Pink (December 2018)

ISSUE170∫DEcEmbEr2018

THE REAL VOLUNTEERS CHARITY BEGINS OUTSIDE THE SPOTLIGHT

FIRST COURAGEOUS CHRISTMAS ALONE Breaking away from an addicted husband

Unique concierge fashion service LUXURY DELIVERED TO THE DOOR

Queuing up for food HARD TIMES AND MALTA’S HIDDEN POVERTY

THE PINK FASHION SHOW REVISITED THE PARTY HAS LANDED WHO WORE WHAT CREATING A DRESS FROM THESE PAGES

INSIDE

December 2018 FEATURES

16 PrivateEye light after the tunnel Wife walks away from addiction-afflicted marriage 20 InFocus no shame; just sharing Joining the queue at the food bank 27 LifeStyle putting your best foot forward Fashion blogger’s brittle bones won’t stop her styling journey 33 EyeWitness the real volunteers Working away from the limelight 39 ArtyFacts Mediterranea Scarf design to mark artist’s 10-year journey

27 81

52 43

62

FASHION 47 FashionStory fashion fairy godmothers For that coveted luxury designer piece 52 ShowStopper a touch of festive Put a scintilla of sparkle into your styling 62 FashionStory the writing on the dress Simple resources for sustainable fashion 67 TheUniform in print A maze of patterns off the Pink runway 69 Pink@TheParty The Pink Fashion Show

HEALTH & BEAUTY 81 BeautyParlour that woman of character Haley Bennett for Chloé 83 PinkShrink move your mind [and body] How exercise helps mental health 87 ParentingTips what shall I get the kids this Christmas?

Toys and play are so important

REGULARS

69

11 EditorsNote 12 MailShot 43 WomanKind the queen of speed Jacqueline Auriol 76 ThinkPink health, beauty, events & things 92 TableTalk going bananas Vegan walnut and banana sponge cake 95 WomenOnWheels out of the blue New Ford Focus 97 SnapShot a year of middle fingers Pia Zammit

COVER Photography Andre Gialanze ∫ Styling Marisa Grima [marisagrima.com] ∫ Hair Elexia Borg from Gloss, San Gwann, using Wella Professionals ∫ Make-up Jennifer Dimech ∫ Model Michela @ Supernova MM, wearing dress by James Dimech.

8 ∫ Pink December 2018

Exclusively distributed by Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery Limited Tel: 21331553

EDITORSNOTE

I try to factor in some extra time to my commute since I moved to a village. Whenever I leave the house, I bump into one of my neighbours and we always chat for a while. Occasionally, we even sit on the bench in the square and have an even more leisurely conversation.

The other day, I stumbled upon an old lady negotiating a slight slope on the pavement as though she were about to tackle a black piste on a mountain. Sensing her struggle in the face of this perceived mammoth obstacle, I accompanied her home, and as usual, the conversation kicked off… and veered into the other hardships this woman was facing.

Fragile, aged and brittle as she was, she was fully aware of the state of the country; where the rich are getting richer and the poorer can barely make ends meet. It was a reality I knew of – the textbook result of corruption – but had never actually witnessed first-hand.

So, I listened to how she had a pension that was too little to mention and that most of it went towards her medication; that the only reason she survived was because she had diligently put aside some savings when she worked as a cleaner in the past.

I’ll skip the details, but I was intrigued by the real picture on the ground beyond the political rhetoric, in what is supposed to be Malta’s “best times”. I was hit by how clued on this old lady actually was – and by my own relative naivety.

[And just for the record, lest I came across as Mother Teresa above, I promised to visit her for tea, to keep her company and continue our chat – but months later, I never did.]

She came to mind again when I was editing this issue of Pink – and in particular the story on page 20 [InFocus] about the real people who queue up at the food bank in Valletta for a supply that will feed a family for a week.

The article highlights Malta’s hidden poverty at a time when revelations have been made about people in high places planning to line their pockets to the tune of €5,000 a day at the expense of everyone else.

In an age of materialism, consumerism and unstoppable greed, maybe we can use this time of giving to start to realise how wrong it all is…

The year that was didn’t do much to build our confidence in the possibility of that, but if I had to dig for the positive side of humanity in a country that has been characterised mostly by the vile, deceptive and nasty, I would single out the ladies of the Occupy Justice movement, who have been the only true, loud, clear and courageous voice against the ills of society that plague us.

If Pink had an award for the women of the year, it would most certainly have gone to them. In the words of actress, educator and activist Pia Zammit in her SnapShot interview on page 97: “We are fighting for justice, truth, transparency and good governance; we are fighting in the face of much opposition, oppression and censorship; we are fighting with no resources and no time. And, yet, we fight on. This isn’t a job, or a short-term contract; this is a lifestyle and we will die with our boots on.”

These are the people who are fighting for us.

These are the people who really represent women and who make us proud.

I hate to say this, but I have to admit it: It’s the women who are really making waves in Malta – and even overseas – starting from Daphne Caruana Galizia to those fighting for her justice.

The rest should take a leaf out of their book. If they truly want to try and represent us, they should not deflect attention from the real issues out there and they too should be protesting against what really hurts.

As Pia puts it [in between her role as a comedian]: “I find it very hard to accept things that aren’t right, and I believe that it is my duty to call these things out.”

And so should we.

December 9, 2018 ∫ Pink is a monthly magazine ∫ Issue 170 ∫ Executive editor Fiona Galea Debono ∫ Publisher Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Printing Progress Press Ltd ∫ Production Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Contributors Adriana Bishop, Elexia Borg, Tezara Camilleri, Edward Curmi, Anna Marie Galea, Mary Galea Debono, Jennifer Dimech, Rosette Gatt, Carmen Gatt Buchs, Marisa Grima, Iggy Fenech, Joanna Micallef Farrugia, Caroline Paris ∫ Design Manuel Schembri ∫ Photography Jonathan Borg, Justin Ciappara, Andre Gialanze, Sean Mallia, Matthew Mirabelli, Bernard Polidano, Chris Sant Fournier, Mark Soler ∫ Advertising sales Veronica Grech Sant [2276 4333; veronica.grechsant@timesofmalta.com].

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Pink December 2018 ∫ 11

MAILSho

THE LETTER THAT TICKLED Pı LEARNING ABOUT LIFE Dear editor, first of all, I would like to tell you a big well done for Pink magazine.

I look forward to it month after month. And now, it’s not only me that will be waiting eagerly for the magazine, but also my two daughters. From a young age, I tried to include some reading in their schedule, and now they look forward to receiving Pink with the newspaper when their father brings it home. After Sunday lunch, we sit together and read an article in turns. We look forward to it. It is true that some of the articles would be a bit difficult for them, but I really enjoy when they try to guess the content and make competitions between them to see if they went out of point etc… They learn from the stories and get to know about life’s challenges, and to tell you the truth, I too learn and get to know my girls more when they share their opinions. Now that both of them are teenagers, they will soon have to face the world alone. So, thanks to you, Pink magazine, for your help, ideas, opinions and the truth about life and what it has to offer. Well done and keep it up!

MARIELLA CURMI, FROM BIRKIRKARA

The writer of the letter of the month wins a Cristiano Ronaldo CR7 eau de toilette; a pedicure; PLUS a selection of Diego dalla Palma make-up products, all from Chemimart.

SWIMMING AGAINST THE CURRENT Dear editor, I am writing this e-mail regarding my views on PrivateEye [Adult ADHD, November 2018]. It was a very interesting article for me as, unfortunately, my son, who is now 27 years old, also has ADHD. I totally sympathise with the young woman whose son has ADHD as my son went through the same in life, especially at school. I took him to all sorts of doctors and psychiatrists, but unfortunately, the school just didn’t understand and also labelled him as naughty. He always got the blame for everything. Now he just copes with life, has settled down with a lovely girl, but still has his moods. He is also still on medication and has found a lovely psychiatrist who helps him out. One thing I would like to tell this young lady, Christabelle, is that what I found helped him a great deal is swimming. It really tired him out every day, and he was also in a water polo team and had excelled immensely. Now, at his age, he is into kick-boxing, which also helps. Christabelle, you are your son’s doctor and you will fight for his needs. Just find the right teacher/headmaster who can help you.

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12 ∫ Pink December 2018

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PRIVATEEE

Light after the tunnel After living for 27 years with an alcoholic and drug addict husband, a few months ago, one courageous woman took the big step to leave that toxic relationship and start afresh. She spoke to ADRIANA BISHOP about her difficult life so far and how she wants others to take courage from her experience because “there is always light at the end of a dark tunnel”.

“I

don’t want people to feel sorry for me,” begins *Charly as we sit in a sunny corner on the rooftop of the shop where she is currently employed. I confess that rather than pitying her, I am full of admiration for her strength in the face of a lifetime of adversity.

Charly is just a year older than I am, and for a while, we even attended the same Church school, and yet our lives could not have panned out more differently.

As children, little were we aware of the backgrounds of our schoolmates. The girls dressed in the same uniform were just class companions, who we shared laughs, frustrations, pencils and homework with.

No one explained to us why the girl with curly blond hair was only one of two Maltese boarding at our day school. We could never have guessed the turmoil she was experiencing within her family while we happily bobbed along to our contented homes, leading normal lives.

The 45-year-old woman I see before me today has lived all her life in the midst of family strife and yet she exudes an infectious 16 ∫ Pink December 2018

warmth and positivity from the moment I meet her. She greets me with the loveliest of smiles even though there is hardly anything to smile about in her complex life.

From a childhood marred by her mother’s mental illness to a marriage afflicted by addiction, Charly has experienced more than enough to write volumes about the subject.

Rather than wallow in self-pity and depression, however, she is determined to start afresh and, most importantly, she wants to try to shatter the stigma and taboo surrounding addiction and mental illness.

Having said that, she is still a little bit hesitant about shattering those taboos completely as she mulls over whether or not to use her real name in this article.

We decide not as she wishes to safeguard her son’s privacy.

Taboos, in reality, are harder to break than anyone can imagine, perhaps even more so in a small community. Speaking out helps, not just as a cathartic exercise for the victim, but also for others who may be going through similar situations but are too afraid to speak up themselves or ask

for help. This is Charly’s story; her way of telling others that they are not alone.

“I have been through a lot in my life, but I am still afloat and I still think that life is beautiful. There is always something worth living for,” she tells me via e-mail as we organise our meeting. Once I had heard her story, her words took on new meaning, almost like a mantra for dark days.

“I just want to tell my story to help others who are experiencing the same problems I went through so that they won’t give up. I want to raise awareness about mental illness. This isn’t something to be ashamed of. I also want people to understand that addiction is an illness.

Our society doesn’t really understand this, and we don’t know how to handle such people,” she adds.

Charly’s childhood was rocked by her mother’s mental illness. She would later be diagnosed with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, and today, she is at Mount Carmel, but 40 years ago, such definitions were yet to be fully understood. Despite the fact that Charly had several relatives around her, when her parents separated,

PRIVATEEYE she was sent to board at a Church school as no one wanted to take her in.

“My mother’s family didn’t understand or accept her condition, so initially, she was not given the treatment she required.

She became uncontrollable,” said Charly as she recounted the long list of distressing incidents she was subjected to as a result of her mother’s illness.

“My mother used to give me sleeping pills… She would start selling everything so we couldn’t keep my Confirmation presents at home, otherwise she would have sold them too, to buy drugs. She used to either disappear or hibernate and sleep for ages.

Sometimes, she would cook enough food to last a month and would expect you to eat it even if it had grown mouldy.”

Boarding at the Church school brought some stability to an otherwise erratic existence, but that didn’t last long. As her parents went through court proceedings to formalise their separation, it was recommended to Charly that she should at least try to live with one of them, so she was sent to her father’s new home.

“He had a new partner and I was like Cinderella at home. I had a very bad relationship with my stepmother and I raised my stepsister all by myself. One day, my stepmother simply upped sticks and left Malta for her native England, taking my sister with her. It all happened out of the blue. I was left all on my own at home because my father immediately met someone else.”

So, when Paul* came into Charly’s life, he was “like a knight in shining armour. He was the only one who believed me when I told him what my stepmother used to do to me. He saved me from all that mess”.

Charly had first met Paul at the age of 14, but then didn’t see him again for another four years. Little did she know that during that time he had been in rehab for drug abuse. When they met again, Paul quickly moved in with Charly.

At the age of 18, Charly was engaged to him, and by 20, they were married.

But the knight in shining armour needed rescuing himself and the fairy tale immediately turned into a nightmare that would last 27 years.

“In the 27 years we were together, he was always addicted to drugs and alcohol.

There was maybe just one year spread over that whole period when he was clean.

Whisky used to make him very aggressive.

He was violent towards me many times,

even before we were married. I should have known better even then.

“He always had a problem with money.

I never knew how I could make him happy, but it was impossible if he couldn’t love himself. I tried everything: I took him to a psychiatrist, to a hypnotherapist, but if he didn’t want to change, I couldn’t do anything to help him.

“Four months ago, I decided I simply had had enough. I threw him out and changed the locks. He is now living with a friend, but he is not in rehab. I haven’t spoken to him because if I talk to him, I would take him back. He would manipulate me.”

During the years Charly and Paul were together, he was in rehab five times. Each time, he would say he wanted to stop, but his addiction was “like a demon inside him”. The ordeal took a tremendous toll on Charly and the stress caused her to develop fibromyalgia and insomnia. There were financial repercussions too as debts spiralled out of control leading to court marshalls repossessing most of their stuff.

leave him stranded. Once my son and Paul started fighting because the boy was standing up for me. My son has seen his father in court and in and out of rehab.

“Paul’s family have disowned us as they used to think I was an accomplice with my husband. My son is now 20 years old.

