Sunday Circle Issue 228

www.sundaycircle.com

Interview

MICHELLE MUSCAT

DECEMBER 2013 – ISSUE NO. 228

Feature

BECOMING ME A look at the day-to-day life of transsexual people in Malta today See page 41

The Prime Minister’s wife on life in the Muscat household See page 35

Exclusive

MALCOLM GALEA

Pantomime, musicals, children’s theatre, television, stand-up – what’s it like making your living from comedy?

IC T S SE A U NT BAG D CA A F IE OO

See page 20

PLUS

The plight of the Romani – one of Europe’s most maligned ethnic groups See page 29

A D G 11 IN OO TO Apage 1 W G TE see &

NA O D

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CONTENTS REGULARS

8 A WORD FROM THE EDITOR 12 C BODY | 14 C STYLE 16 C FASHION | 133 PAPARAZZI

INTERVIEWS

20 FUNNY MAN

From pantomime, musicals and children’s theatre, to television and stand-up, there are few media that Malcolm Galea hasn’t tried his hand at. He talks to Philip Leone-Ganado about comedy, the life of a writer – and why he will always treat life like a buffet

35 THE POLITICIAN’S WIFE

Michelle Muscat talks to Sarah Borg about ensuring a normal upbringing for her children, meeting Pope Francis, and coordinating ballet rehearsals

65 THE SPIRITUALITY OF SEX

COMPETITION* 111 WIN A GOODIE BAG Support the Ladybird Foundation and WIN yourself a stylish goodie bag. Visit sundaycircle.com to participate * Please be sure to include your email address and mobile number in your entries. Whenever you enter one of our competitions, your contact details will automatically be added to our mailing list to receive our promotional material and latest offers. Kindly indicate if you do not want to receive this information.

The sexual is spiritual, the spiritual is sexual and Christianity is the perfect vehicle for a greater acceptance of homosexuality – Philip Leone-Ganado meets Tyrone Grima, author of one of the first gay novels in Maltese

SOCIETY

29 THE FORGOTTEN PEOPLE

Recent news of alleged child abductions by Roma people has brought into sharp relief the plight of one of Europe’s most maligned ethnic groups. Adrian Camilleri meets one of Europe’s leading experts on the Gypsy community

41 BECOMING ME

What is life like as a transgender person in Malta today? With the introduction of civil unions round the corner, Rachel Aguis examines the last part of the term LGBT

59 NEITHER HERE NOR THERE

Rachel Aguis explores the expatriate lifestyle: its freedoms, its challenges — and how people cope with an identity that seems split in half

115

105 A QUESTION OF IDENTITY

As the citizenship debate rages on, what is it, ultimately, that makes us Maltese?

ART

46 MORE THAN SKIN DEEP

For a long time, tattoos bore strong connotation of criminality and gang violence. As taboo increasingly becomes a thing of the past, Rachel Aguis meets one artist eager to return tattooing to its spiritual roots

STYLE 50

50 MIDNIGHT CITY

Fashion stylists and bloggers Claire, Nicole and Sandro – the Clouded Revolution – offer their tips for looking your best this festive season

46

RELATIONSHIPS

73 THE YOUNG AND THE SETTLED

Are young people really getting married later? For a generation confronted by change and uncertainty, asks Sarah Borg, could the stability of marriage be a tempting lure?

TECHNOLOGY

79 NETWORKED INTIMACY

Smartphones and the internet have provided us with more ways of keeping in touch, says Christine Spiteri — but could they be redefining our very sense of home and belonging?

HERITAGE

93 CAPTURING A CULTURE

Daniel Cilia has spent years photographing the many diverse elements of Malta’s natural and cultural legacy. Now, with the release of a new book series, he tells Philip Leone-Ganado, it’s all coming together

SPORTS

115 MAN OF STEEL

Fresh from becoming the first Maltese person to compete in the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii, triathlete Dermot Galea tells Ivan Borg about this most gruelling of endurance sports

HEALTH & BEAUTY

85 CRISIS CONTROL

1 in 4 people experience mental health problems worldwide.

Sarah Borg finds out who’s there to offer a professional helping hand when an overwhelming situation becomes an emergency

99 ETHICAL EATS

The Slow Food movement promotes the creation of products that are good and clean for the consumers, clean for the environment and fair for the producers, Sarah Borg discovers

129 DESIGNING YOUR SMILE

Dental and Implant Surgeon Dr Jean Paul Demajo on how digital technologies can help you achieve the perfect smile

131 THE TRUTH ABOUT LIPOSUCTION

Consultant Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon Raymond DeBono looks critically at the different ways fat removal is often advertised

TRAVEL

125 WINTER WONDERLAND

Livigno in the winter is a dreamlike natural playground for the whole family, as one young traveller found out

SEND YOUR LETTERS TO: Philip Leone-Ganado, the editor, Sunday Circle, Network Publications Ltd, Level 2, Angelica Court, Guzeppi Cali Street, Ta’ Xbiex, XBX 1425, or email: philip@networkpublications.com.mt. The editors reserve the right to edit letters for clarity and where space is limited. For advertising enquiries email: renee@networkpublications. com.mt or call: 2131 6326/7/8. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole, or in part, is strictly prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed in the Sunday Circle are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers. All reasonable care is taken to ensure truth and accuracy, but the editor and publishers cannot be held responsible for errors or omissions in articles, advertising, photographs or illustrations. Unsolicited manuscripts are welcome, but cannot be returned without a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The editor is not responsible for material submitted for consideration. The Sunday Circle is printed by Progress Press and distributed free with The Sunday Times every month.

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A WORD FROM

THE EDITOR How do you measure a year?

We began with an electoral campaign and we end it with a new government. It’s meant changes for everyone, but perhaps none more so than Michelle Muscat, wife of the new Prime Minister, who talks to us about adapting to a new reality while maintaining normality for her young children. Mrs Muscat is just one of the personalities we encountered – from the triathlete Dermot Galea, fresh from the Ironman World Championships in Hawaii to the tattooist Guy Lee, fast establishing himself as one of Malta’s most daring and innovative.

It would be impossible to capture all the issues that dominated our thoughts this year in a few pages, but we did strive to offer a taste of the diversity that dominated twelve months of debate and change. As the introduction of civil unions promises to change the fabric of Maltese society, we examine another part of the term LGBT, and ask whether progress is as forthcoming for transsexual individuals. And as the notion of citizenship comes under scrutiny, we ask what it actually means to be Maltese, and take a peek at the experience of the expats who have left the country behind.

For our cover story, we met the writer and performer Malcolm Galea.

As he prepares to step into the high heels of the pantomime dame for the traditional theatrical Christmas offering, he gave us a spot of insight into the life of a man who makes a living from being funny.

This and more inside. Thanks for reading.

THIS MONTH

ON THE COVER PUBLISHER John Formosa Network Publications Ltd www.sundaycircle.com

Interview

MICHELLE MUSCAT

DECEMBER 2013 – ISSUE NO. 228

Feature

BECOMING ME A look at the day-to-day life of transsexual people in Malta today

PUBLICATION & SALES MANAGER Renée Micallef Decesare

See page 41

The Prime Minister’s wife on life in the Muscat household

EDITORIAL

See page 35

Philip Leone-Ganado EDITOR Exclusive

MALCOLM GALEA

Pantomime, musicals, children’s theatre, television, stand-up – what’s it like making your living from comedy?

See page 20

PLUS

The plight of the Romani – one of Europe’s most maligned ethnic groups See page 29

C TI SE AS U NT AG CA FA B OD A DIE GO 11 IN OO TO Apage 1 W G TE see &

WESTIN WESTIN DRAGONARA DRAGONARA RESORT RESORT ST. JULIANS ST. JULIANS facebook.com/undeuxtrois123malta WWW.1-2-3.FR

COVER PERSONALITY Malcolm Galea

COVER PHOTO Nicky Scicluna PHOTOGRAPHY

NA DO

Sarah Borg Rachel Agius ASSISTANT EDITORS

ART & DESIGN Sarah Scicluna Jessica Camilleri GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

SALES & MARKETING Marisa Schembri FEATURES SALES MANAGER

Viktoriya Kyurcheva SALES ADMINISTRATOR

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COVER STORY

Funny Man FROM PANTOMIME, MUSICALS AND CHILDREN’S THEATRE, TO TELEVISION AND STAND-UP, THERE ARE FEW MEDIA THAT MALCOLM GALEA HASN’T TRIED HIS HAND AT. HE TELLS PHILIP LEONE-GANADO ABOUT COMEDY, WRITING FOR KIDS – AND TREATING LIFE LIKE A BUFFET P hotograPhy

by

“When people ask me what I do for a living I’m usually quite vague,” says Malcolm Galea. “I don’t say I’m a writer because that sounds obnoxious. Besides, it’s not all I do. What usually happens is that I think of something that’s temporarily fun and I do that for a while.

Then occasionally something will really take off, and there’ll be more of it.”

Having started out as a Radio DJ (“a way of getting into theatre – and getting myself a girlfriend”), Malcolm’s made a name for himself as an actor and writer. He’s probably best known for Porn: the Musical, which debuted at the MITP Theatre in 2009, before runs in Edinburgh and London. But as one of not very many people in Malta making their living almost exclusively in the entertainment industry, he’s pretty

N icky S cicluNa

ubiquitous. To date, he’s appeared in countless plays, written Christmas pantos and a successful shortform TV comedy, won a Francis Ebejer prize for his newest children’s play, Dlam Taħt it-Teatru – and when we meet, he’s preparing for the launch of another new play at the Żigużajg festival.

“I refuse to see life as something you have to do: work, retire, die,” he says.

“Life is not a set menu, it’s a buffet. I take from it what I like and leave what I don’t.” But if that sounds a bit whimsical, the fact is that – for someone trading in comedy – Malcolm approaches his work with a surprisingly business-like attitude. “What I do isn’t too different to running your own company,” he says. “I need to be creative to survive, so there’s daily pressure.”

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 21

COVER STORY The things he writes aren’t, as he puts it, necessarily what he wants to write in his heart of hearts, but things there is a market and an audience for. And when I ask if the creativity ever dries up, his answer is in a similar vein. “I don’t sit around waiting for inspiration.

Creativity is like a muscle: the more you train it, the better you get.

Plus, knowing that you need to finish something today or people will get angry at you can be great inspiration.”

He’s even quite pragmatic about his penchant for comedy. “I write comedy now because I haven’t really experienced sorrow,” he says. Still, he’s certainly suited to the task. For all his pragmatism, Malcolm retains a certain boyish playfulness about him that is evident after even a few minutes of conversation. He has what you might call an over-developed joke reflex: provide him with an opening, no matter how slight, and the cogs immediately start whirring as he comes back with a punchline.

It’s a skill that serves him well in the newest of his endeavours.

Stand-up comedy in Malta is a young artform, with the first comics taking their tentative steps into the genre only this year, but Malcolm is already one of the go-to guys. “It’s something I’ve wanted to try for ages, and I’ve been really impressed by the potential there is,” he says. “I can see a couple of stand-ups making it full-time on the foreign circuit.” Coming from a theatre background helps, he believes, especially in Malta where the speed of production runs means that performers are exposed to many different types of audience a year.

“There’s often an inflated self-esteem which somehow conveys itself to the audience as real self-esteem, and by the time they figure it out you’ve improved enough that it doesn’t matter.”

“Creativity is like a muscle: the more you train it, the better you get” But for now, stand-up remains an evening pursuit. Meanwhile, when I catch up with him, his new children’s play is opening in three days. It’s not, strictly speaking, finished yet, but he assures me it’s all under control.

The project is one of those things, I suppose, that “really took off”. Two years ago, he wrote The Complete History of Malta (more or less), a zany fast-paced show which, transitioning smoothly into public performances and school tours, is still running today. It’s also spawned two follow-ups along the way: Everything you Need to Know about Science (more or less) and this year’s The Complete History of Europe (more or less).

“When my first child was born I became more interested in writing for kids,” Malcolm explains. “Their applause and appreciation is really gratifying, and you can have a huge impact on them. I’m still a little starstruck when I meet the actors I watched growing up, even today.”

The show’s longevity is quite unique in the Maltese theatrical scene, where plays usually have a lifespan of just a couple of weekends, and Malcolm believes these short runs are hindering the development of new plays. “A play might be developed and rewritten for five years before it ever makes it to Broadway,” he says. “That’s the normal process, but a Maltese play will never have that unless it goes abroad.

History of Malta has got much tighter over the two years we’ve been performing it, tweaking bits that weren’t working, adding and perfecting new bits through improvisation. By the time we take it to a festival, it will be as good as it’s ever going to be.”

22 Sunday Circle | December 2013

But Malcolm never falls into the trap of simply bemoaning the state of affairs. For the problem he proposes, his solution is straightforward.

“Most town and villages have their own theatre, so there is a market out there – people just don’t want to come to Valletta.” Instead of the standard one- or two- weekend runs, he suggests, why not take a new play to one of the different ‘regional’ theatres every week? “That way you’re engaging people in their own setting, and you’re spreading your audience over a number of months, allowing word-of-mouth to spread, and the play to develop.”

This year, Malcolm has once again written a Christmas panto, the fifth one he’s written and the third time he’s donned the Dame’s high-heels.

“I love the silliness of panto,” he says with a grin. “It’s like writing for some sort of live cartoon.” Still, part of the fun has always been the social references and dirty jokes that fly right over the children’s heads, and Malcolm insists this year will be no exception. “I set myself a challenge to see how crude it could be while still being acceptable,” he jokes. “There were a few things I put in just to see the director’s face when he told me to remove them.” And? “They’re all still in there.”

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COVER STORY

His offering this year is Little Red Riding Hood and You-Know-Who at the Manoel Theatre. Like all his projects, he’s concocted a rich back-story, even though little of it will actually be seen in the final product.

“I could explain how it’s inspired by Angela Carter’s retelling, but meanwhile the cast are singing gypsy-king songs on stage.” Not that he minds. “If I sit down and just try to write, there’s too much pressure, because I’m writing dialogue, which people are going to have to speak – and what if it’s shit? So I start by writing ideas.

There’s no pressure with ideas.”

With opening night not far away, Malcolm admits that he’s reminding himself how many times he’s already done it to avoid freaking out. But he shrugs it off when I ask whether he’s nervous at all. “I don’t really get nerves any more. It’s a bit more like a job. Even when I’m talking about it with my family, I refer to it as going to work. It’s absolutely great, as far as jobs go, but I miss the fear.” He leans in almost conspiratorially. “You know, when something goes wrong on stage, and I need to get it back on track in the moment, that’s when I really come alive again.”

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FEATURE

The

Forgotten People REcEnT nEws oF AllEgEd child AbdUcTions by RomA pEoplE in gREEcE hAs bRoUghT inTo shARp REliEF ThE plighT oF onE oF EURopE’s mosT mAlignEd EThnic gRoUps. AdRiAn cAmillERi mEETs onE oF EURopE’s lEAding ExpERTs on ThE gypsy commUniTy

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 29

FEATURE MASTHEAD

F

or the past ten years, Henry Scicluna has made it his mission to dedicate his time to Gypsy issues.

