some cases it has literally kept people from sleeping on buses or on the streets. It has been a joy to see guests rebuild their lives and careers and be reunited with family. I started hosting in 2016. I have hosted five guests in all, my longest stayed for 551 nights (guest nights is how we count things at Refugees@ Home) my shortest for
Refugees are defined and protected in international law. The 1951 Refugee Convention is a key legal document and defines a refugee as: ‘someone who is unable or unwilling to return to their country of origin owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership if a particular social group, or political opinion'. For those who watch reports on their struggles and feel they not only want to help but have a heartfelt desire to become involved in supporting such people. When a person is given refugee status, they have just 28 days to find accommodation and apply for mainstream benefits before they are evicted from asylum accommodation. An organisation that was created to help is Refugees at Home. They are a UK charity which connects those with a spare room in their home to refugees and asylum seekers. Nicola Clarke is 61 and lives in London. She was journalist for the BBC for over thirty years. Nicola is currently studying for a PhD in early modern history at Birkbeck University of London. She became involved in hosting through Refugees at Home. Nicola continues her story, ‘I know one of the founders of Refugees at Home very well, we were trainee journalists together many moons ago. I thought it was a really brilliant idea to match people who were in desperate need of accommodation with people who had a spare room, which I did. I have seen enough refugee crises around the world to know that finding yourself in these circumstances can happen to anyone at any time and it can be very difficult to find practical ways to help. Sitting in front of the television watching events unfold and not being able to do any-
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Facts based on the Government’s latest immigration statistics - for the year ending 2020: People seeking asylum make up a tiny proportion of new arrivals in Britain Not everyone gets a grant of protection the first time their case is looked at Refusals are often overturned on appeal Asylum cases often take years to be resolved People seeking asylum receive little financial support and are not allowed to work Newly granted refugees often face destitution and homelessness Refugees face huge challenges in reuniting with their separated families 38,756 the number of cases awaiting an initial decision for more than 6 months 53% of applications granted asylum or protection at initial decision stage in the year ending June 2020 32,423 asylum applications made in the last 12 months
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14. I have hosted some people with an excellent command of English and other where google translate has been a life saver, but you get by. It has been a joy to see people rebuild their lives and careers and be reunited with family. My first guest has passed her medical conversion courses and is now working as a doctor in the UK which is terrific news. I have learnt a lot from all my guests and I have been to Wembley to watch Spurs which is something I wouldn’t have done if one of my guests hadn’t been so very keen to see a football match at Wembley. I haven’t managed to get anyone up to Leicester to watch the Rugby as yet, and that may be tricky for a while with Covid. My current guest has been with me for nearly a year, six months of which has obviously been through Covid and Lockdown. I hope that no having to worry about housing during a pandemic has helped her to cope with everything that 2020 has thrown at us all. I think we got through lockdown pretty well, the main thing we had to juggle was access to the room with the keyboard in it. I am an enthusiastic if not particularly talented recorder player and my guest is teaching herself the piano online. I guess lockdown gave us no excuse to skip practice and from what I hear she is making great progress. How do those closest to refugees at home feel about their loved ones hosting? ‘Family and friends were all pretty supportive’, confirms Nicola, ‘My cousin invited my first guest to a family Christmas and introduced them to the delights of charades and a myriad of Christmas board games. She has gone on to host herself and I will continue to host’. The UK is home to 1% of the world’s 29.6 million refugees. Asylum seekers make up a very small percentage of overall migrants to the UK with study and work cities as the main reasons why people why people want to come to the country, according to research from Oxford’s Migration Observatory. Please visit Refugees at home for more information and to donate: www.refugeesathome.org
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MOTORING INSIGHT
IT WAS ALONG TO AMBER LAKES NEAR WINDSOR IN BERKSHIRE FOR THE PRESS LAUNCH OF THE NEW HONDA E. THIS WAS THE FIRST NEW CAR EVENT FOR MANY MONTHS, SINCE MARCH, SO WAS GREAT TO BE BACK. HONDA UK TOOK EXTRA SAFETY MEASURES TO KEEP ALL THE JOURNALISTS SAFE AND WELL. ONE OF THESE WAS INSTEAD OF THE PRESS CONFERENCE IN A ROOM, THEY CHANGED WITH CONVENTION AND WE ALL SAT IN OUR ALLOCATED AND SANITISED CARS AND WATCH THE PRESENTATION ON TECHNOLOGY, SPECIFICATION ETC IN THE CARS WITH THE SOUND COMING FROM THE RADIOS SPEAKERS.
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MOTORING INSIGHT The Honda e is Honda's first full electric car, and they say the first of many. It is a small compact hatch that measures 3,895 mm long, so easy for parking. It also has a turning circle of just 4.3 meters so very manoeuvrable in tight spaces. For such a short car, it has loads of interior space, although the boot is not that big, especially when the two chunky charging cables are in there. Two cables, four bags of supermarket shopping, and it’s almost full.
I drove from near Windsor onto the M25, past Heathrow, through small quaint villages, then into the Surrey Hills, though didn’t see many hills. The car behaved perfectly, it easily held motorway speeds, with plenty of power left, just in case. It went slowly through the small villages, and
Honda say it has a maximum range when the battery is full of 137 miles. When I got in the car it was 98% charged with a range of 111 miles. A bit off the claimed distance, but in fairness to the car, it is based on previous driving, and the car had been driven the previous days by journalists on the press launch, so give it benefit of the doubt. It is a quick little thing and goes from 0-100kph/0-62mph in 8 seconds, so it doesn’t hang about when accelerating, and great for a quick get-away. The cars design can best be described as ‘cute’ and a bit reminiscent of the first 1970’s Honda Civic (for those old enough to remember it - I do unfortunately!). The overhangs are very short, making the wheels sit in each corner of the car, which helps with interior space. The batteries are situated under the floor of the car, so do not take up any valuable space in the car.
handled so well on the twisty country roads. Altogether a great all-rounder. But like all Electric Cars there is always this nagging thought in your mind if you are going to have enough electric left in the batteries - it is commonly known as range anxiety. You seem to be constantly looking how many miles range you have left, and watch the percentage of battery level. In a petrol or diesel car, you can easily pop into a fuel station, and five-minutes later you have many hundreds of miles of range. With an electric car, it is not that easy, and more careful planning is needed, and of course much more time to fill up the batteries. Just ask Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman (their new TV show is beset with battery-charging anxiety in South and Central America). The Honda e can be charged from 0% to 80% in just 30 minutes, providing you have access to a public fast-charger. But using a home wall-box with 11kW AC facility it takes around 3hr 30 mins. But plug it into a household normal plug and it will take over TWENTY-EIGHT HOURS ... so you don’t really want to be doing that.
