Pink (January 2017)

iSSUe147∫ JanUary2017

EMPTY NESTS When he kidS leave home HOW THE PARENTS MOVE ON

Spina bifida doeSn’ define me One woman’s journey of self-exploration From physical limitations to a love for life

My Ben’s wedding Stylist-mum’s upfront story of sartorial searches, nostalgia, happiness… and letting go

INSIDE

January 2017

46

12

20 42

FEATURES 12 PrivateEye the beauty of fragility Coming out of spina bifida 20 LifeStyle one groovy mother of the groom Stylist-mum on son’s wedding

FASHION

REGULARS

30 ShowStopper best foot forward Step up your wardrobe in the sales 41 TheUniform party time revisited Who wore what on NYE? 42 PeopleSpotting sight[and style]seeing NYC model meets Mediterranean isle

9 EditorsNote 10 MailShot 27 WomanKind Napoleon’s woman Archduchess Marie Louise 46 ThinkPink health, beauty, fashion & things 50 GirlTalk three times too many Changing plans is a no-go 54 TableTalk let them eat cake Poppy seed and vanilla cake 56 SnapShot killer in red Clive Owen 58 StarGazer the future is pink Horoscopes

HEALTH 44 OnForm fit for 2017 Locating the gym for you 47 PinkShrink fleeing the nest Coping when the kids leave 49 ParentingTips building better beliefs Bad behaviour in leaders

56

COVER Photography Tamara Webb ∫ Styling Marisa Grima [www.marisagrima.com] ∫ Hair Chris Galea @ Michael & Guy ∫ Make-up Caroline Bond ∫ Model Lara @ Supernova Model Management, wearing coat, blouse, leggings, all Mangano.

6 ∫ Pink January 2017

EDITORSNOTE

The standard of English in Malta has become abysmal. Whole generations, entire segments of the nation, do not understand, let alone speak it – and this when they are fortunate enough to be born in a bilingual country, with an almost innate ability to communicate easily with the rest of the world. Then again, who cares? The rest of the world can learn Maltese!

But no, what have we gone and done? Our utmost to eliminate this advantage. And the proof is in everyday life.

The other day, I made the mistake of asking – in English – a shop assistant at a mega supermarket where I could find dried figs and dates.

As I did so, I could feel that surge of agitation and frustration that accompanies the expected reply. Sure enough, he gave me the blank stare I am all too familiar with. Then he proceeded to ask me what they were?

I’m starting to feel like a foreigner in my own country, where fellow citizens cannot understand me when I speak one of our official languages.

Why are we narrowing our horizons and the opportunities we were handed on a silver plate by having access to the English language?

I don’t expect to it be everyone’s

mother tongue, but how, when and why did we get to the point where people can’t even understand you, let alone converse.

Then of course there are those who speak English – so to speak. But they bungle it up in a big way. I often pick up a coffee from a fast-food outlet. You may not think it’s the best, but tell me where you can buy a drink and be told you’ll be getting the money back with your purchase?

Every time I order my coffee, I am told: “You have €1.50 at the cash!”

Every time, to ease the pain of that literal translation, I say to myself: “Wow! Thanks!”

Originally, I was going to use these examples, and plenty more, to make a point about service in shops and point my finger squarely at the owners, who have zero standards when employing sales assistants and persist in thinking their businesses can be manned by uneducated people, who do nothing but drive customers away.

But more of that in my next note…

I changed tack and decided to focus on the deliberate deterioration of the English language in Malta when I caught sight of a shocking poster in a government secondary school classroom. This is what it reads: “Kien hemm wahda tal-pepé u lil sid ta’ hanut staqsietu: ‘Do you have ground almonds?’

‘Intrita?’, staqsieha.

Qaltlu: ‘Le, I’m Carmen’.”

This is appalling on too many fronts. To start off with, since when is it OK to use and promulgate [outdated] words – and concepts – like ‘tal-pepé’ in a school, fuelling social

division, class hatred and prejudice?

I can’t remember the last time I heard that word used, and worse still is the fact that it is being used in an ‘educational’ set-up. Would it be acceptable to have a poster denigrating ‘hammalli’ because, it is assumed, they may not speak English? [Even merely writing that analogy hurts, it is so idiotic.]

Secondly, why is anyone allowing English to be associated with ‘tal-pepé’ anyway, or with any other negative connotations for that matter? And why is this happening in a place where children are supposed to be encouraged to learn – yes, languages too. Even English! Why would a school blacklist such an important subject?

In my eyes, this is also an example of institutionalised bullying and instilling in children the idea that it is fine to ridicule others, further aggravated by the fact that the ‘victims’ are being marginalised for the simple reason that they speak English. You can speak English, ergo you are an imbecile.

Quite the contrary, I would say.

In my poster, the ‘sid tal-hanut’ should be ashamed of himself for not knowing what ground almonds are, especially if he wishes to sell his products to the many foreigners in this country – unless, of course, he wants to limit his sales to the few he classifies as not ‘tal-pepé’. Just like the shop assistant in the supermarket could have known what dates and figs are…

In my poster, the joke is on them!

And Carmen, you shouldn’t be labelled and ridiculed for speaking English by people with a chip on their shoulder, who are supposed to be promoting the exact opposite.

January 29, 2017 ∫ Pink is a monthly magazine ∫ Issue 147 ∫ Executive editor Fiona Galea Debono ∫ Publisher Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Printing Progress Press Ltd ∫ Production Allied Newspapers Ltd ∫ Contributors Caroline Bond, Maria Cachia, Edward Curmi, Claire Diacono, Chris Galea, Mary Galea Debono, Marisa Grima, Jeffrey Muscat, Caroline Paris, Helen Raine, Stephanie Satariano, Virginia, Shelley Von Strunckel ∫ Design Manuel Schembri ∫ Photography Matthew Mirabelli, Paul Trapani Galea Feriol, Shane Watts, Tamara Webb ∫ Advertising sales Veronica Grech Sant [2559 4706; veronica.grechsant@timesofmalta.com].

THIS PUBLICATION IS BEING DISTRIBUTED AS PART OF:

@pinkmagazine

@pinkmagazine_tom

© 2017. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole, or in part, without written permission of the publishers, is prohibited.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 9

MAILSHOT

THE LETTER THAT TICKLED PINK

THANKS FOR ANOTHER DAY The story that touched me deeply is the one about Giacomo Fenech and his mother Pira [Keep on Swimming, December 2016]. Nowadays, we take everything so much for granted, including life in general, that we never stop to think about other people’s suffering and we never stop to thank God for another day of life, love and good health.

My dad died of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and my mum died of diabetes, so now I lead a very healthy and active life, but I still thank God every morning for keeping me safe and allowing me another day. Thank you for Pink magazine.

PROFESSIONAL ADVICE Dear editor, I take the opportunity to thank you all for the November issue of Pink magazine. The two articles that ‘tickled’ me were Weight Watching [ParentingTips] and Hair and Nail It [The Virginia Monologues]. As regards the first, I think everyone should always approach qualified professionals, such as a state-registered dietician, or a nutritionist, apart from their GP. Maybe in future articles, you could add a short sentence to check with the relevant medical authorities if a person practising is qualified and registered to do so. GirlTalk always offers some food for thought. The last sentence of the article prompted me to give my feedback: “Nails that look dangerous and sinister…” In a recent visit to a confectionary, the person behind the counter had long false nails with beautiful art glistening on some of them. It was evident that she was experiencing difficulty to handle the utensils and even worse to handle coins. Imagine if, accidentally, one of the false nails fell while she was preparing a box of cakes! As in the case of healthcare professionals, such long and false nails should be prohibited also among food handlers, chefs, etc… While looking forward for the next issue, I take the opportunity to wish you all the best in life, but mainly good health.

DAVID BORG ATTARD, FROM VITTORIOSA

NAME AND ADDRESS WITHHELD

UNSUNG HEROES Dear editor, I have just read the moving article titled Keep on Swimming [PrivateEye, December 2016], ably written by Fiona Galea Debono. The sheer determination of Pira Fenech to help her son is inspirational. Cancer is horrible when it hits adults, but when it hits children, that is the absolute limit. Pira is always there for her son, whether it is during chemotherapy, or to help him sip a liquid. These are our unsung heroes, who amply deserve our admiration and prayers for their ability to carry on no matter what. It is thanks to articles that are written about these extraordinary and courageous people that we get to know about them. The next time you and I complain about the weather…

DORSANN BENCINI, FROM SLIEMA

The writer of the letter of the month wins an Yves Saint Laurent Mon Paris eau de parfum, courtesy of Chemimart; PLUS a selection of Deborah Milano make-up products from A.M.Mangion Ltd.

WRITE IN AND WIN

STRUGGLING WITH LIFE Dear Pink, your magazines always inspires me with all its great features. In the November edition, the article Lifting Myself Out of an Eating Disorder [InFocus] inspired me most and touched me. Seeing someone’s weight loss transformation can be incredible, but for those who struggle with an eating disorder, the real victory is found in gaining weight. This article really brought to light how people out there are struggling with life, and that life sometimes can be hard and cruel. It really hit a nerve. Well done.

RAMONA PORTELLI, FROM MOSTA

We want to hear from you. Send us your feedback on Pink and any stories that may have touched you in some way, and you stand a chance of winning a Braccialini Purple eau de parfum, courtesy of Chemimart; PLUS a selection of Deborah Milano make-up products from A.M.Mangion Ltd. Write to Pink, with your contact details, at Allied Newspapers Ltd, 341, Strickland House, St Paul Street, Valletta VLT 1211, or send an e-mail to pink@timesofmalta.com Correspondence may be edited for length and clarity. If prizes are not claimed within two months, they will no longer be available.

YES TO AGE Yes! Five pages with a beautiful, mature model in the December issue of Pink magazine, showing various gems and jewellery from Pandora, Eclat, Ice Watch, Uno de 50 and Obaku. At age 44, I am labelled a “mature model” in Oslo and LA, where I have lived and worked. I am happy to find that Pink magazine, in its #Styleguide, actually also embraces the fact that women do grow older and still want to look for inspiration, joy, updates, news and ideas in the media. Thank you for printing photos of this green-eyed, non-anorexic, kindlooking and smiling woman. Yes to age – we are all heading that way anyhow! Blessings and smiles.