Pushing on seventy-six, the Maltese expat has been living in Strasbourg since 1969, after studying law at the University of Malta. He also played an important role in the establishment of the European Romani and Travellers Forum, which is in partnership with the Council of Europe and which he has now joined full-time.

“I joined the staff of the Council of Europe forty-five years ago,” he recalls. “I then worked in the European Court of Human Rights and in various sectors dealing with health and social affairs. Four years before my retirement in 2003 I was assigned to a sector dealing with Romani communities. On retiring I was given consent by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to keep working on a voluntary basis on Roma issues.”

Today, most Roma are found in Central and Eastern Europe, followed by Spain and Turkey. Almost two million live in Romania alone. Interestingly, Roma are a branch of the larger Romani group who originally came out of India. Other clans include Sinti gypsies, which can be found in Italy, Germany and Austria; the Manush live in French-speaking areas of Europe, while Kale gypsies can be found on the Iberian peninsula and also Finland and Britain. Another similar, but

30 Sunday Circle | December 2013

unrelated, nomadic group are Irish travellers. “These are, strictly speaking, not Romani. They are ethnic Irish people with a nomadic lifestyle similar to that of gypsies.”

“In Western Europe, the gypsy population has been, more or less, nomadic,” Scicluna explains. “They live in caravans and do not bother anyone, other than for the fact that they tend to occupy and settle anywhere, sometimes spending up to three or four months in one place.”

However, there has been a shift in lifestyle in recent years, with more Romani people settling down in one place and taking up employment, as well as shifts in their religious practices. Over the centuries Romani people have adopted the religions of the places they settled in. Many Romani are Catholic, Orthodox Christians or Muslims, with a growing Evangelical population.

“Evangelical Christians are managing to convert many of them. First, preachers use the Romani language to touch their congregation. Second, they integrate traditional Romani music into their services. Third, the transmission of the Evangelical message is very simple and straightforward: you have just one pastor reading from the bible, without the pomp of cathedrals, priests, bishops and cardinals. Finally, they offer much-needed humanitarian aid, such as building schools and homes.”

FEATURE

Too much mixTure is considered a ThreaT To The preservaTion of Their idenTiTy, which They idenTify wiTh Their habiTs and cusToms “This contrasts sharply with the treatment of Roma by the Orthodox Church. Until 1856 the Roma were slaves belonging to the monasteries of the Romanian Orthodox Church, while the Catholic church has only recently become interested in them,” Scicluna adds.

Roma have been seeking a better life westward. They arrive carrying nothing but the clothes on their backs. Westerners are identifying these newcomers with the local gypsy communities and this has led to the latter rejecting the new, unwelcome arrivals.

Their plight, however, is far from over. In France, communes are legally obliged to provide them with designated living areas.

Nevertheless many fail to oblige because of resistance to Roma communities from local populaces. Moreover, of the communes that do provide space, many do so inadequately.

It is not uncommon for a community of 300 Romani caravans to be given space fit for only 40, which often leads to tensions.

“The situation echoes similar cases,” Scicluna notes. “In France, Arabic immigrants who settled there in the 1950s and 60s and who are now integrated in the local communities are, by and large, voting the right wing National Front, because they do not want other Arabs getting in. Similar circumstances are appearing in Lampedusa, where Syrian and Palestinian refugees are refusing to use the same dormitories as blacks.” He interjects, smiling: “Human nature is so complex”

In Eastern Europe, under Communist governments, they were given their own apartments. “In a regime that wants to control everything, it is very difficult to control nomads, so they were offered employment with state-owned factories, with which they could pay rent on an apartment furnished by the state,” says Scicluna. “After the collapse of Communism, these people ended up unemployed and unable to pay rent. The land they lived on was sold to entrepreneurs, who had them evicted. In fact, many of the current Romani squats in Eastern Europe date back only to 1990. They are full of people who lost their homes after the fall of Communism.”

Subsequently, with Romania and Bulgaria joining the EU, many Eastern European 32 Sunday Circle | December 2013

For the Roma, the only way out is through education, but even here the way is fraught with problems. “I, personally, know of cases where children see a pencil for the first time in primary school, and so they are deemed as cases for special schools. You get Roma children marginalised by other children at school because of how they smell or for fear that they might be carrying some illness.

They are then sent to special schools with cognitively delayed children. There is, in fact, a pending case at the Court of Human Rights against Slovakia, regarding this practice.”

One heated topic concerns the issue of identity, integration and assimilation.

Roma people want to preserve their culture so, understandably, they tend to be

very conservative. “Too much mixture is considered a threat to the preservation of their identity, which they identify with their habits and customs,” Scicluna explains. “Similar sentiments are natural in cultures facing the threat of extinction, real or imaginary. Malta is no different.” He is quick to clarify. “They want to be integrated, but not assimilated.”

What is the difference? For him, an individual who lives according to the rules of society, pays taxes, obeys the law and, in general, is a good citizen, then that is a good enough example of good integration. “I have English neighbours in Strasbourg who never read French papers, or French books, but I still consider them well integrated because, like myself, they pay their dues and do not bother anybody.”

The son of a public notary, Scicluna spent his own childhood and early adult life in Sliema.

Today he is married to Beryl, an English woman with whom he has a son who, for all intents and purposes, considers himself French.

“Growing up I was surrounded with friends coming from all walks of life. Regardless of their background, most of them managed to forge themselves a future, thanks to the doors opened by proper education,” he says. “This is the way forward for Roma communities.

Education will provide them with better opportunities at succeeding in life, and through education we can hope to understand and empathise with these people and come to see them for what they are: communities of human beings not too different from our own.”

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INTERVIEW

WHEN YOUR HUSBAND IS PRIME MINISTER OF MALTA, LIFE TENDS TO GET VARIED. MICHELLE MUSCAT TALKS TO SARAH BORG ABOUT ENSURING A NORMAL UPBRINGING FOR HER CHILDREN, MEETING POPE FRANCIS – AND COORDINATING BALLET REHEARSALS

P hotograPhy

by

S teve M ulliet

eeing all of those who believed in us during my husband’s swearing-in was a humbling experience,” Michelle Muscat recalls with a sober expression, a rare one on a woman whose smile usually takes prominence.

Sitting on her couch amid Christmas decorations and travel memorabilia, the matriarch of the Muscat household insists she leads a very normal life – “having small children keeps you grounded because you have to keep to a routine for them.”

Despite the drastic changes this year has brought with it, the routine of the Muscat family has not changed much, since they have long been used to the hectic life of politics.

What has changed is the sense of responsibility that is now weighing on her husband, says Michelle. “People have put their trust in him and one cannot take it lightly because he has

to repay their trust. I am pleased and humbled and I feel responsible as well, so I give him all the support he needs.” She does so by putting her career “on the backburner,” by listening to the people who come up to her on a daily basis and by giving her children as normal of a life as possible.

“My life revolves around my kids; there’s school time, supper time and there are extracurricular activities that I need and want to take them to. I was invited to CHOGM in Sri Lanka, but since the girls had a ballet show coming up and lots of rehearsals, I decided not to accompany my husband,” she says. As any other mother, Michelle is passionate when it comes to her children and with her husband’s new role, she’s adamant in keeping them at the top of their list of priorities, including taking them to New York during one of their long working trips since she did not want them to feel as if they were being abandoned.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 35

MASTHEAD INTERVIEW

With the introduction of civil unions, it is our responsibility as adults not to pressure our children into thinking this is something different

Raising a family in the modern world also means knowing exactly how much things cost and dealing with issues that today’s adults did not deal with as children. “With the introduction of civil unions, it is our responsibility as adults not to pressure our children into thinking this is something different – we are the ones making the change. For our children, it will be part of life,” says Michelle by way of example. “Their world will be one of freedom.”

Despite her children growing up in a different world to hers, Michelle loves living in a very small village where they can go to catechism class right down the street from where they live and shop at the grocery found right around the corner. Although she strives for normality, her marriage has placed her in a position where she can communicate with people and learn about their struggles – “we wanted to better people’s lives, and now we must follow through with sheer hard work.” The people she meets, the ones who cope with extreme challenges and still manage to create a positive life for themselves, are the ones

36 Sunday Circle | December 2013

who inspire her to put her life in perspective, so much so that she is known to remind the ones around her that there are people in our country who are going through a more difficult life.

Her husband’s new role has also enabled her to meet distinguished figures, such as the President of the United States and his wife. “‘I can’t believe I have two Michelles under one roof tonight!’ – that is how the most powerful man in the world greeted us,” she smiles. “I felt very much at home and I was happy to speak to Michelle, his wife, who is also very family-oriented, about juggling family life and duties.” When it came to meeting Pope Francis, Michelle recalls entering the Vatican, which was “an experience in itself” — the opulence and the traditions, which were then juxtaposed with “a very humble Pope who makes you feel like you are having a conversation with your village priest.” She remembers him gathering Etoile and Soleil – “he was interested in them, interested in how we deal with life; he makes you feel like you can bring your problems to him and that is why I’m sure more people will listen to him.”

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INTERVIEW

We are a small country, where everyone believes their charity is of value to the community so I try to be there for charities and other organisations which ask for my contribution

Such experiences, she says, keep her feet firmly on the ground and working with charities adds to this. Michelle explains how she tries to make time for all of the charities who ask for her support. “We are a small country, where everyone believes their charity is of value to the community so I try to be there for charities and other organisations which ask for my contribution. These charities range from health and social issues, to the environment and animal welfare. I also take an interest in promoting Maltese talent, such as the local fashion scene.” Charity work is one area brought on by her political life which she does expose her girls to, as she explains how she took them to London to visit the Puttinu care homes, and other children’s homes. “The premises of these houses are bigger and better thanks to the Maltese.” When her children asked questions about the scene they saw at Ħal Far, Michelle felt she needed to explain the situation the immigrants are in, telling them how they had to flee their country because of the war.

“You have to tell them the truth in their own way.

When you see these people living in tents, it’s sad because you want them to live in proper housing, not a big hall, but we can’t cater to them.”

Bursting through the door as they arrive from school, Etoile and Soleil quickly become the centre of their mother’s attention – reindeer headbands,

38 Sunday Circle | December 2013

books and glitter the tools they use to mark their presence. The bond with Michelle is evident, but the same closeness is found with their father, as she describes how he is the one to wake them up for school every morning. “From seven to eight, it’s their time to catch up with him. Joseph is very hands on. In fact, he kept taking Etoile to football practice every Saturday morning throughout the campaign,” says Michelle. This bond, she believes, will help them when they grow older and they start feeling the need to discuss the challenges of the people they meet with him. For now however, they’re still kids, and they will choose cartoons over their father when both are on television any day, she laughs.

Children fed and changed, Michelle multi-tasks her way through ballet costumes, snacks and hair braids – “this is me in action,” she says, while packing the girls’ bags. So does this woman ever have a moment to herself? “Once I drop my girls at school, I make sure I exercise outside for at least twenty minutes to clear my mind and sometimes I call a friend for a chat.” There are also Sunday afternoons, which she and her husband try to keep free for family time. Jackets buttoned-up, wellies worn over ballet shoes, Michelle rushes through the door to get her girls to rehearsals on time, exuding a momentary absentmindedness that comes only when one prioritises motherhood over everything else.

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SOCIETY

becoming me

WHAT IS LIFE LIKE AS A TRANSGENDER PERSON IN MALTA TODAY? WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF CIVIL UNIONS ROUND THE CORNER, RACHEL AGIUS EXAMINES THE LAST PART OF THE TERM LGBT

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 41

SOCIETY

In the most simplistic terms, transgenderism is when an individual feels that the sex they were assigned at birth does not match up, either partially or completely, with the way they identify

T

he term ‘equality’ is one that is often bandied about in public dialogue: equality between men and women, equality between the able-bodied and the differentlyabled, and recently, equality between same-sex and opposite sex couples has been the subject of an ongoing discussion, sparked by recent political events.

Indeed, the LGBT (that’s Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) movement has been featuring a lot recently, on both the local and international stage. Russia’s strict antigay laws have the Western world up in arms before the 2014 Olympic Games. Our very own Civil Unions bill has been debated at length. And yet, one letter in that oft-quoted initialism is usually overlooked.

That T stands for Transgender, a term many are not as familiar with as the L, the G and the B. In the most simplistic terms, transgenderism is when an individual feels that the sex they were assigned at birth does not match up, either partially or completely, with the way they identify. Of course, as with the concept of gender itself, that definition is by no means universal. Gender identity and sexual orientation are completely autonomous from one another. Further complicating matters are the many other terms that exist that, by virtue of their diversity, serve to confuse the average layman even further.

Luckily, those labels mean little to the three people I spoke to. When asked how she would describe herself, Stephanie simply says “I am who I am. Nothing more, nothing less.” Mark* expresses a similar dislike towards narrow categories: “The whole idea that to belong in this world you need to be ‘part of a named group’ or anything like that sort of annoys me,” he says.

Aged 19, Mark is still in education and his girlfriend is a constant source of support, which he sometimes needs when dealing with 42 Sunday Circle | Dcemeber 2013

people. “That’s the worst part. You think you’re close to someone and that they care about you and want to see you happy but only by their rules.” Mark is still in the process of coming out, which can lead to these situations where so-called friends distance themselves upon finding out that Mark was not always Mark.

Catherine* too understands the pain of losing people so abruptly. Both Catherine and Mark “pass” easily – this means that unless they disclose it themselves, others would not notice that they were not always a woman and a man, respectively.

That disclosure is often stressful and fraught with anxiety, and for good reason. “Maltese men are very close-minded,” says Catherine. She refers in particular to romantic partners. “One minute they’re complimenting you, telling you how beautiful you are and once you tell them you’re trans, everything changes.”

Change is, of course, never easy. Stephanie recalls that she felt that things were not as they should be when she was about 5 years old. Her teenage years bristled with anger and confusion but one positive encounter remains clear in her mind. “At about 19, I went to our parish priest after mass, for confession,” she says. “I told him I may be gay as that was what my mum got into my head.” But the priest knew that there was something else going on. “I opened up about how I was feeling,” she recalls, “and he just looked at me and told me God has a path for each and every one of us, that we are all created in His likeness and that one day I will find my way.”

Catherine’s path made itself clear early on, too. “I always knew I was a girl,” she states. “At 16 I told my mum I wasn’t feeling comfortable.” Eventually, Catherine was taken to a psychiatrist who prescribed female hormones, though not before she had endured periods of depression, slipping academic performance and being what she describes as hysterical. But things improved drastically as the hormones got to work.

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I wouldn’t say we are forgotten, I would say that people are not yet aware of the diversity within our community

After about 4 months, Catherine began to look on the outside how she felt on the inside. Finally being able to reconcile the two was a relief.