When you get in the Honda e, it does have a very premium look and feel, and also very modern. The dash is like something you’ve never seen before: there are multiple screens that go from one side to the other, literally from each door pillar on the passenger side to the door pillar on the drivers side. You can switch the screens around, so for example if you have satellite navigation on one screen, you can have it in front of you, the driver, or you can move it to another screen nearer the passenger. But the strangest thing, and takes some getting used to, are the rear view cameras. This car does not have door mirrors, but are replaced by small, aerodynamic cameras that are coated in a secret formula to protect them from water, rain etc to keep them clean and clear in all conditions. There are two screens by the door pillars that show what is alongside and behind you, very clever, and it does work, but does take some getting used to. I guess after using this system for a while, then getting back into a car with mirrors, then the old traditional way of looking backwards would seem odd.
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The Honda e also comes with a long list of standard equipment, safety and technology, and a lot of nice goodies. It has remote heating/cooling, so you can control the interior temperature while having your breakfast at home. It has a panoramic glass roof, normal or sport driving mode, Intelligent Cruise Control, perfect on the M25, heated front seats, and so on. It also comes with Park Pilot which will park the car fir you in virtually any space, with, or without lines. I did not get chance to test this, but was assured by Honda, that it does work. The UK list price of the car I drove was £29,710. Remember, with electric vehicles the total cost of ownership is "front-loaded" on the purchase of the vehicle. This new electric car from Honda looks good, drives even better, is so much fun, and for such a small car, has plenty of interior space. It is full of goodies and toys, and will hit a sweet spot for anyone who wants a small electric fun car. It is the perfect EV for tootling around Gibraltar. But, and there’s always a but, you have to be prepared to wait some time to get a full charge to go further afield over the Frontier.
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FEATURE
WORDS BY JOE ADAMBERY 48
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WE NEED THE
JOY
THAT MUSIC BRINGS Some of the best words that I have written over the last twenty years have been about music and yet music is not about words. Yes it’s true that some of the best songs ever written have lyrics which paint a picture that together with music makes their tunes memorable by capturing our imagination. Tugging at heart strings, elating our moods, evoking memories of a love found, or sucking us into a sense of loss when love has been betrayed, is all part of the gravitational pull of music. Words are not needed to move the spirit though. Great music such as classical composers wrote, only used instrumental passages to move the spirit with rich orchestral tapestries or inspired solos as a means of telling their story. Fashion, snobbery and their own need to eat shaped the careers of the great composers. Kings and queens sponsored the great composers and commissioned music for their courts. Up to that point in history the mass enjoyment of music was just not possible. Music was only for the elite. Until the gramophone was invented in 1877 and gradually evolved, musical performances were not captured for posterity. With these early recordings the music industry was born. Nobody could have foreseen the exponential growth and the increasing relevance of music in our lives. Personal music as in our headphones nowadays is a new drug and its audio quality is ever improving. The musical universe is only a fingertip away thanks to technology. As we know there is music for all occasions, from praising the creator in worship or celebrating victories after wars, to epic cinematic soundtracks. Music is now truly universal in its scope and reach. The large scale music concerts which fill venues across the world are predictable phenomena of our times because there is a marketing strategy behind them and a demand for tickets. That takes nothing away from the ‘joy’ that concerts bring to millions worlwide. The music industry is constantly evolving, mainly by bringing new artists and trends to our attention, thus creating a perceived need for us to see performers ‘live in concert.’ Few events can compare with the emotional, visual and audio gratification that attending a good concert can bring to the heart and soul, because in reality we also ‘feel’ music when we enjoy hearing it. A modern concert can transform those feelings into unforgettable memories.
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Here in Gibraltar we are privileged to have enjoyed concerts by great artists of different genres and to a greater or lesser degree, have lived the ‘joy’ that only a good concert can bring. There is a sizeable bunch of regular concert goers in our community who frequently travel abroad to enjoy their favourite artists in concert and they enrich our community when they bring back and share their memories, which in turn whet our appetite for more concert experiences. This burning desire for music in concert will now have to take a back seat for a while longer. This year a change is upon us. It’s still unfolding and unwelcome though it is, we have to ponder on the uncertain future ahead for humanity and to mention some more elements, the concert industry, the travel industry, the cruise industry and many other ‘joys’ that we always took for granted. The world was caught unawares by Covid 19 and unwelcome changes were forced upon us by those who have our best interests at heart. We are still winning but we also are still fighting it. Yes it will all pass and things will hopefully find their own level in the ‘new normal’, but that won’t stop us missing what we had and what we have been used to as far as musical entertainment goes. In this era of binge watching Netflix series and using our smart phones as entertainment platforms, even the long established daily TV watching routine at home has been lost. Reading conventional books and overeating, along with decreased physical activity (as in lockdown), also became part of the ‘new normal’. This has been as unwelcome as having to wear those awful face masks now while trying to make ourselves understood behind their cotton fibres. Our recent National Day was by necessity pared down to a whisker of its annual glory and thankfully we have been promised the biggest party ever for next year. I missed our Music Festival and the National Day concert too and no TV substitute was ever going to fill those gaps. We live in the fervent hope that all will be well sooner rather than later. To our rescue and to help us in our day to day existence, our smart phones and other media platforms have become almost crutches, but they also give us back some of the ‘joy’ which we need to survive these dark times. If music be the spice of life shake that spice rack and bring it on...’Joyful, Joyful’ as in ‘Sister Act’ I say... and my advice as always is, breathe music because it’s cleaner than air and it’s food for the soul too. Till next time and remember to make happy listening a part of your new normal.