BIRGITTA STROBEL, VIA E-MAIL

10 ∫ Pink January 2017

PRIVATEEYE

THE BEAUTY OF

FRAGILITY Born with spina bifida, Andrea Calascione, 21, was supposed to be unable to walk and in a wheelchair. But by what she considers a stroke of “luck”, she isn’t! Having said that, it took her a while to break out of the rut of negativity she had slid into, come to terms with her condition and realise that it did not necessarily define her. Here’s the story of who she really is… and spina bifida is now a footnote.

S

ometimes, it’s the way a health condition can make us feel – and not the condition itself, debilitating as it may be – that can set us back and stop us in our tracks.

Feeling different from others and comparing perceived limitations to theirs becomes the actual ailment.

At 21, Andrea Calascione, who was born with the most severe of three levels of spina bifida, has found that out for herself – and not a moment too soon.

It’s been a journey of self-discovery that is marked by a couple of defining moments: the day she decided to leave her safe haven and embark on a one-month trip – alone; the day she decided to face her demons and jot down her thoughts about her ‘enemy’; and the day she made public those very intimate feelings she had never discussed with anyone… finally liberating herself from the shackles of her physical condition.

Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves the incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord. Associated problems of Myelomeningocele, which Andrea was born with, include a poor ability to walk, poor bladder or bowel control, hydrocephalus, which she was operated for at birth, and a tethered spinal cord.

Andrea was destined to be “unable to walk and to lose complete sensation in my legs” – or so it seemed. What happened was “inexplicable” and the many doctors she has seen have been left bewildered. Andrea’s legs may be weak, and yes, it is “impossible”, due to her fragile back, for her to run, jump and

12 ∫ Pink January 2017

do high-impact sports – definitely not without adequate exercise. But she is by no means immobile.

“To be honest, I never feared I would end up in a wheelchair. I always had the ability to walk,” says Andrea, who pretty much never faced her condition and was in some sort of denial.

She boils the positive outcome down to “luck” and “good circumstances”. Andrea is grateful for her family’s support. “I was born into the right family. My parents and my two older brothers never allowed me to feel sorry for myself. This sort of attitude automatically builds strength and prevented me from totally succumbing to spina bifida. Had I done so, I would have become lazy – also due to an element of fear…”

Despite being born with Myelomeningocele, Andrea remembers being the “happiest kid around”. But at about 13 – “when most teenagers start going a bit crazy, I guess” – negativity took over.

“For the whole of my teenage life, I was numb to my senses; I didn’t want to know about what was going on with my body and I shut that part of me out entirely.”

Andrea maintains that her life was then characterised by “constantly having to push myself ”. Education didn’t help at all as she felt inundated by competition and pressure, which continued to kill her confidence. “I was put in one category – and I didn’t belong! It took its toll on me.”

Socially, Andrea felt alienated even though she admits nobody consciously tried to

PRIVATEEYE

Andrea Calascione

Pink January 2017 ∫ 13

PRIVATEEYE distance her. “I just constantly compared myself… I felt different. But in reality, it was totally fabricated in my mind. Nobody was looking at me in that way…”

Looking back, Andrea says she was “angry” at her situation, having faced many obstacles – emotionally, physically and mentally. “I just wanted to be like everyone else. It was an issue of self-confidence, coupled with the fear

of stepping out of my comfort zone.

It wasn’t healthy.”

Then, at 18, and pushed by her parents, Andrea dared to leave that comfort zone to attend a one-month art course in Barcelona… which turned into three years. She fell in love with the city and only returned some months ago – a totally different person from what she could have been had she stayed put.

“SOCIALLY, ANDREA FELT ALIENATED EVEN THOUGH SHE ADMITS NOBODY CONSCIOUSLY TRIED TO DISTANCE HER”

14 ∫ Pink January 2017

She needed a change to break away from it all. And leaving the nest was the answer. She had to face the cards she had been dealt head-on.

“I refused to acknowledge my good circumstances when I was living them.

Then, when I left home, I realised what an incredible family background I have and how helpful that has been to overcome my insecurities.

“I never really focused on what I had. I never took any notice of my body. And I basically put it onto my mother and let her deal with it.

PRIVATEEYE “I never took any initiative. My mother was the one to come up with ideas to deal with my condition, but I would ignore them. I didn’t do any exercise, which was vital, and I simply wasn’t interested.”

And in the long run, this passive approach and her state of denial took its toll. “I never questioned my condition. My spina bifida was quite simply who I was. At 13, I thought there was nothing else about me.”

Although looking back, Andrea acknowledges the benefit of being

Andrea and her mother, Stephanie, who has played a major role in helping her overcome the challenges she faced.

challenged in some way, she recalls that, at school, PE was also particularly difficult due to her physical limitations.

And probably her biggest issue was her weak bladder, which continued to erode her self-confidence. “I never wanted to learn how to strengthen it,” she admits. “I was just angry!”

Experiences like not being allowed to go to the toilet during exams have remained impressed in her memory, though she acknowledges that teachers may not have been aware of her condition.

The thing is, Andrea never wanted to explain it. It was a “total taboo” and, in fact, she never told anyone about her spina bifida, or even discussed it with her closest friends.

It was only a couple of years ago that she actually spilled the beans… and their reaction wasn’t at all what she expected. It was nonetheless the right one that jolted everything into place – they pretty much took her revelation in their stride, without making a deal about it. And life went on… meaning that what for Andrea had been a major underlying stumbling block had actually gone unnoticed by those she wanted to hide it from.

“They were really not bothered,” she laughs.

“Thank God for her,” says Andrea, who acknowledges that she could have been in and out of hospitals and stuck on medication had her mother not advocated a more holistic approach.

“She played a major role in all this.

She allowed me to realise that exploring myself was the right thing to do and that I could learn and grow from my problem. And she gave me the strength to keep going; to keep testing and challenging myself. She taught me to take my health into my own hands.”

Andrea fell in love with Barcelona.

She just had to “keep on doing art and doing it in that city”, and she made new friends, which continued to boost her confidence.

“It was a totally life-changing experience. I could finally apply all that my parents had taught me in life.

Finally, I was taking care of myself.

I was exploring what excited me and my physicality. I was finally tuning into my body and my emotions.”

She had done some yoga and meditation with her mother; and what she had practically rejected, she started to embrace and find very helpful when alone.

“It took me a while, but I realised exercise made me move better; walking became less painful and I felt less

“SHE ALLOWED ME TO REALISE THAT EXPLORING MYSELF WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO AND THAT I COULD LEARN AND GROW FROM MY PROBLEM” Barcelona was the turning point – a trip planned to help her figure out what she wanted to do with her life.

Here, Andrea found herself alone. She threw herself into the deep end, living in an apartment with people she had never met.

“It was my parents who pushed me.

Life in Malta wasn’t doing me any good and I needed to experience the outside world alone.” Once again, they were right. She had been stuck in a rut on her confined island.

“I realised I was my own person; I was independent for the first time.

I needed to understand my body and learn more about myself. It was when I slipped away that I embraced all my mother had been telling me, which I had consistently ignored.

tired. I started redefining my limitations and ways to work with and improve them.”

In her newfound quest to discover what worked for her, Andrea also started to eat less and adopted a healthy diet, which also meant less pressure on her weak bladder.

She recalls the exact moment when the epiphany occurred: “It was a year ago. I was in my studio in Barcelona and I had experienced something that made me really angry towards spina bifida.

I just had to sit down and write my thoughts, including all the good it had brought me to be able to escape from that moment.

“The experience brought back memories and feelings… and it was the first time I was admitting them to myself.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 15

PRIVATEEYE Writing has always been a means of expression to me, apart from my art…”

The next step was posting this piece, Imperfection is Beauty, on a friend’s blog to reach out to those who may be struggling. “I think I thought about it a bit too much. I had lived 20 years of my life with this ‘shame’. Putting it out there released me from it and sharing it meant I didn’t have to hold onto it anymore. But more importantly, I wanted to help others who may be going through my same experience.”

Andrea says the post received an overwhelming response. “I knew it would reach out because it was posted on someone’s blog, but I didn’t expect such feedback at all, even from people I didn’t know.”

Although it wasn’t the aim, that too continued to boost Andrea’s selfconfidence – “as ridiculous as it sounds because we are, after all, talking about social media here, which isn’t reality at the end of the day”.

People’s reactions also put things into perspective. She realised she wasn’t being judged by her spina bifida.

“I was in Bali at the time, and when I returned, I thought people would continue to react and feel weird around me. But it was exactly as it always was” – and an eye-opener that she was not just about her condition.

Despite having adopted a negative approach during her teenage years, Andrea has no regrets whatsoever about what could have been considered a waste of time. “If I hadn’t experienced that whole other dark, lazy and down-in-the-pits side, I wouldn’t be

“IF I HADN’T EXPERIENCED THAT WHOLE OTHER DARK, LAZY AND DOWN-IN-THE-PITS SIDE, I WOULDN’T BE WHERE I AM TODAY” where I am today. Gratitude has helped me. It helped me get over my self-pity.”

Having built an art portfolio in Spain, Andrea felt it was time to return home and apply all she had learnt abroad and experiment with it. That time was up.

Today, she is sitting peacefully in her porch at the end of her parents’ idyllic hilltop garden, completely immersed in nature and the beauty of the outdoors, which have always featured strongly in her life. It is not surprising that nature also plays a big part in her art.

16 ∫ Pink January 2017

“I’ve always been close to nature, also because I live where I live and because I come from a family of nature lovers.

My father loves the sea and sailing has always been a part of my life too.”

Through her art, Andrea likes to “talk about decay, erosion and death

in nature, and compare this to us because we are on the same path”.

And although she admits it may sound morbid, there is nothing dark in her inspiration. Her focus is on the beauty.

“It’s about seeing the beauty in imperfection; in the passing of time.”

PRIVATEEYE

INSPIRATIONAL EXTRACTS FROM

IMPERFECTION IS BEAUTY “The obstacles I faced have actually helped me cultivate my inner strength, have aided my resolve to progress and find my potential. Spina bifida had to go from being my worst enemy to becoming my best friend and that acceptance has opened up so many doors for me.”

“I’d like to emphasise how incredibly crucial our mental well-being is to our physical well-being; how everything in our body and mind works in harmony if we allow it to.”

“Living with spina bifida is confusing… It is anger, pain, doubt and utter confusion. It made me lose touch with my body and mind. It is days of feeling physically out of touch and not knowing why. It is days of shame, of embarrassment and emotional pain. I lost out on most of my teenage life and questioned my existence, doubting myself, questioning life and whether I would ever be healed of that pain.”