Transitioning has brought happiness for Catherine, Mark and Stephanie, but the outside world can be temperamental in its dealings with them. Catherine says that fellow university students have been nothing but welcoming and supportive. Stephanie, on the other hand, has encountered rude healthcare professionals and inappropriate questions about her body and her past. “I deal with awkward questions by answering directly,” she says, “No beating about the bush. It serves no purpose to avoid them.”

For Catherine, there have been moments of confusion from officials when she is asked to present her Identity Card or other documents, which have not yet been changed to reflect her female identity. “Getting the legal documents changed is very important,” she explains. Hers should be updated in the coming year and she feels that legislation that speeds up the process is one improvement in the system that she would like to see enacted sooner rather than later.

Mark expresses the hope that once this focus on gay rights has achieved its goals, legislators will pay more attention to transgender people. “I wouldn’t say we are forgotten,” he replies when I ask whether

44 Sunday Circle | December 2013

trans people have been left by the wayside, legally speaking. “I would say that people are not yet aware of the diversity within our community.” Catherine adds that few people are aware that trans women are sometimes forced to prostitute themselves in order to earn a living because employment is harder to come by for them.

The world seems to be changing its opinion on LGBT issues, in a good way. Many countries are legislating in favour of same-sex marriage, broadening hate crime laws to include gender identity and slowly realizing that when it comes to gender identity and sexual orientation, as Stephanie puts it, “nature sometimes gets mixed up,” and there is nothing voluntary about how gender expresses itself.

As redundant as it is to make general statements on a community with so much heterogeneity, it is perhaps relevant to note that for many trans people, the road to becoming their true selves is not exactly a walk in the park. But it is a journey that must be undertaken and while there are obstacles – legal, medical, familial – happiness is the ultimate goal. For most people, their body and mind align perfectly, almost by default. For transgender individuals, that connection is certainly there. It just needs a little help. *names changed

Sliema Valletta

ART

46 Sunday Circle | December 2013

ART

FOR A LONG TIME, TATTOOS BORE STRONG CONNOTATIONS OF CRIMINALITY AND GANG VIOLENCE. AS THE TABOO INCREASINGLY BECOMES A THING OF THE PAST, RACHEL AGIUS MEETS ONE ARTIST EAGER TO RETURN TATTOOING TO ITS SPIRITUAL ROOTS P hotograPhy

by

Setting foot inside Guy Lee’s tattoo studio is not exactly like you would expect. One wall is covered with a beautiful piece of graffiti and there are a few metalwork sculptures scattered about the place – but nary a big, threatening Hell’s Angel in sight.

In fact, a sense of calm permeates throughout the clean, uncluttered space, a feeling also exuded by its soft-spoken owner. Guy has been running his own shop for about a year now, having spent some time working with other tattoo artists. “I wanted a chance to work my way,” he says with a nonchalant shrug. “I wanted to do my own thing”.

That ‘thing’ is what Guy describes as a return to the spiritual roots of tattooing. Aside from a few drawings in a vintage style pinned up behind the counter, the front of the shop is noticeably devoid of the premade flash posters that often plaster the waiting areas of tattoo studios. Picking a design off the wall, from a selection of stereotypical, if popular, images is simply not the way Guy believes people should go about getting a tattoo.

The room at the back of the shop is where the actual tattooing process takes place. The black chair, the shelf full of inks and the cabinet of sterile instruments are all relatively standard fare. But here, the walls are littered with custom-made designs, from anatomical drawings of the heart to hot air balloons. Not one design appears twice.

This individuality, this uniqueness, is an important part of Guy’s ethos. Aside from using an electric tattoo machine – that buzzing implement that most people associate with the trade – Guy also offers another, older tattooing method.

Hand-poking, as the name implies, involves the insertion of

N icky S cicluNa

tattoo ink beneath the skin using only a sterile needle and ink. No machine is involved, only the tattoo artist’s own movements. The process takes longer but causes less pain and it is certainly a more personal experience.

Guy takes the tattooing experience very seriously indeed.

“If, for whatever reason, I’m in a bad mood, I will cancel my appointments for the day,” he explains. “I can’t be tattooing someone – giving them this permanent decoration – and not feel good about the whole thing”. Guy believes strongly in the power of what he calls ‘energies’. He refuses to tattoo any dark imagery or symbols on people and each of his ink bottles has the word ‘love’ written on the side – only positive influences are to surround this tattooist and his clients.

In spite of (or perhaps because of) Guy’s slightly different approach to body modification, clients have flocked to his shop over the past year. No longer is the world of body modification exclusive to the stereotypical clientele of burly bikers and shady characters. The public’s increased interest in the beauty and skill behind tattooing has lead people of all walks of life through Guy’s studio doors. “I feel humbled by the response,” he says. “And a surprising number of clients come from the south of the island.” The shop is situated in Mellieħa, meaning a considerable drive is involved. Their enthusiasm is testament to Guy’s success.

It wasn’t a sure thing though. Our small island means that there is a proliferation of tattoo studios and developing a viable venture is no easy task. Guy laments the fact that the local tattooing scene is more competitive than it needs to be, creating an insular, resistant body of professionals that are reluctant to engage in dialogue with others.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 47

ART “Abroad you would meet up with other artists, go out for a drink and talk about work, learn from one another,” Guy explains. “Here, even walking into another artist’s shop is regarded with suspicion.”

Guy’s own introduction to tattoos came when he got his first one, aged 17. Later, while working in a different field, Guy says he “fell into the job”. He began a three-year apprenticeship eight years ago and so far he has worked in the UK, Spain and Belgium. The studio has already hosted two art exhibitions and a guest tattoo artist from overseas and Guy hopes to expand the scope of the studio by organizing more creative collaborations. “I want to make this a place where people can relax – even just come by for a coffee – and meet people, get to know my work,” Guy says.

The staff too is about to grow in number. Guy’s son and another apprentice are both training to be able to tattoo professionally; Guy hopes that by next year, they will be fully fledged tattoo artists. He also hopes to add body piercing to the list of services being offered – training is underway for that purpose too.

It may come as a surprise that a two-week course in the UK is enough for local authorities to grant a permit to tattoo in Malta. “What could you possibly learn in two weeks?” Guy asks. “There is no substitute for a thorough apprenticeship with a qualified and experienced tattooist.” While skilled tattoo artists are not a rarity, the requirements to legitimately practice the art are not terribly encouraging.

With a canvas such as this, a poor quality tattoo will look bad for a long, long time.

Luckily for these unfortunate victims of tattoo disasters, Guy likes a challenge. His own bold, colourful style adapts well to cover-ups and he admits that fixing other people’s work is one of his favourite parts of the job. “You want people to be happy with their tattoos,” he says. “I enjoy reworking other people’s designs to make them better.” Of course, he is quick to add, mistakes do happen – “I’m not saying that my work is flawless but most of the time, small mistakes can be worked into the overall design so they are unnoticeable”.

Of course the process does not end when the needles leave the skin for the last time. The aftercare of a tattoo is a crucial step in having a well-healed, infection-free recovery and, ultimately, a good looking tattoo. For Guy, there is absolutely no compromise on this point. “I like to check up on the client a few days after the tattoo is done,” he says. A careless client won’t get off easy – Guy takes this part of the tattoo experience just as seriously as he does the other. “I’ve been known to get very angry with people,” Guy admits sheepishly. “Aside from the health concerns, why would you bother to get a tattoo and then not look after it?”

A tattoo can last a lifetime – barring any surgical or chemical intervention – and getting that tattoo ought to be a positive experience. Standing out has been a hallmark of Guy Lee’s tattoo studio from the very beginning and it is clear to Guy that establishing a memorable, creative environment is as intrinsic a part of tattooing as are the ink and needles. It is no wonder that clients are eager to sit in his chair and watch as he creates extraordinary, permanent pieces of art.

48 Sunday Circle | December 2013

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D

STYLE

ecember has come a-knockin’. Not only is it the season to be jolly, but also the season for endless Christmas shopping lists, for abounding invitations to parties, work dinners and family gatherings. The streamers, the screamers (in the form of restless kids and bad wrapping skills), not to mention the perennial question of what to wear, where. Welcome to Christmas 2013, where whinging about the above is the new “Peace on Earth, good will toward men”.

We are only grazing the surface of this perpetual foray into Nativity morals. ’Tis not the time, nor the place, however, to hold such festively ethic debates. We are here, after all, because certain norms dictate that the only socially acceptable baubles on public display are those hanging on a Christmas tree. The only sack worth our attention is Santa’s. Flashing should be the strict domain of fairy lights. Red cheeks must shine through white beards, not saggy trousers.

In all seriousness, Yuletide nowadays is as social as it is familial. There is no better time to be gregarious than Christmastime, when anything ranging from your children’s Nativity play to your work party reeks of hollies and Secret Santas. We stress so much over buying the perfect present that we overlook the importance of creating the perfect memories. And yet, there is always that persistent need to outshine and outdo your neighbour, whether it is the perfect dress or the most convincing climbing Santa. Because, really, an ancient mythical figure armed with flying reindeers and a magical sleigh is bound to succumb to comedic levels of dexterity in order to feast on your gluten-free cookies and semiskimmed milk, and nobody else’s.

One crisp December day, when all your invitations are spread out in front of your disbelieving eyes, you will look at your wardrobe, then back at the invitations, then back to your clothes and think: “I’m knee deep in it, aren’t I?” As the angels gleefully sneer at your helpless head-scratching from their safe place in the crib, the words inscribed in gold cursive will jump out at you with such temerity that you will clutch at the wall in fear. Smart Casual. Formal. Lounge. Black Tie. “Cocktail” is particularly risible; nothing takes the joy out of leisurely drinking than associating its name with a dress code.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 53

STYLE What might possibly make it worse is the struggle to stand out from the crowd. In a sea of bodycon dresses and black suits on black ties, the ubiquitous balance between appropriate and creative tends to tip towards the former, at the cost of individuality.

This year it is time to swim against the current, salmon-style. Just have a look at the photos and learn a trick or two to make this Christmas season a checkpoint for your newfound faith in stylistic originality.

Let’s start off with menswear. Unfortunately, tailoring is a given. Elasticated trousers and pudding-adorned sweaters are relegated to your family Christmas dinner. If the thought of a suit and tie deflates your spirits, find solace in the fact that Justin Timberlake, who went from Canadian tuxedo horror to Best Dressed lists the world over, sang their praises

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54 Sunday Circle | December 2013

in his eponymous single. And we all know the ladies love a bit of JT. So if you’d like to follow in the footsteps of the Hollywood suited-andbooted, concentrate on the cut and texture of your standard jacket-and-trousers combo.

If buttoned-up shirts are constricting, don’t unbutton them. Leave that for the after-hours special. Instead, go for a thin but warm V-neck sweater that compliments the shape of the lapels. If shirts are an option, but black is not, then opt for a coloured suit, but remember not

to go AWOL with your accoutrements – think adventurous, not Joker. Velvet is the fabric of the season, so find a great jacket that exudes luxury and sophistication, and the compliments will be as bountiful as the open bar.

Ladies, listen up. Dresses are great. We know the drill: flattering, shape-appropriate but beautiful. However, we would like you to consider the alternatives. Jumpsuits, for one thing, are not just for plumbers.

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The possibilities nowadays are endless.

There is absolutely nothing unseemly about wearing a jumpsuit to a formal event. A blouse and trousers combo is just as effective, especially when passed off as a one-piece. On the other hand, for those of you who take frequent toilet breaks and would like to avoid the struggle of worming out of a jumpsuit, take a leaf out of your gentleman’s book and go for a suit. Tomboys rejoice!

Hosiery-haters, pat yourselves on the back. Baring your legs to the cold is no longer an obligation. Menswear-inspired pieces are huge for Autumn/Winter 2013, so reach out for your dinner jacket and trousers, pick a nice pair of pointy heels and wow the guests with your androgynous awesomeness.

Special thanks go to The Palace, Sliema for hosting our photoshoot, as well as to Marija Grech, for going trigger-happy on our un-modelesque countenances. We wish you all a wonderful Christmas and a magnificent New Year. Drink responsibly, don’t touch the steering if your eyesight is veering and have a jolly good time with your nearest and dearest!

cns x

CLAIRE, NICOLE AND SANDRO SHARE A PASSION FOR CLOTHES AND STYLE WHICH THEY DECIDED TO SHARE WITH THE WORLD THROUGH THEIR BLOG, THE CLOUDED REVOLUTION. TAKE A LOOK AT THEIR SITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THESE FREELANCE STYLISTS AND FASHION LOVERS. WWW.CLOUDEDREVOLUTION.COM & WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/THECLOUDEDREVOLUTION CLOTHES & ACCESSORIES ARE SPONSORED BY MEI BOUTIQUE, LABEL C, LIST ROMA, BORTEX, VIP MALTA & ALDO

56 Sunday Circle | December 2013

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SOCIETY

Neither Here nor There WITH THE HOLIDAYS UPON US, MANY ARE CONSIDERING A TRIP OVERSEAS. WHAT ABOUT THOSE MALTESE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WORK THERE? RACHEL AGIUS EXPLORES THE EXPATRIATE LIFESTYLE: ITS FREEDOMS, ITS CHALLENGES – AND HOW PEOPLE COPE WITH AN IDENTITY THAT SEEMS SPLIT IN HALF ravelling is one of life’s great adventures. Whether it’s a short weekend break to a big city or a monthlong trek through the wilderness, leaving the comforts of home for a while can be an enriching experience. But these holidays, however long they may be, all have one thing in common – they end. For better or worse, most of us come home.

Others however do not. An increasing number of Maltese people are travelling abroad for work or study and spending a great deal of time overseas. Thanks to greater mobility and fewer restrictions on travel to EU countries, many locals are taking advantage of having a broader job market within reach and a larger number of academic institutions to choose from.

September December 2013 | Sunday Circle 000 59

SOCIETY MASTHEAD

Reconciling this trend with local culture can be a tough negotiation at times. In a country where people often live with their parents well into their thirties and no one bats an eye, leaving home can be a challenge. Leaving home to move to another country can be heartbreaking for some families, an exercise in letting go for others.

Working full time as a translator in Brussels, Elizabeth Galea’s family were always supportive. It may have helped that she wasn’t exactly a pioneer – her sister had lived in Brussels for three years before Elizabeth moved there. Having some family there eased the transition process. “At first, I was quite scared but later found it to be a very welcoming city,” she says. “My sister helped me a lot with the practical things such as finding an apartment, while also helping me get to know Brussels very well.”

Since EU institutions close over the Christmas period, translators are generally free to return home.

Andrea Kathleen Zammit, a freelance translator, is usually back in time for Christmas. “Brussels airport is not particularly well-equipped to deal with snow and workers often strike around the holidays so it can sometimes be stressful to actually get home on the right flight,” she explains.

For Rachel Camilleri, being able to come back to Malta at Christmas or Easter depends solely on the whims of the flight schedule. Working as a stewardess in Dubai, Camilleri does get to visit quite frequently, only those visits do not necessarily coincide with the festivities. “Luckily I do get to go to Malta quite often. Usually I try to go once a month or once every two months, even if it is for just one day,” she says, “But one of the hardest parts of the expat lifestyle is missing out on all those special occasions, whether it’s your mother’s birthday, or your cousin’s wedding or Easter or Christmas. No matter how much time passes I can never get used to not being with my family on these particular days.”