He loves his father and wants me to toughen up. He is a very strong person and very patient. He is now at university and has a close-knit community around him that gives him a lot of support.

“I forgive my husband, but I cannot forget. No, I don’t hate him. He’s the father of my child. I pray to forget. I wish to find happiness. It was very difficult to leave him.

I always believed he would change. I am angry with God at the moment. What upsets me most is that he was never strong enough to change at least for his son’s sake.”

Earlier this year, Charly started a new job in a retail outlet that gave her the confidence boost she needed to turn her life around and start afresh. “I felt strong enough to say ‘enough’. I am worth more than this.”

“YES, I AM A BIT DOWN ABOUT THE FACT THAT THIS WILL BE THE FIRST CHRISTMAS WITHOUT MY HUSBAND. I WISH I COULD CLOSE MY EYES, AND WHEN I OPEN THEM, IT WOULD BE THE NEW YEAR ALREADY. BUT I HAVE TO TAKE IT DAY BY DAY” “I never knew where he was. He would disappear for the entire night and the police wouldn’t help because a person has to be missing for 24 hours before they launch a search. He once fell asleep in a nightclub and they had locked him in. He woke up in the empty club and called me in tears asking me to help him,” continues Charly.

“Addiction is an illness. Deep down, I know Paul is a good person, but addiction is uncontrollable. I thought he would change. People like Paul make you believe they will change. They are manipulative and toxic. They make you feel like you are the problem not them. Your confidence disappears. I was living like a robot.

“I was always the last person to know what was going on. When he took cocaine, I never realised. When he had an affair, I never knew. He would take the urine test at home, but would swap it, so it wouldn’t show drug-positive. He’s been gone for four months now, but I still wait up for him.

“At least out of a bad marriage I got my wonderful son, but it has been very traumatic for him. Paul used to forget to pick him up from school, for example, and

As Christmas looms and the sun sets on another turbulent year, Charly is hopeful that, this time, it really will be a new start for her in 2019. “I have always spent every Christmas in a daze as this time of year is the worst for an addict and also for someone like my mum. It’s a good thing I am very busy throughout December at work, so I won’t really have time to be so alone during the Christmas period.

“But yes, I am a bit down about the fact that this will be the first Christmas without my husband. I wish I could close my eyes, and when I open them, it would be the New Year already. But I have to take it day by day.

“What I am looking for in 2019 is peace, love and serenity. I hope for the gift of more forgiveness and to forget what has happened and move on.” *Names have been changed to protect the persons’ identity.

Charly is especially grateful for the help she received from Oasi Foundation in Gozo [www.oasi.org.mt]. If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in the article, contact Caritas [www.caritasmalta.org]; Sedqa on the national support helpline 179; Marigold Foundation [www.marigold.org.mt]; or Richmond Foundation [www.richmond.org.mt].

Pink December 2018 ∫ 17

INFOCUS

NO SHAME; JUST SHARING The economy is booming. Restaurants are always full. We’re told it’s Malta’s “best time ever”.

So why is there a queue outside the food bank? Why is there a food bank at all?

ADRIANA BISHOP joined the queue to find out.

M

ary* has been sitting on the doorstep of 120, Old Bakery Street, Valletta since 4.45pm. A large shopping trolley bag is by her gnarled feet. Her face is worn with worry, but she has a patient look about her. She’s first in line today at the food bank, a good 45 minutes before opening time, so she’s pleased with that.

Once a month Mary, who is in her late 60s, takes the bus from

20 ∫ Pink December 2018

Tarxien, where she shares a hovel with eight other members of her family, and trundles into Valletta to collect a food pack from Foodbank Lifeline Foundation – enough to feed her family for a week.

She’ll have a very heavy load to carry back home, up the steep hill of Old Bakery Street all the way to the terminus, and her aching legs are causing her particular concern today as she has stopped taking

medication because she cannot afford it.

Mary smiles disconsolately as she shows her empty purse. “I don’t have a single cent,” she points out. “I am overdue on the rent and next week I have to pay the electricity bill. I don’t know how I am going to manage.

I have to choose between feeding the family, or buying medicine for my legs.

I have stopped buying the pills for now. My blood pressure is high with

INFOCUS all the worry and I sometimes feel depressed,” she confesses.

More people join on the pavement outside the food bank. They are regulars and greet each other as if this were just another social outing.

There’s a mix of nationalities, but the Maltese are in the minority today.

Saturday is their preferred day to visit the food bank.

Today, 15 individual ‘clients’ will receive a food pack to last them a week. The packs will feed a total of 61 people. On average, the food bank at St Andrew’s Scots Church feeds no less than 30 families each week – sometimes more than double that especially in the winter months – handing out between €3,000 and €4,000 worth of food.

And yet, if social media comments are anything to go by, there seems to be a general consensus that Malta does not need a food bank or, if anything, it’s only there “because of the foreigners”.

It is quite normal for a queue to form outside the food bank up to an hour before opening time, but once the doors open, they all file in quietly and sit in the waiting area, taking their orderly turn as they go in one by one to receive their food pack behind a second closed door for some privacy and a shred of dignity.

Food bank manager Ross Yarnold, a former construction worker from Nottingham, who retired to Malta in January this year and started volunteering just a few months ago, pulls cans of beans off the shelves of the small grocery area and starts filling up Mary’s trolley. He adds tins of corned beef, long-life milk, coffee, jelly, packets of rice and pasta and other essentials. There’s an exceptional treat on offer today: fresh fruit, leftovers from a harvest festival held the previous weekend. Normally, the food bank does not stock any fresh or perishable goods.

This afternoon, he’s joined by Anne McKenna, who has been volunteering at the food bank for over three years and is a member of the newly set up foundation board. She checks each client’s paperwork and sits down briefly with them for a quick catch-up on their current situation.

Outside the food bank at 120, Old Bakery Street, Valletta.

“POVERTY HAS INCREASED IN MALTA AND THIS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL TO US. THEY GIVE US A LOT OF BASIC NECESSITIES LIKE TEA, COFFEE, SUGAR. I DON’T KNOW WHAT WE WOULD DO WITHOUT IT” Clients are referred to the food bank by several agencies, such as Appogg, Leap, Caritas, Sedqa, the Millennium Chapel, or Jesuit Refugee Service. They may also be referred by Mount Carmel Hospital, Mater Dei, the oncology unit, parish churches, or even schools.

Typically given assistance by the food bank for six weeks, this is just enough to give them time to get back on their feet, or for social benefits to kick in. However, some require longer term help in which case they are then referred to the Malta Community Chest Fund.

Mary, for example, already receives food vouchers from the MCCF, but they are not enough to cover all the essentials for her large family, so the food bank supplements the vouchers with a food pack once a month.

“I’ve been coming here for around three months now,” continues Mary once her pack has been prepared.

“This has helped me a lot. I feel happy when I come here. My grandchildren, who live with me, will be eagerly awaiting my return to see what I got in the pack. They always ask me if I got any biscuits or sweets. They love that.

It’s a treat for them.

“The MCCF vouchers help me to buy some meat, sometimes, or stuff like shower gel and laundry powder, but it’s never enough. We’re nine at home, all living in one old house.

“My husband was a watchman with the government, so he’s got his pension, but he’s also got health problems. My daughter is a single mother with two children. She’s been given a flat by the government, but it’s being refurbished and we don’t know when it will be completed. Then she’ll need the means to furnish it,” says Mary.

The food bank is truly a lifeline for her and her family, she adds. “It is necessary, yes. Poverty has increased in Malta and this has been very helpful to us. They give us a lot of basic necessities like tea, coffee, sugar.

I don’t know what we would do without it,” she points out.

And with that, she balances a large heavy bag on top of the trolley, picks up a third bag and slowly starts to make her way home as more people file into the waiting area.

As they patiently wait their turn, everyone’s attention is now drawn to the beautiful baby girl sleeping contentedly in her pushchair.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 21

INFOCUS Her parents sit quietly and proudly smile as everyone coos over their little daughter. She’s called Aisa and she’s just five months old.

Her parents, Reza and Sanaz, are originally from Iran although Reza holds a British passport. They moved to Malta from London two years ago. Reza explains he has two university degrees and several years’ experience designing and managing his own restaurants. He is a professional chef as well as a deft hand at making Persian-style furniture, which he used to furnish his restaurants in London.

Until recently, he ran an ice cream shop in Victoria, Gozo, before his business partner made off with all the money, leaving him high and dry.

Reza tried opening another eatery, changing its offer several times from a café to a smoothie shop to a kebab joint to attract customers, but business was slow and he eventually lost all his money.

He is now looking for a job – any job – to keep his family going. This is their first visit to the food bank. He and his wife, together with baby Aisa, came on foot from Msida to Valletta and will be making their way back home on foot again, carrying a food pack weighing over 20kg.

And yet, Reza and Sanaz are all smiles. “In my culture, when someone asks us for our help, we help out,” explains Reza. “I didn’t know about the food bank. The social worker told me about it. This is a big help for me and my family and for all those who have no money to eat and to live. This is a very nice thing and it makes me very happy. I know that very soon I will be back on my feet again, and then I would have learned to help other people more.

“My father was a general in the Iranian army, but he was killed 39 years ago. My grandfather owns a chain of famous restaurants in Tehran. From the start, my mother taught me that if you want something, you have to work for it.

I never asked her for money. I have a big family in Tehran, but I never ask for money. I have always worked.

“In Iran, we have a saying: when you are hungry, take meat from your 22 ∫ Pink December 2018

body but don’t go to beg from the butcher. I believe in God. He watches everything, He knows, He helps. One day, all my problems will be finished.

I am still happy here in Malta.”

His courage and unfailing optimism in the face of his current situation is touching. And Reza and Sanaz’s sense of hope is shared by the rest of this evening’s ‘clients’ at the food bank.

But still, do they ever cry? “No,” Anne replies as she whizzes about adding an extra pack of chocolate pudding for one person who has four children at home. “But once or twice, I’ve come very close. These are desperate cases.”

Every food pack is custom prepared on the spot for each client.

While it always contains the same number of staples, different diets, such as halal, are taken into consideration. People who do not have a steady address are given food that does not require access to complicated kitchen equipment but can be prepared with just some hot water.

The penultimate ‘client’ of the evening is Naima*, originally from Morocco, who speaks perfect Maltese. She is divorced and is raising her four children on her own.

Her youngest daughter, aged seven, accompanies her, and while the food pack is being prepared, she shows off her impressive acrobatic tricks and karate moves.

Naima explains how she is on the waiting list for a managerial job in a government department, but so far, she has not heard anything. This is meant to be her last visit to the food bank as she has already been through her allocated six-week assistance. But there does not seem to be any change in her financial situation and she will need to seek further help.

She takes out her reading glasses, minus the right arm, and smiles shyly.

“I cannot afford to buy new ones yet,” she points out. She has strong words for ruthless landlords whom she blames for the majority of the social problems being faced by those on the breadline.

INFOCUS

“They just raise the rents without any warning, and if you cannot pay, then you end up on the street and they simply do not care. In my country, there are laws governing how much rents can go up and how often rents can change. Here there are no laws.”

couldn’t provide basic necessities for their family. But apparently, it’s “the best time” for Malta.

“Maltese people as a whole really struggle to believe there are poor people in Malta. Poverty is really hidden,” points out Rev. Kim Hurst, who established the food bank three years ago.

When she took over as minister of St Andrew’s Scots Church in Valletta in the summer of 2014, Rev. Kim had already experienced running a food bank through the church in Cumbria.

However, when she enquired about a similar system on the island, she was told “there is no need for a food bank in Malta; there are no poor people, the economy is good, the benefits system works and there is no unemployment.

“Then one day, the church treasurer told me he had seen someone going through the rubbish bins in Valletta and taking out fastfood cartons, looking for leftovers.

He spoke to this person, who confessed he was really struggling,” explains Rev. Kim. And that is how the idea for the food bank started.

When it first opened in June 2015, the food bank was feeding five to 10 families per week. It was intended to provide crisis care rather than longterm assistance. Within a year, as more social workers came to know about its existence and started referring more cases, Rev. Kim and her team were assisting between 20 and 30 families per week.

“SOME FEEL EMBARRASSED, UNCOMFORTABLE; OTHERS FEEL ENTITLED TO IT. SOME FEEL EXTREMELY GRATEFUL, ESPECIALLY THE CHILDREN” After the food bank closes for the evening, the contrast between the world outside in Valletta and the world I had just encountered, albeit briefly, within those four walls, is striking.

Just around the corner, a string of bustling restaurants were busily taking orders from happy tourists, Valletta’s bars were packed with people enjoying a post-work drink, all unaware that only a few doors away a group of people had to queue up to receive food handouts because they

Today, those figures have doubled and in total the food bank has helped tens of thousands of people since it first opened its doors.

People come from all backgrounds and from a wide range of nationalities. Contrary to popular belief, the vast majority are Maltese.

Others include Russians, French, British, Syrians, Nigerians, Serbs, Turks, Macedonians, as well as people from Pakistan, Cameroon, Eritrea, Ghana, Iraq, Libya, to name but a few.

Occasionally, people walk off the streets asking for help. In that case, the food bank gives them enough food to last them until the next time it is open, but in the meantime, they are to seek formal help via a social worker to improve their situation.

Occasionally, they also get referrals from the human trafficking department, with cases of people who are brought to Malta with the promise of work, but end up having their passport taken away and left with nothing. There has also been an increase in the number of elderly widowed people seeking help from the food bank as their pensions and benefits are not enough to meet increasing expenses.

Quite a few of the clients are singleparent families, or those who are going through a divorce, who seek not just practical help, but also a compassionate ear to listen to their troubles.