She works with writing, painting and installations, as well as objects she gathers from nature, such as the delicate, intricate and interesting ‘skeletons’ of dried leaves, in whose fragility she sees beauty.

As for the future, in 10 years from now, Andrea sees herself still working on her art, and she would also like to get involved in rehabilitation for persons with disability.

Of course, spina bifida will always feature. The journey into understanding her condition and its impact on her life is ongoing, she knows only too well. But she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“My struggle has made me stronger, maybe not physically, but mentally and emotionally.”

Andrea’s message to anyone born with a limiting physical condition is that, as much as it shapes who you are, it doesn’t define you. Ultimately, it’s all about accepting yourself.

“I hope this message gives you hope and strength to carry on, to lift yourself up, to explore your inner world and the world around you… What lies beyond that conflict is an incredible internal and external world waiting with open arms, yearning to be explored.

“There’s a lot more about you than you think. The world is a playground – fun and exciting – whether you have a disability or not, and exploring that excitement is key.”

A Hair

Revolution

“Ironically enough, spina bifida has brought me closer to exploring my inner self. All those years of shame, questioning and struggle helped me towards an ongoing journey of getting to know my body and my mind on such a deep level.”

“How fragile yet strong we are as a species…”

“I truly believe you are not a product of your experiences – you have a choice at any given moment in your life to begin again, to deconstruct all that you think you are, all that you think you’re destined to be.”

“This journey has taught me that there is no such thing as ‘normality’; we all seem to be striving to become a certain kind of ‘perfect’, and in my eyes, we will never reach it. I believe what makes us perfect is purely our imperfections…”

“We are all unique in our own way, and whether we are living with a disability or not, we have all gone through some struggle. I truly believe that it is our vulnerabilities that make us beautiful. That is what makes us human.”

“A ‘disability’ is not in our control, but rising above it is a choice.”

FRIZZ IMMUNITY IS HERE WITH THE ARRIVAL OF FRIZZ EASE FOREVER SMOOTH COLLECTION With over 25 years’ experience in bringing innovation to the haircare market, John Frieda continues to innovate with the new revolutionary Frizz Ease Forever Smooth collection, a ground-breaking duo that allows you to effortlessly achieve your best smooth frizz-free look. John Frieda was the first brand to fight frizz; now it is determined to end it. The new Frizz Ease Forever Smooth Shampoo and Conditioner build frizz resistance from the moment you step in the shower and work as the perfect base for any smooth style. With pure coconut oil and Frizz Immunity Complex, these

formulas fight frizz directly from inside the hair fibre; the non-silicone formulas build hair’s natural defence against frizz, leading to smooth hair – even in high humidity. “Smooth frizz-free hair is the foundation for any good style,” explains John Frieda’s international creative consultant, Harry Josh. “No matter what direction I decide to take a client’s look, from tumbling curls to pin straight, I always start with a no-frizz baseline. Now, manageable, frizz-free hair can be anyone’s default.”

Me & John Frieda & Frizz Ease… together we can!

The John Frieda Frizz Ease Forever Smooth collection is available in all leading supermarkets, pharmacies and perfumeries.

LIFESTYLE

20 ∫ Pink January 2017

LIFESTYLE

ONE GROOVY MOTHER

OF THE GROOM Carina Camilleri, fashion stylist and owner of Models M agency, talks openly about sartorial choices, chasing Gucci shades around the world, empty nests, nostalgia, anxiety issues, breaking the rules, alternative mothering and being a grandmother in the wake of her celebrity son, Ben Camille’s, wedding.

Y

our eldest son, Ben, recently tied the knot.

Apart from the joy that comes with most weddings, honestly, with hand on heart, how sad were you to see him grown up and married?

Ben moved out of the house about three years ago. It had been in the pipeline, but kind of took it’s time to happen.

One day, he called me and said: “Mum, by the way, not coming home today; sleeping at our flat. We moved in today.”

There and then, it was a lot to stomach, but as time went on, since Ben kept coming and going to the house regularly, plus at the time we worked together often, I was still seeing a lot of him. On

because he remained[s] so constantly close to me.

You’re known to be very close to your children. Did you shed an uncontrollable tear for the ‘end of an era’ and at what stage? I, like every parent, adore my two boys. My anxiety – and I suffer terribly from this – stems from the thought that something bad could happen to them. I worry incessantly about them. I shed tears at the mere thought of anything happening to them and that they may be taken away from me. Getting married, moving out, having babies are all beautiful things – nothing to cry about, if you know what I mean!

“I WAS NOSTALGIC OF THE TIME WHEN HE WAS A BABY, A BOY AND A TEEN, BUT I CANNOT SAY I WAS SAD TO SEE HIM TAKE THIS STEP. I THINK IT’S ONLY BECAUSE HE REMAINED[S] SO CONSTANTLY CLOSE TO ME” the wedding day, it was simply beautiful seeing them so happy. I was nostalgic of the time when he was a baby, a boy and a teen, but I cannot say I was sad to see him take this step. I think it’s only

How would you describe the whole event from an emotional point of view? On the day, I was very calm; I woke up and walked Cody [the dog] in Pembroke. Then I went home, waited Pink January 2017 ∫ 21

LIFESTYLE for Diandra Mattei to come and do my make-up, then made my way to Ben’s flat to get my hair done and get dressed.

There was such a wonderful atmosphere with all the 10 groomsmen there. It was like getting ready for a party. We walked to the church in Balluta, and on the way, stopped to have a drink at a bar! The real emotion was seeing Xtina arrive at church and walk down the aisle with her brother Mark. She looked so beautiful and was so excited. That’s when I broke down. I simply could see that this girl, this woman, loved my son so much. It was such a beautiful moment!

What did you wear and why? Did you yourself consult with anyone?

This was something that rather freaked me out, to be honest. I would meet up with people and they would say the thing they were looking forward to was seeing what I was going to wear. At a point, it became a bit too much to handle. I had travelled to London in July, and together with my best friend Joseph Fountain, the person I trust most, we spent a whole day looking for the outfit.

In the end, I bought something I was not entirely convinced about. As we were walking back, we realised the only

I go for a semi put-up, but I knew I wanted the hairstyle I chose. I tried it out at the salon that week and went home and tried on the dress and the shoes. [By that time, I had bought my Miu Miu velvet platforms as the Prada ones had sold out.] Then I knew that this was the look I was after! Pierre was

“THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT RATHER FREAKED ME OUT, TO BE HONEST. I WOULD MEET UP WITH PEOPLE AND THEY WOULD SAY THE THING THEY WERE LOOKING FORWARD TO WAS SEEING WHAT I WAS GOING TO WEAR. AT A POINT, IT BECAME A BIT TOO MUCH TO HANDLE” And the run-up to the wedding?

Were there the usual arguments that precede these occasions and did you get stressed? The run-up for me was super easy. From weeks before, people and friends would ask whether I was excited, but I really wasn’t – perhaps it was because I knew how organised both Xtina and Ben were and how they planned everything so well.

The whole wedding was in their hands.

I only had myself to worry about – what I would wear. The only thing Xtina’s mum and I were concerned about was that it might rain. Since the venue was outside, that would have led to a disaster, but Ben had a plan B so we left it in the hands of fate and hoped for the best. No arguments, no; just concern about how Xtina was 100 per cent sure the weather would hold – and thank God it did!

Being a stylist, did you get involved in the look and feel of the big day?

Were you the fashion ‘consultant’?

No, I did not. The only thing I did was go with Ben to select his suit and the suits of the groomsmen. Xtina was in the very good hands of my friend at Ivory & Co. and her bridesmaids were taken care of by Charles & Ron. As a fashion stylist, you may also have expected that many eyes would have been on you on the day and on what you were wearing.

22 ∫ Pink January 2017

shop we forgot to go into was Saint Laurent on Bond Street. We hit the top floor for the ready-to-wear collection and Joe walked straight up to the dress, picked it and said: “Try this on!” I did, and while we were making our minds up, the very handsome sales assistant got us champagne.

Needless to say, we took our time trying on shoes and belts and drinking bubbly.

Then I took the decision that this was the dress! I still had to deal with the saga of finding the shoes and the bag [as I was not 100 per cent sure about the Saint Laurent shoes], but there was still plenty of time for that.

And I came back to Malta thrilled with my rock ’n’ roll Saint Laurent dress!

Did you know immediately what you wanted to look like, or did you have a variety of options? The only thing I knew is that I did not want to look OTT. Pierre [Camille], my husband, kept hammering that in – I guess he was a bit concerned I would do one of my crazy purchases!

Your hair was down and natural – lest anyone dare think you had gone for an upstyle? That was another issue – Pierre [a hairstylist] suggested

not too happy about my choice, and later I was to find out that it was because the bride had a similar hairstyle. But we have different hair, both in colour and texture, and although it might have looked similar, it did not end up being an issue at all.

And would you say this was the most important occasion you had to dress for, other than your own wedding? Yes, I think so… although the dress I had for my wedding was super unconventional – a short balloon skirt with a jacket fastened at the back and a veil that looked like a lamp shade, together with sequinned flat shoes, which Joseph had patiently worked on, sticking sequins on one by one!

LIFESTYLE

Apparently, your sunglasses were a major part of the look – and they had a saga hanging around them too. What’s the story? I saw the Gucci sunglasses a couple of weeks before the wedding and I had to have them. I contacted my personal shopper at Selfridges, who told me they were sold out in all Europe. So I then contacted my friend, VM of Gucci Asia, who sourced two pairs – the last two available in the world were in India and in Kuwait. To cut a very long and dramatic story short, the only way these sunglasses were going to end up in my hands was if I found someone in Kuwait to buy them for me and send them over. The probability of that was almost zero per cent… until I asked my friend Christine Bartolo Parnis, who knew someone who lived in Kuwait. Before I could bat an eyelid, Christine organised the whole thing for me and my sunglasses arrived three days before the wedding.

“I SAW THE GUCCI SUNGLASSES A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEFORE THE WEDDING AND I HAD TO HAVE THEM. I CONTACTED MY PERSONAL SHOPPER AT SELFRIDGES, WHO TOLD ME THEY WERE SOLD OUT IN ALL EUROPE” How much of the traditional would you say you discarded from your role on the night? I am a rule-breaker – that is the story of my life. I was not going to adapt; not even for this. The dress was not the traditional MO[the]G dress. At the end of the evening, I put my Manolo Blahnik bag in the safe, I kicked off my Miu Miu sandals, put on a pair of Nike running shoes and danced the night away!