It is difficult enough to compromise with family on such things as holidays and visits when wrangling a job. But what happens when other factors come into play? Elizabeth Grech left Malta aged 20, married a French man and now lives in Paris with him and their young daughter. “It’s difficult and to be honest, costly and hard to manage,” she says, referring to the

Most of the time I feel like I don’t have a proper home at all

60 Sunday Circle | December 2013

process of returning to Malta. “Ideally it would be great to come for frequent short visits to Malta and then organize a holiday elsewhere.”

Having a strong connection to Malta also complicates any further wanderings these expats might have in mind. Any chance to travel is almost automatically used to visit home. Making plans to fly elsewhere seems to be the cause of either self-inflicted guilt, or openly expressed confusion and hurt from family back home. Negotiating one’s identity is another obstacle. “Most of the time I feel like I don’t have a proper home at all”, Zammit laments. “It was more difficult than I had imagined to adjust to practically splitting your life between two countries. I don’t think I’ll ever get completely used to that. Nor to living out of a suitcase!”

Living alone – in other words, outside the family home – in Malta is already considered something of an achievement. Living alone abroad is nothing short of exceptional and these expats all agree that there is no other experience that teaches you more about yourself and your potential than making it ‘out there’ on your own.

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MASTHEAD

Family and friends are the main draw and the climate, culture and cuisine are other aspects that expats miss about home

Other expats bring a bit of home with them and can help ease the transition but, as Grech warns, “The risk is to only mix with Maltese people and live in a nostalgic bubble, trying to rebuild what we left behind.�

The invisible tether that connects travelers back to Malta is one that most can sense.

Certainly the island has a lot going for it.

Family and friends are the main draw and the climate, culture and cuisine are other aspects that expats miss about home. But these four also express a tenuous relationship with our nation. Its small size and insularity make for a safe and homogenous environment, but for Galea they mean a pervasive narrowmindedness and for Grech they mean missed opportunities for her daughter to experience a level of multiculturalism that Malta simply cannot provide.

The lure of the great beyond is one that many an islander feels at some point in their lives.

While some of us are content to indulge in visits with a fixed return date, others are keen to fly the nest entirely. Making it work across long distances is a taxing job, as is finding your place in the world when half of you feels at home in our sunny paradise and the other longs to hold on to the independence, freedom and variety that other countries can offer. Striking a balance takes patience and an appreciation of what home means, whether that’s in one country or two.

September 2013 | Sunday Circle 000

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LITERATURE

The

Spirituality

Sex

THE SEXUAL IS SPIRITUAL, THE SPIRITUAL IS SEXUAL, AND CHRISTIANITY IS THE PERFECT VEHICLE FOR A GREATER ACCEPTANCE OF HOMOSEXUALITY – PHILIP LEONE-GANADO MEETS TYRONE GRIMA, AUTHOR OF ONE OF THE FIRST GAY NOVELS IN MALTESE L ocation : V iLLa c orinthia , c orinthia P aLace h oteL & S Pa -§- P hotograPhy

by

n icky S cicLuna

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 65

LITERATURE

I

n as much as such a thing exists, Tyrone Grima’s new novel, Bep, is a straightforward story of boy meets boy. Beppe, struggling to reconcile his sexuality with his Christian faith, seeks help from an organisation that works against sexual discrimination.

There he encounters Nicky, a librarian with the organisation, and a passionate love story develops – hindered along the way by the pair’s own issues and insecurities.

Yet with its publication last month, Bep emerges as one of only a handful of novels in Maltese that can legitimately be termed gay literature. Tyrone himself knows of only one other – Javier Vella Sammut’s Xandru Miżżewweġ u Gay, published in 2009 – and has no explanation for the existence of such a remarkable lacuna in our literary output.

“I’ve thought about it and haven’t really come up with an answer, especially given that homosexuality is so widely discussed politically and socially,” he says. “At every stage of the writing process, I thought that 10 books would have already been written by the time I got to print.”

What makes us human isn’t our rights, but our capability or incapability of relating with each other Socially, gay issues are at the forefront of public consciousness at the moment, with the upcoming Civil Unions bill putting Malta, for once, in line with – or even ahead of – the international trend. Yet while it may be tempting to suggest that the battle has been won, Tyrone believes literature still has an important role to play. “At the moment, the emphasis is on political rights, but sometimes that can be a bit superficial,” he says. “Rights are a word written on a legal document, which strips away the humanity. What makes us human isn’t our rights, but our capability or incapability of relating with each other. That’s why I like art, because it allows you to delve deeper into the human element.”

Tyrone is at pains to stress that equal rights should exist as a given, and what that calls for is activism. “If it weren’t for the people who are brave enough to get out there and make a difference, nothing would change.” But at the same time, he argues that rights should be considered a vessel for a whole raft of deeper 66 Sunday Circle | December 2013

LITERATURE

Spirituality is the relationship with the transcendent and sex is a way of transcending ourselves moral authority that it did in the past, and its schism with the gay community seems almost irredeemable. More fundamentally, a religious upbringing traditionally instils the notion of sex as part of the realm of the physical, to be shunned while aspiring to something greater.

But defined in terms of relationships, Tyrone argues that the overlap between spirituality and sexuality can actually be quite broad indeed. “Sexuality is spiritual and spirituality is sexual,” he says.

“Spirituality is the relationship with the transcendent and sex is a way of transcending ourselves; spirituality is a means of using the body to go past the body, which is ultimately also what sex is about.”

In Eastern philosophy, he points out, the moment of orgasm is often seen as the moment in which we are closest to the gods. And if that sounds a bit outlandish to our ears, the images invoked by Christian mystics in the West are often just as sexually laden.

Christianity itself, Tyrone argues, is a very relational religion, in that it emphasises inter-personal relationships as the means to uncovering the meaning of life. “Christianity has always had a problem with the physical act,” Tyrone admits, “but that isn’t the core of Christianity, it’s the result of its contamination by other influences. The core is the relational on all levels, including the physical.”

social changes, rather than an end in themselves. “If we get stuck on that level, then something is lost. What’s important is relationality, the psychology of what’s really happening underneath.”

The gay relationship that Tyrone explores in Bep is defined as much by the couple’s differing views on spirituality as it is by their genders. “I understand spirituality as a relationship with the divine, whatever the divine is, which in turn has an effect on how we relate to ourselves and to each other,” he explains. “Beppe is stuck on a moralistic level – is sex with a man right or wrong? – which is a base form of spirituality. Nicky has a deeper understanding, but in turn he’s interested in power: what control does god have over the world?

Why do bad things happen to good people?”

The interplay between spirituality and sexuality has always fascinated Tyrone. He is currently reading for a doctorate in spirituality, focusing on the works of the philosopher and Christian mystic Simone Weil, and his first novel, Celibacy, had at its centre a priest struggling with his vows. In the context of Bep, the juxtaposition of the two may appear particularly jarring (a reaction the author admits he received from a number of early readers) – the Church simply does not have the same imposing 68 Sunday Circle | December 2013

But then, how can we reconcile the Church’s approach to homosexuality? What comfort to those who have been marginalised by its attitude to them and their relationships?

“The institution has focused more on the moralistic than on the spiritual. But if you define things as right or wrong, then by definition you’re forcing people out if they don’t fall in line. That’s not Catholicism.” A strict interpretation of Catholic doctrine, Tyrone says, would have us accept and love the gay person while recognising the gay act as intrinsically wrong. “But then Catholicism also says that you must act according to a wellformed conscience. It also says to judge an act by its fruits.”

Consequently, he believes that not only should Christianity not be in fundamental opposition to homosexuality – it can actually be the perfect vehicle for greater understanding, acceptance and love. “The framework is already there: if the path to the divine is the relationship, then the relationship is intrinsically good.”

Whether the relationship between the Church and those among the gay community who identify as Christian can ever be repaired remains to be seen. Neither Tyrone nor Bep proposes an answer to that. Yet while the author’s vision is a progressive, some might say optimistic one, it is one that he believes reflects the beating heart of the religion. “Christianity should take you out of your comfort zone. Christ got to the core of being human: he engaged with the other, with those who were outcasts and in pain, even if it meant going against laws and customs. The Church has always been conservative, yes, but there’s always been there this tension within, which stems from its true roots.”

Bep is available at leading bookshops, and online at www.bdlbooks.com

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The Guess Way With a neW store, exclusive handbags and offering a Wider variety of accessories for men, the guess brand continues to establish its black and red flag on the island. brand manager marie vella talks about guess’s latest accessory collection Offering an exclusive range of real leather handbags for the first time in Malta, Guess has marked its presence on the fashion scene once again by opening a new store in the bustling corner of Bisazza Street in Sliema.

“We’ve been open at The Point for 3 years and we wanted a new space to focus on the Guess accessories,” Marie Vella explains, standing amid a collection of shoes ranging from pumps to wellies. The interior of the shop is an ode to the well-known black and white Guess ads as white shelves, black walls and a slew of mirrors and reflecting surfaces set 70 Sunday Circle | December 2013

the right backdrop for the red, gold, blue and leopard prints found in the selection of accessories on display.

Primarily known for its designer jeans, seeing as the brand first started with this item of clothing back in the 80s, Guess has since then produced designer handbags, accessories, costume jewellery and shoes, among other things. “We brought to this shop a very vibrant and very addictive collection,” Marie says; addictive because, as she explains, “once you buy one Guess handbag, branded with its famous triangle logo, it’s hard to stop!”

PROMOTION Guess enthusiasts will find a feast of accessories to compliment their overall look, starting with a shelf found as one enters the shop, displaying exclusive leather handbags for day and evening wear. Then there is the shoe corner, showcasing a number of low and high heeled pumps, leather boots, wellies and sneakers dressed with shiny material and with lace.

browse through the Guess by Marciano sunglasses. At the store, clients can purchase the latest Guess perfumes – Guess Bell for women and Guess Seductive Homme for men. “The brand has recently changed the shape of its perfume bottle, the inverted triangle shape which is the logo of the brand,” and now clients will find the bottle shaped in the form of a flower.

“Guess is for the sexy, iconic woman,” Marie affirms, and the black and red colours – the trademark hue for this brand – reflect the boldness of the women who choose to don these items. “Even our jewellery and watches reflect the confident woman we cater to,” as one can find watches with a combination of colours from rose and silver straps, rose and gold straps, as well as straps with leopard print touches.

The accessories on display range from casual to evening but one thing is for sure, they cater to “the confident, sexy woman who likes fashion, who is passionate, and wants to be sexy and iconic herself,” as Marie puts it.

Such boldness is reflected in the few pieces of luggage that are on display — leopard print pieces that are finished off with the trademark red colour for the zipper.

The new store has also provided space for a wider selection of accessories for men, ranging from leather shoes, sneakers and leather bags. “We wanted to prioritise men in this store by bringing in more Guess pieces for casual and formal wear,” says Marie.

Men will also find a selection of leather belts, as will women, who can also

So what is the most expensive item in the shop? That would be a pair of sky high heeled leather boots that can take you from day to evening wear – an item which, as everything else in the store, demands to be worn and exhibited by a woman of confidence.

Address: Bisazza Street Sliema Telephone number: 2131 4434 Email: marie@smg-mode.com

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 71

RELATIONSHIPS

The Young and the Settled THE cONvENTIONAL wISdOm IS THAT yOuNg PEOPLE TOdAy ARE gETTINg mARRIEd LATER THAN EvER bEfORE, EAgER TO PuRSuE cAREERS ANd ExPLORE POSSIbILITIES. buT fOR A gENERATION cONfRONTEd by cHANgE ANd uNcERTAINTy, cOuLd THE STAbILITy Of mARRIAgE bE A TEmPTINg LuRE? W ords

by

s arah b org

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 73

RELATIONSHIPS

I

f you’re in your 20s, then chances are your parents were already married at your age – a decade during which, nowadays, most are still finding their way in the world.

Modern sitcoms insist on showing 20-year olds hopping from sushi dinners to late night cocktails, but is this a true reflection of this generation?

Youth is about freedom, nonchalance, angst, rebellion, mistakes, and since marriage demands practicality, sacrifice and balance if it is to be successful, it comes as no surprise that when two people tie the knot in their early 20s these days, they’re frowned upon – such rare individuals, to have chosen to take such a momentous decision so early on in life.

This is what anyone with commitment issues would argue, in between panic attacks at the mere mention of the f-word – forever – while blatantly admitting that even if they loved their partner, they would still postpone marriage by a few years. Perhaps unconsciously they want to marry later on in life, believing they’ll have fewer years to get tired of their partner, thus fending off the risk of getting a divorce.

The 20-year olds of this generation are coming across things that previous generations never experienced on such a large scale because of the fast-paced life and the myriad of options technology has brought with it. We are now exposed to so much and the world is so open with possibilities — it is excessive and accessible — that closing yourself to one partner in your early 20s is often perceived as a premature step, especially since studies in the US “have consistently

74 Sunday Circle | December 2013

shown that couples who marry before age twenty-five are more likely to find themselves in divorce court.” The primary question, whether people are getting married young, depends on your definition of what young is. If you have found a steady job at 18 and you’re not looking to pursue your studies further, then marrying at 22 may be the right age for you, but for one who’s pursuing a master’s degree at 23, then marrying at this age would be an inconvenience, if job prospects are still far off. According to the latest demographic results, the majority of Maltese couples are getting married between the ages of 25 and 29 — at an age which suggests one’s studies are over, a job has been found and enough time has passed for the couple to save up for their new house and their wedding.

When you do marry young in this day and age, you are setting yourself apart as the couple who knows that life doesn’t hit a wall once those vows are said When you do marry young in this day and age, you are setting yourself apart as the couple who knows that life doesn’t hit a wall once those vows are said. The good news is, married people in their twenties are more satisfied with their life than their unmarried peers, who “report more drinking, more depression and lower levels of life satisfaction,” according to a recently published study entitled Knot Yet, conducted by the National Marriage Project at the University of Virginia, and the RELATE Institute.

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RELATIONSHIPS Although the research illustrates the marriage and birth patterns of Americans, it has defined marriage in a manner that rings true throughout the Western world.

“The median age of marriage for women is now nearly 27; for men, almost 29. A historically large number of young adults are single well into their thirties,” the research reports. It also illustrates how marriage has “transformed from [being] a cornerstone to a capstone of adult identity. No longer the stabilising base for the life one is building, it is now more of a crowning achievement.”

What is curious about our local statistics on marriage age is that while the average age is that of 25 to 29, there is a discrepancy between men and women: while more men are found getting married in their early 30s as opposed to their early 20s, the opposite is true for women. One obvious explanation is the issue of the biological clock, thus proving how important child-bearing is for most Maltese women, who are not willing to postpone having their first child until their thirties, assuming they did not have a child out of wedlock.