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FEATURE Carry on from part one in Sept issue
A Military Life During The Most Eventful Periods of The Late War by James Anton Quartermaster Sergeant Forty- Second or Royal Highlanders. 1823-1829 At the time of our arrival, an epidemic was raging on the opposite coast of Barbary, the effect of a severe famine, which occasioned a strict quarantine to be enforced on all vessels approaching from that coast. This subjected the garrison to a very indifferent supply of livestock for slaughter, as the principal imports are from this quarter. There has been also a great mortality among the cattle in that country, for want of provender, and those brought over for the use of the troops were so lean, that the flesh scarcely covered the bones. Good beef was scarcely seen in the market, and that which was very indifferent, but considered the best, was selling at from thirteen to fifteen pence per pound. At the same time, veal was eighteen pence; mutton thirteen pence; a pair of fowl, six shillings and six pence; a pair of duck, eight shillings and eight pence; a cock turkey, twenty one shillings and eight pence; a goose, seventeen shillings and four pence; eggs, two shillings and two pence a dozen. The contractor for the supply of fresh meat for the troops, notwithstanding every exertion on his part, found it impossible to furnish meat agreeably to the terms of contract; for fat cattle were not to be had at that time, even in Spain, but at a most exorbitant price. Notwithstanding these unforeseen difficulties, and his frequent representations to the commissary, he was obliged to slaughter such cattle as he could procure,
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after which a board of survey sat, to pass an opinion on the quality of the meat; it was condemned, and thus cast on his hands; he urged the impossibility of getting better, solicited to have the live stock examined, approved or disapproved of before being slaughtered, and not thus to subject him to such ruinous losses; but to no purpose; and he had, therefore, no other prospect before him but bankruptcy and beggary. He passed over to Barbary on purpose to procure better cattle, he found it impossible, and closed the contract by suicide. This circumstance so affected his poor widow, that she also put a period to her existence. I may remark, that, although the meat was lean, there was worse exposed for sale in the market, and the contractors’ was far superior to that which was issued to the army during the campaigns of 1813 and 1814, and, on the whole, might have passed very well; but the contractor was unable to satisfy the avarice of the quartermasters, by making a liberal discount on weight, equal to their expectations; they were therefore, not to be satisfied, and all under the plea of doing the soldiers justice. Gibraltar, being a free port, has been for many years a great emporium for British goods; but no manufacturer exists within itself, except that of tobacco, which gives employment to
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FEATURE some hundred hands. A great quantity of cigars, under the name of Havannah, are exported, and not a few smuggled into Spain, where almost every man is a smoker, and tobacco is exorbitantly dear, in consequence of its being made a kind of government monopoly; whether, therefore, in its manufactured state or in the leaf, it there meets with a ready, though contraband sale, and the traffic hazardous. In 1827 a felucca, belonging to this port, was captured by the Spaniards under the pretence of its being a smuggler. This capture was made at noon day, within range of our batteries. Whether this was a breach of neutrality on the part of Spain, may be questionable; but, be this as it may, it was certainly an insult, and intended as such; and it struck a considerable blow at the trade of this port; for several of the merchants had carried on a very adventurous trade in smuggling contraband articles into Spain. The capture of this small vessel, however within the range of our batteries, was not only looked upon with the greatest indignation by the garrison, in whose face it was made, but with the utmost astonishment and consternation by the merchants and traders of Gibraltar; these seemed as if left without protection, their fortune on the waves and their enemies in pursuit. The soldiers gave vent to their indignation in useless curses at the cowardly captors, and the culpable inertness of our official authorities, who allowed the capture to be made while the vessel was slowly steering her course to the south, and confident of our protection. I use the term cowardly, in consequence of the gunboat which made the capture firing round shot, grape, and musketry into the prize, when within pistol shot distance, and no resistance making, save that of displaying the British flag. At this time the gunner at the New Mole guard asked permission to fire a gun, promising to sink the Spaniard; but by some doubt existing in the mind of the officer of the guard, the gunner was prevented; a shot was fired, however, from a more remote battery, after the capture was made and the prize beyond reach. If this was not a decided mark of imbecility or imprudence on our part, it certainly was not that of dignity, self respect, or good judgement. Some remonstrations, whether feeble or energetic, were made to the Spanish authorities, upon this violation of neutrality; the result, however, never became so publicly known to the population of Algeciras, San Roque, and Gibraltar, as that which they had witnessed of the insult to the flag. The Gibraltar smugglers were unquestionably the best sailors of the Mediterranean, hardy and intrepid. They entered the solitary but dangerous creeks, approached the rocky islets or surfy beaches, fearless of danger, landed their cargoes at all hazards, and returned to enrich the town by their adventure. The merchants, disgusted at so debasing an apathy in protecting what they considered a fair trade, gradually relinquished the traffic, and Gibraltar may be considered, in a time of peace, rather as a burden upon England, than of any compensating advantage; but as it is the key of the Mediterranean, it is of the first importance in time of war, to her commerce and her navy. The first thing that draws the attention of a stranger on entering the town, is the immense number of dogs straggling about; the whole line of the streets, by the foot of the walls and sides of the pavements, is blackened in streams, spotted and polluted by these animals. The vegetables, which are arranged in heaps in the market, are not secured from being trodden over by them, and plentifully watered; the meanest inhabitants that visited another attended by a dog, and if the person visited has none, the house is certain of getting plentiful supply of fleas and the furniture soiled. To impose a tax upon dogs would be conferring a benefit on the inhabitants in general. Previous to the siege by the Spaniards in 1779, the population of Gibraltar scarcely amounted to seven thousand; the houses were chiefly of wood, mean, dirty, and crowded upon each other; the streets were filthy in the extreme; few drains for carrying off water were choked up, and their entrance in a manner concealed with rubbish, which no one thought of removing. The town remained in this state until the arrival of His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent, who commenced the work of reform; but the soldiers at the time had got into such a state of laxity of discipline, and unmilitary habits, that his attention was solely drawn to the re establishing of order and good discipline in the ranks. The arrival of General Sir George Don, as Lieutenant Governor, marked a fresh era in the records of Gibraltar. He assumed the command when a violent epidemic raged in the garrison, and his first measures were to cause every hut and shed to be white washed or painted within, for there were more wooden
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huts and sheds than respectable houses; he caused the drains to be opened, scoured, and enlarged; he divided the town into districts, appointed inspectors to each and established a scavenger department and a regular system of police. When the contagion disappeared; he caused proper drains to be cut; new buildings were afterwards erected; and the old dilapidated wooden sheds were removed from the principal streets and lanes, and a new town may be said to have arisen on the site of the old. Excellent stone or brick houses line each side of the main (or Waterport) street, which extends the whole length of the town, from Southport to the esplanade of the Grand Casemates. Engineer Lane runs in a parallel direction, though under different names, nearly the whole length of the town; Irish Town is also a respectable street, running in the same direction as the two already mentioned; and several lanes; with excellent buildings, run in a transverse direction. The convent is the residence of the governor, and although destitute of any thing grand in its exterior towards the street, is nevertheless a spacious building, and presents a very fine appearance on the side towards the garden. The Garrison Library and the Exchange Building are handsome buildings. There are two theatres in the town, but no regular company of professional players; the amateurs of the respective corps composing the garrison are the performers. A church has been lately built in the town, which, owing to the indifference of the Lieutenant Governor, Sir George Don, to the undertaking, was permitted for several years to remain in an unfinished state. A large sum had been expended on its erection, and it was likely to fall into decay before it was completed, although very wanted; for although the convent chapel is almost capable of containing all the attend worship, it may be said with certainty, that there are hundreds of Protestants, perhaps careless ones, that have not entered its door twice in seven years; the reason of which is, that the seats , being generally occupied by private families or officials of the garrison; when a humble stranger seats himself, so as to hear and see the preacher, he has the chance of being turned out, and instead of the pleasant look of a saint, wishing to make a convert of a sinner, he meets with the frowning face of a demon, wishing, if not telling, to go to ‌‌. It is to be regretted that this spirit of irreligious pride should be brought within the walls of a place dedicated to the worship of god, or should predominate in the breasts of those whose particular interests and duty it is to promote the religious instructions of the lower classes of society. The learned and the wealthy may have access to the works of the most learned divines, and may visit and be visited by the preacher to whom they apparently come for instruction; but the poor mechanic, who thirsts for that gospel information which he may be doubtful of having hitherto received, has no other means of acquiring it, but by entering the place he thinks it is expounded. Now, as one of the many blessings of the Christian religion, proclaimed to the rich as well as to the poor, is to make the poor man content with his poverty, are not the more fortunate sons of wealth called upon to point out to his mental view the happiness which awaits him in a future state? Let them not therefore, prevent how the future happiness is to be obtained. It is the interest of the wealthy and high in rank to promote that view; it is their duty to set an example of punctual attendance at a place of worship, and, so far as their influence goes, induce the less favoured classes (the unlearned and unfortunate) also to attend; and see that the places assigned for their accommodation be, if not near the alter, at least near the pulpit. During the time Lord Chatham commanded in the garrison, he perceived the want of church accommodation, or it was pointed out to him, and this new church was proposed and founded. It was suffered, however, to remain more than five years, after being roofed, before doors or windows were made for it. The rain of several winters was poured in floods on its roof, the gutters were choked up, either by accident or design and the water lay in a pond on the flat roof, until the walls absorbed the whole to their foundation. If this had been foreseen, and by accident, during the first rainy season after it had been roofed, it ought to have been guarded against afterwards; if done intentionally, it might have been attributed to the Spanish workers, who are more zealous to promote the advancement of the church of Rome, than the English establishment is to prevent its members straying into the arms of its more showy rival. These workmen may have intended so far to ruin the building, that the walls might give way on the first pressure of a crowded audience (should lofts or galleries be erected), and crush the whole under its roof.