In Malta, there seems to be some sort of mother-of-the-bride dress code. Where do we go wrong? I think a lot of MO[the]Bs opt to look very different on this special day and I am not sure that is the right thing to do.

Styles tend to be too OTT and it seems like one thing tries to outdo the other: busy hair, heavy make-up and an overdone dress. Sometimes, I wonder if the artists/people involved actually consult each other to come up with the look, or if everyone just does their own thing.

According to stereotypes, mothersin-law can be a handful – possessive over their boys, who, in turn, may want everything ‘just like mama used to make’. How much do you fall into that category? And how much do you fight it if you think you do?

I am obsessive over my boys. Does that make me possessive? Sometimes, I guess it does. But I can declare, hand Pink January 2017 ∫ 23

LIFESTYLE on heart, that I can be non-biased and hear both sides of a story and try to remain neutral. We are lucky with both boys; they are both humble and very reasonable. They have a true sense of what is fair. Of course, they selected girls who seem to fit into our family. Dale came home after he met Jess and told me: “Ma, I met a mini you!”

Why is it that mothers of boys tend to feel the sting more when their kids hook up with another woman and leave the nest? I think the thought of your son, your baby, possibly loving someone else more than he loves you is what makes a mother feel as if she is losing her child. Xtina is a family kind of girl; she organises meals and get-togethers more than I do!

What’s your relationship with your daughter-in-law, and how did your relationship with your son change when she came into his life? I have known Xtina from the time Ben and her were at school together at San Andrea about 15 years ago. I used to look at her and tell her: “I am waiting for you to grow up to be part of the model agency.” She

“I THINK THE THOUGHT OF YOUR SON, YOUR BABY, POSSIBLY LOVING SOMEONE ELSE MORE THAN HE LOVES YOU IS WHAT MAKES A MOTHER FEEL AS IF SHE IS LOSING HER CHILD” was so pretty – she looked exactly like Snow White, with porcelain skin, hazel eyes and black hair. When they started going out, they lived at my house most of the time they were together, until they moved out. She was always an extremely positive person. To be honest, it freaked me out initially – I was like, how can anyone be so positive? I am a very realistic kind of person and do not manage to see the positive as often as I would like to.

Xtina loves life, and most of all, she loves food. She is into fitness and adores dogs, just like me. What I love most about her is the way she gives Ben the freedom to be himself. I honestly do not think that any other girl would be so relaxed and happy for her husband to be so much in the limelight with all the fuss and attention this brings along with it. That is a quality I admire in her immensely.

How would you describe yourself as a mother? As a young mother, I was quite alternative. I was the mum climbing up the monkey bars with the kids, letting

A new addition to the family: Dale, Pierre, Xtina, Ben and Carina.

them play in the sand pit at the swings, encouraging them to paddle in the inland sea at Fond Ghadir in winter. They used to tell me: “Just my feet, ma!” Before I knew it, they would be in their underpants soaking wet! As babies, I would dress them in shorts, a woollen sweater and ankle socks in winter because it looked cool! My mum used to worry so much. As they grew up, I encouraged them to take up sports, football, which they were/are both very good at. At parents’ day, my first question to teachers would be: “Are they respectful and polite towards you? Are they sociable?” The academics were secondary – important of course, but not the most important.

Again, we were lucky as both boys were A students. The one thing I always repeated to them from an early age was to “never be afraid to be different”. We have gone out to clubs and parties together; we have travelled and had amazing times together. As they grew older and so did I, I indirectly started losing hold and control over them. My incessant worry about losing them engulfs me.

Looking back, are you nostalgic about the baby days, or just happy you all came out of it alive? It really is a bit of both. I am not too nostalgic about the baby days as I had my mum helping me take care of them while I took a break.

Occasionally, I do miss their childhood and teenage years. I just want to be with them often and see them interact. I love what they have become.

What are you looking forward to most now that one of life’s big milestones has been reached? Just spending time all together as a family as much as possible. I simply love seeing the boys, Ben and Dale, getting on with each other. It is a moment every mum cherishes for sure. We already have a ‘grandson’, the gorgeous Simba, an addition to my beloved Cody, and Ash and Mia, the two Persians that Dale and Jess adopted. It would be yet another beautiful moment for Ben and Xtina to possibly have a baby boy or a baby girl.

Photography Shane Watts

24 ∫ Pink January 2017

WOMANKIND

NAPOLEON’S

woman Archduchess Marie Louise would probably have been overlooked by history and completely forgotten had her name not been associated with Napoleon. But MARY GALEA DEBONO finds she was much more than just a footnote of the French Emperor’s life.

A

rchduchess Marie Louise was no beauty.

Apart from her protuberant eyes and slightly hooked nose, she had inherited from her father, Emperor Francis I of Austria, the thick lips that were a physical characteristic of the Hapsburg dynasty. She was also rather gauche and ungraceful.

In compensation, she was tall, had a clear complexion and abundant chestnut hair. Besides being very well read and able to speak several languages, she was a talented artist as well as a gifted musician and played both the piano and the harp.

As the eldest daughter of the Austrian Emperor, there was never any doubt that Archduchess Marie Louise herself deserved no less than a king for a husband, and from a very early age, she was groomed to fulfill a queenly role. What she never suspected was that her husband would be a Frenchman.

The Hapsburgs detested the French. As a dynasty, they felt threatened by the republican ideas of the French Revolution; as a family, they could not forgive them for the execution of Queen Marie Antoinette, who was the Emperor’s aunt. Francis I’s humiliating defeats in 1809 at the hands of Bonaparte were the last straw.

Marie Louise had confided to a friend that she considered marrying a Frenchman as “a worse torture…

than all the martyrdoms”. When it was rumoured that Napoleon was looking for a new wife from a royal family to legitimate his empire, she declared: “I pity the unfortunate woman on whom [his] choice falls; that will undoubtedly put an end to her beaux jours.” She was sure that her father, whom she adored and who adored her, would never ask her to make such a sacrifice. But she had not reckoned with the political schemes of the Austrian Foreign Minister, Count Metternich.

Napoleon had already fathered a son by one of his mistresses, but his wife, Josephine de Beauharnais, seemed unable to provide him with an heir. Having made up his mind to divorce her, he first set his eyes on the Russian Grand Duchess, Anna, sister of the Czar.

Metternich, fearful of a political alliance between the two powers, Russia and France, schemed behind Marie Louise’s back to promote the idea of a marriage between her and the new French Emperor. When the decision was made known to her, being a dutiful daughter, she succumbed to the pressures.

Marie Louise and Napoleon were married by proxy at the Hofburg Palace in Vienna, in March, 1810, the bride’s uncle acting as deputy, and soon afterwards, she set out on the long journey to France, passing through several cities where she was hailed with shouts of “Vive l’Imperatrice”. It was a long and arduous journey on Pink January 2017 ∫ 27

WOMANKIND The marriage of Napoleon and Marie Louise.

bumpy and muddy roads, with early starts and late short stops for the night in places that were often very uncomfortable.

Napoleon, excited by the prospect of meeting his new wife, neglected his work to concentrate on the preparations for her trousseau and the refurbishing of her quarters. He often asked for information from anyone who knew her personally, and when he got evasive answers regarding her appearance, his reply was: “I will love her as if she were the most beautiful girl in the world.”

Napoleon first saw Marie Louise when, on a rainy evening, her carriage arrived at the tiny village of Courcelles, where he was waiting for her at the porch of the church. He went to greet her, and satisfied by what he saw, ordered her coachman to proceed to the medieval castle of Compiègne.

In his book Napoleon: his Wives and his Women, Christopher Hibbert gives an amusing description of what took place on arrival at the castle. Assembled at the foot of the grand staircase were his family and his household – including his latest mistress, Mme de Mathis with whom he had spent the previous night – all in court dresses, waiting to greet them. He dismissed everyone and headed straight to his wife’s room. He then returned to his own room and, according to his valet, he undressed, patted himself with eau de cologne and, wearing only his dressing gown, returned to Marie Louise’s room. He woke up the next morning in an unusually good mood.

“HER PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP WITH HER HUSBAND WAS A DIFFERENT STORY; THE TWO SOON GREW FOND OF EACH OTHER, AND FROM LETTERS, DIARIES AND THE MEMOIRS OF THOSE WHO LIVED CLOSE TO THE COUPLE, IT IS OBVIOUS THEIR MARRIAGE WAS HAPPY” The civil marriage ceremony between Marie Louise and Napoleon took place on April 1, 1810, and was followed the next day by a religious ceremony at the Louvre in which Cardinal Fesch, the bridegroom’s uncle, officiated. Food and wine were distributed to the public and there were huge festivities to mark the event.

Marie Louise possessed a natural dignity, but she was timid and shy, which made her appear haughty and reserved. She lacked the passion and charm that had endeared Josephine to the public. Her private relationship with her husband was a different story; the two soon grew fond of each other, and from letters, diaries and the memoirs of those who lived close to the couple, it is obvious their marriage was happy.

Napoleon appreciated her obedience and her innocence; she was sensible and reliable. He did not hesitate to demonstrate his feelings in public, pinching her cheeks and slapping her bottom. The marriage seemed to domesticate him and he spent most evenings in her 28 ∫ Pink January 2017

company, playing blind man’s buff with her and her ladies as well as long games of billiards.

She, on the other hand, was full of admiration for him; he was not the ogre that he was made out to be and she begged her father to rethink his attitude towards him. “The better one knows him, the better one appreciates and loves him,” she wrote to him.

When Marie Louise became pregnant, Napoleon was overjoyed and very solicitous, and when she was in labour, he behaved in a way people who knew him only on the battlefield had never witnessed before. He became very agitated, nervously pacing up and down the room. When the boy was born, he was given the title of King of Rome. He was cared for by governesses, nurses and maids and grew up estranged from his mother.

Innumerable volumes have been written about Napoleon, the General; about his victories and defeats on the battlefields and about his political achievements. But this is only one part of the picture. Hibbert’s book concentrates on his private life and, in particular, on his relationships with his women. Without an insight into the rapport between him and Marie Louise, the picture is incomplete.

Their correspondence during the difficult moments of his invasion of Russia in 1812 demonstrates how much they relied on each other’s support, and when he was again engaged in war in Germany, he sent for her to spend a week with him in Mainz. In her diary, she recorded this experience. When he arrived, she was already in bed, she wrote, and he managed to reach her room without anyone hearing him. “I will not attempt to write down all the joy I felt at seeing him,” she added.