“It makes a difference to them to have someone to talk to, especially if they can speak to another woman,” remarks Rev. Kim. “Most Maltese don’t think of me as a priest. They may ask me to pray with them, or for them, but it’s not the same as going to talk to a priest about your problems.”

Those who spoke up all declared how happy they were to be receiving help from the food bank, but not everyone feels the same way. “Some feel embarrassed, uncomfortable,” says Rev. Kim. “Others feel entitled to it.

Some feel extremely grateful, especially the children. I have never been hugged by as many children in my life as I have at the food bank. They come up to me to say thank you. Some people just want to talk and share how frustrated they are with what is happening. It is good for them to be able to do so.”

Echoing Naima’s complaints about rising rents, Rev. Kim points out that she saw a spike in the number of cases referred to the food bank during the summer of 2017 because of a sudden increase in property rental prices.

“The majority of our clients were benefits related, but now we have more working poor – people who have a job, but their salary is not enough to cover expenses. We know of cases where there are three or even four generations of the same Pink December 2018 ∫ 23

INFOCUS Rev. Kim Hurst

family living together under one roof because the rent situation is so difficult,” explains Rev. Kim. “Simply providing food does not solve the problem,” she continues. “They need help to find cheaper accommodation, to find work, to integrate better into society if, for example, they are just out of rehab.”

But why, in this day and age, should Malta even need to have a food bank in the first place? Rev. Kim sighs. “It is the case in any growing economy,” she says.

“The rich get richer and the poor get ignored or pushed to the sidelines.

Some of the people who are most generous to us are living one step away from a food bank themselves.

“Many people live month to month, with no savings. We have cases where bank accounts have been frozen, so people cannot access their savings.

That is where we step in to provide food. If you are a young widow or widower whose bank account has been frozen, the last thing you need to worry about is whether you can put food on the table for your children.”

Rev. Kim highlights the stigma attached to using a food bank. “People assume that if someone needs a food bank, it is their fault; that they’ve done something wrong.

“From the end of October, the number of people using the food bank increases because seasonal work will end, and suddenly, more people are out of a job. September is another tough month for families because of the additional expenses associated with the new academic year, which take up 24 ∫ Pink December 2018

“PEOPLE ASSUME THAT IF SOMEONE NEEDS A FOOD BANK, IT IS THEIR FAULT” the little money they have, leaving less for food.

“In the UK, food banks have been running for a very long time and there is no stigma attached to using them as much as people feel there is in Malta.

Here, you don’t see people sleeping rough on the streets as you do in other major European cities. Poverty in Malta is hidden. This makes it harder to get donations to run the food bank,” says Rev. Kim. Indeed, sometimes the food bank has struggled to keep those grocery shelves full, and Rev. Kim argues a shift in mentality is needed to keep such an organisation going in Malta. She points out that she would rather see 10,000 people give one euro than one single big donor giving €10,000.

“That way, it gets into everyone’s mentality to buy an extra item. That makes a real difference. We have a group of ladies who meet once a month for coffee, and when they do, each one puts €5 in a pot and they use that money to buy something for the food bank. It’s the little gestures that go a long way. If everyone who is doing well could just give a little bit, it would make a big difference,” she adds.

The food bank has recently been re-launched as a foundation with a new website [www.foodbanklifeline.com] and is currently in the process of being registered as a non-governmental organisation.

“We have outgrown the church premises and the facilities we currently have. Now, we have volunteers from all different spectrums; not just members of our church. It is no longer the church’s food bank; it has become the food bank for Malta.

“As a foundation, we become independent of the church and people won’t think it is just the Scottish church feeding people,” explains Rev. Kim. Her plan is to have a central warehouse, with different distribution centres across the island to make it easier for people to access food. However, it will all be organised centrally to minimise the possibility of people abusing the system.

“The problem of having a network of different food banks is one of data sharing. We need to ensure we are not feeding the same people,” she points out.

Meanwhile, the food bank is gearing up for its annual Christmas campaign, which last year helped to stock the shelves for several months after.

“This time last year, we were in a really vulnerable position, but the reverse advent calendar campaign was a great boost for us and it helped to run the food bank for the whole of January and February. We received 3,000 bags of pasta and we are still handing out pasta and rice from that campaign.

“There is no shame in a food bank,” repeats Rev. Kim. “Just share!” *Names have been changed to protect the persons’ identities.

REVERSE ADVENT CALENDAR In the run-up to Christmas, why not encourage family, friends and colleagues to adopt a reverse advent calendar.

Instead of opening a window every day in December to reveal a treat, place one food item [non-perishable] in a box every day. By December 24, you would have accumulated quite a pack – enough to feed a person for around seven days.

For more information, about the food bank and how you can help organise a reverse advent calendar, visit www.foodbanklifeline.com; contact foodbanklifeline@gmail.com; or follow on Facebook at TheFoodbankAtSaintAndrews.

Clare Agius and Melissa Pace

LIFESTYLE

PUTTING YOUR BEST FOOT FORWARD Osteogenesis imperfecta may determine almost every area of Melissa Pace’s life, but the condition hasn’t stopped her from becoming a fashion blogger. Her bones may be brittle, but her will to succeed – and style – is strong. IGGY FENECH catches up with her at a recent opportunity she was given to dress presenter and actress Clare Agius.

W

hile thousands of stylists around the world choose clothes for others on a daily basis, few clothing combinations make the news. Yet some outfits have big stories to tell, and that is exactly the case for what actress and TV presenter Clare Agius was recently spotted wearing: one on the stage of Notte Bianca as TVM’s anchor and the other on her new TV programme about aviation.

See, the outfits were put together by Melissa Pace, a 22-year-old fashion blogger, born with osteogenesis imperfecta. The rare condition – which is sometimes referred to as brittle bone disease – results in easily breakable bones. In fact, Melissa has already had to

undergo two surgeries because of this, and often feels tired. Moreover, while she can physically walk, the strain on her legs is too much, so she often opts to get around in a wheelchair.

This, however, hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her dream of becoming a fashion blogger and her journey has won over the hearts of many, with thousands now following her on social media and various news outlets interviewing her about her journey.

“I never expected this overwhelming response when I started my blog six months ago,” she admits. “I was completely unknown one minute, and the next, people were stopping me in the streets to tell me they follow me. I never expected that, let alone this quickly.”

Pink December 2018 ∫ 27

LIFESTYLE

“MANY OF THE NORMAL-SIZED ITEMS AT THE SHOPS ARE TOO BIG FOR ME… A KNEE-LENGTH DRESS FOR SOMEONE WHO’S OF AVERAGE HEIGHT IS A FULL-LENGTH DRESS FOR ME… IF NOT LONGER” As is often the case, popularity meant opportunities and it was exactly that which got Melissa and Clare together.

“Frederick [Bonnici, the marketing manager of Cortefiel] called me in to discuss how we could work together,” Melissa recounts. “Originally, the idea was that I would style myself using the shop’s brands, but halfway through our meeting, he asked me if I would want to style Clare, who they sponsor. Of course, I couldn’t refuse! Clare is someone I’ve always looked up to and followed.”

A few days later, Melissa and Clare were set to meet up at the Cortefiel shop at Bay Street Shopping Centre… Everything went as planned, including Clare arriving late, it turns out!

“When I arrived, I started apologising to everyone,” Clare says, already laughing at the rest of the story. “I was all flustered, going ‘I’m sorry, guys… I’m 28 ∫ Pink December 2018

a bit late, I know… I know,’ to which Frederick laughs and tells Melissa and the others: ‘What did I tell you?’

Apparently, just before I got there, he was doing an impression of me arriving all flustered and saying more or less what I said… I guess I must do this a lot!”

Following a quick chat about the colours and styles Clare likes – combined with the research the blogger had done about her style – Melissa got to work choosing both outfits. But it wasn’t long before she was also styling herself to be part of an impromptu shoot with Clare – one which would ultimately lead to this article.

“We decided to use Cortefiel items for both of us, including a shirt I had to tuck into my skirt. See, obviously, many of the normal-sized items at the shops are too big for me… A knee-length dress for someone who’s of average height is a full-length dress for me… If not longer!”

LIFESTYLE

As the conversation revolves around the clothes she normally buys, Melissa starts to explain how difficult it is for her to find appropriate footwear. Stylish and simple white sneakers in her size are almost impossible to come by as the ones that fit her are usually PE shoes that would be worn by kids. Heels are another headache, and she has to get hers from specific websites.

“Ultimately, the question you always need to ask yourself is: do I want this hard enough?”

Chatting to Clare about her experience working with Melissa, she says that “she has a great sense of style and expresses it in a special way. I really felt comfortable working with her because she genuinely judged how things looked on me; even the way I held

“THE MOST IMPORTANT MESSAGE I WANT TO CONVEY TO PEOPLE IS NOT TO LET ANYTHING GET IN THE WAY OF THEIR DREAMS, AND EVEN THOUGH SOME SITUATIONS MAY BE HARD, THERE’S ALWAYS A WAY TO OVERCOME THEM” All this is an additional complication to Melissa’s condition. Yet, while the osteogenesis imperfecta determines almost every area of Melissa’s life, it hasn’t stopped her from seeking a good one. In fact, on top of her new-but-flourishing blogging and styling career, Melissa – who until recently worked full-time as an audit assistant – is currently reading for her ACCA degree to become a qualified auditor.

“The most important message I want to convey to people is not to let anything get in the way of their dreams, and even though some situations may be hard, there’s always a way to overcome them,” the blogger, who was recently nominated for a JCI Award for Contribution to Peace and Human Rights, says.

30 ∫ Pink December 2018

my handbag mattered to her for the shoot, which shows she has a really good eye for fashion”.

And that is the story Clare’s two outfits have to tell; that although Melissa put them together, they are just two pretty outfits and nothing about them would have made you assume it was the work of someone other than your average stylist.

Indeed, across every sphere – from fashion to sport, quantum physics to literature – people with disability continue to show us that they are just as capable of doing things as the rest of us… and, sometimes, even more so.

Photography Luca Gouder Photography

EYEWITNESS

THE REAL VOLUNTEERS Carmen Gatt Buchs has a hard time convincing volunteers, who work on the sidelines and away from any glamour, to speak about what they do. Like the many others offering their time and help to those in need, they may not be in the limelight – and most don’t even want to be – but they are the real heroes, who deserve all the praise and admiration they can get.

“Volunteers don’t get paid, not because they’re worthless, but because they’re priceless.”

Sherry AnderSon, CAnAdiAn Athlete.

S

everal studies have revealed that when people stop thinking about their personal problems and focus on someone else instead, their stress levels eventually decrease, their immune system strengthens, and their sense of life satisfaction improves. how can this be true? helping and giving to someone else has been proven to interrupt tensionproducing patterns, replacing them

with positive emotions, increased self-confidence levels and a sense of purpose.

Although due to our busy lives and schedules it can be hard to find time to offer others help, the benefits of giving are manifold, not only for the volunteers themselves, but also for their family and community. Most of all, however, volunteering provides vital help to those in need, worthy causes, the environment and society in general.

People choose to volunteer for various reasons. For some, it is an opportunity to develop new skills, to keep them mentally stimulated and physically active, to help them find new friends, to build on existing experience and knowledge, or even to advance in their career. For

others, it offers the chance to give something back to the community, or make a difference to the people around them. But regardless of the motivation, what unites these volunteers is that they find it both challenging and rewarding. in Malta, there are various nonprofit organisations and foundations that offer help to children and adults with mental and physical disabilities as well as other social, financial and domestic problems. And it is thanks to the many volunteers, who offer their time and help without getting paid or expecting anything in return, that these organisations can survive. here are three women who, without being in the spotlight, are making a significant difference to the lives of those they help.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 33

EYEWITNESS “SHE FINDS IT ESPECIALLY REWARDING WHEN PATIENTS WHO COULD PREVIOUSLY HARDLY PUT THEIR HEADS UP EVENTUALLY IMPROVE AND START INTEGRATING WITH OTHERS”

Mary Fisher

SAYING THANK YOU After undergoing several operations at St Luke’s Hospital, Mary Fisher’s husband Geoffrey felt the need to do something in his spare time to say ‘thank you’. And what better way than offering to give a helping hand?

That is how he started doing voluntary work nine years ago and this inspired Mary, 78, to join him a few years later.

Having returned to Malta to retire in Mellieha after spending 40 years in the UK, she has now been doing voluntary work for the past four years 34 ∫ Pink December 2018

at SOS Malta, which assists people through projects of a social and charitable nature and provides assistance to the poor to help improve their life quality.

VolServ is an SOS Malta service in partnership with the Ministry for Health, the Elderly and Community Care, which aims to develop and organise voluntary health services to support patients and relatives at Mater Dei and recently also at Mount Carmel.

Twice a week, Mary dedicates her time to the Psychiatric Ward in Mater Dei and also at Mount Carmel.

Together with her husband, she spends one morning organising baking lessons

and the other doing crafts. Patients with psychological or psychiatric problems enjoy getting involved as this puts their minds off their difficulties for at least a few hours.

Doing voluntary work also gets Mary out, helps her to socialise and keeps her active. Helping others also gives her a boost. She finds it especially rewarding when patients who could previously hardly put their heads up eventually improve and start integrating with others. These patients are also very grateful and so it is satisfying for Mary to know that she contributed to the benefit of others.

It is always personally fulfilling for her to know that the effort and energy she puts into her voluntary work was worth her while.

Unfortunately, however, in Malta there is still a stigma related to mental health and this needs to be removed by educating the public, Mary feels.

She stresses that one should remember that anybody could have such problems, irrespective of job, background and age.

Mount Carmel also desperately needs to improve its facilities to offer a more positive environment to both its patients and employees – so it is encouraging for Mary to know that plans to refurbish the building and wards and upgrade its facilities are in the pipeline.