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FEATURE A Long Weekend Getaway
Merida THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC HAS MEANT THAT WE CAN'T TRAVEL ABROAD AS WE WOULD LIKE, BUT THERE ARE PLACES NEARBY THAT ARE LITTLE GEMS AND WORTH TAKING A LONG WEEKEND AWAY TO EXPLORE. GRAB YOUR MASKS AND SANITISER AND SET FORTH FOR A HISTORICAL TRIP. Just over four hours away by car from Gibraltar is the city of Mérida, home to more Roman monuments than any other Spanish city, part of the Province of Badajoz and capital of the autonomous community of Extremadura. Once capital of the Roman province of Lusitania,Méridais located on the Via de la Plata (Silver Route) and was named aUNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993 and is alsopart of the Archaeological-Ensemble Complex which means that it is allowed to serve as a learning ground that illustrates the evolution of a European city over a 2000 year period. Founded in 25 BC byAugustus Caesar, it was named Emerita Augustand was the place where emeritus soldiers discharged from the Roman army from two veteran legions of the Cantabrian Wars could retire to. No matter how many Roman ruins you have seen, you will marvel at the outstanding remains that are all situated within walking distance of one another. The streets in the old city centre are narrow and driving is difficult with many roads closed to traffic, so it is best to find somewhere to park and head for the sites on foot which are all within easy walking distance of each other. One tip is that it is worth buying a single ticket that will give you entry to all the monuments and museums. Start at the 2,000 year old Puente Romano Bridgethat crosses the River Guadiana which is the longest surviving bridge from Roman timesthen visit the nearby Alcazaba, a Moorish fortress built in 835 AD later occupied by the Christians in 1230. It’s worth climbing up to the parapet of the outer walls for an impressive view over the river. Take a stroll up towards the beautifulPlaza de España, definitely the place to be to watch the world go by in the early evening, and then stroll up to the complex that includes the Roman theatre and the majestically stunning 15,000-seat amphitheatre built in 8BC. On the way, take a detour to see the impressive Temple of Diana, a totally unexpected site to see that is set amidst a modern square. Trujillo was the next step on our trip, and arriving in the medieval town felt like stepping onto a film set. It is no surprise then that the Castle of Trujillo doubled for Casterly Rock in season 7 of the Game of Thrones television series. Although set on a 600m-high
summit above the town, it is worth theshort steep climb from the main square to visit the ancient ruins and stroll around the ramparts for great views of the surrounding area. Back down in the Plaza Mayor there are plenty of cafes and restaurants in which to stop for a drink or a bite to eat. In the middle of the square, surrounded by baroque and Renaissance buildings, sits a bronzeequestrian statue of Francisco Pizarro, the conquistador conqueror of Peru. The third stop on our long weekend trip was a 30 minute drive away. Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cáceres is an extraordinary blend of Roman, Moorish, Northern Gothic and Italian Renaissance architecture, full of beautiful churches and dotted with statues. Wander around the winding maze of cobbled streets (flat shoes imperative) and make sure that you check out some of the numerous museums and the gothic Santa Maria Cathedral which dates back to the 13th century. In 1931 the Cathedral was declared an Artistic Heritage Monument and although small it is well worth a visit to see the intricately carved wooden altarpiecealong with the Gothic crucifix figure of ‘Cristo Negro’, the Black Christ, which can be found in the Blazquez Chapel. La Parte Antiguaof Cáceres is a walled town virtually untouched since the 1500s and where you will find the Museo de Cáceressituated in a 16th-century mansion, the basement of which houses an Arab cistern known as an Aljibe that still stores water. A visit to the Fine Arts collection, in the adjoining Casa de losCaballos behind the museum, reveals a surprising array of works by Picasso, Miró, Tàpies and El Greco. There are plenty of specialty shops selling regional products, including the very delicious but extremely smelly award winning Virgen del Pradosheep’s milk cheese known as the ‘Torta del Casar’. This three day excursionwas the perfect short break if you feel that you need to escape and go off the beaten path for some rest, relaxation… and exercise in the form of walking!
WORDS BY JO WARD 52
OCTOBER 2020
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FEATURE
Reasons
Why Dyslexics Make Top
Spies
In honour of International Dyslexic Awareness week, which takes place from the 5th – 11th October, the Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group are promoting a series of articles showing how being Dyslexic can be a positive in the workplace. What skills does it take to become a top spy – keeping your nation safe from cyber-attack, foreign espionage and terrorist threats? Stand-out school results? A degree from a top university? How about being dyslexic? Britain’s digital intelligence agency, GCHQ (Government Communication Headquarters) actively recruits for dyslexic thinkers, based on their unique skill set. It has 3 times the number of dyslexic employees, recruiting over 120 in 2014 alone. But this neuro-diverse recruitment strategy isn’t a recent development. It has prided itself on recruiting people who think differently since it was founded in 1919. The head of GCHQ, Jeremy Fleming, explains: “We see the impact of nation states and terror groups using technology to achieve their harmful agenda. And tackling these challenges requires people who can connect ideas, think visually and use their intuition. These are qualities we see a lot of in our dyslexic colleagues.” Jeremy Fleming, Director of GCHQ But what makes dyslexic minds ‘mission critical’ to protecting our nation’s security? Here are 5 reasons why dyslexics make brilliant spies:
1We see the big picture (Visioning).
Dyslexic brains are ‘wired’ differently. The left parietal temporal area of our brains uses different neural pathways. That helps people with dyslexia to think differently. We are naturally good at ‘Reasoning’ skills which make us adept at stepping back from the detail and seeing the big picture.
2
We can spot patterns others can’t (Deciding).