After the crushing defeat in Russia, Napoleon’s star was no longer in the ascendant, and before long, he was

constrained to defend his country against an alliance of European countries. This time Austria, too, formed part of this alliance.

Napoleon had great esteem for his wife’s ability to govern, describing her as “wiser than any of my ministers”, and every time he left France to do battle, he appointed her Regent with his brother Joseph.

Before his last attempt to defend his throne, Napoleon went to say goodbye to his wife and son. The parting was emotional and Marie Louise was inconsolable; it was as if she knew this was to be the last time they would see each other.

Marie Louise refused to abandon the city when the enemy was at the gates of Paris, but Napoleon insisted she went to Blois with her court and she obeyed him. When he was forced to abdicate and was exiled to Elba, Marie Louise expressed her wish to join him. “No one loves you as much as your faithful Louise.” But her father forbade it.

Napoleon did send some troops to fetch her from Blois, but they arrived too late and she had already left for Vienna to see her father. The Austrian Emperor was in no mood for kindness. She had been made Duchess of Parma, and in his judgement, that was where she had to be. Napoleon never held it against her that she did not join him.

All sorts of arguments were used to dissuade Marie Louise from joining Napoleon in Elba. Hints were dropped that two of his former mistresses had visited him when he was still in France and were ready to join him in exile. She was also reminded that Napoleon’s first marriage had not been annulled and that, therefore, her own was null and void and her son illegitimate. Gradually, her feelings for Napoleon began to change.

To help her in her task of ruling her duchy, her father sent her Adam Albert von Neipperg, a charming 39-year-old general in the Austrian army. His task was to give her advice and keep an eye on her lest she attempted to run away to Elba.

Neipperg, who had lost sight from one eye from a wound in battle and who wore an eyepatch, was a romantic figure. Women were attracted to him and he knew it. Marie Louise was no exception.

He insinuated himself in her affections, accompanying her on walks and keeping her company in the evenings. Letters she wrote to Napoleon were never delivered. The inevitable happened; she became his mistress when, one evening, travelling together in Switzerland they were caught in a storm and had to take shelter in an inn. They were later married morganatically and had three children, but in 1829, he died of a heart attack.

“NEIPPERG, WHO HAD LOST SIGHT FROM ONE EYE FROM A WOUND IN BATTLE AND WHO WORE AN EYEPATCH, WAS A ROMANTIC FIGURE. WOMEN WERE ATTRACTED TO HIM AND HE KNEW IT. MARIE LOUISE WAS NO EXCEPTION” Metternich replaced him by another equerry, Charles-René de Bombelles, whose task it was to help Marie Louise to subdue the uprising in Parma. Six months after his arrival, Marie Louise married him.

In 1847, Marie Louise fell ill and died five days later from pleurisy. Her body was taken to Vienna and buried in the Imperial Crypt.

Adam Albert von Neipperg

SHOWSTOPPER Jacket; top; trousers, all Lulù Boutique ∫ boots, Oasis.

30 ∫ Pink January 2017

SHOWSTOPPER

Stretch out your winter wardrobe and take the colder weeks in your stride with an injection of style from the sales. These are the best investments out there so be brave and bag that bargain.

Photography Tamara Webb ∫ Styling Marisa Grima [www.marisagrima.com] ∫ Hair Chris Galea @ Michael & Guy ∫ Make-up Caroline Bond ∫ Model Lara @ Supernova Model Management *Most items are on sale

BEST foot FORWARD Pink January 2017 ∫ 31

SHOWSTOPPER Dress; blouse; trousers, all Mango.

32 ∫ Pink January 2017

SHOWSTOPPER

Dress; cardigan; scarf; brogues, all Benetton ∫ belt; socks, both stylist’s own.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 33

SHOWSTOPPER

Jacket; shirt; kilt; trousers; bag; shoes, all Marks & Spencer.

34 ∫ Pink January 2017

SHOWSTOPPER

Coat; trousers, both Blue Shop ∫ boots, Mango ∫ polo neck, stylist’s own.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 35

SHOWSTOPPER Top; skirt; hat, all Oasis ∫ polo neck, stylist’s own.

36 ∫ Pink January 2017

SHOWSTOPPER

Coat; blouse; trousers; boots, all Oasis ∫ bag, Mangano.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 37

PINKPROMO

CLIVE OWEN AND PAOLO SORRENTINO LEAD [R]EVOLUTION TO FILM FOR CAMPARI RED DIARIES 2017

R

epresenting a step-change in the brand’s communication, Campari Red Diaries – a holistic [r]evolution to the late Campari Calendar – brings to life the powerful ethos that “every cocktail tells a story”, celebrating cocktails as a form of art and a powerful vehicle for expression by shining a light on the experiences and emotions that inspire bartenders to create and share their craft.

Captivating month by month, the 2017 Campari Red Diaries journey harnesses the richness of storytelling, using short films as a vehicle for the first time to guide lovers of the iconic red Italian bittersweet apéritif, on an imaginative journey through a yearlong series of cocktail stories from across the globe, to be shared with consumers via Campari’s official You Tube channel.

The founding story, a noir called Killer in Red, was written and directed by the Italian internationally-renowned award winner, Paolo Sorrentino, and stars globally-acclaimed actor Clive Owen to debut the tale of the neverbefore-seen eponymous cocktail after which the enchanting seven-minute short film takes its name.

While Killer in Red stands to ignite the Campari Red Diaries journey, it is flanked and complemented by a collection of 12 cocktail stories, which each bring to life the artistry and flair of 14 bartenders from all over the world. These stories introduce viewers to the magic behind the creation of each Campari cocktail, placing the culture of mixology and its many facets centre-stage. Each is brought to fruition by young and emerging Italian director, Ivan Olita.

On writing and directing Killer in Red, Paolo Sorrentino comments: “Campari is an Italian icon, which has garnered global love and attention due

to its strong, intrinsic sense of aesthetic and well-defined style – the very same qualities I pride myself on. With this year’s campaign embracing the realm of film, I really wanted to ensure I harnessed the theme of storytelling with an intriguing intensity. Working with Clive was fantastic – his compelling presence and enthusiasm allowed me to create a short film which I hope proves fresh, inspiring and imaginative.”

Bob Kunze-Concewitz, Chief Executive Officer of Gruppo Campari,

comments: “This year’s campaign, Campari Red Diaries, centres on bringing to life the stories that inspire bartenders all around the world to innovate and create cocktail recipes we all are privileged to enjoy.

The direction taken with this year’s campaign is unique – we have used film for the first time in the brand’s history, to guide fans on an imaginative journey, while also celebrating the flavour complexity and versatility of Campari that too inspires such imaginative recipe creation. The ever-charismatic Clive was the perfect subject to depict Paolo’s intense narrative.”

Campari is imported, marketed and distributed by Farsons Beverage Imports Company [FBIC] Limited, a member of the Farsons Group.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 39

THEUNIFORM

PARTY TIME

REVISITED

New Year’s Eve seems aeons away and we have since covered up our skimpy, glitzy outfits in woollies, coats and scarves. But fashion blogger and stylist CAROLINE PARIS goes back in time to see what people were wearing on that all-important night. In many cases, she finds, it was actually their PJs, several having spent the evening sick at home.

N

ew Year’s Eve – these three words conjure up so many different thoughts, from a night of partying to one of resolution-making and change. They mean something different to everyone, and even then, this meaning changes at different stages of life.

In my case, this year was about a quiet and relaxed dinner with my parents and husband, but of course, I still got to dress up.

I know a lot of young parents who spent the night at home in their

pyjamas; others who travelled and braved the cold night in warm outerwear; and of course, quite a few who partied; while for some, the common cold had other plans this year.

For many, there will always be the thrill of getting all dolled up. It is after all that night when glitz is a requirement and having fun is a necessary ingredient.

As always, on any big night, makeup in Malta always seems to take centre stage, and in fact, there are a few really beautiful looks in this selection,

although two of the girls featured are actual make-up artists so maybe that’s cheating.

It’s also great to see men go for something truly different and have fun with their outfit.

Then there’s another fun picture of two close friends who coincidentally wore the same dress to a house party.

It’s also interesting to note that many women wore their hair down on the night and jewellery was kept quite delicate and simple.

The party season always seems to end after New Year’s Eve and what follows is a month or two of mellow evenings, waiting for the brighter days to return. Not to worry though; it’s Malta! The sun will be back and our dancing shoes will soon come back out to play.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 41

Photography Paul Trapani Galea Feriol

PEOPLESPOTTING

42 ∫ Pink January 2017

PEOPLESPOTTING

SIGHT [AND STYLE] SEEING It was a wet weekend, but as they say, the shoot must go on…

Le Call from One Management modelling agency in NYC was photographed by Paul Trapani Galea Feriol [www.paultgf.com] in some stand-out pieces from Dolce&Gabbana and Burberry from Sarto, in some equally stand-out locations, including the Manoel Theatre and Palazzo D’Aurel.

Le, who is also a Pilates studio owner and trains other models in New York, was a guest at the Fortina Spa Resort.

“Having flown into a country I knew nothing about, for just 48 hours, and having no expectations whatsoever, I was blown away by the history, views and locations we shot at.

“The Manoel Theatre, palaces, and Valletta itself, were magnificent.

The complete mixture of all architectural styles was fantastic too. I will definitely be back for longer in the future,” she says of her lasting positive impressions, despite the non-stop downpour.

“It’s great that more and more international-level editorials are being shot here too,” says Paul, who points out that already so much overseas talent was heading this way through the film industry.

“It’s also fantastic that Malta is attracting interest in winter, meaning the perception overseas is that we now have more to offer than just sun and sea.”

The New York model, who has been linked to actor Owen Wilson, was styled

by Bibiche [www.b-biche.com], with make-up by Diandra Mattei.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 43

ONFORM

FIT FOR

2017

If your New Year’s resolution was to get in shape, Malta’s burgeoning fitness industry wants to help. HELEN RAINE helps you find an option that works for you at any of these workout centres.

YUE

Sky Spirit Fitness Lounge

The Philosophy: YUE’s philosophy is on

The Philosophy: The lounge is cultivat-

the wall – literally – with a sign that says: “You will succeed; not immediately; but definitely.” They have a practical, familyfriendly approach.

The Facilities: They offer personal training for someone who has never set foot in a gym before – new members get a free tailored fitness programme. There are also group classes from 9am to 7.30pm, including Circuit Training, Fit Yoga, Piloxing and Boot Camp – group sessions can help with motivation and camaraderie. You can recover afterwards in the YUE bistro.