GETTING SATISFACTION OUT OF GIVING Joan Micallef is a 75-year old widow who has lived in Malta for 24 years.

Having previously worked for a charity and done fundraising in the UK, until recently, she dedicated two half days a week, and even more when needed, to a charity shop in Valletta that sells used goods donated by the public as well as new items given by generous shop owners.

Exclusively distributed by Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery Limited Tel: 21331553

EYEWITNESS

“IT MAKES HER FEEL GOOD TO SEE PATIENTS HAPPY AND TO FEEL THAT SHE IS CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY”

Joan Micallef

This is one of the many ways in which the Inspire Foundation, that works tirelessly with children and adults with disabilities, raises money – through its charity shops that sell used, vintage and sometimes donated brand-new stuff around Malta and Gozo. They contribute to the muchneeded funds required by the foundation throughout the year.

Being very open and gregarious, volunteering offered Joan the possibility to socialise and interact with various customers who’d come to browse through her shop. It also gave her satisfaction to know that she was helping persons with disability and contributing to the organisation.

Joan enjoyed going to the shop regularly and preferred it when it was busy. Her wish was always to be able to exhibit the goods in the shop in a more eye-catching way, so they would appeal to more people who would then buy them or donate to Inspire.

36 ∫ Pink December 2018

Anna Montfort

A DRIVE TO HELP Anna Montfort, 57, lives in Mellieha and is a housewife and mother of two daughters who live with their families in the UK. Although she is often very busy, Anna has offered to pick up patients from their home using her own car and to drive them to the Hospice in Balzan. She does this every Tuesday, but when necessary, also offers extra drives on other days.

Hospice Malta is a voluntary organisation that provides and promotes the highest standards of palliative care for persons with cancer, motor neurone disease, end-of-life respiratory, cardiac, renal and liver disease. It also aims to help and support the patients’ families.

Anna’s motivation to volunteer for Hospice is the satisfaction this gives her. In fact, she has been driving patients for the last 12 years after being inspired by a friend and her

own daughter who did voluntary work abroad.

She admits that it makes her feel good to see patients happy and to feel that she is contributing to the community. However, she also has upsetting moments, such as when people she knows pass away. An incident that remains imprinted in her memory is when a woman who seemed so positive and at peace with herself passed away suddenly.

Although she has to wake up very early in the morning to drive patients, Anna is happy to do so. Otherwise, they would be stuck at home, she says.

These patients really enjoy going to Hospice to learn new crafts, meet similar people and spend time interacting with each other, she reveals.

However, she also adds that there should be more awareness regarding the need for more volunteers because such people are indispensable.

ARTYFACTS

Mediterranea Artist and designer Stephanie Borg has gone through a decade of hard work and determination to bring to life her vision through patterns and drawings. Long-time friend JOANNE MICALLEF FARRUGIA is left feeling both nostalgic and serene after a visit to her vibrant studio boutique in Rabat.

On her 10th anniversary, she talks about her inspiring story… and what’s in store.

I

t has been 10 years since artist and designer Stephanie Borg embarked on a mission to pursue her passions and dreams. Inspired by Maltese culture and traditions, her ink drawings capture the essence of the Maltese way of life. And her ambition is to depict all that we take for granted – the mundane; the everyday life that gives us our character as Maltese.

Now, as part of her 10-year anniversary celebrations, Stephanie has launched her first limited-edition 100-percent silk scarf, featuring the Mediterranea pattern. The colour palettes reflect the golden and sun-kissed hues of Maltese stone and sunsets, contrasted by the vibrant blue of the Mediterranean skies and seas.

Stephanie has also launched a new collection of hardback journals, featuring her tile collage pattern. Both beautiful and practical, these UK-made high-quality hardback journals add style to any desk.

The artist’s first and biggest love was, in fact, for the Maltese tile patterns, which, at the time, were being pulled out of Maltese townhouses and thrown away as rubbish.

She documented every pattern she came across, salvaged tiles from skips and visited old houses before they were demolished just to take a glimpse of the patterned tiles.

Then, she started featuring these in her ink drawings, depicting them as faithfully as possible. Her determination to bring back their beauty and even develop the patterns’ potential through colour made the project more exciting.

And her motivation continued to grow when she saw how her drawings helped people to rediscover and appreciate their uniqueness as well as the work involved in handcrafting these tiles one by one.

Ten years later, the cement-tile-making industry in Malta and this lost trend have regained momentum, and Stephanie is both flattered and honoured that local students and corporate entities approach her to develop collaborations.

“It gives me great pleasure because I have worked hard to keep this part of our interior décor tradition alive,” she says, adding that she has even been consulted by one of the leading tile producers on the countless patterns they could make.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 39

ARTYFACTS

“SINCE I COULDN’T BRING THE TILES BACK TO THE FLOORS, I THOUGHT OF BRINGING THEIR PATTERNS ONTO WALLS, INTO KITCHENS, ON DESKS, IN DINING ROOMS AND ON TABLES, AND ONTO OBJECTS OF EVERYDAY LIFE” In fact, throughout her 10-year journey, Stephanie has documented and developed over 250 tile patterns, which have proven to be useful and a true inspiration.

“But I still wasn’t happy with my efforts. I had a lot of material and also a lot of passion. I wanted more people to share in my enthusiasm. Since I couldn’t bring the tiles back to the floors, I thought of bringing their patterns onto walls, into kitchens, on desks, in dining rooms and on tables, and onto objects of everyday life. This prompted me to create my own line of products.”

Today, Stephanie has commercialised her works of art, adapted for several everyday products. Her Malta Tile Pattern Collection has blossomed into several products from ink drawings and prints, to ceramic mugs, cork coasters and placemats to aprons, magnets and greeting cards.

And along with the tiles, Stephanie also wanted to revive an appreciation for Maltese doors; their various colours, the woodwork and ironwork, their doorknobs and knockers. In 2011, she launched a series of original works, where she focused solely on these – each [relatively small] ink drawing required some 40 hours of her time as she worked tirelessly and meticulously to bring these local gems to the forefront of everyone’s attention. She wanted people to look closer.

“Now, I also want to reach more people both locally and abroad as that’s my personal way of promoting my country, and yes, of course I also want to sell more because unless I do, I can neither pay my bills nor create more work.

“Being self-employed is not easy, let alone being a selfemployed artist in such a niche market on a small island,” she points out. It takes courage and willpower.

From the outset, people around her started advising her to be realistic, to stop dreaming and to find a real 40 ∫ Pink December 2018

steady job. Although these comments were honest, this is not what Stephanie wanted to hear. Anyone venturing into this world would be eager to hear words of encouragement.

“It is hard for people to fully understand the artist’s vision and believe in it,” she acknowledges. But this did not break her spirit and determination. She gave the dream her full commitment, with a lot of sacrifices that sometimes left her feeling alone, but at least true to herself.

“Nothing comes easy, but if you work hard enough and take solid steps forward, the seeds will eventually take root,” she maintains, thanking her followers, who support her and other local artisans.

“We cannot work without the support to grow our business, which is, ultimately, preserving our heritage and Maltese talent. Artisans require more practical support measures to keep their businesses alive in a world where everything is mass-produced, and handmade items aren’t always financially sustainable,” Stephanie stresses.

She is also concerned about the lack of awareness of ethics and copyright among students and professionals alike, as well as the public. More institutional work needs to be done to minimise the risks for local artisans.

And of course, it does not stop there. Stephanie has more ambitious plans for her brand and artwork.

“As I ponder today on my 10-year story and all that I have worked for, my one thought is: don’t stop dreaming as long as you’re willing to work for it. And don’t forget to support local this Christmas!”

Stephanie Borg’s online shop includes over 365 products. www.stephanieborg.com

WOMANKIND

THE QUEEN OF SPEED

Jacqueline Auriol was the only woman test pilot in the world in her day.

MARY GALEA DEBONO finds that a horrifying plane accident not only failed to destroy her confidence in flying, but it had actually strengthened her will to reach new heights.

O

ne day in 1946 at a luncheon given at the Elysée Palace by her father-in-law the President of France, Jacqueline Auriol found herself sitting at table next to Colonel Pierre Pouyard, a renowned war pilot.

The conversation was all about her love for racing cars and ‘speed’ and the veteran pilot suggested that she and her husband Paul might enjoy flying.

They took up his proposal, and before long, both found themselves introduced to Jacques André, a wellknown instructor at the Saint-Cyr aeroclub. In early 1948, she got her pilot’s licence.

Jacqueline confessed that during the first lesson, which was mostly theoretical, she had been less enthusiastic about aviation than her husband, but once she started flying, it immediately turned into a passion.

It was not just the freedom that flying at speed gave her; nor just the new perspective of the French landscape seen from high above; the roar of the

engine; the intimacy with the plane and its control panel that gave her a sense of well-being and contentment.

She also found great satisfaction in being in this masculine world of pilots, engineers, navigators, technicians and mechanics.

But there was another and more pertinent reason why flying became so important for Jacqueline; it was – as Graham Greene said about writing novels – “a way of escape”. As the daughter-in-law of the socialist

an easy target. She was accused of all sorts of wrong behaviour.

For Jacqueline and Paul, such criticism, aimed chiefly to harm the reputation of the President, became their nightmare. To contain the intended damage, they cut down drastically on their official social commitments. Jacqueline also felt the need to prove herself.

“I wanted to be valued for myself, not for my position as the President’s daughter-in-law, not for my clothes or my looks,” she wrote in her autobiography, I Live to Fly. Jacqueline was born in 1917 at Challans near Nantes. When she was eight, she was sent to a convent school where the rigid discipline imposed by the nuns, which had made her feel more like she was in a prison than in a learning institution, put an end to a carefree, happy childhood. It was only an attack of appendicitis that partially freed her from her captivity. When she got better, her mother, realising how unhappy she had been, arranged for her to attend school as a day pupil.

The death of her father in 1931 permanently relieved her from convent life. To continue her studies, her mother settled her in an apartment in the Boulevard Saint Germaine in Paris with her aunt as a chaperone – an arrangement that agreed admirably with Jacqueline’s sense of freedom. It was four years later that she met Paul Auriol, who, soon afterwards, asked her to marry him.

At first, both parents were against the marriage not because they came from opposite political camps, but because they felt that Paul and Jacqueline, both very young, had no

“SHE ALSO FOUND GREAT SATISFACTION IN BEING IN THIS MASCULINE WORLD OF PILOTS, ENGINEERS, NAVIGATORS, TECHNICIANS AND MECHANICS” President Vincent Auriol, she had been finding herself increasingly the victim of nasty gossip coming from the opposite political camp. The fact that she was beautiful, always elegantly dressed in clothes provided by the couturiers and photographed at frequent social functions, made her

income to support themselves. It was only with the threat of war looming on the horizon that the parents put aside their reluctance and agreed to help them financially.

The war years were difficult for everyone, but doubly so for the Auriol family. Since Auriol had been one of Pink December 2018 ∫ 43

WOMANKIND those who had voted against giving full powers to Maréchal Petain after the capitulation of France in 1940, their situation became difficult and complicated; they had to contend with two enemies – the Vichy regime and the German gestapo.

Paul was serving on the Alpine front and Jacqueline went through long periods without hearing any news from him. After the birth of their first son, she was living on her mother’s country estate at Challans.

Partly to be nearer to her husband and partly to try and make some sense of the situation, she decided to travel south to Muret, a small town where her father-in-law was mayor.

It was at La Bordette, the Auriol family home, that she had the opportunity of meeting many of the leading personalities who were later to play a pivotal role in post-war French political life.

In September 14, 1940, Auriol was arrested and imprisoned, but was later released and kept under house arrest when he became desperately ill. Alerted by one of the guards that the whole family was about to be arrested, all of them, including Paul, who later joined the

helping her mother-in-law with the alterations, decoration and organisation of the new residence and as hostess at official events. It was then that the slander attacks began.

After obtaining her private pilot’s licence Jacqueline’s ambition was to become a professional military pilot. One of the qualifications she needed to achieve her aim was to learn aerobatics, but this did not put her off. She was naturally intrepid; possessed physical stamina and was ready to embrace any challenge.

She was introduced to Raymond Guillaume, a pilot renowned in this field. He agreed to take her on a trial flight, which immediately convinced him that she “had the guts for it”. A calm, patient and inspiring instructor, Guillaume was to play an important role in her life.

“SHE WAS NATURALLY INTREPID; POSSESSED PHYSICAL STAMINA AND WAS READY TO EMBRACE ANY CHALLENGE” Resistance movement, managed to escape just in time, Jacqueline being the last one to leave. Armed with new identity and ration cards, she left with her two boys – a second son was born in 1940 – and spent the rest of the war years fleeing across France.

Already an esteemed politician before the war, after the liberation, Auriol occupied several high positions and was later voted President of France. The family moved to the presidential palace, where Jacqueline played an active role,

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In 1949, once again at an official luncheon, the Air Minister suggested she gave her first aerobatics display at Auxerre.

Two months of intense training with Guillaume prepared her for this exhibition.

Satisfied with her performance and the well-deserved accolade that she received after its execution, Jacqueline felt she had achieved what she had set out to do.

Unfortunately, however, it was a shortlived satisfaction. After the display, she joined her family on holiday, but she had to leave a few days later to join three other pilots, among them Guillaume, to test the prototype of an amphibian plane.

This time, she was not so lucky; the plane crashed on landing in the river Seine, and with the impact, she smashed her face against the steel of the instruments panel. It was Guillaume who picked her up semi-conscious from the water.

The first thing she was aware of was that she had lost all her teeth. But the injuries were also life threatening; she had a haemorrhage resulting from three

fractures of the skull; the back of her eye sockets were open and her eyeballs had fallen inwards; her jaw bones were crushed; she had no nose; both collar bones and some of her ribs were broken; one arm was almost torn off.