While dyslexics may struggle with skills like spelling, punctuation and grammar, they are experts at seeing patterns that others can’t. This could be a pattern of behaviour, communication or way to crack a code. It is no surprise that the most famous code-breaker in Britain, Alan Turing, was Made By Dyslexia. As a cryptanalyst based at Bletchley Park during
World War II, he broke the Nazi’s Enigma code because of his ability to see things from various three-dimensional viewpoints, discern patterns and solve nearly impossible problems. Today, many more dyslexic analysts use their reasoning skills to encrypt systems to keep our nation safe or detect and dismantle systems which seek to do our country harm.
Jeremy Fleming, head of GCHQ, explains: “Across all of our missions, we have people who are dyslexic, and play a vital role in keeping the country safe”…“I have everyone from the country’s best mathematicians, to our most talented engineers, and our best analysts, and I can see dyslexics among every one of those.”
our intuition to connect 5We are brilliant at simplifying 3Wetheusedots. Dyslexics often talk about having sudden leaps of insight that help them solve problems in an unconventional way. We use our intuition, and while it may look like daydreaming to others, it is actually our brains thinking around a problem and connecting the dots of insight. It’s not just spies who use their dyslexic strengths in this way; politicians, diplomats and communicators do too, in the service of our country. Andrew Pike OBE, Ex Director, International Communications, Prime Minister's Office and Cabinet Office Communications, explains how he uses his dyslexic strengths to his advantage: “I have an unconventional route to problem solving and find alternative and creative ways to figure things out, I’ve learnt to play to my dyslexic strengths.” Solving problems creatively and using lateral thinking is a crucial requirement for many of the workforce at GCHQ. Beth Sizeland, Director General of Strategy at GCHQ says: “We’ve got thousands of examples where dyslexia has given us the critical edge in problem solving” When the threats come thick and fast from hostile governments, terrorist groups and state-controlled hacktivists, the stakes in solving those problems couldn’t be higher.
4We are gifted analysts
People who are Made By Dyslexia are adept at understanding, taking apart and simplifying complex ideas. This might involve simplifying huge data systems, vast amounts of complex information or picking out a digital trail from millions of imprints online.
The power of thinking differently
It’s undoubted that the dyslexic strengths of seeing the big picture, spotting patterns, using your intuition to solve impenetrable digital puzzles, simplifying complex info and analysing data all mean that dyslexics are an invaluable part of the mix when it comes to our intelligence service. As Jeremy Fleming says: “We’re only going to be successful if we make the most of those who see things differently. Our dyslexic colleagues are mission critical to GCHQ.” There’s much the rest of the world can learn from this mindset. All of society benefits by harnessing the power of thinking differently. Watch the Game Changers panel from our 2019 Global Summit to understand more about the vital role dyslexic thinking will play in all our futures. For more information, please contact the Gibraltar Dyslexia Support Group on: Tel: +350 200 78509 / Mob: +350 5400 7924 / Email: info@dyslexia.gi
The dyslexic mind is extraordinarily good at sifting through large amounts of information, and picking out the key parts.
Kate Griggs is a Dyslexia Influencer, Speaker and Made By Dyslexia Founder.
WORDS BY KATE GRIGGS GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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ADOPT
DON'T
SHOP
anish Dogs
Spanish Stray Dogs UK
anish Dogs
Spanish Stray Dogs UK
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LEO
Leo is a gorgeous 2 to 3 year old Bodeguero. More info: www.spanishstraydogs.org.uk
FIODORA
Fiodora is a 10/11 year old Yorkie who was abandoned on the street. More info: www.spanishstraydogs.org.uk
OCTOBER 2020
FAYE
Little Faye is only 6 weeks old.She’s confident and loves everyone and everything despite her small size More info: www.ainf.gi
FRODO
Frodo is just under one year old, good with male and female dogs as well as with people, a very loving boy!
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A VET'S INSIGHT
HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE/ HYPERTENSION IS A CONDITION THAT IS OFTEN UNDIAGNOSED IN CATS, UNFORTUNATELY IF NOT DIAGNOSED EARLY IT CAN HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON THE AFFLICTED FELINE. Hypertension in cats can be primary hypertension, where the cause is not known or secondary hypertension; in cats the most common ailments implicated in secondary hypertension are renal failure and hyperthyroidism. However this might be an oversimplication as hypertension can result in renal damage, often when the cat is presented for examination the cat has renal insufficiency and hypertension, so what came first, the chicken or the egg?
Measuring your cat’s blood pressure is a non-invasive procedure normally done during a standard consultation. However if your cat is very agitated or nervous you must take this into account when taking a reading and take this into consideration. • 150/95 – at this reading or below, there is minimal risk and treatment is not recommended • 150/99 to 159/95 -- intervention is routinely not recommended at these readings
In my experience the most common presenting sign is sudden onset blindness or reduced vision. So generally a client will bring in a geriatric cat that has gone blind over a short period of time. On examination these cats will have acute ocular changes, generally retinal haemorrhages and/or retinal detachment. These patients respond well to treatment, so if you have an old cat that has gone blind, don’t attribute it to old age, get it to your veterinary surgeon fast( make sure they have the equipment to measure blood pressure). The sooner your pet is treated the better the prognosis and the greater the chance of it recovering its vision.
• 160/119 to 179/100 -- treatment should be sought to limit the risk of organ damage • 180/120 -- immediate treatment should be sought to limit the degree of other more severe complications Another very useful tool frequently used is the measuring of urine protein, when blood pressure is high proteins are ‘pushed through’ the kidney filter system , so high protein in the urine can be a great aid in the diagnosis of hypertension and also useful as a prognostic indicator. Early diagnosis is ideal, if caught early before any further organ damage then simply dosing your cat once a day with medication can be enough to prevent any further deterioration and will extend your cat’s life substantially.
However these are not the only presenting signs, in summary if your cat presents with any of the following symptoms make sure you get its blood pressure checked:
High blood pressure is not a condition to be ignored, if you have an aging cat, from the age of 10 + then ask your vet to take its blood pressure and ideally provide the vet with a urine sample. Managed well hypertension is easily controlled and your cat will lead a normal life, left untreated and it will eventually cause irreversible organ damage and will shorten your pet’s life.
For more information please phone Gibraltar Vetinary Clinic on 200 77334
One of the most common ailments of the geriatric feline is renal disease, if your cat is suffering from this or is diagnosed with this then it is important that its blood pressure is measured too to make sure that this is not a complicating factor.