Kids Included? There are classes for five to 15-year-olds, giving you the chance to work out while your kids take part.

Babies are also welcome at the postnatal Pilates classes and YUE organises activities such as messy playtimes.

Cool Factor: At the aquatic centre, you can swim laps, try some aqua Pilates, or get an ice bath.

LOCATION: Labour Avenue, Naxxar; 2258 9800; www.yuemalta.com

44 ∫ Pink January 2017

ing the cool client – their strapline reads: “It’s not just fitness, it’s a way of life.”

The Facilities: Personal training is available in the gym, which has some innovative new equipment

such as the ‘water rower’. They also offer weight-loss programmes and back pain management sessions.

Classes are available from 7am to 7pm and include TRX [a workout with straps], Six Pack Attack, Ripped and Stripped and the fierce sounding NCZ – No Comfort Zone.

Kids Included? Nope, although students get a discount.

Cool Factor: Get ready to ‘train on the ceiling’ with Queenax, a modular system where every part of the gym is in use, with a series of

ONFORM

ladders, straps, ceiling bars and even swings in play. It’s like an adult jungle gym.

LOCATION: Skyparks Business Centre, MIA, Vjal L-Avjazzjoni, Luqa; 2122 0055; www.skyspiritmalta.com

The BodyForge The Philosophy: Lots of pyscho-babble

and pictures of a muscled CEO litter the website. Their motto is: “We Change Lives, One Rep at a Time”; and they do it “their way”.

The Facilities: The BodyForge is a regular gym, but the focus is very much on the client/coach relationship, with personal training a huge part of the deal.

Classes include BodyForge Pump XT, Rock Kwon Do and Mummylicious.

Kids Included? Nope.

Cool Factor: The Beach Body Boot Camps will get you outdoors and working extra hard in the sand in a fun group session.

LOCATION: Santa Marta Street, Victoria, Gozo; 9986 6727; www.gymgozo.com

Hilltop Gardens Gym The Philosophy: The Hilltop wants

to upgrade our notion of an old folks’ home. Their hook is: “Later Lifestyle Redefined.”

The Facilities: Hilltop is a retirement community, so the emphasis is on physiotherapy and rehabilitation, although there is a full gym with cardio equipment and weights suitable for all ages. The hydrotherapy pool and ‘contrast baths’ are designed to help people with long-term conditions, but can also treat athletes with injuries.

Classes target Pilates, fibromyalgia, MS, fit for life, older adult fitness and aqua zumba.

Kids Included? There are toddler and baby swimming classes as well as aqua-natal classes.

Cool Factor: The calming Tai Chi sessions will unleash your inner Zen for the day.

LOCATION: Triq l-Inkwina, Naxxar, 2143 2277; www.hilltopgardens.com.mt/gym

Sanya Eco Spa Gymnasia The Philosophy: Gymnasia is aiming for

an industrial fitness experience; muscled men and ultra-cool athletic women feature heavily on their branding material.

The Facilities: A huge, high-ceilinged warehouse has been transformed into a state-of-the-art gym, with an urbaninspired aesthetic. There’s a resistance section, a cardio area and a studio for classes, which include Body Tune, Spinning, Crush and Fit Freaks.

Kids Included? No, although students get a discount.

Cool Factor: The gym includes Malta’s only climbing wall, seven metres high with several route options that are changed regularly.

LOCATION: 114 Triq il-Belt Valletta,

Paola; 2717 1717; gymnasia.com.mt

The Philosophy: Release your inner

hippie with Sanya’s “invitation to an experience of life that is nourishing, authentic and always challenging us to new depths of living”.

The Facilities: The spa has an indoor heated pool, jacuzzis, steam room, sauna and thermal showers, but the real work goes on in the yoga and Pilates studio. Classes run from 7am to 7pm and include performance Pilates, movement for spinal health, yoga with meditation and yoga gentle flow.

Kids Included? Nope.

Cool Factor: A 100-per-cent organic juice bar with an emphasis on raw foods.

LOCATION: Right next to the Hilltop Gardens Gym; 2143 6936; www.sanyamalta.com

Pink January 2017 ∫ 45

THINKPINK

HEALTH, BEAUTY, FASHION & THINGS

AN UNWAVERING BOND

Nina and Luna, together Les Belles de Nina, by Nina Ricci, are now available in 20ml collectible bottles at selected Nina Ricci outlets. Nina and Luna represent a myriad of girls full of promise. They have the aura and the energy of youth. Stronger together, Nina and Luna have joined forces through an unwavering bond that needs no words.

For more details, contact Ta’ Xbiex Perfumery Ltd on 2133 1553.

LET’S TALK CLASSICS[ISH]

Here’s what Fossil is bringing to the table this season: an it list of classics with a curious twist – the Classicsish, if you will. We all know classic styles are called the classics for a reason. They’re tested. They’ve been worn and styled so many times, they’re no longer trying too hard and they’re just what they are – great designs that help us look better than we would otherwise. With this as the starting point, Fossil had a little fun this season.

After all, who wants a classic if it’s not curiously, well, you? Let Fossil be your accomplice in style this season to build a watch, a look, or a wardrobe. And show up your curious self like never before. Fossil is exclusively represented by Unpaused and is available from Sunlab and VIP [2147 2798].

ACTIVATING THE SKIN’S BEAUTY

Beautygen renews and rejuvenates the skin, slows the ageing process, conceals wrinkles and irregularities, and leaves the skin shine in new splendour. Beautygen Snow Algae Extract, a highly regenerative active ingredient from Snow Algae protects collagenous fibres and provides for better elasticity. Beautygen Snow Algae Extract is exclusively found in the new anti-ageing skincare Beautygen series by Dr. Grandel, available in beauty salons and SPAs. For trade enquiries, contact Carewell by Reactilab by sending an e-mail to sales@reactilab.com, or calling on 9982 8498/9945 7245.

THE 2017 LASER CARD

Over the years, laser hair removal has grown into one of the most popular treatments for both women and men who prefer it to the much more time-consuming alternatives of shaving and waxing. To cater for those clients who are looking for the most cost-efficient way of getting rid of unwanted body hair, especially larger areas, while still receiving top-notch professionalism, Persona Med-Aesthetic Centre recently introduced its 2017 Laser Card, which entitles users to five hours of laser by highly qualified doctors, over the course of a year – guaranteeing the best price.

Enquire now since only a limited amount of Laser Cards will be sold.

TEAMING UP WITH MOTOGP WORLD CHAMPION

Pull&Bear, the youth fashion chain belonging to the Inditex Group and Marc Márquez, renowned MotoGP rider and five-time world champion, are joining forces to create a joint collection that will bring together the latest trends and the main identifying characteristics of the Spanish rider. A will to succeed, perseverance, strength, youth and international prominence are the values that Pull&Bear and Marc Márquez share, which is why they have decided to join forces. The young athlete will design his first collection in collaboration with Pull&Bear’s internal creative teams. It will include the symbols that best represent the rider and urban-inspired garments with a marked casual style. Pull&Bear is in The Point, Sliema, Main Street, Paola, and St Lucy Street, Valletta.

NATURAL BEAUTY IN FULL MATURITY

Facial skin is part of your essence; of your memory. Each wrinkle, each sign of ageing, reveals a story that defines you and makes you unique. PRO 60+ is the new sub-line of Germaine de Capuccini Timexpert SRNS, aimed at women who, full of vitality, claim maturity as the best stage of their life; real women who are not afraid to age and who show with pride the good signs of ageing. Available from leading salons and spas, contact Beauty Culture Group, Sta Venera, on 2144 0424/2744 0424, or info@beautysuppliesmalta.com; www.beautyculturecentre.com

IT IS ALL THIS – AND MORE

OFFICIAL MARATHON WATER

The Vodafone Malta Marathon will this year be taking place on Sunday, March 5, and San Michel is once again confirmed as the official water for Malta’s largest and most popular athletic activity. Every year, a growing number of Maltese and foreign runners and walkers participate in this activity, which starts in Mdina and ends at the Sliema Ferries. The public is encouraged to support the runners along the route and cheer them at the finish line.

Visit www.maltamarathon.com for more information.

46 ∫ Pink January 2017

Many words can describe the Renault Twingo: practical, versatile, agile, trendy, fun, affordable, safe, comfortable. It is all these – and more.

The Twingo includes a leather steering wheel, height adjustable seats and steering wheels, USB, Bluetooth smart phone dock and app, power steering, front electric windows, air conditioner with climate control, four airbags, remote central locking, ABS, traction control, parking sensors, LED daytime running lights, auto lights and wipers and electric mirrors. The Manual 0.9 70BHP sells at €11,300, and includes a five-year manufacturer’s warranty. A five-year service package is available at an additional €869. Call Auto Sales Ltd – Kind’s for a test drive and any information on 2331 1126/2331 1131. www.renault.com

PINKSHRINK

Fleeing the

nest

When children decide to move on, it’s not necessarily a bad thing for the parents. Dott. EDWARD CURMI shows that it may actually be an opportunity for father and mother to grow closer, or rekindle past interests together. Here’s how parents can cope with that dreaded empty nest syndrome.

W

hen children grow and become more independent, the natural step is to leave home to attend university, seek a new job, live alone, or with their partner, or travel the world.

Whatever the reason, ample research shows that parents may feel a strong sense of loss and sadness.

Psychologists have coined this feeling the ‘empty nest syndrome’, which is not a clinical diagnosis, but a transition period in life. However, recent studies have shown that when children decide to move on, it’s not necessarily a bad thing and may actually be an opportunity for the parents to grow closer, or rekindle past interests together.

Different parents have different ways of bonding with their children.

The attachment that a parent and child form throughout the early and late years of their life is crucial.

Unhealthy attachments may have a different impact on the caregivers when the children are no longer at home. These parents may develop an unhealthy dependence on their child,

which may bring on more marital and family conflicts, sadness and even problems with alcohol.

Some useful tips to cope with empty nest syndrome Stop comparing Too often, parents make the mistake of comparing their lives to that of their children. They need to respect the fact that what made sense in the past doesn’t necessarily fit the way their child chooses to see the world. Times change and so do attitudes and morals in a new generation. Parents need to learn how to be more respectful towards what was and what is in today’s world.

choose to take a more positive approach. They see such a change as an opportunity, a positive transition, a chance to rekindle the past, develop new adventures, and spend more quality time with themselves and their partner.

Expect change Be ready to embrace change. When a child leaves home, more often than not, the dynamics in the family construct may change.