She survived, but it took over two years, a long series of operations on her eyes and 16 of plastic surgery by the best American plastic surgeon of the moment to reconstruct her face, which was sufficiently restored, but was no longer her own.

For two months, a plaster cast had been placed on her head and her whole face encased in a helmet. It was a long time before her two boys were allowed to see her, yet the only question she asked her husband was: “Will I be able to fly?”

One day, after her return back home from hospital, Guillaume paid her a visit and suggested going for a drive. Her joy knew no bounds when she realised that they were heading for an airfield. Leading her to a parked plane, he told her to get in. He then climbed next to her, invited her to take the controls and they took off.

It was this short flight that convinced her more than anything else that she had to get better and go back to what she liked

doing best. Guillaume had saved her life both “physically and morally” Not only did the accident fail to destroy her confidence in flying, but it had also strengthened her will to reach new heights. While undergoing treatment in the US, she trained in flying helicopters, and in 1952, she obtained the American helicopter pilots’ licence. Mastery of the air had become her aim and her dream was to be one of the pilots at the famous Flight Test Centre at Brétigny.

“AS THE FIRST WOMAN ASPIRING TO BE A TEST PILOT IT TOOK SOME TIME FOR EVERYONE AT THE CENTRE TO ADJUST TO THIS NEW REALITY, BUT IT WAS NOT LONG BEFORE SHE COULD SAY: ‘THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT I AM A WOMAN’” It was a wild dream, but she was determined to make it come true. As the first woman aspiring to be a test pilot it took some time for everyone at the centre to adjust to this new reality, but it was not long before she could say: “They have forgotten that I am a woman.”

Jacqueline appreciated the camaraderie and acceptance and felt encouraged by it. It was hard to start studying again at the age of 35, but after eight months of self-imposed isolation and hard work and a further eight months of practice, she passed her exams, becoming the only woman test pilot in the world.

While still undergoing surgery in New York, Jacqueline met General Lechère, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, and she expressed her wish to fly the newly acquired English jet planes, the Vampires, to set a new speed record. This she managed to do several times. Her rival in this field was the American Jacqueline Cochran, the only other contemporary woman pilot set on breaking speed records.

Jacqueline was also one of a dozen pilots in France who had crossed the sound barrier. The first time she tried was in 1953. Crossing the sound barrier was then not as easy as it is nowadays with modern jets. It was on one of these trials in October 1956, that she experienced what she describes as her “first death”.

She was doing a practice flight in a Mystère IV jet before the actual display in Munich the following day when something went wrong and her plane went into a tailspin. With her mask detached, in complete darkness, though not yet totally unconscious, she could not hear the instructions from the ground. But she suddenly remembered a conversation she had had with someone who had had the same experience. She managed to right the plane and land safely; “a miracle” she hesitates to add.

During those few seconds when she was unconscious, she felt sure she was going to die, but was totally withdrawn from life; nothing mattered anymore. “I realised that I believed in a beyond, whereas I thought I was no longer a believer… I learnt more about myself in two or three minutes than in the course of my whole life.”

Jacqueline and Paul divorced in 1967, but they remarried in 1987. ‘The Queen of Speed’ died in February, 2000.

FASHIONSTORY

Gemma Monclús

Virginia Ibañez

Fashion’s fairy godmothers ANNA MARIE GALEA has a girly chat with Spanish Gemma Monclús and Virginia Ibañez about how La Agencia Secreta was born and how we can now all get our hands on that one-off coveted designer luxury piece.

A

match made in shopper heaven, Gemma Monclús from FAB Malta and Virginia Ibañez of La Agencia Secreta first crossed paths when Gemma was desperately looking for a Céline alphabet necklace which was sold out everywhere.

After hearing a famous Spanish influencer mention La Agencia Secreta, she did some digging of her own and found out that this very special company specialised in sourcing hard-to-find designer pieces. After Virginia managed to procure the desired piece, not only was a friendship born, but Gemma decided that she would bring this much-needed service to our own islands.

“The experience I had with La Agencia Secreta was so great that I knew straight away that I wanted to bring it to Malta,” Gemma starts. “When I first moved here almost two years ago, I was surprised by how little was offered when it came to luxury brands.

“With a country that is developing at such a fast pace, the need for luxury shopping will highly increase in the next few years and we feel that we have collaborated just in time to cater to this demand.

“Working with Virginia has been a wonderful experience. Her passion for always delivering the best service to her clients and her smile when she makes them happy because she was able to secure the

bag of their dreams really inspires me.

This past October, we celebrated the launch of the Concierge Luxury Shopping Experience Service in Malta, and that was one day we will both remember forever.

After speaking with the attendees, we were reassured that there was a gap in the market and we plan to work towards making our clients extremely happy and satisfied with our services.”

Founded in April 2009, Virginia has seen her company go from strength to strength in a very short time thanks to the growing demand for luxury goods: “At the beginning, it was just an idea because I was working in the advertising business, but later on, I decided to go ahead and run my own company. The purpose of Pink December 2018 ∫ 47

FASHIONSTORY

La Agencia Secreta is to source luxury items for those people who do not live near the stores, or those who simply don’t like to go shopping.

“When I first started out, e-commerce was not so developed, and luxury products were not very accessible to all audiences. In addition to this, the personal service in luxury stores was not particularly warm. Over the years, e-commerce has developed a lot, however, not everything can be bought through the internet and this is where we step in.”

With an interesting cache of stories to tell from her 10-year tenure as luxury fairy godmother even to celebrities, Virginia recounts some of her particularly challenging finds: “Every single request comes with its own set of hurdles, however, off the top of my head I can think of at least two stories. For example, once an Australian client of ours wanted a particular fur stole from Lanvin; the thing was that literally only two of these existed in the entire world. Eventually, we were able to find one of them in Paris and we sent it straight to Australia.

“Another client wanted a Chanel leather jacket of which only one size 36 had been produced. Through the network I have built over the last decade, I was able to find one in Boston and we were able to send it to our client in Switzerland.”

It’s not the first time she’d travel long haul to Argentina to pick up an Hermès bag from the shop and return home straight away – all in a day’s work.

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“ONCE AN AUSTRALIAN CLIENT OF OURS WANTED A PARTICULAR FUR STOLE FROM LANVIN; THE THING WAS THAT LITERALLY ONLY TWO OF THESE EXISTED IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. EVENTUALLY, WE WERE ABLE TO FIND ONE OF THEM IN PARIS AND WE SENT IT STRAIGHT TO AUSTRALIA”

“Of course, while we specialise in the rare and exotic, we also find a lot of smaller pieces for clients. All of them are special and interesting to us.”

So how will it work for the Maltese market? “The process is just so easy and that’s one of the main reasons why I knew it was going to be a great success in Malta. Any requests need to be sent to info@fabmalta.com. We will work our magic to source the item and we will deliver it to the client’s doorstep in Malta.

“Our goal is to provide a luxury experience for our clients and for that reason, we focus on building strong relationships with them. In 2019, we are planning on taking some of our best clients to Spain to experience the origins of La Agencia Secreta and also to visit some of the most famous luxury boutiques. Building experiences for our clients and sharing them is our goal.”

With over 21,400 followers and counting, it’s crystal clear that Virginia has not only helped create unforgettable moments for her clients, but also that passion is at the very heart of La Agencia Secreta’s ethos: “The company was born to give excellent customer service and we like to create a very special relationship with our customers,” Virginia says.

“Sometimes, they describe our job as ‘magical’; or they tell me things like ‘you are my fairy godmother’. There’s great satisfaction to be had when we contact a client to tell him or her that we have found what they were looking for; it’s an enchanted moment and we live to have this connection with our clients.”

For more information, check out Instagram @fab_malta; Facebook @fabmalta

SHOWSTOPPER

A TOUCH OF FESTIVE ADD A SCINTILLA OF SHINE IN ALL YOUR OUTFITS THIS SEASON. Photography Andre Gialanze Styling Marisa Grima [marisagrima.com] Hair Elexia Borg from Gloss, San Gwann, using Wella Professionals Make-up Jennifer Dimech Model Michela @ Supernova MM

Dress, €279, Pedro del Hierro ∫ shoes, €35.99, NOOS ∫ suitcase, €185, Samsonite ∫ socks, stylist’s own.

52 ∫ Pink December 2018

SHOWSTOPPER Shirt, €39.99; trousers, €49.99; jacket, €59.99, all NOOS ∫ Etnia Barcelona sunglasses, €175, O’hea Opticians.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 53

SHOWSTOPPER Jacket, €329; trousers, €59.99, both Pedro del Hierro ∫ bralet, €39.99, women’secret.

54 ∫ Pink December 2018

SHOWSTOPPER Cardigan, €89.99, Cortefiel ∫ bodysuit [and scarf], €35.99, women’secret ∫ bag, €25.99; boots, €35.99, both Orsay ∫ Tom Ford sunglasses, €280, O’hea Opticians ∫ tights, stylist’s own.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 55

SHOWSTOPPER Top, €59.99; skirt, €29.99; boots, €75.99, all NOOS ∫ bag, €49.99, Cortefiel ∫ suitcase, €495, Samsonite.

56 ∫ Pink December 2018

SHOWSTOPPER Coat, €239; jacket, €99.99; top, €119.99; trousers, €99.99, all Gerry Weber ∫ suitcase, €495, Samsonite.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 57

SHOWSTOPPER Necklace, €239; earrings, €69, both Uno de 50 ∫ cardigan, €89.99, Cortefiel.

58 ∫ Pink December 2018

SHOWSTOPPER Top, €12.99; skirt, €27.99; boots, €35.99; earrings, €9.99, all Orsay ∫ bag, €10.49, NOOS.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 59

THE WRITING ON THE DRESS Photography Sean Mallia

62 ∫ Pink December 2018

FASHIONSTORY Designer James Dimech thought “big, flowing and glamourous” when he conceived a dress out of the pages of this magazine for the opening of The Pink Fashion Show. He spent many a sleepless night cutting, pleating, sticking, sewing and gluing everything by hand – driven by a firm belief in sustainable fashion and in what can be done with simple resources when creativity is involved.

W

hat were your thoughts when Pink approached you to design a dress out of the pages of the magazine for its 5th anniversary fashion show? Did you immediately agree?

Or did you have reservations about the whole thing? Well, when I was

approached with the idea, I was still recovering the energy I had invested in creating my White Paper Star collection.

Being self-employed, I had a bit of a backlog with my interior design works.

However, I was thrilled and immediately said yes, without any second thoughts…

But that is me after all. Being offered to showcase my passion for paper fashion is an opportunity I could never miss.

Once you decided to go for it, did you know exactly what you wanted to create, or was it a fluid process that took shape with time? The only thing I

had in mind was BIG! I thought that since it was going to be just one garment, it needed to be big – but big as in wow – something to remember.

What was the hardest and most stressful part of the creation? This may

sound strange, but the day I was given a bunch of old issues of Pink to work with was the most stressful. Before then, I was planning to use mostly pages with black and white text and the colourful printed pages as trimmings, but I did not realise that Pink is based more on beautiful editorials with great photo shoots, rather than long boring articles. So, I had to rethink the whole concept, moving away from the idea of black and white. I guess that was pretty stressful as it took me days flipping through pages, sorting out from where I could do my origami.

It’s not the first time you’ve worked with paper. This is what you do. But what was different for the Pink dress?

I’ve worked with a vast variety of paper used for printing. But Pink is printed on fine coated paper and it was the first time I used this. Let’s say it’s less foldable than thicker non-coated paper. This meant I discarded some of the origami ideas I had in mind and opted for something different. And that was the second stressful part of the venture. I needed to act fast as time was pressing.

From 300 magazines, I selected pages by colour – back and front – and by images picturing mainly faces. Some were used for paper tessellation, mounted on the bodice [for the glamorous part], and others – lots of others – were used for a layered long tail [the flowing part]. As for the big part, I shredded a bunch of black/white and red printed pages. By then, I had it all sorted in my mind but never realised I would need to fold that much… until almost the last minute, in fact.

Can you sum it up in numbers? Hours of work? Sleepless nights? Help from family members? Pages? Magazines?

Folds? For the tail, the craziest challenge,

I used 12 rows of double reverse pleats made out from 600 cut-outs measuring 14 x 14cm, layered with a 1cm overlap to

“BY THEN, I HAD IT ALL SORTED IN MY MIND BUT NEVER REALISED I WOULD NEED TO FOLD THAT MUCH… UNTIL ALMOST THE LAST MINUTE, IN FACT”

What did you want to achieve in this dress – the look, the feel, the statement? And what was your inspiration? Working on my previous

collection helped a lot. I gained experience on paper-folding techniques and the mounting of the same in a wearable way. However, I never like to repeat myself in my work, so for the Pink dress, I wanted to go to another level.

Although I had a very good idea of the style of dress, it took me a while to sort out the best folding technique to use.

I opted for different forms of origami, blended together on one piece to create a statement. From the brief I was given, I knew a model was going to open The Pink Fashion Show wearing the paper dress, so the same three words kept coming up – big, flowing, glamorous. That had to be my final goal.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 63

FASHIONSTORY create movement. These were fixed by hand with stitching and hot glue. It was a long and fluid process that was likely to change during the actual mounting.

The short A-line dress is covered with 300 origami pieces made from 7 x 7cm cut-outs folded into 3 x 3cm, with a selection of dominant colours like blues and yellows creating a base tessellation.

This amounted to around 100 of the last two issues of Pink. From a selection of black and white strips cut from the editorial page, 48 pieces of triangular folds created a collar falling on the back.

The problem with these garments is that you can never calculate how many folded papers you will be using in the end, so I used some help from my sister and a very close friend to have some pre-folds done in advance. But since the pattern kept evolving during the actual mounting, I kept running out of folds until almost the last minute.