WORDS BY MARK PIZARRO GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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PACS
Why should I take my child to
playgroup? There are many different types of activities that you can take your children to. One of these are playgroups or toddler groups. They are valuable and a relevant resource that every parent or carer of young children should take advantage of. Looking after children under the age of 5 can be one of the most rewarding things anybody can do, however it can also be tiring and make adults feel isolated. Playgroups are a great place to help adults to feel less isolated and they provide a great opportunity to teach children how to socialise. There are many benefits of coming along to a play group session. Firstly, it gives you the opportunity for some quality time away from the home where there are always jobs to do! You can take time in a friendly welcoming environment to have a hot drink and make new friends while your child plays safely nearby. Due to this environment it is also a great opportunity for your child to experiment with independence, young children will confidently move away from you to play when they're ready, safe in the knowledge that you are nearby and not leaving . Children will mix with other children at play group this gives them the ability to start to socialise, to learn to share and make friendships. As a parent myself messy play was always my worst nightmare and I never wanted to do it at home. However, at play group it is an opportunity for you and your child to enjoy messy play without having to clean it up in your own house! There are also many other activities that you might not normally try, and it is just a welcome change from the toys at home! Spending time with your child at a play group in this way will give you the opportunity for positive interaction and praise which is important for your child's confidence and self-worth. Being a new parent can be difficult at any time and playgroups allow you to socialise with people going through similar situations. A new child can be a huge adjustment.
Parents may have stopped working or are staying at home and many parents can feel isolated, scared, and unsupported or just in need of a good chat! Joining a play group can help with these feelings seeing a welcoming face after a bad night, someone to discuss and compare notes with or just have a moan at can be greatly beneficial for all new parents. In Gibraltar, the Parent and Child Society have been offering playgroups to the community for the last 10 years. The Society offers several different sessions suitable for all children under the age of 5. So, although it could be scary to come along to a new place, we encourage you to take the plunge and come see what we do at our sessions. For all the dates and times of our current sessions please follow us on our Facebook page - Parent and Child Society Gibraltar. @ parentandchildsociety
Bonus maze puzzle
We look forward to seeing you soon.
WORDS BY THE PARENT AND CHILD SOCIETY GIBRALTAR (PACS) GIBRALTARINSIGHT.COM
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FEATURE& HEALTH WELLBEING
BOOSTYOUR IMMUNESYSTEM There has been an increasing demand by people who have been looking for natural ways to boost their immunity during the coronavirus restrictions. Holland & Barrett, one of the world's leading health and wellness retailers and the largest in Europe, is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year and with its main priority being to make wellness accessible for everyone. They not only have a large range of health supplements and products that can help you to stay healthy and boost your immune system but their employees are trained to recommend the right products for you. A weak immune system may mean that you are more prone to frequent infections. Signs that you may have a weakened immune system include: feeling stressed; prone to catching colds; frequent stomach problems including diarrhea, gas or constipation; wounds that are slow to heal and feeling tired all the time. One of the best ways to protect your body from viruses and to fight off germs, infection and disease is to make some lifestyle changes. Try to eat a balanced diet, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight, get a good night’s sleep, don’t smoke and try to minimise stress. Easier said than done in some cases, but there are products that can help put you on the right track to a stronger immune system. When it comes to your diet, you should try to make sure you are getting your ‘five a day’ recommended portions of fruit and vegetables but there are also certain nutrients that play an important role in immune health. VITAMIN A – found in liver, milk and cheese and dark green leafy vegetables and orange fruit. Try Holland & Barrett Vitamin A 100 Capsules with fish liver oils which have many benefits for your overall health and immune system. VITAMIN C – is present in fruit and vegetables, including peppers, kiwis, oranges, tomatoes, blackcurrants and broccoli. Vitamin C is one of the body’s most important vitamins and keeping levels topped up is vital for overall health. Holland & Barrett Timed Release Vitamin C with Rose Hips 120 Caplets 1000mg can help contribute to the normal function of the immune and nervous system as well as reducing tiredness & fatigue. ZINC – eat meat, shellfish, poultry, eggs, cheese, as well as root veg, nuts and seeds, and wholegrain cereals and breads. While there are many food sources of zinc, some people may be at a higher risk of not getting enough zinc in their diets. Holland &
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Barrett High Strength Zinc 100 Tablets 15mg are a great way to boost the levels of zinc in your body. They provide all the benefits of zinc in an easy to swallow one-a-day high strength tablet. Zinc contributes to the normal function of the immune system, normal fertility and reproduction, maintenance of normal vision and cognitive function. SELENIUM – is found in nuts and seeds, grains, vegetables, eggs, poultry, fish and shellfish. Selenium is an essential trace mineral and the most important mineral for the immune system. It is used by the body to maintain normal thyroid function, and it contributes to the normal functioning of the immune system, the maintenance of normal hair and nails and to protect cells from oxidative stress. Because we can’t produce selenium ourselves we have to rely on our diet, selenium supplements, or a combination of the two to ensure that we get enough. Try Holland & Barrett Selenium 250 Tablets 200ug. VITAMIN D –is sometimes called the “sunshine vitamin”, but it is also found in oily fish, eggs, fortified breakfast cereals, spreads and dairy products. Our bodies produce vitamin D naturally when it’s directly exposed to sunlight, but we can also get it through certain foods and supplements. The sunshine vitamin is significant for bone, brain and muscle health as well as your heart. Vitamin D could prevent against developing a cold or the flu. How do you know if you are getting enough Vitamin D? There are several factors that will influence your body’s ability to synthesise vitamin D, including being exposed to less sunlight, such as during the winter months, wearing clothes that cover more of your skin in the summer months, having darker skin, and being over 65. Boost your immunity with Holland & Barrett Vitamin D3 100 Tablets 25ug. If you want to support your kids’ immune system Sambucol For Kids 4-12 Years + Vitamin C Black Elderberry 30 Gummies or Holland & Barrett Healthy Kids Omega 3 Fish Oils with A,D,E & C Bursting Berry Flavour Chewy Capsules are easy to take and are exclusively formulated for children. Advisory Information: Food supplements must not be used as a substitute for a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, taking any medications or are under medical supervision, please consult a doctor or healthcare professional and always read the label before use.
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Boost Your Immunity
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
SCHOOLOFHEALTHSTUDIES The School of Health Studies (SHS) functions so as to facilitate and produce competent, confident and critical thinking Registered Nurses to improve quality of care for patients and improve health outcomes. The SHS teach, assess and manage the BSc (Hons) Nursing programme based in Gibraltar with clinicians and other staff. When somebody makes a decision to become a nurse, they are making one of the most important decision of their lives as they choose to commit themselves to the care and support of other people. In and around February when COVID-19 was beginning to gather momentum in Europe and in March 2020 when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, the SHS had, on clinical placement, over twenty five student nurses. Of these student nurses, twelve had just over 6 months before they qualified and registered with the Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting Registration Board Gibraltar taking up Newly Qualified Staff Nurse posts across the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA). This last 6 months of student nurse education and training is an important period as the student consolidates their programme of study preparing them to become a member of the nursing workforce, this pandemic was about to throw the future of their nurse education programmes into doubt. As the GHA’s major incident policy was activated provision had to be made for the qualifying group of students to complete their nurse education with least disruption to their study. It was essential to ensure that all of the stringent criteria for entry to the professional register were met so they were able to join the workforce.