Other siblings may adopt new roles, while a change of timetables may destabilise your usual routine.

This is part of the circle of life. Take it in your stride and, rather than fight all this change, welcome a fresh start.

“WHEN THEIR CHILDREN LEAVE HOME, THEY MAY FEEL REMORSE AS THEY WISH THEY COULD HAVE DONE MORE THINGS TOGETHER AND DIFFERENTLY WITH THEM” Think positively Perception in life is everything. Some parents may feel the need to play the victim when their children leave home, making their lives miserable and unhappy. Others may

Don’t be too hard on yourself More often than not, parents can be their own worst enemy in times of change.

When their children leave home, they may feel remorse as they wish they Pink January 2017 ∫ 47

PINKSHRINK could have done more things together and differently with them. It’s important to remind themselves that there is no such thing as a ‘perfect’ parent. Parents get tired, angry and frustrated like any other human being. Everyone makes mistakes and may take others for granted. Finding yourself wishing you could have done more for your children is a pretty normal feeling, but try not to be too hard on yourself. Your child will remember all the good you did and you will have ample time to keep showing them this.

Seek support Empty nest syndrome is a common feeling among parents or caregivers. In hard times, it is essential to surround yourself with the right people; persons who are compassionate and understanding. Do not hesitate to reach out as it may get very lonely out there, especially at the beginning of the change of life.

Keep yourself busy Parents of children who have moved out should consider

the importance of a timetable. Fill up your day with as many activities as possible. Also, choose to do some of

a button. So choose to see life in shades of grey rather than absolutes of black and white.

“WHEN CHILDREN LEAVE HOME, IT IS NOT THE END OF THE ROAD, BUT THE CONTINUATION OF A RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE BUILT OVER TIME” those activities at the time when you miss your children the most. This will allow you to train your brain to experience new situations and result in the creation of a new routine, possibly diminishing your discomfort.

They will always come around When children leave home, it is not the end of the road, but the continuation of a relationship you have built over time.

Good things do not necessarily come to an end; they strengthen as long as both parties make an effort to stay in touch. And luckily enough, today, through social media, chats, SMS, Skype calls etc…, families are able to stay in contact just with the touch of

Being a parent is the hardest job in the world, riddled with experiences you may feel you are never prepared enough for. And one of those moments is when your children become independent and choose to move out of home. As much as it is never easy to let go of them, children need to be taught how to do so, and this can only happen if you embrace and encourage their own independence.

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 Well-being, available from Agenda Bookshops.

PARENTINGTIPS

Building better

BELIEFS

We are living in a world where prejudice is prevailing; where bullying is allowed; where bad behaviour is being modelled by powerful leaders in society. In the face of all this, educational and child psychologist STEPHANIE SATARIANO points out how we can raise our children to be non-judgemental, upstanding citizens of society, who will drive our country forward.

T

echnology, social media, and the media in general have brought about destructive qualities, including prejudice, discrimination, hatred and bullying, to the forefront of our collective consciousness. So how can parents, educators and citizens counterbalance these effects?

• Model it! Be the person you want your children to be.

• Expose them to positive role models: although there aren’t many in this world, there are some who are doing amazing things. Ellen DeGeneres is one of these, and although she is not the only one, her show is accessible to people of all ages.

• Be open – discuss these things with children. Recent research has found that kids as young as three are able to identify racial differences between each other. Many parents/teachers fear that talking about differences actually instils such prejudices in them. However, research has found the opposite effect: talking in an honest and non-judgemental manner about such social issues promotes integration and reduces counterproductive prejudices. In fact, it is important to have these discussions to counterbalance the impact of the media.

• Teach children to disagree without disagreement: whatever your world views are, it is highly likely that you will hear opinions and arguments that you don’t agree with.

You can use this as a forum to teach children how to disagree with others in a respectful manner – i.e. without attacking them or undermining them; but rather accepting that people hold different values and beliefs.

• Teach media literacy: teens spend an average of nine hours a day exposed to the media, but no time is spent teaching them to assess the quality and credibility of what they are reading. Take time to discuss with them things they have read/seen and question [in a respectful manner] the validity of it; expose them to credible sources. As there is no chance of stopping their exposure

to the media, it is important to teach them how to thoughtfully engage with it and critically analyse it. This is also an important point for educators.

• Expose your children to diversity. Use the media in a positive manner to expose children to different cultures, races, religions, family structures and disabilities. Help them see beyond the group differences and appreciate the humanity. Draw comparisons and promote equality through discussion.

Always bear in mind that this is an ongoing process; to build values and beliefs in children takes a lifetime and how you tackle it with different age groups is important.

• Five to eight years old is a time when children begin to place value judgements; therefore, it is a key time to begin to talk about social issues and develop constructive – not destructive – values and beliefs.

• For teenagers, things can be trickier as they are making big strides in forming their beliefs and tend to be less flexible in their thoughts and accepting of ‘because I said so’ answers. So expose their evolving and broadening minds to the history and social context of different cultures. Evoke compassion and encourage them to be thoughtful and critical thinkers.

“BY ESPOUSING THE VALUES AND BELIEFS YOU WANT YOUR CHILDREN TO HAVE AND ENGAGING IN ONGOING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FAMILY VALUES, YOU CAN RAISE ADULTS THAT WILL HELP BUILD SOCIETY” The reality is that parents and educators have a tough job counterbalancing the current prevailing messages.

However, it is not an impossible one. By espousing the values and beliefs you want your children to have and engaging in ongoing conversations about family values, you can raise adults that will help build society.

Pink January 2017 ∫ 49

GIRLTALK

THE VIRGINIA MONOLOGUES

THREE TIMES TOO MANY

T

owards the end of last year, I found myself having to travel three times in quick succession – in the space of two weeks – which is probably why, when it came to the third trip, I almost wept.

I notice that I wrote ‘having to travel’, which is quite apt, because it did feel like a chore, even though, funnily enough, I had been gagging for the first trip for ages. You see, it had been about four months since I went away and that is usually the time window I need and when I start itching for a holiday. Four months is usually the perfect pause in between one holiday and another, which is why the first trip was a pleasure and something I was really looking forward to, even if it was just a three-day break.

About three days after my return, the second trip materialised rather unexpectedly, and although I didn’t really relish the thought of packing all over again, it was a 48-hour shopping escape, which was destined to pass by in a flash. And it did.

But once that was over and done with, and trip number three came along, the thought of having to do it all over again was anything but lucky. Instead, it filled me with a deep sense of dread and I very nearly didn’t go. Suddenly, another three days seemed like a lifetime and I was counting the hours back before I even left.

Why did I go? Why put myself through that sort of grief ? Well, once I commit to something mentally, I find myself unable to just abandon the plan and cop out. Although the second trip was totally unplanned and impromptu, I had booked the third about two months before [invariably a mistake] and had even made arrangements with a colleague, who was travelling with me. And while letting him down wouldn’t have been the end of his world, in a strange way, it would have briefly spelled the end of mine… or at least, that is how it felt at the time.

50 ∫ Pink January 2017

For as much as I hate having plans, I hate cancelling them even more… which is probably the reason why I rarely make any. But then, once I’ve made them, I stick to them like glue and become strangely rigid, inflexible and hard on myself. If I don’t see those plans through, I am miserable anyway.

So, seeing that I was damned if I went and damned if I didn’t go, there was nothing else to do except pack my suitcase for the third time that month and head to the airport.

“AS MUCH AS I HATE HAVING PLANS, I HATE CANCELLING THEM EVEN MORE… WHICH IS PROBABLY THE REASON WHY I RARELY MAKE ANY. BUT THEN, ONCE I’VE MADE THEM, I STICK TO THEM LIKE GLUE AND BECOME STRANGELY RIGID, INFLEXIBLE AND HARD ON MYSELF” As much as I didn’t want to go, I also knew that once I got there, or rather, once I got back, I’d be glad that I’d gone the extra [150] mile[s] and taken that trip. Does that make any sense? I’m pretty sure it does because it’s something human beings can all relate to.

We dread exercising and we come up with all sorts of reasons and excuses not to, often delaying our fitness regime by weeks, or months, but we also know that nothing quite beats the feeling of knuckling down to something, making the effort and doing it.

Few things feel nicer than coming back from a run/pilates class/invigorating swim, or running up those stairs. Although we’re so glad it’s over, we’re even more glad that we actually did it. It’s the perennial paradox that is life. We wake up every day and dread the drive into work; we give ourselves five more minutes of snooze time, which turns into 10; the thought

GIRLTALK

of skipping work altogether is omnipresent and sometimes we yield to it. And yet, the minute we give into the temptation and cop out of work, give in to that cigarette, or break that diet, we instantly feel bad. An hour later, as we take a puff of that cigarette, or gorge on a doughnut, it just doesn’t feel that good.

That’s the thing, you see: you can never really get the feeling of satisfaction when you’re letting yourself down. When you are really sick and can’t get out of bed, staying in bed is glorious precisely because you’ve earned it and you deserve it. But when it’s not legit, staying in bed all day long just doesn’t feel right. It’s unearned and consequently dissatisfying.

And it’s the same with the seasons: we look forward to summer, but the moment we don’t have a real winter, summer just doesn’t feel right. You have to go through the winter to be able to enjoy spring.

I’m writing this on the last day of the year, which is kind of appropriate because New Year’s Eve does lend itself to contemplative thinking, wondering whether we have earned the right to look back on the year with a sense of accomplishment, or dying to see the back of it.

I suppose the end of a year means different things to different people. I’m never too sure what to make of it. I generally prefer the end of a day to the start. I’ve always been more of an afternoon/evening person than a morning person and prefer seeing the sun set than rise. By extension, I am never thrilled at the thought of starting a new year, but this time, I’m actually looking forward to it. ginantonic@live.com

PERFECTLY MAT, VELVETY SMOOTH LIPS IN JUST ONE STROKE!

A Hair

Deborah Milano is thrilled to announce the new Fluid Velvet Mat Lipstick, a fluid formula that delivers a mat finish in deep, plush colours with a strikingly sophisticated finish.

With its ultra-comfortable sense-stirring texture, the new fluid lipstick glides on with absolute precision. Fluid Velvet Mat Lipstick releases a feather-light film that dries in an instant and provides true-to-colour results. The feeling is one of sublime weightlessness and superb comfort. Every shade delivers serious staying power.