I cannot really sum up the number of hours I spent on this because, together with the Pink dress, I was working on another interesting project and all this happened after working hours – the only way to keep up with things and not disappoint my clients. I can say that for the past two months, I was lucky to sleep for four hours a night.

How was it dressing digital influencer Sarah Zerafa? Sarah is a natural-born

fashionista. She carries anything she wears in a special way. I was impressed when, together with photographer Kurt Paris, we did the shoot for the invitations to The Pink Fashion Show. At the time, the dress was not yet ready, so we shot close-ups of the upper body and was I pretty nervous about it. But when Sarah put on the dress and started posing in front of the camera, I was amazed at the result. That day, I got the boost I was waiting for and it gave me the strength to finish off the dress in the best way possible.

Did you have fears on the day of the show about how it would all work out and go down with the audience?

The dress is delicate so that must have added to the nerves, right? My main

concern with paper dresses is always the handling; safe delivery to the venue amounts to a lot of pressure. Once that mission was accomplished, the second 64 ∫ Pink December 2018

“THE NEWS IS THAT MY PAPER PIECES ARE ONLY THE START OF A JOURNEY AND MY SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE FASHION KEEPS ON EVOLVING. VERY SOON, I WILL BE LAUNCHING THE NEXT STEP AFTER THE PAPER DRESS. AND THIS TIME, IT IS VERY WEARABLE” main concern was to keep the dress safe backstage and to avoid any last-minute unfortunate accidents [like someone stepping on the tail]. Then, my greatest fear was whether the tail would move as planned. What if it got stuck? So many questions… I kept my fingers crossed that none of that would happen.

The only thing I honestly did not think about was the reaction of the audience.

This turned out to be a good thing because, afterwards, I was overwhelmed with the positive feedback. Only then did I say to myself: it was worth the effort.

Hard work pays.

How would you describe your participation in The Pink Fashion Show and the overall experience? I admit I did

not have any particular expectations when I decided to participate, apart from showcasing a new work this time as part

of a theme chosen for the 5th anniversary of the show. But I must say I don’t regret one bit of it.

Working with people who put so much heart into organising and coordinating such an event is stimulating. Being approached by people after the fashion show to congratulate me and ask me what’s next, eager to see more of my paper fashion, gave me great satisfaction.

And then, the following day, I had the most unexpected surprise, seeing my dress published on the front page of Times of Malta. Together with all the positive feedback on social media, that was the cherry on the cake, so thank you, Pink, for believing in me.

You also made some additions for the photo shoot in this issue… Yes, it sounds

crazy, I know. For the cover, I thought I should replace the word ‘flowing’ with

‘statuesque’. So, the night before the shoot, I folded 200 more pieces of magazine paper to add to the bottom of the tail. I guess it was a good move…

Eco-friendliness is a major part of what you do, and recycling is the name of the game. Do you think these concepts are not yet appreciated and taken on board enough by others in Malta? I’ve been

While it is the height of creativity and good to design a dress out of recycled material, what does it feel like to know that the end result is so delicate, possibly not wearable in the everyday sense of the word and, therefore, after all that workmanship, something that is likely not to last?

Do you ever wonder why you invest so much time in this? I am conscious

following and studying eco and sustainable fashion for the past three years now. I participate in forums on the web with people from all over the world to keep updated on the matter as much as possible and, yes, I think we are far behind here. We made a big improvement and created awareness on the importance of separating our rubbish, but only a few of us are aware of what is happening with the trash we are recycling.

Eco-fashion is the future in this industry, and even if it will take some time to be acknowledged here in Malta, I’m positive more and more people will start appreciating it. The key is more information on what is coming out of our household bins filled with recyclable waste.

that a dress made out of raw recyclable materials is not something you can wear for an evening out, or a special occasion, but I see it as a piece of art.

Having said that, it doesn’t mean I don’t feel bad when I have to dismantle a garment from a mannequin to make space for a new one. On the other hand, having my work published on magazines and on the net is the best way to keep them alive. Looking back at the photos and seeing the number of people from all over the world who liked them and commented on social media about their favourite dress gives me great satisfaction.

The news is that my paper pieces are only the start of a journey and my search for sustainable fashion keeps on evolving.

Very soon, I will be launching the next step after the paper dress. And this time, it is very wearable.

By day, people will often find you feeding horses at the Kitchen Garden in Attard. How do these two very different worlds of yours marry… or collide? My day job is

interior design and I’m pretty busy with that actually. But yes, I do have a twice daily commitment at The President’s Kitchen Garden. My passion for animals requires some sacrifice as I have to plan my day around them, but I thank God I have managed it for the past 10 years and hope to keep on doing it because, together with my animals, we give joy to kids and, for me, that is as rewarding as creating a paper dress.

What’s up next for 2019? It’s going to be my year. That is how I’m referring to 2019. It’s not going to be easy, but I’m working hard to make it happen.

It will be about the evolution of my sustainable fashion to the next level.

Wish me luck!

Pink December 2018 ∫ 65

The New Renault Captur Easy Life Range Europe’s Best-Selling Urban Crossover The Captur now features three variants to choose from, being Play, Iconic, or the optimum GT Line. Whilst the New Captur keeps the essentials responsible for its success, the Easy Life Personalization possibilities have been extended with two new body colours – meaning you can now choose from over 30 different colour combinations!

For a Limited Time: Enjoy either a Free Weekend Break or Dash Cam with your New Captur!

Visit the Auto Sales Ltd – Kind’s Renault showroom in Lija, Malta or Xewkija, Gozo for further information.

www.autosales.com.mt

THEUNIFORM Photography Mark Soler

Alina Anisimova

’T

die. If you love it, make the most of it this winter; there is probably nothing you can’t get your hands on decked out in this print.

Next is the humble check – such a prominent player this winter. From fun, clueless vibes to heritage tweed patterns, head-to-toe or even just a hint, check it out. This is a main trend for the men too as seen at The Pink Fashion Show on both Marco Parascandalo and Robert Agius, who wore checks in totally different but equally fabulous manners.

ala Roberta Caruana Stiv

Tamara Webb

Marco Parascandalo

Robert Agius

Fashion blogger and stylist CAROLINE PARIS makes her way through a maze of patterns as she chronicles the top trends off the beaten catwalk at The Pink Fashion Show. is the season of prints and pattern is what they may say when they look at Christmas 2018. The abundance is almost staggering and it’s great to see the different ways that people are including prints in their outfits.

Leading the print pack is the animal pattern, and it would seem that guests at The Pink Fashion Show favoured leopard above all. Leopard print has always been one of those divisive items that some love while others simply love to hate. But it also seems to be a trend that will never

va Victoria Rotchenko

t Veronica Grech San

Peter Carbonaro and Carina Camilleri

Caroline Paris

Maria Borg

Brian Grech

IN PRINT

Last season, I remarked that it was great to see some ladies opting for trouser suits and I’m ecstatic to note that the vibe has carried on. Maria Borg in particular looks amazing in a total off-white Marina Rinaldi version and I also love that she wore a lighter colour in November rather than opting for the general black.

For those who can, come rain or shine, the crop top remains a firm favourite, and worn here by Alina Anisimova and Tamara Webb, it does look inspirational.

Tamara paired it with a leopard-print tuxedo suit, ultimately rendering the look elegant, while Alina went for a totally sporty vibe by adding nothing less than cycling shorts, which, believe it or not, are actually a major trend this year… albeit not for the shrinking violets.

Other worthy mentions are hair buns, slits, colour, statement bags [the more logos the better] and trainers [do I hear a whoop from our feet ladies?!].

Until the next edition…

Pink December 2018 ∫ 67

PINK@THEPARTY The Pink Fashion Show, a Times of Malta event, was recently held at Intercontinental Arena in St Julian’s.

The fifth anniversary of the sought-after catwalk saw the participation of Charles & Keith, Cortefiel, Gerry Weber, Oltre & Furla, Lilly Mae, Noos, O’hea Opticians, Orsay, Pedro del Hierro, Samsonite and Women’secret.

Photography Jonathan Borg, Justin Ciappara, Matthew Mirabelli, Mark Soler

Photography Bernard Polidano

Pink December 2018 ∫ 69

SAMSONITE

NOOS

Behind the scenes and more… Photography Sean Mallia

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Pink December 2018 ∫ 71

SAMSONITE

GERRY WEBER

SAMSONITE

CORTEFIEL

CHARLES & KEITH

72 ∫ Pink December 2018

ORSAY

SAMSONITE

LILLY MAE

OLTRE & FURLA

Pink December 2018 ∫ 73

WOMEN’SECRET

SAMSONITE

PEDRO DEL HIERRO

O’HEA OPTICIANS

The Pink Fashion Show was supported by Air Malta, Campari, Costa Coffee, GasanZammit, Idun Minerals, Kinnie, Mazda, Nina Ricci, Rummo and UNO de 50. Models’ hair was by Wella Professionals, with the collaboration of Cutting Edge, D Salon, Gloss, Head & Jam and Unistyler hairstylists, and make-up was by Guerlain.

74 ∫ Pink December 2018

In the audience and at the after-party‌

Pink December 2018 âˆŤ 75

THINKPi HealH, Beau, evens & Hins

1 FESTIVE VIBES

1

2 3

So, here it is! Christmas season tips in a capsule: from where to party to gift ideas, and the most important present you could give to anyone – peace of mind and tranquillity.

Hilton’s festive menus offer something for everyone, from dining with family on Christmas eve at Oceana to enjoying The Fire&ice Gala Dinner at Portomaso on new Year’s eve. Beside the festive menus, the Hilton is also offering a variety of party options. start off the festive season by enjoying this year’s office party in one of the exclusive settings at the Hilton Malta: from cocktail parties in the Quarterdeck Bar to exclusive formal meals in the Portomaso suite and lavish authentic Thai dinners at the Blue elephant Restaurant. and if you’re looking for something different, the White and silver event on December 14 in the spinola suite is the perfect choice for small groups and get-togethers to experience an array of tastes and textures, accompanied by live entertainment throughout.

For more information, visit the Hilton Malta Facebook page, or send an e-mail to sales.malta@hilton.com

2 FOR THE PERFECT PRESENT Open daily until Christmas, Debenhams is your one-stop shop for perfect presents for every budget and everyone on your list. Gift ideas for him and her include grooming kits, skincare products, fragrance box sets, home décor and the latest fashion styles from Dune, Quiz, Only, selected and Jack & Jones. Debenham’s retro sweets and clever tech gadgets make spectacular stocking fillers, and let’s not forget Debenhams’ bestsellers… Hampers, chocolates and gourmet goodies are sure to delight your foodie friends. shop Debenhams, The Point and Paola, for gifts even santa would be proud of.

3 RELAX WITH SAFFRON

4 5 6

7

4 SCANDAL WITH A CAPITAL S

7 GLOWING, SPOTLESS & LUMINOUS

6 PEACE OF MIND

From the pioneer in natural products, comes the multi-awarded 15 per cent super vitamin C brightening serum to reduce all signs of premature ageing and fatigue for spotless, luminous skin. This unique bi-phase formula is half wild rose oil and 15 per cent super vitamin C for the ultimate brightening and evening skin tone, and half is a dark spot reduction complex to target spots and hyper-pigmentation. Just shake well to mix the two layers before applying to your face. The Wild Rose collection from Korres can be found in all Remedies Pharmacies and other leading pharmacies and perfumeries. Find Korres Malta on Facebook and instagram.

Have you ever been at a busy shopping mall or out and about and lost sight of your child? Worry no more! We’ve got you all covered with the new GO Connect Kids Device – a comfortable, easy-to-use watch with a handy GPs tracker that shows your kids’ real-time location, a twoway calling system, using a GO sim Card, an instant sOs button that works anywhere in the world, and so much more!

This device retails at €99.99, but GO’s Home Pack or Freedom Plans customers can enjoy it for just €29.99 [excluding the €6.99 monthly subscription]. Give your loved ones peace of mind this Christmas!

[Terms and Conditions apply.]

78 ∫ Pink December 2018

Research has shown saffron to be effective at treating depression and anxiety for adults. viridian nutrition combines saffron flowers with marigold flowers for a healing and relaxing herbal remedy. The supplement may include antiinflammatory, anticonvulsant benefits as well as preventing oxidative damage and enhanced learning and memory capacity. learn more about viridian nutrition from Browns Pharmacy [2142 2999]; www.brownspharmacy.eu

Jean Paul Gaultier presents scandal by night, available at Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery. it’s scandal with a capital s. scandal by night is the friend of the night; one you meet in the Paris of Jean Paul Gaultier. it’s the scent of freedom. scandal is still there with its honey, but now it’s partying with its intoxicating tuberose, sandalwood and tonka bean for an even more addictive blend.

5 DESIRE ON FIRE a wildly provocative – and wildly untamed – floral that bottles the essence of an orgasm, Pure Xs for Her is an explosion of the senses brought within reach with a distinctive Paco Rabanne flair.

Feel the heat with ylang-ylang. With a daring popcorn bite, desire goes wild, while musk and milkwood notes ignite the skin and set the senses alight. Paco Rabanne’s Pure Xs for Her is available from Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery.

BEAUTYPARLOUR

and I love the depth that it gives to it.

The bottle is also a real work of art. It is such a beautiful object that you can keep on your nightstand. And I love travelling with it; it’s like a keepsake that smells like home.

How was it to work with French film director, photographer and art director Stéphanie Di Giusto? I was really excited to

work with her. I loved her film, La danseuse.

She is very passionate and creative; she is a true storyteller. She cares very much about the aesthetic of the images, but also about the feeling that is conveyed by the aesthetic through the actor.