The Director of Nursing, Head of School and SHS staff approached students with a number of options with regards to their remaining 6 months on the programme. Students could have deferred their education until a later date, or they could, with support from clinicians and SHS staff continue working on the front line until their course has completed. All of the student nurses, within a heartbeat, did not have to think twice about stepping up, they all opted to remain in practice and on the front line. With students saying they could not just sit at home, they wanted to use their skills to help and be part of the team. This dedication and commitment to completing their programme of study, continuing to gain experience, to undertake their final assessments and supporting the nursing workforce demonstrates professionalism and a desire to help others. These are key attributes of any Registered Nurse. As Head of School, I am proud of the decisions that the students made, proud that they stepped up to the plate. They have truly made a difference and faced the challenges of COVID-19 in professional and educated way. The next generation of Registered Nurses will be an asset to the organisation and to the health and wellbeing of those who require their support, taking on challenges and seizing opportunity against a backdrop of the unknown. The GHA and SHS wish these Newly Qualified Staff Nurses much continued success as they enter the profession of Nursing in this, the dedicated WHO Year of the Nurse, 2020 also marks the bicentenary Florence Nightingale's birth.
WORDS BY IAN PEATE 60
OCTOBER 2020
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COSMETIC SURGERY Cosmetic Surgery with Complete Peace of Mind
AFTERCARE WHEN CHOOSING A COSMETIC SURGEON, CONSIDER THE IMPORTANCE OF AFTERCARE Aria Medical Group stands out amongst cosmetic surgery providers for its dedicated to patient aftercare. The company, founded by Chief Surgeon Dr Marco Vricella, has a philosophy that focuses on client care, rather than on high pressure sales. Aria’s post procedure service in Gibraltar.
PERSONALISED POST PROCEDURE AFTERCARE IN GIBRALTAR Aria Medical Group has a personalised fully-inclusive aftercare programme, included in the price of every cosmetic surgery procedure:
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GIBRALTAR'S FASTEST FIBRE BROADBAND Experience speeds like never before with hyperfast 1Gb symmetric fibre broadband
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Just Married on the Rock
Mobile: 58897000 Email: nicholas64@gibtelecom.net
Zainya & Craig Married 12th September 2020 Photographer Nicky Sanchez
Athaena & Terry llewellin Married 14th September 2020 Photographer Nicky Sanchez
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HEALTH & WELLBEING
INFLUENZA (FLU) MYTH BUSTING!
Influenza, commonly referred to as Flu, circulates every year most commonly during the winter periods. It is a highly infectious disease with symptoms that come on very quickly, with severity, causing many to seek healthcare services some of which may result in hospitalisation. Yet despite the flu vaccine having been thoroughly researched for safety, there are still persistent speculations made about its efficacy. Taking into account the extensive scientific research on the vaccine, here are some facts to dispel associated myths: MYTH: Flu is not serious so I do not need the vaccine
MYTH:
FACT: Healthy people can become very ill with the flu, but for those who are vulnerable it can cause complications such as sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, heart and/or brain inflammations. As many as 650 000 people a year die globally from the flu, and the number of hospitalisations are much greater. Getting vaccinated not only protects you but those around you too. : H MYT
FACT: Typically, it takes about 10-14 days for you to be protected against flu after you get the vaccine; this means you could be vaccinated and then pick up flu before you are fully protected. That is why it is best to get the vaccine as early as possible before there are lots of flu viruses circulating. : H YT M
FACT: All vaccines, including flu vaccines, have to be tested thoroughly before they can be licensed. Furthermore, flu vaccines have been in use since the 1960s with millions of doses administered every year. Like all medicines, some patients will experience side effects to the flu vaccination, but these are generally mild and resolve without treatment. MYTH:
FACT: Vaccine ingredients, unlike food ingredients, include products used during the manufacturing process (excipients) which are not found in the final product; and if present only in trace amounts. You would, for example, be exposed to more mercury from a single tuna sandwich than from the flu vaccine. Many of the substances used in vaccines are found naturally in the body, some essential for normal functioning and only harmful in large amounts. All vaccine ingredients are present in very small quantities, and there is no evidence to suggest that they cause harm. : MYTH
FACT: The injected flu vaccine contains an inactivated virus that cannot give you the flu. If you feel achy or slightly feverish, it is a normal reaction of your immune system responding to the vaccine (this is a good sign); this generally lasts only a day or two. : MYTH FACT: Several flu viruses are circulating all the time, and best predictions are made when producing the yearly vaccine. It is possible to get the flu despite being vaccinated, if another strain is in circulation, but there are also a number of illness with similar symptoms to flu (including Covid-19 for example). Getting vaccinated is currently the best method we have to be protected from the flu.
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the vaccine. FACT: Getting vaccinated not only protects you but our wider community. For health care workers this is particularly important, as it will help reduce the spread to vulnerable patients, as well as colleagues and family members.
OCTOBER 2020
For more information see: https://HealthyGibraltar. org/common-infections/influenza/ And look out for this year’s flu campaign material #ProtectedTogether
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FEATURE
The power of Five HONOUR YOUR SOUL AND SPEAK YOUR TRUTH It is becoming more and more imperative these days that people find a way to honour their souls by finding and speaking their truth. This is always important but in these times of great change and uncertainty it is now more important then ever. Sounds easier said than done, I know, but there are simple steps to identifying how to do this on a daily basis. We know about diet, exercise and spiritual awareness and in an earlier article I took you through my PIES model of working with your four pillars – Physical Intellectual Emotional Spiritual. These being the four pillars which we must nurture and take care of in order to lead a happy and balanced life. Woven through these four pillars is the Power of Five. Some of you may be familiar with the concept of the Power of Five, namely that we become the average of the five people we spend most time with. This is well worth taking a pen and paper and half an hour to really identify who these people are in your life and where they show up? They may be people with whom you on social media, people you follow on social media. They may be people you meet in the park every day walking your dog. Maybe family members, partners, business associates, work colleagues. The list is endless and only you can identify the top five. If you are feeling uncertain, unhappy, depressed or worried then I can guarantee you that your need to take a long hard look at your top five and make some changes. Whatever stage you are at in your life there will be something going on… Something you are dealing with. It may be a health or finance issue or it could be work or home related. It may be that you are excited about a new project or opportunity. Whatever it is, you need to be connecting with people who have the attitude that will gel with whatever outcome you are looking for. So, if you have a health issue and you want to get well then you need to be connecting with people who are there to support you on your journey. People who have positive energy to share and who listen without judging when you have a low period. If you have a health issue and want to hold on to it (and this is true for more people than you might think) then, of course you will need to hangout with others of a similar mindset. There are many groups around for either of these scenarios and it is essential that you find the one that you gel most with, as if you don’t then you will experience only frustration and a total lack of understanding.