Revolution

THE FORMULA The new Fluid Velvet Mat Lipstick is just the ticket for the demanding woman in search of a high performance lipstick with a long-wearing, sophisticated finish. With its breakthrough formulation and special flocked-tip applicator,

lips are both coloured and defined with absolute precision in just one stroke. Extreme comfort is guaranteed. Filmforming polymers ensure ease of application and allow the lipstick to adhere better. Volatile oils make the product long wearing and transfer-proof. Micronised pigment particles produce vibrant, even colour and a unique combination of oils leaves lips well hydrated, soft and velvety smooth. It is free of parabens and hypoallergenic.

THE PACKAGING Fluid Velvet Mat Lipstick comes in attractive new packaging.

The product name is embossed on the clear vial that discloses the intensely pure colour inside. The opaque cap is a perfect match with the mat formula, creating a stylishly sophisticated product that is totally on-trend.

TABLETALK

Let them

eat cake!

INGREDIENTS Serves 6 generously For the cake 3 eggs 130ml coconut oil 200g soft brown sugar A dash of vanilla essence 125g self-raising flour 1 tsp baking powder ¼ tsp salt 100g poppy seeds Icing sugar to dust For the cream cheese filling 350g soft cheese [or a mixture, including Quark, Philadelphia, Mascarpone, or Greek yogurt] 3 tbsp soft brown sugar A dash of vanilla essence Seeds from a vanilla pod [optional]

54 ∫ Pink January 2017

Just as you were thinking you simply can’t see – let alone stomach – any more sweets, and are trying your hardest to start a diet and watch your weight after the Christmas binge, MARIA CACHIA puts your willpower to the test and plays on your weakness by serving a poppy seed and vanilla cake.

METHOD Heat the oven to 175°C. Line two eight-inch cake tins with baking paper. In a bowl, beat the eggs, oil, sugar and vanilla essence. In a separate bowl, place the sifted flour, together with the sifted baking powder, salt and poppy seeds. Add the oil mixture slowly while continuously mixing the flour into it. Mix thoroughly for about a minute until all ingredients are blended. Divide the mixture into the two baking tins. Bake for 20 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle part of the cake comes out clean.

For the filling simply mix the cheese, sugar, vanilla essence and vanilla, seeds if using. More sugar can be added to taste. Once the cakes have come to room temperature place one half on a serving plate and pour the cream cheese mixture on top.

Add the other layer of cake. Sprinkle with icing sugar.

SNAPSHOT

Killer

Clive Owen as Floyd with the Red Lady.

in red Pink goes behind the scenes with Killer in Red star, Golden Globe award-winning Clive Owen, offering insight into the making of the Campari Red Dairies campaign – the brand’s first foray into the world of cinematography and film – and into the fine art of cocktail making and shaking.

W

hat was it about the Campari Red Diaries project that intrigued and excited you to become involved?

Campari Red Diaries was a very easy project to say yes to. I loved the fact that it was a short movie with a proper story, as opposed to a two-minute commercial. The fact that it was being directed by the great Paolo Sorrentino was also a great attraction. To me, Campari is a world-renowned brand with true class and I loved spending a few days in Rome while we filmed Killer in Red.

Your character, Floyd, is a legendary bartender. Did you know anything much about this world before?

Did you enjoy coming into contact with it? In all honesty, I have never worked in a bar, so I had no experience in bartending whatsoever. On the day I arrived in Rome for the shoot, we visited a bar and I was taught to 56 ∫ Pink January 2017

make a number of the different cocktails that make an appearance throughout the film. I think I must have been OK at it since Campari didn’t opt to use a hand model – I made them all myself ! I’ve learned that the art of cocktail making is so very specific, and I have to admit, I do look at bartending a little differently now.

“I LOVED THE FACT THAT IT WAS A SHORT MOVIE WITH A PROPER STORY, AS OPPOSED TO A TWO-MINUTE COMMERCIAL” This is the first time you worked with Paolo Sorrentino – what will you take away from this experience? I had a great time working with Paolo Sorrentino – I think he’s one of the best directors out there; an imaginative visionary. It was great to see him working along-

Director Paolo Sorrentino

SNAPSHOT

side his brilliant crew and I very much hope I get the opportunity to do it again sometime in the future.

Campari Red Diaries brings to life the powerful ethos that ‘every cocktail tells a story’, celebrating cocktails as an art form and a powerful vehicle of expression. How did you apply this ethos to your portrayal of Floyd? At the moment, more than ever, cocktails are very revered – there’s been a real rise in the artistic flair of cocktail making and bars that specialise

in producing really good quality cocktails. I know from my experience of travelling around the world that every cocktail is different, and being able to mix a cocktail exquisitely is a real art form. People love a good cocktail and they are beginning more than ever to seek out great cocktail makers from particular bars or hotels.

How is the cocktail that plays hero in the story Killer in Red made? The Killer in Red is made from a combination of Campari, Cinzano 1757 Bianco, Grand Marnier, camomile gin and a drop of rose essence. See I remembered it… I’ll remember it forever!

Pink January 2017 ∫ 57

STARGAZER

THE FUTURE IS

PINK ARIES MARCH 20-APRIL 18 The past few months have been about disentangling yourself from alliances and arrangements that were restrictive or dull, but often gave no clear idea of what’s next. The move by your ruler Mars into Aries on January 28, to remain until March 10, begins a powerful new cycle. While certain plans are clear, others must wait until February’s dramatic changes take place. These shake-ups open doors in exciting if completely unanticipated directions. Explore absolutely everything, since what seems least likely could, ultimately, work best.

CANCER JUNE 21-JULY 21 Few things are worse than watching once-stable elements of your life change without knowing what’s next. But between eclipses on February 11 and 26, shaking things up and an emphasis on restructuring your domestic or working life, what’s going is clearing the way for new pursuits and, in the long term, very different goals, personally and out in the world. Unsettling as this will be during February, think back to times in the past when similarly disruptive events led to breakthroughs. It’s the same now.

LIBRA SEPTEMBER 22-OCTOBER 22 Although Jupiter, which moved into Libra in September, is about opportunity and good fortune, these often appear in unexpected if not disruptive forms. That’s probably happened often enough, you’re learning to let go without guarantees about what’s next. However, during February, you won’t have to wait long for promising experiences. Still, because this is an unsettling cycle for everybody, you could cling to whatever is familiar.

This is restrictive and prevents you exploring amazing developments coming your way.

CAPRICORN DECEMBER 21-JANUARY 18 The biggest challenges during early 2017 for you won’t be the frequent changes.

While they’re dramatic, you’re equal to them. It’s that you worry you didn’t spot these coming. Not only was that impossible, but also, these are actually breakthroughs, although in disguise. Only once you’ve let go of the past and, even more, are familiar with these new developments, will you fully recognise their promise. Until then, resist the temptation to do the minimum. The sooner you get involved, the better.

58 ∫ Pink January 2017

According to astrologer SHELLEY VON STRUNCKEL… TAURUS

GEMINI

APRIL 19-MAY 19 For you, life’s about playing it cool, that is, letting go of the past, but otherwise, waiting and watching. These instincts are so powerful that the discovery, the planets agree, will merely be confirmation of your own powerful instincts. Challenging as saying farewell to familiar ways of living or working may be, you’re confident what’s coming is better. That’s true, and once dynamic Mars moves into Taurus on March 10, you’ll not only know more, you’ll be ready and able to respond swiftly.

LEO

MAY 20-JUNE 20 As clever and inquisitive as you can be, you sometimes avoid certain ideas or even people because they’re dull or you fear they’d lure you into boring arrangements. Yet February isn’t just about encountering these, and there are several such situations; it’s also about you discovering just how fascinating they actually are. The resulting insights raise questions about what else you’re missing, which is timely, since changes triggered by eclipses on February 11 and 26 open doors to intriguing ideas, encounters and life-changing offers.

VIRGO

JULY 22-AUGUST 21 Ordinarily, the Leo Full Moon on February 11 would unleash unspoken emotional issues, then pass swiftly. But because this is one of February’s two eclipses, the second of which is on February 26, everybody will be facing changes, mostly sudden. Worrying as that sounds, often these are the best way for those involved to escape unhappy or restrictive arrangements.

Knowing that, don’t fight to sustain these but let go, knowing in doing so that you’re clearing the way of exciting new developments.

SCORPIO

AUGUST 22-SEPTEMBER 21 The period since late December has been as disruptive as it’s been thrilling. You’ve already let go of arrangements and, possibly, alliances what were costly, if not emotionally burdensome. While, understandably, you’re longing for stability, your life is continuing to change, as is the world around you. Still, these open doors in new, thrilling, but unexpected directions. However much you’re longing for a more settled life, changes continue until mid-March’s Virgo Full Moon, so ensure whatever plans you make are flexible.

SAGITTARIUS

OCTOBER 23-NOVEMBER 21 During late December and January, you were faced with difficult decisions. Looking back on these, you’re realising they forced you to let go of existing arrangements or future plans that were devouring your energy, money, or spirits, and giving little in return. Hopefully, you’ve put them behind you, so you can now focus on exciting but perplexing ideas or offers.

These are so new you’re short of facts. Yet your instincts rightly tell you that, unfamiliar as they seem, they’re exactly what you need.

AQUARIUS

NOVEMBER 22-DECEMBER 20 No sign is better at dealing with the unexpected than you, which means you’ll soon spot the potential held in the unexpected events triggered by eclipses on February 11 and 26. But others won’t, which means you may need to discourage certain individuals from battling these timely changes. From your perspective, it’s about exploring arrangements that, initially, at last, seem dull or restrictive. Initially, they might be.

But soon you’ll be delighted with what you discover or who you meet.

PISCES

JANUARY 19-FEBRUARY 17 The Aquarius New Moon on January 28 constituted your personal New Year, so it shapes February and, really, all of 2017. However, it’s about breakthroughs, so initially, numerous familiar elements of your life will vanish, with little to replace them. Have faith. Who you talk to and what you encounter will be exciting, promising, but occasionally bewildering. Since this cycle of growth lasts until mid-March, show interest in whatever appeals, but avoid solid commitments.

They’ll come later and, often, will astonish you.

FEBRUARY 18-MARCH 19 With dynamic Mars having been in Pisces from late December until January 29, as you begin February, you’ll be thinking about everything from life-changing decisions to new projects. For now, focus on exploring whatever comes your way, including seemingly uninteresting ideas or offers. While you may not pursue them, what you learn or who you meet could be crucial in the future. These changes climax with the eclipsed New Moon in Pisces on February 26.

Only after that will you know what’s possible.

Visit www.shelleyvonstrunckel.com to learn more and order your own chart.