And how did you feel about working with fashion and portrait photographer Lachlan Bailey? I love Lachlan; we’ve

THAT WOMAN OF CHARACTER

worked together before. He makes me feel so comfortable. He has such a positive attitude that it’s infectious. His pictures are so beautiful too. What I love the most about working with him is that he does care about what I think, so it always feels like a real collaboration.

Do you have any anecdotes about the shoot? Yes! It was very dirty, very windy,

A natural talent, with a striking presence, Haley Bennett is quickly establishing herself as one of Hollywood’s most dynamic actresses.

She is also the new face of Chloé – an elegant woman with a bohemian spirit, just like the brand she represents. Here’s what she thinks about the fragrance and the fashion…

and very hot! But we all made the most of it and the crew was fantastic. Also, I loved the car I drive in the film. The woman in the ad is strong-willed and I liked being the one portraying that woman of character.

H

What does perfume mean to you in general? Do you have any memories related to fragrance? A favourite scent?

ow do you feel about being the new face of Chloé? I am

so excited and honoured to be the new face of Chloé eau de parfum. I have fallen in love with this brand and everything that it represents.

I feel very connected to the Chloé universe and I am happy to be a part of this success story.

What does Chloé represent to you?

Chloé represents femininity and freedom.

It has always celebrated a strong woman, who is determined and isn’t about showing off. The clothes are comfortable, and yet extremely elegant and chic. I think that is what women need: to feel beautiful without being constricted in their clothes. Chloé is the brand of an elegant woman with a bohemian spirit.

What do you like the most about Chloé?

It’s the romance of the brand and of the designs. There is a certain effortlessness and timelessness about the clothes and about the fragrance too that I really love.

Fragrance is very important to me. I love the nostalgia of fragrance. When I smell

“I THINK THAT IS WHAT WOMEN NEED: TO FEEL BEAUTIFUL WITHOUT BEING CONSTRICTED IN THEIR CLOTHES” And what do you like about the Chloé eau de parfum? It’s fresh and romantic

at the same time. To me, Chloé eau de parfum really captured the heart of roses.

It’s interesting because even though the scent of rose can be a little old fashioned in certain fragrances, there is a real modernity and freshness about Chloé eau de parfum. Also, as the fragrance evolves on my skin, the amber gradually appears,

an old fragrance, for instance one my mother may have worn, it’s amazing how it can transport me and suddenly make some memories rush back. I actually collect all of my mother’s old perfume bottles – the ones she used to wear. Perfume evokes memories; some memories are attached to scents and I think that’s what is most beautiful about perfume.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 81

PINKSHRINK

MOVE YOUR BODY [AND MIND] Dott. EDWARD CURMI has no doubt that a good dose of daily exercise is what can make all the difference in people’s lives.

If you’re contemplating any New Year’s resolutions, factor this in.

Here’s how and why,

L

ately, I was thinking about whether I could pinpoint an indispensable behaviour that has helped most of my clients throughout their everyday life struggles with mental health issues. After much deliberation, I came to the conclusion that most of my resilient clients all share one common factor that has allowed them to cope better in stressful situations.

They all do some form of exercise regularly. In fact, I have no doubt that a good dose of daily exercise is really what can make all the difference in people’s lives.

SOME BENEFITS Be it a mental illness, a break-up, the death of a loved one, or an adjustment period in life, exercise has the capacity to support and transform the mind and body. Here are a few of the many benefits that can explain why it is so essential: It’s natural Most people spend an awful lot of money on medicine with the hope of feeling better. When we decide to

exercise, the body has the natural ability to transform this energy into a number of feel-good hormones such as endorphins and enkephalins. These chemicals are often similar to ingredients found in medication that combat mental illness such as anxiety and depression. Therefore, a daily dose of exercise is a natural way to increase the chances of staying both physically and mentally fit.

Renewed energy Exercise allows us to fuel our body cells and function more efficiently as it increases the oxygen in our lungs. People who train rigorously often state that they go about their daily activities feeling less stressed and fatigued. This is no coincidence as exercise has the capacity to teach us better breathing skills and, most importantly, to increase our pain threshold through endurance. Such stamina allows us to feel more energetic and able to face the world.

Switching off As much as exercise may seem simple, it actually requires us to focus and concentrate on the task at hand. It has the power to distract us from our worries and, more often than not, it gives us the chance to explore new options, which we weren’t aware of before. Such advantages may often protect us from long-term dangers such as burnout as exercise is one way of distracting the mind from constant pressures of work.

Mood boost It is no secret that regular physical exercise lowers the chances of depression. Exercise is, in fact, the top behavioural treatment to combat psychiatric conditions.

Neurotransmitters like endorphins often kick in after 20 minutes of exercise and enhance our ability to cope better in life.

Exercise also lowers our level of cortisol, which is the stress hormone that is

“EXERCISE IS ONE WAY OF DISTRACTING THE MIND FROM CONSTANT PRESSURES OF WORK” Better longevity We all know that an inactive lifestyle may often contribute to chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, obesity and an earlier death. From a biological perspective, there are a number of studies that are showing that exercise has the capacity to lower high blood pressure, lower type 2 diabetes, maintain immune functioning, improve bone density, increase body mass and lower the chances of arthritis pain. There is no doubt that exercise can really change quality of life for the better.

related to mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Improved sleep patterns When we physically exert ourselves, we are likely to improve our circadian rhythm, which is linked to sleeping patterns. If these improve, then, in turn, so does our immune functioning while lowering the chances of risk of a heart attack.

However, sleep experts insist that, ideally, strenuous exercise should be done early on in the day or at around lunchtime and definitely not before we sleep.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 83

PINKSHRINK

“A 20-MINUTE WALK ENRICHES OUR HIPPOCAMPUS, THE BRAIN’S MEMORY CENTRE, WHICH, IN TURN, ENRICHES OUR MEMORY BOARD”

PINKPROMO

SORT IT OUT It’s time to think differently about your waste.

Here’s how.

Memory gain Today, volumes of research show that regular exercise enhances the neurons in the brain, allowing us to improve cognitive functioning.

According to neuroscientist Dr Wendy Suzuki, the latest studies are showing that exercise even has the capacity to improve mental health conditions such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. A 20-minute walk enriches our hippocampus, the brain’s memory centre, which, in turn, enriches our memory board.

Pushing to the limits One of the psychological advantages of doing exercise is that, more often than not, it gets us to do something that we never thought we could do. It allows us to achieve new goals and to build up a certain amount of stamina we never knew we had.

Promoting fun and socialising Exercise can actually give people a natural high, especially when they find the type that fits their personality. Unfortunately, people too often associate a workout with two negative words: pain and suffering. Exercise can be extremely rewarding as it can be good fun, but more importantly, it can improve or enhance our social life. Sharing a common goal like a sport may give us the opportunity to mingle with new people and build a sense of comradeship.

Improving self-confidence Constant exercise helps us feel better with ourselves. Ample studies have shown us how movement of the body improves our levels of confidence, self-image and self-esteem. Through regular exercise, we become more toned and increase our body muscle mass – setting off positive upward spiral effects on ourselves. Through exercise, we get a surge of dopamine receptors, which, in turn, reward us with a feel-good factor, making it a win-win decision.

The right amount of exercise According to psychiatrist Madhukar Trivedi, we need to exercise three or four times a week for about 40 to 60 minutes each time. Effects tend to be noticed after about four weeks and should be continued for 10 to 12 weeks.

Go ahead and give it a try. It might be the best New Year’s resolution you have ever chosen to make.

Dott. Edward Curmi is a registered clinical psychologist, psychotherapist and author of the book Common Sense: a Better Understanding of Emotional Well-being, and its sequel More Common Sense: a Better Understanding of Emotional Wellbeing, available from Agenda Bookshops.

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T

he recent introduction of the nationwide organic waste collection is slowly but surely bringing about a change in the way people think about waste.

This word has connotations of useless, unwanted items that are thoughtlessly discarded. But as materials become scarcer and our planet is increasingly strained, we must realise that all products have the potential to become another resource: it all depends on how we treat them.

Food waste is a perfect example. This material is not waste at all; it is, in fact, a valuable resource. Not only do our potato trimmings, egg shells and banana peels have the potential to produce gas that can be converted into renewable energy, but also our food waste can become a nutrient-rich soil improver.

In a bid to further facilitate waste separation at source, besides the organic waste bin, residents are now encouraged to collect a set of four stackable bins. These bins have different coloured lids: black for mixed waste; white for sanitary waste; brown for glass; and green for mixed recyclables. The bins are also specifically labelled to help households separate waste correctly.

As part of the Sort it Out campaign, waste collection schedules specific to each locality are currently being distributed to all households across Malta and Gozo. The public is encouraged to take out the right bag on the right day, and not more than four hours prior to the official collection time indicated on the schedule. It is important to avoid piling of waste bags to keep the small white bag clearly visible.

Any bags taken out on the wrong day or having the wrong content will not be collected and a sticker is used to communicate the reason behind this. Such bags are expected to be taken out again on the correct day of collection.

For further information, visit Wasteserv’s Facebook page facebook.com/wasteserv; wasteservmalta.com

PARENTINGTIPS

WHAT SHALL I GET THE KIDS THIS CHRISTMAS? ROSETTE GATT, advisor at Inspire Foundation, offers some ideas on what makes the best children’s gifts. She reminds us that play is important for kids to grow healthy, so here’s all you need to know about the many toys on the market and which to pick.

I

t’s that time of the year again.

Preparations for Christmas have started, and with this, we all go through the panic of what to buy for the children. Today, we are overwhelmed with the variety of options that exist.

Some opt for clothing; others for jewellery, children’s perfumes and toiletries [yes, we do have an assortment for kids too], chocolates, books, knickknacks, vouchers, or monetary gifts, and of course, toys. From a child’s point of view, nothing beats a toy or anything that stimulates play.

Play is that magical word, defined as “the eager engagement in pleasurable physical or mental effort to obtain emotional satisfaction”, according to Mary D. Sheridan, an English paediatrician and public health officer, who pioneered the study of child development. The UK Society for Play and Creative Arts Therapies further states that “play is undertaken purely for enjoyment or amusement and has no other objective”.

Neuroscience research, however, has determined that “play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive and emotional strength. Play is important to healthy brain development”.

As grown-ups, we have to understand play. We have to acknowledge that it is through play that children at a very early age engage and interact in the world around them. Interactive learning starts at birth. A newborn will recognise familiar faces and voices and will soon start looking for eye contact. This interaction is the very first step to communication and play.

As the infant grows, it becomes sensitive to social cues such as facial expressions, body language, tone of voice and the environment. Play now becomes a way of communicating feelings as well

as giving cues to adults about the child’s state of mind. It can indicate joy, sadness, apprehension, anger and fear. As infants reach out for, swipe, grasp and drop first toys such as rattles, their sounds, facial expressions and body language indicate their mood.

Play activities are essential to healthy development for children and give a sense of well-being to them, to adolescents and to us as adults.

Play influences the development of fine and gross motor skills, language, socialisation, personal awareness, emotional well-being, reasoning, creativity, problem solving and learning abilities. It helps children to be active, make choices, share, interact as well as practise real-life situations.

But which toys are the best to buy?

Today, we are inundated with choices.

Toys and play items are associated with, but not restricted to, specific age groups.

Usually age-appropriate recommendations are marked on the toy or game.

All types of toys are advertised as the best in the market, the most researched, the most sought after, and most are associated with characters in films or video games.

Children of all ages and from every background often prefer TV, computers and battery-operated toys. These, however, do not allow them to imagine, create or explore their world and express their innermost thoughts and feelings.

During play, a child can decide the scenario and characters without fear of being penalised. Play allows anything a child imagines to happen.

According to Maria Montessori [a physician, educator and innovator, acclaimed for her educational method that builds on the way children naturally learn]: “If play is the work of the child, toys are the tools. Play content should come from the child’s own imagination and experiences. Toys teach children to use their imagination, solve problems, figure out how things work, pick up new ideas, build muscle control and strength, as well as learn to cooperate with others.”

Today, in an ever-growing number of people, because of the influence of TV,

“AS GROWN-UPS, WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND PLAY. WE HAVE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS THROUGH PLAY THAT CHILDREN AT A VERY EARLY AGE ENGAGE AND INTERACT IN THE WORLD AROUND THEM” Pink December 2018 ∫ 87

PARENTINGTIPS “THINK OF WHAT THE CHILD’S PREFERENCES ARE, BUT THINK ALSO ABOUT THEIR AGE, THEIR DEVELOPMENT AND WHAT WILL SUPPORT THEIR GROWTH” video games and the internet, play is limited to interacting with an electronic device, which dictates the characters, the rules and the environment while children are robbed of the individual or group playtime otherwise spent on creative activity.

Even babies and young children miss out because of the distractions caused by the background noise of the TV, or more sadly, their parent’s mobiles and tablets.

This can threaten cognitive and language development and may be linked to attention problems later in childhood.

On the market, we find toys that support: • Physical play, which is ideal for energy release. Toys for this type of play can include bubble-blowing games, skipping ropes, balls, basketball, or football nets, slides, ball pits, scooters, stride-and-ride toys, tricycles, bicycles, hammering toys, punch bags, swings, pools, water slides etc…

• Expressive play, which brings out the creativity in a child. Cutting or sticker books, paints, crayons, drawing paper, drawing books, sponges, blocks, punching bags, trampolines, instruments, puppets, clay, play dough and cutters etc… all help by providing different mediums to support creativity. The adult can also pick up the child’s mood through this.

• Symbolic play, which allows the children to use toys for pretend and role play. As the children grow around their families’ daily experiences and routines, they observe and copy skills and feelings.