76 Sunday Circle | December 2013

Even if a person does postpone marriage until the age of 30 – to reach a certain level of maturity and to allow themselves to get their ducks in a row – it does not automatically mean that they’ll have a happier marriage, as the research paper Knot Yet suggests that “contradictory as it may seem, while couples who marry in their late twenties and thirties are somewhat less likely to divorce than those who marry in their midtwenties, they don’t appear to be happier.”

So are we getting married young in a world that is brimming with options and excessiveness? This is undoubtedly, one very subjective question that depends on what marriage means to you. Keeping this in mind, you should nonetheless, step into married life knowing who you are as a person, rather than marrying to lose yourself in your partner. You cannot get married simply to move out of your house or because your University course was too hard to see through. You need to have known happiness coming from your own company; you must inherently know that you cannot live without the love of that person but knowing, all the

same, that happiness does not come primarily from the love provided by your partner. Ultimately, you cannot simply live vicariously through your partner and then, through your children.

Marriage is about finding a balance between life and work; your duties to your partner and your duties to yourself.

It is a continual challenge reaping amazing rewards, but a challenge nonetheless that can be daunting, especially when you’re young, at an age when frivolity and excess are often the norm. No one person has the same perception on when marriage should be pursued, why, and in what manner, and while the love of a couple married for 50-plus years can make even the most cynical person on marriage wish for that kind of lifelong partnership, the act should be one taken responsibly, with a fair amount of reasoning, rather than through an act of spontaneity.

TECHNOLOGY

Networked Intimacy

SMARTPHONES AND THE INTERNET HAVE PROVIDED US WITH MORE AND MORE WAYS OF KEEPING IN TOUCH, SAYS CHRISTINE SPITERI – BUT COULD THEY BE REDEFINING OUR VERY SENSE OF HOME AND BELONGING?

W

hether it’s for work, study or leisure, it has become fairly common for twentysomethings to pack their suitcases and jet off to travel the world. What could have once been a unique experience in terms of travelling alone and experiencing one’s culture anew, has now become somewhat of a lived dichotomy between being home and away through the marked use of technology.

In the pre-networked days, travelling alone meant leaving your whole world behind you to teeter into unknown cultural terrains. The only news from home would be through snail mail or the monthly (expensive) phone call. Nowadays, the internet holds our world together in a network infrastructure, and wireless internet devices make our networks portable.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 79

TECHNOLOGY What’s more is that online communication (such as e-mail or Skype) is free and instant, championing both constraints of these classic communication methods. Therefore, tethered, we carry a sense of ‘home’ with us through our mobile internet devices.

During my solo travels in Asia and continental Europe, the smartphone was my Swiss Army knife of sociality since it carried my physically scattered social networks intact. It offered an instant portal to people, news and memes that kept me up to date with the rhythm of life in Malta. As heavenly as it might read on paper, in practice it proved to create somewhat of an inner conflict. In a sense, I was inbetween worlds, because my best friends weren’t necessarily in the city I was in nor in Malta - but on the internet.

For instance: while I rattled my bicycle to and from the library, in a quaint cobblestoned city in the Netherlands, one of my best-friends attended pub quizzes behind the York Minster after lectures, while another boiled haggis for occasional Sunday lunches in Glasgow. The three of us Maltese ventured alone, yet social networking apps such as Facebook messenger or WhatsApp allowed us to remain pretty much together. Irrespective of where our loved ones are, the idea of here and there is somehow shattered through this newly acquired networked intimacy.

In a sense, I was in-between worlds, because my best friends weren’t necessarily in the city I was in nor in Malta but on the internet The smartphone has facilitated communication with all our friends, irrespective of where they are, altering our perception of time and space; it has come to represent a ‘mobile home’. My German friend Saba once told me, “I moved from Germany four years ago, I went to Botswana, I went to Luxemburg, to France. I always took my friends with me, through my smartphone. That’s how I felt. Now I can talk to my friends instantly through my phone.” Like Saba, my friends travelled with me from the Philippines, to Italy, to Belgium and to the Netherlands thanks to the internet, and more intimately via Skype.

Video-conferencing (like Skype or FaceTime) is a fairly new and very common means of maintaining close contact with those that matter most. The quality of the call makes up for physical meetings when these are not possible. While living in the Netherlands, my Polish housemate used to Skype with his mother in Warsaw almost every evening: “I feel that we are near each other during the conversation,” he told me.

80 Sunday Circle | December 2013

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MASTHEAD Our brains seem to record so-called ‘real’ and ‘virtual’ events so similarly that modern technologies conspire to blur these realms as well. As a matter of fact, we code face-to-face and online experiences similarly, often with equal realness. One may notice this in everyday language, when we speak of online encounters as if they were real: How is Sarah doing? Fine, I guess. I spoke to her on WhatsApp. Did you meet her new boyfriend?

Yes, I saw them together on Facebook.

The sense of visual immediacy experienced via videoconferencing and modern social networking creates a simulation of presence and intimacy. Such that, even when people are physically distant, social networks could act as a connective tissue, coordinating and synchronizing conversations with friends who are scattered across the world that would otherwise dissolve into silence.

Nonetheless, these mediated communication platforms do not merely substitute face-to-face interaction, but constitute a new kind of presence.

We code face-to-face and online experiences similarly, often with equal realness The internet and smartphone could be used to either enhance a sense of belonging to the place where one is physically present, or it could alienate the individual from fully experiencing the actual place, culture and surroundings. From my experience, technology compensates for rarity of physical encounters, but it doesn’t replace them. Even though the internet eliminates feelings of distance, the sense of presence and level of intimacy is only short-lived. At the end of the day, we all need to live certain aspects of our lives together with the people that we love most, and cannot be replaced through a screen.

Before the emergence of online social networking, communities were formed around a fixed geographical space and therefore led to a tangible concept of what it means to belong and feel at home within a given space.

Now the internet beckons us to come together across a medium, suggesting that we can feel and experience home, and belong somewhere that is not necessarily the same place we are physically bound to. Living in a network society, it has become easier to define home in terms of people who are scattered, than a physical town or city. To the upcoming generation, our sense of belonging need not necessarily be tied down to residential geography but a new, emotional geography.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 000

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MENTAL HEALTH

Crisis Control 1 in 4 people worldwide experience mental health problems. sarah borg finds out who’s there to offer a professional helping hand when an overwhelming situation becomes an emergency

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 85

MENTAL HEALTH

“

I

t takes more courage to seek help than to suffer in silence,” Dr Mark Xuereb affirms. In December 2010, Dr Xuereb established Crisis Resolution Malta, a private network where people going through a crisis can call throughout the 24 hours of the day and find the support of professionals, from psychiatrists and psychotherapists, to lawyers, priests, social workers and more. Working closely with the government and following the model of the Oxford crisis resolution and home treatment team, the private network was established to provide immediate care when needed most, since this often results in a better long-term prognosis.

“Crisis is an opportunity to grow or to collapse,” Dr Xuereb explains; it is not a bad thing if you grow from it. Anybody can experience a crisis, it has nothing to do with being weak or having a low IQ; moreover, it is very subjective since an event can pass by unnoticed for one person but have a deteriorating effect, leading to a crisis, for another.

86 Sunday Circle | December 2013

Elements that do predispose one to a crisis include facing an adverse life event, or feeling an overwhelming sense of not being in control. The turning point, whether it involves a “catastrophic avalanche of negative automatic thoughts,” or rising above these emotions through professional help, is the crisis. When you’re experiencing constant negative thoughts, telling yourself things such as, “I will never manage; I will never live through this shame” — then ideally, you should seek the help of your loved ones and professional help “to stop the domino effect” of these self-deteriorating thoughts.

When you call CRM you can expect a professional on the other end of the line who will assess your situation.

The team make a list of clients’ needs they must go through and prioritise according to what is most urgent. “We are there for any form of crisis,” says Dr Xuereb, but while some callers just need to be heard, others, such as those who are about to end their life, need immediate assistance.

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MENTAL HEALTH One caller, Dr. Xuereb recalls, a man who had retired from the navy, called him one day, telling him he had a gun to his head and he was ready to end his life. “Thankfully, I got to him,” he is quick to add, “but sadly, some people do die.” The crisis team, he explains, has a trans-generational concept to it because when they stop one person from dying by suicide, they’re putting a stop to “the legacy of pain” suicide leaves on the “unseen victims” of such an act — the loved ones left behind, who are at an increased risk of suicide themselves.

According to reported statistics, 24 males and 12 females die by suicide every year locally and CRM want this number to decrease by helping those going through a crisis, raising awareness and educating people, including by them commemorating Suicide Prevention Day on September 10th. Even teenagers can be educated on suicide, if you discuss this subject responsibly. Teens can save a life if they become conscious of their peers — “if a friend has suddenly closed all social media, has closed off emotionally, then you must question such behaviour.”

Medicine and therapy can be essential for a mental or psychological problem to stop such detrimental acts but ultimately, Dr. Xuereb asserts, the human touch is the singular, most life-changing act you can take advantage of in your everyday life. Smiling at someone and asking them how they are feeling is underrated and nowadays, even social media is causing crises because we are leading virtual lives, rather than communicating by looking into each other’s eyes.

“During the coming festivities the suicide rate decreases dramatically worldwide because it is a time when people come together to celebrate,” says Dr Xuereb, proving the importance of human interaction to improve one’s state of mind.

The common trend found in suicide acts

88 Sunday Circle | December 2013

is that of it occurring when there is a change of season but this trend can be avoided by people being aware and having a professional’s contact number at hand when they are experiencing a crisis. Loved ones who wish to help should also call a professional to seek advice, and refrain from harassing or neglecting the person when they don’t understand the crisis he or she is going through.

The human “ touch is the singular, most life-changing act you can take advantage of in your everyday life

”

Despite the best efforts of crisis intervention teams and the effort of the loved ones, “the hard reality is that some people just don’t want help.” The crisis team is nonetheless, always available, whether on the phone or through home visits to help people perform. CRM is still young but as Dr Xuereb explains, they are hoping that through the help of EU funds and working hand in hand with the government, it will grow to cater to the needs of our island.

Today, 1 in 4 people worldwide suffer from psychological or mental problems.

By 2020, that figure will be greater than heart disease and cancer put together.

While this is surely “not a competition of illnesses,” it is nevertheless, “a debilitating figure for both the people and the state,” which needs to be addressed promptly.

“Crisis teams lower hospitalisation rates,” Dr Xuereb explains, but more than from a financial aspect, he hopes to conduct extensive research to produce a yearly report for Malta, so as to create a national prevention suicide strategy. Moreover, if the team succeed in attaining EU funds, their plan is to install telephones in local suicide hotspots and provide extensive training to professionals who would need to handle such delicate situations.

“We’re extremely busy, either working to help our callers or getting the right training to handle the crisis as best we can,” Dr Xuereb explains. Despite the intense situations the CRM professionals find themselves in on a daily basis, knowing that they managed to save someone’s life, at least one, is a very positive thing. “When you work in a crisis team you love life more. Life is beautiful and you must smile, even by forcing yourself to do so, to stimulate the endorphins in your brain.”

As a medical professional, Dr Xuereb believes in medication, but more important, he insists, is adopting certain behavioural traits to prevent ourselves from going down the detrimental path of suicide. Exercise, spirituality, music, and having a social life that goes beyond a virtual one are ways to bring lightness to one’s life and even when such things cannot be undertaken because the crisis is overshadowing everything else, his message is a simple, comforting one: “There is always hope, always,” and picking up the telephone to ask for help is the best thing you can do for yourself.

If you need to talk to someone, call Crisis Resolution Malta on 9933 9966 or email crisismalta@gmail.com.

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GOING FOR GOLD Last month saw the return of the prestigious Johnnie waLker cup, aBounDing with Drama – anD whiskey On the 10th November, 5 horses jockeyed for gold over a distance of 2250m in the Johnnie Walker Cup at the Marsa Race Track. A press conference at the Malta Racing Club Tote was addressed by the Chairman of the Malta Racing Club, Dr Matthew Brincat, as well as the Marketing Manager of M. Demajo (Wines & Spirits) Ltd, Mr Alfred Braddick. Also present were the owners and jockeys of horses taking part in this edition.

The Johnnie Walker Cup is a prestigious trophy dating back to 1939 and although for a good number of years it remained only in the showcases of the Malta Racing Club, these last years it was being used during the Mediterranean Championship for flat racing jockeys which Malta used to host on the 31st March.

In fact, the Johnnie Walker Cup was presented during the years 2009, 2010 and 2011 but there was no race last year. This year’s race saw five participants and the prize money was €600 for the winner, and €300 and €150 being given to the 2nd and 3rd placed respectively.

The winner of the last edition of the Johnnie Walker Cup, Ollie Fliptrik, shared the starting gate with the current Mediterranean Derby Winner Kimberley Downs, who took the gold in this prestigious race. Timolin (Charles Pace) rode to second, followed by Ollie Fliptrik (Sarah Borg) and Friarscourt (Matthew Mallia). Alto Monte (Demis Zammit) retired from the race.

M. Demajo (Wines & Spirits) Ltd, the sponsor of the race, also awarded a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue to the winner, with the second placed owner receiving a bottle of Johnnie Walker Platinum and the third placed a bottle of Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve. Trophies were also given to the owners of the first three horses and the winner received a commemorative blanket.

90 Sunday Circle | December 2013

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HERITAGE

Capturing a Culture Daniel Cilia has spent years photographing the many Diverse elements of malta’s natural anD Cultural legaCy. now, with the release of a new book series, he tells philip leone-ganaDo, it’s all Coming together.

P hotograPhy

When Daniel Cilia was 13 years old, he saw his cousin working on some drawings, and promptly tried to copy him. “The results were not encouraging,” Daniel laughs. But around the same time, he was given a small point-and-shoot camera as a gift, and decided to turn his hand to photography.

“I spent years going round Gozo, walking and riding a bicycle and trying to emulate – with a Kodak Instamatic – the photographs in my father’s National Geographic collection.”

by

D aniel C ilia

Daniel held his first major exhibition was at the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta, in 1986, and soon after left his nursing profession and moved to Florence, to pursue photography full-time. Since then he has lectured at the National College of Arts, Crafts and Design in Oslo and took charge of the Photographic Department of the Art Institute of Florence, Lorenzo de Medici, from 1990 to 1995, as well as exhibiting and publishing in a number of different countries.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 93

HERITAGE Yet despite his travels, Daniel’s lens remains keenly trained on his homeland. Working and exhibiting abroad has actually been a great influence in this regard, offering him an invaluable perspective on his homeland. “Sometimes what’s obvious for us Maltese isn’t obvious for foreigners,” he says.

“One example I like to give is that before I went to live in Italy I never thought that the old green public transport buses were photogenic. But after a few years, the Malta bus and its livery had become one of my favourite subjects.”

“Living abroad also makes you realise how lucky we are to have so much of everything in such a small space,” he adds.