If you are about to embark on a new project and those around you feel concerned that it won’t work and try to talk you out of it then you must align yourself with people who believe in you. This is absolutely crucial to your success. You must have a group of people who have your back and cheer your success. So… take a good hard look at your ‘five’! It is pretty well guaranteed that you will have some rearranging to do. Best places to start are family and social media. Maybe not for everyone but for most. Go through your online friends and delete the ones that either never reply/comment or the ones who you don’t really know or why they are there in the first place. Check the ones who tend to subtly put down your comments or who are rude or disparaging. It is simple click and you won’t regret it. Take a look at the positive connections you have and take some steps to maybe get to know someone better... check out their own posts and see what you have in common and make positive comments. In other areas it may not be appropriate or even possible to remove people from your life but neither may it be necessary. You may simply have to minimise your contact. Gently and discreetly lessen your contact. You can make a list of the ten people that you know you spend most time sharing your energy with and rate them according to how good you feel after a chat with them. Then you can move them into different positions until you are confident that you have identified the top five that work for you. The ones who don’t drain your energy but contribute positively to your dreams and your quality of life. And vice versa. And share dreams only with those who will honour and respect them and help you realise them. These don’t even need to be people that you know. If you study and read a lot then it is a good idea to have a favourite author or guide as one of your five. By taking these steps you are honouring your soul and developing the courage to speak your truth. Kate Mchardy MA(Hons) PGCE MSPH Spiritual coach, teacher and healer. katemch@gmail.com / Tel: +44 7712889534. Facebook: The University of Light Group / Readings at The University of Light (@tarotangelspiritreadings).
WORDS BY KATE MCHARDY
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ARIES (MAR 21 – APR 21) You may feel a little emotionally vulnerable at the moment, Aries, and you don’t like to feel like this. But it is important to understand why you feel like this and to be gentle with yourself. It will pass.
TAURUS (APR 21 – MAY 21) Your dreams can definitely come true this month, Taurus! Wish for the stars and, as they say, you just might get the moon! But a word of warning... be careful what you wish for and be ready to say yes!
GEMINI (MAY 22 – JUNE 22) October is a full and satisfying month for you, Gemini. You can expect to feel the love and gratitude of your family all around you. You have done well and are being appreciated for your hard work.
CANCER (JUNE 23 – JULY 22) You are always such a caring and empathetic listener, Cancer, but right now it is your turn to be listened to. You, of all people know how important it is to be heard… so allow yourself now to voice your deepest feelings.
LEO (JULY 23 – AUG 23) There is a new beginning on the horizon for you, Leo, and you would do well to keep an eye on it and not let it get blocked by the clouds! Even pretty clouds can block our vision…. don’t let them!
VIRGO (AUG 24 – SEP 23) teer clear of other peoples’ arguments, Virgo. Do not allow yourself to become piggy in the middle as they will only shoot the messenger! People need to be ready to listen and they are not!
LIBRA (SEP 24 – OCT 23) Pay attention to the small print, Libra. Both the written word and the spoken word. Someone is not saying what they mean and it is what they are not saying that counts.
SCORPIO (OCT 24 – NOV 22) A gentle and kind older person is looking out for you this month, Scorpio, so let them do so and take their guidance. If you are that older person then be patient and gentle.
SAGITTARIUS (NOV 23 – DEC 21) If you are feeling overwhelmed this month, Sagittarius, then you must delegate. It seems you have been heaped with responsibilities which are not of your making so give them back!
CAPRICORN (DEC 22 – JAN 20) You seem to be surrounded with worries at this time, Capricorn. Make sure that you have all the facts and then you can act. But remember worry doesn’t ever actually achieve anything except to exhaust you.
AQUARIUS (JAN 21 – FEB 19) You will be calling upon your inner strength this month, Aquarius, and the good news is that you have inner strength in abundance. You will have to say no in order to help someone find their own inner strength. And you will!
PISCES (FEB 20 – MAR 20) Endings are part of the cycles of life, Pisces, and this month you will be saying goodbye to an era and moving on. It is a good moving on though as it is about growth and good things. Bittersweet but beneficial to everyone.
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Pork and Marinated Mushroom Ramen I’ve always seen so many different ramens around when i’ve been travelling or sat at a restaurant and tasted to many I wanted to try the challenge of making it for myself. It may not be the authentic way, but it definitely is tasty.
INGREDIENTS 6 or 7 Mushrooms
Soy Sauce
4 Pork Loin Fillet Slices
Sesame Seeds
Red Thai Curry Paste
Sesame Seed Oil
1 Onion
Fresh Coriander
Rice Noodles
Fresh Ginger
1ltr Vegetable Broth
METHOD 1, Cut your mushrooms into chunks and marinade them with a generous pouring of soy sauce, sesame seed oil and sesame seeds. Toss everything around in the bowl to make sure that the mushrooms have been completely coated and leave in the fridge for now. 2, Thinly slice your onion and fresh ginger and fry in a large pot, once they are softer add 2 tsp of the thai curry paste and stir together vigorously. Cut the pork fillets into smaller chunks and add to the pot too, to seal. 3, Once the pork has had a quick seal and looks whiter on the outside, pour in your broth to cover everything. Leave this to bubble and simmer. 4, Next, grab your mushrooms from the fridge and heat up a frying pan. Add them to the frying pan on a medium to high heat to cook with all the marinade ingredients. 5, The broth should now be simmering away, so add in a few noodle nests and leave to cook and soften. Once everything is cooked, using a ladle scoop out the ingredients from the broth into several serving bowls, top up with broth liquid if needed. With some tongs twist in some noddles to one side and share out the mushrooms. Finish off with a sprinkle of fresh coriander. For a meat-free alternative then leave out the meat or replace with a meat alternative like tofu. (let me know if you try this)
For more delicious Mama Lotties recipes visit:
www.mamalotties.com
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CROSSWORD
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WIN!!! WIN!!! WIN!!!
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ACROSS
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1. The line along which anything lies, faces,
1. An article of furniture having a
moves, etc. (9) 5. _ _ _ _ riya, ancient city in Sri Lanka. (4)
broad, usually level, writing surface. (4)
7. A naval officer of the highest rank. (4)
2. Capital of Latvia. (4)
9. To perform. (2)
3. A shy person. (9)
11. _ _ _ _olent, evil; harmful; injurious. (5)
4. Lazily careless; offhand. (9)
12. A female given name. (4)
6. _ _ _ _ _ _ _t, a person who is guided more by ideals than practicality. (7)
13. To distribute or apportion by measure; allot; dole. (4) 14. Type of aloholic liquor. (3) 15. Important part of cameras. (4) 16. Short for, Let it stand. (4)
A FABULOUS HIMALAYAN SALT LAMP
8. Used in citations to indicate an author or word that has just been mentioned. (4) 10. Traditional toy for girls. (4)
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:.................................................................................... Address:................................................................................ Tel: ............................................
11. _ _ _ _um, a large wine bottle having a capacity of two ordinary bottles or 1.5 litres. (4)
LAST MONTH’S LUCKY WINNER WAS: JOHN DALLI
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