These are mirrored during play. Toys that act as ‘tools’ for the children to simulate these experiences can include dolls, teddy bears, a doll’s house, toy furniture, cooking utensils, treasure chests, shopping items such as a trolley, cash register, toy vegetables, groceries and fruit, dolls and puppets, dress-up items such as costumes, jewellery and make-up sets, equipment used by doctors, nurses, firemen, carpenters, mechanics and heroes, as well as school apparatus, including a desk, a whiteboard, books, crayons, easels, board erasers, rulers, pointers and many more.

• Manipulative play, which supports the children to use and develop their coordination and fine-motor skills.

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Some children might need specific toys to help them develop their coordination.

Today, toys in this category are neverending. They include threading games, screwing and unscrewing toys, games for sorting and matching colour, shape and size, postboxes, stacking toys, blocks, interlocking sets such as stickle bricks, mega blocks, jigsaw puzzles, hammering toys, floor mats etc…

• Social and interactive play. Play groups, school and social groups are the best environments to help the children develop their social skills. Today, we find an assortment of board games that help them learn to abide by the rules, take turns and interact with others. They help teach the children appropriate behaviour such as expressing joy at winning, empathy towards others as well as accepting that, in life, we cannot always have things our way, so we must accept our losses too. But these games also help the child achieve cognitive skills such as direction, counting, number and language skills etc… They also help to socialise and interact with others.

• Sensory play. Our lives are expressed and enjoyed through the use of our five senses. For kids, sensory play is an essential part of early childhood development and it stimulates creativity, cognitive and linguistic development.

Toys in different textures, light-up toys, play dough, sound-making toys, spinning toys, children’s recipe books, fidgets, stretchy or squishy toys, sensory mats, massage balls, huggers, chewy necklaces, headphones, putty, snap and link sets etc… are all toys easily found on the market. Today, many sensory classes are also available, although it must be ascertained that the people running these groups are qualified. This is not a case of one size fits all.

• Adapted toys. In some cases, toys may be adapted to the specific needs of children with a medical, physical, or intellectual difficulty. For these, there’s an assortment of regular toys with adaptations such as switches, handles and specific lights. Look for cause-andeffect toys, indoor gyms, ball pools, chunky basic bricks, tunnels, play tents, giant soft blocks, jumbo markers, or paint brushes and boards, glow-in-the-dark play foam, toy phones, chunky puzzles,

bead maze, floor mats, activity centres, flashcards and software. It is always recommended that therapists and other professionals monitoring the child are asked for advice regarding any particular toys, gadgets, or adaptations needed.

Safety issues Whenever buying a toy for a child, there are many factors that need to be taken into consideration. Attention must be given to the child’s age, ability and habits.

It is of the utmost importance that toys and packaging have the CE marking – a certification that indicates conformity with health, safety and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area.

Toys should not have small, detachable parts as these can easily be swallowed or aspirated. Any paint on the toy must be non-toxic and they should be washable.

Sharp or cutting edges must be avoided.

Toys should also be cleaned after use and placed in a closed container away from dust, mould and animals. Before machinewashing soft toys, check that this can be done, place in a pillow case or laundry washing machine bag, and wash using a non-bio detergent at a low temperature.

These can then be dried using a tumble dryer at low temperatures, or naturally in the sun. Comfort toys should be washed with the child’s bedding, as needed.

We all remember what we looked forward to getting for Christmas and what a difference it made if we got what we liked. Let us not think that anything goes as long as we buy something. Think of what the child’s preferences are, but think also about their age, their development and what will support their growth.

Play makes us human, it is one of our inner needs, no matter what age. But children need this even more. Children who play are happy children, and happy children make happier communities.

And yes, while toys are fun, playing with our children is the most prized gift we can give them.

TABLETALK

oin bananas This walnut and banana sponge cake should take 45 minutes to bake. it is considered to be a recipe of average difficulty. a vegan dessert, it is ideal for teenagers.

What’s there not to like?

METHOD INGREDIENTS Serves 6 100g rolled oats 100g wholemeal flour 40g cornflour 180g brown sugar 1 tsp cinnamon powder 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda A pinch of salt 200ml vegetable drink [i.e. Borges walnut drink] 100g walnuts 250g ripe bananas

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Grind the rolled oats to turn them into flour. Mix with the wholemeal flour, brown sugar, powdered cinnamon, bicarbonate of soda and salt.

Mash the bananas with a fork and add to the mixture. Dilute the cornflour in four spoonfuls of cold

water and add it and the vegetable drink to the mixture. Stir well.

Finally, add the crushed walnuts and mix together.

Line a cake mould with baking paper, fill with the cake mixture and bake for about 30 minutes at 170°C. Use a skewer or sharp knife to check whether it is ready: if it comes out dry, the cake is done!

+ INFO Eating rolled oats on a daily basis can help reduce cholesterol, aid digestion and provide your body with plenty of fibre.

This recipe is an ideal way to use up those ripe bananas in the fridge.

If you prefer, you can use different kinds of nuts instead of walnuts, such as almonds, hazelnuts, etc…

WOMENONWHEELS

OUT OF THE BLUE TV personality TEZARA CAMILLERI take the new Ford Focus for a spin and discovers that it surpasses her expectations.

I

guess I should confess that when I headed to GasanZammit Motors Ltd in Mriehel and was told I was going to test drive the new Ford Focus, I didn’t really think much of it; I thought it would be pretty ordinary and nothing to write home about. I know it must sound like a cliché, but I was so far off the mark with my unfounded first impression of the car!

I drove the Trend Edition, with a B&O sound system and 10 speakers in black; I had never experienced XFM at such quality and clarity in a car.

Speaking of high-end features, the Focus has CarPlay, which is a mirroring system that allows the screen in your car to virtually become your phone when you connect it. It’s especially convenient when you need to use your phone as a map; the car doesn’t come with a navigation system, but it can be added should you be interested in doing so.

The 8-inch touchscreen not only displays the rear wide

Tezara Camilleri, wearing Monsoon.

“THE FOCUS HAS CARPLAY, WHICH IS A MIRRORING SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THE SCREEN IN YOUR CAR TO VIRTUALLY BECOME YOUR PHONE WHEN YOU CONNECT IT” view camera, which is very handy when parking, but also has a zoom feature that allows you to take an even closer look.

I love it when cars have dual climate control airconditioning; this is so great for when you and your partner can’t agree on the temperature in the car. I also really liked the interior ambient lighting, which is light blue, but what

really struck me was the rotary shift knob to change gears instead of the usual stick shift knob.

On looking at the boot, I realised how perfect this car would be for anyone in the taxi service industry; it is spacious and comfortable, but also very chic and professional.

Then there are the safety features it comes with: lots of

inbuilt airbags for driver, passenger and even knee, as well as auto-braking, which stops the car before a collision.

I, myself, prefer a hatchback to a saloon; I feel it gives the car a sportier feel, but I didn’t mind this at all – yet another pleasant and insightful surprise about the new Ford Focus.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 95

Photography Darrin Zammit Lupi

Photography Pippa Zammit Cutajar

SNAPSHOT

A YEAR OF MIDDLE FINGERS For actress, educator and Occupy Justice activist Pia Zammit, 2018 has been a roller-coaster ride of emotions. Now, as she prepares to reprise her many roles as one of The Comedy Knights in the season’s record-breaking satirical show, she sits down with IGGY FENECH for an unfiltered interview about what’s gone and what’s to come.

I

t’s been an incredibly busy year for you on all fronts. Looking back, what would you say have been the most defining moments of 2018?

It’s been an interesting year. Workwise, teaching public speaking and debating skills is extremely rewarding and the quest to put this on our national curriculum continues. The need for critical thinking skills is paramount on this island, and it’s my firm belief that we cannot grow as a nation until we learn them.

As for the rest of the year, well, that’s been eventful too. On the theatre front, 2018 saw the resurrection of Stitching – the Play That Was Banned and Disallowed 10 Long Years Ago [to give it its full title]. Diving back into the script was interesting and surprising: 10 years on, Mikhail [Basmadijan] and I are obviously older and consequently different people, so our interpretation of the script took on a more urgent tone.

Then, there’s my role as an ‘accidental activist’ to address too. And 2018 has been exceedingly busy because of it. We are fighting for justice, truth, transparency and good governance; we are fighting in the face of much opposition, oppression and censorship; we are fighting with no resources and no time. And, yet, we fight on. This isn’t a job, or a short-term contract; this is a lifestyle and we will die with our boots on.

people, we are hot-headed and quick to anger. We victim-blame, we make gods of our politicians, and we, for the most part, don’t know the difference between an opinion and a fact. People who speak up are shouted down, stigmatised and victimised. We have seen too many threats, warnings, vindictive transfers, pulling of contracts, and much more.

As a person who is recognised by a sector of the population because of

“THE NEED FOR CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS IS PARAMOUNT ON THIS ISLAND, AND IT’S MY FIRM BELIEF THAT WE CANNOT GROW AS A NATION UNTIL WE LEARN THEM” You often use your talent and craft to speak out about things you believe in, be it spring hunting, or impunity. Why do you do this?

People are so afraid to speak up on this island. I don’t blame them. We’re a small overpopulated island, plagued by humidity, traffic and a severe lack of space so, as a

theatre and as an educator, I have a duty to lead by example. I find it very hard to accept things that aren’t right, and I believe that it is my duty to call these things out. The more of us who raise our heads above the parapet and say ‘don’t do that, it’s wrong’, the more we can ensure our freedom and protect our rights.

Pink December 2018 ∫ 97

SNAPSHOT

Photography Mata Hati

Photography Darrin Zammit Lupi

Women are often shamed for daring to speak up. How does that make you feel?

Ah. The bloody patriarchy, innit? Seriously, though, our default setting is to victimblame, and we seem to do this with extra vigour when it’s a woman. We are still a hugely patriarchal society and we still believe that a woman’s place is in the home. When you look at the comments levelled at Occupy Justice, for example, the majority are telling us to go back to the kitchen, to go and raise babies, to go and see to our rich lawyer husbands. Rich?

Lawyer? Husband? What? And they’re calling us ‘whores’ and ‘witches’.

Men don’t get the same level of abuse.

So, in turn, this makes it even more difficult for more women to speak up.

This leads to the decades of silence, which culminated in the John Suda case and one brave woman who finally had the courage to speak out. This infuriates me.

The damage done is untold – not only do women have to suffer the abuse, but then they have the added burden of bearing a secret and the fear of this being ‘leaked’, and the blaming that follows.

We need to give women courage to speak out and then we need to make sure they are listened to, believed and supported.

‘Never Again’ is not just a hashtag; it should be a promise.

For the past five years, The Comedy Knights have been taking satire to the next level, often covering sociological, cultural and political topics that not everyone would be comfortable tackling. Why is this important?

Satire isn’t just important; it’s essential. If we can’t laugh at ourselves, then it means 98 ∫ Pink December 2018

we don’t have the capacity to analyse and be objective about ourselves. If we can’t analyse, then we can’t grow and improve as a nation. What I love about The Comedy Knights is that we make fun of everyone – we’re non-partisan, equalopportunity make-funners-of… We make fun of ourselves the most though! And we do this in a non-cruel way. Sometimes, we hit close to the bone, but we are lucky enough to have amazing writers who know how to keep the scripts kind and respectful, but biting.

Our little island is a bit battered at the moment: we’re bombarded from all sides with political incidents and commentary.

No wonder we’re foaming at the mouth!

While watching comedy, it’s impossible to hate your fellow men – so, with this reasoning, watching The Comedy Knights should be a civic duty. Like voting.

What are your favourite memories from The Comedy Knights?

The Sliema Girls [SG] are special to me.

Not least because Jo [Caruana] and I had unwittingly developed these characters years ago and we’d talk to each other in SG voices frequently [and, often, to the alarm of our friends]. The first year we did The Comedy Knights, Jo and I were handed a script, we exchanged a knowing glance, and launched into our full SG personas.

We know each other so well that we know how to get each other out of tight spots [and we’ve had a few], but we also get the giggle loop, and, some nights, we have had to stop acting to dry our eyes and regain our composure.

One memorable performance had Chris [Dingli] dancing on a table, and we had to

Photography Christine Joan Muscat-Azzopardi

“WE ARE STILL A HUGELY PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY AND WE STILL BELIEVE THAT A WOMAN’S PLACE IS IN THE HOME. WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE COMMENTS LEVELLED AT OCCUPY JUSTICE, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAJORITY ARE TELLING US TO GO BACK TO THE KITCHEN”

rip his trousers off to reveal European flag cycling shorts. The night his parents were in the audience – front row! – he forgot to wear them. So off came the trousers and there were his tighty whities. We couldn’t continue with either the song or the scene and we all just fell to the floor.

Another day I’ll never forget had us lounging backstage before the start of a show and, suddenly, the news came in that Simon Busuttil [then leader of the Opposition] was going to vote yes to spring hunting. We had an hour to go till curtainup when the press conference was held, so we quickly penned a song, Chris practised it, Tom [Camilleri] found a flamingo costume backstage, and we ‘threw’ the sketch onstage. Busuttil was in the audience for that performance. He was gobsmacked!

Will you be returning in your iconic roles of Cikka and Mixall?

You’ll just have to come and watch to find out, won’t you? But, spoiler alert… Yes. Now ask me if I’m super excited about both Cik and Mixall? Ask me! Yes, I am!

Plans for 2019?

U ajma, the best laid plans of mice and [wo]men always go awry. So best if I don’t make plans, hux? I plan to sleep more; I plan to earn more money and win a couple of lotteries; I plan to be able to plank for five whole minutes without throwing up. I have many plans, kieku. But the reality is that I will work, gym, activist-ate, and complain a lot about not getting enough sleep.

The Comedy Knights: Let’s Talk About Six is on between December 26 and January 13.

It is produced by Wesley Ellul, Chris Dingli and Marc Cabourdin. www.comedyknights.com