“If I needed to photograph a scene at sunrise, a 20-minute car drive can take you anywhere in Malta. In Italy I once needed to photograph a sunrise shot near Assisi, and since I lived in Florence I had to leave at least 3 hours before! When we got there it turned out to be cloudy and we had to sleep over to try to get the shot the day after.”

In the last twenty-three years, Daniel has focused his attentions on editorial photographic design, with more than ninety books about the Maltese islands and their history to his credit. His latest project is The Cultural Legacy of Malta and Gozo, a series of 20 photographic books aiming to showcase all that is intrinsically Maltese. “We are so lucky to be where we are geographically, right in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea,” Daniel says of his inspiration. “We are at the crossroads

of all maritime activity of South Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Because of this our prehistory and history are a potpourri of different cultures and ideas. The Neolithic Temples, the unique and the oldest free-standing buildings in the world, start a roller coaster of events, forming a beautiful historical mosaic which has now become the Maltese heritage.”

Each book in the series, published in aid of the Salesian School of St Patrick’s in Sliema, focuses in a different aspect of Maltese culture, with 200 hundred colour photos and a 3000-word essay thoroughly documenting every facet.

The subjects are diverse: village feasts, neolithic temples, traditions, forts and defences, countryside, monasteries, food and delicacies, coastlines and underground, among others.

But Daniel believes that despite the wide-ranging scope, the resulting patchwork reveals a picture of a cohesive whole.

“Our first book is about village feasts. There are a number of Maltese who consider them just as a crowded, rowdy event, without realising the amount of history, culture, art and hard work that goes into the organisation,” he explains. “What we experience today is the result of centuries of traditions, and although in Southern Europe there are similar feasts, nothing compares in quality and quantity – since more than 100 feasts are organised every year. A number of people told us that the book made them discover that these occasions as important cultural activities worth going to and experiencing first hand.”

Before I went to live in Italy I never thought that the old green public transport buses were photogenic. But after a few years, the Malta bus and its livery had become one of my favourite subjects

94 Sunday Circle | December 2013

SEASON’S GREETINGS

heritage

He thanked us for revealing that those ‘bunch of big dead stones’ were still very much alive with history after all

Conversely, Daniels tells of one feast enthusiast who was not interested in the second book, focusing on Neolithic temples, which he believed were just “a bunch of big dead stones.” But after reading through it (on the back of his enjoyment of the book on feasts), he wrote back to say that he had been inspired to visit temples again for the first time in 30 years, taking his grandchildren along. “He thanked us for revealing that those ‘bunch of big dead stones’ were still very much alive with history after all!”

Through the course of his work, Daniel has also had the opportunity to see first-hand – and to document – the changes unfolding in Malta before our very eyes.

The rampant proliferation of new buildings, he says, is something that no amount of Photoshop can ever hide. But he also believes that Maltese people have in time become more proud of their identity and heritage.

“Becoming part of European Union has also helped us to see ourselves at par with bigger countries such as the UK, Italy and Germany,” he says. “We have become more educated and thus we understand what’s around us, who we are and why we should be proud of how much we, all together, have achieved.”

96 Sunday Circle | December 2013

The Cultural Legacy of Malta & Gozo, published by the Salesians of Don Bosco, is directed by well-established Salesian editor Fr Charles Cini sdb, along with award-winning photographer Daniel Cilia and expert history author Vincent Zammit. Each 144 page book will include more than 200 colour photos. Only a limited number of subscriptions will be available. The print run for the 20 books will depend on the amount of patrons who show interest for the first books. The 20 full-colour books will be available for sale at a cost of only €25 each, one every season. Buying the year series of four books will entitle the buyer to a fifth book, free, which comes with the winter issue. All books can also be bought individually. The books can be bought from St Patrick’s Salesian School St John Bosco Street, Sliema or for free home delivery write to clomagbooks@gmail.com or call 79865105

HEALTH

Will your children ever learn simply through education, if you’re serving them meals that are full of preservatives for dinner?

100 Sunday Circle | December 2013

The health concerns caused by poor eating habits and lifestyles are well-known, as is the fact that Maltese children have been rated second fattest in the world. But often the impression is that people have become numb to such news, especially when one witnesses parents buying their children junk food from confectionaries found conveniently near schools. Local authorities are investing energy and money to help Maltese children fall off the obesity radar, says Noel Butigieg from Slow Food Malta, since “education among the younger generation is imperative for a long term investment.” But will your children ever learn simply through education, if you’re serving them meals that are full of preservatives for dinner?

The Slow Food movement originated in 1986 in Italy, “to counter the rise of fast food and fast life, the disappearance of local food traditions and people’s dwindling interest in the food they eat, where it comes from, how it tastes and how our food choices affect the

rest of the world.” Among many initiatives, the movement strives to raise the number of co-producers in the world – consumers who choose food according to how it is cultivated, produced and distributed. In so doing, they support local producers such as farmers and butchers who sell their products at a fair price, decrease the carbon footprint due to importation of food, and help to preserve our agricultural land. These, and more, enable co-producers to consume food that is not overly processed.

For the past two years, Slow Food Malta has visited schools and local councils interested in the principles of the movement. Their goal, Noel explains, is “to instil among our younger generation the joy of healthy eating.”

Currently, the members of Slow Food Malta are working on a policy document to launch a programme promoting the movement’s values among students, with guidelines that delineate what should be sold in schools.

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HEALTH

ETHICALEATS THE SLOW FOOD MOVEMENT GOES BEYOND THE CONCEPT OF DIETING TO PROMOTING THE CREATION OF GOOD, CLEAN, AND FAIR PRODUCTS — GOOD AND CLEAN FOR THE CONSUMERS, CLEAN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND FAIR FOR THE PRODUCERS WHO MUST EARN A LIVING FROM THEIR LAND W ords

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nbeknown to most of us, the contemporary world has pulled a miracle and made our lives so much easier: we can now prepare a meal in less than 10 minutes; we find bread that stays fresh for at least 4 solid days, and certain vegetables are found throughout the year, regardless of the seasons. Unlike in the old days, when the farmer, the butcher and the fisherman determined what people had for dinner, science has now defied the seasons, and given us control to consume that which we desire, at whatever time of the year.

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One persistent argument among healthy food sceptics is that of death being inevitable – “So why shouldn’t we die eating good food?” Except what you’re eating is not good food; your taste buds only indicate that it is because of the preservatives that render such foods addictive. If you want a burger, eat beef that has not been genetically modified; if you love your bread and butter, enjoy eating local bread that will go stale after one day, with real butter, not margarine.

September December 2013 | Sunday Circle 000 99

HEALTH “Academic achievement should not be coupled with the regular consumption of junk food. Parents, schools and the government should seriously embark on a pro-active exercise to avert this.”

Eventually, the aim of the local team is to have “a sustained activity that runs through the whole academic year, rather than the occasional one-hour event.”

One successful project has been going on for almost four years at Verdala International School in Pembroke, where a number of students and parents converted some open spaces around the school into a kitchen garden, an initiative that has now become “a true labour of love, where students learned how their sustained commitment worked towards achievable goals.”

Such initiatives do not always extend to the local food producers themselves, who encounter several challenges, including the competition from cheaper imported products.

Moreover, commercial farming – large scale productions – has led to uncontrolled use of chemicals, thus “tainting large parts of what remains of Malta’s agricultural land.”

Eventually, the aim of the local team is to have “a sustained activity that runs through the whole academic year, rather than the occasional one hour event” “The last thing we think about when we eat is the soil,” says Noel.

“If the soil is unhealthy, our food is unhealthy too. It is clearly a distant idea for us and yet we are intimately connected to it.”

Bread is another area that needs serious consideration since the consumption of bread per capita has dropped and with it the quality of the local produce. Noel is hopeful of spreading more roots of the Slow Food movement on the island, even though the Maltese have abundant food choices, many of which are products that require very little time spent in the kitchen.

“Slow food is not just about culinary heritage, it’s also about what is being consumed now, and how this is challenging any past food practices which had a lesser negative effect on our health,” he says. Despite it being an international movement, defined as an association that “believes in the concept of neo-gastronomy — recognising the strong connections between plate, planet, people and culture,” Slow Food faces the obstacles of mass-marketing giants and certain food producers which influence people all over the world, often without us even knowing. It is therefore through a conscious decision that we have to become co-producers — you don’t have to grow your own crops (even though you could), but the least you can do is start by being good to yourself, only then can you be good to your children and to the environment.

103 Sunday Circle | December 2013

SOCIETY

Of Landscape & Language ThE gOvErnmEnT’S COnTrOvErSIal nEw CITIzEnShIp SChEmE haS lEd, InEvITablY, TO a dEbaTE On OnE Of ThE mOST fundamEnTal quESTIOnS a naTIOn Can faCE: whaT dOES IT mEan TO bE malTESE? pOET and aCTIvIST anTOInE CaSSar OffErS OnE CrEaTIvE rESpOnSE

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 105

SOCIETY

I

write this whilst recovering from an eye operation I underwent in Germany three days ago. Whilst the surgeon did her stuff, with needle and spatula (I saw every move, but I’ll stop there), I did my best to get through the hour by retiring toward my inner eye.

Before too long, I was stepping out of the house in Qrendi. It’s a warm but breezy afternoon, the sun is over halfway down, and Nannu is sitting on a wooden chair in front of the school library, calm as ever under his beret, listening to the radio. Daħallek ilfaħam sieħbi? He’s asking me if I received any translation work today. Iva ta. Imma ħa ninżel ftit sal-Imnajdra għax qlajt għajnejja llum. He tells me not to be out walking for too long, as Nanna is making brinġiel mimli, one of my favourite dishes. Daqt nitla’ lura, xiħ.

106 Sunday Circle | December 2013

I turn left after the old farmhouse, and walk slowly toward the carob tree up on the hill.

The breeze wafts graciously through my sandals, and slips now and again below my t-shirt. Just before I reach the top of the hill, the surgeon has dragged a blue circle above my eye, ultra-violet rays to stabilise the tissues of my cornea. Suddenly the lift, as the blue sky doubles in the mirror of the sea, and the crumbled hat of Filfla appears, with a quiet salute.

edge of the cliff. The thyme and salt that fill the air cleanse my lungs, my skin, my eyes, as I trace my thoughts on the 180º blue slate below, with Filfla a rock to return to in the centre when my mind loses its way. The sun will soon be setting behind Għar Lapsi, so I allow the waves to wipe my thoughts clean, and make my way slowly back to the village. The walk has opened my appetite, and there’s only one thing on my mind now.

Tan-nanna, ħelu manna...

From there, with a lighter pace, I turn right, then left, cross the road, then right again until reaching Ħaġar Qim, then trudge down the slope to Mnajdra, a quick exchange with the warden (hawn!, uww!), then carefully over the garigue around the fence on the left side, until reaching a limestone sofa, perched just before the

I wonder if the surgeon can see the contours of the cliffs imprinted on my cornea, or those of other landscapes that have carried me and that I now carry with me, such as this view outside my study, the fields of Walferdange leading to the densely-wooded hill of Steinsel, bracing for the incoming snow.

SOCIETY

If language is what makes us human...

I like to believe that we also inhabit languages, perhaps more than countries even

One beautiful thing about this relationship with landscape is that, although deeply personal, it is nonexclusive; over time, you can adopt as many landscapes as you wish, and the same landscapes can be a part of many other inhabitants or respectful visitors. Yet our personal and emotional maps have many levels; landscapes and family ties obviously go deeper than the relief at the surface, but what ties them together?

If language is what makes us human, setting us apart from other animal species, then I like to believe that we also inhabit languages, perhaps more than countries even. Let alone nation states, which are essentially artificial constructs, increasingly more akin to corporate entities (remember Brand Malta?), and in any case, it won’t be too long before they sell themselves into irrelevance. This may not necessarily be a negative development, but we should worry about what swoops in to fill the void. Can you imagine becoming a citizen of a bank, or a mobile phone manufacturer, or a company that engineers genetically modified seeds?

A villager of Maltese and a citizen of English, over the years, I’ve also acquired the citizenship of Spanish, Italian, French. Nothing special; according to Unesco, the world is home to over 7,000 extant languages. Thankfully, the frontiers between languages are very porous, and necessarily so. Ever since humans began to imitate birdsong, words have morphed continuously from one tongue into another. Languages are also non-exclusive: there is no limit to the number of speakers of a language, and you can be ‘born’ into a language at any age.

On a typical day here in Luxembourg, I’ll use five tongues, actively or passively. I’m not the most native of speakers or writers in any of the five, but that matters little. When sliding from one tongue into another, no passports or visa are needed. I wish it were the same for landscape.

Alles gut. You can go now. My stretcher is wheeled out into the corridor. Paula, born and bred in Luxembourg to parents from Argentina, themselves of Italian-Albanian and Turkish-Guaraní descent, has been patiently waiting. One day, hopefully, we’ll have a son. Technically, he’d be able to choose between five different nationalities and passports, but that is of no importance. I hope I’ll have the eyesight to help him acquire as many landscapes and languages as he wishes – among them, the limestone sofa on the cliffs of Imnajdra, perched on the underbelly of the Maltese fish.

Antoine Cassar is a Maltese poet and translator. In 2009,he published the poem Passaport, “a declaration of universal citizenship and the vision of a world where the fear of barriers and frontiers has long been overcome.” It has been translated into 8 languages and engaged 13 NGOs in 9 countries in supporting migrants’ rights and universal freedom of movement, with public performances where the audience is encouraged to symbolically ‘renounce’ their citizenship.

108 Sunday Circle | December 2013

COSY COLLECTION A/W 2013

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E I D O O G

DONATE &WIN

BAG

This month’s charity is The Ladybird Foundation — an NGO that helps terminally, critically, or seriously ill children to fulfil their dreams. www.theladybirdfoundation.org

Sunday CirCle iS giving one luCky reader the ChanCe to win a fabulouS goodie bag loaded with fantaStiC prizeS — while helping out a Charity CloSe to our heart. have you donated yet?

WIN A GOODIE BAG & GIVE TO CHARITY * How? Choose one of the payment options to participate and you could win yourself an incredible bag of treats. Each entry must be a minimum of €2.33 (one entry) and a maximum of €4.66 (two entries) *Winner will be drawn by lot. Closing date: 30th December 1. Send an SMS with your name, surname, email and home address on 5061 7373

for a donation of €2.33 or on 5061 8076 for a donation of €4.66.

2. Send a cheque of €2.33 or €4.66 payable to The Ladybird Foundation. Send the

3

cheque to Goodie Bag Competition, Sunday Circle, Network Publications, Level 2, Angelica Court, Guzeppi Cali Street, Ta’ Xbiex with your name, surname, home address, email and mobile number.

2

1 8

5

6

7

4 1. Coccinelle leather handbag from Coccinelle Handbags 11, Tower Road, Sliema, €220 2. Lime coloured Toy Watch from Victor Azzopardi Jewellers, €175 3. Sterling silver, pink gold plated necklace with fresh water pearls and jade from Victor Azzopardi Jewellers, Pieta, €285 4. High quality flask for any whiskey lover from The Wine Boutique, The Plaza, Sliema, €31 5. Christian Dior J’Adore Voile de Parfum, a new vision of the mythical floral composition from FRANKS, €74.15 6. Guerlain Serum, with Aqua Complex for double the benefits in anti-wrinkle hydration from FRANKS, €97.10 7. Guerlain Eye Serum, offering the skin a new anti-wrinkle hydrating power from FRANKS, €79.00 8. Carlo Pazolini, Real

Leather boots from Brandit Shoe Outlet, Manuel Dimech Street, Sliema, €125 (RRP €425).

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 111

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SPORTS

Man of Steel FRESH FROM BECOMING THE FIRST MALTESE PERSON TO COMPETE IN THE PRESTIGIOUS IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS IN HAWAII, TRIATHLETE DERMOT GALEA TELLS IVAN BORG ABOUT THIS MOST GRUELLING OF ENDURANCE SPORTS P hotograPhy

by

S teve M uliett

To most, Iron Man is simply a character from the Marvel comic-book universe – complete fiction. It may surprise you to learn that we have a veritable man of steel walking in our midst, in the unassuming semblance of Dermot Galea. If you’re talking triathlon in Malta, his name is bound to come up – he’s been at it since his early teens. I catch up with him in the aftermath of what was arguably his crowning achievement: competing in the Ironman World Championships in Kona, Hawaii.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 115

For the uninitiated, Ironman is a particularly tough brand of triathlon, which is an endurance-based sport to begin with, consisting of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.2-mile run, in that order and without a break.

Dermot is hardly a newcomer to Ironman – he’d already finished seven events prior to the Kona World Championships. I ask him what was so unique about the Kona event. “It is the birthplace of our sport. It all started back in 1978 when three guys – a swimmer, a cyclist and a runner – met in a bar in Hawaii,” he explains. “They wanted to see who was the fittest among them.

So they joined the three longest events organised on the island in their respective disciplines – and Ironman was born!”

triathlon titles, taking his total into double figures. The most recent of them came in 2011, and Dermot claims it was a further illustration of his strengths as a triathlete.

Ironman has since grown into a preeminent brand in triathlon, with numerous events organized around the word – but Kona remains its Mecca. That’s why the very fact of qualifying and suiting-up for the race means so much to Dermot. He became the first Maltese to manage the feat – another in a long list of firsts he’s achieved for Malta.

“It’s funny you should ask me that question. My season definitely didn’t start as I’d hoped,” he recounts. “I got sick around Christmas and it took me a good four weeks to get back into some form of training. I was really losing faith but my close friends, and my girlfriend Johanna, kept telling me that I shouldn’t worry and keep building up”. Dermot managed a good stretch of training during April and March, only to suffer another setback while tapering for a race. “I thought that this wasn’t going to be my year and I should just take it as it comes – luckily I managed a quick turn-around and managed to pull out the race of my life in Switzerland to qualify!”

As he tells me about the long years of training he put into his sport, I notice a recurring theme. While Dermot has more than enough pride to compete doggedly, he doesn’t seem to emphasize his own talent as much as one would expect. “I was never a gifted athlete, I just loved training,” he says, referring to his early days as a student athlete. It worked out for him anyway – he won his first National Championship in 1998 at the age of 16. Since then, he’s gone on to win 9 more national

“I always considered myself a hard-working athlete with limited talent,” he muses. “Probably my mental strength helped me win on days when I wasn’t the most ‘on-form’ athlete, notably my last championship win in 2011”. Since his last National Championship win, Dermot has been spending more time preparing for Ironman events. However, as he prepared for his 2013 season he faced some unexpected problems that threatened to scupper his season. I ask him how surprised he was when he finally managed to qualify for the Kona event.

After nabbing a very sought-after berth, he won the right to compete in the gruelling conditions of Kona. For most this would constitute cruel and unusual punishment... or a Pyrrhic victory.

I always considered myself a hard-working athlete with limited talent... Probably my mental strength helped me win on days when I wasn’t the most ‘on-form’ athlete

116 Sunday Circle | December 2013

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SPORTS

I switch to a different level on race day .

I don’t panic during the race when things don’t go according to plan

In Dermot’s case it was the just reward to a long stretch of continuous hard work, dating back to his days as a training-obsessed schoolboy.

I try to steer the interview towards the future. When asked, most athletes mention competitions, trophies and medals as their primary future concern. But Dermot is not wired like your run-of-the-mill jock. He’s got a girl on his mind. Last year Dermot charmed the local sport scene by proposing to his girlfriend, also a triathlete of some note, right after she crossed the finish line in a local race.

He credits Johanna for a lot of his success, and right now any question about his future leads to his fiancée. “I do have two big targets which I am considering for the future, but first I need to settle some personal goals. I want to get married, and eventually start a family with Johanna.” he proclaims. “With the wedding coming up I need to contribute

118 Sunday Circle | December 2013

to the preparations, though I must admit Johanna is doing a lot of it herself!”

He still sees himself as a strong competitor. “I switch to a different level on race day. I don’t panic during the race when things don’t go according to plan. Most importantly I enjoy what I do and find pleasure in racing even on the worst day possible, and when very few people believe in me. I love competition but I don’t go to race as if I am going for a war, I just enjoy it!”

Dermot can also count on the backing of a very loyal cadre of friends and relatives. His brother Keith is a National Champion in his own right and (along with Johanna) keeps Dermot on his toes. With his competitiveness still very much intact, few would bet against Dermot adding more accolades to the heroic narrative of Malta’s premier ‘man of iron’.

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FASHION

floral, feminine dresses and reassuring knitWear, Blumarine has marked its presence on the maltese shores at the luxury store, sarto. the laBel’s designer, anna molinari descriBes the origins, influences and style of the Blumarine Brand.

I ntervIew

by

K atryna S torace

What sparked your interest in fashion design in the first place?

I was born in Carpi, within an important Italian knitwear manufacturing area, and I followed the example of my parents, who ran a firm which made knitwear items for Italian and foreign leading designer labels.

When I was a child, I loved to draw and create clothes for my dolls, then, as I grew older, I learned the technical skills of style design from my mother and I tried to combine my love for the history of art with fashion, which helped me to bring out the aesthetic side of things.

These elements opened the door to the world of fashion for me.

What are the origins of Blumarine?

In 1977 I decided to move away from the family firm and create Blumarine to offer a style which was the product of my own tastes and sensibility. I came to this decision because I had the support of my husband Gianpaolo, who had an extraordinary talent for planning and foresight.

Why did you opt for the name Blumarine? does it capture a particular aesthetic vision for the Brand?

A penchant for the colour blue and a passion for the sea were the inspiration behind the creation of the Blumarine label: “Blumarine” is the fusion of these two elements.

hoW important is ‘place’ to you, and do you feel that your style is particularly influenced By your italian origins?

Carpi is a small town characterised by strong traditions and ethical values. Here, it was possible to live and work without upsetting my pace of life. When I created Blumarine, Carpi was the obvious location to have the chance to work with the wisest fashion artisans (embroiderers and garment-makers) who contributed to Blumarine’s success.

Blumarine is a family Business – hoW does this affect the family dynamics? do you manage to keep Business and family matters separate?

I was able to achieve all my goals thanks to my family and this fact enabled me to keep my private and working life together. Personality differences and dissimilar points of view encouraged dialogue on the base of the unconditional esteem and deep affection we share.

Anyway, I always try to separate work and private life, dedicating my free time to my family and sharing happy moments with them.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 121

Christmas

Make this

special

Nothing captures the warmth of Christmas like a lunch or dinner with your loved ones.

Tempting buffet feasts await at Harruba.

Celebrate in style at Waterbiscuit or with the sea as a backdrop at Paranga.

St. George’s Bay, St. Julian’s STJ 3310 Tel.: 21 377 600 - Fax.: 21 372 222 christmas_desk@intercontinental.com.mt www.intercontinental.com/icmalta

PROMOTION

P hoto

by

G ianluca P erGreffi

I love beauty in all its aspects and I’m constantly searching for beautiful things How do you set about working on a new collection?

Being a creative person, there are many factors that help me shape my aesthetics. I love beauty in all its aspects and I’m constantly searching for beautiful things. I surround myself with scented flowers, I always pay attention to colour combinations, to the positioning of objects and ornaments, and to every detail that can make a difference.

How would you describe your current collection?

For Blumarine Fall/Winter 2013/14 I thought about a new, reinterpreted couture, which has to be the expression of modern comfort. Sartorial constructions that are cosy, soft and reassuring and I attained this result thanks to the knitwear’s intrinsic malleability.

How Has tHe fasHion industry cHanged since you first started?

I believe that a woman now shops with greater awareness, so fashion designers must now produce high quality products that are an expression of innovation while catering to consumers’ needs, in terms of purchasing power, lifestyles and in their way of perceiving fashion.

I’m convinced that fashion will continue to base its trends on its style directions. Society, too, will have a growing effect on fashion itself, in a sort of cyclical process. Creativity, practicality, extreme customisation and a fast product cycle will be the new key words in fashion and it’s important to accommodate these changes in good time. I hope that the Blumarine brand will keep on along their present path, increasing in importance as a reference point for style and elegance.

blumarine Has Had a presence in malta for tHe past year, following tHe launcH of luxury store sarto. How important is venturing into sucH markets to tHe growtH of tHe blumarine brand?

The Maltese market is very important for Blumarine and I hope that my brand will increase its presence in this beautiful and stylish area.

generated at BeQRious.com

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Visit our newly updated website2013 www.redoctobermalta.com December | Sunday Circle 71

TRAVEL

christmas in the snow MOUNTAINS, SKIING, SLEDGING AND SNOWMEN – THERE’S NOWHERE QUITE LIKE LIVIGNO TO EXPERIENCE A WHITE CHRISTMAS

L

ivigno is the perfect postcard village – white mountains, plenty of snow, snowfights, snowmen. Children play in the snow, they sledge – all our conceptions of Christmas are there to be experienced. Situated at an altitude of 1,816 metres, Livigno is a charming village lying in a sheltered valley flanked by mountains which reach 3,000 metres. One of the most snow-sure villages in Europe, its skiing season is one of the longest, with the pistes opening for skiing at the end of November and closing at the end of April.

Whether young or not, athletic or not, adventurous or timid, our instructors’ patience enables them to bond with children, parents and friends. Tuition is held close to the village, and most parents ski with their kids as YTC tries to keep beginner families together, adding to the fun.

No other type of holiday bonds families or groups of friends more than a skiing holiday

And if Christmas shopping is what you’re after – there are over 300 shops selling everything from clothing to perfumes to electronic games to photographic or telephonic equipment. Prices are duty-free and VAT-free.

No other type of holiday bonds families or groups of friends more than a skiing holiday, making Livigno suitable as a holiday destination both for young people as well as for families and people of all ages. And when you’re not sliding down the slopes, you can try jet-biking on the frozen lake, sledging, horsedrawn carriage rides round the fields or iceskating.

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 125

TRAVEL

9-YEAR OLD LEON BARTOLO VISITED LIVIGNO LAST DECEMBER WITH HIS MOTHER AND FATHER. HERE, HE TELLS US IN HIS OWN WORDS ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE OF A PERFECT FAMILY HOLIDAY.

then sledged down the whole piste. One time I lost control of the sledge and had to run down the hill after it. Another time, as we were going up the chair-lift, I dropped the sledge and it fell all the way onto the people below.

LIVIGNO WAS LIKE A DREAM.

I WAS REALLY SURPRISED by how hot it was inside the shops and how cold it was outside, like they couldn’t make their minds up.

It was actually colder when the sun was out, and we had to wear sunglasses because of the way the sun reflects off the snow.

All the trees were covered in snow, just like a Christmas tree, but in real life. I had only seen snow once before in my life, and I had never been skiing.

ON THE FIRST DAY, we collected our skis, and then spent two whole days skiing. At first we started on the lower half of the slope and then slowly progressed to the full slope. I was a bit scared when I first started, but I quickly got used to it. As long as you’re prepared to make the effort, the rest just follows.

I LOVED SLEDGING. We rode the

chairlift to the top of the piste with our sledges in hand and

PLAYING IN THE SNOW was a lot

of fun. I made snow-angels, threw snowballs, and built a snow-man. My snow-man was quite a small one, but there were huge ice-sculptures of all sorts of animals there as well.

IT WAS AN AMAZING HOLIDAY that I’ll never forget. Next time I go abroad, I want it to be Livigno again.

126 Sunday Circle | December 2013

YTC Travel offers weekly group departures in winter including 18 – 23 January (5 nights), 01 – 08 February 08 – 15 Mar. and Easter week.

Early booking discounts now on!

Keep yourself updated with our latest offers on our Facebook page: Stellina Galea – YTC Travel, or by phone on 21421464, 27421464, 79420378 / 9. You may also send an email on stellina@ytctravel.org

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Truth

Beauty

the

about

Liposuction Consultant PlastiC ReConstRuCtive and aesthetiC suRgeon Raymond deBono looks CRitiCally at the diffeRent ways fat Removal is often adveRtised

Liposuction is one of the most commonly performed cosmetic surgery procedures however, it has established a mixed reputation. The undesirable or problematic result is due to one or both of these causes: operator technique failure or poor clinical judgment and patient selection. In view of its popularity, the procedure has also attracted strong commercial pressure, sometimes marketing new and less well-evaluated techniques as being “effective.” The unsatisfactory result can be highly deforming and sometimes very difficult to correct so caution is therefore of utmost importance.

Prospective (randomised and double blind) studies comparing liposuction with no laser and laser-assisted fat removal showed no significant benefit for the laser patients; specifically, it does not result in improved skin retraction compared to liposuction without laser. Furthermore, higher concentrations of free fatty acids released from fat cells are found in the blood of laser-treated patients with the possibility of liver and kidney damage especially if larger areas are treated. Essentially, there is no evidence of benefit from using the laser, instead, when the laser is used one runs the risks associated with it as described above.

lAsER lipolysis

liposuCtion

For the unaware, the word “laser” seems to have a magical connotation as the “perfect solution to all problems.” This is however not the case for fat removal. The efforts to destroy fat using laser started in the mid 1990s. Since then, a number of investigators over many years have tried their best to prove the purported or believed benefits of the laser – including the small 2mm incisions, skin tightening, no bruising and less downtime – but no concrete scientific proof was found. To say the least, a recent large study of over 25,000 patients found no measureable benefit for the use of laser in liposuction. To compound the matter, laser lipolysis is a very slow procedure, only suitable for small areas; moreover, the control of heat damage by the laser to the fat and overlying skin is rather poor with the risk of skin burns, scarring and hard lumps of pockets of dead fat or fluid/oil cysts forming under the skin, as well as surface contour irregularity (“bumpy surface”).

The basic technique of liposuction has improved over the years with different types of techniques and equipment being introduced.

Skin retraction after liposuction depends on some patient factors (skin quality, age, genetics and smoking) and on the operating surgeon technique. Patients’ factors, apart from smoking, cannot be altered and must be considered when predicting an outcome.

The operating surgeon technique can be adjusted according to the patient requirements to aim to produce the desired benefits. One key operating factor is the depth of the liposuction treatment below the skin level since deeper liposuction is performed to reduce general volume whilst more superficial liposuction is directed at skin retraction and shape improvement. The skill of the surgeon is of utmost importance as besides basic safe surgical skill, it also requires an advanced artistic element of contour and silhouette harmony restoration.

ConClusion In safe and qualified hands, standard liposuction has an excellent safety profile and continues to be the yardstick by which all other techniques are measured. Laser-assisted lipolysis has, unfortunately, a higher risk of adverse effects and complications; it has a high revision rate and is surrounded by mixed scientific reports with no concrete validation. Consequently, it is in a relative decline in popularity.

Raymond DeBono is a Consultant Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeon in private practice in Malta and the UK. His main interests include facial and nose cosmetic surgery. plasticsurgeonmalta@gmail.com 130 Sunday Circle | December 2013

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Michael Borg Costanzi, Zaren Vassallo & Kenneth Micallef

Charles Azzopardi & Mr & Mrs Hugh Mercica

Joe Spiteri, Lucienne & Pierre Galea Musu

H.E President George Abela & Peter Pirotti.

The

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Circle Paparazzi

Grand LifesTyLe show The BOV Grand Lifestyle Show, another high calibre event handled by Circle Events, was held at the Intercontinental Hotel on the 15th and 16th November 2013. Officially opened

by H.E. The President on Friday, selected guests were able to view the latest in a wide range of services and products aimed at the discerning customer. All guests were treated to food that was prepared by Malta’s Team of Chefs together with free flowing wine.

Marlene Seychell, Zaren & Jane Vassallo

* For inclusion in Circle Paparazzi contact Marisa Schembri on marisa@networkpublications.com.mt ** For more Paparazzi photos log on to www.sundaycircle.com

Roxanna & Roderick Muscat, Marella & Stephen Muscat

Edgar & Christine Caruna Montaldo, Charlie & Sandra Farrugia

Joe & Doris Abela Fitzpatrick, Alfred & Laura Lupi

Michael Scerri & George Barbaro Sant

Caroline Wirth & Anton Tagliaferro

Charlene Formosa, Marisa Schembri & George Abela

Josette Fenech, Liliana Borg & Jahel Vella

1. Marlon Hunt & Angelo Xuereb

4. Daniel Scicluna, Bertrand Fava, Phyllis Muscat, Paul Parein and John Muscat.

3. Claudia Calleja, Gerald James Borg & Sue Rossi

2. Paul Sansome & Ira Losco

5. Yvonne Desira Buttigieg, Paul Parein & Andrea Cassar

6. Shaun Fenech , Paul Parein, Phyllis Muscat, Josette Schembri & John Muscat

Circle Paparazzi

• 1-2 The world renowned trainer Paul Sansome launches the Profile Health & Fitness Club at The Palace Hotel, Sliema.

• 3 Modelle International hosted Moda Malta at the Xara Lodge on 1 November.

• 4-6 Pronails Premuim Nail Bar opening at Level -1 The Point, Tigne Sliema on 5 November • 7-9 Edwards, Lowell Co. Limited organised a hospitality event on the St Elmo footbridge in Valletta for 34th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race • 10 Farsons hosted the Havana Rum brand ambassador at the Phoenicia Hotel, Valletta, on 31 October • 11 Miton Cucine Win your money back event held at Miton showroom, Fgura on 9 November.

• 12- 13 202 Jewellery launches Edox watches at the Jewellery outlet at Le Meridien Hotel, St Julians on 16 November * For inclusion in Circle Paparazzi contact Marisa Schembri on marisa@networkpublications.com.mt ** For more Paparazzi photos log on to www.sundaycircle.com

8. Malcolm Lowell & Arabella Hogg

11. Claude & Ramon Buhagiar, Kyle Bartolo & Eman Castagna

7. Annabelle Bonello Lowell, Miguel Bonello, Mr & Mrs Tufigno

9. Niki Travers Tauss, Miguel Bonello & Maurizio Messina

12. Johann Camilleri, Neil Abela, Malcolm Zarb & Kirk Galea

10. Damian Muscat, Damian Perez, Luis Viera & Petra Altenberger

13. Maria Camilleri Sandu, Sabrina Galea, Alberta Abela Meli & Maureen Montebello

1. Marlon Hunt & Angelo Xuereb

4. Daniel Scicluna, Bertrand Fava, Phyllis Muscat, Paul Parein and John Muscat.

3. Claudia Calleja, Gerard James Borg & Sue Rossi

2. Paul Sansome & Ira Losco

5. Yvonne Desira Buttigieg, Paul Parein & Andrea Cassar

6. Shaun Fenech , Paul Parein, Phyllis Muscat, Josette Schembri & John Muscat

Circle Paparazzi

• 1-2 The world renowned trainer Paul Sansome launches the Profile Health & Fitness Club at The Palace Hotel, Sliema.

• 3 Modelle International hosted Moda Malta at the Xara Lodge on 1 November.

• 4-6 Pronails Premuim Nail Bar opening at Level -1 The Point, Tigne Sliema on 5 November • 7-9 Edwards, Lowell Co. Limited organised a hospitality event on the St Elmo footbridge in Valletta for 34th edition of the Rolex Middle Sea Race • 10 Farsons hosted the Havana Rum brand ambassador at the Phoenicia Hotel, Valletta, on 31 October • 11 Miton Cucine Win your money back event held at Miton showroom, Fgura on 9 November.

• 12- 13 202 Jewellery launches Edox watches at the Jewellery outlet at Le Meridien Hotel, St Julians on 16 November * For inclusion in Circle Paparazzi contact Marisa Schembri on marisa@networkpublications.com.mt ** For more Paparazzi photos log on to www.sundaycircle.com

8. Malcolm Lowell & Arabella Hogg

11. Claude & Ramon Buhagiar, Kyle Bartolo & Eman Castagna

7. Annabelle Bonello Lowell, Miguel Bonello, Mr & Mrs Tufigno

9. Niki Travers Tauss, Miguel Bonello & Maurizio Messina

12. Johann Camilleri, Neil Abela, Malcolm Zarb & Kirk Galea

10. Damian Muscat, Damian Perez, Luis Viera & Petra Altenberger

13. Maria Camilleri Sandu, Sabrina Galea, Alberta Abela Meli & Maureen Montebello

Supported by:

Get a scratch card with every New York Beef Classic or New York Crispy Chicken McMenu Meal and win great prizes including an exclusive trip to New York for two persons.

TM

Terms & conditions apply.

Available until stocks last.

To participate in this promotion you must be 18 years or over.

Help your children learn how to save The MSV Child Savings Plan For more information on the MSV Child Savings Plan contact MSV Life today on freephone 8007 2220, or visit our website at www.msvlife.com, or contact your Tied Insurance Intermediary, your Insurance Broker or visit any branch of Bank of Valletta or APS Bank.

MSV Life p.l.c. is authorised by the Malta Financial Services Authority to carry on long term business under the Insurance Business Act, 1998. Bank of Valletta and APS Bank are enrolled as Tied Insurance Intermediaries of MSV Life p.l.c. COM 231112

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Season’s Greetings from

COME AND SEE WHERE SMILES ARE MADE AND CELEBRATE PLAY! Sort out your Christmas Shopping at the Playmobil FunPark with the all-new 2013 Novelties including the Fairies, the Asian Dragons, the Construction Range, the Camping and the Shopping Mall. Christmas Activities and Games will be held over the Christmas Holidays.

Playmobil FunPark, HF80, Industrial Estate, Hal Far T: 2224 2445 E: funpark@playmobilmalta.com Opening Hours: Mon-Sun 10.00 - 18.00 By bus: Route no. X4 By car: Proceed to the Airport then follow the signposts

136 Sunday Circle | December 2013

JOIN OUR FUNPARK FREE

PAGE NOW!

ACCESS AT THE PLAYMOBIL FUNPARK

www.playmobilmalta.com

OPEN WEEK 6 - 15 December 2013 9.00am - 6.30pm

UP TO

DISCOUNT OLD MOTORS CLUB Classic Car Show & Rally 13 December PLUS OTHER ATTRACTIONS THROUGHOUT. CHECK OUT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE INFO AND UPDATES. Find us on

Facebook

Shop online at www.mdinaglass.com.mt Mdina . Ta’ Qali . Valletta . Sliema . Bugibba . Valletta Waterfront . Victoria (Gozo) t. 2141 5786 info@mdinaglass.com.mt A share of our Open Week proceeds will be donated to L-Istrina

Web: www.smcmalta.com 140 Sunday Circle | December 2013

GIFT PACKS

CHOOSE FROM A RANGE OF OVER 17 GIFT PACKS!!

FOR

HIM

FOR

HER

www.NIVEA.com NIVEA-GIFT-PACKS-210x190.indd 1

Distributed by:

Tel: 2122 1094

11/20/2013 12:58:23 AM

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 141

FOOD & DRINK

Home of mARmALADe AND PReSeRVeS

Nothing goes down as well as genuine, homemade treats. Mackays, a family-owned business, is the only remaining producer of marmalades and preserves in the Dundee area of Scotland, the ‘home of marmalade’. Be original and taste some of the vast variety of flavours such as Orange & Lemon Marmalade with Ginger, Orange Marmalade with Whiskey and preserves like Scottish Strawberry, Lemon Curd, Rhubarb and Ginger.

Chivas Regal, is collaborating with an acclaimed British craftsman in its successful ‘Made for Gentlemen’ campaign.

Red October Co. Ltd, 272, Mdina Road, Qormi.

Tel: 2147 0400 | Fax: 2147 0300 | Email: carlosc@redoct.net The Liquer Shop Tel: 2155 6531 | Email: info@wisto.com.mt

The brand linked up with Patrick Grant, a modern icon in luxury menswear. The limited edition, which contains a bottle of Chivas 12, showcases four silhouettes that feature a different style accessory: a tie, a cufflink, a watch and a pocket square.

www.redoctobermalta.com Red October Malta

CraftSManSHiP and StyLe

Beefeater London dry Gin -

Beefeater is an exceptionally fresh, clean and crisp gin with a subtle citrus and fruit edge. The complexity of the Beefeater recipe produces a gin which is multi-dimensional in character while remaining balanced and well rounded.

The Chivas 12 Made for Gentlemen by Patrick Grant limited edition is available in Malta and is marketed and distributed

by Farsons Beverage Imports Co. Ltd. Trade Enquiry 2381 4400

An extra treat from Devon 142 Sunday Circle | December 2013

FOOD & DRINK

C

Kinnie hits the shelves with limited edition Christmas paCKaging Simonds Farsons Cisk plc has launched a new limited edition packaging for its flagship brand, Kinnie, for the festive period.

Featuring Christmas visuals and messages, this special edition packaging is a fullwrap sleeve 50cl bottle with bold and eye-catching graphics.

l cia e p S on i t i Ed

Special cuvÉe

Why not enjoy effortless entertaining in your own home?

Find the hostess range available in our showroom.

Petrolea Showroom, Valley road, msida

OPEN ALL DAY

tel: 2123 4501 email: showroom@petroleamalta.com Like us on Facebook

Champagne Bollinger Special Cuvée is an icon among

non-vintage champagnes. Perfect to celebrate the festive season with family and friends. Bollinger Special Cuvée is blended for harvest grapes and reserve wines matured for a minimum of 15 years in magnum bottles. This creates the perfect balance in aromas and flavours so distinct to Champagne Bollinger.

Champagne Bollinger is solely distributed by Farsons Beverage Imports. Trade enquiries 2381 4444

December 2013 | Sunday Circle 143

FASHION

OVS For over 37 years, OVS customers have been enjoying a shopping experience characterized by the fair prices/quality ratio, with customized services and products guaranteed by the reliability of a big company. No longer only a retailer, but a trendy store which attracts shoppers with its wide range of choices and surprisingly affordable prices. An informal, practical brand, suitable for every occasion and for every kind of customer. Key elements: the search for a contemporary style, taste and a special eye for the right price-quality ratio.

OVS,Tagliaferro Centre, High Street, Sliema.

Tel: 2258 2777 OVS, Pavi Shopping Complex, Qormi.

Tel: 2258 2778

OVS KIDS Leader in the Italian clothing market, OVS is today a reference point in fashion retail.

Quality collections at competitive prices and a new interpretation of shopping based on continuous renewal. OVS designs, develops and manufactures its clothes, controlling every step of the way. A quality, stylish and Italian style product is the result of a complex path of research, origination and manufacture that starts from an in-house team of stylists and product managers.

OVS,Tagliaferro Centre, High Street, Sliema.

CLARKS

Clarks’ Active Retreat range ticks all the fashion boxes for A/W 2013, reflecting the theme of Active Retreat, Clarks First Shoes Crazy Cake - walker for girls - and Crazy Crew – walker for boys - combine the softest leathers with the coolest colours to create gorgeous looking shoes that also help little feet develop healthily and happily. What’s more receive a 20% discount voucher to be used on your next purchase when purchasing a pair of Kids shoes.

Clarks, OVS, Tagliaferro Centre, High Street, Sliema. Tel 2258 2777 Clarks, Merchants Street, Valletta. Tel 2258 2727 Clarks, Tower Road, Sliema. Tel 2131 4674 (Adults Only) Clarks, Pavi Shopping Complex, Manwel Dimech Street, Qormi.

Tel: 2258 2777 OVS, Pavi Shopping Complex, Qormi.

Tel: 2258 2778

Tel 2258 2778 (Adults Only) | Tel 2258 2751

DADDY & SON

BICE, Old Treasury Str, Valletta

Tel: 2123 9885 | Email: bicemalta@gmail.com

Latest italian fashion for men and women now available. One can find a wide range of men and women shirts. Be in time for your Xmas shopping. New stock available regularly.

Daddy & Son, Daniels shopping Complex Fashion Floor (Level 2)

Tel: 7979 6624 | Web: www.daddyeson.com | Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/daddyandsonmalta

144 Sunday Circle | December 2013

IWC Portuguese . engIneered for navIgators.

Portuguese Chronograph Classic.

Ref. 3904: The fact that Portugal’s greatest seafarers are remembered to this day is due not least to this watch: the appliquéd Arabic numerals and the railway track chapter ring elegantly reference its legendary forerunner from the 1930s. But today’s seagoing pioneers are equally well equipped with the Chronograph Classic. The IWCmanufactured automatic 89361-calibre movement and its 68-hour power reserve keep it firmly on course even under wind-

less conditions. Whether you’re aboard a historic three-master or a modern motor yacht, its state-of-the-art technology and classic design soon make it clear who’s giving the orders. iwc . e n g i n e e r e d fo r m e n .

Mechanical chronograph movement, Self-winding, 68-hour power reserve when fully wound, Date display, Stopwatch function, Hour and minute counters combined in a totalizer at 12 o’clock, Flyback function, See-through sapphire-glass back, Water-resistant 3 bar, Diameter 42 mm, 18 ct red gold